The June 2026 edition of "Get Submitting" is a monthly hand-curated list of the top five contests, grants, scholarships, submission calls, and awards. We try to prioritize opportunities that are at least one of the following: open to all genres, local, free to apply, and/or committed to celebrating and supporting writers from historically marginalized communities. We do the research, so you have more time for what matters: the writing.

Submissions

Mudroom Mag

Fee: $0; Payment: $15; Deadline: July 25

MudRoom is a triannual journal of poetry and prose. The mission is to provide every writer, emerging and established, the opportunity to both see their work published and engage with a larger literary community. They are committed to publishing underrepresented voices, especially BIPOC, Queer, Trans, women, and disabled writers. Submissions are open for Issue 22. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Off Season Mag

Fee: $0; Award:  $0; Deadline: August 1

Off Season is an independent quarterly online literary magazine that celebrates the rough patches of a creative life – whether you are at the beginning of your career, or well established in the literary and artistic community. They ask that you only submit to them if you have not received a literary journal acceptance in the last three months. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Hayden's Ferry Review

Fee: $3; Award: $30-50; Deadline: July 15

Hayden’s Ferry Review is a semi-annual, international literary journal edited by the MFA students at Arizona State University under the guidance of a full-time editor in chief. They publish poetry, fiction, nonfiction, translation, and art. A small portion of the publication is solicited from established authors, while the majority of the contributors are chosen from the manuscripts the journal receives each year. HFR will open for general submissions for issue 79 (fall/winter 2026) on June 15. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Contests & Prizes

Kellman Prize for Immigrant Literature | Restless Books

Fee: $20; Award: $10,000 and publication; Deadline: May 31st

Restless Books is offering this prize for a debut book of fiction or nonfiction by a first-generation immigrant. In 2015, the Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing was created to honor outstanding debut literary works by first-generation immigrants whose work examines how immigration shapes our lives, our communities, and our world. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Halifax Ranch Fiction Prize | American Short Fiction

Fee: $20; Award: $3,000, publication, and a writing retreat, Deadline: June 1st

The judge for this year’s Halifax Ranch Fiction Prize is Rachel Khong. The winning writer, in addition to publication and $3,000, will receive an all-expenses-paid writing retreat at a beautiful, remote cabin on idyllic land that neighbors the Halifax Ranch, just outside of Austin in Kyle, Texas. Visit the website for complete guidelines.