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CRAFT First Chapters Contest

A project of CRAFT (see other related projects).

About

Isn’t the start of something new incredibly, deliciously exciting? Here at CRAFT, we want to share in that excitement by reading the first chapter(s) of your novel in progress.

Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for all submissions. The fee is USD $20.
Want more insight into the editors' preferences? Read our interview with the editor(s).

Country of Publication

United States

Publication Medium & Contest Frequency

Electronic Publication Electronic Publication
Unknown contest frequency

Fiction Open Fee-based

Excerpts of book-length fiction only—please submit the first chapter or chapters of your unpublished novels/novellas, completed or in progress

Dates:

Open to fiction submissions through 10 August 2025* (approx. 22 days from now).

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

General

Lengths:

Novel Excerpt: Up to 5,000 words.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Winner's Prize:

Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Professional payment. Details: USD $2,000 for first place.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Multiple entries: Multiple entries are allowed.
Media: Text.

Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary.
* We do not know the time and/or timezone, so we cannot be more precise. Submit early to avoid disappointment.

CRAFT First Chapters Contest Submission Statistics Free Preview!

The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics.

Accuracy:
We have received 38 reports from 38 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.
Days Reported:
7 min | 28.9 mean avg | 23.0 median | 105 max days (133.5 std dev)
Responses
100.00 %
Acceptances:
0.00 % No publication has a 0% acceptance rate. This data is based on submission reports sent to Duotrope, and we have not received reports of any acceptances yet.
Rejections:
100.00 % (26.1 avg. days per rejection) | 7.9 % personal, 63.2 % form, 29.0 % unspecified | 2.6 % shortlisted
Non-Responses
0.00 %
Lost/Returned:
-
Never Responded:
-
Withdrawals:
-
Pending
9 responses are pending (14 min | 32.0 mean avg | 37.0 median | 42 max days waiting | 327.4 std dev) from 9 different members This only includes pending reports from people who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days

Other Information

The most common submission fee paid: USD $20.00.
Most submissions are acknowledged within one day.
Most recent response reported was received on 24 Oct 2024.
Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 04 Aug 2024.

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Your Submissions

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CRAFT
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CRAFT Creative Nonfiction Award CLOSED  Charges fees for all submissions
CRAFT Dialogue Challenge  Charges fees for all submissions
CRAFT Elements Contest CLOSED  Charges fees for all submissions
CRAFT Flash Fiction Contest CLOSED  Charges fees for all submissions
CRAFT Flash Prose Prize  Charges fees for all submissions
CRAFT Hybrid Writing Contest CLOSED  Charges fees for all submissions
CRAFT Memoir Excerpt & Essay Contest  Charges fees for all submissions
CRAFT Novelette Print Prize  Charges fees for all submissions
CRAFT Short Fiction Prize  Charges fees for all submissions

Before Submitting

We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.

  • Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.
  • Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.
  • Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.
  • Be professional, patient, and persistent.

Dates

Last Updated: 11 Jun 2025
Last Audited: 18 Apr 2025
Date Added: 07 Jun 2019

We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year.