Fiction Writing Contests Worth Your Time in Summer 2021

[EditorAdmin]

The pandemic has delayed, combined, or cancelled numerous writing contests. But we keep writing. I recently got one short story acceptance that may not even be published this year. I’m grateful for the markets and editors still around.

This contest submissions season covers deadlines from June 1, 2021 through August 31, 2021. Summer is a slower time for any literary journal or contest associated with a university, but there are still opportunities between beach waves and new drafts. Thanks to Literistic, Poets & Writers, Submittable Discover, and New Pages for many of these contests.

Much like editors are looking for reasons to reject work, I want to focus on opportunities worth my time. Thus, my list of writing contests below includes reasons to submit to that particular writing contest. May you find a promising opportunity among this list and spend less time searching for where to send your exceptional work.

---

June 2021

Salamander Magazine – 2021 Fiction Prize – $15 fee

Deadline: June 1, 2021

“First Prize: $1,000 and Publication; Second Prize: $500 and Publication; All entries will be considered for publication. All entries will be considered anonymously. Send no more than one story per entry. Each story must not exceed 30 double-spaced pages in 12 point font. … Contest reading fee includes a one-year subscription.”

Reasons to submit:

• Blind submissions are fine submissions!
• Flag-bearer—open to international submissions
• Oh, wordy!—generous word count limit
• Read on—entry fee includes one-year subscription
• Share the wealth—multiple prizes

 

The Southampton Review – Stony Brook Undergraduate Short Fiction Prize – $0 fee

Deadline: June 1, 2021

“Only undergraduates enrolled full time in United States and Canadian universities and colleges for the academic year 2020-2021 are eligible. … Submissions of no more than 7,500 words. … Submission assumes the right of Stony Brook to publish the winning story on its Web site. … The author of the winning story will receive $1,000 and a scholarship to the 2022 Southampton Writers Conference Additionally, the winning story will automatically be considered for publication in TSR: The Southampton Review.”

Reasons to submit:

• Eligibility restriction—less competition
• Friendly to emerging writers
• Oh, wordy!—generous word count limit
• Prestige—#44 in Pushcart ranking
• Wanderluster—prize includes lodging or travel

 

American Short Fiction – Halifax Ranch Prize – $20 fee

Deadline: June 2, 2021

“The winner will receive a $2,500 prize and publication in an upcoming issue of American Short Fiction. Please submit your $20 entry fee and your work through Submittable. International submissions in English are eligible. … All submitters will receive a complimentary copy of the prize issue. All entries must be single, self-contained works of fiction, between 2,000-6,500 words. Please DO NOT include any identifying information on the manuscript itself. … Winners will be announced in September.”

Reasons to submit:

• Blind submissions are fine submissions!
• Flag-bearer—open to international submissions
• Oh, wordy!—generous word count limit
• Prestige—#14 in Pushcart ranking

 

Bath Flash Fiction Award – £9 fee

Deadline: June 6, 2021

“300 word limit. £1000 prize for the winner, £300 second and £100 third. Two commendations £30 each. 50 longlisted entrants offered publication in our end of year print and digital anthology. Those accepting receive a free copy.”

Reasons to submit:

• Eligibility restriction—less competition
• Flag-bearer—open to international submissions
• Share the wealth—multiple prizes

 

Willow Springs Books – Spokane Prize for Short Fiction – $28 fee

Deadline: June 15, 2021

“The winner receives $2,000 plus publication. … Open To: All United States authors, regardless of publication history. … Submit A book-length manuscript. Manuscripts should be no less than 98 pages (with no maximum page count) and include at least 3 short stories. Manuscripts should be organized with page numbers and a table of contents. Stories may have been previously published in journals, anthologies, or limited edition volumes. However, selected story collections (stories previously published in books) will not be considered. Please do not send novels.”

