Crooked Lines Short Story Competition 2025

The Department of English at Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence announces the third edition of its annual short story competition for young writers, CROOKED LINES.

They invite Indian residents between the ages of 16 and 18 to unlock the farthest nooks and crannies of their minds and pen a riveting story with all the elements of an unforgettable narrative.

30 long-listed contestants will be invited to the University campus for the Crooked Lines literature festival and prize-giving ceremony. Choose a topic you love and write your best story for the opportunity to win exciting cash prizes.

Submissions must be unpublished, original, in English, and between 1,000 and 2,000 words. The overall winning submission will receive Rs. 50,000. The deadline for this opportunity is 20 September.

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Enquiries about submissions should be directed to the Crooken Lines Literature Festival. Please always refer to their website for complete details and information. 

Please note, this call is run by the Shiv Nadar Institution for Eminence, not the Commonwealth Foundation.