The Emerging Writer’s Contest is open to writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry who have yet to publish or self-publish a book.
Award includes publication, $2,000, review from Aevitas Creative Management, and a 1-year subscription for one winner in each of the three genres.
Publication
The winning story, essay, and poems from the 2023 contest will be published in the Winter 2023-24 issue of Ploughshares.
Eligibility
You are eligible if you:
- Have yet to publish a book (including eBooks, translations, books in other languages/countries, self-published works, and poetry chapbooks with a print run of more than 300).
- Have no book forthcoming before April 15, 2024.
- Are not affiliated with Emerson College or with Ploughshares as a contributing author, volunteer screener, intern, student, staff member, or faculty member.
- Will not have a relationship with Emerson College before April 15, 2024 (example: if there is a chance you will attend the Emerson MFA program in the coming year or if your work has been accepted for publication for an upcoming issue).
Submitting
Winners will be announced in mid-September of 2023.