SmokeLong began offering workshops in person in 2019. We toured the UK–London, Norwich, Birmingham, and Manchester (which is definitely NOT in the Midlands)–and we had the best time. Then COVID came, and we simultaneously moved online–not actually because of COVID, but COVID contributed to our decision ultimately to offer workshops exclusively online. Since 2019, over 700 people have participated in our workshops, and many of you have shared on social media that your work has subsequently been published. Well, this slays us and we want to up the stakes, sweeten the pot, slap a cherry on it.
Have you taken part in a SmokeLong workshop? A SmokeLong webinar? If you have and you have published a narrative that began with SmokeLong, you are eligible to win The SmokeLong Workshop Prize. Here are the guidelines:
- Your narrative–fiction or nonfiction or anywhere in between–must have begun in a SmokeLong workshop (from 2019 to the present) and be published by December 31st (an annual deadline). You’ll be required to indicate the workshop, the workshop leader, and the writing task when you submit.
- Your narrative must of course be 1000 words or fewer.
- You must be 18 years of age or older.
- You may enter all narratives that qualify, but you must enter each separately as an acceptable file on Submittable. Please do NOT send us links to publications.
- Due to the nature of this competition, we won’t be able to assure that entries are blind. Your work might have already won a prize, for example. With this in mind, however, we do ask that you remove your name from the story document itself. We will transfer the top 50 entries to our guest judge.
- Staff members of SmokeLong and fellows are not eligible.
- Current Deadline: December 31, 2026.
The Judging:
Your entry or entries will be judged initially by the SmokeLong editors. The 2025 judge is Christopher Allen. Please watch our social media channels for the announcement of the long list, shortlist, and the winners near the end of January 2026. The 2026 competition is now open for entries. Submit your published work HERE.
The Prizes:
First prize: $500
Second prize: $100
Third prize: $50
Competition Fees:
What competition fees? This one’s on us.
