Submit to Alternating Current Press
Manuscript Contests & Prizes
Spark Translation Prize
We’re seeking book-length translations on important social justice topics and themes that impact the world around us. We especially want to hear from marginalized and underrepresented people and languages.
Winner receives $1,000, our Spark Translation Prize digital medallion, a certificate, and book publication on Alternating Current Press, which includes distribution through Ingram and all major online retailers. Runners-up may also be offered book publication.
Submissions open: MAY 1, 2023
Submissions close: AUG 31, 2023
Winner announced: OCT 2023
Publication: 2024/2025
FIND OUT MORE ➤
Front Range Book Prize
We’re seeking book-length manuscripts of literary fiction, short stories, poetry, plays, novels, long novellas, creative nonfiction, literary memoir, essay collections, or hybrid by Colorado authors or on the theme of Colorado.
Winner receives $1,000, our Front Range Book Prize digital medallion, a certificate, and book publication on Alternating Current Press, which includes distribution through Ingram and all major online retailers. Runners-up may also be offered book publication.
Submissions open: SEP 1, 2023
Submissions close: DEC 31, 2023
Winner announced: JUL 2024
Publication: 2025/2026
FIND OUT MORE ➤
Electric Book Award
We’re seeking book-length manuscripts of literary fiction, short stories, poetry, plays, novels, long novellas, creative nonfiction, literary memoir, essay collections, or hybrid.
Winner receives $1,000, our Electric Book Award digital medallion, a certificate, and book publication on Alternating Current Press, which includes distribution through Ingram and all major online retailers. Runners-up may also be offered book publication.
Submissions open: JAN 1, 2023
Submissions close: APR 30, 2023
Winner announced: AUG 2023
Publication: 2024/2025
FIND OUT MORE ➤
Individual Writing Contests
Charter Oak Award
We’re seeking individual pieces of historical writing in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or hybrid that give an author’s intimate or emotional take on historical places, people, events, or ideas. Pieces must noticeably fit a historical theme.
Winner receives $100, our Charter Oak Award digital medallion, a certificate, and publication in our annual journal Footnote: A Literary Journal of History and online at The Coil. All finalists receive publication in Footnote, as well, among other prizes.
Submissions open: MAR 1, 2023
Submissions close: FEB 28, 2024
Winner announced: MAR 2024
Publication: JUL 2024 (issue #10)
FIND OUT MORE ➤
Luminaire Poetry Award
We’re seeking individual poems. Standalone poetry only. Individual poems, small groups of linked poems, experimental, prose poems, and hybrid poetry considered.
Winner receives $100, our Luminaire Poetry Award digital medallion, a certificate, and publication online at The Coil with the winning piece indicated. All finalists receive publication in The Coil, as well, among other prizes, and Top-5 winners receive print publication in our triennial Luminaire anthology.
Submissions open: NOV 1, 2022
Submissions close: FEB 28, 2023
Winner announced: APR 2023
Publication: 2023/2024
FIND OUT MORE ➤
Luminaire Prose Award
We’re seeking individual stories. Standalone fiction pieces only. Experimental, flash, short novelettes, long stories, short plays, and hybrid prose considered.
Winner receives $100, our Luminaire Prose Award digital medallion, a certificate, and publication online at The Coil with the winning piece indicated. All finalists receive publication in The Coil, as well, among other prizes, and Top-5 winners receive print publication in our triennial Luminaire anthology.
Submissions open: JUL 1, 2022
Submissions close: OCT 31, 2022
Winner announced: MAY 2023
Publication: 2023/2024
FIND OUT MORE ➤
Journal Submissions
Footnote
We’re seeking individual pieces of historical writing in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or hybrid that give an author’s intimate or emotional take on historical places, people, events, or ideas. Pieces must noticeably fit a historical theme.
Footnote: A Literary Journal of History is our annual journal dedicated to historical and contemporary views on any topic of nonscholarly and personal history. We give a home to archaic historical rhymes, essays and opinions of the long-since dead, and contemporary voices commenting on historical ideas, people, or events that have touched the authors. Issues are non-themed and coincide with the announcement of the Charter Oak Award for Best Historical Writing.
Submissions open: MAR 1, 2023
Submissions close: FEB 28, 2024
FREE submissions: FEB, MAR, & NOV
Selections made: MAR 2024
Publication: JUL 2024 (issue #10)
FIND OUT MORE ➤
Science Journal
We’re seeking individual pieces of science writing in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or hybrid that give an author’s intimate or emotional take on the crossover between the realm of literature and science. Pieces must noticeably fit a science theme, though please note that we are not looking for commercial science-fiction, fantasy, space operas, or metaphysics.
Science: A Literary Journal of Science is our annual journal dedicated to historical and contemporary views on any topic of nonscholarly and personal scientific thought or feeling. We want that space where the literary meets the scientific world, where the scientific turns poetic and turns a phrase. Issues are non-themed.
Submissions open: FEB 1, 2022
Submissions close: DEC 31, 2022
FREE submissions: JUL, SEP, OCT
Selections made: JAN 2023
Publication: APR 2023 (issue #1)
FIND OUT MORE ➤
The Coil
We’re seeking individual pieces of nonfiction with a literary bent, including essays, book reviews, interviews, shelfies, columns, articles, artwork, historical writing, literary recipes, book lists, soundbites, spotlights, blog tours, and more.
The Coil is our weekday online literary magazine, running new content in the literary world every Monday through Friday. Please note that poetry, fiction, or historical writing must go through its respective category (Charter Oak, Luminaire, or open-reading periods) on this page. All other material can go through this portal.
Submissions open: Year-round
Selections made: Within 2 months
Publication: Within 6 months
FIND OUT MORE ➤
