The Cover Story: A Writing Contest challenges writers to do that one thing we’re not supposed to do—judge a book by its cover.

 Every six weeks (or so), we’ll post two professionally designed, pre-made book covers and invite writers to create an original short fiction piece inspired entirely by the cover(s) they choose. The goal is not simply to write a good story, but to write the story that feels as though it already belongs to that cover—the one a reader would expect to find inside.

Entries are judged on originality, craft, and how convincingly the writing matches the mood, genre, imagery, and promise of the cover design. The winning piece will be the work that most seamlessly transforms visual suggestion into narrative truth.

 In The Cover Story, the image comes first. The story must follow.

 Winners will receive an offer for traditional publication (royalty-based contract) from one of NFB’s imprints.

NFB Launches New Writing Contest!

Reveal the Cover Prompts

Rules

  • Entries must be received by the deadline posted on each contest page to be considered.

  • No prior publishing experience or agent representation necessary. However, submit as close to ready-to-pub as possible. If chosen for publication, edits will be performed as needed, but please don’t submit your first draft. This is a competition!

  • Open internationally to all writers ages 18 and older.

  • Specs

    • Short stories, essays, and novellas

    • Word Count: 4k to 30k

    • Target audience: age 18+ unless otherwise specified

  • Submission/Feedback Tiers:

    • Tier One

      • Cost to Submit: FREE

      • You will be notified if your story was not selected as a winner. No further feedback will be given.

    • Tier Two

      • Cost to Submit: $20

      • If you are not selected as the winner, you will receive feedback via a brief (1 page) editorial letter that will discuss the work’s strengths and weaknesses and may offer ideas for revision.

      • If winner has paid for Tier Two, their fee will be refunded.

    • Tier Three

      • Cost to Submit: $40

      • If you are not selected as the winner, you will receive feedback via a brief (1 page) editorial letter that will discuss the work’s strengths and weaknesses and may offer ideas for revision as well as in-line comments similar to those provided in a traditional editorial assessment.

      • If winner has paid for Tier Three, their fee will be refunded.

  • Stories written using AI or suspected of being written using AI will be rejected.

  • If chosen for publication, winners will be asked to be active participants in the final product’s promotion via social media. Existing social media accounts should be public, or winners should be willing to create a bookish page before publication to assist in getting the word out about our book! Assistance will be provided, if needed.

Reveal the Cover Prompts

FAQs (Updated 1/18/2026)

Questions? Email nicole@nicolefrailbooks.com