Once upon a time there was a shortlist...

When I published this fairytale challenge, it was a whim; something I started without much planning. But seeing how much you all loved it truly made me happy!

In just 20 days, 22 wonderful authors shared their tales - each one a beautiful story and a gateway into both new and familiar worlds. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for joining in. Reading your stories was a delight and an inspiration!

You breathed life into dreams, gave voices to forgotten myths, and spun threads of magic through every word. Some tales made me smile, others sent shivers down my spine or even made me cry. All of them though reminded me why I love storytelling so much.

And as for the shortlist and the winner... well, you certainly didn’t make things easy for me or my husband, arktouro. After much thought (and quite a bit of discussion), we finally narrowed it down to five articles that completely won us over. And here they are!

Wanna read a fairytale?

This page gathers all the enchanting entries from our amazing authors! Take a stroll through their worlds and lose yourself in their magic! And if you enjoy what you read, don’t forget to sprinkle a little love with a like, a comment, or a sticker!

Once upon a time...

Generic article | Oct 1, 2025

A fairytale unofficial challenge! Let your world's childhood stories shine! SUBMISSIONS ARE CLOSED

The Shortlist

The Lady Gwen

tnt-article | Oct 13, 2025

by J. Variable X/0

This beautiful tale - part of a larger story soon to come, as I understand - is written in such an engaging and charming way. Through the voice of a delightful fae, J. Variable X/0 brings to life the story of Lady Gwen, her struggles, and the reason she was drawn into the world of the fae. It’s fresh, clever, and leaves you wanting to know what happens next.

When I think of folktales, my mind immediately goes to stories like this one: short, easy to read, yet full of meaning and atmosphere. What makes this tale truly stand out is its subtle, uncertain, and beautifully grey moral. It’s the kind of story that lingers in your thoughts long after you’ve finished reading. Demongrey has such a knack for crafting worlds that feel both timeless and alive.

The Old Man and the Devil

Myth | Sep 14, 2025

A folktale from Elbid

by Demongrey

Wolfsnacht

Prose | Sep 16, 2025

Ein Feldmann-Hof Geschichte

by Nightone

I’m so glad Google Translate worked its magic because it let me enjoy this wonderful fairytale by Nightone! I bet the original German version reads even better, but even through translation, the charm absolutely shines. The story is sweet, heartfelt, and filled with life. Blacky, the adorable protagonist, is a character I know I’ll remember for a long time. The vivid descriptions painted every scene perfectly in my mind. A true classic fairytale in spirit and style!

Few authors can create a palpable atmosphere as masterfully as Tyrdal, and this tale of grief is no exception. It’s a perfect fit for his sandy, desert world, and its bittersweet message brought tears to my eyes. Beautifully drawn characters and exquisite language weave together a story of loss, love, and the quiet magic of emotion.

A heart of glass

Generic article | Oct 20, 2025

by Tyrdal

The Tale of the Red Hood

Document | Sep 22, 2025

by Jacqueline Taylor

This tale is a fantastic example of how to take a classic fairytale, like Little Red Riding Hood, and adapt it to your world in a way that feels meaningful and true to that setting. In Jacqueline Taylor’s story, the girl in the red hood doesn’t need a hunter to save her - she’s ready for the hardships of her world and stands as a heroic symbol for every child who hears her story.

And the Winner is...

Winner Badge

Choosing a winner was far from easy. Every story on the shortlist was incredible, and the decision came down to just the tiniest details. In the end, we decided that the winner is Wolfsnacht by Nightone!

What made it stand out was its heart, its charm, and the way it brought its characters vividly to life. That said, the choice was incredibly close, and every story on the shortlist could have deserved the top spot. The richness, creativity, and love poured into all these tales made this challenge an absolute joy to judge.

Epilogue

And so, as all fairytales should end… they lived happily ever after.

