Iowa Poetry Contest

This very book consists of original poetries that are very personal to me. This is my first book of poetry, that is raw and dug deep within me. The scars and wounds were fresh from the battlefield. It took a toll on my mental health. But I am a strong survivor, who is ready to share my story with the world.

Seven thousand years later, she became the Goddess of Darkness, and crowned as the queen of the United Empires of Darkness. She reigned over the United Empires of Darkness, which composed of Devil Empire, Vampire Empire, Werewolf Empire, Snake People Empire, and Dragon Island. She created the strongest army, which composed of seven royal guard regiments, dragon knight army, phoenix knight army, vampire army, werewolf army, snake people army, and dragon army. She blessed her soldiers with superpowers, and her soldiers returned her with loyalty and respect. She hosted eleven fun contests after Christmas, which were Red Wine Brewing Contest, Music Contest, Dancing Contest, Ghost Storytelling Contest, Talent Show Contest, Costume Design Contest, Cooking Contest, Dragon Riding Contest, Horror Storytelling Contest, Romance Storytelling Contest and Fantasy Storytelling Contest. She hosted resurrection ceremonies in Heaven Company for six days, threw thirty chosen souls into another world, and entered another world on her own in the last day, in search of the better self. When she came to her destiny's crossroads, she chose the path not taken, and wondered how things might have been different.

I deleted this to repost and enter the contest.

The novel unfolds an epic saga in a world ruled by light and shadow — but light is not always good, and shadow is not purely evil. Ancient forces clash for the right to reshape the world, where truth is tainted by betrayal, and nobility walks hand in hand with cruelty. Weapons are not mere tools of war — they are extensions of their bearers’ souls, echoing their past, their burdens, and a path not chosen, but forced upon them. Loyalty shifts. Justice is a fluid illusion. And power… in this world, it is no privilege — it is a curse. No one holds it without sacrificing a piece of their soul. This story weaves between philosophy and battle, between blood-soaked poetry and silent screams, where death is not the end… but the beginning of a truth that can only be told — in the language of shadows.

Akin awakens in the body of Ling San, a wandering swordsman in the year 700 AD, at the height of China’s Tang Dynasty, the golden age of art, poetry, and Buddhist thought. But this world is more than history; it breathes with spirits, demons, and forgotten gods. To atone for the sins of a past life, Akin must walk a path between fate and free will, between mercy and vengeance. With every step, he is drawn deeper into a world where Taoist magic, Buddhist wisdom, and ancient legends intertwine and where even a brushstroke can shape the destiny of souls.

Since ancient times, there have been whispers of a mystical realm known as the Spirit Realm. Throughout the ages, scholars and poets have offered countless interpretations of its existence. In poetry, it is recorded: “From Qi to Tang, this mountain steeped in desolation; the Spirit Realm, silent and remote, visited by few.” “The Spirit Realm defies description; its ghostly wonders are beyond pursuit.”

However this book is going to get filled with poetries, about eveything. It's attached with every feeling. It's written for everyone. Either if it's painful or exciting, it's going to leave it's spark everywhere. The world may end but these poetries don't know it's ending. That is why I decided to keep them all together, in a safe place. I wanted to create a kingdom for their beauties. So that they can never be forgetten.

A story of adventure and discovery. A story of bonds and fellowship. A story of mysteries and mantras. A story of a world only the brave dare to brave. The adventure of a simple young man, brave and strong. A seeker of fun, one who understand the beauty of creation. A creature shrouded in enigma, as deep as the universe. The pursuit of mankind and all creatures in existence. A game of survival, a struggle for dominance. A contest of the braves. Additional tags: Realistic fantasy, Mature, Ecchi, Guild creation, Romantic Subplots.

Jack Johnson is jolted awake in his dorm room by a blinding flash of light. As his vision clears, he finds a radiant woman floating at the centre of his room Deyanira, the goddess of magic. She claims he has been chosen as her champion in a divine contest: a deadly game where only one mortal representative will survive to help their god ascend and rule the pantheon. Thrust into a world of magic, rivalry, and cosmic ambition, Jack must outwit and outlast the champions of rival gods. Will he rise to the challenge, or become just another casualty in the gods’ ruthless game of ascension?

poetry and random stuff I made up, not only as a coping mechanism. but also as a way to let my mind not explode. (figuratively)

A game is about to begin—a ruthless contest of blood and death where mercy is a forgotten word. The weak will be trampled, the innocent will be devoured, and only the cunning, the ruthless, and the unparalleled will rise. This is no ordinary game; the wager? it's nothing less than the world itself. But isn’t that what makes it thrilling? After all, what fun is a game if survival comes easy?

