This month, we're in conversation with Sarah Wilson’s I Eat the Stars: How to Live Fully and Beautifully in a Collapsing World.
JULY CONTEST THEME:
For your submission, send us a piece of writing of up to 1,000 words that explores a paradox—a place where seemingly incompatible truths coexist.
Explore moments that resist easy conclusions. Rather than choosing one truth over another, we invite you to stay present with tension on the page.
What becomes important when you stop trying to resolve the contradiction?
Submission details, deadline, and FAQs are below.
This month’s contest theme and weekly prompts are inspired by and in conversation with Sarah Wilson’s I Eat the Stars: How to Live Fully and Beautifully in a Collapsing World.
Sarah Wilson is a multi-New York Times and Amazon bestselling author, social philosopher, international keynote speaker, minimalist and philanthropist. Her book, This One Wild and Precious Life, won the US Gold Nautilus Prize, and she has ranked in the top 200 most influential authors in the world (two years in a row). Her latest book is I Eat the Stars.
Life has a way of undoing simple stories. The people we love disappoint us and astonish us. We grieve what we’ve lost while feeling grateful it happened at all. We long for change and cling to what’s familiar. We carry heartbreak and joy in the same body.
As writers, we’re uniquely equipped for this territory. Over the next four Sundays, we’ll explore a different paradox through a weekly writing prompt. Each one is an invitation to linger in complexity. We hope these prompts encourage you to write with greater honesty, curiosity, and generosity.
Read more about the contest and submit your entry.
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Explore what’s happening at LWS this month: live conversations with Maya C. Popa, Sophia Smith Galer, and literary agent Rachel Mann, workshops on speculative fiction and memoir, Agent & Editor Hours, plus Organise Your Novel with Scrivener. Read the full July lineup here.
Missed our July goal-setting workshop? The replay of Make July Your Month of Writing is now available. In this 1-hour session, we’ll help you clarify what matters most and set meaningful writing goals for the month ahead. Watch the replay here.
Work on your contest submission at Writers’ Hour—our daily silent writing sprints.
Craving more craft insights and a creative community? Learn about Membership.
We are thrilled to share the contest results for May 2026. Special thanks once again to our guest judge, Sarah L. Kaufman.
First Place: My Wrong dress, floral and pink, worn to a failed interview.
by K.T. DownsSecond Place: Red by The Mollusc Dimension
Third Place: Minutes by Eshwari R
Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to everyone who participated. It’s a pleasure to share these pieces with you, and we can’t wait to see what you create in the next contest!
First Prize:
$135 USD (£100 GBP)
Publication in Writers’ Hour Magazine
3-months of London Writers’ Salon Silver Membership (£99 value)
3-Month Chill Subs Better Membership (£25 value)
Commemorative Writers’ Hour trophy mug (priceless)
Second Prize:
Publication in Writers’ Hour Magazine
1-month of London Writers’ Salon Silver Membership (£37 value)
Third Prize:
Publication in Writers’ Hour Magazine
Submissions open Monday, July 1 at 5:00pm ET (10:00pm BST) and close Friday, July 31 at 11:59pm ET.
Genre: all genres welcome (unless otherwise specified)
Word count: up to 1,000 words (no minimum)
Eligibility: previously unpublished work only
One submission per person per monthly contest
Deadline: Friday, July 31 at 11:59pm ET
AI policy: AI-assisted writing is not accepted
Winners will be contacted via Submittable, and winning pieces will be published by August 31, 2026.
The monthly contest is open to paid Writers’ Hour Magazine subscribers and London Writers’ Salon members with complimentary paid access.
Finances a barrier? Request free entry to this month’s contest.
Submit to this month’s contest:
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