13 January 2025

The favourites from our favourites

Happy 2026!

After months of reading, careful consideration, and discussions behind the scenes, we have the youth and adult shortlists ready! We loved so many of the stories on the longlists that this was not easy.

You can read the opening lines from the adult and youth shortlists on the new Ink of Ages website!

These are the favourites from our favourites. Several made us laugh, and at least three made me cry (surprise, surprise 😂). Thank you to everyone who took part, writers and our fabulous reading team.

How can we help writers?

Do you have questions about Ink of Ages, historical/myth-inspired fiction, or writing short stories in particular? Editing fiction is my day job (Ink of Ages being my way to give back and celebrate my favourite genres), and over the last three years, I have read a LOT of the Ink of Ages entries and been on the judging panel, too. So if you could ask me anything, what would you want to know?

If we get enough questions, I'll be interviewed on World History Encyclopedia's "Ask the Experts" feature (eek! but go on, make me do it 😅). This is usually members only, but we'll make sure all Ink of Ages Update subscribers have access to hear the answers to your questions. Just hit reply to let me know your writing, editing, and contest-related questions!

I'll be back to let you know the winners of Ink of Ages 2026 on the 23rd/24th of February!

Happy reading and writing,

Joanne

Ink of Ages Fiction Prize is run by World History Encyclopedia and generously sponsored by Oxford University Press, and more details are available on the contest website.

Joanne Taylor
Proofreader & Editor
World History Encyclopedia
www.worldhistory.org