2017 PRESS 53 Award for Poetry. Will be awarded to an unpublished poetry collection, $1,000 advance plus a quarter-page color ad in Poets & Writers. Reading fee $30. Judged by Tom Lombardo, Press 53 Poetry Series Editor. Open: April 1–July 31. Winner and finalists announced by November 1. Complete details: www.press53.com.
8 BEST REASONS to enter New Millennium Awards’ contest by July 31: Best poetry $1,000; fiction $1,000; nonfiction $1,000; short-short fiction $1,000. All submitters receive our anthology. NMW is celebrating its 20th anniversary! All winners are published in our anthology and online. “Highly recommended. NMW is one of our favorite journals.”—Winning Writers. We have launched careers! Visit www.newmillenniumwritings.com.
13TH ANNUAL Gival Press Short Story Award for best original previously unpublished literary story (not a chapter from a novel) in English, approximately 5,000 to 15,000 words. Prize $1,000 and publication on website. Reading fee $25 per story submitted. Deadline August 8. E-mail givalpress@yahoo.com or visit website: www.givalpress.com. Address: Gival Press, P.O. Box 3812, Arlington, VA 22203.
THE 22ND ANNUAL Literal Latte Poetry Awards. First prize: $1,000 and publication. Second prize: $300 and publication. Third prize: $200 and publication. Entry fee: $10 for up to 6 poems. Submit poems of all flavors. See www.literal-latte.com to taste and submit. E-mail litlatte@aol.com with questions.
ANNOUNCING A contest on the theme of “Decisions.” Hospital Drive, the literature, arts, and humanities magazine of the University of Virginia’s School of Medicine, is awarding prizes of $500 each in the categories of poetry, prose, and visual art. Submissions should relate in some way to the theme of “Decisions” in the context of health care (wellness, illness, caregiving, etc.). We welcome submissions nationwide from the public as well as health care professionals and educators. Deadline is August 15. Winning entries and selected finalists will be published in the Spring 2017 online edition of Hospital Drive. For guidelines and to submit, please visit our website, https://news.med.virginia.edu/hospitaldrive.
THE ANNUAL Rattle Chapbook Prize offers $2,000 for a chapbook (up to 36 pages), plus 500 author copies, and distribution to Rattle’s 5,000+ subscribers. Entry fee of $20 includes a 1-year subscription to the magazine. Deadline January 15. For guidelines, visit our website: www.rattle.com/poetry/chapbooks.
THE ANNUAL Rattle Poetry Prize offers $10,000 for a single poem, plus a $2,500 Readers’ Choice Award. Entry fee of $20 includes a 1-year subscription to the magazine. Deadline: July 15. Submit up to 4 unpublished poems per entry. For guidelines and to read past winners, visit our website: www.rattle.com/poetry/prize.
ARTS & LETTERS’ second annual Unclassifiables Contest, judged by Michael Martone, will be open until July 31. This contest is for unclassifiable works: works that blur, bend, blend, erase, or obliterate genre and other labels. Winners receive $500 and publication in the Spring 2017 issue of Arts & Letters. Complete guidelines appear on our website: http://artsandletters.gcsu.edu/unclassifiables-contest.
BAUHAN PUBLISHING is now accepting submissions (U.S. mail and Submittable.com) for the May Sarton NH Poetry Prize: $1,000 and book publication (April 2017) for a full-length poetry collection. Open to all. Entry fee $25. Postmark/submission deadline: June 30. Former Maine Poet Laureate Betsy Sholl will judge. Guidelines: www.bauhanpublishing.com/contests.
BRIGHT HILL PRESS 23rd Annual Poetry Chapbook Competition,$350 and publication plus 30 copies for winner. Entry fee $17. Ms., 16–24 paginated pp. (plus separate bio and acknowledgments) may be submitted electronically or via USPS. Results via e-mail. Complete guidelines: wordthur@stny.rr.com or www.brighthillpress.org. Deadline for ms. receipt at BHP: July 31. BHP Poetry Chapbook, 94 Church St., Treadwell, NY 13846-4607.
