Illustrated by Aoi Sekino
KURUKURUKURUMA MIMURAPAN, published by SHOGAKUKAN.
Artwork for KAMIMACHI MEKURUMEKU, serialized in YOUNG KING, published by SHONENGAHOSHA.
13 challenges.
13 chances to connect your story to the world.
Welcome to Honeyfeed's Monthly Writing Challenge featuring NOVELOUS.
This initiative was created by Honeyfeed, together with the NOVELOUS team, to support upcoming writers on their path to adaptation. Each month, writers of all levels are invited to submit a new one-shot story based on a prompt for that month. This monthly challenge is designed to help emerging authors grow, gain exposure, and take their first steps toward professional adaptation opportunities by featuring their stories on the NOVELOUS app.
Winners will also have the exclusive opportunity to receive feedback from The Hivemind Literary Agency's very own seasoned authors who are currently on their own journey towards adaptation with several Japanese publishers.
Will you be stepping up to the challenge?
Prizes
Each month, up to three winners will receive:
$100USD (via PayPal)
Feedback
Editorial feedback or
review from the Monthly Challenge host
review from the Monthly Challenge host
Featured on NOVELOUS
for up to 1 year
Japan Market
A chance to be considered for publication in the Japanese market
Judges may choose not to select winners if submissions do not meet standards.
How to Enter
1
Read the current month’s prompt
2
Create and submit your story on Honeyfeed — check "Submit this novel to [challenge name]"
3
Complete your story within the deadline (one month)
Contest Participation Requirements
The Basics
- Age:18+ to be eligible as a winner
- Number of entries:one per author per month
- Language:English
- Word count:5,000 - 6,000 words
- Maturity rating:all ages (no NSFW / 18+ content)
Submission Requirements
- Your story must be finished within the same month as the challenge prompt you entered. Only completed works are eligible for prizes and perks
- Any format or genre is allowed as long as it follows the prompt
- The entry must be a Honeyfeed exclusive novel for the duration of the challenge
- Winning works remain exclusive to Honeyfeed and NOVELOUS during the promotional period (with a maximum extension of 1 year)
- Co-authored works are not accepted
- Previously published works outside of Honeyfeed are not accepted
- Plagiarism results in immediate disqualification at any stage of the contest or featured period
Edits Policy
- Entries cannot be edited after the submission deadlineNote: Depending on the number of entries, judges may begin reading stories as soon as they are posted
- Non-winning entries can be edited after the results are announced
- Winning entries must remain unchanged during their featured period on the NOVELOUS app
AI Policy
Allowed:
- Use of AI tools as a support aid (e.g., for idea organization, grammar assistance, etc.)
- Cover image generationNote: We encourage the use of original artwork or third-party stock images, such as those from Canva. You may use AI tools to create your novel cover image on Honeyfeed, but it remains NOVELOUS's sole discretion to feature AI art on its app for winning novels; in such cases, a generic cover will be created for your work to be featured on NOVELOUS
Not Allowed:
- Use of AI as a creative editor, story writer, or co-author. Fully or partially AI-generated stories will be disqualified
- AI translation as a substitute for writing in English
Violating our AI policy will result in immediate disqualification at any stage of the contest or during the featured period on the NOVELOUS app
Judging Criteria
Entries will be evaluated based on:- Presentation (storytelling and writing quality)
- Originality
- Prompt relevance
Judging will be conducted by the host and a select internal panel.
No public voting will be held for this contest.
This Season's Host
Pearlyn.M
Author of “Realm Assassin” — 1st Place Winner, MAL x Honeyfeed Writing Contest 2021
“Quirky & quiet IRL, social & wild online. A Gemini whose passion lies in storytelling.”
FAQ
Q1Can I participate again in future monthly challenges?
AYes! Whether you win or not, you may enter future monthly challenges.
Q2Can my Monthly Challenge entries be related to each other or to my past works?
