Writing Competition Rules
Please read this in full before entering. It explains exactly how the PEG Pulse Writing Competition 2026 works.
Eligibility
Open to anyone capable of producing thoughtful, original work. You do not need to be a professional journalist, have previously published work, or hold a journalism degree. What matters is the quality of your ideas and writing.
Contributor Application Requirement
Every entrant must first apply and be approved as a PEG Pulse contributing writer through our existing application process before submitting an article.
Originality
Entries must be entirely your own original work, never published elsewhere. Plagiarism in any form results in immediate disqualification.
AI Generated Content
Articles must be genuinely written by the entrant. Content that is substantially generated by AI tools rather than written by the entrant is not eligible and will be disqualified if identified.
Editorial Approval
Being approved as a contributing writer does not guarantee any specific article will be published. Every submission is reviewed against PEG Pulse’s normal editorial standards, independent of the competition.
Competition Registration
Once your article is published, you must separately register it as a competition entry using the form on the competition page. Unregistered published articles are not considered competition entries.
Competition Period
Entry registration opens November 10, 2026 and closes December 20, 2026. Entries must be registered within this window to qualify.
Judging Criteria for the Overall Winner
The Overall Winner is selected independently of audience popularity, based on:
- Originality of idea and perspective
- Writing quality, clarity, and structure
- Depth of thought, research, or observation
- Relevance to issues that matter to people or society
- Ability to hold a reader’s attention
- Overall editorial value to PEG Pulse
Audience Award Calculation
The Audience Award combines engagement on the PEG Pulse website (article views, Pegs, and comments) with measurable engagement on our social media channels. Website engagement is weighted more heavily than social media engagement, since it can be verified directly. Every registered, published entry automatically qualifies, there is no shortlist.
Anti Manipulation Rules
Fake accounts, bots, purchased engagement, engagement farms, spam, and any coordinated attempt to manipulate competition metrics are strictly prohibited. PEG Pulse reserves the right to investigate unusual engagement patterns and to remove fraudulent engagement or disqualify an entry where credible evidence of manipulation is found.
Copyright and Rights
Writers retain ownership of their work. By registering an entry, you grant PEG Pulse the right to publish, promote, and archive the article on our platform and social channels.
Prize Distribution
Winners will be contacted directly using the email address provided at registration. Prizes are paid out following winner announcement, timeline to be communicated to winners directly.
Decisions and Disputes
All editorial and competition decisions made by PEG Pulse are final. Questions about the competition can be sent to info@thepegpulse.com and pegperspective@thepegpulse.com.