[Alternating Current Press]: Spark Translation Prize

This is a book-publication contest of Alternating Current Press. Please know what it is before submitting.

We’re seeking book-length translations on important social justice topics and themes that impact the world around us. We especially want to hear from marginalized and underrepresented people and languages, and we are an LGBTQUIA2+ safe-space.

Winner receives $1,000, our Spark Translation Prize digital medallion, a certificate, and book publication on Alternating Current Press, which includes distribution through Ingram, Asterism, and all major online retailers. Runners-up may also be offered book publication.

Submissions open: April 1, 2025

Submissions close: September 30, 2025

Winner announced: November 2025

Publication: 2026/2027

• Translations can be from any language but must be translated into English. Dual-language and side-by-side language translations are considered, as long as one of the languages is English.
• Manuscripts must be geared toward an adult readership. We are not interested in translations for children.
• The translation must be carefully and professionally done by someone with a grasp of both presented languages. Please provide any credentials or background that you may have in translating between the languages in question. All work must be the authors’ own. Single work by multiple authors considered. If the translated author is still living or if the original work is not in the public domain in the United States (first publication in or before 1928, or if copyright has expired), then permission to publish the translation must be given by the original author, family of the author, press, or copyright holder. We do not consider A.I.-generated works or any digitally translated material.
• Translations may be of any length in any genre, including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, plays, or hybrid styles.
• Manuscripts are read incognito. DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME OR ANY IDENTIFYING MARKS INSIDE THE FILE, including headers, footers, cover pages, acknowledgments, and file names. If you do leave your identifying marks inside the file, the submission will be read as-is, but the reader may disqualify the submission if he knows you on any personal level. The person being translated doesn't have to be anonymous, only the translator submitting the work.
• If you need to adjust a submission, please use the Request to Edit option through Submittable. Please don’t request to edit for minor flaws, however—all accepted work will go through an editing process and will have the chance to be updated before publication, and your work will not be disqualified for a missing comma.
• All authors (including translated authors, unless their work is in the public domain) must be at least 18 to submit.
• Simultaneous submissions allowed. Please withdraw your manuscript through Submittable if it is accepted elsewhere.
• ACP and The Coil staff may submit work, but they are ineligible for prizes while on our staff (including volunteers).
• Collections that contain previously published pieces are considered. Don’t include acknowledgments in the file.
• Submit via Submittable only. We do not accept email submissions.
• Straight or scholarly nonfiction should have citations.
• There is a $19 fee for each manuscript submitted. You may submit as many manuscripts as you’d like, but each one must be submitted separately with a separate fee. The fee helps us with needed administration and book production costs, and we pay our readers for their time and effort, but it’s not meant to be too inhibitive. If you are unable to pay, please email us for an alternative submission method.
• Each paid submission comes with a digital copy of our latest published anthology, Best Small Fictions 2024 ($9.99 value). There is an additional option to purchase the winning Spark Translation Prize print book (publishing in 2026/2027) as an add-on for a deep discount ($7.99 off the final cover price, U.S. shipping only). If there is no winner selected for a chosen year, advance book purchases will roll over to the next year. If you purchase this option, please make sure to keep your Submittable mailing address current in your profile.
• We will send a response and notification of the winner to every submission by the end of November. Form response only, unless we are interested in publishing your book. We are regretfully unable to provide feedback. We reserve the right not to choose a winning manuscript if there are no contestants that meet our high judging standards.

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