Enter to win the Saints & Sagas Short Story Contest!
Create a short, epic story about a saint, and enter to win!
We're calling Catholic storytellers to inspire teens with the courage to live the adventure of your life!
Submission Deadline: Sunday, May 31st, 2026
Imagine ten epic stories of saints, like you've never read before.
Ten heroes who faced impossible odds and unusual dangers. A perfect gift for your classroom, your friends, or yourself! It's like Marvel, with haloes.
Join the list for the launch!
special sponsor
Youth today need heroes who choose courage when things get hard, and the saints lived that kind of bravery. The Saints & Sagas contest calls authors to tell those stories again, so others can see what true heroism looks like. And want to live it too.
Enter the contest and send in your epic story of a saint for teens, written by Catholic Storytellers, ages 16- 165!
Here's how to enter:
1
Create a free account
Create a free account in the LegendFiction writing community to get access to this contest space!
2
Study the guidelines, and meet other members.
3
Post your Story as a Google Doc, so that it is easy to read and share feedback! Then read the other stories!
Who wants epic stories of saints?!
Many saints in the stories feel far away, like pretty pictures on church walls. We forget that in real life, they had no idea what would happen next. Their next choice could cost them everything.
And somehow, these heroes found the courage to act. We want their stories. Think of it like Marvel, with haloes!
We want stories that feel real and alive. We want to feel the pounding heart. The tight chest. The memories that challenge them from childhood. Show the world around them. What does the street smell like? What was normal for that day and time? What do they expect will happen? Do real research. Make it feel true.
These aren't stories you read in church. These are the ones to keep a teen awake past bedtime. Stories that make them close the book, set their teeth, and think, "I want courage like that. I want to grow into that kind of person." And then they go to prayer.
We're looking for ten finalist stories, to be published together in one book. Every dollar the book earns goes to the authors forever. And we're excited that Rose John Sheffler has graciously agreed to anonymously read the top 3 entries, and decide on our finalist!
The deadline is Trinity Sunday, May 31st, 2026.
We can't wait to see what you create!
Dominic de Souza
Founder, Author, LegendHaven host
PS: we're different to other contests! When you enter other contests, you send in a story, and have no idea what's going on. Not here! You join a community, read other stories, share feedback, and grow as an author!
NEXT LEVEL
Epic artwork from Marvel‒tier artists!
Voyage Comics would love to to create ten epic illustrations of the saints for this book! Sponsors for this project will be publicly thanked on this page with your logo and a backlink, and a shoutout in the foreword.
Help us raise $6000 for this project.
Perfect for Catholic businesses who want to invest in building a legacy, and a bridge to youth.
Marvels through the Saints
special sponsor
Young people are actively searching for meaning in their lives and are naturally drawn to stories of heroism. Contests like Saints & Sagas do more than publish stories; they help inspire the next generation and remind them that they are part of the greatest Story ever told and have their own part to play in it.
What we're looking for in a winning story:
Hosted by LegendFiction
This contest is brought to you by the coolest community of storytellers in the world, LegendFiction!
We all work hard to build a culture where members are welcomed, and creativity encouraged. That's why we actually don't allow negative criticism as a rule!
Contest Details
WHO CAN ENTER
  • Practicing Catholics, 16+ through 165
STORY REQUIREMENTS
  • 2,000–3,000 words
  • One scene/event in time only
  • No retelling the entire saint’s life
PUBLICATION & ROYALTIES
  • All Top Ten published in one volume (print on demand)
  • 100% of profits go to the authors
  • Royalties auto-paid forever
  • Each winner receives a printed copy
YOUR COPYRIGHTS
Standard LegendFiction terms apply. You keep 100% of your content copyrights. We know. It's amazing.
Is this contest free to enter?
Yes! Get access to this contest space for free. The space may be archived after the contest is over.
How the contest works
May 31
Step 1: All Stories Read
Every submission is carefully reviewed after Trinity Sunday, May 31st, by the mentors in LegendFiction.
Announcements will be shared with the public on the LegendFiction blog.
Contest participants will also be notificed in the private group.
June 5
Step 2: Top Ten Announced
By June 5th, we select for:
  • Writing excellence
  • Originality of approach
  • Faithfulness to the contest guidelines
June 6-12
Step 3: Feedback Round
  • Each of the Top Ten receives one round of edits
  • Only accepted writers receive feedback
  • Failure to revise within 3 days = forfeiture of placement
June 12
Step 4: Final Selection
On June 12, LegendFiction mentors publicly nominate the top three finalists.
June 17
Step 5: Winners announced
Our final judge reads these stories anonymously, and nominates first, second, and third place winners!
July 1
Step 6: Publication
The LegendFiction team publishes the book online, and notifies everyone.
If all goes well, we plan to ship the book by July 1. Finalists get one copy mailed to your door.
Finalist Judge
"The writer's imagination helps connect us to things beyond us, and bring those things into the here and now. This contest is an incredible opportunity to let your creative self explore a crucial moment in the lives of the saints and bring that moment to life for others to connect with in a very real and powerful way. "
The winner gets a copy of her book 'Past Watchful Dragons' mailed to your door!
Contest Partners & Sponsors
"Stories and literature are essential in every generation for translating faith into new lives and times.
LegendHaven is a great place for faith-inspired fiction authors and readers to support each other, and contribute to the Catholic renaissance of the arts in our days. If we are made in the image of the creator, then we are called to be creators too."
Kudos to Dominic de Souza and the LegendHaven team for encouraging emerging young authors with their creative gifts and talents.
The Saints & Sagas writing contest promises to generate exciting new stories and promising new voices for a culture greatly in need of powerful entertainment.
"The world needs saints to set it on fire.
"Sometime we forget that some of the heroes who reached sainthood were just as normal as you and me, except they stormed Heaven with incredible grit and effort. This challenge seeks to inspire teens that the adventure of their life is just beginning, and the saints are standing by as guides and inspiration."
"Heroism is definitely something that needs promoting!
As a dad with nine children, I hope to inspire my children's faith with lively saints stories that capture their imagination. Let's create a must-read book for teen readers!"
"Stories shape the way we see the world and the way we live our lives.
The stories of the saints remind us that holiness and greatness are possible for ordinary people. The LegendHaven Convention and Writing Contest is a wonderful opportunity for storytellers to share these powerful witnesses and inspire a new generation to pursue lives of courage, virtue, and faith.
I can't wait to see the stories these teens will create. Everyone needs heroes, and it's time to revive our amazement at how incredible the saints can be.
And that they can inspire us today, right now. We just need the right story to do it.
Mass media offers flawed heroes. The Church offers amazing role models for teens. We have to inspire the next generation of youth with incredible stories. A book like this leaves a legacy, and builds a bridge to the future.
"The Saints & Sagas contest is a wonderful opportunity for teens to reflect on the lives of their favorite saints, while also building epic storytelling skills. A fantastic challenge for this holy season of Lent! The winning authors will be published and even receive royalties for their stories. Get your pens and laptops ready, young writers: this is going to be EPIC fun!!!"
A lot of the Saint stories I've read were written DECADES ago, have the tone of a tribute, and tend to sand over the relatable human struggles. LegendFiction is about to change that, and I am HERE for it!
See LegendFiction's Rules & Guidelines