Ark Press, the pro-human publisher dedicated to authentic American storytelling, is thrilled to announce The Ark Prize, a nationwide contest to find the next Great American Novel. With a $10,000 advance and publication on July 4, 2026—America’s 250th birthday—the winning novel will embody the theme “America 2076”, envisioning the nation 50 years from 2026.
“We’re bringing back the Great American Novel, and we want today’s authors to write it,” said Tony Daniel, editor-in-chief of Ark Press. “America 2076 is a chance for writers to tell a great story with well-realized characters and a well-crafted setting that resonates with our motto: ‘The Humans Win in the End.’”
Open to genres including sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, thriller, historical, alternate history, and literary fiction, The Ark Prize invites unpublished novels in American English, ideally between 50,000 and 100,000 words. Submissions must include an Ark Novel Proposal form, available at ark.press/prize . The contest opened on March 8, 2025 (National Proofreading Day) and closes on October 4, 2025 (National Taco Day). The winner will be announced in early 2026 at a special ceremony, judged by a distinguished panel of multi-genre experts.
With a prize among the top five American literary awards, The Ark Prize seeks bold, human-centric stories that celebrate the spirit of America. Writers can submit their entries at https://chapterhouse.submittable.com/submit/322525/the-ark-prize.
Join Ark Press in shaping the future of American fiction. For more details, visit ark.press/prize or sign up for our mailing list at www.ark.press.
About Ark Press
Ark Press is an independent publisher committed to reviving authentic storytelling in the great American tradition. With a focus on novels that entertain, inspire, and reflect the values of everyday Americans, Ark Press delivers gripping tales across genres for readers nationwide.
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Ark Press