Short Fiction Contest Details

February 22nd, 2013

.

.

photo Creative Commons Zero – CC0

photo Creative Commons Zero – CC0

.

.

“The act of writing requires a constant plunging back into the shadow of the past where time hovers ghostlike.”

– Ralph Ellison

.

.

___

.

.

The Jerry Jazz Musician Short Fiction Contest was first held in 2002.  Since then, three times a year Jerry Jazz Musician has awarded a writer who submits, in our opinion, the best original, previously unpublished work of short fiction.

The Jerry Jazz Musician reader has interests in music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theater, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America.  Our newsletter subscribers include publishers, artists, musicians, and fellow writers.  While your writing should appeal to a reader with these interests and in these creative professions, all story themes are considered.

Winning stories are announced on the home page of Jerry Jazz Musician, and it will reside on the website permanently.  Jerry Jazz Musician also nominates writers for the Pushcart Prize.  In addition to publishing the winning story, with the consent of the author, we frequently publish short-listed stories.

.

Contest details

No entry fee is required. One story entry only.  Simultaneous submissions are accepted.

The contest is open to entrants from anywhere in the world (English language only please)

A prize of $150 will be awarded for the winning story.

In addition to the story being published on Jerry Jazz Musician, the author’s acceptance of the prize money gives Jerry Jazz Musician the right to include the story in an anthology that could appear in book or magazine form.  All other ownership rights are retained by the author.  If story appears subsequently in other publications, we ask authors to note that the story was originally published on Jerry Jazz Musician.

Submission deadline for the next contest — our 66th — is May 31, 2024.  Publishing date will be on or about August 10, 2024.  Ideally, stories will not exceed 3,000 words but stories of up to 4,000 words are considered.

Please submit your story by May 31, 2024 via Word (preferred) or PDF attachment to [email protected], and be sure to include your name, address and phone number with your submission, as well as a brief 50 – 100 word story synopsis.  Please include “Short Fiction Contest Submission” in the subject heading of the email.

We accept human generated entries only…

NO SUBMISSIONS GENERATED OR ASSISTED BY CHATBOT/A.I. ARE CONSIDERED. 

Thank you for understanding.

.

Good luck!

.

.

Click here to read full publishing terms and conditions

.

Click here to read “The Old Casino” by J.B. Marlow, the winning story in the 64th edition of the Jerry Jazz Musician Short Fiction Contest

.

Click here to view the six writers nominated by Jerry Jazz Musician for the 2022 Pushcart Prize

.

.

___

.

.

 

Jerry Jazz Musician…human produced (and AI-free) since 1999

.

.

.

Share this:

60 comments on “Short Fiction Contest Details”

  1. I was surprised to read the winning short story. Since jerry jazz is a jazz magazine I assumed that the story had to concern jazz. I will submit a different story this time.

  2. Where must you live to be able to enter? The prize is in dollars so I’m wondering if I have to live in America? Or is this a global competition?

  3. I’ve been lucky enough to have been published here, a couple years ago.

    What a class organization.

    I’ve never opened this site that I have not been bowled over by something here… an article, someone else’s short story, a music clip… everything is really first class.

    I’ll be happy to submit something every time I can and read through in between entries.

    You folks should be well-deservedly proud of what you do here.

    Continued success and sweet artistic dreams!

    – A fan!

    1. I’ve just discovered this site – well, about four hours ago. That was four hours of fun and a feeling of general awesomeness, not only at the quality of the stuff on here, but the wide range of topics. Consequently, I just want to say how much I agree with “A Fan” 😉
      That’s it, I’m hooked. Now go away, I have plenty to think about and even more to catch up with.
      Cheers, Andy

    1. Yes…This contest is ongoing. Please see the information on this page for details. I just updated them to address your questions. Good luck!

  4. I’m wondering if simultaneous submissions are okay, and if you send rejections? Thank you so much.

    1. Yes…Simultaneous submissions are fine, and we do send out rejection notices at the time the winning entry is announced.

