BCLF Elizabeth Nunez Caribbean-American Writer’s Prize

The 2026 BCLF Short Fiction Story under the theme ‘What Cannot Be Done Alone’ invites writers to explore the relationships, tensions, and collaborations that shape Caribbean lives across economies, generations, geographies, and imagined worlds.

WHO MAY SUBMIT: 

• All entrants must be of Caribbean heritage/of Caribbean descent
• Be a resident of the United States/Canada
• Be over the age of 18 years
• Self-published writers may apply

WHAT TO SUBMIT:

• Stories must be original works of fiction. Work should not be published in any nationally distributed publication
• Word count: 3,000 words or less

HOW TO SUBMIT:

• Contest portal must be used to submit stories
• Emailed manuscripts WILL NOT be considered
• Please review submission guidelines carefully before selecting a category and entering your story
• Errors in category selection will not be corrected on your behalf; requests for the same WILL NOT be accommodated
• If you are uncertain of which category you belong to, send an email to contact@bklyncbeanlitfest.com

SUBJECT: CATEGORY CLARIFICATION

The deadline for submission of stories is July 1st at 11:59 pm EST. Late submissions will not be accepted.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

To submit your story, please click the SUBMIT ENTRY button below.

• All stories should be submitted in English
• Entrants are allowed one (1) submission only. Entrants may not submit in both categories. Multiple submissions (of stories/award categories) will be rendered ineligible and disqualified from consideration
• Writers who use pen names may not submit multiple entries 
• English translations of another language will be accepted  
• Review categories thoroughly to self-determine eligibility. The BCLF will not switch entry categories if there is a user error at selection
• All stories must be the original work of the entrant. The BCLF appreciates your integrity in this regard
• The judges’ decision is final

WRITING CONTEST POLICY ON AI USE

Restrictions on AI Use

Any and all use of generative AI tools to prepare your submission is strictly prohibited. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, the use of ChatGPT, Claude, and other LLM-based tools to generate, edit, revise, summarize, or otherwise assist in preparing your submission.

All work submitted for the Writing Contest must be your own work, drafted by you for the Contest. You may not rely on any external AI assistance or materials.Copying and pasting any content directly from any external source is strictly prohibited.

BCLF employs various tools to review competitors’ and assess compliance with this policy. 

Attestation of Compliance with the Contest’s Policy on AI Use. 

Each entrant must include at the top of their manuscript an attestation, in their own words, that: (1) they read the Contest’s Policy on AI Use, (2) they did not use generative AI tools in any prohibited manner, and (3) that all submitted work is entirely their own.

For illustrative purposes, an attestation might read: “I affirm that I read the Contest’s Policy on AI Use, that I did not use any generative AI for the Contest, and that all work is entirely my own.” Entrants should use their own language for their attestation.

Consequences for Violations of the Competition’s Policy on AI Use

The consequence for violation of the Contest’s Policy on AI Use is immediate disqualification. The decision is final and unappealable. 

*PLEASE READ before uploading manuscript.

Do not include your name in the manuscript (story) upload. This ensures a blind judging process. Stories must be 3,000 words or less. 25 extra characters have been added to accommodate your title.

Please review for grammar and formatting before uploading. *Note that this platform will accept whatever formatting you have set in your writing program.

Stories above word limit will be rejected. Good luck!