Hello, Wattpaders! This month, APIRomance is proud to present a writing challenge inspired by Araw ng Cotabato, the biggest celebration in all of Cotabato city's festivals. This festival is held to commemorate the city's charter day. We hope you use this opportunity to learn more about the Philippines and its culture!

As a writer who truly grasps the significance of Araw ng Cotabato, the most significant celebration among all of Cotabato city's festivals, when I hear the words "Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Masjid," "New Israel Eco Adventure Park," and "Matigol Falls," I immediately envision a thrilling adventure waiting to unfold.

Now, picture this: your character embarks on a spontaneous trip to one of these magnificent locations during the Araw ng Cotabato festival. What advantages would your character experience in such a scenario? The trip has the potential to be transformative, offering opportunities to explore new and exciting experiences at every turn.

The trip could be a transformative experience for the character, using one or more of the word prompts below in your short story:

💫 Shine Cotabato,

💫 A new beginning,

💫 Unwavering faith,

💫 Unforgettable firsts,

💫 A soul-stirring kiss,

💫 The discovery of soulmates,

💫 Cherished moments at noon,

💫 And the embrace of life with no regrets.

❀ This challenge runs from June 10 to June 24, 2024. Your entry must be submitted by Monday, June 24. Any entries received after June 24, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST will not be included in judging.

❀ Your story must feature an Asian and/or Pacific Islander protagonist and include Asian and/or Pacific Islander cultural values. You are welcome to view the information about our Reading Lists in our Guidebook to get ideas.

❀ Your story must be between 1500 and 2500 words.

❀ Your story must abide by Wattpad Content Guidelines.

❀ Your entry must be newly written, especially for this challenge.

❀ You must submit your entry via this FORM (click the external link button by scrolling to the bottom of this page).

❀ Please publish your story in a new book or existing short story collection.

❀ We accept stories in English, Spanish, Korean, and Thai.

❀ OPTIONAL: Tag your stories with #APIRomanceChallenge and/or #APIRomance #cotabatograndcity #CGCFC

We hope you have fun!

All prizes will be distributed via the email used in your submission, so please ensure you are using an email you frequently use.

❀ A shout-out from the APIRomance profile.

❀ For participating, you can add the Participant's Sticker to your book cover. Download the sticker here (click the external link button by scrolling to the bottom of this page).

❀ An exclusive Discord title that will last for 30 days (Arawan or Araw (meaning sunshine or sun)) and an invitation to our Discord server, if you are not already in the server.

❀ If your story is a standalone book, it will be featured in our reading list, with the opportunity to be featured in our Reading List Spotlight.

Do I have to make a new book?

You can submit an existing or separate book, but please ensure that when submitting, the link must be your entry link, and we cannot add your existing short story collection in our respective reading list.

Does it have to be 2,500 words and do I need to write a single chapter only?

Because it's a short story contest, the word limit is that and not over. Adding more than one chapter is welcome but please keep in mind the story must meet our word limit.

Can I do a co-written story with someone?

Yes, you can! However, if you choose to publish on both your profiles, be aware that we can only add one story to our respective reading lists, not both.

Can I enter more than one entry?

Yes, but only one entry can win.

Is Mature Content allowed?

Mature Content is allowed so long as it meets Wattpad's Content Guidelines. Stories that do not meet this won't be accepted.

How will our entries be judged?

Your entries will be judged based on the rubric below:

How do I submit my story for this contest?

Just complete this FORM (click the external link button by scrolling to the bottom of this page) and that's it!

Please note this contest and its rules were created by the APIRomance team and is in no way affiliated with Wattpad Ambassadors or Wattpad HQ staff. We reserve the right to refuse entries that do not meet the criteria outlined in the Rules & Guidelines chapter or are triggering to our team. We are not obligated to provide feedback to all users, and any that we do provide is at our discretion.

Extensions will not be granted to ensure everyone is given an equal amount of time to complete and submit their entries. The decision of the judges is final and any abusive language directed towards the profile and its team will not be tolerated and will likely result in disqualification of your entry. Please review the guidelines carefully prior to submitting and send us a message if you have any questions or concerns you would like to raise.