Sunz was born with an unknown ability given only a sword from birth but had no idea of what to do, until one faithful day his ability got reawakened and it's his choice to live his old life or explore his new one with the help of his friend Jihu. At first, Sunz was invited by Jihu to see his Grandpa's tournament in Korea. But the invitation as a Visitor soon changed to an invitation as a Contestant. Now having a chance to compete at Jihu's Grandpa's tournament to find the next member of the Water Clan. But to have a chance at competing in the tournament Sunz needs to win against one of the Inspector. Even if he can defeat the Inspector, can he defeat the other Contestants, who are there for the same reward? An inexperienced nobody joining the World of Experts. Can he survive or will he die without achieving ANYTHING?

Dummy number one barges into my life like he owns the damn place, acting like the world owes him a damn trophy. Dummy number two? Oh, he's got me on speed dial and follows me like I'm some rare Pokémon he just has to catch. Meanwhile, I'm stuck playing referee in their never-ending "who's more annoying" contest. Senior year was supposed to be chill, but instead, I got front row seats to this circus. Honestly? Please leave me alone unless you wanna fight!

When fire rains from the heavens, Alaric, a solitary mysterious wanderer saves an old woman and is struck down by a celestial blaze. He awakens not in afterlife, but in a world forever changed. Marked by a divine seal, Alaric learns he has been chosen as a contender in a brutal contest: to determine the next God of War.

// A princess, a contest, and a masked outlaw with a grudge. It's not quite a fairytale, but it's getting there! // In the fractured Kingdom of Stormwatch, Princess Adora faces a grim future. Far from the throne, and thrust into a contest for her hand by the ruthless Prince Nicobar, she's resigned to being a pawn in his power-hungry schemes. Nicobar's hedonistic, iron-fisted rule is enforced by the Sheriff, a relentless, enchanted metal-mechanical enforcer who hunts down anyone daring to defy the crown. Yet, even he cannot stop Grimholt -the notorious, enigmatic outlaw leader -whose daring exploits have captured the hearts of the people and the ire of the Prince. As the contest unfolds, Adora finds unexpected allies and foes among the court and the bandits. Though she is powerless to stop the Prince's machinations, her heart is drawn to a mysterious, daring competitor. Dawning a plague mask and adopting the name 'The Prince of the People', he challenges not just Nicobar's plans, but everything she thought she knew about courage and justice. With storms brewing and the Sheriff closing in, the Princess must make a choice: will she risk everything for a chance at her freedom- and a love as wild as the magic of Stormwatch?

Jack Darwin and 9 other candidates are taken from earth and have been chosen to compete in The game of Evolution. In which each candidate gets a choice of 1 prime race and 2 minor races to control,command, and evolve. The candidate will all be on the same planet of ludum mundi and will have to fight to survive against the other contestants and the world itself. (Had this idea in my mind thought I'd try it out) Also since there has been problems beacuse of the update I will be uploading under the same name for my profile and story on royal road. https://www.royalroad.com/profile/308429

Kimberly Carter has seen love's promises shatter firsthand. raised in the shatter of her parents bitter divorce and her mother's untimely death , she hides behind poetry and silence, convinced that love only leads to pain.At university she finds solace in library and in the margins of her favorite poetry book where she pours her secret thoughts no one else will see.But when Aiden Grayson Rowe an optimistic architecture and poetry student, mistakenly takes that book her private world begins to unravel. Drawn to her own handwritten words, Aiden reaches out through the pages, igniting a connection Kim never believed was possible. But love isn't simple especially when jealousy, secrets and past wounds come to light. Can Kim ever learn to trust again? Or will the shadows of her past eclipse the light of her future?

The Planar Complex has instigated a competition that will determine a new interplanar hierarchy, planes with representation and those without lack time, knowledge, and resources to truly prepare. With stakes that aren't fully understood, the Planar Nucleus' hope against the worst case scenario lies with an unusual contestant of the competition.

“Colours in Black” is not just a book — it's a mirror. A mirror that reflects the hidden hues of human emotions, thoughts, and moments we often overlook. This anthology contains standalone tales — sometimes deep, sometimes dark, sometimes dreamy — yet each painted with its own shade of meaning. There is no continuation, but every story leaves a mark. A collection for those who find poetry in pain, clarity in chaos, and colours in the Black.

