The Gabriele Rico Challenge for Nonfiction recognizes outstanding works of nonfiction, awarding $1,333 to the author of the winning entry. We are looking for creative  nonfiction, such as personal essays and narratives, not scholarly papers or book reviews. All works should be stand-alone essays, not chapters of a longer work. Please limit prose submissions to 5,000 words.  

 

Please be sure to:

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• provide a cover letter that includes your name, mailing address, phone number, and email address (but exclude this information from the works themselves)

• include a brief bio, up to 50 words

• save submissions as a Microsoft Word (.docx or .doc) or Portable Document Format (.pdf) document

• double-space text, and use any readable 12-point typeface (such as Times New Roman)

• number pages

• include word count (5,000-word limit)

• check that your Submittable profile is up-to-date

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The contest reading fee is $20, which includes a free copy of the latest edition of Reed Magazine. (Submitters with US addresses on file will receive print copies of the journal, whereas those with international addresses may receive digital copies.) Multiple submissions are accepted as separate entries. Contest submissions not selected for final judging may still be considered for publication in the journal and/or online. ​

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Gabriele Rico Challenge for Nonfiction submitters can expect to hear back from Reed Magazine by the end of December 2025.​