CO-AUTHORS - IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Both authors need to give consent at the time of submission.

(If one or both co-authors are not a member of ACFW, 

please pay the nonmember entry fee.)

NO AI USE:

No entries with the assistance of a text-generating AI such as ChatGPT, or others, and no image generated work. We value and reward human creativity and ingenuity.

GUIDELINES FOR DISQUALIFICATION:

The following will disqualify an entry. 

No swearing, no graphic sexual content or approval of alternative lifestyles condemned in the Scriptures, no graphic violence for the sake of shock effect, no sorcery or black magic, no horror, no demons or evil spirits.

Our hope is that our writing glorifies God and the themes of Christianity. 

Your entry or book does not have to be explicitly Christian or include Scripture, but the content and moral lessons must align with the Holy Bible.

See specific rules for eligibility for both published authors and unpublished authors below.

PUBLISHED AUTHORS:

You are considered a published author if you are published either traditionally, self, or hybrid but see the exception below.

Published Book Copyright:

Your work must have a copyright date of 2023 or 2024.

 Do not enter work published in 2025.

Please save your 2025 published work for next year’s contest.

Unpublished Manuscripts by Published Authors:

If you have NOT been published in a specific category, 

even if you are a published author,

you may enter an unpublished manuscript in the unpublished category, 

but only if you have not yet been published in that category.

You will receive 3 separate judge’s score sheets with comments for each.

We will not provide track changes this year.

See the co-authors note above.

Ineligible Manuscripts and Books:

• If you won first place for your category in the previous 2 years, you are not eligible to enter that specific work again.

• If your book or manuscript has been published in 2025, please wait to submit until 2026.

UNPUBLISHED AUTHORS:

You are considered an unpublished author if your work has not been published in any form on any platform, including on your own website.

Please enter your unpublished work-in-progress in one of the four unpublished categories.

Unpublished Manuscripts by Unpublished Writers:

Unpublished manuscripts are eligible if the work has not been published anywhere including on your personal blog or in print.

And if you, as a writer, have not been published in that same unpublished category.

Please follow the sample manuscript formatting guidelines.

You will receive 3 separate judge’s score sheets with comments for each.

We will not provide track changes this year.

See the co-authors note above.

Ineligible Manuscripts and Books:

• If you won first place for your category in the previous 2 years, you are not eligible to enter that specific work again.

• If you have signed a contract before August 15, 2025, for any work in the category you are entering.