Echoes of Tomorrow:
A Sci-Fi Short Story Competition
Calling all writers & Sci-Fi enthusiasts!
For the first time at the Dubai Future Forum, we invite both local and international participants to unleash their creativity and explore the realms of Sci-Fi through storytelling. Dive into futuristic worlds, unravel mysteries of technology, and embark on thrilling adventures that challenge the boundaries of imagination.
Here’s what you need to know
Open for Submissions
27 June
Submission Deadline
30 August
Checklist
- Language: English
- Font: Times New Roman
- Font size: 12
- Spacing: Double-spaced
- Margins: 1-inch
- Word count: up to 2,500 words
- Document format: PDF
Criteria For Participation
- Age criteria: Age 18 and above.
- Theme Integration: Participates must link their story to one of the themes of the forum.
- Originality: Ensure your story offers a fresh and unique take on the theme, avoiding common sci-fi tropes and clichés.
- AI and Plagiarism: Submissions must be entirely original, with no AI-generated or plagiarized content. Those who submit such work will be disqualified.
- Prize Eligibility: If selected as a winner, the contestant must be available to travel to Dubai the week of 18 November to attend the Dubai Future Forum.
Tips for Participation
- Setting Description: Provide vivid descriptions of the futuristic setting. Feel free to be as creative as you want.
- Conflict Development: Introduce a compelling conflict that drives the narrative forward, stemming from the consequences of advanced technology or human actions.
- Plot Twist: Include a surprising plot twist that adds depth to your story and engages the reader's interest.
- Resolution: Provide a satisfying resolution that either resolves the conflict or leaves room for contemplation and further exploration of the story's themes.
- Proofreading: Ensure your story is free of grammatical errors, typos, and inconsistencies.
Stay tuned for exciting prizes, Winner(s) will be announced in October.
Meet our Judges
Ashraf Fagih
Ashraf Fagih is a Saudi academic and novelist who was among the first in the Arabian Gulf region to venture into the science fiction genre. He writes short stories and historical novels and is well-known for his thought-provoking 2024 2024 narratives (Photo by Musleh Jameel).
Suyi Davies
Suyi Davies Okungbowa is an award-winning author of fantasy, science fiction and general speculative work. He has published various novels, the latest of which are Warrior of the Wind and Son of the Storm—both of The Nameless Republic epic fantasy trilogy—and the novella Lost Ark Dreaming. His debut novel, David Mogo, Godhunter, won the 2020 Nommo Award for Best Novel. His shorter works have appeared in various periodicals and anthologies and have been nominated for various awards. He earned his MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona, and lives in Ontario, where he is a professor of creative writing at the University of Ottawa. You can find him online @suyidavies everywhere, or via his newsletter, SuyiAfterFive.com.
Glyn Morgan
Curatorial Lead at Science Museum, London, and curator of "Science Fiction: Voyage to the Edge of Imagination" exhibition. Former editor of Vector and contributor to numerous other publications and journals.