The short story writing competition, part of the 2025 National Student Sports and Arts Week (PORSENASMA) V for PGRI Universities across the Archipelago, took place vibrantly on the 6th floor of the Integrated Laboratory at Universitas PGRI Madiun (UNIPMA), Tuesday (5/8), yesterday.

A total of 19 participants from various PGRI universities in Indonesia enthusiastically joined the competition. This was evident from the intensive communication between participants and the committee before the competition began.

"Many participants were actively asking questions, regarding the theme, room, and writing techniques, even though everything was already explained in the guidebook. This shows that they wanted to perform their best," said Lusia Kristiasih Dwi P., S.S., MA., the activity coordinator.

Participants came from various regions, ranging from Kalimantan, West Java, to East Java. Although one participant was absent, in general, the distribution of participants was quite even across Indonesia.

The competition was judged based on four main aspects, each weighted at 25 percent:

• Storyline

• Characterization

• Writing style

• Theme relevance

The assessment was conducted online by three independent judges from the literary and academic community:

• Suharmono – Literary critic

• Asef Saeful Anwar – Literary writer, Lecturer at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM

• Yetti AKA – Short story writer and literary figure

The judging process lasted for three days, starting August 5, with the final results to be announced on Saturday, August 9, 2025. The event will include the announcement of winners, signing of the official report, and distribution of medals.

Interestingly, this moment will also be used as a forum for sharing knowledge and experience between the judges and participants. Lusia Kristiasih Dwi P., S.S., MA., stated that the session would open a space for creative discussion and strengthen the ecosystem of short story writing among students.

“The hope is to create a new circle of literacy. Not just a competition, but also a process of learning and collaboration,” she concluded.

With a warm and enthusiastic atmosphere, the short story writing competition at PORSENASMA V is not only a venue for showcasing creativity but also a platform for building literary networks among the young generation of PGRI across the archipelago.