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Ink of Ages Fiction Prize Announces Winning Stories 2026

Published by Joanne Taylor

Discover new history and myth-inspired short fiction favourites. The winning stories are here! At Ink of Ages Fiction Prize, our annual writing competition celebrating historical and mythology-inspired short fiction from around the world, we’ve announced the winners of the youth and adult categories. These stories rose to the top of a fiercely competitive shortlist. Each shortlisted entry was read by multiple specialist judges, scoring for literary merit, originality and creativity, historical interest, and impact and enjoyment. There’s brilliant writing, fresh ideas, a sense of being transported, and stories that stay with you long after reading. The shortlist was exceptionally strong this year, and the final decisions were close (so close that some personal favourites of the judges missed the top five by a whisker!). Adult Winners #1: “In the Land of Heroes” by Aleah Romer #2: “The Weaver of Faces” by Theo James Taylor #3: “Warmth in the Woods” by Sydney Miller Highly Commended: “The Crown That Would Not Bow” by Writinah “Perfection” by Sparsh Sharma Youth Winners #1: “The Ink-Keeper’s Daughter” by Anaya Jain …

#14 Ink of Ages Shortlist released

Shortlist for the 2026 Ink of Ages Fiction Prize released!

Published by Joanne Taylor

The favourites from our favourites After months of reading, careful consideration, and discussions behind the scenes, we have the youth and adult shortlists ready! We loved so many of the stories on the longlists that this was not easy. You can read the opening lines from the adult and youth shortlists on the new Ink of Ages website! These are the favourites from our favourites. Several made us laugh, and at least three made me cry (surprise, surprise 😂). Thank you to everyone who took part, writers and our fabulous reading team. The adult shortlist ‘In the Land of Heroes’ by Aleah Romer‘The Arithmetic of Ash’ by M.R. Cameo‘The Yaksha of the Pond’ by Loshi Rajen‘The African Griot’ by Takudzwa Wayne Mhaka‘Roserust Hollow: A Door Between Worlds’ by Azure Austin‘Apotheosis’ by Juliette Jarabek‘Warmth in the Woods’ by Sydney Miller‘The Last Scroll’ by Christina Charles‘Wet Plate Collodion’ by Madison Vansco‘Igbo Flight’ by Chisom Umeh‘Inferno Chinatown’ by Scott Ting-A-Kee‘SEIRA Inc.’ by Denarii Peters‘The Crown That Would Not Bow’ by Writinah‘Oberleutnant Raymond Zoller’ by Katie Thorn‘Perfection’ by Sparsh Sharma‘The Weaver …

The Myth of Etana: A short story

Published by Joanne Taylor

To the East of an endless river, in the vast unknown, there is a city built of sand and stone. Great towers of chalk, carved from the mountains of Sumeria, stand proudly amidst desert plains, illuminated only by slivers of still moonlight. And when night falls within the city’s walls, it is said that the wind blows silent and the stars hold their breath. Nature itself dare not make a sound. For this is a city built by the Gods themselves.

Ink of Ages Fiction Prize: The Update #13 📜 Longlist for the 2026 Prize released!

Published by Joanne Taylor

*Whispering submission readers*: “I feel a bit mean,” … “Me too…” Welcome to the 13th issue of the Ink of Ages Update, a monthly newsletter by me, Joanne Taylor, with a focus on writing, reading, and well … more writing. Thanks for being here! If this email was forwarded to you, or you’re reading online in the wild, you can sign up here. Congratulations to all writers whose story made the longlist this year! If yours didn’t quite make it this time, it might help to know that we had to pass on some very good writing due to sheer number of entries and the high quality of submissions. You can see the adult and youth longlists on our new Ink of Ages website! This month, I’m joined by Joy Dillon, one of our submission readers, from Trinidad and Tobago, sharing her advice after reading a great many submissions with us! Helping your short fiction make an impact on readers To all who sent an entry to this year’s Ink of Ages contest, congratulations, and …