Writing Competitions: 2026 CRAFT Awards for Excellence

2026 CRAFT Award for Excellence

February 9, 2026 – April 12, 2026
$5,000 Awarded

CRAFT’s mission since day one has been to explore how writing works and to celebrate the art of prose. With that goal in mind, we are introducing the CRAFT Award for Excellence, honoring the very best in each of our creative prose genres: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Flash Fiction, and Flash Creative Nonfiction.

Each genre will award one winner the CRAFT Award for Excellence, selected by CRAFT’s editors; these winners will receive a $1,000 prize, online publication, reMarkable Paper Pro tablet & set up, and a CRAFT plaque commemorating your win. Two editors’ choice selections from any genre will receive $500 and online publication.

Show off your setting skills, dazzle us with snappy dialogue, render us spellbound with your lyricism. Whatever your craft, our only requirement is excellence.

GUIDELINES:

• The 2026 CRAFT Award for Excellence opens on February 9 and closes on April 12.

• CRAFT submissions are open to all writers, emerging and experienced.

• Submit up to 5,000 words of Short Fiction or Creative Nonfiction, or up to 1,000 words per piece of Flash Fiction or Flash Creative Nonfiction. Please, no excerpts.

• Submissions containing flash only may include up to two pieces per submission. Include both pieces in one document.

• This contest requires a $20 entry fee per submission.

• Writers from historically marginalized groups will be able to submit for free until we reach fifty free submissions. NOTE: The submission cap has been met.

• We allow multiple and simultaneous submissions. Each submission must be accompanied by a separate reading fee. Writers, please notify us and withdraw your submission if your piece is accepted for publication elsewhere.

• Submit previously unpublished work only—we do NOT review reprints (including work posted on blogs, personal websites, social media, et cetera). Reprints will be automatically disqualified.

• International submissions are allowed. Work must be written primarily in English, but some code-switching/meshing is warmly welcomed.

• No translations, please.

• We review literary prose but are open to a variety of genres and styles—our only requirement is that you show excellence in your craft.

• Please double-space your submission and use Times New Roman 12.

• Please include a brief cover letter with your publication history and any content warnings (if applicable).

• We do not require anonymous submissions.

• The winner will be asked to contribute an author’s note, or mini craft essay, that discusses their artistic choices in their piece. The note will be published with the winning work.

• All entries will also be considered for publication in CRAFT.

• Please review our values before submitting.

• AI-generated or -assisted submissions will be automatically disqualified.

• Unless you’ve already secured the necessary permissions, please do not include quoted song lyrics in your submitted work.

We are always happy to answer any questions. Email us:

contact@craftliterary.com

AWARDS:

• One winner in each genre will receive a $1,000 prize, reMarkable Paper Pro tablet & set up, and a CRAFT plaque commemorating your win.

• Two total editors’ choice selections will receive a $500 prize.

• The all six finalists will be published in CRAFT.

• Each publication will also include an author’s note (craft essay) by the writer.

More information and submission link here.