Full Contest Rules
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The Page Prize in nonfiction recognizes the best short-form nonfiction writing. All forms and types of nonfiction (essay, lyrics, hybrid, multimodal, hermit-crab, braided, etc) are eligible for this prize, so long as they are fewer than 1,000 words, previously unpublished and original. Every submission will be considered for publication in the Pinch and the winner will receive $1,000 in addition to publication in the fall issue.
Overview
Submissions accepted from January 1 thru January 31 through our Submittable portal
Entry fee is $12
Winner receives $1,000 and publication in the fall 2024 issue of the Pinch.
Submissions should not exceed 1,000 words.
Previously published work and translations are ineligible
Simultaneous submissions accepted, as long as you notify us if the piece is accepted elsewhere. (No refunds will be issued for withdrawals.)
Process
The contest editor, who does not read the submissions, will oversee the process. The first round of readers are students and faculty at the University of Memphis. They all serve in positions on the masthead of the Pinch.
Each contest entry is judged blind. To ensure that your entry is not disqualified, please title your entry the name of your essay and remove all identifying details from the document itself.
All entries are read and scored by two or more readers. Once all the entries have been read and scored, those submissions in the top percentile will be reviewed by the editorial team, who will choose ten finalists.
Finalists are sent to the contest judge, who will make all final decisions with respect to the winner, runner-up and any honorable mentions.
The winner and any runners-up and/or honorable mentions will be posted publicly to the Pinch website during the spring semester of 2024.
PAYMENT
Due to the administrative demands of the University of Memphis, it can take several months after the award is announced to fully process payment to the winner. For those who reside in the United States, the university requires a valid state issued or federal issued ID, and completion of a W9 form. For those who reside outside the United States (who are not US Citizens) the university will require photo identification and banking information to complete a wire transfer. The wire transfer can take upward of six months to process.
Guidelines
Each entry should be a single file.
All identifying information should be removed from the file. Please double check the name of your file, the first page, and the header, which often include identifying information. We do understand that in nonfiction it can be difficult to erase all identifying details. Please avoid using last names in the text.
Do not include a cover page.
If the form allows, please use Times New Roman 12 point font and double space the text allowing for one-inch margins.
Any entry that exceeds 1,000 words will be ruled ineligible and will not be read.
Disregarding these rules may result in disqualification; no refund will be offered.
Questions can be sent to editor+contest@pinchjournal.com
Frequently Asked Questions
All contact with writers will be managed through Submittable or via our contest coordinator who can be reached at editor+contest@pinchjournal.com
We will accept multiple submissions, but each submission will incur the $12.00 entry fee.
We will accept submissions from domestic and international writers. Please note in the event that an international entry wins the contest, payment may take up to six months to complete.
We do not accept translations.
We will accept memoir excerpts so long as they stand alone as a complete essay with beginning, middle, and end.
Current Memphis students are ineligible to submit. Students at the undergraduate and graduate level must have been out of school for more than five years to submit.
All current staff and volunteer readers of the Pinch are ineligible. Staff members and volunteers who have not been part of the journal for at least five years are eligible.
Former students, relatives and friends of the contest judge are ineligible to submit.
The editors may offer publication, in a future issue of the Pinch or in the Pinch Journal Online, to any entry submitted to the contest.
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The Pinch Literary Award in fiction recognizes the best short stories. All forms and types of fiction are eligible for this prize, so long as they are fewer than 4,000 words, previously unpublished and original. Every submission will be considered for publication in the Pinch and the winner will receive $2,000 in addition to publication in the fall 2024 issue.
Overview
Submissions accepted from February 1 thru February 29 through our Submittable portal
Entry fee is $25
Winner receives $2,000 and publication in the fall 2024 issue of the Pinch.
Submissions should not exceed 4,000 words.
Previously published work and translations are ineligible
Simultaneous submissions accepted, as long as you notify us if the piece is accepted elsewhere. (No refunds will be issued for withdrawals.)
Process
The contest editor, who does not read the submissions, will oversee the process. The first round of readers are students and faculty at the University of Memphis. They all serve in positions on the masthead of the Pinch.
Each contest entry is judged blind. To ensure that your entry is not disqualified, please title your entry the name of your story and remove all identifying details from the document itself.
All entries are read and scored by two or more readers. Once all the entries have been read and scored, those submissions in the top percentile will be reviewed by the editorial team, who will choose ten finalists.
Finalists are sent to the contest judge, who will make all final decisions with respect to the winner, runner-up and any honorable mentions.
The winner and any runners-up and/or honorable mentions will be posted publicly to the Pinch website during the spring semester of 2024.