CALVINO PRIZE: 12th Annual Calvino Prize. Sponsored by the University of Louisville. For a short story or novel in the fabulist, experimental vein of Italo Calvino. Final judge for 2016: Jonathan Lethem, award-winning acclaimed novelist. First prize, $1,500 plus publication in the Salt Hill Journal. 2nd Prize, $300. First place winner invited, expenses paid, to read winning entry at the Louisville Conference on Literature and Culture held in February at the University of Louisville. Fee: $25. Deadline: October, 15. Details: louisville.edu/english.
CHILDREN’S BOOK Writing Contest. The First Edition Children’s Book Writing Contest began May 10. The author of the winning manuscript will have their book professionally edited, illustrated and promoted and will receive a $1,000 advance and royalties of 8%. For more information and to submit your manuscript go to: www.firsteditionproject.com.
COMSTOCK REVIEW Poetry Chapbook Contest. Top prize: $1,000 and 50 author’s copies. Michael A. Sickler will judge. Contest sponsored by Comstock Writers Group, Inc. Submit
manuscript of 25–34 pages between August 1 and October 31. Entry fee of $30 includes copy of winning chapbook. Visit the website for complete guidelines, which must be followed. CR Chapbook Contest 2016, 4956 St. John Drive, Syracuse, NY 13215. Website: www.comstockreview.org; www.facebook.com/pages/comstock-review/186488898068352?ref=ts-219-.
CONIUM PRESS 2016 Book & Chapbook Contest. Judged by Matt Bell, author of 4 books of fiction, most recently the novel Scrapper. Winner receives $1,000, publication of the winning title, 10 author copies, and a copy of the judge’s latest book. Submission deadline: September 1. Entry fee: $25. More details: http://coniumreview.com/contests.
THE CRAZYSHORTS! CONTEST: From July 1 to July 31, Crazyhorse will accept entries for our annual short-short fiction contest. Submit 3 short-shorts of up to 500 words each through our website: crazyhorse.cofc.edu. First place wins $1,000 and publication; 3 runners-up will be announced. All entries will be considered for publication; the $15 entry fee includes a subscription to Crazyhorse. http://crazyhorse.cofc.edu/crazyshorts.
CREATIVE NONFICTION magazine is seeking new work for an upcoming issue dedicated to “Teachers & Teaching.” Send your best work; 4,000 words or fewer. Deadline: August 29; $1,000 for best essay; $500 for runner-up. Guidelines at www.creativenonfiction.org/submit.
DANA AWARDS, 21st year. Novel award doubled to $2,000, plus publishing option! Plus our traditional awards in short fiction and poetry. (More changes in the works.) Deadline October 31. Guidelines: www.danaawards.com, or e-mail danaawards@gmail.com, or send SASE to 200 Fosseway Dr., Greensboro, NC 27455.
DANAHY FICTION PRIZE/Tampa Review. $1,000 and publication in Tampa Review for a previously unpublished work of short fiction, 500–5,000 words. A $20 entry fee includes subscription. All entries considered for publication. Submit by December 31. Address: Danahy Fiction Prize, Tampa Review, 401 West Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33606. Website: www.ut.edu/tampareview.
ESME (Empowering Solo Moms Everywhere) announces its second annual writing contest, which is open to all Solo Moms—women who parent on their own due to choice or circumstance. Prizes of $500, $350, and $150 will be given to the first, second, and third place winners in 3 categories: poetry, short fiction, and nonfiction essay. There is no entry fee, and the deadline is March 15, 2017. All submissions will also be considered for publication on the ESME website. For complete guidelines, please visit our website: www.esme.com.
ESSAY CONTEST. First prize is a publishing contract (poetry/fiction/nonfiction). Artificial intelligence theme. Essayists are to define and explore the future impact of artificial intelligence. The essay can be humorous, scientific, satirical, op-ed, or autobiographical. Free to enter; deadline is August 14. For additional information, visit www.chatterhousepress.com and click on Contest.