Reasons to submit:

• Eligibility restriction—less competition
• Friendly to emerging writers
• Friendly to short story writers exclusively
• Oh, wordy!—generous word count limit
• Rebirth—accepts published work

 

University of Pittsburgh Press – Drue Heinz Literature Prize – $0 fee

Deadline: June 30, 2021

“The award is open to writers who have published a novel or a book-length collection of fiction with a reputable book publisher, or a minimum of three short stories or novellas in magazines or journals of national distribution. Digital-only publication and self-publication do not count toward this requirement. The award is open to writers in English, whether or not they are citizens of the United States. … Eligible submissions include an unpublished manuscript of short stories; two or more novellas (a novella may comprise a maximum of 130 double-spaced typed pages); or a combination of one or more novellas and short stories. Novellas are only accepted as part of a larger collection. Manuscripts may be no fewer than 150 and no more than 300 pages. Prior publication of your manuscript as a whole in any format (including electronic) makes it ineligible. Stories or novellas previously published in magazines or journals or in book form as part of an anthology are eligible.”

Reasons to submit:

• Eligibility restriction—less competition
• Flag-bearer—open to international submissions
• Friendly to novelists
• Oh, wordy!—generous word count limit
• Rebirth—accepts published work

 

Nowhere Magazine – Spring 2021 Travel Writing Prize – $20 fee

Deadline: June 30, 2021

“Award-winning literary travel magazine Nowhere is accepting submissions for our annual Spring Travel Writing Prize. We are looking for novice and veteran writers of any stripe to send us stories that possess a powerful sense of people, place and time. Every submission will be read blind, so anyone can win! … Previously published work is eligible. Please indicate this, with proper attribution details, in your cover letter.” Submit 800-5,000 words.

Reasons to submit:

• Blind submissions are fine submissions!
• Flag-bearer—open to international submissions
• Friendly to emerging writers
• No hunting for winners—can read past winners online
• Rebirth—accepts published work

 

2021 F. Scott Fitzgerald Short Story Contest – $0 fee

Deadline: June 30, 2021

“Residents of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, are eligible. … no restrictions on subject matter.” Submit up to 4,000 words. “First prize is $500 and an invitation to speak briefly about the story at the 25th annual F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Festival in October 2021. … Two runner-up prizes of $100 each.”

Reasons to submit:

• Blind submissions are fine submissions!
• Friendly to emerging writers
• Regional restriction—less competition
• Share the wealth—multiple prizes

 

---

July 2021

Ruminate – The Waking Flash Prose Prize – Fiction – $6 fee

Deadline: July 1, 2021

“The Waking is an online literary magazine and part of the Ruminate creative community that houses high-quality literary writing about what it’s like to be human. This art can be beautiful, it can be strange, we just ask that it feels true.” Submit up to two stories of 1,000 words each. “$500 cash prize and publication on The Waking will be awarded to the winner … All entries will also be considered for publication in The Waking.” Entry scholarships available.

Reasons to submit:

• Blind submissions are fine submissions!
• Prestige—#82 in Pushcart ranking

 

The Saturday Evening Post – Great American Fiction Contest – $10 fee

Deadline: July 1, 2021

“In its two centuries of existence, The Saturday Evening Post has published short fiction by a who’s who of great American authors … This contest is a tribute to the Post’s legacy of featuring the most renowned American fiction writers … The winning story will be published in the January/February 2022 edition of The Saturday Evening Post, and the author will receive $1,000. Five runners-up will each receive $200 and will also have their stories featured online.” Submit 1,500 – 5,000 words.

Reasons to submit:

• Friendly to emerging writers
• No hunting for winners—can read past winners online
• Share the wealth—multiple prizes

 

Bellevue Literary Review – Goldenberg Prize for Fiction – $20 fee

Deadline: July 15, 2020

“The annual BLR Prizes award outstanding writing related to themes of health, healing, illness, the mind, and the body. … First prize is $1,000 (in each genre) and publication in the Spring 2021 issue of BLR. Honorable mention winners will receive $250 and publication in the Spring 2021 issue of BLR. … The Bellevue Literary Review seeks character-driven fiction with  original voices and strong settings. We do not publish genre fiction (romance, sci-fi,  horror).  Our word max is 5,000, though most of our published stories tend to be in the range of 2,000-4,000 words. We have only occasionally published flash  fiction.  While we are always interested in creative explorations in style, we do  lean toward classic short stories.”

Reasons to submit:

• Blind submissions are fine submissions!
• Prestige—#24 in Pushcart ranking
• Share the wealth—multiple prizes

 

Nimrod International Journal – Francine Ringold Award for New Writers – $12 fee

Deadline: July 15, 2021

“The Francine Ringold Awards for New Writers honor the work of writers at the beginning of their careers.” $500 prize and publication in the spring issue of Nimrod. “Winners will have the chance to work with the Nimrod board of editors to refine and edit their manuscripts before publication. Open only to writers whose work has not appeared or is not scheduled to appear in more than 2 publications…” Submit up to 5,000 words.

