Teens & Culture
Where Tradition Meets Tomorrow
Who Can
Enter
How to
Enter
Write Your Story
An original short story on the theme Teens & Culture. Maximum 1,500 words.
Prepare Your Document
Save as a PDF or Word file (.pdf, .doc, .docx), titled with your story's title.
Complete the Form
Fill in your name, email, phone, age, district, municipality and optional bio.
Upload Your Story
Attach your document below. Only one submission per entrant is permitted.
Submit by the Deadline
Entries close 31 August 2026 at 23:59 SAST. Late entries cannot be accepted.
Prizes
Anthology Publication
Your story published in the 2026 KZN Women Authors Forum Short Story Anthology.
Certificate of Achievement
An official KWAF certificate recognising your selection and achievement.
Published Author Recognition
Be recognised as a published author through the official anthology.
No cash prizes will be awarded.
Submit Your
Short Story
Fill in your details, attach your story, and confirm the declarations below.
POPIA Consent Statement
The KZN Women Authors Forum (KWAF) is committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (POPIA).
By submitting this entry, you acknowledge and agree that:
- Your personal information will be collected solely for administering the 2026 KWAF Short Story Competition.
- Your information may be used to communicate with you regarding your submission, judging, results, anthology publication, certificates, and related KWAF literary activities.
- Your information will not be sold or shared with third parties for marketing purposes.
- If selected, KWAF may publish your name, district, author biography, photograph (where provided), and submitted work in the official anthology and promotional material.
- Your information will be stored securely and retained only as long as reasonably necessary.
Frequently Asked
Questions
The competition is open to writers who are 18 years or older and reside in one of the 11 listed KwaZulu-Natal districts: Amajuba, eThekwini Metro, iLembe, King Cetshwayo, Mkhanyakude, Ray Nkonyeni (Ugu), Sisonke, uMgungundlovu, uMzinyathi, uThukela, and Zululand.
Your story must be a maximum of 1,500 words, your own original work, and submitted as a PDF (.pdf) or Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) file through the entry form.
No. Each entrant may submit one (1) story only.
Winning authors will receive publication in the 2026 KZN Women Authors Forum Short Story Anthology, an official Certificate of Achievement, and recognition as a published author through the anthology. No cash prizes will be awarded.
Shortlisted and winning entrants will be contacted using the email address and/or phone number provided in the entry form. Competition updates will also be shared on official KWAF platforms.
Terms &
Conditions
1. Organiser
The KZN Women Authors Forum (KWAF) 2026 Short Story Competition is organised by KWAF as part of its literary development programme supported by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC).
2. Competition Theme
Teens & Culture — explore how young people honour their cultural roots while embracing change. Your story may celebrate traditions, challenge outdated beliefs, or imagine new ways culture continues to thrive.
3. Competition Dates
Entries Open: 25 July 2026. Entries Close: 31 August 2026 at 23:59 (SAST). Late entries will not be accepted.
4. Eligibility
Open to individuals who are 18 years of age or older; reside in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, within one of the eligible districts; submit an original short story; and accept these Terms and Conditions. Employees, organisers, judges, and immediate family members directly involved in administering the competition are not eligible to enter.
5. Entry Requirements
- Each entrant may submit one (1) story only.
- Stories must be a maximum of 1,500 words.
- Entries must relate to the competition theme.
- Stories must be original and written solely by the entrant.
- Entries must not have been previously published or submitted to another competition before the closing date.
- Entries must be submitted through the official KWAF online submission form.
- Incomplete, corrupted, illegible, or late submissions will not be considered.
6. Originality and Artificial Intelligence
All submissions must be the entrant's own original creative work. The use of generative AI tools to write, substantially generate, or rewrite competition entries is prohibited. KWAF reserves the right to investigate suspected plagiarism or AI-generated submissions and may disqualify any entry that breaches these requirements.
7. Language
Entries may be submitted in English, isiZulu, or any official South African language.
8. Judging
Entries will be assessed by an independent judging panel appointed by KWAF, evaluated on interpretation of the theme, creativity and originality, storytelling, character development, structure and coherence, language and style, cultural authenticity, and overall literary quality. The judges' decision is final, and no correspondence regarding the outcome will be entered into.
9. Prizes
Selected winning writers will receive publication in the 2026 KZN Women Authors Forum Short Story Anthology, an official Certificate of Achievement, and recognition as a published author through the anthology. No cash prizes will be awarded.
10. Publication Rights
Copyright of each story remains with its respective author. By entering, entrants grant KWAF a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to publish winning and selected stories in the official anthology; edit submissions for grammar, formatting, spelling, and publication purposes while preserving the integrity of the author's work; and use entrants' names, author biographies, photographs (where provided), and excerpts from their stories to promote the competition, anthology, and future KWAF literary initiatives.
11. District Representation
KWAF intends to publish an anthology representing KwaZulu-Natal's literary diversity through stories from across the province. District representation will be considered during final selection, though KWAF reserves the right to adjust selection should entries from a particular district not meet the required publishing standard.
12. Disqualification
KWAF reserves the right to disqualify any entrant who submits plagiarised or AI-generated work, provides false information, attempts to influence the judging process, breaches these Terms and Conditions, or engages in conduct that compromises the integrity of the competition.
13. Amendments
KWAF reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions or make changes to the competition where reasonably necessary. Amendments will be communicated through official KWAF platforms.
14. Acceptance
Submission of an entry constitutes full acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.
15. Contact
For enquiries regarding the competition, please contact the KZN Women Authors Forum through its official communication channels.