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SUBMIT

2025 Micro Prize

 

Judged by Steve Almond

Open from December 01 to February 01, 2026

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Fractured Lit has always been a place that celebrates small stories with big impacts. In the return of our Micro Prize, we want to honor stories of 400 words or fewer that tell a complete story and have us marveling at the depth of character and language. We’re looking for microfictions that demand more than one reading, invite us into their small containers, and awe us with the mysteries of being human.

We invite writers to submit to the Fractured Lit Micro Prize from December 01 to February 01, 2026.

We’re thrilled to partner with Guest Judge Steve Almond, who will choose three prize winners from a shortlist. We’re excited to offer the first-place winner $2,500 and publication, while the second- and third-place winners will receive publication and $600 and $400, respectively. All entries will be considered for publication.

    Judge: Steve Almond

    Here’s what Steve looks for in a microfiction:

     “I love stories that make me feel something, emotionally, that capture bursts of empathy, that peel back the defensive emotions and allow us to see the deeper, and more dangerous, emotions beneath: sorrow, loneliness, hope.”

    Steve Almond is the author of a dozen books, including the New York Times bestsellers Candyfreak and Against Football. His first novel, Which Brings Me to You (co-written with Julianna Baggott), is now a major motion picture. His second novel, All the Secrets of the World, is in development with 20th Century Fox Television. His latest book is Truth Is the Arrow, Mercy Is the Bow: A DIY Manual for the Construction of Stories.

    The deadline for entry is February 01, 2026. We will announce the shortlist within 12-14 weeks of the contest’s close. All writers will be notified when the results are final.

    Submission Guidelines
    • Your $20 reading fee allows up to three stories of 400 words or fewer each per entry—if submitting more than one microfiction, please put them all in a SINGLE document.
    • We allow multiple submissions—each set of three microfictions requires a separate submission accompanied by a reading fee.
    • Writers from historically marginalized groups will be able to submit for free until we reach our cap of 25 free submissions. No additional fee waivers will be granted.
    • Please send microfiction only—400 word count maximum per story.
    • We only consider unpublished work for contests—we do not review reprints, including self-published work (even on blogs and social media). Reprints will be automatically disqualified.
    • Simultaneous submissions are okay—please notify us and withdraw your entry if you find another home for your writing.
    • All entries will also be considered for publication in Fractured Lit.
    • Double-space your submission and use Times New Roman 12 (or larger if needed).
    • Please include a brief cover letter with your publication history (if applicable). In the cover letter, please include content warnings as well, to safeguard our reading staff.
    • We only read work in English, though some code-switching/meshing is warmly welcomed.
    • We do not read anonymous submissions. However, shortlisted stories are sent anonymously to the judge.
    • AI-generated or -assisted work will be automatically disqualified.

    The deadline for entry is February 01, 2026. We will announce the shortlist within 12-14 weeks of the contest’s close. All writers will be notified when the results are final.

    Some Submittable Hot Tips:

    • Please be sure to whitelist/add this address to your contacts, so notifications do not get filtered as spam/junk: notifications@email.submittable.com.
    • If you realize you sent the wrong version of your piece: It happens. Please DO NOT withdraw the piece and resubmit. Submittable collects a nonrefundable fee each time. Please DO message us from within the submission to request that we open the entry for editing, which will allow you to fix everything from typos in your cover letter to uploading a new draft. The only time we will not allow a change is if the piece is already under review by a reader.

    OPTIONAL EDITORIAL FEEDBACK:

    You may choose to receive editorial feedback on your piece. We will provide a two-page global letter discussing the strengths of the writing and the recommended focus for revision. Our aim is to make our comments actionable and encouraging. These letters are written by editors and staff readers of Fractured Lit. Should your story win, no feedback will be offered, and your fee will be refunded.