The Iowa Short Fiction Award A project of University of Iowa Press (see other related projects). About The Iowa Short Fiction Award has been presented annually since 1969. In 1998 the University of Iowa Press instituted the John Simmons Short Fiction Award—named after the first director of the Press—to complement the ongoing award series. Both national competitions are juried through the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Serious critical consideration is guaranteed by such final judges as Alison Lurie, Raymond Carver, Marilynne Robinson, James Salter, Kevin Brockmeier, and Ethan Canin. No Fees! This contest does not charge mandatory fees. Limited Demographic: Submissions are restricted to those who have not yet published a full volume of fiction. Country of Publication & Year Established United States Established in 1969 Publication Medium & Contest Frequency Print Publication Print PublicationAwarded 1 x per year AI Policy Unknown AI policy Statistics Synopsis Regular Speed The Iowa Short Fiction Award's overall average response time is within a normal range for contests. More ChallengingThe Iowa Short Fiction Award's overall acceptance rate is lower than most contests. More ResponsiveThe Iowa Short Fiction Award's overall rate of non-response is lower than most contests. Fiction Temp Closed Dates:Will be open to submissions from 01 July 2027* (approx. 288 days from now) through 31 August 2027.Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: GeneralLengths: Fiction Collection: More than 37,500 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Winner's Prize:No monetary advance + Unknown royalties No monetary advance. Unknown royalties.Submissions:Method: Postal. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Unknown.Multiple entries: Multiple entries are NOT 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. Go to contest webpage Report: Submission/Response Correction/Update New Cover ArtSocial:Instagram @uiowapress Support this Publisher: Buy Book(s) Make a Donation For the Editor(s): Request Interview Duosuma Submission Manager Link to Duotrope The Iowa Short Fiction Award Submission Statistics 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. Filter: Category: Group by submission Include outliers Include related projects Accuracy We have received 10 reports from 10 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information. Days Reported 86 min | 113.6 mean avg | 106.5 median | 177 max days (28.0 std dev) Responses 90.00 % 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: 90.00 % (108.6 avg. days per rejection) | 0.0 % personal, 55.6 % form, 44.4 % unspecified Non-Responses 0.00 % Lost/Returned: - Never Responded: - Withdrawals 10.00 % (149.0 avg. days per withdrawal) Pending 22 responses are pending (14 min | 48.3 mean avg | 47.0 median | 227 max days waiting | 365.3 std dev) from 22 different members This only includes pending reports from people who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days Other Information Most submissions are acknowledged on the same day. Most recent response reported was received on 29 Jul 2026. Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 02 Feb 2026. Date compiled: 15 Sep 2026 03:10 UTC (5 hours, 53 minutes ago). Work submitted here was also submitted to...This section is available to subscribers only. Sign up and start your free trial today!Members accepted here also had work accepted by...This section is available to subscribers only. Become a member and start your free trial today! Your Submissions This section is available to subscribers only. Join today! Related ProjectsThe Iowa Poetry Prize Charges fees for all submissionsThe Iowa Prize for Literary Nonfiction CLOSED Charges fees for all submissionsUniversity of Iowa Press Before SubmittingWe 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. DatesLast Updated: 31 Aug 2026We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year. Cookie Consent: This site uses secure first-party cookies for essential, preference-setting, and statistical purposes. We do not use any marketing, advertising, or third-party cookies. Read our full cookie policy. Accept All Cookies Allow Essential Cookies Only