Calling all writers! The story competition of Heroes Dutch Comic Con is starting again! Organized by us in collaboration with Uitgeverij Zilverspoor, this story competition is the perfect moment to put your writing skills on display. Have you had a great story idea bouncing around in your head for ages, or is one just starting to bubble up? Grab a pen (or keyboard) and join in! The winner will be crowned during the upcoming HDCC Winter Edition on November 22 & 23, 2025!
Theme: Past and Present
“The things we do outlast our mortality. The things we do are like monuments that people build to honor heroes after they’ve died. They’re like the pyramids that the Egyptians built to honor the pharaohs. Only instead of being made of stone, they’re made out of the memories people have of you.” – R.J. Palacio, Wonder
The theme Past and Present offers a plethora of angles to explore.
For example…
A hero discovers the far ranging consequences of an innocent decision long ago, when confronting their arch nemesis. Having traveled deep into the past, a time traveler slowly loses touch with the present. What (and who) do you believe about your own past, if you cannot remember it now? And is it truly wise to reveal the secret past of the captain, if doing so will break the tenuous peace aboard a spaceship?
We are expecting stories that explore the concepts of past and present in an interesting way. To get you started, you might consider the points below. How do interpretations of past and present shape…
… folklore and mythology?
… family and strangers?
… technology and innovation?
… wealth and poverty?
… cooperation and conflict?
… concepts of identity?
Prizes: Finalists will get weekend tickets to HDCC in November + 2 physical copies of the anthology, printed on our in-store book-printing machine, Betty. The winner will also receive €150 in ABC gift certificates!
So, how will you interpret the theme Past and Present? We can’t wait to read what you will come up with! Click here to see all the rules, the timeline of the competition, and to hand in your story! The deadline is 31 August so get writing…
