Contests

Enter your original visual artwork that captures the spirit of genre fiction for a chance to be featured on the cover of Page Turner Magazine.

2025 Contests

Late-night competition craving? You’ve come to the right place.
PTM runs a plethora of contests for both writing and art each academic year for any and every genre. The winner and runner-ups of each contest are published online and in our Spring print issue.

To submit your work for a contest: https://pageturnermagazine.submittable.com/submit

What we’re looking for:

We want contest submissions (1,500 words max) of potent prose that grabs the reader by the lapels, slingshots them through crackling tension, and lands them, disheveled, excited, and breathless, at a riveting end.

Genre Contest Schedule:

During the time frames listed below, we’ll accept flash fiction pieces (1,500 words max) from Emerson students, staff, and alumni that are based on the corresponding themes.

Genre Contests (1,500 words max):

1. Romance/Fantasy “A Hard Day’s Knight”: September 15–September 26
   • Prompt: Write a medieval romantasy rescue mission.
2. Mystery/Thriller “Autumn Enigma”: September 29–October 10
   • Prompt: Write a thrilling mystery centered around the themes of fall!
3. Horror/Sci-Fi “Psychics, Secrets, and Lies”: October 20–October 31
   • Prompt: No Pumpkin Spice Lattes here! Write a science-based scary story containing the best ingredients of a PSL: Psychics, Secrets, and Lies!

PAST WINNERS

Spring 2025:

“Happily Ever After?” Romance Contest

1. Winning Entry: “Something New” by Tenley Lillegard
2. Runner-Up: “Outage” by Zenia DeHaven

“Legal Crime” Mystery Contest

1. Winning Entry: “The Serenity Park Bandit” by Shay Manning
2. Runner-Up: “Sleuth or Dare” by Bretton Cadigan

“A Future In Your Past” Sci-Fi Contest

1. Winning Entry: “Misinformed” by Amira Mazzawy
2. Runner-Up: “Greatest of the Greeks” by Zenia DeHaven

Alumni Contest

1. Winning Entry: “Grace Land” by Sarah Pascarella

“Is It Really Cliche?” Trope Contest

1. Winning Entry: “The Butcher” by Jagger van Vliet
2. Runner-Up: “Cliche” by Arnine Weiss

Fall 2024:

“The Worst All-Nighter” Contest

1. Winning Entry: “Pillow Fight” by Ian Rossin
2. Runner-Up: “The Worst All-Nighter” by Rebecca Trifari

“An End to the Beginning” Contest

1. Winning Entry: “A Torch, A Wolf, A Death” by McKayla Gates
2. Runner-Up: “Mina’s Mermaid” by Madison Gagner

“Who’s Scary Now?” Horror Contest

1. Winning Entry: “Face Cards” by Abigail Meacham
2. Runner-Up: “Keeper’s Curse” by Shay Manning

“Untimely Portal” Fantasy Contest

1. Winning Entry: “Guard Dog” by Zenia deHaven
2. Runner-Up: “Party’s End” by Jennifer Sexton-Riley

Spring 2024:

“A Call to Adventure” Fantasy Contest

1. Winning Entry: “Goldtrace” by Zenia deHaven
2. Runner-Up: “The Fox and the Box” by Ali Dening

“Romancing the Reader” Romance Contest

1. Winning Entry: “Waiting for Thursdays” by Savannah Rush
2. Runner-Up: “The Best Cakes in Town” by Sarah Hart

“Baby There’s Bots Outside” Sci-Fi Contest

1. Winning Entry: “Memories (TM)” by Brianne Simone
2. Runner-Up: “Reality, Worth A Shot” by Savannah Jade

“Historie Fatale” Mystery Contest

1. Winning Entry: “Faithless” by Marleigh Green
2. Runner-Up: “Third And Finally” by Rowan Wasserman

“It was a Dark and Stormy Night” Thriller Contest

1. Winning Entry: “A Wretch Like Me” by Rhiannon Guzelian
2. Runner-Up: “His Face Was Abnormal” by Jacquelyn Agliata

Fall 2023:

“Spooky Season” Flash Fiction Contest

1. Winning Entry: “The Salesman” by Sophia Laughlin
2. Runner-Up: “Trail Angels” by Brigs Larson

Spring 2023:

“The Lost Issue” Contest

1. Winning Entry: “Blue Horizon” by Elizabeth Gomez
2. Winning Entry: “The Grizzly Machine” by Sam Kostakis

Spring 2022:

Fall 2021:

Spring 2021:

“Love In Paris” Contest

Winter 2021:

“Dragon Fire” Contest