EVENING STREET PRESS announces its 2016 contests: Helen Kay Chapbook Poetry Prize, $250 plus 25 copies, possible publication of runners-up; $15 reading fee, ongoing. eveningstreetpress.com/helen-kay.html. Grassic Short Novel: $500 plus 25 copies, possible publication of runners-up; $25 reading fee, May 1 to December 1. eveningstreetpress.com/grassic.html.
THE GRAYSON BOOKS Poetry Prize, open to all poets writing in English, is accepting submissions. Submit by August 15. Electronic submissions preferred: https://graysonbooks.submittable.com/submit. No contact info on manuscript if submitting electronically. Or mail with your fee of $25 to Grayson Books, P.O. 270549, West Hartford, CT 06127. If mailing, include 2 cover pages (one with complete contact info, one with no contact info) along with your 50–80 page manuscript, and SASE. Winner will be awarded $1,000, publication, and 10 copies. Simultaneous submissions acceptable. Ben Grossberg to judge. www.graysonbooks.com.
IN 2016, Writer Advice, www.writeradvice.com, is offering 4 contests, 1 per issue (flash memoir; flash fiction; openings of middle grade, young adult, or new adult; and openings of other prose genres). Lower fees. New due dates. New word limits. Same detailed responses. Submission information and fees for all contests are at our website: www.writeradvice.com/guidelines.
INJUSTICE PRIZE in Fiction/Poetry: A $1,000 award and publication by Knut House Press for unpublished short story (less than 8,000 words) or poetry selection (less than 15 pages) that explores social injustice, whether through racism, homophobia, sexism, xenophobia, etc. Deadline: Submit $15 entry fee by August 31 via http://knuthousepress.com/injusticeprize.html.
LAST CALL for poetry submissions! LMP’s 2016 contest is closing soon. Send us your most daring, cutting-edge, or even shockingly normal poems! Entry fee $15 for up to 3 poems. Submit online or to LMP, 303 E. Gurley St. #449, Prescott, AZ 86301. Details at www.loosemoosepublishing.com.
LUMINA NONFICTION CONTEST, deadline September 1, judged by Leslie Jamison, author of The Empathy Exams. We seek bold, beautiful interpretations of the theme Borders and Boundaries: travel, gender, sexuality, love, citizenship, race, body, language, death, atmospheric layers, psychological barriers, prisons, fences, challenging genres, and anything else. First Place: $750 + publication in LUMINA, Vol. XVI. For details: luminajournal.com/contest.
MIGHTY RIVER Short Story Contest. Deadline: October 1. Prize: $1,000, publication in Big Muddy. Best short story, any theme; $20 fee includes copy of Big Muddy with winning story. MRSS Contest, Southeast Missouri State University Press, MS 2650, One University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701. Website: www.semopress.com/events/mighty-river-contest.
NILSEN PRIZE for a First Novel. Winner receives $2,000, publication, distribution. Authors must not have previously published a full-length fiction book. Postmark by November 1; $25 fee. Southeast Missouri State University Press, MS 2650, One University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701. Full guidelines at www.semopress.com/events/nilsen-prize.
NINTH ANNUAL Littoral Press Poetry Prize! First place: 50 letterpress-printed broadsides of the winning poem. Three honorable mentions receive earlier broadsides. Judge: Troy Jollimore. Fee: $10 first poem; $5 each additional. Mail to 622 26th St., Richmond, CA 94804, by August 12. View complete guidelines and broadside examples at www.littoralpress.com.
OMNIDAWN OFFERS $1,000 prize for our annual Fabulist Fiction Chapbook Prize. Bradford Morrow will judge. Electronic and postal submissions August 1–October 17. Winner receives cash prize, publication, 100 copies. Entry fee: $18. Entrants who add $2 shipping receive Omnidawn fiction book of their choice. For guidelines, see www.omnidawn.com/contest/fiction.
