Lift Your Voice!
Anistemi Publishing's Fall Contest
for Christian Authors Ages 11-18
What does redemption look like? Find, create, or retell a fictional story or nonfiction narrative that reveals the nature, power, and reality of redemption. We're particularly interested in stories that connect with you personally.
Submit your original fictional story or nonfiction narrative exploring redemption!
Prizes
One 1st-place, one 2nd-place, one 3rd-place, and up to 10 finalists will be published. 1st place, 2nd place, and 3rd place also receive mentorship sessions and cash prizes.
🏆1st-Place: $150, Editorial Processing, Illustration, & Publication
🏆2nd-Place: $100, Editorial Processing, Illustration, & Publication
🏆3rd-Place: $50, Editorial Processing, Illustration, & Publication
*See details of editorial process under "What to expect after you submit."
Submission Details
Genre: fictional story or narrative nonfiction
Length: 2,500-5,000 words
Theme: Redemption
Question to Answer: What does redemption look like?
Open to: Christian writers ages 11-18
Submission Period: September 4 - October 17, 2025
Winners Announced: Thursday, November 20, 2025
Entry Fee: $25 *This is a special price for our first-ever contest. To understand the full value, please see details about our editorial process (below, under What to expect after you submit). Anistemi gives detailed attention to highest quality.
Formatting Guidelines
12-point Arial or Times New Roman font, white paper
Double spaced
Include a brief cover letter introducing yourself and your story
Header with your name and submission category (fictional story or nonfiction narrative)
Submit your story
What to expect after you submit
Winning stories will fit the theme, provide our members and audience with valuable perspectives on the topic of redemption, and showcase excellent storytelling skills.
All submissions must be original and not previously published.
All stories are reviewed by Janie Barbosa, Anistemi Publishing's founder and CEO, and Steffanie Schweikert, our Editor-in-Chief.
All participants will receive an email notifying them of our publishing decision within four weeks. Please watch your Promotional and Spam folders, mark us as a safe sender, and move emails from us to your Inbox to ensure you receive your notification.
If you do not receive an email after submission, check your promotional tab. If you have not received an email editorial letter within four weeks after announcement date above, there has been a technical issue. Email us directly to inquire on your story's status at [email protected]. We honor every author's hard work with a response from a member of our leadership team.
Please do not submit your essay for publication elsewhere until receiving a notification from us that your story is not selected for publication at this time.
Winning stories will go through our editorial process, which includes:
One round of feedback from our editor-in-chief
Revisions from you
Line editing from one of our editorial assistants
Cover art design & illustration
Formatting by one of the editorial assistants
Publication in Anistemi Publishing's Open Access Library!
We do not publish all the stories in an anthology. Published stories are released per a special release calendar to ensure all stories receive equal promotional opportunities, and one of our editing team will email authors to let them know when their story will be featured to Anistemi members and reader audience. We also provide authors with a special feature graphic they may share via email or website.
Our publication both grants and protects author copyright! To view examples, please visit our Open Access Library at AnistemiBooks.com. Our formatting grants the author and illustrator clear public copyright protection of their original work, and check-out protocols serve to protect original works from being downloaded or shared.
How we protect your rights
By submitting a story, you grant Anistemi Publishing LLC first electronic rights to your story. This means (1) we have the right to publish your story in a digital format at AnistemiBooks.com, (2) we'll be the first publisher of the story, (3) after publication, all rights to the story revert back to you.
Important Note: The rights for the cover illustration will revert back to the illustrator, and the formatting will belong to Anistemi Publishing. So, authors retain the right to share their story (revised with input from our staff) in other places as long as they do not require the author to grant them exclusive rights to the work; the Anistemi edition will continue to be hosted in our Open Access Library.
Our publication grants and protects author and illustrator copyrights. To view examples, visit our Open Access Library at AnistemiBooks.com.
We strive to empower young artists with the knowledge they need to confidently navigate publishing realities of online, multi-media works. We're delighted to answer questions; please send all rights-related inquiries to [email protected].
FAQs
How do I submit my essay?
Simply (1) complete the form above (located under Formatting Guidelines & above What to expect after you submit), (2) upload your pdf file, (3) enter your payment information for submission fee, (4) read & acknowledge terms & conditions, and (5) click Submit my story! All submissions will receive a high-level editorial letter after winners have been announced (see details above for announcement dates).
What if something goes wrong, or I need more help?
Tech-trouble happens, and we're here to help! Just email us at [email protected]. One of our team members will happily troubleshoot with you to make sure you're able to participate!
What is Anistemi Publishing's Bi-Annual Publishing Contest?
Anistemi Publishing was started to provide young authors more publishing support, from education to publication supports and opportunities. We open two publishing contests to the public each year: one in the fall and one in the spring. Through them, we hope to encourage more young Christian authors to boldly use their voice to bless those in their home, churches, community, and online (their God-given spheres of influence)!
Why do you host the contests?
We host the contests as a way of reaching beyond our membership and audience base to serve the broader community. We want to see the internet flooded with ever-increasing Christian content of highest quality!
Why are contests limited to young Christian authors?
Young Christian authors are increasingly underserved as the age of self-publishing fuels an increase in non-Christian perspectives and story. Diversity is worth celebrating, but not when it censors some voices; that's not true diversity. Our contests seek to offer not only publishing opportunities for underserved authors, but also a space where young Christians may safely explore and express their perspectives and beliefs without fear of being labeled judgmental or hateful while still learning how to respectfully communicate their belief system through story.
Who is the Anistemi Publishing Team?
You can learn more about our team here.
What's Anistemi Publishing all about?
We don't just publish. We raise up young voices! We invest in young authors because we know the valuable content is not the real treasure. The real treasure is the individual created in the image of God to declare good news. Learn more about our mission here!
How does Anistemi's Open Access Library work?
We want more quality, modern Christian fiction online. We want to promote and protect the rights of young Christian authors who generate it. Our Open Access Library is how we turn those desires into a reality. It's the way we help young Christian readers connect with new Christian writers, their voices, and their messages...for free! Learn more about why we prioritize publishing new voices to this open access library here!
How can I get involved with Anistemi?
We're SO glad you asked! To learn about upcoming events, join our newsletter, here. To prepare for a career in publishing while still in high school, consider Anistemi Author Academy's certification program for Christian authors. To support young authors, please connect here to read their work, subscribe to their newsletters, and learn more about the work they're doing.
1. Speak up!
Inspire readers to answer the Anistemi call to raise up Christian voices!
2. Rise up!
Explore meaning founded in the fantastic reality of Christ!
3. Unite!
Offer potential for collaboration with other Christian creators through multimedia arts, such as illustrators, voice actors, or other young Christian creators!
We're seeking creative works that:
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