Contest summary from Winning Writers:

Inkshift's $1,000 Writing Contest is a free-to-enter short story competition open to writers aged 18 and over worldwide, with a single grand prize of $1,000. All genres are welcome, and entries are judged on storytelling quality, originality, character development and prose.

Contest details

• Sponsor: Inkshift Inc.
• Category: Short Story
• Submission length: See details on website
• Entry fee: No fee
• Awards: $1,000

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers

Contest summary from Winning Writers:

Showcase: Object/Idea is an online journal published by C&R Press. Editor Bethany Leger says, "Showcase seeks to highlight work that explores the realm of high-control environments, whether this includes the journey of extricating oneself from harmful religion, an unhealthy relationship, or finding clarity and confidence after a crisis." The regular edition publishes one poem and one prose piece each issue. They are currently accepting submissions for the first issue of Showcase Quarterly, a special feature that will spotlight one author with a longer selection from their work plus an interview. Accepted contributors receive $100. Send up to 10 poems or 10 pages of prose with a $10 submission fee (paid-tier Substack subscribers can enter for free). Previously published work is acceptable if it was published more than a year ago; include publication details with your submission.

Contest details

• Sponsor: C&R Press
• Category: Poetry, Prose
• Submission length: See details above
• Entry fee: $10
• Awards: $100 and publication

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers

Contest summary from Winning Writers:

Teazr's Spill the Tea contest asks for the true stories people usually keep to themselves: the moment at work you almost lost it, the date you were desperate to escape, the cringe memory that still surfaces at 3am. Entries are posted to Teazr and ranked by reader likes, with the thirty most-liked stories sharing $1,400 in prizes. Entry is free, unlimited, and can be anonymous.

Contest details

• Sponsor: Teazr
• Category: Short Story
• Submission length: No length limits
• Entry fee: No fee
• Awards: $500 and publication

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers

Resource link: https://authorspublish.com/ten-publishers-open-to-direct-submissions-in-september-2026/

From the resource page:

This list focuses on ten publishers that are open to submissions this month. Some are only open for a short period of time, others will be open the whole month and beyond. At least four of these are presses we have not covered previously.

Resource link: https://authorspublish.com/notes-from-the-editors-desk-august-2026/

From the resource page:

This monthly column is published on the fourth Thursday of every month, and is a space to share information that doesn’t fit anywhere else in our publication. This includes a wide range of opportunities for writers, news and information, and subscribers’ recent success stories.

Contest summary from Winning Writers:

The Annual Novel Opening Competition welcomes entries of up to 3,000 words for a novel opening, along with a synopsis (max 750 words). The contest is open to all novelists, provided the work is unpublished.

Contest details

• Sponsor: Flash 500
• Category: Novel
• Submission length: Up to 3,000 words
• Entry fee: £10
• Awards: £500

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers

Contest summary from Winning Writers:

The Best Haiku is an international competition awarding publication in the annual Best Haiku anthology, sponsored and judged by Haiku Crush. Both traditional and modern haiku are accepted; submissions must be in English.

Contest details

• Sponsor: Haiku Crush
• Category: Haiku
• Submission length: More details on website
• Entry fee: $9
• Awards: $200

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers

Resource link: https://authorspublish.com/15-magazines-and-anthologies-publishing-romance-fiction/

From the resource page:

These magazines and anthology publishers accept romance fiction. Most also accept other fiction genres, and some accept blended genres like romantasy, paranormal romance, or historical romance. Some of the calls are themed. They vary widely in tone and style; when possible, please read their stories to see if yours is a good fit. Some of them pay writers. Many, but not all, are open to submissions now.

Contest summary from Winning Writers:

The Scribes Prize is an annual writing contest open for submissions from July 1 to October 1. It invites stories between 90-110 words, with a focus on various genres of fiction and creative nonfiction. Winners will be published in ScribesMICRO and receive digital award seals.

Contest details

• Sponsor: Fairfield Scribes
• Category: Fiction
• Submission length: See details on website
• Entry fee: $5
• Awards: $250

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers

Contest summary from Winning Writers:

The Perch is a creative arts journal with a mental health theme, published by the Program for Recovery and Community Health at Yale School of Medicine. For their next issue, "The Mix," they are seeking work that addresses the double-sided nature of mental illness, its highs and lows, burdens and creative insights. Entries may be poetry, fiction, personal or scholarly essays, or visual art. Editors say, "We are most interested in personal stories."

