MALAYSIAN INDIAN COMPETITION 2020

Thank you for your interest in Malaysian Indian Anthology's Short Story Competition 2020!

Malaysian Indian Anthology is looking for real-life stories that explore the diverse lived experiences of the underrepresented Malaysian Indian community.

To enter, write a short-story OR record a short video detailing a real-life occurance. Your story must touch on any one of the following themes from your context as a Malaysian Indian*:

1) Identity (exploring your race, religion, heritage, nationality, sexuality, gender, family, etc)

2) Achievements or challenges (exploring key defining moments in your life)

3) Social issues in your community (exploring important issues that affected you as a Malaysian Indian, such as poverty, discrimination, crime, gangsterism, education/work challenges, etc).

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Excited to submit your story?

Great, but first, do read through the following instructions and tips:

Competition Rules

Interested individuals must write a short story/record a video, detailing a real-life occurance.

Written story must be between 150 - 200 words / Recorded video must be within 1-2 mins only
Storyteller must be of Malaysian Indian* descent, and will compete within their respective age group of either 7-18 years old, 19-40 years old or 41 years old and up.
To enter, storyteller must submit the story via this Google Site only, before July 31st, midnight.
Each person is limited to submitting a maximum of two different story submissions only.
All interesting submissions will be published across MA/IN/AN platforms, but three top stories will be chosen from each age group and awarded cash prizes + potentially be featured in a video series that will be exhibited at the end of the year!

*Refer to our 9 July post that clarifies our flexibility with the Malaysian Indian label

GEneral rules

The story must be a personal real-life occurrence, ie. it happened to you or someone you know personally.
If you are sharing someone else's story, e.g your older family member, then please seek their permission first and ensure that they are of Malaysian Indian origin.
We accept all sort of stories that explore the various lived experiences of Malaysian Indians, EXCEPT those that promote messages of disrespect, hate, harassment, discrimination towards others and/or other negative influences.
Please ensure that you have high-resolution photos (minimum two photos) to complement your story.
All stories must be in English. You can write your story in your native language too, but an English translation must be provided with it. The editor will consult you about any editing that takes place, should we publish it.
Please note that there is no compensation for submissions (except for the nine winners). We will credit your story accordingly unless asked otherwise.
All stories will be screened by the MA/IN/AN team beforehand. If your story does not fulfill the above criteria, we will decide to not publish your story.

Important dates

Competition period: July 3rd - July 31st
Judging period: August 1st - August 14th
Announcement of winners: August 15th

prizes

All interesting submissions will be published across MAINAN platforms, however, a total of nine winners will be selected (three from each age group) to win cash prizes + be featured in our video series that will be showcased in a virtual exhibit at the end of 2020.

First prize: RM250
Second prize: RM200
Third prize: RM150

Judging criteria + extra tips!

Did you know that only 30% of stories submitted to MAINAN are selected to be published? To help you beat that statistic, here are some tips to help you write a winning submission!

Our 3 judging consideration are:

Focused: The experience described is specific, immersive and easy to follow. Ideally, it focuses on a single subject matter and provides a lot of details instead of just a general story.
Relatable/Moving/Memorable: Readers would be able to emphatise/resonate with the storyteller. The story is moving (eg. talks about triumph or tragedy) and/or is highly memorable.
Fulfils the rules: The story fits the criteria of 1) a true short story, ii) 100 - 200 words/1-2 mins, and iii) touches on one of the three aforementioned themes. Story is also generally easy to read.

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Please adhere to the above tips in mind when drafting your story. Based on our previous short-story competion, here are some common mistakes from previous storytellers who did not make the cut. Where possible, try to avoid these at all cost!

Common mistakes you want to avoid:

Story was too general - The story did not actually share a specific/unique story. For example, just saying 'I have been discriminated as an Indian' is too generic compared to a story about an actual instance where you were discriminated.
Story was unfocused - The story was talking about too many different issues at the same time. While we understand you may have many memorable life experiences to share, do refrain from cramming all of them into a single story - instead just choose one really impactful story and detail that in an immersive way for the readers.
It is just 'feelings' - The story was more of a preach, a rant, reflection, or advice for others, instead of a specific story.
Story had unnecessary flourishes - The story reads out like a 'karangan' or a 'vlogger'. Avoid talking down or trying to impress the readers - instead focus on just sharing your story in a straightforward and authentic way. Refrain from telling the readers what to do/feel.

When in doubt, refer to our social media and read through our past stories for inspiration ;)

If you are ready, head on to the 'Submit your story' page!