KADOKAWA Launches MyAnimeList x Honeyfeed Heroic Fantasy Contest

KADOKAWA is opening the door to its next potential global light novel hit. The publisher has partnered with qdopp Inc. and MyAnimeList Co., Ltd. for the MyAnimeList x Honeyfeed Writing Contest 2026 – THE HEROIC FANTASY presented by KADOKAWA, an English-language competition searching for fantasy writers from around the world.

Hosted on qdopp’s Honeyfeed web novel platform, the contest will focus on two character-driven themes: Epic Heroine and Tragic Hero. With a $5,000 prize for one winner in each category and a potential path to Japanese publication, this is more than a standard online writing challenge—it is an opportunity for an international creator to enter the Japanese light novel market.

The submission window runs from July 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. PDT, through September 27, 2026, at 9:00 p.m. PDT. Writers must publish a new, original English-language web novel on Honeyfeed, release chapters regularly, bring the story to a satisfying conclusion, and reach at least 50,000 words before the deadline.

Two fantasy themes, one essential requirement

The Epic Heroine category is aimed at stories featuring a powerful female lead whose impressive abilities contrast with her charming weaknesses or personal shortcomings. KADOKAWA points to Secrets of the Silent Witch as the kind of character balance it has in mind: a heroine who can dominate the story through her strength while remaining endearing because of her flaws.

The Tragic Hero category takes a darker route. These stories should follow a male protagonist climbing back from profound despair, with KADOKAWA citing Sentenced to Be a Hero as a reference point for the desired tone and setup.

Despite the split themes, the contest’s central priority is the same in both categories: a compelling protagonist. The winning story will need to offer more than a familiar fantasy setting or a collection of dramatic twists. Its central character must be strong enough to carry a complete, emotionally satisfying novel for readers across different markets.

What the winners can receive

There will be one Grand Prize winner in each theme, for two Grand Prize winners overall. Each will receive $5,000 and be paired with a KADOKAWA editor and a professional Japanese light novel author to revise the manuscript for possible publication in Japan.

Should a Grand Prize not be selected in a category, a Runner-Up Prize of $3,000 may be awarded instead. Runner-Up works could also be considered for publication through KADOKAWA after revision, although publication remains subject to the publisher’s final approval.

Selected novels are planned for adaptation into Japanese, with illustrations by a professional light novel artist and a target Japanese light novel release in fiscal 2028. That schedule may change, and the publication opportunity is not an automatic guarantee for every prize recipient, but the scale of the potential reward is notable for an English-language web fiction contest.

A follow-up to KADOKAWA’s first English contest

THE HEROIC FANTASY is the second KADOKAWA-branded English web novel contest organized through the MyAnimeList and Honeyfeed partnership. The previous event, MyAnimeList x Honeyfeed Writing Contest 2025 – THE ISEKAI presented by KADOKAWA, attracted 1,240 submissions.

That inaugural contest awarded its Grand Prize to Isekai’d with my dog, I’m not the hero?! by Frettiko, along with two additional prize-winning works: Drinking Buddies: Hangover In Another World and HR in Another World: Building the Strongest Parties with my Appraisal Skill. The Grand Prize-winning novel is set to receive the same kind of editorial and publication development that KADOKAWA is offering through the 2026 competition.

For longtime anime and light novel fans, the contest reflects a broader shift in how new Japanese-style fantasy stories can reach publishers. KADOKAWA has increasingly used web fiction and user-generated content platforms as places to discover creators, while MyAnimeList and Honeyfeed provide an international community already familiar with anime-inspired storytelling.

With submissions now open, the next thing to watch is which novels begin building momentum on Honeyfeed—and whether this year’s most memorable heroine or fallen hero eventually makes the jump from an English web novel to a Japanese light novel shelf.

Sources

group.kadokawa.co.jp
honeyfeed.fm
prtimes.jp
myanimelist.net