Our winter contest is open to all fiction and nonfiction writers. We’re looking for short shorts, short stories, essays, memoirs, photo essays, graphic stories, all forms of literary nonfiction, and excerpts from longer works of both fiction and nonfiction. Entries must be previously unpublished, no longer than 15,000 words, and must not have been previously chosen as a winner, finalist, or honorable mention in another contest.
The Contest will open December 27, 2024.
Submission Fee: There is a $27 fee for each entry. With your entry, you’ll receive three months of complimentary access to Narrative Backstage.
All contest entries are eligible for the $5,000 Narrative Prize and for acceptance as a Story of the Week.
Timing: The contest entry deadline is March 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m., Pacific Standard Time.
Judging: The contest will be judged by the editors of the magazine. Winners and finalists will be announced to the public by April 30, 2025. All writers who enter will be notified by email of the judges’ decisions, which will be final. The judges reserve the option to declare ties and to designate and award only as many winners and/or finalists as are appropriate to the quality of contest entries and of work represented in the magazine.
Submission Guidelines: Please read our Submission Guidelines for manuscript formatting and other information.
Other Submission Categories: In addition to our contest, please review our other Submission Categories for areas that may interest you.
The Contest will open December 27, 2024.
