Discover the Best Stories from the 2026 Great American Fiction Contest

The results of the 2026 Great American Fiction Contest have been officially announced, celebrating outstanding short fiction from emerging and established writers. This year’s competition drew more than 150 entries and showcased a wide range of powerful, deeply human stories.

First Place Winner: Bethany Bruno

Florida-based writer Bethany Bruno claimed first place for her short story “No Swimming at Monson’s,” which will be published both online and in print on January 2, 2026. Along with publication, Bruno received a $1,000 prize.

Bruno described learning about her win as surreal, saying she had to reread the notification email to be sure it was real. The recognition, she noted, felt especially meaningful after years of dedication to the craft that began in childhood.

Her winning story is rooted in the civil rights history of St. Augustine, Florida, inspired by the 1964 protest at the Monson Motor Lodge, where demonstrators entered a segregated pool and were met with a violent response from management. Bruno, who previously worked as a historical tour guide while studying at Flagler College, said the iconic photograph from that moment remained with her and sparked a desire to explore the lives often overlooked by history.

An accomplished short story writer and amateur historian. Bruno has been published in more than 90 literary journals, including The Sun, McSweeney’s, Brevity, and River Teeth. She has also authored two novels and is currently working on another, set in Florida during the 1960s.

Balancing writing with a full-time career and young children. Bruno shared that most of her creative work happens late at night or early in the morning. She described this recognition as validating after nearly 15 years of submitting her work to journals and magazines.

More about her work can be found at bethanybrunowriter.com.

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Runners-Up Recognized for Excellence

In addition to the top prize, the contest honored five runners-up, each receiving $200 and online publication of their stories. They will release their work weekly starting in January 2026.

Nancy Novick

Story: Emergency (January 9, 2026)
A tense and intimate story set in an emergency room, where a woman encounters both unexpected connection and personal discovery.
Bio: Novick holds a master’s degree from Columbia University and previously won the Mystery Writers of America’s Robert L. Fish Award.

S.E. Wilson

Story: Arms and Hands (January 16, 2026)
A reflective narrative about family tension and the emotional weight of a rediscovered wartime artifact.
Bio: Wilson began publishing fiction in 2023 and has appeared in journals such as Chiron Review and Louisville Review.

Jen Brewington

Story: The Future Is a Longed-For Past (January 23, 2026)
A moving story about memory, exile, and caregiving, complicated by the arrival of a young child.
Bio: Brewington teaches English at the University of Southern Mississippi and has been published in The Southern Humanities Review.

R.E. Dyer

Story: Dad’s Three Laws (January 30, 2026)
Two sisters confront family responsibility and a disturbing revelation involving their aging father.
Bio: Dyer has worked in education and curriculum design and is currently developing a dystopian novel.

Michele Major

Story: Wingspan (February 6, 2026)
A coming-of-age story shaped by trauma, resilience, and a complicated family dynamic.
Bio: A former professional dancer and educator, Major returned to writing later in life to pursue her long-held creative ambitions.

A Collection of the Best Stories

Editors praised the overall quality of submissions and have compiled the winning story, runners-up, and selected honorable mentions into a digital anthology. The ebook will be available across major platforms for $3.99, offering readers a chance to experience some of the strongest fiction from this year’s contest.

The 2026 Great American Fiction Contest continues to highlight compelling new voices and celebrate the enduring power of short fiction.

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