American Short Fiction


Founded in 1991 by editor Laura Furman, American Short Fiction was first published until 1998 by the University of Texas Press in cooperation with the Texas Center for Writers and with The Sound of Writing broadcast on National Public Radio. During its initial run, the magazine featured short stories by some of the best writers working in the form, including Reynolds Price, Gina Berriault, Louise Erdrich, Dagoberto Gilb, Andrea Barrett, Antonya Nelson, Joyce Carol Oates, Charles Baxter, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Dan Chaon, among many others. American Short Fiction was a two-time finalist for the National Magazine Award in Fiction. Stories originally published in the magazine have been included in major literary anthologies such as The O. Henry Prize Stories, Best American Short Stories, the Graywolf Annual, and the Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses. Acquired by the independent nonprofit organization Badgerdog Literary Publishing, American Short Fiction resumed publication with Issue 33 in Winter 2006. Four times a year, the magazine's editors select and publish short stories and novel excerpts by established and new writers. It is our goal to discover and publish new fiction in which transformations of language, narrative, and character occur swiftly, deftly, and unexpectedly.

American Short Fiction's Story Contest

American Short Fiction’s Short Story Contest—Fall 2007  First Prize receives $1,000 and publication.Second Prize receives $500. Final Judge: Julie Orringer Contest is open from September 15 to December 1. Entries must be postmarked by December 1, 2007.  Complete Guidelines 

All entries must be unpublished and 6,000 words or less. Please type and double-space.*

The entry fee is $20 (please make checks payable to American Short Fiction). The fee entitles the entrant to a copy of the contest issue. All entries will be considered for publication. Send only one story per entry. You may enter as many times as you like.

Cover letter must include name, address, phone number, and the title of the work. Entrant’s name should appear on the cover letter ONLY.

Previously published stories and stories forthcoming at other publications cannot be considered. Entries may be simultaneous submissions, but the entry fee is nonrefundable if the story is accepted elsewhere. Please notify us immediately to withdraw a story that is taken elsewhere.

Send entries to:

 Short Fiction Contest   American Short FictionP.O. Box 301209Austin, TX 78703 Please note: American Short Fiction claims no responsibility for mislabeled entries.

Include a SASE for notification of winners. Winner will be announced on March 31, 2008. Manuscripts will not be returned.

The first round of judging will be a blind read by American Short Fiction editors and editorial assistants. Ten stories will be forwarded to contest judge Julie Orringer for the final blind judging.

Current employees or others affiliated with Badgerdog Literary Publishing are ineligible for consideration or publication. In addition, writers who have a strong personal or professional relationship with the judge are asked to abstain from entering the contest in order to prevent a conflict of interest.

We comply with the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP) Code of Ethics.

 Contest Code of EthicsCLMP’s community of independent literary publishers believe that ethical contests serve our shared goal: to connect writers and readers by publishing exceptional writing. Intent to act ethically, clarity of guidelines, and transparency of process form the foundation of an ethical contest. To that end, we agree (1) to conduct our contests as ethically as possible and to address any unethical behavior on the part of our readers, judges, or editors; (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. Judge BioJulie Orringer is the author of the fiction collection How to Breathe Underwater, which was named a New York Times Notable Book and won the San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year. She teaches creative writing at the University of Michigan. Questions? Contact us at editors@americanshortfiction.org. 

Deadline:12/1/2007