MyAnimeList (MAL) and Honeyfeed (HF) have teamed up to announce the MyAnimeList x Honeyfeed Writing Contest 2025 – NOVELOUS Worlds, an international web novel contest powered by Shogakukan. This collaboration is coming shortly after last month’s launch of NOVELOUS, a new light novel reading app developed by Shogakukan.
Aspiring authors from all over the world are invited to submit their original works based on one of two thought-provoking prompts:
- “Love Transcends Boundaries” – Explore the power of love to overcome cultural barriers and obstacles, highlighting bonds that defy the odds.
- “The End is Now” – Dive into a world on the brink of destruction, where humanity has only one year left—how will people respond to the ultimate countdown?
A New Platform for Emerging Writers
The NOVELOUS app’s goal is to bring global audiences closer to the Japanese light novel experience, providing a dedicated space for engaging and immersive storytelling. By collaborating with MyAnimeList and Honeyfeed, Shogakukan is looking to have potential new writers have their works showcased in a professional, reader-friendly environment.
How to Enter
Eligibility Requirements
- Your novel must be written in English. Submissions in other languages will not be accepted.
- Only new novels created specifically for this contest are eligible for judging.
- Previously published works, whether online or in physical form, are not allowed.
- Your novel must be marked as “Completed” on Honeyfeed by May 7, 2025, ensuring a satisfactory conclusion (arc, volume, or season) by that date.
- No modifications or additions can be made after May 7, 2025.
- Rewrites, spin-offs, fanfiction, plagiarism, or AI-generated works are not permitted.
- Contest entries must be original, written solely by the author, and exclusive to Honeyfeed during the contest period.
- Entries cannot include content derived from or inspired by previous works (yours or others’).
- Collaborations between multiple authors are not allowed; however, external proofreading, copy editing, or artwork contributions do not count as collaboration.
- The novel must be suitable for ages 17+ and set to “All Audience” on Honeyfeed. NSFW content is prohibited.
- To qualify as a contest winner, your novel must contain between 25,000 and 75,000 words, with 1,000–1,500 words per chapter recommended.
- Participants must be at least 18 years old by August 3, 2025.
The contest will be hosted on Honeyfeed, a platform dedicated to supporting aspiring web novelists.
- Submission Period: February 11, 2025 – May 7, 2025
- Finalist Selection: A panel of judges will review all entries and select the most compelling stories.
- Fan Voting Phase: June 23 – July 24, 2025 (voting to take place on the NOVELOUS app)
- Winners Announced: August 4, 2025
Authors are also allowed to enter with more than one novel to increase their chances of winning, but only a single entry will be selected as a finalist candidate.
Prizes
Writers will compete for cash prizes and an exclusive opportunity to be featured on NOVELOUS. The top entries will receive:
- Most Voted “Love Transcends Boundaries“ Entry: $3,000 USD
- Most Voted “The End is Now” Entry: $3,000 USD
- Judges’ Choice Award: $3,000 USD
Beyond the cash rewards, the contest is also promoted as a stepping stone for aspiring authors to gain recognition and expand their readership on the new app. All 10 finalist entries will receive the opportunity to have their entries featured on the NOVELOUS app.
More details can be found on MyAnimeList’s website.
While anime and manga have long reached widespread international popularity, light novels remain relatively underappreciated outside of Japan. NOVELOUS aims to change that by making officially translated Japanese light novels accessible to North American audiences. It begin developed by Shogakukan, one of Japan’s leading publishers, also means that the app can offer an immersive reading experience for those eager to explore the source material behind many beloved anime adaptations.
Source: Press Release
©Shogakukan
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