G&A: The Contest Blog

Calling all nonfiction writers! Submissions have recently opened for the 2023 Whiting Creative Nonfiction Grant. Up to ten grants of $40,000 each will be given to prose writers with book-length works-in-progress. Intended for multiyear book projects that are at “a crucial point mid-process,” these grants recognize that “works of deeply researched and imaginatively composed nonfiction require significant time and resources.” Works of history, biography, memoir, philosophy, food or travel writing, graphic nonfiction, and personal essays, among other categories of work, are eligible. Manuscripts must be under contract with a U.S., U.K., or Canadian publishing company by April 25. In acknowledgment of the additional obstacles many BIPOC writers face in securing institutional resources for such projects, writers of color are especially encouraged to apply.

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Using only the online submission system, submit up to 25,000 words of the book-in-progress; the original proposal to publishers that led to the contract; a signed contract; a statement of progress; a plan for the use of funds; a list of grants, fellowships, or other funding received for the book-in-progress; a résumé; and a letter of support from the book’s editor or publisher by April 25. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Past grantees include Sarah M. Broom (The Yellow House), Meghan O’Rourke (The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness), Akash Kapur (Better to Have Gone: Love, Death, and the Quest for Utopia), Albert Samaha (Concepcion: Conquest, Colonialism, and an Immigrant Family’s Fate), and Chloé Cooper Jones (Easy Beauty). For the eighth cycle of these grants, the foundation will host online information sessions on February 22 and March 23 at 12PM ET to answer questions about, and offer guidance on the application process. The 2023 grantees will be announced in the fall. Past grantees include Sarah M. Broom (The Yellow House), Meghan O’Rourke (The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness), Akash Kapur (Better to Have Gone: Love, Death, and the Quest for Utopia), Albert Samaha (Concepcion: Conquest, Colonialism, and an Immigrant Family’s Fate), and Chloé Cooper Jones (Easy Beauty). For the eighth cycle of these grants, the foundation will host online information sessions on February 22 and March 23 at 12PM ET to answer questions about, and offer guidance on the application process. The 2023 grantees will be announced in the fall. 

The deadline is approaching for the inaugural Mo Habib Translation Prize in Persian Literature, collaboratively established by the Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures at University of Washington, the Mo Habib Memorial Foundation, and Deep Vellum Publishing. A $10,000 prize and publication by Deep Vellum will be awarded for a Persian novel or short story collection translated into English. Submissions of modern works of fiction from Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Iran, and their diaspora are eligible. $2,000 will be given when the winner is announced in July, and the remaining $8,000 will be given once the winning translation is submitted in full by May 2024.

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Using only the online submission system, submit a sample of no more than 20 pages of the proposed translation, in both the original language and in English, as well as a curriculum vitae of up to three pages, a cover letter, and proof of copyrights (if applicable) by March 1. There is no entry fee. Anna Learn, Shelley Fairweather-Vega, and Siamak Vossoughi will judge. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Named after Mohammad Habib, a structural engineer and project manager originally from Tehran who attended the University of Washington, the prize “seeks to expand the readership of Persian literature in English, beyond academic audiences.” Prize partner Deep Vellum is a literary nonprofit in Dallas that aims to publish literature that “fosters cross-cultural dialogue, breaks down barriers between communities, and promotes empathy.” As of 2020, approximately half of their titles were international works. Named after Mohammad Habib, a structural engineer and project manager originally from Tehran who attended the University of Washington, the prize “seeks to expand the readership of Persian literature in English, beyond academic audiences.” Prize partner Deep Vellum is a literary nonprofit in Dallas that aims to publish literature that “fosters cross-cultural dialogue, breaks down barriers between communities, and promotes empathy.” As of 2020, approximately half of their titles were international works. 

There’s no better way to beat the winter slump than by staying warm indoors and submitting to contests with deadlines of January 31 and February 1! Opportunities include fellowships for writers working on a biography of an important African American figure (or figures); publication of novels-in-stories, novels-in-poems, and hybrid forms; and an award for a story written in Japanese that takes place in the Little Tokyo district of Los Angeles. All contests offer a cash prize of $1,000 or more and four are free to enter. May the work you do this winter, writers, bring you spring and summer rewards! 

American Short Fiction
American Short(er) Fiction Prize
A prize of $1,000 and publication in American Short Fiction is given annually for a work of flash fiction. Karen Russell will judge. All entries are considered for publication. Deadline: February 1. Entry fee: $18.

