“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” – Lord Acton
Checks and balances exist to prevent governments, systems, and people from becoming too powerful. But what happens when those failsafes are broken? Write about what happens when those limits collapse—or the resistance that follows.
Send us your fiction, poems, and creative nonfiction about the pursuit of freedom and the loss of it; the balance of power and the corruption of it; or the power of pushing back when the scale tips too far in one direction. This could be about governments, corporations, communities, families, or people who never hear “no.” We’re looking for writing that explores what happens when power devours everything and everyone around it…and what it means to fight back.
We welcome writing of all forms: fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and hybrid work. If it’s alive, urgent, and something you have to write right now, send it our way.
Three winners will be selected and published at the end of March. You may submit up to two pieces per submission, but please send your work as one document. We accept prose submissions up to 1,000 words total or poetry submissions up to two pages.
Prizes:
- First place: $1,000 and publication
- Second place: $200 and publication
- Third place: $100 and publication