Writing Competitions: Reed Magazine

Awarding one of the richest purses among literary magazines—$1,000 for the winning story—the John Steinbeck Award for Fiction recognizes exceptional works of fiction. Aesthetically, we are open to most styles and approaches, including experimental and literary. All works should be stand-alone short stories, not chapters of a longer work. Please limit prose submissions to 5,000 words.

Please be sure to:

include your name, address, phone number, and email address within cover letter (exclude from works themselves)

format stories in double-spaced 12-point font

include word count (5,000-word limit)

number pages

provide a brief 50-word bio

make sure your Submittable profile is up-to-date

The contest reading fee is $20, which includes a free copy of the latest edition of Reed. (Please note that submitters with US addresses on file will receive print copies of the journal, whereas those with international addresses may receive digital copies.) Multiple submissions are accepted as separate entries. Contest submissions not selected for final judging may still be considered for publication in the journal and/or online.

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The Gabriele Rico Challenge for Nonfiction recognizes outstanding works of nonfiction, awarding $1,333 to the author of the winning entry. We are looking for creative nonfiction, such as personal essays or narratives, not scholarly papers or book reviews. All works should be stand-alone essays, not chapters of a longer work. We do not accept previously published work. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please notify us if your work is selected for publication elsewhere. Please limit prose submissions to 5,000 words.

Please be sure to:

include your name, address, phone number, and email address within cover letter (exclude from works themselves)

format pieces in double-spaced 12-point font

include word count (5,000-word limit)

number pages

provide a brief 50-word bio

make sure your Submittable profile is up-to-date

The contest reading fee is $20, which includes a free copy of the latest edition of Reed. (Please note that submitters with US addresses on file will receive print copies of the journal, whereas those with international addresses may receive digital copies.) Multiple submissions are accepted as separate entries. Contest submissions not selected for final judging may still be considered for publication in the journal and/or online. 

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With an award of $1,000 for the winning poem, the Edwin Markham Prize honors outstanding works of poetry. Our taste is eclectic and celebrates the wonderful diversity of forms, styles, and levels of diction available to the contemporary poet. We do not accept previously published work. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please notify us immediately if your work is selected for publication elsewhere. Writers may submit up to five (5) poems per submission.

Please be sure to:

include your name, address, phone number, and email address within cover letter (exclude from works themselves)

format poems in 12-point font

submit up to five poems in a single document

number pages

provide a brief 50-word bio

make sure your Submittable profile is up-to-date

The contest reading fee is $20, which includes a free copy of the latest edition of Reed. (Please note that submitters with US addresses on file will receive print copies of the journal, whereas those with international addresses may receive digital copies.) Multiple submissions are accepted as separate entries. Contest submissions not selected for final judging may still be considered for publication in the journal and/or online.

Deadline for all three competitions: Nov. 1, 2022

Go here to submit.