The winner of the annual Omnidawn Fabulist Fiction Chapbook / Novelette Contest wins a $1,000 prize, publication of the perfect bound pocket series chapbook / novelette with a full color cover by Omnidawn, 100 free copies of the winning chapbook / novelette, and extensive display advertising and publicity, including prominent display ads in Poets & Writers Magazine, Rain Taxi Review of Books and other publications. (Note that the guidelines for this fiction contest are very similar to the guidelines for Omnidawn's poetry contests.)
If we find a serious error in your entry we will contact you to obtain a correction at no cost to you, so your error will not disqualify you. Nor will a few smaller errors in your manuscript, including spelling, punctuation, formatting, or typographic errors, reduce your chances of winning. (We fully understand that such errors sometimes occur for everyone, and that these can be easily corrected later.)
The fabulist fiction chapbook contests winner will be announced to our email list and on this web page in April 2023. If you provide us with an email address as part of your contact information (required for online entries, optional for postal entries) we will also send you an email notification of the contest winner and finalists. We expect to publish the winning chapbook in April 2024.
All the essential information for the chapbook contest is contained in the above Guidelines.
If you would like to receive reminders about this contest's opening on September 1 and other reminders about this contest's deadlines (and if you choose, other Omnidawn Email announcements):
Click here to add yourself to our mailing list. (Your email address will not be shared with anyone.)
If you want to read helpful additional details below and then go to the submission procedures, you can:
OR, if you want to skip the additional details and go directly to concise submission procedures, you can either:
Go to the POSTAL submission procedure below by clicking here.
OR, go to the online submissions web page after September 1. When this contest opens on September 1 there will be a link here to take you to the online submission page where you can enter the contest. It is not possible to enter the contest online before September 1 because the submission web page is being used for another contest.
Clyde Derrick’s first novel The Wash won the Sol Books Fiction Prize for publication, while his experimental story “Each One As She Must” placed third in UCLA’s “Considering Gertrude Stein” competition. His lauded short film Strider’s House has aired on PBS and his plays Angel’s Flight and Teshuvah have been produced on the Los Angeles stage by Write Act Repertory Company. Clyde earned his BA at Pomona College, where he won the Dole King Kinney Prize for writing, and an MFA in Cinema at USC. He lives in Claremont, California.
The five finalists selected by Molly Gloss (in alphabetical order by last name) are: Jamiella Brooks, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Deborah Doolittle, Jacksonville, North Carolina; James Gapinski, Portland, Oregon; Taliesin Gore, Dorset, United Kingdom; and Alyssa Hamilton, Ramsey, New Jersey.
Kristin Keane's work has appeared with the New England Review, The Normal School, Electric Literature and elsewhere. She is a doctoral fellow at Stanford University and lives in San Francisco. More of her work can be found at thisisnotreallyhere.space.
The five finalists selected by Kellie Wells (in alphabetical order by last name) are: Tobey Hiller, San Rafael, California; Noah Lemelson, Los Angeles, California; Amanda Montei, Concord, California; Simon Ratcliffe, Steenberg, Cape Town, South Africa; and Hubert Vigilla, Brooklyn, New York.
David Rothman has had short stories published in such journals as Glimmer Train, Hybrido, The Piltdown Review, Newtown Literary, among others. He has a Master's Degree in English and Linguistics from the University of Wisconsin, and has taught writing for the City University of New York for over twelve years. David is the drummer for the NYC-based band, The Edukators' He is a proud resident of Jackson Heights, Queens, New York
The five finalists selected by Lily Hoang (in alphabetical order by last name) are: F.J. Bergmann, Madison, Wisconsin; Melissa Crandall-Everett, Hebron, Connecticut; Andrew Sebela, Brooklyn, New York; Marcus Stewart, London, United Kingdom; Taylor Sykes, Asheville, North Carolina.
Jennifer Pullen received her BA from Whitworth University, her MFA from Eastern Washington University, and her PhD from Ohio University. Her PhD focused on creative writing, Victorian literature, myths and fairytales, as well as gender studies. Her fiction and poetry have appeared in journals and anthologies including: Cleaver, Off the Coast, Phantom Drift Limited, Prick of the Spindle, Behind the Mask (Meerkat Press), Meat for Tea, and Lunch Ticket. She is represented by Jeff Kleinman at the Folio Literary Agency. She originally hails from the wilds of Washington State but now lives in Northwest Ohio with her husband and a giant orange tabby named Widdershins. She is an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Ohio Northern University.
The five finalists selected by Lily Hoang (in alphabetical order by last name) are: Julie Babcock, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Matt Carney, San Francisco, California; Ryan Row, Sacramento, California; Barbara Swanke, Edina, Minnesota; and Kirk Wilson, Austin, Texas.
