We are currently closed to submissions for our 2025 Fiction Contest.

Deadline: Our deadline was extended until January 8, 2026. 

First place prize: $100. Publication online in the Midsummer Dream House Newsletter. 

Nominee(s): $50. Publication online in the Midsummer Dream House Newsletter. We nominate between 1-3 Nominees.

Non-Contest Winners: All entries will be considered for online publication in the Midsummer Dream House Newsletter.

Guidelines:

Submit 1 work of fiction between 100-10,000 words as a doc. or doc.x file.

You must be 18 years of age or over to submit.

We do not accept work that has been generated by or created in any way with the use of Artificial Intelligence.

Judges:

Emma Grey Rose (Editor-in-Chief)

George du Bois (Editor)

Melinda Snyder (Editor)

Jeff Edwards (Editor)

How the entries will be judged: We are looking for compelling and engaging stories that intentionally use writing techniques and skill to craft and carry the story from start to finish. 

Prizes: Winner and nominees will be notified by June 1, 2026. Payment for prizes will be sent by July 1, 2026. Payment is sent via PayPal. Please ensure that you have an active and functioning PayPal account prior to submitting.

Simultaneous Submissions: Simultaneous submissions are accepted. If you are submitting simultaneously, please withdraw your submission if accepted elsewhere. 

Reprints: If you are submitting previously published work, please note this in your submission and include where it was first published. Work that has been posted only to your social media account(s), personal website(s) or blog(s) is not considered previously published.

Rights: Midsummer Dream House acquires electronic rights and retains online archival rights. At this time, we do not offer payment for pieces selected for publication that are non-contest winners.

Response Time: All submissions will be responded to by June 1, 2026.

Submissions are accepted on Duotrope →

poetry contest [closed]

We are currently closed to submissions for our 2025 Poetry Contest.

Deadline: Our deadline was extended to January 8, 2026.

First place prize: $100. Publication online in the Midsummer Dream House Newsletter.

Nominee(s): $50. Publication online in the Midsummer Dream House Newsletter. We nominate between 1-3 Nominees.

Non-Contest Winners: All entries will be considered for online publication in the Midsummer Dream House Newsletter.

Guidelines:

Submit 1-3 poems.

You must be 18 years of age or over to submit.

We do not accept work that has been generated by or created in any way with the use of Artificial Intelligence.

Judges:

Emma Grey Rose (Editor-in-Chief)

George du Bois (Editor)

Melinda Snyder (Editor)

Jeff Edwards (Editor)

Entries will be judged on: 

Imagery

Use of Language

Concept

Form and Structure

Poems may take on any form or structure including free verse

Prizes: Winner and nominees will be notified by June 1, 2026. Payment for prizes will be sent by July 1, 2026. Payment is sent via PayPal. Please ensure that you have an active and functioning PayPal account prior to submitting.

Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are accepted. If you are submitting simultaneously, please withdraw your submission if accepted elsewhere. 

Reprints: If you are submitting previously published work, please note this in your submission and include where it was first published. Work that has been posted only to your social media account(s), personal website(s) or blog(s) is not considered previously published.

Rights: Midsummer Dream House acquires electronic rights and retains online archival rights. At this time, we do not offer payment for pieces selected for publication that are non-contest winners.

Response Time: All submissions will be responded to by June 1, 2026.

Submissions are accepted on Duotrope →