Calendar

Cinematic Short Story Contest
January 05 to March 08, 2026

For this short story contest, we want stories that feel immersive, like we walked out of our lives and into the technicolor settings and conflicts of your main characters. We want stories that use the array of our senses in new and exciting ways. We want stories with vitality and velocity that rely on swift cuts of action and reaction.

Guest Judge Ananda Lima will choose three winning stories from our shortlist. We’re excited to offer the first-place winner of this contest $2,000 and publication, while the second- and third-place winners will receive publication and $300 and $200, respectively.

Noir Challenge
March 10 to March 22, 2026

We’re looking for the best 5,000 words or fewer from your novel in progress! We love to read opening chapters, climaxes, and anything in-between. A guest judge will choose three prize winners from a shortlist. The three cowinners of this prize will each receive $1,000 and publication. All entries will be considered for publication.

Novel Excerpt Prize
March 30 to May 31, 2026

We know it’s a challenge to get humor into your pages, to have it pervade the mood of the text, to make the reader laugh out loud, but that’s why it’s a challenge! We know you’re up to the task to make us laugh! For this challenge, we’re pleased to offer the grand-prize winner $500 and publication. All entries will be considered for general publication at our regular rate of $200.