OMNIDAWN OFFERS $3,000 prize for our annual First/Second Book Prize. Cathy Park Hong will judge. Electronic and postal submissions by July 15. Winner receives cash prize, publication, 100 copies. Entry fee: $27. Entrants who add $3 shipping receive Omnidawn book of their choice. For guidelines, see www.omnidawn.com/contest.
THE ORIZON ANTHOLOGY AWARDS in Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry: $500 and publication by Orison Books in The Orison Anthology for a single work in each genre. Judges: Ravi Howard (fiction), Catherine Reid (nonfiction), and Philip Metres (poetry). Entry fee: $15. Deadline: August 1. Complete details at www.orisonbooks.com/submission-guidelines.
PATRICIA DOBLER Poetry Award 2016: Open to women writers over the age of 40 living in the US who haven’t published a full-length book of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction (chapbooks excluded). Winner receives $1,000, publication in Voices from the Attic, round-trip travel, lodging and reading at Carlow University in Pittsburgh with final judge. Poems must be unpublished, up to 75 lines; up to 2 poems, any style, per submission ($20 fee). Postmarked by October 1. For complete rules: (412) 578-6346, e-mail: sewilliams412@carlow.edu, or website: www.carlow.edu.
THE PROFANE NONFICTION PRIZE ($1,000), judged by author and Brevity editor Dinty W. Moore, is open for submissions through August 1. There is no theme. Send us your best flash, essays, journalism, or narratives that will spoon out some space in our guts and take up residence there. www.profanejournal.com.
THE PUBLISHER’S LONG STORY PRIZE from Twelve Winters Press. Awarded twice annually. E-book publication, cash prize & Friend of the Press status. Range 8,000 to 22,000 words. Website: https://twelvewinters.com/the-publishers-long-story-prize.
QUERCUS REVIEW PRESS. Fall Poetry Book Award: $1,000 prize, book publication, generous royalties. Deadline: December 16. Submit online or send manuscript and $25 reading fee to Quercus Review Press, Dept. of English, Modesto Junior College, 425 College Ave., Modesto, CA 95350. New and emerging writers encouraged to submit. Info: quercusreviewpress.com.
REED MAGAZINE, the West’s oldest literary journal, was established in San José in 1867. We offer $3,833 in prizes: the John Steinbeck Award for fiction; Gabriele Rico Challenge for nonfiction; Edwin Markham Prize for poetry; Mary Blair Award for art. Submit online June 1–November 1 using Submittable; $15 reading fee includes a free copy. Winners are published in our handsome print journal. www.reedmag.org.
RIVER STYX Schlafly Beer Micro-Brew Micro-Fiction Contest. First place receives prize of $1,500 and 1 case of Schlafly beer. Winners published in River Styx; 500 words maximum per story, up to 3 stories per entry. Entry options: $10 includes a copy of the issue in which the winners appear, $20 includes a 1-year subscription to River Styx. Postmarked by December 31 or enter online via Submittable. www.riverstyx.org/contests. Mail to: River Styx Microfiction Contest, 3547 Olive St., Ste. 107, St. Louis, MO 63103. Richard Newman, Editor: bigriver@riverstyx.org.
SUBMISSIONS FOR Indiana Review’s 2016 1/2K Prize are open from July 1 to August 15. This year’s prize judge is Aimee Nezhukumatathil. The winner receives $1,000 and publication. Entry fee: $20. All entries are considered for publication. For complete guidelines, visit www.indianareview.org.
TAMPA REVIEW Prize for Poetry. $2,000 plus hardcover and paperback book publication, and portfolio in Tampa Review for previously unpublished manuscript by a new or established poet. $25 entry includes subscription. Submit by December 31. Tampa Review Prize, University of Tampa Press, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33606. Website: www.ut.edu/tampareview.
