October Short Story Contest Theme Reveal: Light in the Darkness

Stories hold power because they capture turning points—the moments when shadows don’t get the last word, when hope flickers alive, and when light breaks into the darkest places. That’s why we’re so excited to announce the theme of this year’s Rooted Minds Short Story Contest:

🌟 Light in the Darkness 🌟

✨ Theme Verse: John 1:5 — “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” 

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Why Short Stories?

This season on the Rooted Minds Podcast, we’re diving into short stories. They’re such a beautiful way to enjoy all the best parts of story in a small package. In just a few pages, they can stir our imagination, challenge our hearts, and point us toward deeper truths.

🎥 Watch the overview video here:

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Contest Details 🎉

To celebrate, we’re hosting a Short Story Contest running October 1st–31st, 2025!

Here’s what’s at stake:

• Top 20 winners → Your stories will be compiled into a Rooted Minds Anthology Book (available for purchase after the contest).
• Top 5 winners → Your stories will be featured in our Rooted Minds Newsletter.
• 1st Place winner → We’ll dedicate an entire Rooted Minds Podcast episode to your short story!

And the best part? The contest is completely FREE to join—no commitment required.

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How to Join

If you want to have fun this October writing a short story with us, click below to sign up for the competition! 👇

➡️ Sign up for the contest here

Want to connect with others, share ideas, and join contest-related events?

➡️ [Join our free community space here]

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Inspiration to Get You Started ✍️

Here are a few directions you might take with this year’s theme:

• A candle lit in a dark room that changes everything.
• A friendship that holds strong in difficult times.
• A truth uncovered that sets someone free.
• A journey that leads from fear into hope.
• A character who discovers light they didn’t know they carried.

We’ll also see echoes of this theme in the classic short stories we’re exploring this season on the podcast—from Oscar Wilde’s The Selfish Giant to Charles Dickens’ The Schoolboy’s Story. These timeless tales remind us that even the smallest flicker of light can reshape a life.

So grab your notebook (or open a fresh document) and start writing. We can’t wait to read your story of Light in the Darkness.