There is nothing like cozying up with a few submissions as the autumn leaves begin to fall. October is a busy month for literary magazine contests, and here are some that you won’t want to miss.
The American Literary Review
The American Literary Review is awarding $1,000 apiece and publication in the Spring 2017 issue to a story, a poem, and an essay! Get those entries in fast. More details here.
Entry Fee: $15 Deadline: October 1
Zoetrope: All-Story Fiction Contest
This is a big one. You have just a few short days to polish up those stories of 5,000 words or fewer and submit them to the Zoetrope: All-Story Short Fiction Contest, which is now in its twentieth year. The guest judge is Anthony Marra. The first-place story wins $1,000; the second- and third-prize winners are awarded $500 and $250 respectively. All winners and honorable mentions receive agency review. Do it!
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: October 1
The Missouri Review Editors’ Prize
Another huge fall contest! Entries to the 26th Annual Jeffrey E. Smith Editors’ Prize from The Missouri Review close right as October begins. Winners in the fiction, nonfiction, and poetry categories each receive $5,000, publication, and an invitation to a reception and reading. Don’t miss it.
Entry Fee: $22 Deadline: October 1
StoryQuarterly Annual Fiction Prize
StoryQuarterly, the literary magazine run out of Rutgers University Camden, is accepting submissions to its annual fiction prize through the middle of the month. The winner receives publication and $1,000. Writers can submit up to 6,250 words. Judged by Alexander Chee! Submit here.
Entry Fee: $15 Deadline: October 15
River Teeth Literary Nonfiction Book Contest
Do you have a longer nonfiction manuscript that is ready to (gasp!) send out for consideration? Then let us suggest the River Teeth Literary Nonfiction Contest. The winner receives $1,000 and publication of their manuscript by The University of New Mexico Press. Entries of up to 400 pages will be considered. More details here.
Entry Fee: $25 (hard-copy submission); $27 (online submission) Deadline: October 31
Truman State T. S. Eliot Prize
Calling all poets with manuscripts! The winner of the Truman State T. S. Eliot Prize earns $2,500 and publication for their book-length collection. What are you waiting for? Submit here.
Entry Fee: $25 Deadline: October 31
Indiana Review Fiction Prize
The Indiana Review Fiction Prize awards $1,000 and publication to the best short story. Did we mention that this year’s judge is Aimee Bender? Submit your fiction by All Hallows’ Eve. Submission guidelines here.
Entry Fee: $20 (includes a yearlong subscription) Deadline: October 31
Glimmer Train Short Story Award for New Writers
The end of October marks the deadline for Glimmer Train’s triannual Short Story Award for New Writers. $2,500 and publication is awarded to the winning short story by an emerging writer. Check out the details.
Entry Fee: $18 Deadline: October 31
PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction
The PEN/Faulkner Award honors a book of fiction published during each calendar year with a prize of $15k. Four finalists receive $5,000 and bragging rights. Submissions are open to story collections, novellas, or novels published in 2016. This years’ judges are Sigrid Nunez, Chris Abani, and Chantel Acevedo. More information here.
Entry Fee: FREE Deadline: October 31
Ooligan Press Write to Publish Flash Fiction Contest
Ooligan Press is seeking submissions of less than 1000 words for their 2017 Write to Publish flash fiction contest! This contest is open to all writers, but the submission must be original and can not have been previously published. Only one submission per person allowed. What’s more? The winner earns $50 and we are acting as judge and will publish the winning story on our site! More information here.
Entry Fee: $10 Deadline: October 31