Michigan Magic is Michigan's first science fiction and fantasy contest and symposium aimed solely at undergraduate writers. We're delighted to have Jihyun Yun as our judge for our inaugural Michigan Magic writing contest.
We are accepting submissions from undergraduate writers from around the state. Winners and runners-up will have their stories published on our website and will be invited to read at the Michigan Magic symposium on April 22, 2026.
Please submit your work as a .doc, .docx, or .pdf attachment and use standard formatting: 12-point font, double-spaced, 1-inch margins. Maximum length: 3,000 words
Email michiganmagicwriters@gmail.com with the following:
Subject Line: Michigan Magic Submission - [your last name]
Your manuscript with a title (excluding your name or any identifying information)
A cover email including your full name, university, email and phone number, title of your submission, and a brief third-person bio that describes yourself as a writer
Please submit only one piece per author. Work must be original and previously unpublished. Simultaneous submissions are permitted, but please let us know immediately if your work is accepted somewhere else. Submissions must be received by 11:59 PM EST on March 5, 2026.
All submitters will receive a confirmation email. Winners will be announced in April 2026. The winner will receive a $150 prize, the first runner-up will receive a $100 prize, and the second and third runner ups will recieve signed copies of Jihyun Yun's novel And The River Drags Her Down. Winners and selected finalists will be invited to participate in the Michigan Magic Symposium on April 22, 2026.
Email: michiganmagicwriters@gmail.com
Instagram: @michiganmagicwriters
X: @magicmichigan26
Bluesky: @magicmichigan.bsky.social