Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about our contests? Read below!
FAQ's
Q: What does my entry fee support?
Dreambridge contests are designed to produce professionally edited, thoughtfully curated anthologies with intentional marketing and distribution. We are committed to transparency and to sustaining the editorial and production work that makes each book possible.
Entry fees support blind review, professional editing for selected authors, book design and formatting, contributor copies, and the costs required to bring the anthology to readers.
Q: Do you offer fee waivers?
Dreambridge is committed to accessibility, which is why a limited number of submission fee waivers are available for writers experiencing financial hardship.
To request a waiver, please Contact Us with the subject line “Fee Waiver Request” and a brief (1–2 sentence) statement of need. No documentation is required.
Waivers are granted on a first-come, first-served basis and are limited.
Q: Will I keep the rights to my story if I submit to your contest?
Yes. You will retain the rights to your story should you choose to publish it elsewhere later.
Q: Do I get royalties from publishing with the annual anthology contest?
No, royalties will not be available to individual authors for short story anthology contest publications. For more information, please contact us.
Q: Are you open to international submissions?
Yes, we accept story submissions worldwide! However, the anthology will be published in English, and your story will rotate between 1-3 English-speaking editors so it will need to stand on its own in English through the initial selection and editing process.
We never want to turn writers or submissions away, but depending on how many entries we get, judging can be critical in those first stages and we would hate to see a story turned down because something was lost in translation.
Q: I'm under 18 years old. Can I still submit to the anthology contest?
Yes! If you are submitting your work and are under 18 years old, please note that your work will be judged equally and as critically alongside adult submissions. Your age will not be revealed to our editors in the submission round, but may play a factor in how we put the rest of the anthology together, so if you are chosen feel free to disclose this information to us.
Q: What is the editing process like?
Accepted stories will receive two rounds of edits and a final copy edit. Editors will make comments, corrections, and suggestions—and authors respond by sending a revised draft—over the course of the year. Read our Blog for more insight into our editing and publishing process!
Q: When can we expect the next anthology to be published?
Our annual anthology contest aims to publish the book the same year the contest is held or at the beginning the following year (buffering for production delays). Follow us on social media or join our newsletter to ensure you have the most up-to-date information on our publication date.
Q: How many submissions do you expect, and how many stories will be published?
We expect to publish about 20 stories, as per our previous anthology. Last year, we received over 100 submissions. We are casting an even wider net this year and hope for more!
Q: Is experimental prose or poetry acceptable?
No. For our short fiction anthologies, because of typesetting limitations, we are not able to guarantee formatting specifications. Also, we do not currently publish poetry.
Q: What is your stance on AI or AI-assisted submissions?
Dreambridge is committed to honoring the craft of storytelling. All submissions are read blind to ensure an impartial selection process, and we seek work that reflects the author’s individual voice, imagination, and creative labor. Submissions must be original fiction written by the author.
Work generated in whole or in substantial part by artificial intelligence is not eligible for consideration and will be disqualified. Selected stories undergo developmental and copy-editing and must stand as cohesive, author-driven works of fiction.
Q: Is the use of explicit language or mature scenes acceptable?
Our readership includes a YA audience, so bear that in mind when writing and submitting your story. We currently do not publish explicit mature content such as smut or violent horror. Once entries have been selected, editors will work with authors to veil content or suggest omissions minimally as appropriate.
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