The Jesmyn Ward Fiction Prize is an annual award established by Michigan Quarterly Review in honor of Helen Zell Writers’ Program alumna Jesmyn Ward, recognizing her significant contributions to the literary arts. The prize underscores MQR’s commitment to nurturing emerging voices and celebrating excellence in short fiction. Administered by a journal with a long-standing reputation for publishing serious literary work, the award carries the weight of an institutional tribute to one of contemporary fiction’s most vital practitioners. Each entrant receives a one-year digital subscription to MQR, encompassing four issues beginning with the Winter 2027 issue. This gesture situates the prize within the journal’s broader ecosystem, offering writers not only a chance at recognition but also sustained engagement with the kind of fiction, poetry, and criticism that defines MQR’s pages. The submission process is designed to be accessible: simultaneous submissions are permitted, provided writers withdraw promptly upon acceptance elsewhere. The entry fee is $25. The evaluation process reflects a pedagogical and curatorial rigor. First readers are graduate students in the Helen Zell Writers’ Program who currently review submissions for the journal. Their initial screening leads to two rounds of consideration by graduate students, after which ten finalists are passed to the final judge. This multi-tiered vetting ensures that stories are read closely and discussed within a community of dedicated writers, aligning with MQR’s educational mission and its investment in the next generation of literary editors.