    1. Yes…Simultaneous submissions are fine, and we do send out rejection notices at the time the winning entry is announced.

  5. […] Jerry Jazz Musician Fiction Contest. “The Jerry Jazz Musician reader has interests in music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theater, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America.” Genre: previously unpublished work of short fiction. Prize: $100.00. Deadline: January 31, 2017. […]

  6. Hi, he name of the competition is “short FICTION contest” but people are only talking about short stories. Are other prose form accepted. Something along stream of consciousness or just random expression of thoughts or incidence?

  7. Pingback: Tracy Glastrong
  8. […] to 5,000 words will be considered. Value: $100 Deadline: 31 May 2018 Open for: All writers Details here. Southern Fried Karma Press Novel […]

  9. Hello! I was just wondering when and where will the winners of the competition held in May 31, 2018 will be announced. Thank You!

  10. […] Jerry Jazz Musician Short Fiction Contest Stories can be on any theme and should ideally be up to 3,000 words, though those up to 5,000 words will be considered. Readers of this magazine are interested in music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theater, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America. Value: $100 Deadline: 30 September 2018 Open for: All writers Details here. […]

  11. Hi,
    The rules indicate that it is possible to make multiple submissions, but only one entry is permitted.
    Could you please clarify whether it is possible to enter more than one voice of fiction?
    Thank you.

    1. Submit one story only, please…You may of course submit that same story, simultaneously, to other publications.

      Thanks.

      Joe

Comment on this article:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

In This Issue

"Nina" by Marsha Hammel
A Collection of Jazz Poetry — Winter, 2024 Edition...One-third of the Winter, 2024 collection of jazz poetry is made up of poets who have only come to my attention since the publication of the Summer, 2023 collection. What this says about jazz music and jazz poetry – and this community – is that the connection between the two art forms is inspirational and enduring, and that poets are finding a place for their voice within the pages of this website. (Featuring the art of Marsha Hammel)

The Sunday Poem

The cover of John Coltrane's 1958 album "Soultrane"
“Soultrane” by George Held

Poetry

Proceeding From Behind: A collection of poems grounded in the rhythmic, relating to the remarkable, by Terrance Underwood...A relaxed, familiar comfort emerges from the poet Terrance Underwood’s language of intellectual acuity, wit, and space – a feeling similar to one gets while listening to Monk, or Jamal, or Miles. I have long wanted to share his gifts as a poet on an expanded platform, and this 33-poem collection – woven among his audio readings, music he considers significant to his story, and brief personal comments – fulfills my desire to do so.

Feature

Jamie Branch's 2023 album "Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war))"
On the Turntable— The “Best Of the ‘Best Of’” in 2023 jazz recordings...A year-end compilation of jazz albums oft mentioned by a wide range of critics as being the best of 2023 - including the late trumpeter Jamie Branch's Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war))

Poetry

Ali Yahya ayahya09, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
“Black Coffee Blues” – a poem by Mary O’Melveny

Essay

"Lester Leaps In" by Tad Richards
"Jazz and American Poetry," an essay by Tad Richards...In an essay that first appeared in the Greenwood Encyclopedia of American Poetry in 2005, Tad Richards - a prolific visual artist, poet, novelist, and nonfiction writer who has been active for over four decades – writes about the history of the connection of jazz and American poetry.

Interview

photo of Pepper Adams/courtesy of Pepper Adams Estate
Interview with Gary Carner, author of Pepper Adams: Saxophone Trailblazer...The author speaks with Bob Hecht about his book and his decades-long dedication to the genius of Pepper Adams, the stellar baritone saxophonist whose hard-swinging bebop style inspired many of the top-tier modern baritone players.

Poetry

Three poets and Sketches of Spain

Interview

IISG, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Interview with Judith Tick, author of Becoming Ella Fitzgerald: The Jazz Singer Who Transformed American Song...The author discusses her book, a rich, emotionally stirring, exceptional work that explores every element of Ella’s legacy in great depth, reminding readers that she was not only a great singing artist, but also a musical visionary and social activist.

