In the spirit of The Decameron, we curate bi-weekly themes to lend structure to the broad realm of fiction. Participants may choose to follow that theme or to write untamed by our recommendation. Those who submit may be confident in the knowledge that, not only will all stories appear in our catalog, but that the very best in any category will win acknowledgment, praise, or prize.
While the pandemic rages on, communities all over the country continue to face systemic injustice. Injustice rears its ugly head across America and the world –– in our neighborhoods, in our streets, in our police departments, and in our courts. For our next theme, we’re asking our writers to consider what Justice means to them. For Lincoln, Justice was the Emancipation Proclamation. For Thurgood Marshall, it was taking on the Topeka Board of Education. And for writers everywhere, Justice lies in the worlds they create. Now more than ever, we want our young writers to tell stories exploring how Justice is recognized, served, and sustained –– and where it falls short. Whether legislative, judicial, nonviolent or revolutionary –– Justice must be served, and writing about is the first step.
