Writing Competitions: Prime Number

The Prime Number Magazine Awards for Poetry & Short Fiction is open to writers around the world, ages 18 and older, who write in English. We asked our judges to select from all entries, in their respective categories, a First Prize winner, two Runners-Up, and a short list of Finalists.

The winning poem and short story, and our runners-up, will appear in Issue 241 of Prime Number Magazine on September 1, 2023. First Prize is $1,000 in each category.

Entry period: January 1 to March 31, 2023 (midnight EASTERN time)

Judge for Poetry: Felicia Mitchell

Judge for Short Fiction: Dennis McFadden

First Prize in Each Category: $1,000 and publication in Prime Number Magazine, Issue 241, Sept-Dec 2023 (a Press 53 publication)

Announcement: Winner, runners-up, and finalists will be announced no later than July 1, 2023 (probably sooner)

Reading Fee: $15

How to Enter the Prime Number Magazine Awards

Entries are only accepted online via Submittable 

• Poetry: Submit one (and only one) unpublished poem, no more than three pages in length in standard 12-pt. type. (Times, Garamond, etc). Make sure your name does not appear on the page with your poem.
  

• Short Fiction: Submit one (and only one) unpublished short story of up to 5,300 words, with title and word count, double spaced with numbered pages in standard 12-pt. type. (Times, Garamond, etc). Make sure your name does not appear on the manuscript.

• Multiple entries: Multiple entries are accepted, but you must enter each poem and/or story individually and pay the reading fee for each entry.
  

• Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please withdraw your entry via Submittable if it is accepted elsewhere. You may not replace the withdrawn poem or story with another poem or story. Reading fee is not refundable.

• Editing entry: If you discover an error before the deadline and wish to replace your entry with a newly edited version, request "Open Editing" via Submittable. Requests made after the deadline will not be honored.

Judging: All entries are read blind. Judge is asked to disqualify any entry that is recognized, so please use your best judgment.

Eligibility: Contest is open to writers anywhere in the world, 18 years of age and older, who write in English.

Note: Press 53 and Prime Number Magazine editors and family members are not eligible. Authors who have published a book-length collection with Press 53 are not eligible. Writers whose work appears in anthologies published by Press 53 or have previously published in Prime Number Magazine are eligible.

Disclaimer: Prime Number Magazine reserves the right to extend the deadline if deemed necessary. Only unpublished works are eligible. Reading fees are non-refundable. Entries with author's name appearing anywhere on the manuscript will not be considered. No refunds will be made. Entries withdrawn from the contest will not receive a refund. All entries must be original to the author.

Questions/Comments should be directed to Kevin Morgan Watson, Publisher & Editor in Chief of Press 53 and Prime Number Magazine.