As with our regular essay/memoir submissions, we are seeking strong and stirring personal stories.
$125, $75, and $50 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Entry fee: $15. Contest Dates: January 5th to April 6th, 2025 — Midnight EST.
STREETLIGHT'S 2026 ESSAY/MEMOIR CONTEST GUIDELINES:
- Send us a minimum of 800 and maximum of 2400 words. Please do not submit previously published work.
- Please submit only one written work per entry–multiple entries are permitted, but please make a separate submission for each entry.
- Simultaneous submissions at other magazines are okay. Notify us immediately if a piece is accepted elsewhere.
- Contest deadline is April 6th, 2026 midnight EST.
- Winners will be announced on April 20th, 2026, and all winning entries will be published in Streetlight online and in Streetlight‘s annual anthology. Additionally, all contest entries will be further considered by our non-fiction editor for general publication in Streetlight’s Essay/Memoir category.
- Entry fee: $15
- Winners will be chosen by our non-fiction editor Susan Shafarzek and blog editor Paula Boyland.
This is a blind contest and your name will be hidden from our judges–do NOT include your name or address on the pages containing your work.
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
- By submitting your work, you grant Streetlight Magazine first North American print and electronic publication rights and guarantee that the submission is your own, original writing. All rights return to the author after publication.
- If you publish your work again at a later date, we request that you include a notice of the first printing appearing at Streetlight.
- Streetlight will only mark contest entries as ACCEPTED. Our editors do NOT decline contest entries nor close them out. After the contest deadline, winners are announced, and non-winning entries are considered for general publication.
- All winning entries will be published on our website and also in the 2026 Streetlight anthology.
- Winning entries may receive an audio production for Streetlight Voices.
We seek to publish all types of well-crafted poems which go beyond description, and resonate with rich language, clear images and a voice. Streetlight Magazine welcomes work by both emerging and established poets. Simultaneous submissions are fine, but please let us know immediately if your poetry is accepted elsewhere. Send us 3-5 unpublished poems in a single document. A cover letter is not necessary, but please include with your submission a 2-3 sentence biographical note that will be used if your work is accepted.
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
- By submitting your work, you grant Streetlight Magazine first North American print and electronic publication rights and guarantee that the submission is your own, original writing. All rights return to the author after publication.
- If you publish your work again at a later date, we request that you include a notice of the first printing appearing in Streetlight.
- All accepted entries will be published in the Streetlight annual anthology.
We are looking for elegant and memorable writing, both traditional and experimental. Send us stories up to 1,200 words in length. Simultaneous submissions are fine, but please let us know immediately if your story is accepted elsewhere.
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
- By submitting your work, you grant Streetlight Magazine first North American print and electronic publication rights and guarantee that the submission is your own, original writing. All rights return to the author after publication.
- If you publish your work again at a later date, we request that you include a notice of the first printing appearing at Streetlight.
- All accepted entries will be published in the annual Streetlight anthology.
- Accepted entries may receive an audio production for the Streetlight Voices podcast.
We seek creative non-fiction and essays that examine issues from fresh, new angles. Send work that arcs towards truth--as ephemeral as that may be--whether by examining real life, or through the exercise of pure thought. Send us work that can change our minds and our way of seeing the world. Simultaneous submissions are fine, but please let us know immediately if your story is accepted elsewhere.
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
- By submitting your work, you grant Streetlight Magazine first North American print and electronic publication rights and guarantee that the submission is your own, original writing. All rights return to the author after publication.
- If you publish your work again at a later date, we request that you include a notice of the first printing appearing at Streetlight.
- All accepted entries will be published in the annual Streetlight anthology.
- Accepted entries may receive an audio production for the Streetlight Voices podcast.
Streetlight seeks original art submissions -- paintings, photography, pastels, pen and ink -- that will make us pause and consider. Simultaneous submissions are fine, but please let us know immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
- By submitting your work, you grant Streetlight Magazine first North American print and electronic publication rights and guarantee that the submission is your own, original writing. All rights return to the author after publication.
- If you publish your work again at a later date, we request that you include a notice of the first printing appearing at Streetlight.
- All accepted entries will be published in the annual Streetlight anthology.
We welcome guest bloggers -- it's free to submit a blog to Streetlight Magazine.
We're interested in topics about the literary and visual arts as well as personal perspectives, humor, commentary, and interviews with writers and visual artists. Blogs should be between 300-700 words long and may be edited to fit our website's format and style.
- You may submit previously published blogs, and we will credit your blog accordingly.
- Casual, informal writing is okay.
- Authors retain all copyrights and their content will appear on the Streetlight Magazine website with the author's permission.