Poetry

Trading Fours with Douglas Cole is an occasional series of the writer’s poetic interpretations of jazz recordings and film. This edition is influenced by Stillpoint, the 2021 album by Zen practitioner Barrett Martin

Review

Jason Innocent, on “3”, Abdullah Ibrahim’s latest album... Album reviews are rarely published on Jerry Jazz Musician, but Jason Innocent’s experience with the pianist Abdullah Ibrahim’s new recording captures the essence of this artist’s creative brilliance.

Short Fiction

Christerajet, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Short Fiction Contest-winning story #64 — “The Old Casino” by J.B. Marlow...The author's award-winning story takes place over the course of a young man's life, looking at all the women he's loved and how the presence of a derelict building informs those relationships.

Feature

George Shearing/Associated Booking Corporation/James Kriegsmann, New York, via Wikimedia Commons
True Jazz Stories: “An Evening With George,” by Terry Sanville...The writer tells his story of playing guitar with a symphony orchestra, backing up jazz legend George Shearing.

Short Fiction

photo via PxHere/CC0 Public Domain
“An Un-played Instrument” – a story by Terry Sanville

Poetry

The poet Connie Johnson in 1981
In a Place of Dreams: Connie Johnson’s album of jazz poetry, music, and life stories...A collection of the remarkable poet's work is woven among her audio readings, a personal narrative of her journey and music she considers significant to it, providing readers the chance to experience the full value of her gifts.

Short Fiction

“Sayir” – a short story by Ron Perovich

Poetry

"Jazz Trio" by Samuel Dixon
A collection of jazz haiku, Vol. 2...The 19 poets included in this collection effectively share their reverence for jazz music and its culture with passion and brevity.

Poetry

“Remembering Mose,” a poem by John Kendall Hawkins

Jazz History Quiz #170

photo of Dexter Gordon by Brian McMillen
This bassist played with (among others) Charlie Parker, Erroll Garner, Nat King Cole and Dexter Gordon (pictured), was one of the earliest modern jazz tuba soloists, and was the only player to turn down offers to join both Duke Ellington’s Orchestra and the Louis Armstrong All-Stars. Who is he?

Community

FOTO:FORTEPAN / Kölcsey Ferenc Dunakeszi Városi Könyvtár / Petanovics fényképek, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
.“Community Bookshelf, #1"...a twice-yearly space where writers who have been published on Jerry Jazz Musician can share news about their recently authored books. This edition includes information about books published within the last six months or so…

Contributing Writers

Click the image to view the writers, poets and artists whose work has been published on Jerry Jazz Musician, and find links to their work

Coming Soon

An interview with Tad Richards, author of Jazz With a Beat: Small Group Swing, 1940 - 1960;  an interview with Laura Flam and Emily Sieu Liebowitz, authors of But Will You Love Me Tomorrow? An Oral History of the 60's Girl Groups;  a new collection of jazz poetry; a collection of jazz haiku; a new Jazz History Quiz; short fiction; poetry; photography; interviews; playlists; and lots more in the works...

Interview Archive

Eubie Blake
Click to view the complete 22 year archive of Jerry Jazz Musician interviews, including those recently published with Richard Carlin and Ken Bloom on Eubie Blake (pictured); Richard Brent Turner on jazz and Islam; Alyn Shipton on the art of jazz; Shawn Levy on the original queens of standup comedy; Travis Atria on the expatriate trumpeter Arthur Briggs; Kitt Shapiro on her life with her mother, Eartha Kitt; Will Friedwald on Nat King Cole; Wayne Enstice on the drummer Dottie Dodgion; the drummer Joe La Barbera on Bill Evans; Philip Clark on Dave Brubeck; Nicholas Buccola on James Baldwin and William F. Buckley; Ricky Riccardi on Louis Armstrong; Dan Morgenstern and Christian Sands on Erroll Garner; Maria Golia on Ornette Coleman.

Site Archive