the trifecta
the long story
Every fall, for seven years, Iron Horse has accepted submissions for our annual Trifecta, an issue in which we published those marathon-long manuscripts most journals won't consider. While we originally published three long pieces every year--one long poem, one long essay, and one long story, we are converting the line to prose only. (Our NaPoMo issue will include a contest for poets now.)
Every fall, we still read marathon-long submissions but only in nonfiction and fiction--prose manuscripts that run between 20 and 40 pages. The entry fee is $15, which includes a year's subscription. The winner--either one essay or one story--will receive $1,000 and be published in an e-single, in full-color, available for free download to all readers via ISSUU.
The winner will receive a lot of PR on our website, but also on our social media outlets. Anyone can read, download, and share the e-single when released.
NOTE: Iron Horse does not read long manuscripts outside of the LONG STORY submission period. So don't miss the opportunity to have our editors look at your long stories or essays every fall. Gates are open from Aug 15 through Oct 15. Our free submission day is Sept 1, on which we will accept 25 free submissions.
For all other days in the submission period, submit here.
And read the IHLR Trifecta stories, essays, and poems at IHLR Online ... for FREE!
closed
2024 finalists & winner
Winner
Leslie Pietrzyk, "F-I-N-E" (Fiction)
Finalists
Yvonne Conza, “F-stop” (Fiction)
Menasheh Fogel, “Cabin in the City” (Fiction)
JK Haman, “Whole Life” (Fiction)
Chad Koch, “Liquid” (Fiction)
Sarah Walker, “Back in My Body” (Fiction)
Semi-Finalists
Rebecca Bernard, “An Overwhelming Loneliness” (Fiction)
Anna Chotlos, “Self Portrait as Betty Crocker (Nonfiction)
Sue Granzella, “Unbearable Cruelty, Spectacular Glory” (Nonfiction)
Jill Talbot, “My Mother’s Dresses (Nonfiction)
Erin Wood, “Athens, Revised” (Nonfiction)
current/previous winners
2018 Poetry Trifecta
2018 Fiction Trifecta
2018 Nonfiction Trifecta
by Heather Altfeld
Winner of the 2018 Poetry Trifecta
Winner of the 2018 Fiction Trifecta
Winner of 2018 Nonfiction Trifecta
2017 Nonfiction Trifecta
2017 AWP Intro Award
Winner of the 2017 Nonfiction Trifecta
Winner of the 2017 AWP Intro Award
Winner of the 2017 Fiction Trifecta
2015 Poetry Trifecta
2015 Nonfiction Trifecta
Winner of the 2016 Nonfiction Trifecta
Winner of the 2016 Fiction Trifecta
Winner of the 2015 Poetry Trifecta
2015 Fiction Trifecta
2014 Fiction Trifecta
2014 Poetry Trifecta
2014 Nonfiction Trifecta
Winner of the 2015 Fiction Trifecta
Winner of the 2014 Fiction Trifecta
Winner of the 2014 Poetry Trifecta
Winner of the 2014 Nonfiction Trifecta
2026 Long Story Winner
2025 Long Story Winner
2024 Long Story Winner
2023 Long Story Winner
Forthcoming June 2026
Forthcoming June 2025