Writing Contests

• Introduction
• Other Resources

Introduction

Winning a writing contest can bring you recognition and help get your work noticed by publishers. Poets & Writers provides information about contests and prizes available to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine, which publishes the most comprehensive listing of literary contests available in print.

Our Grants & Awards database is populated by a year's worth of listings from the magazine. We also offer a Submission Calendar that includes writing contests arranged by date, as well as Recent Winners, a section from the magazine that announces the winners of the writing contests we list. All of the listings are vetted for accuracy and legitimacy by Poets & Writers staff. In addition, The Practical Writer (Penguin, 2004), which was edited by the staff of Poets & Writers Magazine, includes a useful, in-depth essay on how to get a grant. Remember: Before submitting to a contest, be sure to check with the sponsoring organization about guidelines.

Other Resources

PEN American Center’s database, Grants and Awards Available to American Writers, can be found on its Web site and is available through a subscription. The Foundation Center offers an online directory of grants. You may also want to check on grants offered by your state or local arts council.