emerging writer’s contest

In the spirit of the journal’s founding mission, the Ploughshares Emerging Writer’s Contest recognizes work by an emerging writer in each of three genres: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. We consider authors “emerging” if they haven’t published or self-published a book.

One winner in each genre per year will receive $2,000 and publication in the literary journal. The 2025 contest—judged by R. O. Kwon in fiction, Joshua Bennett in poetry, and Elisa Gabbert in nonfiction—is now open. The winners will be announced this fall.