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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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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 | |
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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 | |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 | |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 | |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |