Tekstūros | Writing Competition

The Faculty of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities at Kaunas University of Technology invites school pupils and university students who write or wish to start writing to take part in the “Tekstūros” writing competition.

This year, the central theme of “Tekstūros” is NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). We therefore invite you not only to write, but also to embark on the adventure of creating a longer story — let’s write a novel together!

Do you have a story you have been wanting to tell for a long time? Or perhaps you are not sure where to begin, but would like to explore your creativity? “Tekstūros” is the perfect opportunity to get started. Choose one or even several of the suggested writing prompts, write your text in English or Lithuanian, and submit it for evaluation by November 30, inclusive.

This year, the first prompt will invite you to take the first step towards writing your own novel, while the other categories will give you the opportunity to experiment with different writing genres and forms.

The works of participants who consent to their publication during registration will be included in a special electronic “Tekstūros” publication — an almanac. This is an opportunity to share your creative work with a wider audience and become part of an inspiring collection of works by young authors.

• The “Tekstūros” writing competition is open to pupils in grades 9–12, as well as students at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) and other higher education institutions in Lithuania.
• Only original works written by the participants (school pupils and university students) are eligible. Previously written works may be submitted if they fit at least one of the competition categories, provided they were written no earlier than 2024. Each work must have a single author.
• The use of assistance tools such as artificial intelligence (AI) or paraphrasing tools is not permitted.
• Texts may be written in English or Lithuanian.
• Each participant may enter one or several categories of their choice.
• Entries must be submitted to the judging panel by November 30, inclusive.
• Upload your text files using the registration form below. Accepted file formats: Microsoft Word and LibreOffice formats (not PDF). PDF files will not be accepted.

1. NaNoWriMo: Let’s Write a Novel Together. Your Story Can Begin Here

Theme: Novel

• Write the opening of your novel — the first chapter or several opening chapters.
• Create an original story, its world, and its main characters.
• The opening should engage the reader and introduce the central situation, problem, conflict, or mystery.
• Choose any genre you like — fantasy, detective fiction, adventure, romance, historical fiction, psychological fiction, dystopia, or another genre.
• You do not need to finish the story. What matters is that the submitted excerpt captures the reader’s interest and makes them want to find out what happens next.
• Entries will be evaluated based on originality, narrative coherence, character and setting development, and language use.

Length: 1,500 words (± 200 words)

2. The Person Who Decides to Write a Novel

• Write a short work of fiction about a person who decides to write a novel.
• Show how the decision takes shape: at first, it may be a barely noticeable unease, a fascination, or an unnamed desire, but by the end of the text, the character knows one thing for certain — they are going to write.
• Focus on the character’s emotional state and sensory experiences, combining their thoughts with concrete actions and events unfolding around them. Maintain a balance between reflection, action, and inner monologue.
• The inspiration that prompts your character — a future writer — to begin writing may come from a book they have read, a personal experience, a world event, or another source of your choice. The important thing is that the source of inspiration is specific and that the text reveals why it motivates this particular person to write a novel.

Length: approximately 1,000 words

3. Step-by-Step Instructions

1. How to Fold a Cloud. Write clear instructions for accomplishing an impossible task, complete with warnings and tips.
2. How to Survive Monday Morning. A survival guide with a list of essential supplies.
3. Grandma’s Recipe That Nobody Ever Wrote Down. A family recipe in which measurements are given not in grams but in terms such as “a handful,” “until it looks right,” and “as your heart tells you.”

Length: No limit

4. Error Messages, Notifications, and Interface Texts

1. Error 404: Weekend Not Found. A story or poem composed entirely of system messages.
2. Notification History. A story told through a day’s worth of phone notifications (from apps, banking services, messages, and reminders).

Length: No limit

5. User Manuals, Version History, and FAQs

1. My Cat’s User Manual (or the manual for another pet, a neighbour, or yourself). Include the following sections: “Before Use,” “Common Problems,” and “Warranty.”
2. Life Version History. v1.0 — birth. v7.2 — learned to ride a bicycle. Known bug: afraid of geese.
3. FAQ About Lithuania. Frequently asked questions a foreigner might have about Lithuania — about cepelinai, basketball, the weather, and why everyone is silent in elevators.

Length: No limit

6. Fairy Tales Reimagined

1. Little Red Riding Hood’s Terms of Service. Rewrite a well-known fairy tale as a legal agreement.
2. The Dragon’s Privacy Policy. What data does a dragon collect about knights, and how does it use that data?

Length: No limit

The winners will be announced on this page on Decemeber 16th until 1 p.m.

• The winners will be announced in the individual text categories;
• For each category, 3 winners will be selected with the highest number of points from the evaluation committee;
• The winners will receive fantastic KTU prizes;
• All other participants will receive KTU diplomas for their participation in the competition.
• The works of participants selected by the jury and who provide consent for publication during registration will be included in a special digital edition of Tekstūros – an almanac. This is an opportunity to present your creativity to a wider audience and become part of an inspiring collection.

We will inform you about the results of the competition by e-mail. As this will be an automated e-mail, please remember to check the “SPAM” section of your e-mail inbox.

If you have any questions, please contact us at  shmmf.mokykloms@ktu.lt

Upload your written text or texts using the registration form below by November 30 (inclusive). If you are submitting multiple texts, please indicate all the categories you are entering in the registration form.

Did not find the information you needed? Contact: shmmf.mokykloms@ktu.lt