I have a bunch of writing works, that don't quite fit the classification to be a regular story, or are not good enough. Or it was a project, that was not selected to move forward into a publication. So as saying go: “Don't write for a drawer in the desk.” I trying to find a home for them. I do not expect for them to have any success, as many are for weekly contest and dint make it. (Shelf Clean out, as it was written down on my (To do) list.)

In the mystical world of Lexiconia, cultivation power flows not from qi or elemental meditation, but through the mastery of written word. Scribes advance by literally writing reality into existence through increasingly complex calligraphy, poetry, and prose. What begins as simple fire-lighting characters evolves into epic poems that reshape landscapes and novels so compelling they create pocket dimensions. A scribe, Lin Moxian begins as the Azure Quill Academy's most notorious failure—three years of perfect theoretical knowledge and flawless brushwork, yet unable to manifest even the simplest cultivation effects. Mocked as "Failed Scholar Lin" and facing expulsion, he discovers through Master Liu that his "failure" is actually an incredibly rare condition called Infinite Ink.

In this world, ascending to upper realms was a matter of resources and ability. No matter the status or power level, if you have the money and the willingness to, you can live in any realm of your choosing. However, the higher the realm, the more power there is to tap into and cultivate. However, a devastating war led to a change in the rules. Who is brave enough to seek the Supremacy and rule the world? By: Jerlani

Melanie Davis thought she understood heartbreak — until she became someone else's replacement. At twenty, she’s bold, brilliant, and drawn to the shadows of poetry and pain. When her literature professor, Miguel Salazar, takes an interest in her work — and her — Melanie finds herself pulled into a dangerous affair. What begins as intellectual intimacy quickly unravels into obsession, as she realizes Miguel isn’t falling for her... he's haunted by the memory of his dead wife. Caught in the grip of someone else’s ghost, Melanie walks away — only to crash into the raw chaos of Hobie Reyes: the lead guitarist of a reckless, underground band with eyes that see through her and fingers that strum both guitar strings and scars. Hobie doesn’t want to fix her. He wants to *feel* her. On stage. In life. Loud and real.

Kael Varyn, a Chicago hacker, dies and awakens in the Crown Nexus, a cyberpunk city powered by Essence, where he’s thrust into a cosmic contest for the Aether Crown—a relic granting dominion over infinite realms. With the Starlit Veil, a fragment of the Crown, and a mysterious System guiding him, Kael navigates heists, rival Contenders like Vikram and Lyra, and threats like the Syndicate and Ashen Forge. His journey takes him from the neon streets of the Nexus to the steampunk Iron Crucible, forging uneasy alliances with Toren and Anjali as he rises from nothing to challenge the multiverse’s power structure.

Odin, the Allfather of the Norse gods, is no noble hero. In his endless pursuit of wisdom and power, he crosses lines even gods should fear. Disguised as a humble worker, Odin infiltrates the realm of giants to steal the legendary Mead of Poetry—an elixir said to grant knowledge, prophecy, and the soul of creation itself.

The Cream Front was the term given to the Danish front by the Germans, due to the large amount of dairy production Denmark was known for, and that it was by far the least contested front in the war, however under the surface of Denmark there was resistance growing. After the Battle of Copenhagen and the occupation of Denmark, many people felt distraught. A country they once had loved was now under the boot of the Swastika, and while the oppression was minimal in comparison to other countries that felt the brunt of the Germans, people felt as though they needed to do something.

I know Web novel is for novels and manga. I’d hardly consider poetry to be put in a novel, there’s not really a better place so I’m sorry if it upsets someone. This “Novel” is about broken and hurtful things. idk

In a world where the gods have forged the ultimate artifact of power the Crown of Kings, royalties from every corner of the realm prepare for a divine contest to claim dominion over all. Amidst the clash of emperors, queens, and warlords, alliances crumble and kingdoms prepare for war. Yet, unknown to these mighty rulers, an unassuming challenger without royal blood steps onto the battlefield, ready to defy destiny and the gods themselves.

This collection of Short stories is from writing contest hosted by the Ranobe Discord server where each contestant has submitted their work. Every entry uses certain prompts with variety of genre that are Xianxia, Romance, Horror, LitRPG, and Sci-Fi. Ranobe is a vibrant community where we novel enthusiast meet and share our passion for such storytelling. We invite you to become part of our journey too!! our discord: discord.gg/q9c4TqcSFS