Biographers International Organization
Frances “Frank” Rollin Fellowship
Two prizes of $5,000 each will be given annually to writers “working on a biographical work about an African American figure (or figures) whose story provides a significant contribution to our understanding of the Black experience.” Biographers may be at any stage in the writing process. The winners will also receive publicity through the Biographers International Organization (BIO) website, registration to the annual BIO Conference in May, and a one-year BIO membership. Adam Henig, Tamara Payne, and Eric K. Washington will judge. Deadline: February 1. Entry fee: none.

Black Lawrence Press
Big Moose Prize
A prize of $1,000, publication by Black Lawrence Press, and 10 author copies is given annually for a novel. The contest is open to traditional novels as well as “novels-in-stories, novels-in-poems, and other hybrid forms that contain within them the spirit of a novel.” The editors will judge. Deadline: January 31. Entry fee: $27.

Ghost Story
Screw Turn Flash Fiction Competition
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Ghost Story website and in the 21st Century Ghost Stories anthology is given twice yearly for a work of flash fiction with a supernatural or magical realism theme. Deadline: January 31. Entry fee: $15.

Iowa Review
Iowa Review Awards
Three prizes of $1,500 each and publication in Iowa Review are given annually for works of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. All entries are considered for publication. Deadline: January 31. Entry fee: $20.

Little Tokyo Historical Society
Imagine Little Tokyo Short Story Contest  
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Rafu Shimpo and on the Discover Nikkei and Little Tokyo Historical Society websites are given annually for short stories that take place in the Little Tokyo district of Los Angeles and “capture the cultural spirit” of the neighborhood. One prize is given for a story written in English; the other is given for a story written in Japanese. Deadline: January 31. Entry fee: none.

PEN America
Emerging Voices Fellowship
Twelve fellowships of $1,500 each and participation in a virtual five-month mentorship program, which includes one-on-one mentorship with an established writer; introductions to editors, agents, and publishers; a professional headshot; and a one-year PEN America membership are given annually to emerging poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers “from communities that are traditionally underrepresented in the publishing world.” Fellows will also participate in workshops on editing, marketing, and building a professional platform. Writers who have not yet published a book and who do not hold an advanced degree in creative writing are eligible to apply. Deadline: January 31. Entry fee: $25.

Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College
Paterson Poetry Prize
A prize of $2,000 is given annually for a poetry collection published in the previous year. The winning poet is expected to participate in an awards ceremony, give a reading, and teach a workshop at the Poetry Center in Paterson, New Jersey. Books of at least 48 pages are eligible. Deadline: February 1. Entry fee: none.

Southern Indiana Review
Michael Waters Poetry Prize
A prize of $5,000 and publication by Southern Indiana Review Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Michael Waters will judge. All entries are considered for publication. Deadline: February 1. Entry fee: $30, which includes a subscription to Southern Indiana Review. 

Stadler Center for Poetry & Literary Arts
Philip Roth Residencies
Two four-month residencies, which include a stipend of $5,000 each, at the Stadler Center for Poetry & Literary Arts at Bucknell University are given annually to writers in any literary genre, including poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, hybrid works, and graphic novels, working on a first or second book. Deadline: February 1. Entry fee: none.

Visit the contest websites for complete guidelines, and check out the Grants & Awards database and Submission Calendar for more contests in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and translation.

Submissions are open for the Eliud Martínez Prize, an award from the Inlandia Institute celebrating writers who identify as Hispanic, Latino/a/x, or Chicana/o/x. The winning writer will receive a prize of $1,000 and publication of their book of fiction or creative nonfiction by Inlandia Books.

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Using only the online submission system, submit a novel, memoir, essays, stories, and multi-genre or hybrid fiction and nonfiction work between 150 and 300 pages with a $15 entry fee by January 31. Proposals for longer works of up to 500 pages may be submitted with an excerpt, table of contents, and a synopsis. Only manuscripts written primarily in English will be considered. Isabel Quintero will judge. Fee waivers are available. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Located in Southern California, the Inlandia Institute is a nonprofit that fosters the literary activity of the state’s Inland region. The Eliud Martínez Prize is offered annually in memory of the novelist and artist Eliud Martínez, who taught as a professor at the University of California in Riverside. The prize’s most recent winner is Zita Arocha, who won the inaugural award for her memoir, Guajira: The Cuba Girl.

Celebrate the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 in literary style by submitting to contests with deadlines of December 31 and January 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6! Don’t miss the opportunity to receive fellowships offering $43,750 for a nine-month residency at Colgate University, $72,000 and writing space at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City, and $15,000 alongside a yearlong stay in the Bay Area. All contests offer a cash prize of $1,000 or more and four are free to enter. Continue flourishing into the new year, writers! 

Boulevard
Short Fiction Contest for Emerging Writers
A prize of $1,500 and publication in Boulevard is given annually for a short story by a writer who has not published a nationally distributed book. The editors will judge. All entries are considered for publication. Deadline: December 31. Entry fee: $16, which includes a subscription to Boulevard.

