Now that autumn is officially here, it’s the perfect time to take a survey of projects that are close to being finished and to polish them so they sparkle. And one way to jump start yourself is submitting to contests. So here’s a heads up: If you have a short story you love that weighs in at 4,000 words or less, why not submit it to the 14th Annual Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards? The deadline: October 15. Here are the details:
One Grand Prize winner will receive:
- $2,500 in cash
- Featured interview in Writer’s Digest’s May/June issue
- Winning story published on writersdigest.com
- Paid trip to the ever-popular Writer’s Digest Conference!
- 2019 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market
- $100 gift certificate for writersdigestshop.com
One First Prize winner in each category will receive:
- $500 in cash
- Announcement in the May/June issue of Writer’s Digest
- Winning story published on writersdigest.com
- 2019 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market
- $100 gift certificate for writersdigestshop.com
Honorable Mentions will receive:
- Announcement on writersdigest.com
- 2019 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market
Categories
- Mystery/Crime: From the classic whodunits and police procedurals, cozies and courtroom dramas, amateur and private detectives.
- Horror: Psychological, supernatural, or technological.
- Romance: Historical or contemporary, paranormal or suspenseful.
- Science Fiction/Fantasy: Science, magic, or a mash-up of both, new worlds, alternate histories, or fantastic ideas.
- Thriller/Suspense: High stakes, compelling conflicts, page-turning tension.
- Young Adult: Your preferred genre(s), for readers age 12-18.
For more details, visit the Writer’s Digest web site and write on!
