The Free Time Contest is open to writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry who are incarcerated at the time of submission. 

Three winners will be published—one for each genre (poetry, fiction, and nonfiction)—in the annual print issue of  Rain Shadow Review, which has been publishing the work of current and formerly incarcerated writers since 1989. In addition to publication, winners and runners-up in each respective genre will also receive one-year subscriptions to a range of literary magazines. 

Writers may only submit once in each genre, and are encouraged to send their best work. All submitters to the contest will receive a copy of Rain Shadow Review featuring the winning submissions. 

All entries are considered for publication in Rain Shadow Review.

Entry fee: None

Submission format: Typed or handwritten

contest opens: June 1, 2024

Deadline to submit: August 15, 2024*

*Submissions with a postmark on or before August 15 will be considered; contest submissions with an August 16 postmark or later will not be considered. Submitters should not send their only copy of their work.  If a submitter would like his/her submission returned, please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

 

Submissions can be sent to:

Rain Shadow Review
PO Box 85462 
Tucson, AZ 85754-5462

Due to the volume of contest submissions, editorial comment isn’t possible on contest submissions.  If you have questions about the Free Time contest for incarcerated writers, please contact Tyler Meier at tmeier@arizona.edu or 520-626-5880.