An online and in print publication celebrating new and emerging writers. We are on the lookout for the best new talent with hopes of publishing stories from writers who will continue to produce great work.

Founded by Kim Winternheimer in 2011, The Masters Review is an online and in print publication celebrating new and emerging writers. 

We are on the lookout for the best new talent with hopes of publishing stories from writers who will continue to produce great work. 

We offer critical essays, book reviews by debut authors, contest deadlines, submissions info, and interviews with established authors, all with the hopes of bridging the gap between new and established writers.

The top nonfiction lit mags in our database, ranked by how many users have bookmarked them.

The Ultimate List of Places to Submit Your Nonfiction

Digital publications chosen for Best of the Net. These journals demonstrate consistent excellence in identifying digital fiction that deserves wider recognition and readership.

Fiction Magazines Featured in Best of the Net Anthologies

Online publications putting forward exceptional short stories for Best of the Net.

Fiction Magazines That Nominate for Best of the Net

A targeted resource for short story placements with potential for Pushcart recognition.

Fiction Magazines That Nominate for the Pushcart Prize

Specialized publications that recognize exceptional brief fiction through Pushcart nominations.

Digital publications advancing very short fiction for Best of the Net consideration.

Flash Fiction Magazines That Nominate for Best of the Net

Publications with ultra-short stories under 400 words selected for this anthology series. The definitive collection for the microfiction form.

Lit Mags Featured in Best Microfiction Anthologies

Digital publications with work selected for inclusion across genres. These journals consistently publish online work of exceptional quality that stands out in the digital literary landscape.

Lit Mags Featured in Best of the Net Anthologies

Publications with narratives under 1,000 words selected for this anthology series. These journals consistently identify short-short fiction, exemplifying the artistry possible in compact narratives.

Lit Mags Featured in Best Small Fictions Anthologies

Best Microfiction, edited by Meg Pokrass and Gary Fincke, celebrates the art of the extremely brief narrative. These publications have editorial teams with particular sensitivity to the craft.

Literary Magazines That Nominate for Best Microfiction

A curated selection of publications that regularly submit work to this prestigious annual anthology showcasing 50 poems from emerging writers.

Literary Magazines That Nominate for Best New Poets

Identifies publications that put forward outstanding online work for this respected digital anthology established in 2006.

Literary Magazines That Nominate for Best of the Net

Publications that nominate work for this respected anthology series founded in 2015 by Tara Masih to celebrate fiction under 1,000 words.

Literary Magazines That Nominate for Best Small Fictions

A comprehensive guide to journals that regularly nominate work for the Pushcart Prize.

Literary Magazines That Nominate for the Pushcart Prize

All-time most competitive literary magazines. Getting published in these is a significant achievement for any writer.

Most Competitive Literary Magazines of All Time

Explore the most popular literary magazines of all time. These long-established publications are a staple in the literary world for writers of all genres.

Most Popular Literary Magazines of All Time

Digital publications chosen for Best of the Net. These journals consistently publish digital essays and memoirs that exemplify the best of what's possible in online creative nonfiction.

Nonfiction Magazines Featured in Best of the Net Anthologies

Digital publications nominating outstanding essays and creative nonfiction for Best of the Net.

Nonfiction Magazines That Nominate for Best of the Net

Highlights publications that regularly put forward essays, memoirs, and other creative nonfiction for Pushcart consideration.

Nonfiction Magazines That Nominate for the Pushcart Prize

The Masters Review

We welcome submissions of previously unpublished fiction or creative nonfiction up to 6,000 words.

Masters Review Short Story Award for New Writers

General call

Submitted manuscripts must be between 25 to 45 double-spaced pages, at 12-point font

Master's Review Chapbook Open

We will welcome submissions of previously unpublished fiction up to 6,000 words.

