So while five writers might all choose the same whim, no two stories will end up in quite the same place.
The same rhythm every month. Reliable as the neighbour who puts all their bins out every week.
Signed-up writers receive an email revealing the month's theme, its five whims, and their personal Object. All three arrive together: the theme, the creative directions to choose from, and the Object that's yours alone. From here, you have seven days.
Writers have seven days to write and submit a 300-word story. Each submission must be original work written for Whimsy, select a whim via the dropdown on the submission form, and engage meaningfully with both the whim and the assigned Object. Submissions close at the end of the 7th at 11:59pm CEST.
Entries are reviewed and the month's results are released. Five shortlisted stories are selected and share our £500 prize pool equally (£100 each). One is chosen as the monthly Spotlight and published on the Whimsy site and socials. Five honourable mentions are also recognised. Every results release includes a short editorial snapshot: entries received, the most popular whim, and any standout moments from across the submissions.
Entry fees fund the monthly prize pool and keep Whimsy running.
Sign-ups close at midnight on the last day of the month. No entries are accepted once the prompts are released on the 1st.
Ready to enter? Join Whimsy →Each year, Whimsy builds toward a curated anthology of standout stories from across the months. All selected stories and honourable mentioned will be offered a place, and we pay £5 for non-exclusive rights to publish them. Volume One is pencilled for the end of 2026.
Every month, one opening line from across all entries is permanently etched into the Whimsy Wall of First Lines—a running archive of the finest first lines in Whimsy history. A shrine to brilliant beginnings.
After the Whimsy submission window closes, there's a glitch in space and time through which the Wandering Library appears—a curious, transient space for writers to share, read and celebrate each other's little tales of whimsy.
