CRAFT Hybrid Writing Contest 2023

2023 CRAFT Hybrid Writing Contest
Guest Judge: Nicole McCarthy
$1,500 Awarded
Thank you to all who submitted work to the 2023 CRAFT Hybrid Writing Contest. We’re delighted to publish the winners in July 2023. Congratulations in advance to all the forthcoming honorable mentions, longlisters, shortlisters, and winners!
GUIDELINES:
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Open January 3 to February 28, 2023.
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CRAFT submissions are open to all writers.
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International submissions are allowed.
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Please submit work primarily written in English, but conceptually or stylistically necessary codeswitching is warmly welcomed.
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We’re seeking hybrid work only! (Please, do not send work that fits into easy genre or category definitions.)
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We are looking for cross-genre submissions, for example: prose poetry (but not traditional, lineated poetry), speculative memoir, work that engages with image in innovative ways, lyric essay, etc. (However, we are not accepting video or audio submissions at this time.)
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Please adhere to the 5,000 word count maximum.
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Previously unpublished work only—we do not review reprints or partial reprints, including self-published work (even if only on social media), for our contests. Reprints will be automatically disqualified.
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We allow simultaneous submissions—writers please notify us and withdraw your entry if your work is accepted elsewhere.
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$20 reading fee per entry allows ONE piece from 1,001 to 5,000 words OR up to TWO pieces of 1,000 words or fewer each—if submitting two pieces (2,000 words maximum combined/1,000 words maximum each), please put them both in a SINGLE document.
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We allow multiple submissions—each entry should be accompanied by a reading fee.
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All entries will also be considered for publication in CRAFT.
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Please include a brief cover letter with your publication history and any relevant content warnings (if applicable).
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We do not require anonymous submissions.
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We do not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, disability, family status, gender identity or expression, national origin, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation, or for any other reason.
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Additionally, we do not tolerate discrimination in the writing we consider for publication: work we find discriminatory on any of the bases stated here will be declined without complete review (you will be refunded, less fees).
AWARDS:
The writer of the winning piece will receive:
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$1,000;
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publication of an author’s note (craft essay) to accompany the piece;
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and a free three- or six-week writing class of choice from Project Write Now’s Writers Institute, up to a $250 value.
The two runner-ups will receive:
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$300 and $200 respectively for second and third place;
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and publication of an author’s note (craft essay) to accompany the piece.
FINE PRINT:
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Friends, family, and associates of the guest judge are not eligible for consideration for the award.
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Our collaboration with editorial professionals in the judging of our contests and the awarding of our prizes does not imply an endorsement or recognition from their agencies/houses/presses/universities/etc.
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As we only consider unpublished writing, and will publish the winning pieces in July 2023, anything under contract to publish prior to October 2023 should not be entered.
OUR GUEST JUDGE:

OUR CONTEST PARTNER:

OPTIONAL EDITORIAL FEEDBACK:
You may choose to receive editorial feedback on your work. We will provide line-level editorial notes, as well as a global letter discussing the strengths of the writing and the recommended focus for revision. While editorial feedback is inherently subjective, our criticism is always actionable and encouraging. Work that we critique is not eligible for future CRAFT contests.