The annual Quantum Shorts contest is calling for writers to enter short stories of 1,000 words or less that “tease out a story from the many possibilities of the quantum world.”

Entries must take inspiration from quantum physics, be no longer than 1000 words, and include the phrase “it’s a lot to think about” (taken from “Fine Print,” first prize winner in the 2019/2020 edition of Quantum Shorts by C. R. Long.) The competition is accepting entries until December 16. 

The contest is organized by the Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore. It is free to enter. First Prize is USD 1500, and there also is a Runner Up prize of USD 1000, and a People’s Choice prize of USD 500. Up to ten shortlisted entries will also win a USD 100 shortlist prize and a one-year digital subscription to Scientific American. The contest rules are here.

The members of the award judging panel are José Ignacio Latorre, Director of the?Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT)?at the National University of Singapore, physicist and popular science author Chad Orzel, science writer George Musser, author and editor Ingrid Jendrzejewski, science communication expert Lindy Orthia, software engineer Mariia Mykhailova from Microsoft Quantum, and writer and visual artist Tania De Rozario. 

The contest cycles between film and fiction from year-to-year; 2020 was devoted to short films. Read File 770’s reports on the previous fiction cycle in 2019 – about the flash fiction shortlist here, and the contest winners here.