Love Contest

StoryQuarterly Contest Guidelines

The StoryQuarterly Love Story Contest is open to all writers. We’re looking for the heart of the story presented in fiction or nonfiction in the following categories: short stories, short short stories, novel excerpts, essays, memoirs, and excerpts from book-length nonfiction. Entries must be previously unpublished, no longer than 8,000 words, and must not have previously been chosen as a winner, finalist, or honorable mention in another contest.

The subject is love in any and all of its varieties and incarnations — familial, filial, romantic, erotic, platonic, the love of place, nature, animals, possessions, beauty, or truth, love that is intellectual, erotic, patriotic, real or imagined, fulfilled or denied, tragic or comedic. Tell us the truth about love!

Awards: First Prize is $2,500, Second Prize is $1,500, and Third Prize is $750. The prize winners will be announced in SQ online and will be eligible for inclusion in the 2008 StoryQuarterly Annual. Additionally, ten finalists will receive $100 each. We’ll announce finalists in the magazine as well.

There is a $20 fee for each entry. And with your entry, you’ll receive six months complimentary access to Narrative Backstage.

Entries will be accepted between between January 1 and March 31, 2008.

The contest will be judged by the editors of the magazine. Winners and finalists will be announced to the public by by April 30, 2008. All writers who enter will be notified by email of the judges’ decisions.

We accept online entries only. We do accept simultaneous submissions, but if your entry is accepted elsewhere, please let us know as soon as possible (and accept our congratulations!).

Entries should be formatted as follows: Double-spaced, with 12-point type, at least one-inch margins, and sequentially numbered pages. Please give the author’s name, address, telephone number, and email address at the top of the first page.


We will begin accepting entries on Jan. 1, 2008