PFN – Fox Tales Contests. Theme: Portraits of Failure

Black Fox is accepting submissions for our Summer 2024 Fox Tales Prize. The theme for this round is “Portraits of Failure.” We are open to loose interpretations of the theme in any genre, as always.

We’re challenging writers to delve into the moments when plans collapse, dreams are crushed, and efforts fall short. How does a person grapple, adapt, and ultimately grow from their failures? What unexpected insights or opportunities arise from these experiences? Is failure sometimes final? What does that mean for a person when it is? For this contest, we hope writers will explore the hidden beauty, resilience, heartbreak, disappointment, and wisdom that stem from the greatest setbacks.

Please submit your strongest fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, and we will choose one winner that interprets the theme best. The prize is $300 and print publication in the Winter 2025 issue. All submissions are considered for print publication in the Winter 2025 issue. The contest entry fee is $12, and submissions must be submitted before midnight (EST) on August 31, 2024.

Please make sure your manuscript is double-spaced with 12-point font. Submissions should be no more than 5,000 words. For poetry, send up to three poems in the same document. For flash fiction, send up to two stories in the same document. Author’s name and page number should appear in the top right-hand corner of every page. We also ask that you specify the category/genre of your work in the cover letter. Please see our Submission Guidelines before submitting.

Fiction

We’re always looking for quality fiction to publish in our biannual issues. We accept work based on merit and not based on genre. We enjoy receiving submissions from under-represented genres such as: YA, romance, flash fiction, mystery, etc. We ask that you keep submissions to 5,000 words or less and follow our guidelines for preparing your manuscript. Submit your fiction through our submission manager found here.

Creative Nonfiction

We’re looking for personal essays and other creative nonfiction. There is no submission fee, but please prepare your manuscript according to our guidelines. Submit your creative nonfiction through our submission manager found here.

Poetry

Please send only three poems at a time in one document. Poems do not have to be double spaced, but poets should still use Times New Roman, 12 pt. font and the poet’s last name/page number should still appear in the top right hand corner of every page. Poets, please keep in mind that our issue pages are 6×9. For this reason, poems with particularly long lines often don’t work well. Submit your poetry through our submission manager found here.

We will select a winner by the end of November 2024, and each entrant will receive a response.

Please DO NOT submit work that isn’t ready. Take your time and polish your work to the best of your ability before sending it in. No changes can be made to your submission after we receive it. ***Writers, please note that entry fees are non-refundable, and payment to the winner is awarded via PayPal. We reserve the right to extend the contest deadline if necessary.***

The Black Fox team looks forward to reading your wonderful submissions!