Avery/Deutsch Amateur Writing Contest A project of Baltimore Science Fiction Society (see other related projects). About The Baltimore Science Fiction Society holds its annual Amateur Writing Contest to promote the creation of quality genre literature in the state of Maryland. Any short story that falls into the "speculative fiction" genre--science fiction and fantasy in all their forms--is welcome. Urban fantasy, hard science fiction, dark fantasy, it all counts as long as the work has a speculative element. No Fees! This contest does not charge mandatory fees. Limited Demographic: Submissions are restricted to residents of Maryland, 18 or older, who do not have "professional" writing credits. Country of Publication & Year Established United States Established in 2013 Publication Medium & Contest Frequency Print Publication Print PublicationAwarded 1 x per year AI Policy Human-created work only; no AI use allowed Fiction Temp Closed Dates:Will be open to submissions from 15 April 2027* (approx. 220 days from now) through 15 June 2027.Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: Fantasy Open to all/most Subgenres Science Fiction Open to all/most SubgenresLengths: Short Story: 1,000 - 5,500 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Mainstream.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Winner's Prize:Semi-pro payment (1-4.9 US cents per word) to Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Pay ranges from Semi-pro payment to Professional payment. Details: USD $250 first place prize.Submissions:Method: Email. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are NOT allowed.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:Facebook FacebookX (Twitter) @BaltimoreSciFi For the Editor(s): Request Interview Duosuma Submission Manager Link to Duotrope Avery/Deutsch Amateur Writing 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 1 report within the past 12 months. The more responses reported, the more accurate the information. Other Information Most recent response reported was received on 31 Oct 2025. Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 11 Jun 2025. Date compiled: 06 Sep 2026 22:41 UTC (less than a minute 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 ProjectsSteve Miller BSFS Annual Poetry Contest 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 Jul 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