The Zoetrope: All-Story Short Fiction Competition is a catalyst for writing careers. Recent winners and honorable mentions have subsequently been recognized among the finalists for the PEN/Hemingway Award, the National Book Award, and the Pulitzer Prize.
We welcome short fiction of no more than five thousand words. Entries are vetted by a team of professional readers, and awards are adjudicated by our guest judge.
First prize is $1,000 and publication at the magazine’s website as a special online supplement to the subsequent Spring edition; second prize is $500; and third prize is $250.
Additionally, the three prizewinners and seven honorable mentions are considered for representation by participating talent agencies: William Morris Endeavor; CAA; the Wylie Agency; Aragi, Inc.; Regal Literary; Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency; Markson Thoma Literary Agency; Inkwell Management; Sterling Lord Literistic; Aitken Alexander Associates; the Book Group; the Gernert Company; Janklow & Nesbit Associates; and the Georges Borchardt Literary Agency.
All stories submitted to the competition are considered for publication in the print edition.
GUEST JUDGE:
Jamel Brinkley will judge the competition and award the prizes. He was a finalist for the 2018 National Book Award for Fiction for his first story collection, A Lucky Man, and a finalist for the 2024 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction for his second story collection, Witness. His most recent contribution to Zoetrope: All-Story, “Blessed Deliverance,” was selected for the 2024 edition of Best American Short Stories.
DEADLINE:
Entries must be complete by October 8 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
RESULTS:
Results will be announced December 15 and in a subsequent print edition of Zoetrope: All-Story.
RULES, DETAILS, AND QUESTIONS:
Before entering, please read the Official Rules and FAQs. With additional questions, please email contests@all-story.com. Thank you for your interest, and good luck!
Entries must be:
There are no formatting restrictions; please ensure only that the story is legible. Files should be submitted as PDFs or Word documents.
Please omit all personal information from the manuscript itself (i.e., name, address, email address, phone number), as stories are read blindly. Entrants retain all rights to their work.
The competition is open to entrants from any country. We will email competition updates and results to anyone who provides an active email address.
Once a story is submitted, we cannot accept an updated draft. (However, an entrant is welcome to submit an updated draft as a new entry.) Entry fees will not be returned or adjusted.
Entrants may submit multiple entries ($30/story) and simultaneous submissions.
What are the prizes?
First prize is $1,000 and publication at the magazine’s website as a special online supplement to the subsequent Spring edition; second prize is $500; and third prize is $250. Additionally, the three prizewinners and seven honorable mentions are considered for representation by participating talent agencies: William Morris Endeavor; CAA; the Wylie Agency; Aragi, Inc.; Regal Literary; Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency; Markson Thoma Literary Agency; Inkwell Management; Sterling Lord Literistic; Aitken Alexander Associates; the Book Group; the Gernert Company; Janklow & Nesbit Associates; and the Georges Borchardt Literary Agency.
When is the deadline to submit?
The deadline is October 8 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
When will results be announced?
The three prizewinners and seven honorable mentions will be announced December 15 via email and at the website. Results will also be published in the upcoming Spring print edition of the magazine.
How do I submit a story to the competition?
Click the “Submit Entry” button at left and abide the simple steps that follow. Manuscripts and entry fees must be submitted via the website. Should you encounter any trouble, please write us at contests@all-story.com.
Might I submit my entry by postal mail?
If you’re unable to submit online, please write us at contests@all-story.com, and we’ll make every effort to accommodate you.
How will I learn whether I’m an honoree?
The prizewinners and honorable mentions will be contacted directly by Zoetrope: All-Story via email on December 15. Concurrently, all entrants will receive a link via email to the full list of honorees posted on the website. We do not send announcements by postal mail.
What genres of stories are eligible for entry?
We accept all genres of literary fiction.
What is the word-count limit?
An entry must not exceed 5,000 words.
Is previously published material eligible?
No, an entry must be unpublished at the time of submission.
Will my story be disqualified if it is contracted for publication by another journal subsequent to submission?
No, the story need meet eligibility requirements only at the time of submission.
Are there any formatting restrictions?
No, there are no formatting restrictions; please ensure only that the story is legible.
Should I include contact information on the manuscript?
No, please omit all personal information from the manuscript itself (i.e., name, address, email address, phone number), as stories are read blindly.
Might I enter more than one story?
Yes, an entrant may submit multiple stories (at $30 per story).
Might I enter a story that’s also entered in another contest?
Yes, simultaneous submissions are permitted.
By submitting, do I give up any creative rights?
No, an entrant retains all rights.
If I revise a story after submitting, can I replace that submission with the updated draft?
No, once a story is submitted, we cannot accept an updated draft. However, an entrant is welcome to submit an updated draft as a new entry.
If I withdraw my story from competition, can I request a refund?
No, once an entry is complete, fees cannot be returned or adjusted.
Might I enter a story that I submitted to a previous year’s competition?
Yes, you may enter a story from a previous year’s competition. We maintain a sufficient number of readers to ensure your entry is vetted by a different first-round reader.
Is the competition open to writers outside the United States?
Yes, the competition is open to entrants from any country, and numerous previous winners have originated outside the United States.
Who reads the submissions?
Zoetrope: All-Story editors and an experienced team of professional readers, who are bound by confidentiality agreements, vet the first round of stories. The guest judge adjudicates the prizewinners.
If my contact information changes, how do I update my entry record?
To update any contact information in your entry record, please email us at contests@all-story.com.
Many thanks to all who entered the 2025 Short Fiction Competition. We appreciate the opportunity to read such electric new work.
From more than 2,600 submissions, guest judge Jamel Brinkley honored the following stories.
First Prize:
“Pastimes” by Xavier Blackwell-Lipkind (West Hartford, CT)
Second Prize:
“Love Goes” by Zara Karschay (Leipzig, Germany)
Third Prize:
“The Distraction” by Martina Botti (New York, NY)
Honorable Mentions:
“The Argument” by Charlie Corbett (Washington, DC)
“Valdai” by Catherine Kim (Ann Arbor, MI)
“The Man Upstairs” by Ryan King (Sparkill, NY)
“Still Life with Boy” by Valerie Laken (Milwaukee, WI)
“Ground of None” by Sirong Li (Baton Rouge, LA)
“Fat Lip” by Julie Odell (Philadelphia, PA)
“Names” by Anna Rimoch (Mexico City, Mexico)
First prize is $1,000; second prize, $500; and third prize, $250. The prizewinners and honorable mentions will be considered for representation by William Morris Endeavor; ICM; the Wylie Agency; Janklow & Nesbit; Regal Literary; Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency; Inkwell Management; Sterling Lord Literistic; Aitken Alexander Associates; Barer Literary; the Gernert Company; and the Georges Borchardt Literary Agency.
The winning story, “Pastimes” by Xavier Blackwell-Lipkind, will be published as a special online supplement to the Fall 2025 edition.
The 2026 Short Fiction Competition opens July 1; for details, please visit the website this summer. And should you wish to receive updates by email, please write us at contests@all-story.com.
Thanks once more, and every good wish for your work,
The editors
