Category Details · LGBTQ+
This category is open to all LGBTQ+ individuals. It is also open to others who submit a story with LGBTQ+ characters highlighted in the story. Submissions in this category can have protagonists, whether real-life people or fictional characters, who typically share their struggles and journey towards acceptance as an LGBTQ+ person in the mainstream world - or otherwise provide insights from that person's point of view. Stories in this category can be written by authors belonging to the LGBTQ+ community or can be intended for readers in this community.
Why you should enter your story into the Next Generation Short Story Awards
Next Generation Short Story Awards: LGBTQ+ Category
The Next Generation Short Story Awards is a not-for-profit international awards program for authors of short stories. When you submit your short story for this contest, it can be considered for cash prizes, awards, anthology mentions, exposure and recognition as one of the top short stories written this year!
Here's what makes this contest unique. ALL entry fees go back to Winners and Finalists. This includes through cash prizes; medals and trophies; the awards ceremony; the running of the program; and the ongoing promotion of the Winners and Finalists.
About the LGBTQ+ Competition
In its inaugural year, the Next Generation Short Story Awards was created to honor the most exceptional short stories today. This awards program celebrates the best short story writers, their creative minds behind the words, and contributions to the literary world. The Next Generation Short Story Awards is brought to you by the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the largest awards program in the world for self-published authors and independent publishers.
More About Who Qualifies to Submit
This competition is open to all authors, even first time authors, in the U.S., Canada, or internationally who have an original short story (5,000 words or less) written in English that has not been previously published.
Middle School and High School students can enter the "Student Categories" and submit stories between 1,000 to 3,000 words. Note: Middle School and High School students can also submit stories in the general categories outside of the "Student Categories" but must adhere to the word limit of 5,000 words.
Watch and read testimonial from past participants
About the LGBTQ+ Awards
Awards for Winners and Finalists of the Next Generation Short Story Awards are as follows:
Grand Prize Winners:
- 1st Place: $500 Cash prize and a Gold Medal
- 2nd Place: $300 Cash prize and a Gold Medal
- 3rd Place: $200 Cash prize and a Gold Medal
In addition to cash prizes, all Grand Prize Winners also receive:
- An invitation to attend the awards gala
- Their story published in our Anthology of Winners
- A complimentary copy of the Anthology
Category Winners:
- $75 cash prize and a Gold Medal
- Story published in the Anthology of Winners
- A complimentary copy of the Anthology
Category Finalists:
Name and Title of Story mentioned in the Anthology of Winners for 3 Finalists in each of the 30+ categories
In addition, Winners and Finalists will be listed in the Next Generation Short Story Awards Catalog. This catalog will be sent to thousands of story buyers, media, and more. Names of Winners and Finalists will be listed online for an entire year, helping each of them to potentially benefit from increased revenue through this ongoing online exposure. They will also be given significant social media coverage.
Plus, Winners and Finalists have the opportunity to display Winner or Finalist gold award sticker images on their story, website or social media. More information about the stickers is available here. There is also the option to purchase Anthology at half price for each Winner and Finalist.
Announcements of LGBTQ+ Awards
Winners and Finalists will be notified of their placement by mid-May 2024. Other participants will not receive a notification but a complete list of Winners and Finalists will be available at https://shortstoryawards.com/ by the end of May 2025.
If LGBTQ+ Prizes Are Not Won
When a short story is not selected, it's often because there was plenty of outstanding competition in the category. Winners of the Next Generation Short Story Awards really are the cream of the crop.
Other times, a story may not be chosen because it didn't fit the category as well as it should. Still other times, more editing may help.
Resubmitting to Our LGBTQ+ Contest
If you've entered a story in a previous Next Generation Short Story Awards competition, and would like to resubmit it in the following year, you may do so only by submitting it in a category different from the one(s) previously submitted in.