Trick or treat! A long fall of autumn writing contests

Writing contests are piling up like the leaves of a long, slow Texas autumn, which may linger into December. Or it may be blasted by a blue norther, which can roar through as early as Halloween, so don’t wait too long. I’m listing a sampling of opportunities by order of urgency. Some readers complain about contest fees, but please note that these help fund cash awards to winners as well as administrative costs of the contests.

image: pixabay

Now – October 22: Feed Your Monster’s Halloween Writing Contest challenges writers to a terrifying 1,000-word or less trick. Sweeten it with humor that leaves a sour aftertaste, and you would be treated to a £10 prize, publication in the site’s 2017 Halloween podcast, and more. Your first entry is free, the second costs you £0.5 pound. Limit, two entries per person. (Remember, Paypal is always happy to convert your currency.) See the site for details. 

(Did you like that monster contest? It’s new at Ralan.com, the free genre-friendly writing clearinghouse.)

Now – October 24: Writers Guild of Texas has announced its third annual Flash Fiction Contest for short stories from 300-1,000 words. Contestants may submit up to three entries at writersguildtexas@gmail.com/ (only one entry per email, please). Submissions are free for WGT members, $25/entry for nonmembers. But since WGT’s annual membership fee is only $25, why not join, effectively giving yourself additional contest entries free? Cash prizes and publication in the WGT newsletter and website for first, second, third and honorable mention winners. See the site for additional details.

Now – October 31: WOW! Women on Writing adds a new contest for creative nonfiction essays. Word count – 200-1,000. Cash prizes, publication and blog interview for first three winners, gift certificates and publication for seven runners-up, even publicity for 10 honorable mention winners. Fee: $12, or purchase a critique for an additional $13. You don’t have to be a woman to enter, but entries should be aimed at women readers. See the site for details and information about WOW’s short fiction contest. (Or check WOW!s listing below.)

Now – October 31: Glimmer Train magazine’s Short Story Award for Emerging Writers. All genre categories welcome, but this contest is limited to writers whose work has not been published in any print journal with a circulation of more than 5,000. (The entries themselves must never have appeared in any print publication. However, online publications don’t tell against the writer or the entry.) Cash prizes, publication for first place winner, and optional publication for second and third place winners. Fee: $18. Although October 31 is the “official” deadline, as always, Glimmer Train allows a one-week grace period. See the site for details.

Now – November 15: Writer’s Digest seeks high impact, low word-count genre stories for its Popular Fiction Awards program. Cash prizes plus perks for the winners. Fees are $20 for early-bird entries through October 16, $25 for first entry, $20 for additional entries through the drop-dead deadline of November 15. See the site or details.

Now – November 15: Carve Magazine’s Prose & Poetry Contest, for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. This highly-regarded (and Texas-based) literary magazine offers $1,000 cash prizes and publication in its Spring 2018 issue for winners in each of the genres. Fees: $17 for fiction and nonfiction, $12 for poetry entries. 

Now -- November 30: WOW! Women on Writing's flash fiction contest is limited to 300 entries, so don’t delay. (The site’s Paypal button will be disabled when the magic number is reached.) Fee: $10, or add another $10 to request a critique. As mentioned above, you don’t have to be female to enter. 

These WOW! contests were also gleaned from Ralan.com. If you’re stiff miffed (or even if you’re not) by Duotrope Digest’s move to paid subscriptions, check out Ralan’s always-free listings.

Stuff I’m keeping an eye on: By my calendar, it’s nearly time for the Writers League of Texas to announce its annual manuscript contests. And for the Historical Novel Society to announce the opening of its 2017 short story award and 2017/2018 new novel award. I’ll post as soon as information appears on any of these. 

Also, DL Hammons assures me that his wild-popular, readers’ choice WRiTE Club contest will reappear sometime in 2018. Again, stay tuned. 

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UPDATE: As promised, the Writers' League of Texas 2018 manuscript contest is currently open, and even sweeter than ever. Ten winners receive free registration to the WLT's 2018 Agents & Editors Conference to meet an agent as well as the final judge in their category. See www.writersleague.org/109/Manuscript-Contest for details. And if you published a book this year, check out the book award contest.

Am still awaiting word about the Historical Novel Society's 2017/2018 manuscript and short story contests, and about DL Hammons' WRiTE Club readers' choice contest.