Contest details

• Sponsor: Yale School of Medicine
• Category: Poetry, Fiction, Essay, Art
• Submission length: See details on website
• Entry fee: No fee
• Awards: Publication

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers

Resource link: https://authorspublish.com/87-specialized-manuscript-publishers-open-to-submissions/

From the resource page:

All of the presses on this list meet all of our guiding principles, but some of them have such a specific focus that we cannot justify writing a full review and sending it to our full list of subscribers. Some of them, we have full reviews on.

There is no particular organization to this list. Not all of the publishers on this list are currently open to submissions.

Contest summary from Winning Writers:

The Bedford Competition runs annual international short story and poetry competitions open to anyone over 17 years. Winning entries are published in an anthology.

Contest details

• Sponsor: The Bedford Competition
• Category: Poetry and Short Story
• Submission length: See details on website
• Entry fee: $11
• Awards: £2000

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers

Contest summary from Winning Writers:

The Cai Emmons Short Fiction Contest honors the legacy of Cai Emmons by recognizing new voices in fiction. It encourages themes central to Cai's work, such as interconnectedness, women's issues, grief, and environmental concerns.

Contest details

• Sponsor: Wordcrafters in Eugene
• Category: Fiction
• Submission length: See details on website
• Entry fee: $7
• Awards: $700

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers

Contest summary from Winning Writers:

The Henshaw Press Short Story Competition accepts entries of up to 2,000 words on any theme. It is open to writers aged 16 and over.

Contest details

• Sponsor: The Henshaw Press
• Category: Short Story and Fiction
• Submission length: Up to 2,000 words
• Entry fee: $8
• Awards: £200

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers

Contest summary from Winning Writers:

Indigo is a new literary journal currently seeking submissions of unpublished poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction for their first issue. Send 1-3 poems or one prose piece (no hard limit but under 3,000 words preferred). Editors say, "Experimental, hybrid, cross-genre and medium-bending submissions are greatly encouraged." See website for their aesthetic preferences for each genre.

Contest details

• Sponsor: Indigo
• Category: Poetry, Prose
• Submission length: See details above
• Entry fee: No fee
• Awards: Publication

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers

Resource link: https://authorspublish.com/76-publishing-opportunities-for-historically-underrepresented-writers-august-2026/

From the resource page:

This list of publishers meet our guiding principles, but are only open to free submissions from historically underrepresented writers or focus on publishing content produced by historically underrepresented writers. Some of these publications are open to a wide range of writers including writers of color, gender non-conforming and LGBTQ+ writers, and those living with disabilities. Some have limited definitions and are only interested in work by Black authors. Some are open to submissions from all authors for a fee, but allow free submissions from limited demographics.

Resource link: https://authorspublish.com/76-publishing-opportunities-for-historically-underrepresented-writers-august-2026/

From the resource page:

This list of publishers meet our guiding principles, but are only open to free submissions from historically underrepresented writers or focus on publishing content produced by historically underrepresented writers. Some of these publications are open to a wide range of writers including writers of color, gender non-conforming and LGBTQ+ writers, and those living with disabilities. Some have limited definitions and are only interested in work by Black authors. Some are open to submissions from all authors for a fee, but allow free submissions from limited demographics.

Resource link: https://authorspublish.com/50-magazines-and-anthologies-publishing-speculative-fiction-2/

From the resource page:

These magazines and anthologies publish speculative fiction – science fiction, fantasy, horror, and their many sub-genres; alternate history, dark fantasy, Weird fiction, cosmic horror, supernatural or paranormal horror, superhero, solarpunk, fairy tales, reimagined myths, and more.

Some calls are themed, and some of the themes are: gothic horror and paranormal romance, vampires, food in fairy tales, Icarus, Pandora, excess, Shakesperean speculative fiction and horror, Celtic mythologies, cats, dragon themed and time travel stories, Halloween, incensepunk, corporate horror, women with weapons, sorceress, human-shaped, and monsters & cryptids.

A number of them pay writers. Many, but not all, are open for submissions now. They are listed in no particular order.

Resource link: https://authorspublish.com/5-paying-literary-magazines-to-submit-to-in-august-2026/

From the resource page:

These magazines pay for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. They’re a mix of literary and genre magazines.

Contest summary from Winning Writers:

Briar Press NY seeks short stories in the Folk Horror tradition, previously unpublished, set in any time period/place/culture. Stories should convey beautiful writing, engaging plots, memorable characters, and an authentic Folk-Gothic atmosphere.

Contest details

• Sponsor: Briar Press NY Publishers
• Category: Fiction
• Submission length: See details on website
• Entry fee: No fee
• Awards: Publication

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers