$3K Total Prize Pool
Six winners across Judges and Popularity categories will share in cash prizes, marketing support, and exclusive rewards
Judges Category
1st Place
$650
2nd Place
$400
3rd Place
$150
Popularity Category
1st Place
$650
2nd Place
$400
3rd Place
$150
Authors May Win in Both Categories
Your story is eligible for both Judges and Popularity prizes simultaneously. Plus, all winners receive featured banner placement, a professional webnovel cover (valued at $100), and promotion on social media platforms.
Entry Requirements
Everything you need to know to enter the contest
Eligibility
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Be 18 years or older
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Follow Minkly on Instagram and/or join the Minkly Discord server
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Submit only one entry per author
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Not have won a previous Minkly contest (two contest cooldown period)
Story Requirements
✓
Must be uploaded on Minkly
✓
Must be fiction in the Mystery or Thriller genre
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Must be original — no AI generated or plagiarized content
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No explicit pornography (mature themes are allowed)
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Does NOT need to be exclusive to Minkly
Publication Rules
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First published no earlier than February 8, 2026
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Minimum 20,000 words published on Minkly by May 31, 2026
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Longer completed works or ongoing series are favored
Engagement Minimum
✓
Must receive at least 5 favorites and/or 10 reads
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Engagement may continue to grow until the end of the judging period on June 30, 2026
Disqualification & Removal
To ensure fairness and quality, entries may be disqualified for:
- Plagiarized material
- AI generated content
- Not meeting the 20,000 word minimum by May 31
- Not meeting the engagement minimum
- Not primarily falling within Mystery or Thriller
- Explicit pornography
- Violating platform terms
- Not meeting eligibility requirements
Minkly reserves the right to review submissions and remove or disqualify entries that do not comply with contest rules.
How We Judge
Stories are evaluated across multiple dimensions to ensure fair and comprehensive judging
Audio Fit (10%)
How well the story translates to audio narration — clarity of prose, flow, dialogue readability, and listening experience
Judges & Moderator Picks (45%)
Writing skill & style, plot coherence, character development, emotional impact, grammar & literary quality, originality, length, worldbuilding, and pacing
Community Pick (45%)
Based on community votes. If entries receive an equal number of votes, popularity and engagement will be considered, including favorites, likes, reads, comments, reactions, and reviews
Contest Timeline
Mark your calendar for these important dates
March 1 - May 31, 2026
Three full months to craft, refine, and submit your best mystery or thriller story. Stories must reach 20,000 words by the submission deadline.
June 1 - June 30, 2026
Our panel of judges and moderators will carefully review all submissions. Community voting will be open during this period.
Beginning July 2026
Winners will be announced on our Discord server and Instagram post. All participants will be notified.
Key Dates
Contest Opens
Submission Deadline
Judging Begins
Judging Ends
Winners Announced
Join our Discord server to stay updated on contest news, connect with other participants, and be there for the live winner announcement!
Beyond the Cash Prizes
Featured Placement
Winners receive featured banner placement on Minkly's homepage for maximum visibility
Professional Cover
A commissioned professional webnovel cover valued at $100. If you already have a professional non-AI cover, $100 is added to your prize instead
Social Media Promotion
Winners get promoted on social media platforms such as Instagram and Reddit
Winner Obligations & Terms
By submitting an entry, participants confirm they have read, understood, and agree to all contest rules
Must the story stay on Minkly?
Yes. The winning story must remain published on Minkly and may not be removed from the platform.
Can I cross-post to other platforms?
Yes, but the story must remain at least 5 chapters ahead on Minkly compared to any other platform. On other platforms, you must clearly direct readers to Minkly for the latest chapters.
How are prizes paid out?
Prize payments will be issued via PayPal. Winners must have a valid PayPal account and are responsible for providing accurate payment information.
What about promotional efforts?
Authors agree to reasonably cooperate with promotional efforts related to the contest, including social media promotion and featured placement.
Can rules change?
Minkly reserves the right to revoke prizes if winner conditions are not upheld, and to amend contest rules if necessary. Any changes will be communicated publicly.