Genre: Fiction

Chapbook Contest

DIAGRAM/New Michigan Press
Entry Fee: 
$28
Deadline: 
April 30, 2026
A prize of $1,000, publication by New Michigan Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a chapbook of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or hybrid-genre work. Ander Monson will judge. Submit a manuscript of 18 to 44 pages with a $28 entry fee by April 30. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Winter Story Contest

Narrative
Entry Fee: 
$27
Deadline: 
March 31, 2026
A prize of $2,500 and publication in Narrative is given annually for a short story, a work of flash fiction, an essay, a memoir, or an excerpt from a longer work of fiction or creative nonfiction. A second-place prize of $1,000 is also awarded. The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit up to 15,000 words of prose with a $27 entry fee by March 31. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Breakout! Prize

Epiphany
Entry Fee: 
$10
Deadline: 
April 15, 2026
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Epiphany are given annually for a poem or a group of poems and a short work of fiction or nonfiction. Using only the online submission system, submit up to five poems of any length or up to 5,000 words of a short story, novel excerpt, or essay with a $10 entry fee by April 15. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Literary Prizes

New Ohio Review
Entry Fee: 
$22
Deadline: 
April 15, 2026
Three prizes of $1,500 each and publication in New Ohio Review are given annually for a poem or group of poems, a short story, and an essay. Submit a poem or group of poems of up to six pages or a story or essay of up to 20 pages with a $22 entry fee, which includes a subscription to New Ohio Review, by April 15. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Editor’s Prizes

Florida Review
Entry Fee: 
$25
Deadline: 
April 15, 2026
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Florida Review are given annually for a poem or group of poems, a short story, and an essay. The editors will judge. Submit up to five poems of any length or up to 30 pages of prose with a $25 entry fee, which includes a subscription to Florida Review, by April 15. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Prizes in Poetry and Fiction

Orison Books
Entry Fee: 
$25
Deadline: 
April 1, 2026
Two prizes of $1,500 each and publication by Orison Books are given annually for a poetry collection and a book of fiction. Leila Chatti will judge in poetry, and Margot Livesey will judge in fiction. Using only the online submission system, submit a poetry manuscript of 50 to 100 pages or a novel, novella, or collection of short stories or flash fiction of at least 30,000 words with a $25 entry fee by April 1. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Writing Fellowships

A Public Space
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
March 31, 2026
Three six-month fellowships of $1,000 each are given annually to emerging poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers who “embrace risk in their work” and have not published a full-length book. The fellows will work with the editors to prepare a piece for publication in A Public Space, receive complimentary access to all A Public Space master classes during the fellowship year, and will have the opportunity to meet with publishing professionals and participate in a public reading. For fellowships from June 1 to November 30, using only the online submission system, submit a résumé, a group of poems totaling no more than 15 pages or a short story or essay of up to 6,000 words with a cover letter and a brief written statement by March 31. There is no application fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Writing Fellowship for New Parents

Pen Parentis
Entry Fee: 
$20
Deadline: 
April 17, 2026
A prize of $2,000, a year of mentorship, and publication in Dreamers Creative Writing Magazine is given annually to a fiction writer who is the parent of a child under the age of 10. The winner also receives an invitation to give a virtual reading for the Pen Parentis Literary Salon in November. Using only the online submission system, submit a story of up to 440 words with a $20 entry fee (there is no entry fee for Pen Parentis members) by April 17. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

ALTA First Translation Prize

American Literary Translators Association
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
March 16, 2026
A prize of $3,000 is given annually for a debut poetry collection, book of fiction, or book of creative nonfiction translated from any language into English and published in the previous year. The translator will receive $2,000, and the editor will receive $1,000. Translators who have not previously published a book in translation are eligible. Publishers or translators may submit a book published in 2025 by March 16. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.

Emerging Writers’ Contest

Ploughshares
Entry Fee: 
$30
Deadline: 
March 31, 2026
Three prizes of $2,000 each and publication in Ploughshares are given annually for a poem or group of poems, a short story, and an essay. Each winner also receives a consultation with the literary agency Aevitas Creative Management. Writers who have not published a book or a chapbook with a print run of over 350 copies are eligible. Using only the online submission system, submit three to five pages of poetry or up to 6,500 words of prose with a $30 entry fee (there is no entry fee for current subscribers), which includes a subscription to Ploughshares, by March 31. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

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