Empyrean​'s Autumn '23  Fiction Writing Contest

​We’re excited to announce that Empyrean's Autumn '23​ Fiction Writing Contest is now open for entries.
All of Empyrean​'s contests are run in partnership with Kada's Bookstore, and is for English-language writers who are currently residing in the United States. 

The theme for this issue is Shame. The painful feeling of humiliation caused by the consciousness of  foolish behavior.
The unpleasant self-conscious emotion that may lead negative self-evaluation, a motivation to quit, or feelings of exposure, distrust, powerlessness, and worthlessness.
​
The Fiction Contest accepts entries of stories (1500 – 8000 words) from all genres except children's. 

• ​The first place winning writer will get 2 free copies of the print magazine, exclusive ​featured placement in magazine and acknowledgement on the website, will be recognized as a special addition to the magazine on the author's and credit pages and back cover, and will be featured as a author spotlight on the back cover of the print magazine along with poetry winner.
• The second place winning writer will get 2 free copies of the print magazine, exclusive featured placement in magazine and acknowledgement on the website, and will be recognized as a special addition to the magazine on the author's and credit pages.
• The third place winning writer will get 2 free copies of the print magazine, and featured​ placement in magazine and website.

Submissions are open to residents of the US from 15 May 2023, and will close at 11:59 p.m. on 15 August 2023.
​We look forward to reading your submissions.

Terms of Entry

1. Empyrean's Fiction Writing Contest​ is open to all writers, published and unpublished, who are currently residents of the United States. 
2. Writers may submit up to 4 entries each, written in English.
3. ​Entries must be in the form of short-shorts, or full-length short stories. Each story must be within 1500 – 8000 words. Stories that are not between 1500 and 8000 words will not be eligible.
4. Please include a cover letter on the first page of your submission, which lists the title of the story in your submission and short summary, your name, your mailing address, and your email address. Entries must be sent in the following formats only: .doc or .docx, and .pdf.
5. Submissions should be revised and edited final drafts.
6. Entrants must pay the entry fee of $12 in order to be eligible.
7. Entry fees and submissions must be made in the following manner: pay for an entry via Empyrean’s online store; you will receive an email receipt once payment has been made; submit using the form on Empyrean’s website and include the order reference number.
8. Only submissions received and paid for by 11:59 p.m. (MST) on 15 August 2022 will be considered. Entries that are not paid for, incomplete, are corrupted or submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
9. The entry must be the entrant’s own original creation and must not infringe upon the right or copyright of any person or entity.
10. Shortlisted entrants will be notified by email when they have made the list. Unsuccessful entrants will not be contacted.
11. A writer CANNOT win first place in back to back issues (i.e. issue four and issue five), but can enter to win second or third place or can win first place in alternate issues (i.e. issue four and issue six). This does not include participation in other Empyrean contests, so a writer could win first place in separate contests in separate issues (i.e. poetry in issue two and fiction in issue three).
12. The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the judging process.
13. Empyrean does accept simultaneous submissions, provided that you notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere. We also ask that, once you have acknowledged our acceptance, you withdraw the work from consideration elsewhere or forfeit the prize.
14. Empyrean will have the exclusive right to publish the winning and shortlisted stories for six months from first publication in The Empyrean Literary Magazine. After six months, the rights will revert to the author. Should the stories be published elsewhere, we ask that the appropriate credit is acknowledged in print that Empyrean published it first.

Only submissions which meet all Terms and Conditions will be considered.

By entering this competition, each entrant agrees to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

How to Enter

Entries cost $12 each. Up to 4 submissions will be accepted from a single writer. To enter, purchase a ‘Contest Entry Ticket’ from our online store. Then fill out the submission form and enter the order reference number (either the transaction ID and an invoice ID number works), along with your submission as a word.doc, in the form below. Only entries with valid order reference numbers will be considered.

The theme for this issue is Shame. The painful feeling of humiliation caused by the consciousness of  foolish behavior.
The unpleasant self-conscious emotion that may lead negative self-evaluation, a motivation to quit, or feelings of exposure, distrust, powerlessness, and worthlessness.

​Contest Entry Ticket

$12.00

Enter Now