Lee Smith Fiction Prize
Deadline January 15 (don't enter before November 15), formerly September 1. Recommended free contest gives $1,000 and publication for an unpublished literary fiction manuscript (novels, novellas, and short story collections) of at least 17,000 words. No genre fiction. Enter online. Contest sponsor Blair is an independent literary press in North Carolina, formed by the merger of Carolina Wren Press and John F. Blair, Publisher. No fee, but donations are appreciated. Note that sponsor will close submissions once the 300-entry cap is reached; early submissions are encouraged.
Source: https://blairpub.com/submissions
Published: November 10, 2026
