[#CreativeAwards2025 Briefing Report] Answering questions from creators!
The "Creative Awards," one of Japan's largest creative contests, kicked off on April 22nd. This year, marking its fourth iteration, we are co-hosting with the story submission site Tales! The number of participating media outlets has also increased significantly from 21 in 2024 to 38, making it even more powerful. We are accepting submissions across 12 categories, ranging from essays and novels to entertainment original works, business, and food.
To solicit a wider range of works this year, we are changing the scope for several categories.
The "#MangaOriginalWorkCategory" has been changed to the "#EntertainmentOriginalWorkCategory," and it now covers not only manga but also works intended for screen adaptation.
The category that was "#RecipeCategory" last year has been changed to the "#FoodCategory," and we are now accepting not only recipes but also food essays.
Novel and original work categories can be entered from both note and Tales.
For details, please see the special website or the Frequently Asked Questions help page.
In this article, we will answer questions from creators that were raised during the "Creative Awards 2025 Briefing" held on X Spaces on April 24th.
About how to apply
Q1. Please tell me how to apply.
A. For both note and Tales, please create your work within the respective service and apply by configuring the following settings on the publication settings screen.
[If applying via note]
Please publish the article you are submitting with two hashtags: "#CreativeAwards2025" and the category hashtag "#○○Category." For serialized works, you must add the hashtags to each article.
[If applying via Tales]
Select the category you are applying for under "Participate in Contest" on the work information page. Configure the publication settings for each episode (*1) and ensure that all episodes subject to judging are published. Also, please confirm that "#○○Category" is displayed under "Contests Participating In" on the work editing page.
Note that on Tales, "which Creative Awards category you participate in" and "what genre the novel is (*2)" are not linked. Please feel free to choose your participation category.
*1 On Tales, a collection of stories or a single story written along a theme is referred to as a "work," a division within the work is a "chapter," and an individual story contained within a chapter is an "episode." For details, please see here.
*2 On Tales, when posting a work, you must set a genre that matches the content and theme of the story. For details, please see here.
We do not accept applications via email or mail to the secretariat. Please apply via note or Tales.
▼ Click here for a detailed explanation of the application method and procedure
Q2. Is it possible to apply to multiple categories?
A. There is no limit to the number of works you can submit. However, please note that you cannot submit a single work to multiple categories.
Q3. Can I submit works that were published in the past?
A. Even for works that have already been published, you can submit them if you apply the following settings during the submission period (until July 22, 2025, 23:59).
[If submitting via note]
Please update your post with two hashtags: "#CreativeAward2025" and the category hashtag "#○○Category".
[If submitting via Tales]
Select "Submit" under "Participate in Contest" on the work information page to make it eligible for submission. Don't forget to check the publication settings for each episode. Please note that private episodes are not eligible for judging.
Regarding submission requirements
Q4. When posting a long-form novel, is there a character limit per article?
A. As long as you meet the submission requirements, there is no character limit per article (per chapter). Entries that fall within the submission requirement range of 20,000 to 140,000 characters will be eligible for judging.
There is no problem with packing everything into one article (one chapter), but for the sake of readers and judges, it is recommended to split the article where the scene changes, as it makes it easier to read.
The places where you choose to split your work are also where your directorial intent as an author is expressed, showing how you want the reader to feel or what psychological state you want them to be in. Please try to be creative with this.
Q5. Is the submission for the Entertainment Original Work category supposed to be in the format of 15,000 to 50,000 characters like a one-shot novel? Or should I create several chapters within this character count to submit?
A. As long as the total character count of the work meets the submission requirements, the number of chapters within that is up to you. However, we recommend splitting it into several chapters in anticipation of serialization or adaptation.
Dramas and anime have different suitable episode counts and lengths. Please try to enter by imagining the form of entertainment you want to showcase.
When you enjoy your favorite works, try imagining how many characters one episode would be if it were turned into a script. It is recommended as it is good training for creating original works.
Q6. For a work that is 200,000 characters long, which is more than the specified character count (20,000 to 140,000 characters), is it okay to split it at a logical point and submit it?
A. Yes. If it stands as an independent work, it is possible to split it and submit it. For example, even if it is a series with the same protagonist or world-building, each part will be judged individually.
Conversely, split works will be judged as independent works without continuity. Therefore, depending on where you split it, it may be evaluated as having no climax, or as having only a climax without the context of what came before or after.
Therefore, we recommend either keeping it within 140,000 characters or polishing it so that it remains an engaging work even if it is incomplete.
Q7. Should the synopsis include the ending (spoilers) of the story?
In that case, how much detail should I provide about the characters and the world-building?
A. There are no rules regarding whether or not to include the ending in your synopsis. You should decide your approach based on whether including the ending makes readers want to read it, or whether omitting it makes them want to read it.
