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Electric Literature

Emerging Writers Contest

For 17 years, Electric Literature has remained dedicated to uplifting emerging writers. Now, we’re furthering that mission by launching our very first Emerging Writers Contest, with categories in fiction and poetry!

One winner in each genre will receive $1,000, publication in either Recommended Reading (fiction) or The Commuter (poetry), and two weeks at the Writing Downtown residency program in Downtown Las Vegas, started by Plympton and the Writer’s Block bookstore. Second-place winners will receive $250, and third-place winners will receive $100. All fiction finalists will receive a review with feedback from a literary agent.

Submissions will open on July 1, 2026 via Submittable. See below for information on judges, eligibility, and submission guidelines.

2026 Contest Judges

Our 2026 contest judges are Alexander Chee for fiction and Danez Smith for poetry.

Alexander Chee, author of the novels Edinburgh and The Queen of the Night, is an award-winning novelist and essayist whose honors include a Whiting Award and a Guggenheim Fellowship.

Danez Smith, author of Don’t Call Us Dead and Homie, is an award-winning poet and performer widely recognized as one of the leading voices in contemporary poetry.

Eligibility

  • This contest is for emerging writers only. We define an emerging writer as anyone who has not published a full-length book with a major publisher. Authors who have published chapbooks, indie or university press books with a print run of under 500, or who have self-published are all eligible, provided the work submitted to the contest is original and unpublished.
  • The contest is open to both U.S. and international writers.
  • Current or past Electric Literature staff members, interns, or readers in any genre are not eligible to submit.
  • Friends, family, and close associates of the guest judges are not eligible to submit to that judge’s contest category.

If you have any questions about your eligibility, please email us at editors@electricliterature.com.

Submission Guidelines

Submissions will open from July 1, 2026 through 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on July 15, 2026 or until we reach our submission caps: 1,000 for fiction and 600 for poetry. All submissions will be considered for publication.

  • Fiction writers may submit one story between 2,000 and 10,000 words. Poets may submit up to three poems, totaling no more than 1,500 words.
  • Work will be judged anonymously. Please remove all identifying information from your manuscript.
  • All work must be original and unpublished. Work previously published in any form (including self-published) cannot be considered.
  • Translations are accepted, provided the work has not previously been published in the English language and that the translator has obtained proper permissions.
  • Multiple submissions are allowed. Each entry must be sent as a new submission, and an entry fee must be paid for each.
  • Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please let us know immediately if a submission is accepted elsewhere.
  • Files should be submitted as .doc or .docx.
  • Work that was created using generative AI is not permitted, with rare exception made for pieces that engage with the tool in an intentional, artistic, and transparent manner (e.g., “A conversation between Ethan Gilsdorf and ChatGPT”). Any use of AI in the creation of a piece must be disclosed in your submission.

Prizes

  • Winners in each category will receive $1,000, publication in Recommended Reading (fiction) or The Commuter (poetry), and two weeks at the Writing Downtown residency program in Downtown Las Vegas, started by Plympton and the Writer’s Block bookstore.
  • Second-place winners in each category will receive $250, and third-place winners will receive $100.
  • All fiction finalists will receive a review with feedback from a literary agent.
  • Winners will be announced in early 2027.

Thank you to our wonderful sponsors!