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Writing 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.

Sponsor and Award	Entry Fee	Genre	Cash Prize	Prize includes	Application Deadline
New Letters Literary Awards Three prizes of $1,500 each and publication in New Letters are given annually for a group of poems, a short story, and an essay. All entries are considered for publication. Submit up to six...	$15	Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction	$1,500	Publication	5/18/13
Gival Press Novel Award A prize of $3,000, publication by Gival Press, and 20 author copies is given annually for a novel. Submit a manuscript of 30,000 to 100,000 words with a $50 entry fee by May 30. Send an SASE, call, e-...	$50	Fiction	$3,000	Publication	5/30/13
Dylan Thomas Centre Dylan Thomas Prize A prize of £30,000 (approximately $45,880) is given annually for a book of poetry or fiction published in the preceding year that “displays creative, imaginative, and innovative use of the English...	$0	Poetry, Fiction	$45,880		5/31/13
New England Poetry Club Daniel Varoujan Award A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a poem in honor of Daniel Varoujan, an Armenian poet killed in the genocide in Turkey in 1915. Submit a poem with a $10 entry fee by May 31. Send an SASE, e-mail,...	$10	Poetry	$1,000		5/31/13
Oberlin College Press FIELD Poetry Prize A prize of $1,000 and publication by Oberlin College Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Using the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 50 to 80 pages with a $28 entry fee, which...	$28	Poetry	$1,000	Publication	5/31/13
Sonia Raiziss-Giop Foundation Bordighera Poetry Prize A prize of $2,000 and bilingual publication by Bordighera Press is given annually for a poetry collection written in English to be translated into Italian. The prize is evenly divided between the poet,...	$0	Poetry	$2,000	Publication	5/31/13
River Styx International Poetry Contest A prize of $1,500 and publication in River Styx is given annually for a poem. All entries are considered for publication. Terrance Hayes will judge. Submit up to three poems totaling no more...	$20	Poetry	$1,500	Publication	5/31/13
Glimmer Train Press Short Story Award for New Writers A prize of $1,500 and publication in Glimmer Train Stories is given quarterly for a short story by a writer whose fiction has not been published in a nationally distributed publication with a...	$15	Fiction	$1,500	Publication	5/31/13
University of Georgia Press Flannery O’Connor Short Fiction Awards Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication by University of Georgia Press are given annually for collections of short fiction. Submit a manuscript of 40,000 to 75,000 words with a $25 entry fee by May 31...	$25	Fiction	$1,000	Publication	5/31/13
Bridport Arts Centre Bridport Prize Two prizes of £5,000 (approximately $7,760) each and publication in the Bridport Prize anthology are given annually for a poem and a short story. A second-place prize of £1,000 (approximately $1,552) and...	$0	Poetry, Fiction	$7,760	Publication	5/31/13
Astounding Beauty Ruffian Press Poetry Chapbook Award A prize of $10,000 and publication by Astounding Beauty Ruffian Press is given biennially for a poetry chapbook by a U.S. poet. Submit a manuscript of 10 to 20 pages with a $25 entry fee by May 31. Visit...	$25	Poetry	$10,000	Publication	5/31/13
BOA Editions Short Fiction Prize A prize of $1,000 and publication by BOA Editions will be given annually for a short story collection. Peter Conners will judge. Submit a manuscript of 90 to 200 pages with a $25 entry fee by May 31....	$25	Fiction	$1,000	Publication	5/31/13
Creative Nonfiction Walton Sustainability Solutions Best Creative Nonfiction Essay Award A prize of $10,000 and publication in Creative Nonfiction will be given for an essay on the theme “The Human Face of Sustainability.” The editors will judge. Submit an essay of up to 4,000 words...	$20	Creative Nonfiction	$10,000	Publication	5/31/13
Late Night Library Debut-litzer Award Three prizes of $1,000 each will be given annually for books of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction published in the previous year. In addition, the winners will be featured on the Late Night...	$25	Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction	$1,000		5/31/13