“Moyer’s novelette, winner of the 2016 Omnidawn Fabulist Fiction Prize, is a curious blend of ethical thought exercise and medical jargon couched in introspection. Jane Tokugawa is a representative of the U.S. Center for Disease Control, part of a delegation sent to Iceland to learn about a new gene-altering technology that promises to revolutionize health care and potentially eradicate physical and mental illness. As Jane contemplates how the protocols can be used for betterment of humankind, other members of the delegation have more questionable motives. Information is tightly packed within the pages of this story, allowing readers insight into the complex world of medical ethics…. This is a strong, thoughtful story that inspires hope for the future, curiosity about medical progress, and sheer terror at what might be done in its name.” —Publishers Weekly, February 12, 2018
J.D. Moyer lives in Oakland, California, with his wife, daughter, and mystery-breed dog. He writes science fiction, produces electronic music in two groups (Jondi & Spesh and Momu), runs a record label (Loöq Records), and blogs at jdmoyer.com. His previous stories have appeared in Strange Horizons and Cosmic Roots And Eldritch Shores. He is currently working on his first novel, The Sky Woman.
The five finalists selected by Bradford Morrow (in alphabetical order by last name) are: Alex Filipowicz, Chicago, Illinois; Katharine Haake, Los Angeles, California; Couri Johnson, Marugami, Japan; GennaRose Nethercott, Guilford, Vermont; and E. K. Wagner, Columbus, Ohio.
David Armstrong’s story collections are Going Anywhere, winner of the Leapfrog Press Fiction Prize, and Reiterations, winner of the New American Fiction Prize, forthcoming in 2017. Individually, his stories have appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Narrative Magazine, Mississippi Review, Iron Horse Literary Review, Desert Companion Magazine, Best of Ohio Short Stories, and elsewhere. His short fiction has won the Mississippi Review Prize, Yemassee’s William Richey Short Fiction Contest, the New SouthWriting Contest, and Jabberwock Review’s Prize for Fiction, among other awards. He is a professor of creative writing at the University of the Incarnate Word and lives with his wife and son in San Antonio, Texas.
The five finalists selected by Brian Evenson (in alphabetical order by last name) are: Alex Filipowicz, Chicago, Illinois; Katharine Haake, Los Angeles, California; Couri Johnson, Marugami, Japan; GennaRose Nethercott, Guilford, Vermont; and E. K. Wagner, Columbus, Ohio.
Jackie Craven has work published or forthcoming in Berkeley Fiction Review, Limestone, Mid-American Review, New Ohio Review, Nimrod International Journal, Water~Stone Review, and many other journals. She also writes about architecture and is the author of two books on interior design. She completed her Doctor of Arts in Writing from the University at Albany, New York. Visit her at www.JackieCraven.com.
The five finalists selected by Kate Bernheimer (in alphabetical order by last name) are: Marcella R. Calato, Clifton, New Jersey; Deirdre Coyle, Brooklyn, New York; Caitlin McGuire, Urbana, Illinois; J.T. Townley, Charlottesville, Virginia; and Kate Wyer, Baltimore, Maryland.
Emily Capettini holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Her fiction has previously appeared in places like Not Somewhere Else But Here: A Contemporary Anthology of Women and Place (Sundress Publications, 2013) and her critical work is upcoming in Neil Gaiman in the Twenty-First Century (McFarland and Company). She received her B.A. in English and French from Lake Forest College in 2009. In her free time, Emily runs, bakes, and blogs about women and Doctor Who. She lives in Maryland.
The five finalists selected by Theodora Goss (in alphabetical order by last name) are: Jean Butterfield, Berkeley, California; Katharine Haake, Los Angeles, California; Michael Pearce, Oakland, California; Brooke Juliet Wonders, Cedar Falls, Iowa; Laurie Saurborn Young, Austin, Texas.
A unique tale of love, commitment and redemption. In Mammals an orphaned teenager sent to juvenile detention because of a violent crime becomes part of an odd experiment to see if he can learn about compassion and also teach it to another living creature. The story displays sensitivity without sentimentality and a sense of the strange that is grounded in very real emotions. A thoughtful and unusual gem. —Jeff VanderMeer, judge
James Robert Herndon lives in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a graduate of the Warren Wilson MFA Program for Writers, and the Clarion West Writers Workshop. His fiction has appeared in Halfway Down the Stairs, and is forthcoming in an anthology of stories by Clarion West graduates. When not writing, he enjoys woodworking and being outside with his wife.
The five finalists selected by Jeff VanderMeer (in alphabetical order by last name) are: Ben Black, Santa Clara, California; Marie Brennan, San Mateo, California; Liz Gilbert, Kansas City, Missouri, Katharine Haake, Los Angeles, California; and Ingrid Alana Silverstein, Sharon, Massachusetts.
Note that if we find any significant problem with your manuscript (your manuscript file is incomplete or won’t open, important information is missing, or any other significant problem) we will contact you so that you have every opportunity to correct the issue at no charge to you. Smaller errors or deficiencies in your manuscript, including spelling, punctuation, formatting, typographical errors, or coffee stains will not disqualify you from the competition, nor will a few small errors reduce your chances of winning. (We fully understand that such errors sometimes occur for everyone, and that these can be easily corrected later.) The only really critical requirements are to:
Any identifying information will be removed from all manuscripts before they are sent to the editors who choose the semi-finalists to be sent to the judge. All manuscripts will be given a number to associate them with the contact information of their submitters. The Omnidawn staff members who remove the identifying information are NOT involved in the reading or selection of manuscripts.
