RidhzWorld Publishing

The "Once Upon In Our Minds" competition is an international story writing contest designed to encourage creativity and storytelling among children aged 5 to 16 years. Participants have the chance to showcase their writing talents and get their stories published in an anthology.

Yes! Entries are accepted globally from children aged 5–16 from all regions.

Children aged 5 to 16 years from around the world are eligible to participate in the competition. There are different categories based on age groups to ensure fair competition.

To enter, visit our official website, fill out the registration form, and submit your story following the guidelines provided. Entries will be accepted from August 15th.

Participants are divided into the following age groups:

• 5 to 8 years

• 9 to 12 years

• 13 to 16 years

No, there are no specific themes for the competition. We encourage children to freely express their creativity and write stories in any genre or theme that inspires them. This allows participants to explore their imaginations without any limitations.

Plagiarized stories will be disqualified.

• Word Count: Depending on the age group, the word limit varies:

  • 5 to 8 years: minimum 399 words

  • 9 to 12 years: minimum 699 words

  • 13 to 16 years: minimum 1999 words

• Format: Stories must be submitted in English, in a Word document or PDF format.

• Originality: All entries must be original works.

There is a nominal entry fee of Rs. 249 or USD 5 to cover administrative costs.

The submission deadline is September 30th. Late entries will not be accepted. However, by reserving a spot, you can extend the deadline and submit your story by October 31st.

Stories are evaluated based on creativity, originality, and overall writing quality. A panel of experienced judges will review the entries.

Winners are expected to be announced on December 25th. However, delays may occur due to various factors, so we recommend following our social media channels for the latest updates.

Winners will have their stories published in an internationally distributed anthology. They will also receive an invitation to attend a grand book launch, certificates, a dedicated author page, the opportunity to be a guest on the YouTube podcast "Bcoz I Can with Ridhhaan," and other exciting prizes.

Due to the volume of entries, personalized feedback may not be possible for every participant. However, top entries may receive constructive comments from the judges.

Yes, participants can submit multiple stories, but each submission will require a separate entry form and fee.

No, once a story has been submitted, it cannot be edited or resubmitted. Please ensure that the final version of your story is uploaded.

You will receive a confirmation email once your submission is successfully received. If you do not receive this email, please check your spam folder or contact us.

Authors retain full rights to their stories. By entering the competition, you grant us the right to publish your story in our anthology and to promote it on various platforms.

For any additional questions, please contact our support team at connect@ridhzworld.com or use the contact form on our website.

This year, we have introduced a "Seat Reservation" option for parents who may need more time to finalize their child's story. By paying the full entry fee by September 30th, you can reserve a spot for your child in the competition, allowing you to submit the story by October 31st.

To reserve a seat, simply complete the registration process and pay the full entry fee by September 30th. This will secure your child’s place in the competition and extend the story submission deadline until October 31st.

If you do not reserve a seat by September 30th, you must submit your child’s story by the original submission deadline of September 30th. After this date, the option to submit stories will no longer be available.

Yes, the purpose of the seat reservation is to allow extra time for submitting the story. Once you reserve a seat by paying the fee in full, you have until October 31st to submit the story.

No, the seat reservation fee is non-refundable. Once paid, the fee secures your child’s spot in the competition and allows for extended time to submit the story.

Yes, you will receive reminder emails as the October 31st submission deadline approaches. However, it is the responsibility of the participant to ensure the story is submitted on time.

Unfortunately, if the story is not submitted by October 31st, the entry will be considered forfeited, and no refunds will be issued.

All genres and topics are welcome!

Surprise us with your creativity.

Stories are evaluated by an expert panel based on originality, creativity, and language.