Winning Writers Sports Fiction & Essay Contest Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication on the Winning Writers website are given annually for a story and an essay on the theme of sports. Jendi Reiter will judge. Submit up to 6,000 words of prose...	$15	Fiction, Creative Nonfiction	$1,000	Publication	5/31/13
Boulevard Emerging Poets Contest A prize of $1,000 and publication in Boulevard is given annually for a group of poems by a poet who has not published a poetry collection with a nationally distributed press. All entries are...	$15	Poetry	$1,000	Publication	6/1/13
Philadelphia Stories Marguerite McGlinn Prize for Fiction A prize of $2,000 and publication in Philadelphia Stories is given annually for a short story. Writers currently living in the United States are eligible. Michael Martone will judge. Using the...	$10	Fiction	$2,000	Publication	6/1/13
Southern Indiana Review Thomas A. Wihelmus Editors’ Award A prize of $1,500 and publication in Southern Indiana Review is given annually for a work of creative nonfiction. All entries are considered for publication. Submit an essay of up to 35 pages...	$20	Creative Nonfiction	$1,500	Publication	6/1/13
Boston Review Poetry Contest A prize of $1,500 and publication in Boston Review is given annually for a poem or group of poems. All entries are considered for publication. Linda Gregerson will judge. Submit up to five poems...	$20	Poetry	$1,500	Publication	6/3/13
National Book Foundation National Book Awards Three prizes of $10,000 each are awarded annually to honor a book of poetry, a book of fiction, and a book of creative nonfiction written by U.S. writers and published in the United States during the...	$125	Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction	$10,000		6/3/13
Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition A prize of $3,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City to meet with editors and agents is given annually for a poem, a short story, or an essay. Prizes of $1,000 each are also given for a work...	$32	Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction	$3,000	Travel	6/3/13
American-Scandinavian Foundation Translation Prizes A prize of $2,000 and publication of an excerpt in Scandinavian Review is given annually for an English translation of a Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, or Swedish work of poetry, fiction...	$0	Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction	$2,000	Publication	6/7/13
University of Akron Press Akron Poetry Prize A prize of $1,500 and publication by University of Akron Press is given annually for a poetry collection. David Kirby will judge. Submit a manuscript of at least 48 pages with a $25 entry fee by June 15...	$25	Poetry	$1,500	Publication	6/15/13
Southern Poetry Review Guy Owen Prize A prize of $1,000 and publication in Southern Poetry Review is given annually for a poem. Submit three to five poems totaling no more than 10 pages with a $20 entry fee, which includes a...	$20	Poetry	$1,000	Publication	6/15/13
Towson University Prize for Literature A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction by a writer who has lived in Maryland for at least three years and is currently a resident. Books published...	$0	Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction	$1,000		6/15/13
Pulitzer Prizes Prizes in Letters Three prizes of $10,000 each are given annually to U.S. writers to honor books of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction (including creative nonfiction) published in the United States during the current year....	$50	Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction	$10,000		6/15/13
Bitter Oleander Press Library of Poetry Book Award A prize of $1,000 and publication by Bitter Oleander Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Original works written in English are eligible. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 80 pages with a $25...	$25	Poetry	$1,000	Publication	6/15/13
RopeWalk Press Editor’s Fiction Chapbook Prize A prize of $1,000, publication by RopeWalk Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a fiction chapbook. Submit a manuscript of up to 45 pages with a $20 entry fee ($5 for each additional entry)...	$20	Fiction	$1,000	Publication	6/15/13
Salamander Fiction Prize A prize of $1,500 and publication in Salamander is given annually for a short story. Edith Pearlman will judge. Submit a story of up to 35 pages with a $15 entry fee by June 15. Send an SASE or...	$15	Fiction	$1,500	Publication	6/15/13