Payment
Due to the administrative demands of the University of Memphis, it can take several months after the award is announced to fully process payment to the winner. For those who reside in the United States, the university requires a valid state issued or federal issued ID, and completion of a W9 form. For those who reside outside the United States (who are not US Citizens) the university will require photo identification and banking information to complete a wire transfer. The wire transfer can take upward of six months to process.
Guidelines
Each entry should be a single file.
All identifying information should be removed from the file. Please double check the name of your file, the first page, and the header, which often include identifying information.
Do not include a cover page.
If the form allows, please use Times New Roman 12 point font and double space the text allowing for one-inch margins.
Any entry that exceeds 4,000 words will be ruled ineligible and will not be read.
Disregarding these rules may result in disqualification; no refund will be offered.
Questions can be sent to editor+contest@pinchjournal.com
Frequently Asked Questions
All contact with writers will be managed through Submittable or via our contest coordinator who can be reached at editor+contest@pinchjournal.com
We will accept multiple submissions, but each submission will incur the $25.00 entry fee.
We will accept submissions from domestic and international writers. Please note in the event that an international entry wins the contest, payment may take up to six months to complete.
We do not accept translations.
We will accept excerpts so long as they stand alone as a complete story with beginning, middle, and end.
Current Memphis students are ineligible to submit. Students at the undergraduate and graduate level must have been out of school for more than five years to submit.
All current staff and volunteer readers of the Pinch are ineligible. Staff members and volunteers who have not been part of the journal for at least five years are eligible.
Former students, relatives and friends of the contest judge are ineligible to submit.
The editors may offer publication, in a future issue of the Pinch or in the Pinch Journal Online, to any entry submitted to the contest.
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The Pinch Literary Award in poetry recognizes the best poetry. All forms and types of poetry are eligible for this prize, so long as they are fewer than 10 pages, previously unpublished and original. Every submission will be considered for publication in the Pinch and the winner will receive $2,000 in addition to publication in the fall 2024 issue. We are able to offer this award due the generous support of the Hohenberg Foundation.
Overview
Submissions accepted from February 1 thru February 29 through our Submittable portal
Entry fee is $25
Winner receives $2,000 and publication in the fall 2024 issue of the Pinch.
Submissions should not exceed 10 pages.
Up to THREE poems may be submitted as one entry
Previously published work and translations are ineligible
Simultaneous submissions accepted, as long as you notify us if the piece is accepted elsewhere. (No refunds will be issued for withdrawals.)
Process
The contest editor, who does not read the submissions, will oversee the process.
The first round of readers are students and faculty at the University of Memphis. They all serve in positions on the masthead of the Pinch.
Each contest entry is judged blind. To ensure that your entry is not disqualified, please title your entry the name of your story and remove all identifying details from the document itself.
All entries are read and scored by two or more readers. Once all the entries have been read and scored, those submissions in the top percentile will be reviewed by the editorial team, who will choose ten finalists.
Finalists are sent to the contest judge, who will make all final decisions with respect to the winner, runner-up and any honorable mentions.
The winner and any runners-up and/or honorable mentions will be posted publicly to the Pinch website during the spring semester of 2024.
Payment
Due to the administrative demands of the University of Memphis, it can take several months after the award is announced to fully process payment to the winner. For those who reside in the United States, the university requires a valid state issued or federal issued ID, and completion of a W9 form. For those who reside outside the United States (who are not US Citizens) the university will require photo identification and banking information to complete a wire transfer. The wire transfer can take upward of six months to process.
Guidelines
Each entry should be a single file.
All identifying information should be removed from the file. Please double check the name of your file, the first page, and the header, which often include identifying information.
Do not include a cover page.
If the form allows, please use Times New Roman 12 point font and double space the text allowing for one-inch margins.
Any entry that exceeds 10 pages will be ruled ineligible and will not be read.
Disregarding these rules may result in disqualification; no refund will be offered.
Questions can be sent to editor+contest@pinchjournal.com
Frequently Asked Questions
All contact with writers will be managed through Submittable or via our contest coordinator who can be reached at editor+contest@pinchjournal.com
We will accept multiple submissions, but each submission will incur the $25.00 entry fee.
We will accept submissions from domestic and international writers. Please note in the event that an international entry wins the contest, payment may take up to six months to complete.
We do not accept translations.
We will accept excerpts so long as they stand alone as a complete story with beginning, middle, and end.
Current Memphis students are ineligible to submit. Students at the undergraduate and graduate level must have been out of school for more than five years to submit.
All current staff and volunteer readers of the Pinch are ineligible. Staff members and volunteers who have not been part of the journal for at least five years are eligible.
Former students, relatives and friends of the contest judge are ineligible to submit.
The editors may offer publication, in a future issue of the Pinch or in the Pinch Journal Online, to any entry submitted to the contest.