TEBOT BACH announces the 2017 Patricia Bibby First Book Award: $500 and book publication. Deadline: October 31 postmark. Winner announced April 2017. Send manuscript and reading fee of $20 for each manuscript submitted to Tebot Bach, Bibby, Box 7887, Huntington Beach, CA 92615. Complete guidelines: www.tebotbach.org.
THE TENNESSEE WILLIAMS New Orleans Literary Festival announces 3 writing contests, all opening June 1. Festival packages, publication, and public readings accompany cash prizes. One-Act Play, deadline: November 1; Prize: $1,500. Poetry, deadline: November 15; Prize: $1,000. Fiction, deadline: November 30; Prize: $1,500. For more information, visit www.tennesseewilliams.net.
THREE MILE HARBOR PRESS is accepting submissions for full-length poetry manuscripts with particular interest in LGBT, feminist, and environmentally aware voices. Deadline: September 15. Reading fee: $25. Winner receives $500 and 25 copies. For complete guidelines see www.3mileharborpress.com.
TINDERBOX POETRY JOURNAL is holding its second annual poetry contest, which runs June 21–August 21. Entry fee is $12 for up to 3 poems (no more than 5 pages) with a $500 prize and $250 for the runner-up. Our judge this year is Eduardo Corral. More information at www.tinderboxpoetry.com.
TOM HOWARD/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest. 14th year. Sponsored by Winning Writers, one of the “101 Best Websites for Writers” (Writer’s Digest). Top prize for a poem in any style: $1,500. Top prize for a poem that rhymes or has a traditional style: $1,500. Total prizes: $4,000. Winning entries published online. Fee: $10 per poem. Length limit: 250 lines. Both published and unpublished work accepted. Submit by September 30. Final judge: Soma Mei Sheng Frazier. Enter at winningwriters.com/tompoetry.
THE TRUMAN STATE University Press T. S. Eliot Prize for Poetry. Prize: $2,000 and publication. Description: Awarded for book-length collection of poems originally written in English. Manuscripts should be 60–100 pages in length. Simultaneous submissions allowed. Mail submissions. Entry fee: $25 per submission. Deadline: October 31. Website: http://tsup.truman.edu/tseliotprize/guidelines.asp.
THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PRESS is accepting submissions for the Miller Williams Poetry Prize, judged by Billy Collins. The winner receives $5,000 in cash in addition to publication. Applications are accepted year-round. The deadline for the following year’s prize is September 30. Website: www.uapress.com.
UTICA COLLEGE Eugene Paul Nassar Poetry Prize. A prize of $2,000 is given annually for a poetry collection by a resident of upstate New York. The winner must also give a reading and teach a master class at Utica College. Submit 2 copies of a book of at least 48 pages, published between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2016, and a curriculum vitae by August 31. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines. Utica College, Eugene Paul Nassar Poetry Prize, School of Arts and Sciences, 1600 Burrstone Rd., Utica, NY 13502. Gary Leising, contest coordinator. gleising@utica.edu. Website: utica.edu/nassarprize.
VERN RUTSALA Poetry Prize, $1,000 plus publication, for full-length manuscript, at least 60 pages. Send $25 reading fee, plus SASE, to Cloudbank, P.O. Box 610, Corvallis, OR 97339; or electronically https://cloudbankbooks.submittable.com/submit. Postmark deadline: September 30. The 2016 winner is Holly Karapetkova for Towline, selected by Dennis Schmitz. Details at www.cloudbankbooks.com.
WILDA HEARNE Flash Fiction Contest. Deadline: October 1. $500, publication in Big Muddy. Best short-short story, 500 words or less, any theme. A $15 fee includes copy of Big Muddy with winning story. Wilda Hearne Flash Fiction Contest, Southeast Missouri State University Press, MS 2650, One University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701. Website: www.semopress.com/events/wilda-hearne-contest.
WONDER INSTITUTE awards $1,000 first prize and online publication for a personal essay on "What Is Your Life’s Purpose?" 1,500 word maximum. Deadline November 1. Final Judge: Linda Durham. Fee: $20. Full guidelines: www.wonderessaycontest.com.