Writing Competition - May 2026

May's Creative Writing Competition

The theme for the month is MAYDAY - the international distress signal.

This theme invites work that centres a call that must be heard. We are interested in writing that sustains urgency through its construction; where language carries pressure, and where conflict or need drives the movement of the piece forward.

Writers may work across forms and approaches. This might take shape through compression, repetition, fragmentation, interruption, or the shaping of tone and atmosphere. It may emerge through dialogue, interior voice, or the arrangement of lines and sentences on the page.

There are no restrictions on the content that writers wish to include. We welcome work drawn from personal experience, memory, or imagination. We are looking for writing that treats the theme in an imaginative way, with a voice that feels present and engaging.

Deadline: Last day of the month.

Standard Entry: Submission is considered for inclusion in the online Sahab Collective Journal. 

Single-Page Feedback: Receive a page of feedback that addresses the strengths and weaknesses of your piece overall, as assessed by one of our in-house editors.

Extensive Editorial Feedback: Extensive mark up of the entire document with notes on what to consider moving forward, and line-edits. 

Following Payment: You will receive an email from Sahab Collective confirming your payment. A second email will detail how to submit your entry for consideration. 

Judging Entries: All entries will be judged within two weeks of the closing date of the competition with writers notified of their success. Please note that we do not provide feedback unless this option has been selected prior to submission.

Selected Entries: Will be featured in our online Journal and included in the Sahab Collective Journal, published three times per year.