Work-in-Progress Contest

Unleash Work-in-Progress (WIP) Award 2026 aims to assist writers in completing an important literary project and vision. The Unleash WIP Award offers writers support in the amount of $500 to supplement costs to support the completion of a book-length work of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Writers will receive a coaching call, and an excerpt/interview feature in Unleash Lit. This contest is designed to support writers who are just starting or have been toiling away but need a little boost to keep going. The Unleash Board of Directors will select the winner and provide individual support and mentorship. Guidelines: Submit up to the first 25 pages of your WIP (.doc, .docx) and answers to the following questions in the same document: Who are you as a creative person, and what is your creative vision? (No CV or resumes here) Who is your intended audience for this project, and why? Entries will be judged on originality, emotional resonance, and the author’s vision of the work they'd like to create. Please keep your name off all attachments. Share who you are as a creative, without disclosing your name. Submissions will be accepted until July 15, 2026. There are no refunds if you withdraw a submission. Multiple submissions may be submitted as separate applications. Please leave all identifying information off of the manuscript. The maximum length of a sample from your manuscript is 25 pages double-spaced. Genres accepted include fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and experimental/hybrid. If guidelines are not followed, the manuscript will be automatically rejected (e.g., including identifying information on the manuscript). Previously self-published works are accepted. Previously traditionally published works are only accepted if the author received little to no support.