Annual Short Story Contest
Story Unlikely
- Length
- Up to 5,000 words
- Pay
- Not stated
- Fee
- No fee
- Simultaneous
- Not allowed
- Reprints
- Original only
What they accept
Story Unlikely's annual short story contest runs November 1, 2026 to January 14, 2027, free to enter, for previously unpublished stories of up to 5,000 words in any genre, fiction or nonfiction. A $4,000 prize package pays $2,500 for first place, $1,000 for second, and $500 for third; winning stories are published in the monthly issue and the annual print anthology with professional illustrations. Entries must be anonymized and may not be submitted elsewhere until winners are notified by May 31, 2027, and entrants must subscribe to the magazine's free monthly issue to be eligible.
- Resubmissions
- Allowed
- Anonymous reading
- Remove your name from the manuscript
- AI policy
- Story Unlikely does not accept AI material; AI may be used only to check spelling or grammar.
More like this
| Publication | Length | Pay | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRAFT Also flash-friendly (under 1,500 words) | 1,000 to 5,000 words | Not stated | Closes in 10 days |
| Andromeda Spaceways Magazine Also flash-friendly (under 1,500 words) | Up to 10,000 words | 0.01 AUD per word | No closing date |
| Bayou Magazine Also flash-friendly (under 1,500 words) | Up to 7,500 words | 150 USD flat | Closes 15 Dec 2026 |
| Beloit Fiction Journal Also flash-friendly (under 1,500 words) | Up to 10,000 words | Not stated | Closes in 11 days |
| The Black Fork Review Also flash-friendly (under 1,500 words) | Up to 2,000 words | Not stated | Closes 30 Nov 2026 |
| CutBank Also flash-friendly (under 1,500 words) | Up to 8,500 words | 50 USD flat | Closes 1 Feb 2027 |