2026 Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest

Welcome to the 34th annual Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest. Submit published or unpublished work. $12 000 in prizes.

Prizes:

• Story: First Prize, $3 500
• Essay: First Prize, $3 500
• 10 Honorable Mentions will receive $500 each (any category)
• Top 12 entries published online

All styles and themes, fiction and nonfiction are excepted. For this contest, a story is any short work of fiction, and an essay is any short work of nonfiction.

Length limit: 6 000 words maximum.

Entries may be published or unpublished. No restriction on age of author. All countries eligible except Iran, North Korea, Crimea, Russia, or Belarus (due to US government restrictions).

Entry fee: $25 per entry

Enter via Submittable.

Submission period: 15 October 2025 to 1 May 2026 (annually)

Click here for more information.