Only one month of summer left, so make the most of it! Here’s a list of contests and publications with deadlines in September.
FEATURED! The Masters Review Fall Fiction Contest OPENS
We will be awarding $2,000, publication, and correspondence with our judge, Kelly Link, to the best work of fiction submitted between September 15 and November 15. Second and third place winners receive $200 and $100, publication, and a letter from the judge about why your story was chosen. Keep an eye on our website for more details!
Submission fee: $20 Deadline: November 15
Black Warrior Review Annual Contest
Submit 7,000 words of fiction or nonfiction, or up to three poems, for a shot at $1,000 and publication in Black Warrior Review’s Spring/Summer 2017 issue. Sofia Samatar, T Clutch Fleischmann, and Hoa Nguyen judge fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, respectively. All submissions are considered for general publication. Full contest details here.
Submission fee: $20 Deadline: September 1
Red Hen Press Awards
Red Hen Press is holding awards in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. The awards for fiction and nonfiction are $1,000, and—poets, pay attention!—the poetry award is $3,000 and a four-week PLAYA residency. Afaa Weaver, Steve Almond, and Pope Brock judge poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, respectively. Find details here.
Submission fee: $20 ($25 for poetry) Deadline: September 1
The Conium Press Book and Chapbook Contest
If you’re working on a longer piece of fiction, consider submitting to the Conium Review’s Book and Chapbook contest. They accept manuscripts of any length, and this year’s contest is judged by Matt Bell. The winner will be awarded $1,000, ten author copies, and a copy of the judge’s latest book. Full contest details here.
Submission fee: $25 Deadline: September 1
Terrain.org 7th Annual Contest: Fabrication
Terrain.org is accepting submissions of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, judged by Kate Bernheimer, Lauret Savoy, and Eamon Grennan, respectively. Terrain.org describes their focus on their website as “the interface—the integration—among the built and natural environments that might be called the soul of place.” This year’s contest theme is “fabrication.” The first place winner will be awarded $500 and publication. Read more here.
Submission fee: $15 Deadline: September 1
International 3-Day Novel Contest
Have you been craving a creative experiment? Are your fingers especially speedy on a keyboard? The International 3-Day Novel Contest, self-described as “the world’s most notorious writing contest,” is challenging writers to produce a novel in 72 hours. Writing takes place Saturday-Monday of Labor Day Weekend. The Grand Prize winner will be published by Anvil Press, and 2nd and 3rd prize winners receive $500 and $100, respectively. Do you think you have what it takes? Learn more here.
Submission fee: $50 Deadline: September 12
Dogwood Literary Prize
Only one grand prize winner is chosen from the fiction, nonfiction, and poetry categories in Dogwood Review’s 2017 contest. Grand prize is $1,000, and the runners-up in the other genres will receive $250 each. Michele Glazer will judge the poetry category, and the other judges are yet to be announced. Read the full guidelines and submit here.
Submission fee: $10 Deadline: September 5
Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Award
Is your true passion genre fiction—space odysseys, gritty detectives, love at first sight? Writer’s Digest is holding a competition with categories including mystery/crime, horror, romance, scifi/fantasy, thriller/suspense, and young adult. Grand Prize includes a paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Conference, an interview, $2,500, and more. The First Prize winner and honorable mentions also receive awards. Learn more and enter here.
Submission fee: $20 Deadline: September 15
Bartleby Snopes Dialogue Only Contest
Do you think you can get your inner narrator out of the way and let the characters do the talking? Then enter the Bartleby Snopes Dialogue Only contest, where you have 2,000 words to write a story with no narration whatsoever. 1st prize is a minimum of $300, guest judges are Kathy Fish and last year’s winner, Rebecca McDowell. Get the details here.
Submission fee: $10 Deadline: September 15
Smokelong Quarterly’s Kathy Fish Fellowship
The Kathy Fish Fellowship Kathy Fish Fellowship honors Kathy Fish, a former editor at SmokeLong, a fantastic writer, and a continuing champion of new and emerging writers. The winner will be a “writer in residence” for the 2017 year at SmokeLong for four issues. The winner will also receive $500.00, to be paid in installments throughout the year. Be prepared to submit four samples of your flash fiction. Details here.
Submission fee: $5 donation suggested Deadline: September 15
Grist Journal
Grist seeks high quality submissions from both emerging and established writers. Craft essays and interviews, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry—they want to see your best work, regardless of form, style, or subject matter… but only through September 15. Learn more here.
Submission fee: $4, free to subscribers Deadline: September 15
Dzanc Books Prize for Fiction and Short Story Collection
Another great opportunity for writers working on a longer manuscript. Dzanc Books is offering a $10,000 advance and publication to the winning entry. Carmiel Banasky, Kim Church, and Andrew F. Sullivan judge the finalists. Competitions for short story collections and nonfiction are also being held. Read more and submit.
Submission fee: $25 Deadline: September 30
by Lauren Klepinger