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Jesmyn Ward Prize in Fiction

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A project of Michigan Quarterly Review (MQR) (see other related projects).

About

19 members set this contest as a Favorite.

The Michigan Quarterly Review has established this prize for fiction in honor of Helen Zell Writers’ Program alumna Jesmyn Ward and her significant contributions to the literary arts. Submissions to the Jesmyn Ward Prize include a one-year digital subscription for four issues of MQR.

Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for all submissions. The fee is USD $25.

Country of Publication & Year Established

United States Established in 2021

Publication Medium & Contest Frequency

Print Publication Print PublicationAwarded 1 x per year.

Fiction Temp Closed

Dates:

Will be open to submissions from 01 November 2025* (approx. 266 days from now) through 31 December 2025. 2

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:
General General
Lengths:
Short Story Short StoryNo specific word count limits known (our definition: 1000 to 7500 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.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Unknown.
Simultaneous submissions: Unknown.
Multiple entries: Unknown.
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.

Jesmyn Ward Prize in Fiction 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.
AccuracyWe have received 13 reports from 13 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.
Days Reported9 min | 104.5 mean avg | 119.0 median | 192 max days (40.1 std dev)
Responses92.31 %
Acceptances0.00 % 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.
Rejections92.31 % (129.2 avg. days per rejection) | 0.0 % personal, 75.0 % form, 25.0 % unspecified | 7.7 % shortlisted
Non-Responses7.69 %
Lost/Returned-
Never Responded-
Withdrawals7.69 % (9.0 avg. days per withdrawal)
Pending21 responses are pending (38 min | 51.0 mean avg | 58.0 median | 98 max days waiting | 86.0 std dev) from 20 different members This only includes pending reports from users who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days

Other Information

The most common submission fee paid: USD $25.00.
Most submissions are acknowledged on the same day.
Most recent response reported was received on 28 Jun 2024.
Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 30 Dec 2023.

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Your Submissions

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James A. Winn Prize in Nonfiction Charges fees for all submissions
Laurence Goldstein Prize in Poetry Charges fees for all submissions
Michigan Quarterly Review (MQR) Charges fees for all submissions
MQR Mixtape Charges fees for all submissions

Dates

Last Updated: 31 Dec 2024
Last Audited: 29 Aug 2024. (We audit each active listing twice a year. Learn more at link.)
Date Added: 09 Sep 2021

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.