In 2021, the Université de Lorraine, in collaboration with the University of the Greater Region (UniGR), established the literary prize "Frontières". For its sixth edition, the student short story competition “Écrire aux frontières” is now open to celebrate and encourage literary creativity within the UniGR student community.
This new format also provides an opportunity to reflect on the role of AI in creative writing. Two complementary awards allow a critical perspective on content creation with or without AI assistance.
About the competition
Building on the tradition of the “Frontières” prize, “Écrire aux frontières” invites students enrolled in the 2025–2026 academic year to write original short stories in French on the theme of “borders” – interpreted in geographical, spatial, social, symbolic, or imaginary terms.
The competition features two categories, each with a €1,000 prize:
- Student Short Story – without Generative AI: Stories must be entirely written by the author, without using generative tools. Participants are required to confirm on their honor that no AI assistance was used.
Download template: Declaration of Non-Use of AI - Student Short Story - with Generative AI: Stories may be created with the help of generative or assistive AI tools. Participants must submit an explanatory note describing the nature and extent of AI use.
Download template: Explanatory Note on AI Use
In both categories, submissions must be between 8,000 and 15,000 characters (including spaces).
Submissions are accepted until January 4, 2026.
The jury consists of four students, three faculty members/researchers, and one cultural professional, chaired by a student representative.
Entries are evaluated based on: literary quality, originality and narrative coherence. The twenty best stories will be published in a short story anthology.
Read the full competition rules for “Écrire aux frontières”.