Who can submit?
Open to all. Scroll down for the Submission Guidelines.
Last date for Submissions: 31 July 2025
The book will be released in the second half of 2025
PROJECT LEAD: Sarah Rahaman Shaikh
About the Theme:
The Story Project 15 looks forward to presenting the poems and stories of Levellers, going back to the grassroots of universal emotions and experiences— beyond religion, caste, colour, body, nationality or economic status. We celebrate the small moments of fragility, joy, and grief that are shared by animals and humans, connecting to the bare soul. Remember the moments of loneliness, first love, heartbreak, happy tears, hope, hard work, burnout, deferred dreams, sacrifices, passion and death? Those feelings and memories are same for all, whether rich or poor, male or female, upper caste or lower, whatever be the religion, nationality, colour and suchlike. A little child playing with a worn-out tire or another with a brand-new toy— the happiness is the same, at the backdrop of the economic and social gap. The sweat-stained clothes, tired faces, the subtle relief of the day's end, the sight of moonlight on the terrace, the aroma of delicious food, grandmother’s smiles through the fallen teeth, the blazing mike, betrayal from someone dear, the breeze on the face while travelling. Our response to all of these are the same, whoever we are. We’re looking for those stories - heard, lived or imagined.
Project Details & REWARDS:
1. Selected submissions will be published into an anthology (ebooks + paperback). A selection from the rest will be published under TMYS web collection.
2. Excerpts from selected submissions will be highlighted on social media, post release of the book.
3. All selections will be announced on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, Instagram.
4. Selected contributors will be invited to participate in digital live sessions, to discuss their submissions.
5. All submissions under the anthology will enter as nominations for THE BEST CHARACTER AWARD under our annual Awards programme to honour FOUR submissions from the Story Project of TMYS with a specially curated gift hamper.
6. All submissions under the anthology will enter as nominations for THE TMYS STORY AWARD under our annual Awards programme to honour TWO submissions from the Story Projects of TMYS with a cash prize of INR 1500/- (USD20) each. The selection will be made purely on the basis of the merits of the submission.
Submission Guidelines:
1. Submissions can be made in poetry or prose formats. Could be a memory or story or experience you wish to share. Must be written in English.
2. The submission should not have appeared elsewhere before, in any form, in a blogspace or print or Facebook post! ***Only original and previously unpublished work will be considered.***
3. Word count: 1000 and above. The word count does not matter. We do not want to specify any upper limits. What you tell and how you say is all that matters.
4. Any submission that does not adhere to the theme will be shifted to the list of general submissions for the website.
5. While making a submission, the subject line should be: Stereotyping : <the title of the story>
All submissions should be emailed to tmys.stories @gmail.com, attached as a word file, with subject as indicated above.
6. Each submission should include the contributor's introduction (150 words) pasted in the body of the email, social media handles (Facebook / Twitter / Linkedin / Instagram, as applicable) and an HD photograph (jpeg or png only) should be attached.
7. All submissions should use Calibri/Times New Roman, font size 12; font size 16 for headings.
8. A participation fee of INR 300/- (USD 5) will be charged per contribution. This is a non-refundable fee, but we will do our best to cooperate in case you have made an error that can be corrected to help you resubmit.
In each such case, the editor’s decision will be final.
Our bank details:
Tell Me Your Story OPC Pvt. Ltd.
A/c no : 059685800000177, Yes Bank. Branch - Shankardhan Plaza Junction,
MM Road, Mulund West, Mumbai 400080, IFS Code : YESB0000596.
Post making the payment, please send a mail at tmys.stories@gmail.com to register yourself.
For writers residing outside India, please email us for a Paypal link.
***Registration doesn't guarantee publication***
9. One story OR three poems can be submitted per registration. Multiple submissions can be made with separate registrations for each.
10. Last date of all submissions: 31 July 2025
For queries; send us an email at tmys.stories@gmail.com with the subject ‘Queries’.
Please Note:
Because of the volume of submissions we receive, it may not be possible for us to respond to individual queries when the details are specifically mentioned above. Also, please don't expect us to respond to individual mails querying when the winner announcements will happen. We have never defaulted on our schedule, neither do we ever intend to. The schedule is clearly indicated above.
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ALL COMMUNICATIONS UNDER THE STORY PROJECT 15
WILL BE UPLOADED ON TMYS SOCIAL MEDIA.