Brought to you by B.A. Grigg and Colin S. Salmon

So, who are Ben and Colin?

We are writers with a shared passion for finely crafted, original short fiction. Like many of you, we are still sharpening our tools, testing our limits, and learning through practice. We do not claim mastery or special status, but we believe deeply in the value of writing competitions as a means of growth.

When writers come together with a common goal, their skills improve, their voices strengthen, and their confidence follows. Ink & Iron is open to writers of all experience levels, whether this is your first competition or your fiftieth.

What is Ink and Iron?

Ink and Iron is a platform for us to host the kind of competitions from which we have each derived so much growth and enjoyment in the past.

Furthermore, it is a space for writers to challenge themselves, exchange thoughtful and respectful feedback, and support one another beyond a single prompt or deadline. More than a contest, it is a community built around shared improvement, where critique is offered to strengthen the work, not to diminish the writer.

When is the Competition?

Ink & Iron runs on a recurring schedule, with a new competition launching on the first Monday of every third month.

Welcome to Ink & Iron, Short Story Competition

Each competition begins with the release of a prompt shared with all participants. Entries are read and voted on anonymously by fellow contestants, with no self-voting permitted. Adherence to the prompt and word count is essential, and all submissions must be original work.

While the heart of Ink & Iron is feedback, discussion, and growth, there will also be prizes.