2026 GLOW Competition

Van Deventer-Maas Indonesia (VDMI) is introducing the GLOW Competition 2026 as a continuation of the IDEAS Writing Challenge program, which was last held in 2025. This transformation introduces more in-depth evaluation criteria: GLOW stands for Gagasan (Ideas), Lugas (Clarity), Orisinal (Originality), and Wawasan (Insight). These four guidelines are intended to serve as the foundation for every piece of work, ensuring that writing is not merely a string of words but has the power to positively influence readers.

This competition is exclusively open to members of the Excellent Writing Club (EWC), including alumni and grantees. For members of the VDMI Family who are not yet members, VDMI is accepting registrations via email. This platform serves as a creative space for alumni and grantees to develop ideas in various formats, including: Features highlighting humanitarian aspects, Opinions offering critical perspectives, Popular Science simplifying complex information, and Short Stories with strong personal narratives.

Technically, each manuscript must be between 800 and 1,500 words in length. VDMI emphasizes that the integrity of the writing is a priority; participants must avoid content related to ethnicity, religion, race, and intergroup relations (SARA) as well as plagiarism. If necessary, clearly cite sources in footnotes. This requirement aligns with VDMI’s commitment to maintaining the quality and originality of works produced by EWC members. The submission period for the GLOW Competition 2026 runs from April 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026. All manuscripts must be submitted via the EWC platform with the notation “Glow Competition 2026” in the title field.

The time to shine has arrived. Don’t let your brilliant ideas remain unspoken; put them into writing and submit your best work before the end of 2026. Through GLOW, let’s prove that every piece of writing can illuminate the world with new insights.