A prize of $10,000 is given annually for a poetry collection published in the current year by a midcareer poet. The winner will also give a reading and book signing at the...
read moreWriting Contests, Grants & Awards
The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we’ve published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it. Ours is the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.
University of North Texas
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Poetry
Michigan Quarterly Review
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $2,000 and publication in Michigan Quarterly Review is given annually for a short story. Bruna Dantas Lobato will judge. Using only the online submission...
read moreFish Publishing
Cash Prize: $3,500
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of €3,000 (approximately $3,500) and publication in the annual Fish Publishing anthology is given annually for a short story. The winner will also be invited to attend...
read moreBoa Editions
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Boa Editions is given annually for a debut book of poetry. Jennifer Chang will judge. Submit a manuscript of 65 to 120 pages with a $30...
read moreAtlanta Writers Club
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $75
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $2,000 is given biennially for a novel, novella, or a short story collection written by a current or past resident of Georgia and published in the past two years....
read moreUniversity of Georgia Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Georgia Press is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner is also invited to read from their book at the Georgia...
read moreMichigan Quarterly Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Michigan Quarterly Review is given annually for a single poem. Geffrey Davis will judge. Using only the online submission system,...
read moreBeloit Poetry Journal
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,500, publication by Beloit Poetry Journal, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry chapbook. The editors will judge. Using only the online...
read moreWhite Pine Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by White Pine Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of 60 to 80 pages with a $20 entry fee by November 30....
read moreMunster Literature Centre
Cash Prize: $2,330
Entry Fee: $8
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of €2,000 (approximately $2,330) and publication in Southword is given annually for a single poem. The winner will also receive a four-night hotel stay,...
read moreFive Points
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/1/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Five Points is given annually for a group of poems. The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit up to...
read morePushcart Press
Cash Prize: $0
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/1/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Publication in The Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses is awarded annually for works of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction published by literary magazines...
read moreRegal House Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/1/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Regal House Publishing is given annually for a story collection. Heather Bell Adams will judge. Using only the online submission system,...
read moreMeadowlark Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/1/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Meadowlark Press, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript...
read moreAfrican Poetry Book Fund
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/1/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Nebraska Press is given annually for a debut poetry collection by an African poet. Writers who were born in Africa, are...
read moreUniversity of Southern Indiana
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 12/1/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $3,000, a seven-day residency at James A. Sanders Scholar’s Retreat in New Harmony, Indiana, and a $750 travel stipend will be given annually for a book of fiction...
read morePoetry Society of America
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 12/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,500 and publication on the Poetry Society of America website is given annually to a poet over 40 who has published no more than one poetry collection. Using only...
read moreMassachusetts Center for the Book
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/15/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three awards of $1,000 each will be given annually for a poetry collection, book of fiction, and a book of nonfiction written by a current Massachusetts resident and published...
read moreCenter for Book Arts
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 12/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $500 and letterpress publication by the Center for Book Arts is given annually for a poetry chapbook. The winner also receives 10 copies of their chapbook, an...
read morePoetry Society of America
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 12/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Poetry Society of America website is given annually for poetry from a manuscript-in-progress. Using only the online submission system,...
read morePoetry Society of America
Cash Prize: $20,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $20,000 is given annually for a unified and complete sequence of poems published in the United States in a print or online journal, a chapbook, or a book during the...
read moreTwo Sylvias Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $24
Application Deadline: 12/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Two Sylvias Press, and 20 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection by a writer over 50 who identifies as female or femme (...
read moreGriffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry
Cash Prize: $7,218
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/18/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $10,000 Canadian (approximately $7,218) is awarded for a debut poetry collection by a living Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada published during the...
read moreTexas Institute of Letters
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 12/18/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A fellowship of $10,000 will be given annually to an emerging, mid-level, or returning writer to support the completion of a poetry collection, book of fiction, or book of...
read more