New Millennium Writings New Millennium Awards Four prizes of $1,000 each and publication in New Millennium Writings and on the journal’s website are given twice yearly for a poem, a short story, a short short story, and an essay that have...	$20	Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction	$1,000	Publication	6/17/13
Mexico Fil Prize in Romance Languages A prize of $150,000 is given annually to honor a poet, a fiction writer, or a creative nonfiction writer who writes in Catalan, French, Galician, Italian, Portuguese, Roumanian, or Spanish. The prize is...	$0	Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction	$150,000		6/22/13
Literary Arts Oregon Literary Fellowships Fellowships of $2,500 each are given annually to Oregon writers to initiate, develop, or complete literary projects in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. In addition, Women Writers Fellowships of...	$0	Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction	$2,500		6/28/13
Finishing Line Press Open Chapbook Competition A prize of $1,000 and publication by Finishing Line Press is given annually for a poetry chapbook. The winner will also receive a standard royalty contract for a Kindle edition of the winning chapbook....	$15	Poetry	$1,000	Publication	6/30/13
Hidden River Arts William Van Wert Fiction Award A prize of $1,000 and publication in Hidden River Review is given annually for a short story or a novel excerpt. Using the online submission system, submit up to 25 pages of fiction with a $17...	$17	Fiction	$1,000	Publication	6/30/13
University of North Texas Press Katherine Anne Porter Prize A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of North Texas Press is given annually for a collection of short fiction. Submit a manuscript of 100 to 200 pages with a $25 entry fee between May 1 and...	$25	Fiction	$1,000	Publication	6/30/13
University of Pittsburgh Press Drue Heinz Literature Prize A prize of $15,000 and publication by University of Pittsburgh Press is given annually for a collection of short fiction. The prize is open to writers who have published a book of fiction or a minimum of...	$0	Fiction	$15,000	Publication	6/30/13
Pearl Editions Pearl Poetry Prize A prize of $1,000 and publication by Pearl Editions is given annually for a poetry collection. Fred Voss will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 64 pages with a $25 entry fee by June 30. Send an SASE or...	$25	Poetry	$1,000	Publication	6/30/13
Glimmer Train Press Fiction Open A prize of $2,500 and publication in Glimmer Train Stories is given quarterly for a short story. Using the online submission system, submit a story of up to 20,000 words with a $19 entry fee by...	$19	Fiction	$2,500	Publication	6/30/13
Money for Women/Barbara Deming Memorial Fund Individual Artist Grants for Women Grants of $500 to $1,500 each are given twice yearly to feminist writers who are citizens of the United States or Canada. The current round of grants will be awarded to women poets and creative...	$20	Poetry, Creative Nonfiction	$1,500		6/30/13
Red Hen Press Short Story Award A prize of $1,000 and publication in Los Angeles Review is given annually for a short story. Ron Carlson will judge. Submit up to two stories of no more than 25 pages each with a $20 entry fee...	$20	Fiction	$1,000	Publication	6/30/13
National Poetry Review Press Book Prize A prize of $1,000 and publication by National Poetry Review Press is given annually for a poetry collection. C. J. Sage will judge. Submit a manuscript of 45 to 80 pages with a $25 entry fee by June 30....	$25	Poetry	$1,000	Publication	6/30/13
ABZ Press First Book Prize A prize of $1,000, publication by ABZ Press, and 50 author copies is given annually for a first poetry collection. C. D. Wright will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 76 pages with a $30 entry fee...	$30	Poetry	$1,000	Publication	6/30/13
Autumn House Press Book Contests Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication by Autumn House Press are given annually for a poetry collection, a book of fiction, and a book of creative nonfiction. Each winner also receives a $1,500...	$30	Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction	$1,000	Publication	6/30/13
Barrow Street Press Book Prize A prize of $1,000 and publication by Barrow Street Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Afaa Michael Weaver will judge. Submit a manuscript of 50 to 80 pages with a $25 entry fee ($28 for...	$25	Poetry	$1,000	Publication	6/30/13
