Cai Emmons Short Fiction Contest

The Cai Emmons Short Fiction Contest celebrates the legacy of Cai Emmons by recognizing and supporting diverse authors from Oregon and Washington, nurturing emerging writers, and promoting storytelling aligned with the themes in Cai’s work.

Submissions must reflect themes central to Cai Emmons’s work, including interconnectedness, grief and loss, family dynamics, environmental/climate concerns, magical realism, and women’s experiences and identities.

Submission Guidelines:

• Writers residing in Oregon and Washington.
• Original, unpublished short fiction.
• 1,000–3,000 words
• One submission per person.
• Simultaneous submissions to other contests are allowed, but you must notify us and immediately withdraw your work from the contest if it’s accepted elsewhere.

Award Categories and Prizes

• Grand Prize – Cai Emmons Short Fiction Contest Winner – $700
• Category Awards – To honor Cai’s commitment to diverse themes and genres, prizes of $200 ($100 for honorable mentions) will also be awarded to category winnerrs.
• Category award winners and honorable mentions receive a 1-year membership ($200 value). The Grand Prize Winner receives a 5-year membership ($1,000 value)

All finalists’ stories will be published by Wordcrafters Press in an anthology (in paperback and e-book), reflecting the contest’s themes and showcasing the best short fiction from the Pacific Northwest. The anthology will be published in April 2027, and all winners will receive a copy of the anthology.

Is this event legit?YES! – Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer’s website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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