AYes, but all stories should work as standalone pieces, and the host and judges will favor entries that don’t require external knowledge to be fully enjoyed.
That said, you may only use characters or elements from stories that are exclusive to Honeyfeed and have never been printed or posted on other platforms. In addition, you may not edit your previous works to benefit your Monthly Challenge entries.
If your story uses elements from another work, you must disclose it in the 'Note from author' section. This not only helps the judges, but also directs readers to the related work(s) in case they want to read more.
Q3I am under 18. Can I participate?
ANo. Due to monetary prizes, participants must be 18 or older.
Get involved
Join the community: Discord
Browse Entries
55
1Not all heroes are born in cities... Some rise with winds..... Before the world discovered the true power of nature, there was one man who learned to wield it. On the coastal island nation of Kaldun, Alix Izer, a 22-year-old young man with the ability to control Wind Natural Energy, lives a l...
Novel Details
Updated: Sep 05, 2026
Chapters: 1
|
Ongoing
WINDIZER SHORTS - AN ELEMENTIA STORY
NEW!
102
2Daniel Taylor's back for another round of adventure! His vacation is interrupted by the call to adventure, this time to the island of Avalon - the mythical resting place of none other than King Arthur, and for nothing less than his legendary blade Excalibur! Can Daniel navigate the tragic end ...
Novel Details
Updated: Sep 21, 2026
Chapters: 3
|
Finished
Daniel Taylor and the Last Knight of the Round Table
Author:
ActionAdventureBoys Love
40
1Danny lives a dull life in his grandfather’s house, far from his own home and bedroom—or at least, that is what he brought upon himself, having grown to reject anything that lies beyond the confines of his room, where his beloved manga stories and video games await him. Then, suddenly, a strange...
Novel Details
Updated: Sep 14, 2026
Chapters: 1
|
Ongoing
SHINMA : my Loste jeweL
Author:
AdventureFantasyMagicParanormalTime travel
NEW!
17
Mira is an ordinary student found an antique mirror hidden in an abandoned room at school. Inside the mirror lives Lucious, a mysterious and handsome young man who claims to be trapped by an ancient curse and tells Mira about a legendary crown capable of granting wishes—an object that could chang...
Novel Details
Updated: Sep 19, 2026
Chapters: 2
|
Ongoing
Wishes And Lies
Wishes And Lies
Author:
FantasyMysteryPsychologicalRomanceSupernatural
NEW!
16
Haruto Shinohara is a high school student whose life is turned completely upside down after his mother marries Airi Shimizu’s father. Haruto and Airi dated a year ago, but a massive misunderstanding broke them apart. Now, forced to live under the same roof as stepsiblings, they have to navigate l...
Novel Details
Updated: Sep 21, 2026
Chapters: 2
|
Finished
My ex-girlfriend became like a sister to me and now my classmate is trying to blackmail me
Author:
ComedyHaremPsychologicalRomanceSlice of Life
Discover NOVELOUS Monthly Challenge Novels
Monthly Winners
July 2026:Mythical Mayhem
Keywords: Mythical creatures, High fantasy world, Ancient legends, Divine beings, Monsters
581
8Girlboss elf mage wants to run a sanctuary for mythical creatures, but the Demon King keeps borrowing them for war crimes. Woe is her.
Novel Details
Updated: Jul 31, 2026
Chapters: 1
|
Finished
The Demon King's S-Class Mage Only Wants to Raise Creatures in Peace.
Author:
ComedyFantasy
Host's Review
Read MoreShow Less
“The Demon King’s S-Class Mage Only Wants to Raise Creatures in Peace” knows what the readers want—fleshed-out characters, lovable personalities, memorable moments, and, best of all, a main character who has absolutely zero interest in fighting what she considers a meaningless war between humans and demons. From the internal voice of the elf mage, Yuno, her personality reminds me so much of Maomao from Apothecary Diaries, except Yuno’s fixation is on raising creatures in peace and wanting nothing to do with the bigger, messier picture that is their conflicting world. I really like scenes that humanize the demon characters; from showing frustration over being called to fight to their amusing reactions to overcoming obstacles, this story does a spectacular job keeping you in and hooking you to its charm.
