Yulia Butenko from Odessa is one of eight Ukrainian authors participating in the LitUSA contest on Instagram, where they have the chance to complete their novels in an online format over the course of a year. The grand prize is the publication of their works.
The organizers continuously share updates about the show on their Instagram page.
The lawyer from Odessa is working on a novel that explores family as a significant challenge. It’s a “story about Astrid, who ran away from herself but returned to her native Odessa,” the press release states.
Other talented authors in the contest include Iryna Yashchuk, Myroslava Kuntner, Maryna Mozhova, Marianna Ravlo, Anna Bondarenko, Kateryna Naumka, and Iryna Pakosh. Each of them writes in various genres, from historical novels to detective stories and non-fiction.
The participants create their texts in real time; weekly open coworking sessions allow anyone interested to join. Each week, the authors report on their writing progress.
Readers actively participate in the process: they vote, comment, choose names for the characters, and support their favorite authors while also providing critiques.
The project’s page highlights all the creative stages: inspiration, procrastination, battling the inner critic, writer's blocks, unexpected insights at two in the morning, and interesting moments, the organizers share about the online life of the contest.
