Can you write your way out of this one?
Destination Unknown: The Writing Challenge That Keeps You On Your Toes
April 8th, 2026
Put your creative mettle to the test with this fun, FREE writing contest, including:
- Livestreams and community activities to help you stay on track.
- Opportunities to win prizes.
- 100% of story rights remain with you, forever.
- No catch. Just writers having fun and feeling good!
Get Ready for a Surprise!
Wednesday, April 8th – May 5th, 2026
STEP 1
Register
Register for the challenge. If you aren't already an AutoCrit member, you'll get instant access to FREE writing resources to help you out.
STEP 2
Get Writing
When the challenge begins, we'll provide the opening line which your story MUST use. Let your imagination take over from there.
STEP 3
The Twists!
Watch out, because we're going to throw some twists your way, along with the final line your story MUST use. Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.
STEP 4
Win Prizes
Submit your story and potentially win a prize on our closing live stream!
The Writing Challenge Where Anything Can Happen...
Destination Unknown isn't like other writing challenges.
For this challenge, you must use an opening line that we will provide to you.
What is it? You'll need to register to find out!
Start from there and create your own short story. Beyond the first line, you're free to take it in any direction you wish. Get creative and have fun.
To keep it manageable but also allow room to maneuver around the twists, we recommend your story be between 2,000 and 4,000 words in length.
At the end of the first challenge week, we're going to start introducing twists that you'll need to incorporate into the story. This might be a certain event that needs to happen, a line of dialogue that you must include, an important item that you'll need to work into the proceedings, or something completely different.
Anything can happen. This is, after all, Destination Unknown!
Then, to bring it all home, we'll also provide a closing line with which your story must finish
It all about being creative, thinking fast, and maybe getting a little unhinged. Think you can handle it?
Let's find out...
Register Now - It's Free!
Got Questions?
Answers to common questions about the challenge.
Nope. It’s free! To participate in the challenge, you don’t have to be an AutoCrit Professional Member. However, all challenge participants will become AutoCrit Free Members. This will allow you to access the AutoCrit Hub and Writer’s Desk, which will be useful during the challenge.
If you choose to, yes! By the end of the challenge, we hope you’ll have crafted a new short story between 2,000 and 4,000 words in length, based on the directions we provide. Submit your work to our judges, and we’ll choose a selection of the most striking or creative to win a prize.
Absolutely! AutoCrit will make no claim to any rights whatsoever regarding your story – it remains entirely yours to publish wherever you like. All we ask is that we’re free to present and read your story on our closing live stream, should you be among the finalist entries.
Schedule:
Each component of the challenge will be emailed to registrants, and we'll also be hosting weekly live streams on the AutoCrit YouTube channel. Here's what you can expect:Live Stream 1: Wednesday, April 8th @ 1pm Eastern US
Live Stream 2: Tuesday, April 14th @ 1pm Eastern US
Live Stream 3: Tuesday, April 21st @ 1pm Eastern US
Live Stream 4: Wednesday, April 29th @ 1pm Eastern US
Live Stream 5: Tuesday, May 5th @ 1pm Eastern US
For the best benefit, we recommend you subscribe to the AutoCrit YouTube channel so you don't miss out on stream notifications.
Register Now - It's Free!
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