Categories requiring a synopsis
Mystery Novel Category, Horror Novel Category, Romance Novel Category, Work-Life Novel Category, Fantasy Novel Category, Entertainment Original Work Category, Manga Category
[When applying via note]
Please include a synopsis of about 300 characters at the beginning of the article for the first chapter.
[When applying via Tales]
Please include the synopsis, characters, and world-building settings in the "Work Introduction" section.
Q8. When creating a short story collection, what should I write in the work introduction and how much detail should I include?
A. In the case of a short story collection, each short story is treated as an individual work. Please write a synopsis for each work.
Also, details about characters and world-building are not mandatory in the work introduction. However, if the characters and world-building are important to the work and including them would make people want to read it, please feel free to include them.
Q9. Can I apply with a work that is currently entered in another company's contest?
A. Yes, you can. However, if you win an award or decide to commercialize the work through another company's contest, please contact the Creative Award Secretariat (creativeaward@note.jp) with the URL of the work and the name of the company that approached you, as well as the details (book publication, comic adaptation, etc.).
Also, please check the terms and conditions of the other contest, as some may not allow simultaneous entries.
Q10. Can I re-apply with a work that made it to the semi-finals in a previous Creative Award but did not win an award?
A. Yes. If you want to use the existing note article as is, you can apply again this year by updating it with the two hashtags: "#CreativeAward2025" and the category hashtag "#○○Category".
Whether you update the past article or repost it as a new article is fine according to the rules. However, considering that you want readers to enjoy it as a newly reborn work, we recommend creating a new article.
Q11. I applied for the 'Entertainment Original Work Category Early Entry,' but can I add another category?
A. Since it is one category per work, you cannot add categories. The work you entered early will be entered into the Entertainment Original Work category as is. There is no problem with making revisions during the application period.
If you wish to expand to other categories, please enter it as a new work, as the application requirements are different.
Q12. Is it possible to apply if I am serializing the continuation of a work on note that started on a commercialization site but was discontinued midway?
A. There is no problem as long as you hold the rights to the work yourself. The Creative Award is a contest premised on media adaptation. Please apply with works for which you hold the copyright.
[Note]
If part of the work has already been commercialized, please check the terms of your contract with the publisher.
Q13. Is it a problem if I make the article I am applying with a paid article?
A. As long as the range you are entering is readable for free, it will be subject to review. However, the paid area will not be subject to review.
Q14. I am posting 4-panel comic essays. I post every day, so if I apply until the deadline, there will be quite a number of episodes. Is there a limit to the number of episodes?
A. There is no limit to the number of episodes.
It is fine if you list the URLs of the articles for the second episode onwards within the article for the first episode.
Q15. Are unfinished long novels also eligible for application?
A. It is no problem if it is unfinished. However, the review will be conducted based on the specified character count (20,000 to 140,000 characters). Even if it is 100,000 characters and unfinished, we will judge it based on the interest of the work, not the character count.
About the application categories
Q16. I don't know what genre my work falls into. If I choose the All Categories category, will all participating media read it?
A. The All-Category division does not have specific media partners judging it. If there is a specific media outlet you hope to connect with, please consider entering the division that best matches your work among those that the media outlet is participating in.
Excellent works in the All-Category division will receive a prize of 100,000 yen and support such as introductions to our partners through the note Creator Support Program.
Q17. If a work combines multiple categories, such as "Horror x Modern Fantasy" or "Horror x Modern Drama," which division should I apply to?
A. Since a single work cannot be entered into two divisions, you will need to choose one division to apply to.
Please consider who you want to read your work, as well as where the appeal and interesting points of your work lie, and apply to the division you think is most suitable. For example, if the romance aspect is your strength, the Romance division might be a good choice.
Also, the media outlets judging the entries vary by division. If you have a preference to "get published by this specific label," one strategy is to apply to a division that includes the media outlet associated with that label.
Please also refer to the comments from participating media regarding the types of works they are looking for.
▼ Click here for comments from participating media
Q18. Are poetry collections or picture books eligible?
A. You can enter them in the "All-Category" division, which accepts any genre or format.
Excellent works will receive support such as introductions to our partners through the note Creator Support Program.
Q19. I am considering a work that uses a narrative style to teach health and wellness. Is it possible to apply? Also, which genre would it fall under?
A. Please decide based on whether it is more practical or if the weight is on the narrative.
You mentioned that your work places more weight on health and wellness than on the story itself. In that case, I would infer that it is closer to business or essay writing rather than a novel or entertainment manuscript.
Please consider who you want to read it, and from the perspective of which field and which editorial department would be best for reaching that audience.
Each division has comments from each media outlet on the types of works they are looking for, so please use them as a reference.
