Our main website call has closed early due to an overwhelming response and number of submissions. If we don’t fill all spot with the current batch, we will reopen briefly on July 20th. 

Foofaraw looks for the best in storytelling across the realms of surrealism, slipstream, speculative, and the strange.

We often have multiple submission calls going on at a time, which may vary. We also may pause calls if we fall behind in giving adequate responses to ensure we do not leave people waiting too long.

In general, our main website call is open in Q2 with publishing happening in the back half of the year, and Q4 with publishing happening in the front half of the following year. 

Our print anthology is open for submissions in Q1 with a Q4 publication. 

An Ordinary Contest runs in Q3.

Quotidian Bagatelle, our micro imprint, alternates months between an open call in odd months and our Crumb's drabble contest in even months.

$3.00
$3.00
Submit to Novelettes

There is an optional $3.00 submission fee on the submission form. If you have the means, we kindly ask you pay the fee to help support cover the costs of running Foofaraw. If you don't have the means, please reach out and we will happily allow you to bypass the fee.

Guidelines

Word Limit: 

  • 7500-17500 words

Pay Rate: 

  • $25 advance & 50% profit share royalties

We are open to a sliding scale of higher advance and lower profit share royalties

Language: 

  • English

Rights: 

We request first serial rights and non-exclusive, indefinite archival rights. Any rights not used by the publisher within twelve months will return to the author.

Requirements:

  • We do not accept multiple submissions from a single person at a time
  • We do not accept previously published works.
  • We do not accept work created or assisted by AI.

What are we looking for

  • Fiction
  • Creative Non-fiction
  • Comics
  • Humor/Satire

Hard sells: 

religious themes / anthropomorphism / zombies / ghosts / vampires / dragons / retelling of fairy tales, folklore, etc.

Comps that would be an easy NO: Walking Dead, Midnight Mass, Cars, Sinners, Salems Lot, Apostle, NOS4A2

Fiction

The general areas/genres of interest for fiction in foofaraw are:

  • Surreal, Slipstream, Speculative, Strange
  • Magical Realism
  • Sci-Fi / Horror / Fantasy
  • Mystery / Thriller / Crime / Noir
  • Experimental
Ends on $10.00
$10.00
Submit to An Ordinary Contest

Writing and submission period: August 7 - August 16, 2026  

Entry fee: $10  

Word limit: 1,500–3,000 words  

Prompts: 3 provided; 2 required in story  The three prompts will only be announced via email to those participating.

Entries purchased after July 30th will cost $25

How it works

Writers can purchase their entry any time between now and the end of the contest. Each entry purchased equates to one story that writers can submit. All participants will be sent the prompts and link to submit their story.

All stories should take the ordinary of everyday life and put a twist on it, whether it’s speculative, surreal, magical realism, etc., while adhering to the specific contest prompts.

Three prompts will be sent to participants. Writers will be required to include two in their stories (no bonus points for including all three):

  • a specific line/quote
  • a story element
  • a surprise

Prizes and publication

First place: 50% of prize money (minimum of $100) + publication in Foofaraw Press  

Second place: 30% of prize money (minimum of $75) + publication in Foofaraw Press  

Third place: 20% of prize money (minimum of $50) + publication in Foofaraw Press  

Five honorable mentions: will receive their entry free back (if we reach 100 entries)

*Total prize money will be 60% of all entry fee income. 10% goes to administration fees (Submittable charges $1 plus 3% for every transaction), then the remaining 30% is split four ways between the three judges and Foofaraw.

 

Entry guidelines

  • Format: Standard manuscript format, 12pt, 1.5 line spacing
  • Submission method: Submittable entry will be opened for editing when the prompts are sent out where you can upload your story when complete.
  • Previously published work: Not accepted
  • Anonymous judging: Remove your name from manuscript pages

Absolutely no AI

Timeline

Entries available for purchase: NOW

Prompts announced and e-mailed to participants: August 7, 2026

Writing/submission period: August 7 - August 16, 2026

Submission deadline: August 16, 2026 (11:59 PM PT)

Judging period: September–October 2026

Judges

Andrea Cavedo, winner of 2025's Ordinary Contest

Ashlee Lhamon, writer and Foofaraw Fellow with a debut novel coming soon

Jenifer Reynolds, co-founder and co-editor of Trollbreath Magazine

Judging process

Round one: Editorial staff screens all entries for adherence to guidelines and basic quality standards  

Round two: Stories are divvied up between the three judges to read, with each selecting five finalists  

Round three: The judges will deliberate to decide the winners from the fifteen finalists. Foofaraw editorial staff will select honorable mentions from the remaining finalists.

Judging criteria

Stories will be evaluated on:

  • Style: Does the story bring a distinct voice?
  • Prose: Does the story read clearly without errors or unclear language?
  • Originality: How does the story bring something new to the ordinary of everyday life?
  • Resonance: How long does it linger with the reader after the final sentence?
  • Adherence: Does it include two of the three provided prompts?

Rights and publication

More info can be found about rights and the publication process on our Submissions page
  • First serial rights for winning stories and perpetual non-exclusive archive rights
  • Non-exclusive anthology rights for one year 
  • All other rights remain with authors
  • Authors retain copyright

Eligibility

  • Open to all writers worldwide
  • Stories must be written in English
  • Authors must be eighteen or older
  • Foofaraw Press staff, editors, and guest judges are ineligible (slush readers for other calls can enter).

Questions?

Email us at contest@foofaraw.press

Ends on This opportunity will close after 100 submissions have been received.
Submit to Crumbs—June 2026

Crumbs is a semi-monthly, themed, 100-word drabble story contest from Quotidian Bagatelle and Emma Burnett.

Every other month, we will announce a theme and open for submissions. There is no fee to enter, but submissions are capped at 100.

Five stories will be selected for publication in Quotidian Bagatelle magazine and on the web. All published pieces will receive payment. Three shortlist winners aka Les Brisures will receive $5; Bouchée du Benêt will receive $10; and Miette d'Or will receive $15.

JUNE THEME:

Ash: what's left after burning

Submissions close once we receive 100 submissions or on the final day of the month—whichever comes first.

Submit to Satire, reviews, op-eds, and cartoons

This is our combined, year-round call for Satire, Reviews, Op-eds, and Cartoons.

Cartoons:

We are looking for political, witty, or surreal cartoons in the style of The New Yorker, Economist, or The Weekly Humorist.

We are not looking for amateur art or quick sketches. Pieces should be polished.

Submit up to three at a time.

Pay: $15/each

Satire:

We are looking for satirical pieces related to politics, tech, culture, entertainment, or sports.

We are not looking for short stories that just happen to be humorous. Plot is not the goal here.

Think McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, The Onion, and The New Yorker’s Shouts & Murmurs.

Word count: 500-1000

Pay: $15.00

Op-eds:

We are looking for timely, biting, and witty op-eds to cover the moment we are in.

We are not looking for lengthy essays, regurgitated news, explainers, or personal pieces.

Word count: 500-1000

Pay: $15.00

Short Fiction Reviews:

We are looking for reviews of short fiction from other small litmags and indie presses.

We are not looking for reviews from big magazines or well-known authors.

Word count: 500-1250

Pay: $15.00