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.

University of North Texas Press

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 6/30/24
Genre: Fiction

A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of North Texas Press is given annually for a collection of short fiction. Using only the online submission system, submit a...

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Poetry London

Cash Prize: $6,383
Entry Fee: $13
Application Deadline: 6/30/24
Genre: Poetry

A first-place prize of £5,000 (approximately $6,383), a second-place prize of £2,000 (approximately $2,553), and a third-place prize of £1,000 (approximately $1,277) are given...

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Barrow Street Press

Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 6/30/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,500 and publication by Barrow Street Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Kevin Prufer will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a...

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University of Pittsburgh Press

Cash Prize: $15,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/30/24
Genre: Fiction

A prize of $15,000 and publication by University of Pittsburgh Press is given annually for a collection of short fiction. Writers who have published at least one previous book...

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Kinsman Quarterly

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 6/30/24

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Kinsman Quarterly will be given annually for a poem or group of poems, a short short story, a short story, or an essay on a theme...

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Cider Press Review

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 6/30/24
Genre: Poetry

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. Using only the online...

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High Frequency Press

Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 6/30/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $2,000, publication by High Frequency Press, and 25 author copies will be given annually for a poetry collection. The winner will also have 15 poems published for...

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Bauhan Publishing

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 6/30/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000, publication by Bauhan Publishing, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Dorsey Craft will judge. Using only the online submission...

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High Frequency Press

Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 6/30/24
Genre: Fiction

A prize of $2,000, publication by High Frequency Press, and 25 author copies will be given annually for a novel or a short story collection. The winner will also receive film...

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The Moth

Cash Prize: $3,271
Entry Fee: $16
Application Deadline: 6/30/24
Genre: Fiction

A prize of €3,000 (approximately $3,271) is given annually for a short story. A second-place prize of a weeklong retreat at Circle of Misse in Missé, France, with an open-ended...

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Lascaux Review

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 6/30/24
Genre: Fiction

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Lascaux Review, both online and in print, is given annually for a work of flash fiction. Previously published or unpublished stories...

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Autumn House Press

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 6/30/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Autumn House Press is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner also receives a $1,500 travel and publicity grant. Kazim Ali will...

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Winning Writers

Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $79
Application Deadline: 7/1/24

A grand prize of $10,000 and additional prizes of $1,000 each are given annually for self-published and hybrid-published books (works published by presses that coordinate all...

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Bellevue Literary Review

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 7/1/24

Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Bellevue Literary Review are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay about health, healing, illness, the...

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Brooklyn Caribbean Literary Festival

Cash Prize: $1,750
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 7/1/24
Genre: Fiction

A prize of $1,750; publication in Brooklyn Rail and Moko as well as on the Brooklyn Caribbean Literary Festival (BCLF) website; and an invitation to...

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Maine Arts Commission

Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 7/3/24

A fellowship of up to $5,000 is given annually to a poet, a fiction writer, a creative nonfiction writer, or a writer working in a genre outside these categories who is a...

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Conduit Books & Ephemera

Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 7/7/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,500, publication by Conduit Books & Ephemera, and 30 author copies is given annually for a debut poetry collection. Bob Hicok will judge. Submit a manuscript...

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Stony Brook Southampton 

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 7/14/24
Genre: Fiction

A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a short story by a current undergraduate college student. The winner also receives a full scholarship to attend the Southampton Writers...

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University of Canberra 


Cash Prize: $9,892
Entry Fee: $16
Application Deadline: 7/14/24
Genre: Poetry

A first-place prize of $15,000 AUD (approximately $9,892) and a second-place prize of $5,000 AUD (approximately $3,297) are given annually for a single poem. The winners will...

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Regal House Publishing

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 7/15/24
Genre: Fiction

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Regal House Publishing is given annually for a novel. The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript...

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Rattle

Cash Prize: $15,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 7/15/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $15,000 and publication in Rattle is given annually for a single poem. A Reader’s Choice Award of $5,000 is also given to one of ten finalists. Using only the...

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Cincinnati Review

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 7/15/24

Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Cincinnati Review are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay. Erica Dawson will judge in poetry, Michael...

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