WOW! Women On Writing Quarterly Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest A project of WOW! Women On Writing (see other related projects). About WOW! is proud to introduce our newest essay contest! Writers have been asking us to host an essay contest for many years, and we’ve finally listened. The mission of this essay contest is to inspire creative nonfiction and provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants. The contest is open globally; age is of no matter; and entries must be in English. Your story must be true, but the way you tell it is your chance to get creative. We are open to all styles of essay—from personal essay to lyric essay to hybrid essay, and beyond! Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for all submissions. The fee range is USD $12 to $25 (below average to above average for contests). Limited Demographic: Submissions are restricted to women. Submission Caps: They may close to submissions early if they reach their quota. The editors may not respond to all submissions. After waiting a reasonable amount of time, assume your submission will not be accepted. Country of Publication & Year Established United States Established in 2017 Publication Medium & Contest Frequency Electronic Publication Electronic PublicationAwarded 4 x per year AI Policy Unknown AI policy Statistics Synopsis Regular Speed WOW! Women On Writing Quarterly Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest's overall average response time is within a normal range for contests. More ApproachableWOW! Women On Writing Quarterly Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest's overall acceptance rate is higher than most contests. Less ResponsiveWOW! Women On Writing Quarterly Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest's overall rate of non-response is higher than most contests. Nonfiction Open Fee-based Rolling Submissions:Next cutoff date is 31 October 2026 11:59 PM PDT (in 50 days).Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Lengths: Essay: 200 - 1,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary, Mainstream, Personal.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Winner's Prize:Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Professional payment. Details: USD $500 for winner.Submissions:Method: Email. 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:Facebook Facebook For the Editor(s): Request Interview Duosuma Submission Manager Link to Duotrope WOW! Women On Writing Quarterly Creative Nonfiction 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: Group by submission Include related projects Accuracy We have received 19 reports from 11 different members within the past 12 months. The more responses reported, the more accurate the information. Days Reported 43 min | 85.2 mean avg | 73.0 median | 256 max days (52.8 std dev) Responses 89.48 % Acceptances: 26.32 % of submissions accepted (71.6 avg. days per acceptance) | 36.36 % of submitters accepted Rejections are often underreported, which skews the statistics in favor of acceptances. Most publishers have a lower acceptance rate than indicated here. Rejections: 63.16 % (77.1 avg. days per rejection) | 16.7 % personal, 25.0 % form, 58.3 % unspecified | 15.8 % shortlisted Non-Responses 5.26 % Lost/Returned: - Never Responded: 5.26 % (256.0 avg. days before reporting submissions as never responded) Withdrawals 5.26 % (204.0 avg. days per withdrawal) Other Information The editors may not respond to all submissions. After waiting a reasonable amount of time, assume your submission will not be accepted. The most common submission fee paid: USD $12.00. Submissions are acknowledged within 7 days on average. Most recent response reported was received on 08 Sep 2026. Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 13 Jun 2026. Date compiled: 11 Sep 2026 16:48 UTC (6 hours, 57 minutes ago). View report of recent responses from this project 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 ProjectsWOW! Women On Writing Flash Fiction Contest 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: 28 Jun 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