Colgate University
Olive B. O’Connor Fellowships
Two nine-month residencies at Colgate University, including a stipend of $43,750, health benefits, and travel expenses, are given annually to poets, fiction writers, or nonfiction writers. The 2023–2024 fellowships will be awarded to a poet and a nonfiction writer working on their first books. Each fellow will teach one creative writing course per semester and give a public reading. Writers who have recently completed an MFA, MA, or PhD in creative writing are among those eligible. Deadline: January 6. Entry fee: none.

Florida Review
Jeanne Leiby Memorial Chapbook Contest
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Florida Review is given annually for a chapbook of short fiction, short nonfiction, or graphic narrative. All entries are considered for publication. Deadline: December 31. Entry fee: $25, which includes a subscription to Florida Review.

Leon Levy Center for Biography
Leon Levy Biography Fellowships
Four fellowships of $72,000, writing space at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City, access to research facilities, and research assistance from a graduate student are given annually to nonfiction writers working on biographies. An additional fellowship, the Sloan Fellowship, is given annually to a writer working on a biography of a figure in the field of science or technology. Deadline: January 4. Entry fee: none.

Mississippi Review
Mississippi Review Prize
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Mississippi Review are given annually for a single poem, a short story, and an essay. Current or former University of Southern Mississippi students are ineligible. All entries are considered for publication. Deadline: January 1. Entry fee: $15 ($16 for electronic submissions), which includes a copy of the prize issue.

The Moth
Poetry Prize
A prize of €6,000 (approximately $6,128) and publication in the Moth is given annually for a single poem. Three runner-up prizes of €1,000 (approximately $1,021) each and publication in the Moth are also given. The four shortlisted poets, including the winner, will also be invited to read at an awards ceremony at the Poetry Ireland festival in Dublin in spring 2023. Louise Glück will judge. Deadline: December 31. Entry fee: €15 (approximately $15) per poem.

North Carolina Writers’ Network
Jacobs/Jones African American Literary Prize
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a short story or an essay that “seeks to convey the rich and varied existence of Black North Carolinians.” The winning entry is considered for publication in the Carolina Quarterly. Black writers who live in North Carolina are eligible. Deadline: January 2. Entry fee: $20 ($10 for NCWN members).

Poetry Society of America
Four Quartets Prize
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 current year. Three finalists, including the winner, will receive $1,000 each. Deadline: December 31. Entry fee: none.

San José State University
Steinbeck Fellowships in Creative Writing  
Six yearlong residencies at San José State University in San José, California, which include a stipend of $15,000 each, are given annually to fiction writers and creative nonfiction writers. The fellows are required to give one public reading and may be asked to live in the Bay Area during the academic year, as public health guidelines allow. Deadline: January 3. Entry fee: none.

Tupelo Press
Dorset Prize
A prize of $9,000, publication by Tupelo Press, and 20 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner also receives the option of either a weeklong residency at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams, Massachusetts, or a two-week residency at Gentle House in Port Angeles, Washington, both valued at $1,000. Diane Seuss will judge. All entries are considered for publication. Deadline: December 31. Entry fee: $30. 

Visit the contest websites for complete guidelines, and check out the Grants & Awards database and Submission Calendar for more contests in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and translation.

The submission deadline for the annual Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) Literary Awards is coming up! Given for a poetry collection, a first novel, a book of fiction, and a book of nonfiction (including creative nonfiction) by African American writers published in the United States in the current year, these awards honor literary works that depict the “cultural, historical, or sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora.” Winners in the four categories will each receive $1,000. Books published by small, large, and specialty presses are eligible.

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Publishers may nominate books published in 2022 by sending one copy of each title to be considered to members of the awards committee by December 31. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines and a list of jurors to whom books should be sent.

Now in its fifty-second year running, BCALA is devoted to advocating for the “development, promotion, and improvement of library services and resources” for the African American community at large and provides professional development for Black librarians. The association’s literary awards, which were first presented in 1994 at the second National Conference of African American Librarians, acknowledge books that “portray some aspect of the African American experience” whether it be from the past, present, or future. Decisions for this year’s awards will be made in January 2023, and the winners will be presented at the American Library Association’s conference in June. Now in its fifty-second year running, BCALA is devoted to advocating for the “development, promotion, and improvement of library services and resources” for the African American community at large and provides professional development for Black librarians. The association’s literary awards, which were first presented in 1994 at the second National Conference of African American Librarians, acknowledge books that “portray some aspect of the African American experience” whether it be from the past, present, or future. Decisions for this year’s awards will be made in January 2023, and the winners will be presented at the American Library Association’s conference in June.