Rules

Online entries must be accompanied by submission fee. (U.S. Funds only will be accepted.) Please use our secure online checkout to submit entry fee (via PayPal) with your uploaded entry. Unpaid submissions will be discarded and not read. Your PayPal receipt is your confirmation of submission.

Entry files must include cover sheet with your contact information and you must complete payment for each submission.

Novel:  Length is open but the novel must be unpublished. Publication rights revert to winner. Your uploaded file must include a cover sheet with your contact information. Entry fee: $30.00 per entry (U.S.$ only). Must be received by September 30, 2025 (midnight, Central Time Zone). Mailed entries should be postmarked by September 30, 2025.

*If you are unable to enter or pay online, you may mail a printed copy or a disc containing your work accompanied by your submission fee. Make checks payable to Hackney Literary Awards. Mail to Myra Crawford, PhD, Executive Director, 4650 Old Looney Mill Road, Birmingham, AL 35243. A $30.00 processing fee will be charged for any returned check.

Only original, unpublished manuscripts may be entered.

Each entry should be one PDF file (save DOC or DOCX files as PDFs) and include cover sheet information:  title, author’s name, address, telephone number, and email address. WordPerfect or other applications will be disqualified. PDF files are preferred.

Entries must be typed and double-spaced (short story and novel only). Do not submit illustrated or graphically designed manuscripts. Please name your file with the title of the work, your name, or other unique file name. Entries titled "Draft," "Hackney Submission," or the like may not be identified as your work.

Your PayPal receipt is your confirmation of submission.

Multiple entries must be submitted separately by deadline dates. Manuscripts will not be returned.

It is the responsibility of the submitting writer to adhere to these rules.