
Submissions open July 1st – August 28th
Summer is for Short Stories! The Masters Review’s Short Story Award for New Writers is a bi-annual contest that recognizes the best fiction from today’s emerging writers. Judging this year’s summer contest is Chelsea Bieker, author of GODSHOT and the new collection Heartbroke. The winner receives a $3,000 prize and agency review, and their story will be published online in late winter/early spring. Second and third place finalists will be awarded publication, agency review and $300/$200 prizes. Participating agents include: Nat Sobel from Sobel Weber, Victoria Cappello from The Bent Agency, Andrea Morrison from Writers House, Sarah Fuentes from Fletcher & Company, and Heather Schroder from Compass Talent. Our mission from day one has been to support emerging writers. We want you to succeed. We want your words to be read.
Guidelines:
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Winner receives $3000, publication, and agency review
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Second and third place prizes ($300 / $200, publication, and agency review)
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Stories under 6000 words
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Previously unpublished stories only
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Simultaneous and multiple submissions allowed
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Emerging writers only; writers with book-length work published or under contract with a major press are ineligible. (We are interested in offering a larger platform to new writers. Authors with short story collections are free to submit unpublished work, as are writers with books published by indie presses.)
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International English submissions allowed. No translations.
- Double-spaced, 12 pt easy-to-read font (i.e., Times New Roman, Garamond, etc.) please!
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$20 entry fee
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Deadline: August 28th, 2022
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All stories are considered for publication
- All submissions will receive a response by the end of November
- Winners will be announced by the end of December
- Friends, family and associates of the final judge are not eligible for this award. Consider submitting to the Winter contest!
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A significant portion of the editorial letter fees go to our feedback editor, according to the rates established by the EFA
We don’t have any preferences topically or in terms of style. We’re simply looking for the best. We don’t define, nor are we interested in, stories identified by their genre. We do, however, consider ourselves a publication that focuses on literary fiction. Dazzle us, take chances, and be bold.
Judging

The winter shortlist is here! Check back in July for the finalists!
Winner update: Joe Bond earned representation from Sarah Fuentes of Fletcher & Company, and Caitlin O’Neil earned representation from Victoria Marini and our 2016 Fall Fiction winner, Ruth Joffre, selected by Kelly Link sold her story collection to Grove Atlantic with our winning piece as the title story. Awesome.
// PAST AWARD WINNERS //
2021 Summer Award Winners:
Judged by Kristen Arnett.
Winner:
“Night Stencils” by Sherine Elbanhawy
Second Place Story:
“Wish You Were Here” by Carlee Jensen
Third Place Story:
“All This is Yours to Lose” by Marcus Tan
Honorable Mention:
“Degenerate Matter” by Jen Galvao
2020 Winter Award Winners:
Judged by Helen Oyeyemi.
Winner
“Straight to My Heart” by Dean Jamieson
Second Place
“Collection of the Artist” by Corey Flintoff
Third Place
“You’re Not the Only One” by William Hawkins
Honorable Mention
“Celestial Navigation” by Heather Marshall
2020 Summer Award Winners:
Judged by Kali Fajardo-Anstine.
Winner:
“Burning” by Adeline Lovell
Second Place Story:
“Matchbox” by Nancy Ludmerer
Third Place Story:
“Como La Flor” by Dayna Cobarrubias
Honorable Mention:
“Petrified” by Clare Howdle
2019 Winter Award Winners:
Judged by Kimberly King Parsons.
First Place Story:
“The Driver” by Samantha Xiao Cody
Second Place Story:
“Joe Blake” by Raeden Richardson
Third Place Story:
“The Easiest Thing in the World” by Taylor Grieshober
Honorable Mention:
“Rapture” by Chloe Seim
2019 Summer Award Winners:
Judged by Tope Folarin.
First Place Story:
“Ghost Story” by Becca Anderson
Second Place Story:
“Escape Velocity” by Karisa Tell
Third Place Story:
“Mutts” by Shane Page
Honorable Mention:
“Terraforming Mars” by Emmett Knowlton
2018 Winter Award Winners:
Judged by Aimee Bender.
First Place Story:
“Damico” by Joe Bond
Second Place Story:
“Caretaker Needed” by Meghan Daniels
Third Place Story:
“Narada’s Ears” by Sanjena Sathian
Honorable Mention:
“At This Late Hour” by Rebecca Turkewitz
2018 Summer Award Winners:
First Place Story:
“Confirmation“ by Alina Grabowski
Second Place Story:
“Portrait of a Virgin“ by Rachel Cochran
Third Place Story:
“A Country Where I Am Beautiful“ by Patricia Smith
Honorable Mentions:
“Headshot” by Charles Ullmann
“We Are The Horizon” by Laura Fletcher
2017 Winter Award Winners:
First Place Story:
“Drop Zone Summer” by Nick Fuller Googins
Second Place Story:
“A History That Brings Me To You” by Katie M. Flynn
Third Place Story:
“Birth Stories” by Sarah Harris Wallman
2017 Summer Award Winners:
First Place Story:
“Demonman” by Juliacia Case
Second Place Story:
“The Devil is a Liar” by Ngwah-Mbo Nkewti
Third Place Story:
“Iron Boy Kills The Devil” by Sheldon Costa
Honorable Mentions:
“Private Affair” by D.S. Englander
“Bluebeard” by Rayna Jensen
2016 Winter Award Winners:
First Place Story:
“Operation” by Scott Gloden
Second Place Story:
“White Out” by Caitlin O’Neil
Third Place Story:
“Malheur Refuge” by Rick Attig
2016 Summer Award Winners:
First Place Story:
“Red” by Katie Knoll
Second Place Story:
“Ledgers” by Claire Boyles
Third Place Story:
“The First Location” by Molly Reid