Narrative Prize
The $4,000 Narrative Prize is awarded annually for the best short story, novel excerpt, poem, one-act play, graphic story, or work of literary nonfiction published by a new or emerging writer in Narrative.
The deadline for entries for each year’s award is June 15.
The winner is announced each September, and the prize is awarded in October. The award, citing the winner’s name and the title and genre of the winning piece, is widely publicized, and each winner is cited in an ongoing listing in Narrative. The prize will be given to the best work published each year in Narrative by a new or emerging writer, as judged by the magazine’s editors. In some years, the prize may be divided between winners, when more than one work merits the award.
Click here to submit your work. (See our Guidelines.)
Narrative Prize Winners

Nathan Poole
Stretch Out Your Hand
2012 Winner

Natalie Diaz
Downhill Triolets
2012 Winner

Kevin A. González
Christmas Eve
2011 Winner

Anthony Marra
Chechnya
2012 Whiting Writers’ Award winner

Maud Newton
When the Flock Changed
2009 Winner

Alexi Zentner
Trapline
2008 Winner

Michael Dickman
Returning to Church
2008 Winner

Alma García
Letter to El Mateo
2007 Winner

Saidiya Hartman
A Journey along the Atlantic Slave Route
2007 Winner

Mermer Blakeslee
Leenie
2006 Winner

Ned Parker
On to Baghdad
2006 Winner

Pia Z. Ehrhardt
Famous Fathers
2005 Winner

Min Jin Lee
Axis of Happiness
2004 Winner