Only Omnidawn's Fiction Editors will read submissions, and these editors will not have access to the identities of the submitters. For the sake of avoiding any conflict of interest, if an editor believes that he/she recognizes the work of a colleague, student, or friend, then that manuscript is given to another editor. The editors will select the semi-finalists to be sent to the judge. The judge will then select the winner and five finalists. If the judge wishes to see additional manuscripts, she or he may request them; the judge is not, however, permitted to request specific manuscripts. Colleagues, past or present students, and close friends of the judge are not eligible to compete. Past or present Omnidawn staff, interns, and authors whose books Omnidawn has published are also not eligible to compete. The judge is not allowed to choose manuscripts that present a conflict of interest.
Omnidawn abides by The CLMP Code of Ethics. The Community of Literary Magazines and Presses’ believes that ethical contests serve our shared goal: to connect writers and readers by publishing exceptional writing. We believe that intent to act ethically, clarity of guidelines, and transparency of process form the foundation of an ethical contest. To that end, we agree to 1) conduct our contests as ethically as possible and to address any unethical behavior on the part of our staff, editors, or judges; 2) to provide clear and specific contest guidelines — defining conflict of interest for all parties involved; and 3) to make the mechanics of our selection process available to the public. This Code recognizes that different contest models produce different results, but that each model can be run ethically. We have adopted this Code to reinforce our integrity and dedication as a publishing community and to ensure that our contests contribute to a vibrant literary heritage.
Option 1: Submit on our secure web site. (Most submissions are via our online contest web site. This is usually the easiest way to submit.)
Option 2: Submit via postal mail.
Procedures for each of these options are listed in detail below.
We suggest you read at least the bold type in the directions below. Reading the non-bold type is optional.
This Fabulist Fiction Contest does not open until September 1. Please do not submit before then.
If you have any questions send an email to submissions@omnidawn.com
Please DO NOT send Fed Ex, UPS, or signature required US Post Office envelopes. These will not be accepted.
Note that if you send a cover letter, acknowledgements, or bio these will be removed before your manuscript is read.
Please enclose the following:
1. One title page with your name, contact information, and where you learned about our contest (to the best of your recollection). Please include your mailing address, phone number, and Email address if you have one. (Alternate contact info, such as additional phone numbers, Email addresses, or mailing addresses can also be added here if you like.) This title page with contact info can be at the front or, so you don’t have to repaginate, at the back of your manuscript
2. One title page with manuscript title only and nothing else.
3. Your fabulist fiction chapbook manuscript.
4. For this chapbook contest, include a check or money order made out to "Omnidawn Publishing" for the reading fee of either $18 or $20. It is extremely critical that you make the check out to "Omnidawn Publishing."
Enclose $18 if you choose to receive NO book
OR,
if you have a U.S mailing address (or can provide a U.S. mailing address), you can enclose $20 ($2 extra for shipping cost) to receive your choice of the winning chapbook or any Omnidawn fiction book, including our highly acclaimed ParaSheres anthology of fabulist and new wave fabulist fiction. If you choose to pay $20, please use the title page that has your contact info to write your choice of the fiction book or to write “send this contests winning chapbook.” A complete list of all Omnidawn fiction titles is available at www.omnidawn.com/product-category/fiction/. If you pay the extra $2 and forget to specify your choice of book you can send an email to submissions@omnidawn.com to let us know your choice.
5. All manuscripts will be deleted or recycled at the end of the contest. For entries sent by postal mail, please do NOT send an SASE for return of the manuscript.
6. If you provide an Email address with your contact info, within a ten days of receiving your entry we will send you an Email to confirm we have received it, so if you mailed your entry via either United States First Class mail or Priority Mail you should receive this verification Email within two weeks of mailing your manuscript. If you have provided us with an Email address and you do not receive this confirmation Email within two weeks, something may be wrong, and we strongly suggest you contact us by sending an Email to submissions@omnidawn.com (Note that if you choose to submit online our turnaround time is much faster, and we will send you two Email notifications of receipt, one automatic Email sent immediately after you submit online, and a second Email from a member of our staff within 3 days after you submit, with the last lines of your manuscript so you know your manuscript has been received completely, and so you can fix the problem at no cost to you if it has not.)
7. (Optional) A self-addressed stamped postcard and/or a standard sized SASE. You may, if you choose, include a self-addressed stamped postcard, and we will mail this back to you to verify that your manuscript has been received. (If you include an Email address, you will also receive an email when we enter your submission into our database, so this email will likely precede your receipt of a postcard. You may also enclose a standard size SASE and we will use this to send you information on the winner and finalists when these are determined. (If you include an Email address, you will also receive an email notification of the winners and finalists when they are chosen.)
Send postal submissions via First Class or Priority Mail to:
Omnidawn Fabulist Fiction Chapbook / Novelette Contest
Omnidawn Publishing
1632 Elm Avenue
Richmond, CA 94805-1614
© Copyright Omnidawn, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018. 2019, 2020, 2021