But our communal story doesn’t truly end here, because we are all part of this wonderful, creative community. We get to see what happens after the “happily ever after,” continue crafting our worlds, spinning new tales, and sharing them with each other. Every story, every world, and every spark of imagination adds to the magic we’re building together. And that, in itself, is the happiest ending of all.

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All content for Imaginarium is © 2025- by Elli Papadopoulou (aka Make lore, not war). All rights reserved. All images used were created via Midjourney or Canva, unless otherwise stated. Proudly powered by World Anvil

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Grandmaster Demongrey

Oct 16, 2025 15:14

Thanks for including my article on the shortlist, and congratulations Nightone on an outstanding story!

Come see my worlds: The Million Islands, High Albion, and Arborea

Sage Make lore, not war

Oct 16, 2025 20:23 by Imagica

You are welcome! You had an amazing entry <3

Worldember is finally here!! Here is my pledge!

I'm a Comment Caroler! Click to learn more

Come visit my world of Kena'an for tales of fantasy and magic! Or, if you fancy something darker, Crux Umbra awaits.

Grandmaster Tyrdal

Oct 16, 2025 21:16

Thank you so much for including "Heart of Glass" and your incredibly kind words - that is high praise, especially from you. It was an awesome challenge and congratulations to all the other shortlisters and especially Nightone!

Join me at the sandy beaches of Aran'sha for new adventures.

Tales from Aran'sha - Summercamp Edition is out!

Sage Make lore, not war

Oct 16, 2025 21:34 by Imagica

Thank you so much! Every word about your article is well deserved and from the heart <3

Worldember is finally here!! Here is my pledge!

Come visit my world of Kena'an for tales of fantasy and magic! Or, if you fancy something darker, Crux Umbra awaits.

Master Calamity_Crow

Oct 17, 2025 07:24

When you said, "You breathed life into dreams," I felt as though you were speaking to me and my short tale! Again, thank you for inviting me to partake of your challenge. It also inspired me to create possible snippets for the next volume of my story out of the cue words for Spooktober. Now I'm getting a better feel for how I want Vol. 2 to be woven together. The hinting of events in the tale I wrote for your challenge won't take greater shape until Vol. 3 though. I'm glad you both enjoyed the read! I did read Wolfsnacht during the challenge and it was fantastic! Congratulations, Nightone!

Excelsior!
Visit The Cat, Crow, & Knitten Show page with Volume 1 ready to read, and my The Truth of Tala'm: Trencher's Quest world, under development. Please leave a like and comment!

Sage Make lore, not war

Oct 17, 2025 08:00 by Imagica

I did enjoy this challenge so very much, especially because there were so many good articles submitted! I am glad you found inspiration in it <3

Worldember is finally here!! Here is my pledge!

Come visit my world of Kena'an for tales of fantasy and magic! Or, if you fancy something darker, Crux Umbra awaits.

Grandmaster lyberodoggy

Oct 27, 2025 08:22 by Christos

Congratulations everyone!

Grandmaster Piggie4299

Oct 27, 2025 11:43 by Jacqueline Taylor

Thank you so much for including my article on the shortlist! <3

Piggie

Sage Make lore, not war

Oct 28, 2025 12:38 by Imagica

You are very welcome! Loved the approach of your tale <3

Worldember is finally here!! Here is my pledge!

Come visit my world of Kena'an for tales of fantasy and magic! Or, if you fancy something darker, Crux Umbra awaits.

Grandmaster Nightone

Oct 29, 2025 08:39

Thank you very much, that you all liked my little tale of Blacky and his bretheren. I still can't believe that it took the win, since all stories were incredible!

Have a look at my entries for:
A lot of unofficial Challenges

Sage Make lore, not war

Nov 3, 2025 09:11 by Imagica

Thank you for sharing this beautiful tale! It really was a joy to read <3

Worldember is finally here!! Here is my pledge!

Come visit my world of Kena'an for tales of fantasy and magic! Or, if you fancy something darker, Crux Umbra awaits.