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Writing / Contest
Writers of the Future - Q1 2027
Verified 13 Oct
No entry fee31 December 2026 · Pacific Standard Time
$1,000 / $750 / $500 quarterly prizes; first-place winners compete for an additional $5,000 annual prize.
One prose story per quarter. Rules specify short stories under 10,000 words or novelettes under 17,000 words; check the full eligibility and content limits.
Who can apply
New or amateur writers of original, unpublished English-language speculative fiction. Prior professional-publication limits apply.
Location
No country restriction stated in the reviewed rules; void where prohibited.
AI policy
AI-generated work, in whole or part, is prohibited.
Rights, deadlines & details to check
Rights: Authors retain story rights; anthology publication is discussed separately with winners.
Deadline: Entry page specifies 11:59 p.m. December 31, 2026 PST; general rules say midnight Pacific Time. This directory hides the call at the earlier 11:59 p.m. cutoff. Submit before the final evening and confirm the organizer cutoff.
Before you apply: Check your publication history against the professional-publication limits before preparing an entry.
Organizer: L. Ron Hubbard's Writers & Illustrators of the Future / Author Services, Inc. Checked: 2026-10-13T22:25:19.612312+00:00
No entry fee31 December 2026 · Pacific Standard Time
Three $500 quarterly prizes; quarterly winners compete for an additional $5,000 annual prize.
Submit three original, unpublished illustrations with different subjects. Read the exact image size, resolution and file requirements.
Who can apply
New and amateur speculative-fiction illustrators; professional-publication and payment limits apply.
Location
All nations; written communication in English is required.
AI policy
Generative AI is prohibited. Entrants must own copyright in every individual asset used.
Rights, deadlines & details to check
Rights: Entrants retain copyright. Entry permits promotional use of names, photographs and illustrations; quarterly winners receive a further story-illustration assignment for the annual prize.
Deadline: Entry page specifies 11:59 p.m. December 31, 2026 PST; general rules say midnight Pacific Time. This directory hides the call at the earlier 11:59 p.m. cutoff. Submit before the final evening and confirm the organizer cutoff.
Before you apply: The amateur-status wording is restrictive; ask the organizer if you have previously been paid for artwork. Public-domain stock does not meet a requirement to own copyright in all assets.
Organizer: L. Ron Hubbard's Writers & Illustrators of the Future / Author Services, Inc. Checked: 2026-10-13T22:25:19.612312+00:00
$100 for accepted flash pieces of 1,000 words or fewer; $200 for accepted longer pieces.
Unpublished fiction or narrative nonfiction under 7,000 words. Up to three flash stories may be combined in one document.
Who can apply
Emerging writers without a single-author novel-length work published or under contract with a major press. Indie-press and self-published authors are welcome.
Location
No country restriction stated on the reviewed category page.
AI policy
AI-generated work and submissions utilizing AI tools are automatically declined.
Rights, deadlines & details to check
Rights: The reviewed category does not state full publication-contract terms; review them before accepting an offer.
Deadline: The reviewed category states year-round; confirm it remains available before submitting.
Before you apply: Choose New Voices - Free. Optional editorial feedback and separate contests may charge fees; they are not required for this category.
Organizer: The Masters Review Checked: 2026-10-13T22:25:19.612312+00:00
No purchase necessary29–30 November 2026 · check the time zone
One $1,000 prize, paid by mailed check, and publication on the organizer's blog.
Any genre or theme. Submission is through the organizer's form; paid editing is advertised but is not required.
Who can apply
Age 18 or older. English-language original unpublished fiction or nonfiction, 5,000 words or fewer. One entry per person; employee and family exclusions apply.
Location
Country is requested on the form; no country restriction stated in the reviewed terms. Void where prohibited.
AI policy
Not stated in the reviewed terms; do not assume AI-assisted work is eligible.
Rights, deadlines & details to check
Rights: Winner keeps copyright but must allow first online publication and a permanent post on the organizer's blog.
Deadline: The organizer displays 30 November in Eastern Standard Time but 29 November in Mountain Standard Time, without a visible hour. Submit before 29 November and confirm the exact cutoff with the organizer. This directory hides the listing for a recheck from 29 November UTC; that is a precaution, not an official closing time.
Before you apply: Winner must supply a headshot and return eligibility, liability and publicity documents within 10 days. Confirm you can receive the mailed prize check.
Organizer: editing.services (ServiceScape award page redirects here) Checked: 2026-10-13T22:25:19.612312+00:00
This is an independent, AI-assisted directory, not an organizer or an application service. Every listing links to its source and rules. “Free” applies to the entry or submission route shown; optional services and other competitions may charge. Payment is conditional on winning or acceptance.
Checks older than seven days and passed deadlines are hidden by default when this page runs. A dated download does not update itself. Organizer rules and availability can change; read them before applying. No listing guarantees that you or your work qualify.
Most calls here prohibit AI-generated submissions. The Oddity Engine and Archive Studio assets are creative products; their availability does not make them eligible for these calls.
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