Reasons to submit:

• Blind submissions are fine submissions!
• Eligibility restriction—less competition
• Friendly to emerging writers
• Prestige—#116 in Pushcart ranking

 

Crazyhorse – Crazyshorts! Short-Short Fiction Contest – $15 fee

Deadline: July 31, 2021

Annual contest expected to repeat this July. $1,000 and publication for first place. “Submit 1-3 stories of up to 500 words each. … All entries will be considered for publication. Before you submit, please remove your name and any other identifying information from your manuscript. Simultaneous submissions are okay, as long as you contact us should the work be accepted elsewhere. The $15 entry fee includes a one-year subscription to Crazyhorse.”

Reasons to submit:

• Blind submissions are fine submissions!
• Prestige—#40 in Pushcart ranking
• Read on—entry fee includes one-year subscription

 

---

August 2021

Third Wednesday – George Dila Memorial Flash Fiction Contest – $6 fee

Deadline: August 15, 2021

Full disclosure: Third Wednesday was my first publication (as a result of submitting to this contest).

“Three Winning Stories will be awarded $100 each! The editors of Third Wednesday are pleased to honor the memory of George Dila, friend of Third Wednesday and the editor who originally brought fiction to 3W. … From May 1st to August 15th, 2021 we will accept entries of previously unpublished fiction under 1000 words in length (including title). Three winning stories will receive cash prizes of $100 each and a print copy of the contest issue. … Do not include any identifying information within files or file names. Our judge will read all submissions blindly.”

Reasons to submit:

• Blind submissions are fine submissions!
• Friendly to emerging writers
• Share the wealth—multiple prizes

 

The Masters Review – Short Story Award for New Writers – $20 fee

Deadline: August 29, 2021

“Working with five agencies, our winner and honorable mentions earn agency review as well as publication. The winning story earns $3000. Second and third place runners up receive $300 and $200, respectively.” Under 6,000 words by an emerging writer anywhere in the world. Judged blind.

Reasons to submit:

• Blind submissions are fine submissions!
• Eligibility restriction—less competition
• Flag-bearer—open to international submissions
• Friendly to emerging writers
• No hunting for winners—can read past winners online
• Oh, wordy!—generous word count limit
• Share the wealth—multiple prizes

 

Petrichor Audio Magazine – Petrichor Reprint Award – TBD fee

Deadline: August 31, 2021

“The Petrichor Reprint Award is open to submissions from July 1 to August 31 of every year. Winners are announced in November.” Prizes range from $50-$500 and publication with “Runners-up (5), semi-finalists (10), and honorable mentions (5) will be announced on the Petrichor website and considered for publication. … We do not have record tracks exceeding 90 minutes and we would hate to cut a short story into parts. An hour of audio is roughly 9,000 words.”

Reasons to submit:

• Oh, wordy!—generous word count limit
• Rebirth—accepts published work
• Share the wealth—multiple prizes

 

Have I missed a great writing contest? Please leave a comment and let me know where you found it.

 

Happy submitting!

 

Wish you could buy this author a cup of joe?

Now, thanks to tinyCoffee and PayPal, you can!

 

You can also read my story “A Damn Fine Town” in The Best American Mystery Stories 2019:

About Arthur Klepchukov

Arthur Klepchukov was born between Black Seas, Virginian Beaches, and San Franciscan waves. He adores trains, swing sets, and music that tears him outta time. Read Art’s words in Glimmer Train, The Best American Mystery Stories 2019, The Common, Necessary Fiction, and more at ArsenalOfWords.com

Web | Twitter | Facebook | More Posts

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/WriterUnboxed?d=yIl2AUoC8zA http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/WriterUnboxed?d=qj6IDK7rITs http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/WriterUnboxed?i=o5_YgQGm31s:yPdZzlK7bpY:gIN9vFwOqvQ http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/WriterUnboxed?i=o5_YgQGm31s:yPdZzlK7bpY:D7DqB2pKExk

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/WriterUnboxed/~4/o5_YgQGm31s

[url={url}]View the full article[/url]