Readiscovery 2025

EKansh Trust Presents

READISCOVERY (c) ‘25

SHORT STORY WRITING CONTEST [ENGLISH]

For Story Writers with Blindness / Visual Impairment 

Prompt: No Visual References

Cue: Trying to say fragrant roses instead of red roses, wise and kind instead of handsome...soft corded fabric instead of dark blue satin, warm morning instead of a bright morning. We will basically be leaning on senses other than that of sight.

We are happy to have HARPERCOLLINS INDIA, once again, as our OUTREACH and EDITORIAL partners.

This time, our contest is exclusively for participants with Visual Impairment / Blindness. Why? Because we want to understand how you experience our world.  We would love for you to skilfully weave references to empathy, biases, myths, assistive technology, Braille, the importance of accessibility, etc. into your stories to make them more interesting and impactful.

Our Accomplished Judges

• Shri Sameer Latey [ CA, Winner of multiple awards]

• Dr. Nikita Raut [National Award Winner]

We are grateful for their continued support.

Do read more about their varied achievements online.

READISCOVERY (c) ' 25 COMPETITION RULES:

The contest is for writers who are Blind / Visually Impaired. The idea is to allow readers to experience your imagination and writing skills.

• Age: 18 years & above

• Language: English

• Word Count: 1000-2000 words

• Email your stories to: ekanshtrust@gmail.com      

•    [Email Subject: Readiscovery]

• Last date for submission: 1st October, 2025

• Format: DOC/PDF only

• Mention your name, address and telephone number

• Attach your disability certificate [Blind/Visually Impaired]

Main rule: Avoid visual references, descriptions, etc.

The stories must be imaginative, entertaining, appeal to all and also be understood by people who are blind from birth. Themes could from any genre and not necessarily about someone who is blind.  They must not be biographical.

*Writers who are blind / VI can engage scribes or translators but the story has to be yours

An Example: A Google search will tell you that the incredbily popular

Harry Potter books and movies have been made accessible for persons with visual challenges.

Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets, Chapter Eight - The Deathday Party

An excerpt...

October arrived, spreading a damp chill over the grounds and into the castle. Madam Pomfrey, the nurse, was kept busy by a sudden spate of colds among the staff and students. Her Pepperup potion worked instantly, though it left the drinker smoking at the ears for several hours afterward. Ginny Weasley, who had been looking pale, was bullied into taking some by Percy. The steam pouring from under her vivid hair gave the impression that her whole head was on fire.     Raindrops the size of bullets thundered on the castle windows for days on end; the lake rose, the flower beds turned into muddy streams, and Hagrid's pumpkins swelled to the size of garden sheds. Oliver Wood's enthusiasm for regular training sessions, however, was not dampened, which was why Harry was to be found, late one stormy Saturday afternoon a few days before Halloween, returning to Gryffindor Tower, drenched to the skin and splattered with mud.   Even aside from the rain and wind it hadn't been a happy practice session. Fred and George, who had been spying on the Slytherin team, had seen for themselves the speed of those new Nimbus Two Thousand and Ones. They reported that the Slytherin team was no more than seven greenish blurs, shooting through the air like missiles. As Harry squelched along the deserted corridor he came across somebody who looked just as preoccupied as he was. Nearly Headless Nick, the ghost of Gryffindor Tower, was staring morosely out of a window, muttering under his breath, ". . . don't fulfill their requirements . . . half an inch, if that . . ."  ***