The John Gardner Memorial Prize for Fiction The annual winner receives a $500 Prize and publication in summer issue of Harpur Palate.
Contest Summary:
The John Gardner Memorial Prize for Fiction is an annual contest hosted by Harpur Palate Literary Journal, currently open for submissions.
The 2026 contest period is from January 1 to March 15, with a $500 prize and publication in the summer issue of Harpur Palate.
Submissions must be previously unpublished short stories under 4,500 words, with a $20 entry fee per story.
Simultaneous submissions are accepted, provided the author withdraws the piece upon acceptance elsewhere.
The contest is open to all writers, excluding those affiliated with Binghamton University, past or present.
Submissions: Short story submissions should be previously unpublished and shorter than 8000 words. You may enter as many stories as you wish.
Prizes: The annual winner receives a $500 Prize and publication in summer issue of Harpur Palate.
Deadline: April 15