The Quarterly Contest

Poems and Short Stories

Current Theme: New Movement (Winter 2026)
Prize: $50 Gift Card to a Local Bookstore of Your Choice
Submissions Open October 6, 2026
Deadline: December 21, 2026

Winners of the prize will be announced on or before the end of the season on the Spring Equinox, March 20, 2027.

While paths may have their resolutions, these are always, despite best efforts, temporary. Whether someone new approaches a situation or it grows from the seeds of existential boredom, novelty is omnipresent. Mad Woman Publishing invites you to explore a situation that had an apparent resolution but changed anyway.

To participate in the contest, make your submission via the below form.

All submissions will be reviewed anonymously, so please be sure to follow the directions laid out in the form to preserve the integrity of this process.

Please only submit one piece to the contest. If you want to submit a larger collection of poetry for review, please do so via our direct manuscript submissions link. If multiple items are submitted, we will randomly select one of your pieces and treat that as your sole submission.