J.F. Powers Prize for Short Fiction
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“One foot in this world and one in the next”: that’s how J.F. Powers described the Midwestern priests he wrote about in his fiction. Having one foot in another world can be awkward, and Powers’ characters are known not for their graceful mysticism, but for the humiliating and mordantly entertaining stumbles they make while trying to live their faith. We’re looking for carefully crafted short stories with vivid characters who encounter grace in everyday settings—we want to see who, in the age we live in, might have one foot in this world and one in the next.
What are the prizes?
1st place: $700
2nd place: $300
Up to 8 honorable mentions: publication in the journal and a one-year subscription
When will winners be announced?
Winners of the J.F. Powers Prize for Short Fiction will be announced in April 2025 and published throughout the subsequent issues that year.
Is there a reading fee?
No.
Guidelines:
- Only one submission per author will be accepted.
- Please do not submit any previously published work.
- Simultaneous submissions are welcome, but please withdraw your work immediately if it is accepted elsewhere.
- Please include in your contact information, including e-mail and mailing address, in your cover letter, as well as one or two lines with your biographical information as you would like it to appear if published.
- The word limit is 8,000 words. Longer submissions will be returned unread.