973
19The Black Wolf’s demise follows a swallowed sun. Only fangs of the fallen could taste its ruin as it tastes the world's...
Novel Details
Updated: Jul 28, 2026
Chapters: 3
|
Finished
Sköll
Author:
ActionFantasyMagicSupernatural
Host's Review
Read MoreShow Less
“Sköll” provides everything a reader wants if they are looking for an “anime-esque” story: funny interactions, characters that will make you reactive because said interactions, intense scenes, and the emotional rollercoaster that is Ymir and Vel’s journey. Despite being told in the third POV, the narrator has a unique voice to describe the characters’ behavior, as well as proper and not overwhelming use of onomatopoeia. If you’re looking for a fun “strangers to friends sharing a journey to find a legendary monster feared by many” kind of story, “Sköll” will impress you! In fact, a plot twist awaits towards the climax that would surely get you surprised.
June 2026:Atlas of Anomalies
Keywords: Mysterious locations, Lost civilizations, Unexplained phenomena, Reality distortion
1.2 K
11Fia gets a big surprise for her eighth birthday, when the master of a strange realm demands her presence. What does this mysterious man want with Fia, and what can he offer her in return?
Novel Details
Updated: Jun 24, 2026
Chapters: 3
|
Finished
Purple and Green
Author:
AdventureFantasyParanormalPhilosophicalSupernatural
Host's Review
Read MoreShow Less
“Purple and Green” knows how to keep readers on their toes with great suspense, as we read our characters’ journey through the perspective lens of a child. From the start, the story does a fantastic job of providing enough information to get readers to visualize the scenes, without overwhelming exposition or unnecessary descriptions. Floor 777 reminds me of the kind of vibes you’d get from anomalies like “The Backrooms” and “Exit 8”, mixed with a bit of “Coraline”.
The greatest strength is how it taps into phobias and uncanny horror. It does a good job making readers feel trapped with our characters by utilizing environments like the tower, elevator, Floor 777 and the paternoster. With excellent writing and an uncanny ending, I finished reading feeling impressed and disturbed, for I couldn’t get “Purple and Green” out of my mind!
The greatest strength is how it taps into phobias and uncanny horror. It does a good job making readers feel trapped with our characters by utilizing environments like the tower, elevator, Floor 777 and the paternoster. With excellent writing and an uncanny ending, I finished reading feeling impressed and disturbed, for I couldn’t get “Purple and Green” out of my mind!
800
15Sir Ronald, knight of the kingdom and sworn sword of the feudal lord, puts himself to the test within the Abbey of Memories, a mysterious place where he must face something even his strength cannot defeat: his own desires. Will he manage to pass the trial? Or will he fall into oblivion like al...
Novel Details
Updated: Jun 06, 2026
Chapters: 3
|
Finished
The Red Knight
Author:
DramaFantasyPhilosophicalPsychologicalSupernatural
Host's Review
Read MoreShow Less
“The Red Knight” does something right when it comes to questioning our own moralities and inner desires. The story makes its theme clear from the get-go, and we follow our main character’s journey to the Abbey of Memories and his experience with what comes after. From the surface, it feels like a tale of a typical heroic knight needing to pass a trial and win what he’s after, but it serves a deeper meaning of facing one’s yearning for something one struggles to confront. It’s a very relatable story that reminds us that anyone who looks perfect from the outside still has their own fears and struggles to face. The writing is superb, simple and efficient, and keeps the flow moving appropriately.
About NOVELOUS
NOVELOUS is a light novel reading app developed by the Japanese publisher Shogakukan. NOVELOUS provides official translations of Japanese light novels into English, focusing on supporting North America and Canada.