Master's Review Debut Fiction Prize

The Masters Review Prize for New Narratives 2026
Note: This submission category is for marginalized or historically underrepresented writers ONLY. 
For writers who challenge convention, The Masters Review Prize for New Narratives is calling. With this contest, The Masters Review will celebrate stories up to 6,000 words that push boundaries and subvert expectations, that experiment with form, voice, and point-of-view, that demonstrate an innovative approach to storytelling. We are not looking for the traditional or the conventional. Instead, we want to read your metafiction, your fragmented narratives, your stories in second person, your nonlinear essays. The Masters Review Prize for New Narratives will make space for unconventional narratives that may not find a home in other journals. Whatever your story, we want to see it in its most daring and authentic form. 
Three finalists will be chosen by Charles Yu, author of Interior Chinatown, winner of the National Book Award for Fiction. The grand-prize winner will earn a $3,000 prize along with publication and a two-year subscription to Duotrope. Second- and third-place finalists will receive $300 and $200 respectively, along with publication.
This award is open for submissions from February 2 to March 31, 2026.
"I'm looking for surprise, which can come from any style, subject or genre. I'm looking for the pleasure unique to short fiction—whether it's a work of meticulously fine-grained realism or conceptually wild experimentalism, or anything in between or beyond. I'm listening for voice, hoping to stumble into a sentence that stops me, compels me to read it again. Compels me to read the next one. I'm eager for stories in new, unexpected forms, or in old, familiar forms made new again. I love when form is intrinsic to substance, when the interplay between the two feels vital and necessary. And finally, I'm looking for the thing I don't realize I need yet—until someone comes along and brings it into the world."
- Guest Judge Charles Yu
Need inspiration? Look no further:
“Problems for Self Study” by Charles Yu (Harvard Review)
“Especially Heinous: 242 Views of Law & Order SVU” by Carmen Maria Machado (The American Reader)
“Calculus BC: Final Exam” by Abigail Hodge (The Masters Review)
“The Semplica-Girl Diaries” by George Saunders (The New Yorker)
“A Rogue Planet” by Thomas Pierce (The Masters Review)
“Lust” by Susan Minot (Narrative)
“July 2015: A Compendium” by Daniel Garcia (The Masters Review)
 
Submission Guidelines:

  The first-place winner receives $3,000, online publication, and a two-year subscription to Duotrope.
  The second- and third-place finalists receive cash prizes ($300/$200) and online publication.
  Submissions of fiction or creative nonfiction must be under 6,000 words.
  While we’re open to hybrid work, The Masters Review is not a journal for poetry. Traditional, lineated poetry will not be considered.
  Images may be included with your submission, provided you are either the composer or have secured the necessary permissions. 
  Submitted work must be previously unpublished. This includes personal blogs, social media accounts, and other websites. Previously published work will be automatically disqualified.
  Writers from historically marginalized or underrepresented groups are invited to submit for free until we reach fifty submissions in this category. No additional fee waivers will be granted.
  If your submission is accepted elsewhere, please withdraw your submission on Submittable, or contact us otherwise to let us know the piece is no longer available.
  We do not require anonymous submissions for this contest, but the guest judge will read the shortlist anonymously. 
  This contest is for emerging writers only. Writers with single-author book-length work published or under contract with a major press are ineligible. We are interested in providing a platform to new writers; authors with books published by indie presses are welcome to submit unpublished work, as are self-published authors.
  International submissions are allowed, provided the work is written primarily in English.
  No translations, please.
  All submissions must be double-spaced with one-inch page margins and use 12pt Times New Roman or Garamond font (unless doing so impacts the form of your submission). 
  The contest’s deadline is 11:59pm PDT on March 31, 2026.
  All entries are also considered for publication in New Voices.
  Every submission will receive a response by the end of July 2026. The winners will be announced in September 2026. 
  AI-generated or -assisted submissions will be automatically disqualified.
  Friends, family, and associates of the guest judge are not eligible for this award. 

About the Judge
Charles Yu is the author of four books, including Interior Chinatown which won the National Book Award for fiction and was a finalist for Le Prix Médicis étranger. He has also received the National Book Foundation’s 5 Under 35 Award and been nominated for the Humanitas Prize. His fiction and nonfiction have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Wired, among other publications. Together with TaiwaneseAmerican.org, he established the Betty L. Yu and Jin C. Yu Writing Prizes, in honor of his parents.

