If you feel like choosing the right contest has you as confused as being lost in the corn maze, why not use our wonderful list like a secret map? Take a look, and then make your decision with confidence!
FEATURED! The Masters Review Novel Excerpt Contest
This is our annual fall contest, and we’re looking to find an excerpt that stands on its own—and makes us want to read the rest of the book! The excerpt must be from an unpublished novel, and under 6,000 words. The winning entry will receive $3,000, online publication, and a literary agent consultation. Second and third place will receive $300 and $200, respectively, as well as online publication and feedback. Chinelo Okparanta judges. Don’t miss it!
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: November 8
FEATURED! Discover New Art Prize for Poetry and Prose
Discover New Art—a collective of literary magazines (including The Masters Review) committed to uplifting the craft and careers of writers across genre—will award two $25,000 prizes to promising manuscripts-in-progress. The winners will be chosen by a panel of fantastic judges: Roxane Gay, Lauren Groff, and Rebecca Makkai in Prose, and Carl Phillips, Kaveh Akbar, and Aimee Nezhukumatathil in Poetry. Submit up to fifteen pages of poetry or twenty-five pages of prose, and submissions of novels, memoirs, collections, and anything in between are encouraged. The final deadline is January 31, but the early bird deadline is coming up this month. Check it out!
Entry Fee: $30 Deadline: November 30
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 Vanessa Saunders, receives $3,000 and publication. Details here!
Entry Fee: $25 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 North American Review is looking for an original unpublished work of speculative fiction, and the winner will receive $1,000 and publication.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! Judged by Kate Folk. More details here.
Entry Fee: $23 Deadline: November 2
Spokane Prize for Short Fiction
Willow Springs Books could be the perfect home for your newest manuscript of short stories, if you have enough nerve to try! Each submission needs to contain at least three distinct stories, totaling at least 100 pages, as well as a cover letter. First place wins $1,500 and publication. Submit here.
Entry Fee: $30 Deadline: November 2
Stegner Fellowship
This astounding fellowship is offered to ten writers through Stanford University, five in poetry and five in literary fiction, and the winners receive tuition, workshops and other events, health insurance, and a living stipend of $75,000. They’re looking for writers who are diverse in experience and style, who have talent and the ability to focus. You’ll need two contacts for recommendations, a statement of plans, and a manuscript up to 9,000 words, but this could be your shot! Overview here.
Entry Fee: $55 Deadline: November 2
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 Joy Deva Baglio, and the winner receives $1,000. Flash fiction is judged by Wes Blake, and the winner will receive $300. Finally, poetry is judged by Renia White, and also receives $300. All winners and some finalists will be published. Check it out!
Entry Fee: $15 Deadline: November 13
Narrative Fall 2026 Story Contest
This contest is open to all fiction and nonfiction writers, writing anything from short stories and memoirs, to essays and literary nonfiction! The entries need to be less than 15,000 words and previously unpublished, while containing a strong narrative drive and intense insights. First prize is $2,500, second is $1,000, and third is $500. All entries are considered for publication, and all contest entries are also eligible for the $5,000 Narrative Prize! Guidelines here.
Entry Fee: $27 Deadline: November 13
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 1,500 words, and previously unpublished. Judged by the editors of the magazine, the winner receives $1,250, 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: $18 Deadline: November 30
Fish Short Story Prize
This annual contest from Fish Publishing is a challenge: Can you write a compelling and resolved story in 5,000 words or less? Judged by Ciara McEllin, first place receives $4,020 and publication, and the other nine finalists are published as well. See more here!
Entry Fee: $33 Deadline: November 30
New Millennium Awards
There’s a little something for everyone in this contest, presented by literary journal New Millennium Writings! Writers can send in submissions for poetry, fiction, flash fiction, or nonfiction, with no restrictions on style or subject matter. Fiction and nonfiction must be less than 7,500 words, flash fiction must be less than 1,000 words, and poetry may include three poems less than five pages long. First place in each category receives $1,000, a certificate, publication online and in print, and two copies. Select finalists may also be published and receive complimentary copies. Don’t wait!
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: November 30
The Baltimore Review‘s Winter 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 $400. Submission guidelines here.
Entry Fee: $8 Deadline: November 30
by Kimberly Guerin