Prize-winning stories, essays, and poems that ignore the crowd and follow the muse (in 1,000 words or less).
August 18, 2023Lisa Ochoa lives and writes in Tucson, AZ. Her writing explores the complicated world of our...July 25, 2023As a child, I was obsessed with the idea of my house being haunted. Never mind the fact that my...July 17, 2023“This place used to be crawling with bees,” said Jenny’s older cousin. “Literally crawling. They...Science, politics, and religion are the most influential forces that alter the course of human...June 13, 2023I am a wanderer In search of new beginnings A vagabond With nothing but a bag full of hopes...I’m standing in the queue at the corner shop, two women are waiting for their turn in front of...More PostsPast Prize Winners
Zoë Crowest
Western Australia
Ed McManis
Denver, Colorado
Jean Marie Alfieri
Colorado Springs, CO
J.McAuley
Nelson, BC, Canada
Korey Wallace
Sioux City, Iowa
Anna Svoboda
London, England
Daniel J. Guyre
Greenfield, Indiana
Paula Snow
Nelson, BC, Canada
Jude Brewer
Portland, Oregon
Adrienne Garrison
Bloomington, Indiana
Brian Feehan
Wilton, Connecticut
Jess Chua
Port Charlotte, Florida
Don J. Rath
San Francisco, California
Kathryn Wilder
Dolores, Colorado
Zea Archer
New Jersey
Natalie Mucker
Bellevue, Kentucky
WRITE. REFINE. RELEASE. (repeat)
"The truth is that joy is an accompaniment of creative function, of creative goal-striving."
— Dr. Maxwell Maltz
22
STORY PRIZES
26
ESSAY PRIZES
15
POEM PRIZES
CULTIVATE
A NEW MONTHLY WRITING HABIT
Become a Member Today
Join us for these amazing benefits.
Starter Plan
For individual users
$9.00
per month
Basic course unlocked
Email support
No video guides
Recommended
Pro Plan
For team users
$19.00
per month
Advanced course unlocked
Live chat support
Video guides
Enterprise Plan
For large teams
$39.00
per month
Everything in Pro, plus:
One-on-one coaching
Bonus care package!
Inspired Writings
WRITTEN. REFINED. RELEASED.
"The truth is that joy is an accompaniment of creative function, of creative goal-striving.
It is possible to win a fake "success," but when you do, you are penalized with an empty joy."
— Dr. Maxwell Maltz
22
STORY PRIZES
26
ESSAY PRIZES
15
POEM PRIZES
CULTIVATE
YOUR OWN MONTHLY WRITING HABIT
Latest Prize Winners
#63 | Ally Gregory
Chicago, IL
"Threaded"
MUSEPAPER STORY PRIZE
Ally Gregory is a curious person with a penchant for nonsense. She's been telling tall tales her whole life. Currently, she lives in Chicago with her wife and their dog, Radar. Her namesake, Jack Allen, is one of her biggest inspirations.
#62 | Zoë Crowest
Western Australia
"Rules of Deception"
MUSEPAPER STORY PRIZE
Currently residing in Australia, Zoë Crowest is originally from the UK, a Literature graduate of Exeter University. Upon realizing working life was sapping her of creativity, she began writing in 2019 and has been shortlisted and longlisted in several competitions. Zoë also enjoys competing in various sports with her dogs, Monty and Otis.
Two-Time Musepaper Prize Winner!#61 | Jennifer McAuley
Nelson, BC, Canada
"The Rules"
MUSEPAPER STORY PRIZE
Jennifer McAuley spent over a decade working as a visual artist, living on the wet west coast of BC, Canada. After a series of life changes which included a move to the small mountain town of Nelson, BC, she started to earnestly pursue the craft of writing.
This is the author’sfirst literary award.#60 | Jean Marie Alfieri
Colorado Springs, CO
"It All Started With..."
MUSEPAPER ESSAY PRIZE
An author, speaker, and nomad at heart, Jean Marie Alfieri and her husband currently reside in Colorado. She finds much of her writing inspiration from her “vintage puppies” and volunteer work at her local Humane Society. She is best known for her collection of short story poems starring Zuggy the Rescue Pug.
This is the author’sfirst literary award.
+This will be the author’sfirst essay to appear in print.#59 | Ed McManis
Denver, Colorado
MUSEPAPER STORY PRIZE
Ed McManis is a writer, editor, erstwhile Head of School, and father. His work has appeared in more than 50 publications. He has just published esteemed author Joanne Greenberg’s (I Never Promised You a Rose Garden) latest novel, Jubilee Year.
He holds the outdoor free-throw record at Camp Santa Maria: 67 in a row.
This will be the author’s firstwork of fiction to appear in print.#58 | Paula Snow
Nelson, BC, Canada
MUSEPAPER STORY PRIZE
Paula Snow lives in the mountain town of Nelson, British Columbia, and has come late to the art of writing. Her past life experiences include cooking in remote camps, riding freight trains around the country, and trying to tame large unruly tracts of land. Her stories are born from dusty memories found in cardboard boxes.
This will be the author’sfirst work to appear in print.#57 | Zoë Crowest
Western Australia
MUSEPAPER STORY PRIZE
Zoë Crowest lives in Australia but is originally from the UK. She turned her hand to creative writing towards the end of 2019, and has been short listed and long listed in a few flash fiction competitions. Aside from writing, she enjoys competing in various sports with her dogs, Monty and Otis.
This is the author’sfirst literary award.+This will be the author’sfirst work to appear in print.#56 | Korey Wallace
Sioux City, Iowa
MUSEPAPER POEM PRIZE
Korey Wallace’s poem “Something Akin To Knowing” has been nominated for the 2020 Pushcart Prize. His time is divided between working, writing, and watching too much Netflix while eating something containing bacon.
This is the author’sfirst literary award.
Copyright © 2022 MUSEPAPER | SUNSHOT PRESS
Powered by the ether.