Fiction Contest
Guidelines for the 2021 Autumn House Fiction Contest
For the 2021 contest, the Autumn House staff serves as the preliminary readers, and the final judge is Deesha Philyaw. The winner receives publication of a full-length manuscript and $2,500. The submission period opens January 15, 2021, and closes June 15, 2021 (Eastern Time).
- The winners will receive book publication, $1,000 advance against royalties, and a $1,500 travel/publicity grant to promote their book.
- All finalists will be considered for publication
- Fiction submissions should be approximately 200-300 double-spaced pages (50,000- 75,000 words)
- The reading fee for the Fiction Contest is $30
- All fiction sub-genres (short stories, short-shorts, novellas, or novels) or any combination of sub-genres are eligible
- Submission should be previously unpublished
- Please don’t include your name anywhere on the actual manuscript
- Include a brief bio in the “cover letter” section of Submittable
- Feel free to include a table of contents and acknowledgments page
- Simultaneous submissions permitted
If you have any questions, please check our FAQ page.
Winners of the Autumn House Fiction Prize
Year | Author | Title | Judge |
2020 | Kevin Honold | Molly | Dan Chaon |
2019 | Michael X. Wang | Further News of Defeat: Stories | Aimee Bender |
2018 | Hadley Moore | Not Dead Yet and Other Stories | Dana Johnson |
2017 | Glori Simmons | Carry You | Amina Gautier |
2016 | Andrew Bourelle | Heavy Metal | William Lychack |
2015 | Kathy Anderson | Bull and Other Stories | Sharon Dilworth |
2014 | Mark Brazaitis | Truth Poker | Sharon Dilworth |
2013 | Tom Noyes | Come by Here | Kathleen George |
2012 | Sarah Gerkensmeyer | What You Are Now Enjoying | Stewart O’Nan |
2011 | Sharma Shields | Favorite Monster | Stewart O’Nan |
2010 | Ashley Cowger | Peter Never Came | Sharon Dilworth |
2009 | Matthew Pitt | Attention Please Now | Sharon Dilworth |
2008 | Samuel Ligon | Drift and Swerve | Sharon Dilworth |