Cider Press Review Editors’ Prize Book Award A prize of $1,000, publication by Cider Press Review, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. The editors will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 80 pages with a $25...	$25	Poetry	$1,000	Publication	6/30/13
Hunger Mountain Howard Frank Mosher Short Fiction Prize A prize of $1,000 and publication in Hunger Mountain is given annually for a short story. Submit a story of up to 10,000 words with a $20 entry fee by June 30. Visit the website for complete...	$20	Fiction	$1,000	Publication	6/30/13
Omnidawn Publishing First/Second Book Prize A prize of $3,000, publication by Omnidawn Publishing, and 100 author copies is given annually for a first or second poetry collection. Donald Revell will judge. Submit a manuscript of 40 to 120 pages...	$27	Poetry	$3,000	Publication	6/30/13
Crook’s Corner Book Prize Foundation Book Prize A prize of $1,000 will be given annually for a debut novel published in the United States in the preceding two years and set in the American South. The winner will also be entitled to receive a free...	$25	Fiction	$1,000		6/30/13
Northern Colorado Writers Creative Nonfiction Contest A prize of $1,000 and publication in the Northern Colorado Writers anthology will be given annually for a work of creative nonfiction. David Shields will judge. Submit an essay or excerpt of a longer...	$20	Creative Nonfiction	$1,000	Publication	6/30/13
Parlor Press New Measure Poetry Prize A prize of $1,000 and publication by Parlor Press in the Free Verse Editions series is given annually for a poetry collection. Carolyn Forché will judge. Using the online submission system, submit a...	$25	Poetry	$1,000	Publication	6/30/13
Blue Mountain Center Richard J. Margolis Award A prize of $5,000 and a monthlong residency at the Blue Mountain Center, an artists colony in Blue Mountain Lake, New York, is given annually to a writer of nonfiction (including creative nonfiction with...	$0	Poetry, Creative Nonfiction	$5,000	Residency	7/1/13
Comstock Review Muriel Craft Bailey Award A prize of $1,000 and publication in Comstock Review is given annually for a poem. Submit poems of up to 40 lines each with a $5 entry fee per poem by July 1. Send an SASE, call, e-mail, or...	$5	Poetry	$1,000	Publication	7/1/13
Teachers & Writers Collaborative Bechtel Prize A prize of $1,000 and publication in Teachers & Writers Magazine is given annually for an essay that relates to creative writing education or literary studies. Susan Orlean will judge....	$20	Creative Nonfiction	$1,000	Publication	7/1/13
Bellevue Literary Review Prizes in Poetry and Prose Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Bellevue Literary Review are given annually to a poet, a fiction writer, and a creative nonfiction writer for works about health, healing, illness...	$15	Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction	$1,000	Publication	7/1/13
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation Barbara Mandigo Kelly Peace Poetry Award A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation website is given annually for a poem that explores “positive visions of peace and the human spirit.” Submit two copies of up to three...	$15	Poetry	$1,000	Publication	7/1/13
Crab Orchard Series in Poetry First Book Award A prize of $2,000, publication by Southern Illinois University Press, and a $1,500 honorarium to give a reading at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale is given annually for a poetry collection. U....	$25	Poetry	$2,000	Reading, Publication	7/8/13
Bard College Bard Fiction Prize A prize of $30,000 and a one-semester appointment as writer-in-residence at Bard College is given annually to a U.S. fiction writer under the age of 40. The recipient must give at least one public...	$0	Fiction	$30,000		7/15/13
Literal Latté Poetry Award A prize of $1,000 and publication in Literal Latté is given annually for a poem. Submit up to six poems of no more than 2,000 words each with a $10 entry fee ($15 for up to 10 poems) by July 15...	$10	Poetry	$1,000	Publication	7/15/13
Indiana Review “1/2 K” Prize A prize of $1,000 and publication in Indiana Review is given annually for a poem or a work of fiction under 500 words. All entries are considered for publication. Dinty Moore will judge. Submit...	$20	Poetry, Fiction	$1,000	Publication	8/1/13

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