Writing Competition for Unclassifiable Work: Arts & Letters

Our 5th annual Unclassifiable contest is open May 1st to July 31st.

Challenged by Diaghilev to astonish him (“Etonnez-moi!”), Cocteau responded with an “unclassifiable” ballet: music by Satie, sets and costumes by Picasso, book by himself. The year: 1910. In this age of branding and marketing, can such “unclassifiable” works survive? What is gained—or lost—when boundaries are blurred?

This contest is for unclassifiable works: works that blur, bend, blend, erase, or obliterate genre and other labels. Works of up to 5000 words considered. Judged by Michael Martone.

All submissions must be sent through Submittable and will be read blind, so please do not include your name or identifying material anywhere on the manuscript.

The entry fee is $10, and the winner will receive $500.

Only send us work that has not been previously published elsewhere.