CultureEugene· Friday, October 30, 2026
A 3,000-word opening for Northwest fiction writers
Wordcrafters’ Cai Emmons contest accepts entries through November 30.
An unpublished story of 1,000 to 3,000 words can enter Wordcrafters’ Cai Emmons Short Fiction Contest, open to Oregon and Washington residents through November 30. The grand prize is $700, and finalists’ work is slated for an April 2027 anthology.
Eugene Weekly’s October 29 feature looks at the contest’s second year and its connection to Emmons’ encouragement of other writers. The organizer’s rules call for one submission per person and a manuscript without identifying information.
Entry is $7, or $5 for Wordcrafters members. The organizer also provides a fee-waiver application for BIPOC, QTGNC and disabled writers.
Field notes
What changed: A new local feature spotlights the second-year contest while submissions remain open.
Why it matters: Regional writers have a publication opportunity with a defined length and deadline.
Who may be affected: Fiction writers living in Oregon or Washington.