Short Story Contests

The Zodiac Review offers writers four opportunities each year to compete for a Zodiac Short Story Prize. Contests for flash fiction and prose poetry may be added in the future, but for now, please submit only short stories (1,000 – 7,500 word range) for our contests.

Winning entries for the Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter Prizes are published in the respective quarterly magazines.

Awards 

First Place: Publication in the quarter’s issue

Considered for Pushcart Prize nomination
   
Runner Up: Publication in the quarter’s or a subsequent quarter’s issue
   
Up to 5 Finalists: Author/story recognized in the quarter’s issue

Considered for publication in the respective or a subsequent issue

Contest Entry – The Zodiac Short Story Prize

Submit each entry to contest@thezodiacreview.com; identify your submission in the subject line as in the following example: “Winter Contest entry, Cold Gold”

Follow the formatting guidelines given for general (non-contest) submissions at submit.

Separately (and more or less concurrently) send your $8 contest entry fee for each piece you submit, using one of the payment options provided here. We acknowledge the receipt of stories and fees.

Deadlines

Prize Deadline Issue/published in
Spring Prize Submit Dec. 1 – Feb.28 midnight EST Spring/April
Summer Prize Submit Mar. 2 – May 31 midnight EST Summer/July
Fall Prize Submit Jun. 1 – Aug. 31 midnight EST Fall/October
Winter Prize Submit Sep. 1 – Nov. 30 midnight EST Winter/January

Please note:

All contest submissions will be considered for publication along with general submissions.

Flash fiction, prose poems and novel excerpts are more than welcome as general submissions.

As with general submissions, publication of any contest entry is payment for one-time electronic rights and archival rights. All other rights revert to author upon publication.

Visit the website for details: http://thezodiacreview.com/Contests.html