The Masters Review Prize for New Narratives 2026 — Judged by Charles Yu | $3,000 Prize (Free for Marginalized or Historically Underrepresented Writers) - Fiction

The Masters Review Prize for New Narratives 2026 — Judged by Charles Yu | $3,000 Prize (Free for Marginalized or Historically Underrepresented Writers) - Nonfiction

Our New Voices category is open year round to any new or emerging author. Writers with single-author novel-length work published or under contract with a major press are ineligible. We accept simultaneous and multiple submissions but ask that you inform us immediately if your story is accepted elsewhere. 
The Masters Review pays a flat rate of $100 for flash-length stories (1,000 words or fewer) and $200 for longer stories (up to 7,000 words). We are thrilled to be paying for published pieces but will be highly selective in our choices for publication.
Guidelines
 

  This category is for emerging writers only. Writers with single-author novel-length work published or under contract with a major press are ineligible. We are interested in providing a platform to new writers; authors with books published by indie presses are welcome to submit unpublished work, as are self-published authors.
  We accept fiction and narrative non-fiction. We do accept a variety of genres and styles; our only requirement is that you show excellence in your craft. We want to be wowed. Bend genres, experiment with structure, and write your heart out. But please, send us polished work. Our aim is to showcase writers who we believe will continue to produce great work. Send us only your best.
  We accept simultaneous submissions but please notify us if your work is picked up elsewhere.
  All submissions must be under 7,000 words.
  If you're submitting flash, feel free to include up to three stories in a single document.
  We do accept multiple submissions.
  We cannot consider work that has been previously published in any form. This includes personal blogs.
  Please include a brief cover letter with your publication history and a short bio.
  We aim to respond to all submissions within twelve weeks. Please do not email before twelve weeks have passed. 
  For submissions that request an editorial letter, a significant portion of the editorial letter fees go to our feedback editor.
   We do not consider or review AI-generated work. Submissions utilizing AI tools will be automatically declined.

We don’t have any preferences topically or in terms of style. We’re simply looking for the best. We don’t define, nor are we interested in, stories identified by their genre. We do, however, consider ourselves a publication that focuses on literary fiction. Dazzle us, take chances, and be bold. Thanks for supporting our publication, and thank you for your work.

New Voices - Free

The Masters Review is now accepting submissions of completed book reviews, interviews, and craft essays for publication on our blog. Please do not send pitches or queries to this category. Submissions must be previously unpublished. We do not consider reprints. At the moment, we are unable to pay for book reviews or interviews, but we can pay $50 for craft essays. If you have a pitch or query, please contact us at contact [at] mastersreview [dot] com.
Genre Guidelines
Book Reviews

  Book Reviews must be of books scheduled for a 2025 or later release. We recommend submitting your review at least one month before the scheduled publication date. Earlier is better.
  Book Reviews should be between 700-1,200 words.
  Include in your review at least one sentence that conveys your overall stance on the book and embolden it. (e.g., "The Survivalists by Kashana Cauley ruthlessly interrogates what it means to be successful as a Black woman, a Millennial, and a liberal living in an urban center.") 
  Our primary interest are debut authors and indie presses. Occasionally, we will consider and publish reviews from major presses or of notable authors.
  Rarely, we will consider a review for a book with a past release date, but it must have been published within four months. If you have questions about this policy, please contact us at contact [at] mastersreview [dot] com.

Interviews

  We are interested in interviews with authors, editors, agents, or other industry professionals, with a particular focus on recent publications or activity. Our mission is to bridge the gap between new and established writers, so any insight into the profession of writing is valuable (e.g., this interview with agent Miriam Atlshuler).
  Interviews should be between 1,200-2,500 words.
  Please include a bio of both the interviewee and the interviewer with your submission, as well as an introduction to the interview.

Craft Essays

  Craft Essays should focus on a particular aspect of the craft of writing fiction or nonfiction.
  Please do not send craft essays about poetry.
  We are especially interested in craft essays which examine the craft of a particular story. Please see our Stories That Teach and From the Archive series on the blog for examples.
  Craft Essays should be between 1,200-2,500 words.

