Author Archive

December Deadlines – 12 Lit Mags and Contests With Deadlines This Month

It’s hard to believe 2016 is coming to a close, and because it’s a busy time of year it might be easy to let these deadlines slip — but don’t let them! Here are 12 awesome opportunities for writers this month.

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Featured! The Masters Review Short Story Award For New Writers

Technically this contest doesn’t close until January 15, but we wanted to include it here because the winter award is new to our publication and because all three agencies that reviewed stories this summer are participating again. That means Amy Williams, Victoria Marini, and Laura Biagi will review the winners. $2000 and publication to the first place story. $200 and $100 for second and third place, and agency review to any honorable mentions. Details here. Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: January 15

Stanford’s Wallace Stegner Fellowship

Stanford’s venerable Stegner Fellowship closes to applications on December 1 and this one is a must for writers serious about their craft. From the website: “Unique among writing programs, Stanford offers ten two-year fellowships each year, five in fiction and five in poetry. All the fellows in each genre convene weekly in a 3-hour workshop with faculty.” There’s a lot to know, so check out their details page, here. The nitty gritty? Manuscripts of fiction up to 9,000 words and poetry up to 15 pages are accepted. Entry Fee: $85 Deadline: December 1

Fiddlehead Annual Literary Contest

$2000 for the best story and poem, as well as $250 awards for honorable mentions in each category. For full guidelines click here. Entry Fee: $30 includes subscription Deadline: December 1

Five Points Submissions  – James Dickey Prize For Poetry, Flash Fiction, and More!

If you love short short fiction, submit up to 250 words by December 1. Essays, Nonfiction, and Fiction of normal lengths are also considered before the start of the month, so polish up that work or consider a simultaneous submission here. Lastly, the James Dickey Prize for Poetry also closes on Dec 1. So many awesome ways to submit before the end of the year. Details and guidelines here. Entry Fee: $2.50 reading fee; $25 for the Poetry Prize Deadline: December 1

Iowa Prize in Literary Nonfiction

Meghan Duam is judging the best unpublished literary nonfiction manuscript between 40,000 -90,000 words, including essay collections. Full details can be found at the University of Iowa Press page. Entry Fee: $10 Deadline: December 10

Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest

This is a big one. Nonfiction writers, submit up to 5000 words on the topic of “The Dialogue Between Science & Religion” for a chance at $10,000 and publication in the magazine. The runner up will also receive publication and a $5000 prize. The lit mag’s staff will judge entries. Their site says: “We’re looking for original narratives illustrating and exploring the relationships, tensions, and harmonies between science and religion—the ways these two forces productively challenge each other as well as the ways in which they can work together and strengthen one another.” Full details here. Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: December 12

Electric Literature General Submissions – OPEN

Electric Literature is at the top of our reading list for online lit mags and Dec 1 marks the date when they are open to general submissions for previously unpublished works of fiction. They aren’t open year-round, so mark your calendars. You have two weeks to submit. For full guidelines click here. Entry Fee: None. Deadline: December 15

Redivider Blurred Genre Contest

From the website: “Flash Fiction, Flash Nonfiction, Prose Poetry, and all experimental work between and beyond. This contest explores the porous genre boundaries between flash fiction, flash nonfiction, and prose poetry. We also welcome other experimental forms including, but not limited to, brief drama, graphic narrative, illustrated poetry, and more.” Submit up to 750 words. Judged by Claudia Rankine! Full contest details can be found here. Entry Fee: Tiered. $6 for first, $11 for second, and so on. Deadline: December 15

Crazyhorse General Submissions CLOSE

That’s right. It’s your last chance to submit poetry, fiction, and nonfiction outside of contest fees to Crazyhorse until next year, so polish up your work and submit now. Full guidelines including word count and other details can be found here. Entry Fee: $3 reading fee Deadline: December 31

Boulevard Short Fiction Contest For Emerging Writers

$1,500 and publication in Boulevard will be awarded to the winning story (up to 8000 words) by a writer who has not yet published a book of fiction, poetry, or creative non-fiction with a nationally distributed press. For full guidelines click here. Entry Fee: $16 Deadline: December 31

