September, 2026
Event Details
The Plough Short Fiction Contest is a newly established, international short fiction competition hosted by Plough, a quarterly magazine published by Plough Publishing House. The contest is open to writers anywhere
Event Details
The Plough Short Fiction Contest is a newly established, international short fiction competition hosted by Plough, a quarterly magazine published by Plough Publishing House. The contest is open to writers anywhere in the world.
The magazine is seeking short fiction that honors the mysterious nature of reality and finds transcendence and redemption in unexpected places, with an interest in fictional elements like magical realism and a traditional “tale” voice (though the contest is not limited to stories using these techniques). Authors cited as exemplary of the style being sought include Italo Calvino, Jorge Luis Borges, Susanna Clarke, Toni Morrison, Isak Dinesen, Eugene Vodolazkin, Tim Powers, Karen Russell, and James McBride.
Submissions must be previously unpublished and not entered elsewhere. Each contestant is permitted one story of no more than 5,000 words, written in English. Plough editors will select ten to fifteen stories for further consideration before reaching a consensus on the winner and finalists.
The winning writer receives $2,000 and publication in Plough. Up to three finalists receive $250 each and are also published in Plough, in print and/or online. Results will be announced in November 2026 on the Plough website.
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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