Short Story Competition
Call for Submissions: The First Jaleh Esfahani Foundation Short Story Competition
For Persian Speakers Living Away from Their Homeland
This call for submissions is an opportunity to tell untold stories, reflect lived experiences, and discover fresh voices.
If you are interested in writing short stories, we invite you to take part in this competition.
Theme
The theme of the competition is open.
Stories may be written in any genre and from any perspective.
Eligibility
Applicants must be 18 years old or over.
The submitted work must be original and unpublished.
Applicants must not have previously published a book, as this competition aims to support emerging voices.
All submissions must be written in Persian and must be the writer’s own creative work.
Each applicant may submit a maximum of one story.
Submission Requirements
Story length: maximum 3,000 words
Submission format: Word document
The writer’s name and contact details must be included.
Judging Criteria
Submissions will be assessed according to the following criteria:
Creativity and originality of the idea
Coherence and structure of the story
Character development
Quality of language and prose
Overall impact
Prizes and Opportunities
The first, second and third-place winners will receive a certificate of appreciation and the Jaleh Esfahani Cultural Foundation award statue.
A selection of the winning stories will be published as a book by Nogaam Publishing.
Critique and discussion sessions for the selected works will be held as part of the Jaleh Esfahani Cultural Foundation’s Story Reading Workshop.
Timeline
Submission deadline: 15 August 2026
Announcement of results: 14 November 2026
How to Submit
Please send your stories to the following email address:
writers@jalehesfahani.com
Literature Working Group
Jaleh Esfahani Cultural Foundation