The Masters Review Blog - Book Reviews

The Masters Review is committed to providing a platform to diverse, emerging voices. We are now offering an expedited reading category explicitly for marginalized or underrepresented writers. Submitters to this category may choose to receive either a response in two weeks or fewer; or a few sentences of feedback, if declined. 
Although our aim is speedy responses, we can occasionally be backed up by the demand in this category. We prioritize close reading and valuable feedback over quick responses, but if you've requested feedback and your piece is still pending after six weeks, please gently nudge us at contact [at] mastersreview.com for an update. 
All submissions are considered for publication on our website under New Voices, and our regular New Voices guidelines apply (see below). The Masters Review pays a flat rate of $100 flash-length submissions (1,000 words or fewer) and $200 for longer works (up to 7,000 words).
Please see the guidelines below, or contact us at contact [at] mastersreview.com with any questions. This form is for marginalized or underrepresented writers only. If you'd like to submit work with an expedited response time and do not identify as BIPOC or as a writer from another demographic who has been historically mis- or underrepresented in publishing, you may do so here with a $9.99 fee. 
Black Lives Matter. Black Voices Matter. 
With love,
 Cole, Brandon, Jen and the entire Masters Review team.   
Guidelines

  This form is for BIPOC and historically marginalized writers only.
  New Voices submissions are for emerging writers. Writers with single-author novel-length work published or under contract with a major press are ineligible. We are interested in providing a platform to new writers; authors with books published by indie presses are welcome to submit unpublished work, as are self-published authors.
  We accept fiction and narrative non-fiction. We do accept a variety of genres and styles, our only requirement is that you show excellence in your craft. We want to be wowed. Bend genres, experiment with structure, and write your heart out. But please, send us polished work. Our aim is to showcase writers who we believe will continue to produce great work. Send us only your best.
  We accept simultaneous submissions but please notify us if your work is picked up elsewhere.
  All submissions must be under 7,000 words.
  If you're submitting flash, feel free to include up to three stories in a single document.
  Please, only one active submission at a time. 
  Please include a brief cover letter with your publication history and a short bio.
  Do not submit work to this category if you do not identify as BIPOC or as a writer from another demographic who has been historically mis- or underrepresented in publishing.
   We do not consider or review AI-generated work. Submissions utilizing AI tools will be automatically declined.   

We don’t have any preferences topically or in terms of style. We’re simply looking for the best. We don’t define, nor are we interested in, stories identified by their genre. We do, however, consider ourselves a publication that focuses on literary fiction. Dazzle us, take chances, and be bold. Thanks for supporting our publication, and thank you for your work.

New Voices Fast Response or Feedback - for BIPOC and Historically Underrepresented Writers

The Masters Review Prize for New Narratives 2026
For writers who challenge convention, The Masters Review Prize for New Narratives is calling. With this contest, The Masters Review will celebrate stories up to 6,000 words that push boundaries and subvert expectations, that experiment with form, voice, and point-of-view, that demonstrate an innovative approach to storytelling. We are not looking for the traditional or the conventional. Instead, we want to read your metafiction, your fragmented narratives, your stories in second person, your nonlinear essays. The Masters Review Prize for New Narratives will make space for unconventional narratives that may not find a home in other journals. Whatever your story, we want to see it in its most daring and authentic form. 
Three finalists will be chosen by Charles Yu, author of Interior Chinatown, winner of the National Book Award for Fiction. The grand-prize winner will earn a $3,000 prize along with publication and a two-year subscription to Duotrope. Second- and third-place finalists will receive $300 and $200 respectively, along with publication.
This award is open for submissions from February 2 to March 31, 2026.
"I'm looking for surprise, which can come from any style, subject or genre. I'm looking for the pleasure unique to short fiction—whether it's a work of meticulously fine-grained realism or conceptually wild experimentalism, or anything in between or beyond. I'm listening for voice, hoping to stumble into a sentence that stops me, compels me to read it again. Compels me to read the next one. I'm eager for stories in new, unexpected forms, or in old, familiar forms made new again. I love when form is intrinsic to substance, when the interplay between the two feels vital and necessary. And finally, I'm looking for the thing I don't realize I need yet—until someone comes along and brings it into the world."
- Guest Judge Charles Yu
Need inspiration? Look no further:
“Problems for Self Study” by Charles Yu (Harvard Review)
“Especially Heinous: 242 Views of Law & Order SVU” by Carmen Maria Machado (The American Reader)
“Calculus BC: Final Exam” by Abigail Hodge (The Masters Review)
“The Semplica-Girl Diaries” by George Saunders (The New Yorker)
“A Rogue Planet” by Thomas Pierce (The Masters Review)
“Lust” by Susan Minot (Narrative)
“July 2015: A Compendium” by Daniel Garcia (The Masters Review)
 
Submission Guidelines:

