During 2026, Sunspot Literary Journal will permanently close all contests and move to a grant model. A number of reasons led to this decision, including:
--Provide a larger, more meaningful award by combining cash prizes from various contests
--Support promising projects during the critical creation time, removing some of the burden from the author/artist
--Open opportunities to individuals at every stage of their career, including individuals who haven't had the time or resources to fully mature
Beginning in 2027, the grant will award at least $400 US to a single individual. Sunspot is exploring ways to offer additional awards so that more than one individual can be helped every grant cycle.
Monitor this space, or our Submittable or Duotrope pages, for updates.
Beginnings have the power to spark passion or curiosity. A poem handles this differently than a flash piece, which handles an opening differently than a novel. The first photo, painting or frame presented in a gallery, series, or graphic novel strives for the same intent. Openings contain a spark that promises to burn.
For Sunspot Lit’s Inception contest, send your best opening. There are no restrictions on theme, category, or the length of the piece or collection from which the excerpt comes. Word limit is 250 for prose, 25 words for poetry.
Graphic novel and comic book entries should be the first page (unlimited number of panels on that page) with a maximum of 250 words (cut the number of panels in order to meet the word count, if needed).
Visual art entries should be the first in a series, the first in a gallery lineup, the first in a themed collection, etc. Entries are limited to one image.
Open: For 2026, March 1
Close: For 2026, April 30
Permanently closed after 2026
Entry fee: $5.00
Prize: $100 cash plus publication for the winner.
All fees are final and nonrefundable. Revised entries can be made by withdrawing the original entry and resubmitting, paying a new fee for the new submission.
Publication will be offered to finalists. Sunspot asks for first rights only; all rights revert to the contributor after publication. Works, along with the creators’ bylines, are published in the next digital edition.
Works should be unpublished except on a personal blog or website. Artists offered publication may display their pieces in galleries, festivals or shows throughout the publication contract period.
Enter as many times as you like through Submittable or Duotrope, but only one piece per submission. Submission files that contain multiple pieces will be disqualified without review. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please withdraw your piece if it is published elsewhere before the winner is selected.
Sunspot Literary Journal supports the CLMP Code of Ethics in its competitions.
CLMP’s community of independent literary publishers believes that ethical contests serve our shared goal: to connect writers and readers by publishing exceptional writing. We believe that intent to act ethically, clarity of guidelines, and transparency of process form the foundation of an ethical contest. To that end, we agree to 1) conduct our contests as ethically as possible and to address any unethical behavior on the part of our readers, judges, or editors; 2) to provide clear and specific contest guidelines—defining conflict of interest for all parties involved; and 3) to make the mechanics of our selection process available to the public. This Code recognizes that different contest models produce different results, but that each model can be run ethically. We have adopted this Code to reinforce our integrity and dedication as a publishing community and to ensure that our contests contribute to a vibrant literary heritage.
Sunspot will avoid conflicts of interest when judging entries. Specifically, family members (including domestic partners) of the journal's staff are excluded from participation.
Acquaintance alone (former clients or students, known associates, etc.) does not disqualify any submission. In instances where a contest submission is recognized by any of the judges, including preliminary and final judges, that piece will be judged by an individual without any connection to the submitting artist.
In the rare case of a tie, the cash prize along with any non-cash prizes will be doubled, and the full prize amount and coverage will be given to each of the winners.
In no case will a cash prize be withheld due to a low number of submissions or a "lack of quality" of submissions. Cash prizes will be awarded in every case.