Emerging Writer's Contest

Deadline: May 15, 2024

Top Prize: $2,000 first prize in each genre

Entry Fees: $30 or free to current subscribers

Late Submission Period Available?: no

Website: Ploughshares

Twitter: @pshares

The Ploughshares Emerging Writer's Contest was created to recognize the work of emerging writers. It is open in three genres: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. One winner in each genre per year will receive $2,000 and publication in the literary journal. Plougshares says a writer is considering an "emerging" writer if they haven't published or self-published a book.

Fiction and nonfiction should be under 6,000 words. Poetry should be 3 to 5 pages.

The 2024 contest judges are Dantiel W. Moniz (Fiction), Porsha Olayiwola (Poetry), and Augusten Burroughs (Nonfiction).

Submit through the Ploughshares Submission Manager.


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Return to the Writing Contests homepage.