  The first-place winner receives $3,000, online publication, and a two-year subscription to Duotrope.
  The second- and third-place finalists receive cash prizes ($300/$200) and online publication.
  Submissions of fiction or creative nonfiction must be under 6,000 words.
  While we’re open to hybrid work, The Masters Review is not a journal for poetry. Traditional, lineated poetry will not be considered.
  Images may be included with your submission, provided you are either the composer or have secured the necessary permissions. 
  Submitted work must be previously unpublished. This includes personal blogs, social media accounts, and other websites. Previously published work will be automatically disqualified.
  The entry fee is $20.
  Simultaneous and multiple submissions are allowed, though each submission requires a $20 entry fee. 
  Writers from historically marginalized or underrepresented groups are invited to submit for free until we reach fifty submissions in this category. No additional fee waivers will be granted.
  If your submission is accepted elsewhere, please withdraw your submission on Submittable, or contact us otherwise to let us know the piece is no longer available.
  We do not require anonymous submissions for this contest, but the guest judge will read the shortlist anonymously. 
  This contest is for emerging writers only. Writers with single-author book-length work published or under contract with a major press are ineligible. We are interested in providing a platform to new writers; authors with books published by indie presses are welcome to submit unpublished work, as are self-published authors.
  International submissions are allowed, provided the work is written primarily in English.
  No translations, please.
  All submissions must be double-spaced with one-inch page margins and use 12pt Times New Roman or Garamond font (unless doing so impacts the form of your submission). 
  The contest’s deadline is 11:59pm PDT on March 31, 2026.
  All entries are also considered for publication in New Voices.
  Every submission will receive a response by the end of July 2026. The winners will be announced in September 2026. 
  AI-generated or -assisted submissions will be automatically disqualified.
  Friends, family, and associates of the guest judge are not eligible for this award. 

About the Judge
Charles Yu is the author of four books, including Interior Chinatown which won the National Book Award for fiction and was a finalist for Le Prix Médicis étranger. He has also received the National Book Foundation’s 5 Under 35 Award and been nominated for the Humanitas Prize. His fiction and nonfiction have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Wired, among other publications. Together with TaiwaneseAmerican.org, he established the Betty L. Yu and Jin C. Yu Writing Prizes, in honor of his parents.
 
Editorial Letter Option
If you’re interested in getting feedback on your writing, utilize our editorial letter add-on option. Our response to your submission will be accompanied by a one- to two-page letter from an experienced guest editor, who will offer observations on the strengths of the piece as well as opportunities for revision. Your editor may also offer further submission and reading suggestions, or other comments on craft. A significant portion of the additional fee is paid directly to your feedback editor. See a sample editorial letter.

The Masters Review Prize for New Narratives 2026 — Judged by Charles Yu | $3,000 Prize - Fiction

The Masters Review Prize for New Narratives 2026 — Judged by Charles Yu | $3,000 Prize - Nonfiction

The Masters Review Blog - Interviews

The Masters Review Blog - Craft Essays

Submissions of fiction or creative nonfiction must be under 8,000 words.
Submitted work must be previously unpublished, which includes publication on personal blogs, social media accounts, and other websites. Previously published work will be automatically disqualified.
Writers from historically marginalized or underrepresented groups are invited to submit  for free until we reach fifty submissions in this category.
If your submission is accepted elsewhere, please withdraw your submission on Submittable, or contact us otherwise to let us know the piece is no longer available.
We do not require anonymous submissions for this contest, though the guest judge will review the shortlist anonymously.
This contest is for emerging writers only. Writers with single-author book-length work published or under contract with a major press are ineligible. We are interested in providing a platform to new writers; authors with books published by indie presses are welcome to submit unpublished work, as are self-published authors.
International submissions are allowed, provided the work is written primarily in English.
No translations, please. 
All submissions must be double-spaced with one-inch page margins and use 12pt Times New Roman or Garamond font. 


This contest is for emerging writers only. Writers with single-author book-length work published or under contract with a major press are ineligible. We are interested in providing a platform to new writers; authors with books published by indie presses are welcome to submit unpublished work, as are self-published authors.

