The Warren Adler Short Story Contest

The Warren Adler Short Story Contest

Fall 2008 Contest Theme: Short Fiction in Varied Genres

Following the success of the Summer 2008 Warren Adler Short Story Contest, Mr. Adler is sponsoring another international competition. The theme is simply short fiction in all of its varied genres. We are looking for original, imaginative pieces featuring compelling characters and creative plots. Whether you specialize in mainstream fiction, romance, horror, fantasy, science-fiction, satire, mystery, or any of their subcategories, we want to read your work.

Entries must not exceed 2,500 words. Stories from all the points of the globe will be considered provided that they are written in English. Mr. Adler will select which story will be awarded the Grand Prize of $1,000.

Although Mr. Adler will have already chosen the winner, the five finalists' stories will be posted on the Warren Adler website on January 19, 2009. The People's Choice winner will be determined by public voting. Warren Adler's top choice, along with the People's Choice winner, will be announced on February 2, 2009.

Submissions will be accepted from October 1, 2008 to January 16, 2009. The entry fee is $15. Five cash prizes will be awarded.

* 1st Prize: $1000
* People's Choice Prize $500
* Remaining finalists receive $150 each

Authors retain worldwide publishing rights.

Contest Rules:

* Contest is open for worldwide entries from October 1, 2008 until January 16, 2009
* A $15 fee in advance is required for each story submission.
* Stories must be submitted online
* Each story can be no longer than 2,500 words and must be written in English and previously unpublished.

Online journal seeks submissions: Tattoo Highway

Tattoo Highway, an online journal of prose, poetry and art, is now reading for TH/18: "Diners, Dives & Michelin Stars" ~ the food issue. Deadline January 15, 2009.

GENERAL GUIDELINES: Our tastes are eclectic. We like fresh, vivid language and we like stories and poems that are actually about something -- that acknowledge a world beyond the writer's own psyche. If they have an edge, if they provoke us to think or make us laugh, so much the better. We strongly suggest reading a previous issue or two before submitting.

While we particularly welcome poetry and short "screen-reader-friendly" prose or cross-genre pieces (1000 words), we do on occasion publish longer work. We encourage hypertext and new media (Flash .swf) submissions, also photographs and original graphics.

All readings are "blind" (authors' names and other identifiers are removed). Writers may submit up to 5 poems, prose poems or flash fictions (500 words max), or 2 longer prose pieces. While we prefer to see work that has not been previously published, we do consider work that has appeared in small-circulation print journals. Simultaneous submissions are fine, but please let us know promptly if you place a piece elsewhere.

As always, we're featuring our contest: "A Picture Worth 500 Words." Details on website.

See their website for further information on submitting.

Ambrosia - Call for Submissions

Do you write haiku?

Ambrosia - Call for Submissions:

"You are invited to submit haiku for the Winter 2009 issue of Ambrosia. The submission deadline is January 1, 2009. Submissions will NOT close earlier than the deadline.

Ambrosia is a quarterly journal—a print literary journal, a PDF ebook, and a digital online magazine—dedicated to publishing and promoting fine English haiku in traditional style.

Ambrosia specializes in fine single haiku in tercet form. Senryu are not wanted. Collaborations and sequences are generally not wanted. All selection decisions will be made at the sole discretion of the editor.

Previously unpublished work, not on offer elsewhere, is solicited."

Use These Words ...

The second issue of Use These Words is on the horizon, and they're accepting submissions until January 1, 2009. All you need to do is use all of the following words in a poem (up to 5 poems), and email them to usethesewords(at)gmail(dot)com.

• Pillow
• Tantrum
• Silver
• Roof
• Vacant
• Atlas
• Break

Don't forget to send a brief contributor's note.

Bantam Spectra No-Fee Short Fiction Contest

Bantam Spectra, a division of Random House, Inc., is holding a new no-fee short fiction contest for science fiction, fantasy, and horror writers:

"Presenting a new short fiction contest for unpublished writers of science fiction, fantasy, and horror.

For its third edition of Spectra Pulse, Bantam Spectra is allowing unpublished writers to get their work featured alongside some of the most well-respected names in science fiction and fantasy.

One lucky winner will receive $100 and have his/her story published in the Summer 2009 issue of Spectra Pulse, Bantam Spectra’s exclusive magazine distributed at Comic-Con San Diego and select conventions and bookstores (available July 2009)."

Check out the site for submission details and official rules

Deadline: 1/31/09, winners announced April 2009

A Picture Worth Five-Hundred Words ~

Here's a picture to get you started on an entry to Tattoo Highway's current prose/poetry contest.Take a look at it, mull it over, (How do you really feel about whatever it is they're doing to those fish?) and write a 500-word-or-less short-short story, or a 15-lines-or-less poem, to send to them by "sometime in January '09." If you win, in addition to the glory, the first place winner in each category will receive a $30 bookstore gift certificate and publication in their 18th issue. Mark your entry clearly in the subject field of your email: "TH18 Contest," and send it to: submissions(at)tattoohighway(dot)org.