A New Competition

If you want a chance to contribute a short story to Independent Minds’ anthology?

Then this is your chance!

Competitions are always worthwhile entering and this one offers the chance to become a published author. They also offer good discipline for writers. This is partly because they require a word count to be met, a deadline to be adhered to and a theme to be respected. However this competition offers more: It offers the opportunity to benefit the national mental health charity MIND*

Independent Minds is thrilled to announce our 2026 inaugural charity anthology in aid of the mental health charity MIND*

The theme for our 2026 anthology is WELLBEING.

Contribution Rules:

How to Enter

1.Eligibility

Entries must be short stories in any genre incorporating the theme of WELLBEING. Stories should be a maximum of 5,000 words in length. Entries must be the original unpublished work of the entrant, and not currently submitted for publication nor for entry into any other competition, anthology or award.

2. Submissions

It is free to submit a story to the anthology. Only one entry per author may be submitted.. Entries must be sent to sumaira@spellboundbooks.co.uk by 12 noon on the closing date

31. December 2025.

3. Manuscripts

Manuscripts must be in English, typed in double spacing and should be contained in a single doc or docx with a separate front page stating the author’s name, penname if different, address, mobile phone number, email address, the story title and word count. Your story should commence on the second page. Neither the first page details nor the title is included in the word count.

4. Submission Judging

Submissions will be judged by the Directors of Independent Minds whose decision shall be final. No correspondence will be entered into.

5. Notifications

Contributors will be notified of success by 28 February 2026 after which date stories accepted for publication in the charity anthology may not be submitted elsewhere for 12 months without the consent of Independent Minds who retain the right to publish the successful submissions or any part thereof in any form during that 12-month period.

*MIND https://mind.org.uk

Mind is a charity that provides information, support and campaigning for people with mental health problems. The charity’s focus is on supporting people disproportionately affected by mental health issues. People from racialised communities, young people and people living in poverty.