May, 2026

Event Details
The Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest is organized by Winning Writers. For this contest, a story is any short work of fiction, and an essay is any short
Event Details
The Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest is organized by Winning Writers.
For this contest, a story is any short work of fiction, and an essay is any short work of nonfiction. Both published and unpublished work is accepted, written in any theme.
No restriction on age of author.
Prizes
- STORY: First Prize, $3,500
- ESSAY: First Prize, $3,500
- The top two winners will also receive two-year gift certificates from our co-sponsor, Duotrope (a $100 value)
- 10 Honorable Mentions will receive $500 each (any category)
- Top 12 entries published online
Is this competition legit?YES! – Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any event, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work.
FAQ
If you are curious how writing competitions work, or it’s your first time entering one, we recommend reading our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page first.
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