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.
Open Now
CRAFT Creative Nonfiction Award
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The 2020 CRAFT Creative Nonfiction Award, for unpublished creative nonfiction up to 6,000 words, will be awarded in May 2021.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.
Past
CRAFT Flash Fiction Contest
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The 2020 CRAFT Flash Fiction Contest, for unpublished flash fiction up to 1,000 words, will be awarded in March 2021.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The 2020 CRAFT Elements Contest, for unpublished short fiction up to 6,000 words, including short stories and standalone excerpts of longer work, will be awarded in November.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”
The full list of finalists and honorable mentions can be found here.
CRAFT First Chapters Contest
Judged by Naomi Huffman of MCDxFSG & FSG Originals
2019: June 1 to July 31
Winners
First Place: Meg Richardson, Paradise Pawn
Second Place: Timothy Hickey, Little Squirrel
Third Place: Jonathan Bohr Heinen, Empire of Dirt
The full list of finalists and honorable mentions can be found here.
CRAFT Short Fiction Prize
Judged by Elizabeth McCracken
2019: March 1 to April 30
Winners
First Place: “Winters,” by Marilyn Hope
Second Place: “Every Bird a Rival,” by Jacqui Reiko Teruya
Third Place: “Assassin, Alchemist,” by Robert Ren
The full list of finalists and honorable mentions can be found here.
CRAFT Elements Contest: Character, Dialogue, Setting
2018: August 15 to September 30
Winners
Character: “So Much Trouble,” by Karin Lin-Greenberg
Dialogue: “Heart Trouble,” by Rex Adams
Setting: “Passing,” by Thaïs Miller
The full list of finalists and honorable mentions can be found here.
CRAFT Short Fiction Prize
Judged by Jim Shepard
2018: March 1 to April 30
Finalists
First Place: “Beyond Love,” by James Winter
Second Place: “Mule Brigade,” by Kenan Orhan
Third Place: “Proof You Worked the Land,” by Charlotte Crowe
The full list of finalists and honorable mentions can be found here.