American Short Fiction magazine & contest

American Short Fiction is a prestigious literary magazine. It has published, and continues to seek, short fiction by some of the finest writers working in contemporary literature, whether they are established or new or lesser-known authors.

Unsolicited submissions are accepted year-round. There are no set guidelines as to content or length {but 2,000 to 15,000 words would be the ball park}. The editors suggest: "Anyone wishing to send a story to American Short Fiction should first become familiar with the work previously published by the magazine. Our standards for acceptance are extremely high."

Young adult and genre fiction not welcome, but they're open to publishing mystery or speculative fiction if they feel it has literary value.

Pays $250 – $500 American

There is a $2 submission fee.

Submission guidelines here.

American Short Fiction Contest:

First Prize receives $1,000 and publication.
Second Prize receives $500.
All entries will be considered for publication.

Final Judge: Rick Moody, author of Purple America, The Diviners, Demonology, The Ice Storm, and Garden State, for which he received the Pushcart Editor’s Choice Award. Moody’s work has appeared in the New York Times, Esquire, the New Yorker, and many other publications. His most recent work, Right Livelihoods, is a collection of three novellas that has garnered extensive critical praise.

Deadline: December 8, 2009

Length: All entries must be unpublished and 6,000 words or less.

Entry fee: $20. The fee entitles the entrant to a copy of the contest issue.

Complete rules here.

American Short Stories home: http://www.americanshortfiction.org/

Note: For information about Brian Henry's writing workshops and courses, see here.