Dinah Marshall Backhouse Prize for Short Fiction: Short Story Contest 1000-5000 words Backhouse Press Fee: cad $25.00

Deadline: Thursday, December 31, 2026 11:59 PM EST (in 71 days).

The Dinah Marshall Backhouse Prize for Short Fiction

For stories that refuse to stay quiet.

Presented by Backhouse Press, the Dinah Marshall Backhouse Prize for Short Fiction celebrates bold, original storytelling and the writers willing to take risks on the page.

We're interested in stories that challenge, unsettle, surprise, move us, or make us see something differently. Stories with emotional depth, distinctive voices, and something worth saying.

We welcome emerging and established writers. The theme is open.

Submission Guidelines

Submissions open: October 20, 2026
Deadline: December 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Atlantic Time
Entry fee: $25 CAD per submission
Word count: 1,000–5,000 words
Genre: Short fiction
Theme: Open

How to Submit

Please submit your short story directly through Duosuma using the submission form on this page.

Upload your complete manuscript as instructed in the form. Please ensure your submission is final before submitting.

Multiple submissions are welcome, with a separate entry fee for each story. Simultaneous submissions are also permitted. If your story is accepted elsewhere, please withdraw it promptly through Duosuma.

Prize & Publication

First, second, and third prizes will be awarded.

Longlisted stories will be selected for publication in the Dinah Marshall Backhouse Prize Anthology, scheduled for Fall 2027.

Before You Submit

Please read the complete competition rules, including eligibility, originality requirements, AI-generated content restrictions, judging, and publication terms, at:

https://www.backhousepress.com/rules

By submitting, you confirm that you have read and agree to the official competition rules.

Send us the story you couldn't leave alone.

Category: Fiction
File types: .doc, .docx, .pdf
Number of Pieces: 1 piece

Anonymous submissions are required (no identifying information in files).
Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Reprints are not allowed.
Multiple entries are allowed.
AI-assisted works are not allowed.

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