The Aporia Prize 2026

The Theme

Thresholds

A threshold is a place you can stand in but not stay. The moment before the door opens. The last line of a letter you never sent. The country you left, the person you were about to become. Aporia itself means an impasse that is also an opening — so for our first prize, we asked for yours. Write the crossing, in whatever form carries it.

What You Can Win

The Prizes

A cash prize, a feature, a place in a special edition — and, for everyone who enters, the detailed reading Aporia is known for.

First Prize

Winner

₹5,000

+ featured publication
+ special-edition cover placement
+ winner's card & full spotlight

Second

₹3,000

+ featured publication
+ special edition
+ contributor card

Third

₹2,000

+ featured publication
+ special edition
+ contributor card

Special Mentions · up to five · published in the special edition, each with its own mention card

Every entrant receives personal, detailed feedback on their piece — and is considered for the special edition.

The Process

How to Enter

Three steps, a few minutes.

Write to the theme

One piece — poetry (up to 3 poems), fiction or flash (up to 2,500 words), or an essay. Original, unpublished, and yours. No AI-generated work.

Submit your piece

Paste your work into the entry form with your details. It takes a few minutes.

Pay the entry fee

You're taken straight to Razorpay to pay ₹200 (India) or $5 (international). The fee supports the journal and your detailed critique.

The Calendar

Key Dates

1 November

Entries open

Submissions begin. The threshold is open.

30 November · 23:59 IST

Entries close

The final deadline. No late entries.

1–6 December

Judging

Every piece is read closely and screened to Aporia's standard.

8 December

Winners announced

Winners and special mentions published, and the special edition released.

Good to Know

Questions

Who can enter?

Any writer, anywhere, of any age. Aporia is a journal for young and emerging writers, and all are welcome. Writers under 18 are eligible for every prize; a parent or guardian's consent is required before a young winner is published or paid.

What's the fee for?

It supports Aporia — a small, independent journal — and it guarantees you a detailed, personal reading of your work, which we give to every entrant, win or not. It is not a "pay to win": judging is purely on the writing.

Who judges the prize?

Entries are read and judged by the full Aporia editorial team. Judging is purely on the writing.

Can I get a refund?

Entry fees are non-refundable. The one exception: if we fail to send you your personal feedback, we will refund your fee in full. No other refunds are given, including for entries that are disqualified.

Can I enter more than one piece?

Yes — each piece is a separate entry with its own fee. A poetry entry may contain up to three poems as a single set.

Does it have to be about the word "threshold"?

No. Interpret Thresholds however you like — literally or loosely. We care that the piece lives somewhere in that idea, not that it names it.

What about AI?

Entries must be your own, human-written work. We screen submissions, and AI-generated writing is disqualified without refund. This protects every honest entrant. AI-assisted translation of your own original work is permitted (see below).

Can I enter work translated from another language?

Yes, as long as the original work is your own. You may use AI tools to help with the translation. Please include the original-language text with your entry and a short note saying how it was translated. We judge authenticity on the original.

Do I keep the rights to my work?

Yes. You keep full copyright. By entering you grant Aporia first publication rights for winning and selected pieces; everything else remains entirely yours.

How are winners paid?

By bank transfer or UPI in India, and the appropriate method internationally. For winners under 18, prizes are arranged with a parent or guardian.

Every beginning
is a threshold.