What could be better than crunching through the fallen leaves? Why, only the fun of blazing through these contests, and sending off your entries wherever you please!
Annual Fiction, Poetry, and Creative Nonfiction Contest
There is still just enough time to enter The Briar Cliff Review’s writing contest, so don’t miss your chance! Prose entries can be up to 5000 words, poetry entries can include up to three poems, and simultaneous submissions are allowed. The first-place winner in each category is awarded $1000 and will be published in the 2023 edition of The Briar Cliff Review. Submission guidelines here!
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: November 1
Edwin Markham Prize for Poetry
Reed Magazine is currently accepting submissions for this award, but not for long! This prize recognizes outstanding works of poetry, up to 5 poems, and the winner receives $1000! Please note that poets are encouraged to celebrate the diversity of forms and style available to the modern poet. Submit here!
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: November 1
F(r)iction Fall Contests
There are so many options in F(r)iction’s collection of contests, there’s bound to be something for everyone! Short stories are judged by Ken Liu, and the winner receives $1000. Flash fiction is judged by Brian Evenson, and the winner receives $300. Finally, poetry is judged by Faylita Hicks and also receives $300. All winners and some finalists will be published. Check it out!
Entry Fee: $15 Deadline: November 1
John Steinbeck Fiction Award
Another great contest from Reed Magazine ends this month, so make sure you check out this one as well! Send in works of fiction under 5000 words, with a word count and a brief bio, and you could win $1000! All entries need to be stand-alone short stories, however, not chapters from larger works. Learn more here!
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: November 1
Kurt Vonnegut Speculative Fiction Prize
If you write your fiction with a futuristic or supernatural bent, this is the contest you’ve been waiting for! North American Review is looking for an original unpublished work of speculative fiction, and the winner will receive $1000 and publication. Make a note that although they are interested in experimental fiction, they ask that you query them if your piece requires an unusual layout! More details here.
Entry Fee: $23 Deadline: November 1
Ronald Sukenick Innovative Fiction Contest
The University of Alabama Press is looking for fiction that is too innovative, challenging, and ambitious for traditional publishing, and they’re willing to pay you for the privilege of publishing yours! Open to any author writing in English who hasn’t been published with their imprint Fiction Collective Two, submissions may include a collection of short stories, one or more novellas, or a novel of any length. The winner, chosen by judge Kiik Araki-Kawaguchi, receives $1500 and publication. Details here!
Entry Fee: $25 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! Submissions can be novels, novellas, or collections of closely-linked short stories. The manuscript must be unpublished, as the winner will be published through Southeast Missouri State University Press, and they will also receive $2000. Check it out!
Entry Fee: $25 Deadline: November 12
Anton Chekhov Award for Flash Fiction
Are your stories brief, brisk, and bracing? LitMag has the contest for you! All submissions need to be between 500 and 1500 words, and previously unpublished. Judged by the editors of the magazine, the winner receives $1250, publication, and agency review. Three finalists will receive $100 and consideration for agency review, and all entries will be considered for publication. Submit here.
Entry Fee: $16 Deadline: November 30
Baltimore Review Contest
The Baltimore Review wants to be taken pleasantly by surprise, which is why there is no theme for this year’s contest! You can interpret this any way you like, but make sure to read the specific guidelines for each category. Flash fiction, flash creative nonfiction, and prose poetry are accepted, and each of the first-place prizes is $300. Submission guidelines here.
Entry Fee: $8 Deadline: November 30
Rising Writer Prize
Autumn House Press is looking for an author’s first full-length book of fiction, and who knows what they’ll find! Novels, novellas, and short story collections are eligible, but should be approximately 100-200 pages. Judge Matt Bell will choose the winner, who will then receive publication, $1000, and $500 to promote their book. Check it out!
Entry Fee: $25 Deadline: November 30
by Kimberly Guerin