Sifting through contests can be daunting, and while there are great tools out there to help, sometimes you just want a place to start. If you’re new to the world of contests and publication, Glimmer Train may be offering you exactly that. Glimmer Train presents a monthly contest with various themes, and this May, they are focusing on the new authors.

The Short Story Award for New Writers is open to any fiction writer whose work has not appeared in a print publication with a circulation of over 5000. First prize is $1200 and publication, as well as 20 copies of the mag to pass out to your friends or just carry around with a huge sense of pride. Submissions open today, May 1st, and close on May 31st, with winners announced July 31st. Glimmer Train accepts works of fiction on all themes, but does not accept novels, poetry or writing for children. For this contest, the limit is 12,000 words, with all shorter lengths accepted as well.

May 31st too soon? There are several other contests coming up this summer, including a second New Writers Award this August.

Glimmer Train also utilizes a user-friendly, paper-less submission process (though they will accept paper in a pinch) – it requires free registration, which you can start here.