When a young person accuses a person with authority and/or influence, who do you believe? And what if it is a boy accusing a woman? Or a girl with a reputation accusing a man of the cloth?

These are at the heart of the stories we are seeking for a short story anthology called Believe me When I Say.

We are seeking compelling and original stories from writers and those who love to write of all age groups. Submissions are now open and will close at 11:59 pm on August 15, 2026.

At the core of the stories is an accusation and they must fit into one of the following categories:

• The accused did it AND there is evidence
• The accused did it AND there is NO evidence
• The accused did NOT do it AND there is NO evidence
• The accused did NOT do it BUT there is evidence

We are looking for stories that explore the grey areas of what our society deems as black and white.

This is an opportunity for writers to have their stories published in an anthology that will be available locally and internationally. As well as a challenge to tell a complicated story that has no borders.

Submission Guidelines

• Word Count: 1,500 – 5,500 words;
• Prompt: A young person accuses a person of influence of taking advantage of them;
• Format: A Word doc or docx, double-spaced with author contact information on the first page;
• Rights & Compensation: The authors of accepted stories will retain copyright and will receive two copies of the paperback;
• Submission Deadline: August 15, 2026.

There is no submission fee, simultaneous submissions are allowed but not in the same category. Use of AI in the creation of the story is not allowed. Full guidelines and instructions for submitting can be found at www.believeme268.carrd.co.

About Believe Me When I Say

Believe Me When I Say, an anthology of short stories, is the brainchild of local author Kimolisa Mings. The mission is to showcase the literary talent of writers and those who love to write who call Antigua and Barbuda home.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Who Should You Believe?.