Annual Story Contest

The SFReader.com contest is an annual contest for writers of speculative fiction.

The story contest is NOT currently open to submissions

Make sure to read the guidelines below before you submit your story.

The Rules

No submission fee
Story length: 1,000 to 5,000 words firm
No reprints
SFReader will be purchasing first electronic rights only and one-time reprint rights
No simultaneous submissions
Multiple submissions are welcome, but please do not send multiple submissions in a single mailing
Email submissions ONLY! Send all stories to StoryContest@sfreader.com
Please email all stories as attachments in Rich Text Format (.rtf)
Make sure you include your name and email address on your story

Fiction guidelines

We’re interested in works that feature well-developed characters along with colorful settings and fast-moving plots. There are no restrictions on sub-genres, though all stories must be firmly within the realm of Speculative Fiction. Our interests include, but are not limited to: Hard Science Fiction, Soft Science Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Cyberpunk, Slipstream, and Alternate History, just to name a few.

The speculative element must be integral to the story.

Prizes

1st Place: $150.00 and publication on SFReader
2nd Place: $100.00 and publication on SFReader
3nd Place: $50.00 and publication on SFReader

Notification and Posting

Winners will be notified no later than March 1st. There will be no notifications sent to non-winners.

IF YOU AREN’T CONTACTED BY MARCH 1ST, YOU WEREN’T A WINNER IN THE CONTEST! PLEASE DON’T EMAIL ASKING IF YOU WON!

Goal time-line is for contracts to be completed, payments tendered, and the winning stories published on SFReader.com by the end of April.

Submitting

EMAIL SUBMISSIONS ONLY!
Contest Opens December 1st
Contest Closes Midnight (US Eastern Standard Time) December 31st
Email to StoryContest@sfreader.com
Submissions outside the submission window (1 December – 31 December) will be discarded!

Judging

All stories will be judged and the winners/honorable mentions (if any) selected by me, myself, and I, Dave Felts, SFReader.com’s owner and webmaster.

Odds ‘n’ Ends

Direct questions about the contest by email to me (Dave) at webmaster@sfreader.com.

Read previous contest winners!