Ploughshares: Emerging Writer’s Contest 2020

DEADLINE: May 15, 2020

ELIGIBILITY: Writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry who have yet to publish or self-publish a book may enter.

WHAT TO ENTER: Fiction and nonfiction: up to 6,000 words. Poetry: 3–5 pages.

FEE: $24. The fee includes a 1-year subscription to Ploughshares (beginning with the Spring 2020 issue and ending with the Winter 2020-2021 issue) and free submissions to the 2020 regular reading period.

PRIZE: Publication, $2,000, review from Aevitas Creative Management, and a 1-year subscription for one winner in each of the three genres.

HOW TO ENTER: Submissions must be made via Ploughshares’ online submission manager. You must create an account before submitting.

JUDGES: Kirstin Valdez Quade (fiction), Ilya Kaminsky (poetry) and Esmé Weijun Wang (nonfiction). 

Ploughshares – Reading Period Opening Soon

Reading Period: June 1 – January 15, 2019

Entry: via online submission manager or by mail; $3 fee

Guidelines:

Simultaneous vs. Multiple Submissions

  • Ploughshares does not consider multiple submissions. Do not send a second submission until you have heard about the first. Simultaneous submissions to other journals are fine as long as they are identified as such and they are withdrawn immediately upon acceptance elsewhere.
  • If you are working on submissions with an agent, or are an agent submitting work on behalf of an author, please read the note on simultaneous submissions with an agent.

Cover Letters

  • You are encouraged to include a short cover letter with your submission. It should reference:
    • Major publications and awards
    • Any association or past correspondence with a guest or staff editor
    • Past publication in Ploughshares
  • Please note that cover letters are to be included as the first page of your submission document. There are no additional comment boxes for adding a cover letter.

Manuscripts

  • Typed, double-spaced (poetry may be single-spaced) pages.
  • Numbered pages.
  • If in hard copy, submit with text on one side of the page.
  • Fiction and nonfiction: Less than 6,000 words. Excerpts of longer works are welcome if self-contained. Significantly longer work (7,500–20,000 words) can be submitted to the Ploughshares Solos series.
  • Poetry: Submit 1-5 pages at a time with each poem beginning on a new page.
  • Translations are welcome if permission has been granted.
  • Unsolicited book reviews and criticism are not considered.
  • Queries to the Look2 Critical Essay series are welcome (see guidelines here).