Q20. Can I submit a novel where food is the main theme to the Food category? Is the Food category only for essays and recipes, and should novels go into the All-Category section?
A. Many of the media outlets participating in the Food category are looking for recipes, practical books, and essays.
Therefore, if you want to deliver your work to readers as a novel, I think it is better to apply to a novel-related category that fits your theme.Please also refer to the comments from each media outlet when considering your options.
Q21. I am considering applying to the Romance category. Could you tell me how much erotic content is permitted?
A. There is no adult-only genre in this Creative Award.
Sexual expression itself is not prohibited if it is necessary for what you want to convey in your work. However, for works where sexual expression is the primary goal, or works that readers may find offensive as a result, we may ask you to review or adjust the content. The line will be drawn based on the work itself.
Q22. Is it possible to submit audio content in a radio format or video/audio such as VLOGs in the All-Category section? Please let me know if there are any formats that violate the selection criteria.
A. Submissions of videos, audio, photos, etc., are also possible. We look forward to seeing your brilliant and ambitious works.
Regarding the relationship between note and Tales
Q23. I plan to submit a novel on either note or Tales. Is it possible to post the same work in a serialized format on note after submitting it?
A. Please submit your entry on either note or Tales. You cannot submit the same work separately to both note and Tales.
However, the rights and handling of the submitted work belong to each creator. There is no problem with serializing the continuation of your work on note after submitting it to the Creative Award.
Q24. If I upload a contest entry to "note," which I have been using for several years, versus uploading it to "Tales" for the first time, is it more likely that more people will read it on "note"?
Also, will having a higher number of views or likes be advantageous for the judging?
A. Reader reactions such as view counts and likes are used as a reference during the selection process, but they are not direct evaluation criteria themselves.
Therefore, choosing one platform over the other will not put you at an advantage or disadvantage.
Since Tales is specialized for stories, it might be easier to use if you want to create a serialized format. For short stories, or if you prefer to match the world-building, you are also very welcome to choose note. Please consider which one suits you best.
Q25. After uploading a contest entry to Tales, is it okay to post the Tales URL on my note and promote it with words like 'I'm participating! Please support me!'?
A. You can think of it the same way as sharing on X or other platforms. Using note like social media and sharing works written on Tales is perfectly fine.
Regarding the Selection Process
Q26. If I want to change the category I'm applying to after entering the contest, is it okay to do so before the deadline? Also, will any evaluations be reset because of this?
A. Judging is based on the content as of the application deadline (July 22, 2025, 23:59). Please rest assured that changing the application category or polishing your work before the deadline will not put you at a disadvantage in the judging.
Q27. Since I applied on the first day, I'm worried that my work will get buried further and further down. Could you please tell me if judging is ongoing during the period leading up to the interim announcement, or if only works that meet certain criteria proceed to the first round of selection?
A. While reader reactions such as page views and 'likes' are taken into account during the selection process, they do not serve as direct evaluation criteria themselves.
Although we do not disclose the details of the judging flow, we will judge based on the information available at the time of the application deadline (July 22, 2025, 23:59). Please rest assured that the timing of your application will not put you at a disadvantage.
Also, for the Creative Award, you can update articles even after they have been published, as long as it is within the application period.
Therefore, you can publish your work early to see reader reactions and polish it, or you can work on it until the very last minute before publishing. Please participate in a way that you are satisfied with.
Q28. Compared to general novel submissions, the selection period seems quite short, and I feel like it would be impossible to handle everything just after the deadline.
A. Judging is conducted based on the content as of the application deadline (July 22, 2025, 23:59). Please understand that we do not disclose details on how we read and evaluate the entries.
The Creative Award is an important and cherished event that note positions as a 'festival of creation.' Our entire staff is prepared and ready, so please rest assured.
Frequently Asked Questions
For other frequently asked questions regarding how to enter and the judging process, please see the help page below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the Creative Awards
In closing
The Creative Awards is a creative contest that note has been holding since 2022, and this year marks its fourth iteration.
Winning works aim for book publication or adaptation into film/video, and 18 works have been adapted into media over the past three years. This year, we are co-hosting with the story submission site "Tales." The number of media outlets participating in the judging has increased significantly from 21 last year to 38, expanding the chances for even more works to be released to the world.
There is nothing that would make us happier than for these Creative Awards to become a place where many creators can seize opportunities and find chances to thrive. We hope to make this a creative festival that we can all enjoy together.
If you are even slightly interested, please first take a look at the special page.
Creative Awards Schedule
Entry period: April 22 (Tue) 11:00 - July 22 (Tue) 23:59
Reader support period: April 22 (Tue) 11:00 - July 31 (Thu) 23:59
Mid-term announcement: Mid-September
Final results announcement & Award ceremony: Late October