FAQ
Questions serious entrants will ask.
Draft answers for the founding stage. Final entrant terms will be published before paid submissions open.
Is this for fully AI-generated work?
No. The awards recognize human-machine fiction: work where a human author directs, selects, revises, and accepts responsibility for the final piece.
Do authors retain rights?
Yes. Entrants retain copyright and publication rights. Any future anthology or publication opportunity would be optional and governed by a separate agreement.
Are fan works allowed?
No. Year One is original fiction only. Fan fiction and unauthorized derivative works are not eligible.
Will AI judge submissions?
No. Human readers and judges make literary, advancement, finalist, and award decisions. AI tools may support administration, process review, and packet preparation.
Can minors submit?
Authors under 18 may be eligible with parent or legal guardian consent, privacy safeguards, and separate handling for any public materials or prizes.
Why charge a fee?
Fees support review labor, administration, anti-abuse handling, and prize funding. They also protect the awards from spam, bulk uploads, and bad-faith disruption.
Are manuscripts confidential?
Submitted manuscripts, prompts, drafts, repositories, and process materials are treated as confidential review materials. Public summaries or excerpts require approval.
What counts as AI-assisted workflow?
Brainstorming, outlining, drafting, critique, revision, continuity checking, worldbuilding, translation assistance, custom tools, agents, retrieval systems, and repository workflows may all qualify when disclosed.