Best Emerging Writers

For two weeks this June, The Masters Review is open for submissions of your previously published work! The 2026 Reprint Prize—now in its fourth year—will be open for submissions of previously published prose (under 6,000 words) from June 15 to June 30, 2026. Any fiction or creative nonfiction published prior to June 1, 2025, is eligible. We want to celebrate (or re-celebrate) stories and essays that are no longer available online or in print, or that are looking for an opportunity to find a new audience. As always, we set no limitations on style or topic, but our primary interest is in literary prose. The winner of this prize, selected by The Masters Review’s editorial staff, will receive a $500 prize and online publication.
If you’re interested in getting feedback on your writing, utilize our editorial letter add-on option. Our response to your submission will be accompanied by a one- to two-page letter from an experienced guest editor, who will offer observations on the strengths of the piece as well as opportunities for revision. Your editor may also offer further submission and reading suggestions, or other comments on craft. A significant portion of the additional fee is paid directly to your feedback editor. See a sample editorial letter.

The Reprint Prize - Fiction

The Reprint Prize - Nonfiction

Summer has always been for short stories. For over ten years, our Short Story Award has connected emerging writers with some of the industry’s top literary agents. We’re looking for standout stories—fiction or narrative nonfiction, up to 6,000 words—in a voice that is unmistakably yours. This year’s guest judge is Whiting Award winner Weike Wang, author of Chemistry, the forthcoming Iris, and more.
Our contest runs from July 1 to August 30, 2026, and is open to any writer who has not published a novel or memoir with a major press. The first-place winner of this contest, selected by our guest judge, will receive a $3,000 grand prize, along with online publication. Second- and third-place finalists will receive $300 and $200 respectively, along with online publication.
All finalists will receive agency review from our six partnered agencies. Participating agents include Nat Sobel from Sobel Weber, Victoria Cappello from The Bent Agency, Andrea Morrison from Writers House, Sarah Fuentes from United Talent Agency, Heather Schroder from Compass Talent, and Marin Takikawa from The Friedrich Agency. Past winners include Nick Fuller Googins, Sanjena Sathian, Nana Nkweti, Reena Shah, and more, several of whom earned representation from one of our partnered agents as a result of this contest.
Additionally, every submitter will receive a free three-month trial from our partners at Literistic. Literistic helps writers find, filter, and track submission opportunities without getting overwhelmed by endless lists of deadlines. Each month, the Literistic team curates a focused list of worthwhile contests, publications, residencies, fellowships, and other opportunities, while the new Literistic portal will let you search and personalize results based on your genre and goals. Write more, search less.
The first-place winner receives $3,000, online publication, and agency review.
The second- and third-place finalists receive cash prizes ($300/$200), online publication, and agency review.
Submissions of fiction or creative nonfiction must be under 6,000 words.
Submitted work must be previously unpublished. This includes personal blogs, social media accounts, and other websites. Previously published work will be automatically disqualified.
The entry fee is $20.
Simultaneous and multiple submissions are allowed, though each submission requires a $20 entry fee.
Writers from historically marginalized or underrepresented groups are invited to submit for free until we reach fifty submissions in this category. No additional fee waivers will be granted.
If your submission is accepted elsewhere, please withdraw your submission on Submittable, or contact us otherwise to let us know the piece is no longer available.
We do not require anonymous submissions for this contest, but the guest judge will read the shortlist anonymously.
