Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest A project of Winning Writers (see other related projects). About The Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest was established in 1991 by John Reid, an Australian author. He engaged Winning Writers to help with contest administration in 2003. In 2015, Winning Writers assumed full sponsorship of the contest.Winning Writers finds and creates quality resources for poets and writers. It was founded by Jendi Reiter and Adam Cohen in 2001. We are located in Western Massachusetts.Winning Writers is devoted to providing the best possible contest experience for writers: generous prizes, transparent judging, a minimum of fussy restrictions, lasting publicity for winners, and speedy, responsive customer service. We seek to be a welcoming place for diverse authors and stories, with a culture of listening to people of all genders, backgrounds, and abilities. We look for high-quality original writing that portrays under-represented perspectives with sensitivity, accuracy, and passion.Writer's Digest has named Winning Writers one of the "101 Best Websites for Writers" (2015-2019, 2022-2026). Our contests are recommended by Reedsy. Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for all submissions. The fee is USD $25 (above average for contests). Want more insight into the editors' preferences? Read our interview with the editor(s). Country of Publication & Year Established United States Established in 1991 Publication Medium & Contest Frequency Electronic Publication Electronic PublicationAwarded 1 x per year AI Policy Human-created work preferred, but limited AI use may be permitted in some circumstances (see their site for details) Statistics Synopsis Slower Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest's overall average response time is slower than most contests. More ChallengingTom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest's overall acceptance rate is lower than most contests. Less ResponsiveTom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest's overall rate of non-response is higher than most contests. Collapse section Fiction Temp Closed Dates:Will be open to submissions from 15 October 2026 12:00 AM Hawaiian Standard Time (in 19 days) through 01 May 2027.1Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: GeneralLengths: Flash Fiction: Up to 1,000 words. Short Story: 1,000 - 6,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Humorous, Literary.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Winner's Prize:Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Professional payment. Details: USD $3,500 for first prize.Submissions:Method: Submittable submission manager. Reprints: Reprints are allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Multiple entries: Multiple entries are allowed.Media: Text. Collapse section Nonfiction Temp Closed Dates:Will be open to submissions from 15 October 2026 12:00 AM Hawaiian Standard Time (in 19 days) through 01 May 2027.1Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Lengths: Essay: Up to 6,000 words. Narrative Nonfiction: Up to 6,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Humorous, Literary.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Winner's Prize:Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Professional payment. Details: USD $3,500 for first prize.Submissions:Method: Submittable submission manager. Reprints: Reprints are 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. Go to contest webpage Report: Submission/Response Correction/Update New Cover ArtSocial:Bluesky @winningwriters.comFacebook FacebookInstagram @winningwriters For the Editor(s): Request Interview Duosuma Submission Manager Link to Duotrope Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest 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: All Categories Fiction Nonfiction Group by submission Include outliers Include related projects Accuracy We have received 21 reports from 19 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information. Days Reported 29 min | 199.6 mean avg | 180.0 median | 516 max days (110.3 std dev) Responses 85.71 % 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: 85.71 % (191.4 avg. days per rejection) | 5.6 % personal, 61.1 % form, 33.3 % unspecified | 4.8 % shortlisted Non-Responses 9.52 % Lost/Returned: - Never Responded: 9.52 % (507.5 avg. days before reporting submissions as never responded) Withdrawals 4.76 % (29.0 avg. days per withdrawal) Pending 29 responses are pending (148 min | 190.3 mean avg | 181.5 median | 528 max days waiting | 107.4 std dev) from 27 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 $25.00. Submissions are acknowledged within 2 days on average. Most recent response reported was received on 15 Oct 2025. Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 30 Apr 2025. Date compiled: 26 Sep 2026 01:23 UTC (42 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 ProjectsNorth Street Book Prize DNQTom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest Charges fees for all submissionsWergle Flomp Humor Poetry ContestWinning Writers Sports Fiction & Essay Contest CLOSED Charges fees for all submissions 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: 11 Sep 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