Calendar

Always Open!

General Submissions

Our general submissions are always open and always free! We pay $200 for short stories and creative nonfiction between 1,000 and 6,000 words, $100 for flash fiction and flash creative nonfiction, and $50–100 for craft essays and interviews. More information and guidelines are to be found on our submissions page.

Editorial Feedback

Are you looking for feedback on a piece of short fiction? Whether you’re applying to workshops, residencies, or MFA programs, or polishing a piece to submit to lit mags or writing contests, or seeking notes for any reason, we are so pleased to offer editorial feedback on flash fiction and short stories up to 6,000 words. Learn more here.

Coming Soon

CRAFT Short Fiction Prize
March 1 to May 3

Details tk…

Past

CRAFT Creative Nonfiction Award
Judged by Joy Castro
2020: November 1 to December 31

The 2020 CRAFT Creative Nonfiction Award, for unpublished creative nonfiction up to 6,000 words, will be awarded in May 2021. Three winners will be selected by guest judge Joy Castro, with $1,000 awarded to each. Winners will receive publication with a written introduction by the judge, and a complete set of Graywolf Press’s The Art Of series. Bonus editors’ choice round, too! Learn more here.

CRAFT Flash Fiction Contest
Judged by Leesa Cross-Smith
2020: September 1 to November 1

The 2020 CRAFT Flash Fiction Contest, for unpublished flash fiction up to 1,000 words, will be awarded in March 2021. Three winners will be selected by guest judge Leesa Cross-Smith, with $1,000 awarded to each. Winners will receive publication, a craft book bundle from Rose Metal Press, a micro-interview with our flash section editor, and a written introduction by the judge. Bonus editors’ choice round, too! Learn more here.

CRAFT Elements Contest: Conflict
2020: June 1 to August 3

The 2020 CRAFT Elements Contest, for unpublished short fiction up to 6,000 words, including short stories and standalone excerpts of longer work, will be awarded in November. We’ll read for the strongest use of conflict in otherwise well-crafted and well-rounded short fiction. Three winners will each receive $1,000 and publication. Learn more here.

CRAFT Short Fiction Prize
Judged by Alexander Chee
2020: March 1 to April 30

Winners
First Place—Jinwoo Chong: “Ariel”
Second Place—Rachel Pollon: “Yo Te Veo”
Third Place—Elie Piha: “Mule”

A full list of the finalists, the longlist, and our honorable mentions can be found here.

CRAFT Flash Fiction Contest
Judged by Benjamin Percy
2019: September 1 to October 31

Winners
Carol M. Quinn: “Epilogue”
Steven Simoncic: “Girls’ Weekend”
Hillary Smith: “How to Return Your Child to School”

Winners of the Editors’ Choice Round
Madeline Anthes: “Inheritance”
Stephen Aubrey: “Coyote the Younger”
Virginia Reeves: “Old Girl”
Luke Whisnant: “What They Didn’t Teach Us”