This contest is for emerging writers only. Writers with single-author book-length work published or under contract with a major press are ineligible. We are interested in providing a platform to new writers; authors with books published by indie presses are welcome to submit unpublished work, as are self-published authors.
International submissions are allowed, provided the work is written primarily in English.
No translations, please.
All submissions must be double-spaced with one-inch page margins and use 12pt Times New Roman or Garamond font.
The contest’s deadline is 11:59pm PDT on August 30, 2026.
All entries are also considered for publication in New Voices.
Every submission will receive a response by the end of December 2026. The winners will be announced by the end of January 2027.
AI-generated or -assisted submissions will be automatically disqualified. This includes using LLMs (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or similar) to translate your work.
Friends, family, and close associates of the guest judge are not eligible for this award. Consider submitting to the summer contest instead!
Weike Wang is the author of four novels, the most forthcoming Iris (Riverhead 2027). She is the recipient of a PEN/Hemingway, a Whiting Award, and is a National Book Foundation 5 under 35 honoree. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Harper’s Magazine, Best American Short Stories and has won two O. Henry Prizes. She earned her MFA from Boston University and her other degrees from Harvard. She currently lives in New York City and teaches at the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Barnard College, and Boston University. Weike is not on social media.
If you’re interested in getting feedback on your writing, utilize our editorial letter add-on option. Our response to your submission will be accompanied by a one- to two-page letter from an experienced guest editor, who will offer observations on the strengths of the piece as well as opportunities for revision. Your editor may also offer further submission and reading suggestions, or other comments on craft. A significant portion of the additional fee is paid directly to your feedback editor. See a sample editorial letter.
2024 Winter First Place Angie Ellis’s first novel, A Snake and a Feathered Bird, was published in 2025 by Thistledown Press. Her prize-winning story, “The Sisters,” was selected for Best of the Net 2026!
2023 Summer Third Place Catherine Julia Carberry was awarded the 2023 James Jones First Novel Fellowship!
2022 Summer Honorable Mention Lyndsie Manusos’s debut novella from Psychopomp was released September 2024!
2021 Winter Second Place Reena Shah’s debut novel was published in 2026 by Bloomsbury!
2021 Summer Honorable Mention Jennifer Galvão’s debut novel is forthcoming from Random House in 2027!
2019 Winter Honorable Mention Chloe Chun Seim’s debut novel-in-stories came out in November 2023!
2019 Summer Second Place Karisa Tell’s debut novel Hello, World! is forthcoming from Putnam!
2018 Winter First Place Joe Bond’s first novel, Hope House, developed from his winning story, was published in 2026 by Hub City Press!
2018 Winter Third Place Sanjena Sathian’s second novel, Goddess Complex, released in 2025 through Penguin Press!
2018 Summer First Place Alina Grabowski is the 2025-2026 James C. McCreight Fiction Fellow at the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing!
2018 Summer Second Place Rachel Cochran’s debut novel The Gulf was published by Harper in 2023!
2017 Winter First Place Nick Fuller Googins’s second novel, The Frequency of Living Things, was published in 2025 by Atria Books!
2017 Summer Third Place Sheldon Costa’s debut novel was published by Quirk Books in fall 2025!
2017 Winter Second Place Katie M. Flynn released a new short story collection, Island Rule, in 2024!
2016 Winter First Place Scott Gloden’s The Great American Everything was published by Hub City Press in 2023!
2016 Summer 2nd Place Claire Boyles’s debut novel is forthcoming from W.W. Norton in 2026!
2016 Summer 3rd Place Molly Reid published a short story collection, including her TMR prize-winning story, with BOA Editions in 2019. Her collection was longlisted for the Story Prize!
2015 Summer First Place Tom Howard’s first collection, Fierce Pretty Things, won the 2018 Blue Lights Book Prize, and his second collection, Invilibilia, was published in 2026!