Lascaux Review Prize in Short Fiction

This one is unique because it allows for slightly longer stories (up to 10,000 words) and it allows previously published stories to be considered. $1000 and publication will be awarded to the winner. Full details here. Entry Fee: $10 Deadline: December 31

Restless Book’s Prize For New Immigrant Writing

This $10,000 prize alternates each year between fiction and narrative nonfiction. This year, the publication seeks memoirs, essay collections, and works of narrative nonfiction by writers who are first-generation residents of the United States and who have not published a work of nonfiction with a U.S. publisher. Excerpts and essays up to 25,000 words are welcome, and full entry guidelines and additional details can be found here. Entry Fee: None Deadline: December 31

Looking ahead? Check out these early January publications that we have our eye on: The Mississippi Review Prize, The Steinbeck Fellowship, and Poets and Writers’ Mauren Egen Writers Exchange Award.

November Deadlines: 11 Magazines with Contests and Deadlines This Month

As the call of the outdoors becomes a whisper, take advantage of the rainy afternoons to stay indoors with a pile of submissions! There are plenty of contests and prizes in November, and here are eleven of them you can still enter.

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Featured! The Masters Review Fall Fiction Contest

Judged by the incredible Kelly Link, the winner receives $2000, a year’s subscription to Duotrope, and publication. This is a great opportunity for emerging writers, as all submissions will be considered for publication. Check it out!

Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: November 15

Briar Cliff Review Writing Contest

There is still just enough to time to enter The Briar Cliff Review’s writing contest, for fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction! The first-place winner in each category is awarded $1000 and will be published in the 2017 edition of The Briar Cliff Review. Don’t miss it!

Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: November 1

John Steinbeck Fiction Award

Reed Magazine is currently accepting submissions for this award, but not for long. Send in works of fiction under 5000 words, and you could win $1000! Submit here.

Entry Fee: $15 Deadline: November 1

Nilsen Literary Prize

Are you wondering what to do with your just-finished manuscript? Well, this prize is meant for an applicant’s first novel! The manuscript must be unpublished, as the winner will receive $2000 and be published through Southeast Missouri State University Press. Check it out!

Entry Fee: $25 Deadline: November 1

Coal Hill Review Chapbook Contest

Autumn House Press presents a great opportunity for poets with short manuscripts! Judged by the wonderful Gerry LaFemina, the winner is awarded with $1000 and publication. Submission guidelines here.

Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: November 1

Patrick Henry Writing Fellowship

This is a huge one! The fellowship includes a $45,000 stipend, a book allowance, and a nine-month residency in Chestertown, MD. Applicants should have a book-length project in progress, and it should be focused on American history and culture. More details here.

Entry Fee: FREE Deadline: November 1

Walt Whitman Award

If you are an unpublished poet, this is an opportunity meant specifically for you. The Walt Whitman Award is meant to honor a poet’s first book, with a $5000 prize, publication, and distribution of the winning book to all members of the Academy of American Poets. As an extra bonus, the judge is US Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera. Do it!

Entry Fee: $35 Deadline: November 1

A Public Space Emerging Writer Fellowships

This amazing fellowship will be awarded to three writers, who will each receive $1000, publication, mentorship, and a free workspace in New York City. They’re looking for writers who have not yet published or been contracted to write a book-length work—and that could be you! Details here.

Entry Fee: FREE Deadline: November 15

VanderMey Nonfiction Prize

Now open, the VanderMey Nonfiction Prize is a big one, with the winner receiving $1500 and publication. Submissions need to be 5500 words or less, and there are no limits on the number of entries per person. Judged by Josh MacIvor-Andersen. Submit here.

Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: November 15

Baltimore Review “Milestones” Contest

The Baltimore Review is celebrating 20 years of publishing, and in honor of their long journey they want to hear about yours. Both fiction and creative nonfiction are accepted, up to 5,000 words, and the first-place prize is $500. Submission guidelines here.

Entry Fee: $10 Deadline: November 30

Mid-American Review Poetry and Fiction Contest

These are actually two contests through The Mid-American Review; Charles Yu is judging the fiction contest, and Jeannine Hall Gailey is judging the poetry contest. Submissions may be up to 6000 words, or up to three poems, and the winner of each contest receives $1000 and publication. Make sure to select the correct contest for your submission! More details here.

Entry Fee: $10 Deadline: November 30

by Kimberly Guerin