Tusculum Review Fiction Chapbook Prize | How to Apply
Are you a writer with a compelling short story ready for the world? The Tusculum Review Fiction Chapbook Prize offers a $1,500 cash award, publication, and a beautifully designed chapbook featuring original art.
Deadline: June 15, 2025
What You Win
- $1,500 cash prize
- Publication in The Tusculum Review’s 21st volume (2025)
- A limited edition chapbook with original art
Submission Details
Things to note before Submitting for the Tusculum Fiction Chapbook Prize
- Entry Fee: $20 per story (includes a one-year subscription to The Tusculum Review).
- International Entries: An additional $15 fee applies for shipping outside the U.S.
- Judge: Jaime Cortez, author of Gordo.
Submission Guidelines
- Submit a single short story (between 2,000–7,000 words).
- Standard 12-pt font (Times, Garamond, etc.).
- No identifying information on the manuscript.
- Unpublished stories only (simultaneous submissions allowed, but notify if accepted elsewhere).
- Submit via Submittable.
What is a Chapbook?
A chapbook is a short, beautifully designed book featuring a single work of literature. Although most chapbooks are poetry collections, The Tusculum Review publishes prose chapbooks as well—one short story or essay at a time.
Each year, we rotate the contest genre. In 2025, we are seeking a short story, which will be paired with custom artwork and launched at a special event in Greeneville, Tennessee, in November.
Tips for becoming a more eloquent writer
Meet the Judge: Jaime Cortez
Jaime Cortez is a California-based writer and artist whose debut short story collection, Gordo (Black Cat/Grove Atlantic, 2021), received national acclaim from The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and NPR. A nominee for the Carnegie Medal of Excellence and Lambda Literary Award, Cortez’s work has also appeared in No Straight Lines (Fantagraphics) and Infinite Cities (UC Berkeley Press). Learn more at www.jaimecortez.org.
Eligibility & Rules For the Tusculum Review Fiction Chapbook Prize
- Open worldwide to writers 18+.
- No previous publication required.
- Past winners are ineligible, but previous finalists may enter.
- All entries judged blindly (judges will not see author names).
The Tusculum Review reserves the right to extend the deadline if necessary.
How to Submit
Submit your short story via Submittable.
Deadline: June 15, 2025.
For questions, email us at review@tusculum.edu.
We look forward to reading your work!