Summer Short Story Award for New Writers

The Novel Excerpt Contest quickly became one of our favorite contests, so of course it’s returning for the sixth consecutive year. Writing a novel is tough work, and we want to encourage everyone who’s undertaking this arduous journey to share their most exciting excerpts. We’re looking for resonant narratives, memorable characters, a voice that’s uniquely yours. We’re looking for excerpts that stand alone, that do not require a synopsis for understanding. Most importantly, we’re looking for excerpts that grab us from the get-go and refuse to let go. As always, we have no limitations on genre, though we are primarily interested in literary fiction. Submissions for the Novel Excerpt Contest will open on September 1 and close on November 8, 2026.
This year’s guest judge: Chinelo Okparanta, author of Under the Udala Tree, the forthcoming This Impossible Life, and more! Okparanta will select three finalists from a shortlist provided by The Masters Review’s editorial staff. The winning excerpt will be awarded $3,000; online publication; and an hour-long consultation with Marin Takikawa, a literary agent with The Friedrich Agency. Second- and third-place excerpts will be awarded online publication and $300 and $200 respectively, in addition to written feedback from Takikawa.
Guidelines:
The winner receives $3,000; online publication; and a consultation with Marin Takikawa, a literary agent with The Friedrich Agency.
The second- and third-place finalists receive cash prizes ($300/$200), online publication, and agent feedback.
Submitted excerpts must be under 6,000 words.
Submitted work must be previously unpublished. This includes personal blogs, social media accounts, and other websites. Previously published excerpts will be automatically disqualified.
Simultaneous and multiple submissions are allowed, though each submission requires a $20 entry fee.
Writers from historically marginalized or underrepresented groups are invited to submit for free until we reach fifty submissions in this category.
If your excerpt is accepted or contracted elsewhere, please withdraw your submission on Submittable, or contact us otherwise to let us know the piece is no longer available.
We do not require anonymous submissions for this contest, but the judge will review the shortlist anonymously.
This contest is for emerging writers only. Writers with single-author book-length work published or under contract with a major press are ineligible. We are interested in providing a platform to new writers; authors with books published by indie presses are welcome to submit unpublished work, as are self-published authors.
International submissions are allowed, provided the work is written primarily in English.
No translations, please.
All submissions must be double-spaced with one-inch page margins and use 12pt Times New Roman or Garamond font.
Excerpts from novels under contract for 2026 or 2027 are ineligible, but novels under contract from 2028 and beyond are eligible.
The contest’s deadline is 11:59pm PST on Sunday, November 8, 2026.
All entries are also considered for publication in New Voices.
Every submission will receive a response by the end of March 2027. The winners will be announced in May 2027.
AI-generated or -assisted submissions will be automatically disqualified.
Friends, family, and associates of the guest judge are not eligible for this award, nor are past winners of the Novel Excerpt Contest.
FAQ
Q: Does it have to have a beginning, middle, and end?
We want an excerpt that stands well on its own, that makes us want to read the full book. We want a sense of conclusion from the excerpt, but we also know that we’re only reading part of a novel and don’t expect all threads to be resolved. You can read last year’s winners at the links below for an example of the kind of novel excerpt we’re interested in.
Q: When should I expect to hear back?
We will try to respond to every submission by the end of March 2027, and hope to have the finalists announced in May 2027. If this timeline changes significantly, we will notify all authors. We appreciate your patience!
Q: Can I submit two chapters if they fall under 6,000 words?
You can submit as many chapters as you’d like, as long as the word count is under 6,000 words.
Q: How firm are you on word count?
We allow for some wiggle room; don’t force your revisions into 6,000 words. We’d rather read a couple hundred extra words than a cramped conclusion!
Q: Can I submit a synopsis/prologue with my excerpt?
We recommend that you don’t; your excerpt will be judged on its merit alone, and the synopsis will not be published alongside your excerpt.
Q: Can I submit with a cowriter?
Sure, but you’ll need to split the prize money.
Q: What if a small portion of the book has already been published?
As long as both the novel itself and the excerpt you’re submitting are unpublished, we’re happy to consider your work!
Q: What’s the deal with my rights if I want to publish my book eventually?
We ask for first serial publication rights of your excerpt only. All rights also revert back to the author after an exclusive ninety-day publishing window. Specific questions or concerns about publishing rights can be addressed to contact [at] mastersreview [dot] com.
Q: If I self-published my novel on my blog but later took it down, can I still submit an excerpt?
Unfortunately, because it’s been published in some form or fashion, the excerpt would no longer be eligible for this contest.
Chinelo Okparanta was born and raised in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Her new novel, This Impossible Life, will be published on November 10 by Mariner. Her debut short story collection, Happiness, Like Water, was nominated for the Nigerian Writers Award, longlisted for the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award, and was a finalist for the New York Public Library Young Lions Fiction Award, and the Etisalat Prize for Literature. Her first novel, Under the Udala Trees, won a Lambda Literary Award, was a finalist for the International Dublin Literary Award, was nominated for the Kirkus Prize and Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, and was a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice. She was a finalist for the 2025 Dos Passos Prize and the Caine Prize for African Writing. She has published work in The New Yorker, Granta, Harper's Bazaar,Lit Hub, Tin House, the Kenyon Review, AGNI, and was named one of Granta’s Best of Young American Novelists. She received her MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and she is currently Associate Professor of English Literature and Director of the Creative Writing Program at Swarthmore College.
If you’re interested in getting feedback on your writing, utilize our editorial letter add-on option. Our response to your submission will be accompanied by a one- to two-page letter from an experienced guest editor, who will offer observations on the strengths of the piece as well as opportunities for revision. Your editor may also offer further submission and reading suggestions, or other comments on craft. A significant portion of the additional fee is paid directly to your feedback editor. See a sample editorial letter.

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Novel Excerpt Contest — Judged by Chinelo Okparanta | $3,000 Prize!

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