Genre: Fiction

Stories That Need to Be Told Contest

TulipTree Publishing
Entry Fee: 
$20
Deadline: 
August 9, 2025
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a poem, a short story, or an essay that responds to the following prompt: “What if the only way to save yourself from this reality is to write yourself a new one?” The winner also receives a two-year subscription to the literary database Duotrope and publication in the annual Stories That Need to Be Told anthology. E-mail a poem of up to five pages or a story or essay of up to 10,000 words with a $20 entry fee (sent via postal mail or PayPal) by August 9. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Flash Fiction Contest

Gemini Magazine
Entry Fee: 
$8
Deadline: 
September 2, 2025
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Gemini Magazine is given annually for a work of flash fiction. The editors will judge. Submit a story of up to 1,000 words with an $8 entry fee by September 2. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Short Fiction Awards

University of Iowa Press
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
August 31, 2025
Two prizes of publication by University of Iowa Press are given annually for debut collections of short fiction. Submit a manuscript of at least 150 pages by August 31. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Short Story Award

Gival Press 
Entry Fee: 
$25
Deadline: 
August 8, 2025
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Gival Press website is given annually for a short story. Submit a story of 5,000 to 15,000 words with a $25 entry fee by August 8. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Lab Prize

University of New Orleans Press
Entry Fee: 
$28
Deadline: 
August 31, 2025
A prize of $10,000 and publication by University of New Orleans Press is given annually for a short story collection or novel. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of any length with a $28 entry fee by August 31. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Granum Foundation Prizes

Granum Foundation
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
August 1, 2025
A prize of $5,000 is given annually to a poet, fiction writer, or creative nonfiction writer to support the completion of a manuscript-in-progress. Up to three finalists are awarded at least $500 each. A Translation Prize of at least $1,500 is also given. Using only the online submission system, submit 12 poems or a prose sample of up to 25 pages by August 1. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.

Book Awards

Washington Writers’ Publishing House
Entry Fee: 
$28
Deadline: 
July 15, 2025
Three prizes of $1,500 each, publication by Washington Writers’ Publishing House, and 25 author copies are given annually for a poetry collection, a short story collection or novel, and a poetry collection in translation. Writers who live in Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Virginia are eligible. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 70 to 100 pages of poetry or 150 to 250 pages of prose with a $28 entry fee by July 15. Following these guidelines, translators may submit a poetry manuscript in English along with the matching selection in the original language. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Radcliffe Institute Fellowships

Harvard University
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
September 11, 2025
Fellowships of $78,000 each, as well as office space at the Radcliffe Institute and access to the libraries at Harvard University, are given annually to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers to allow them to pursue innovative projects. Fellows, who are expected to reside in Cambridge, Massachusetts, or the surrounding Boston area during the fellowship period, September through May, also receive $5,000 to cover project expenses. Poets who have published a full-length collection or at least 20 poems in magazines or anthologies in the last five years and who are in the process of completing a manuscript are eligible. Fiction and nonfiction writers who have published one or more books, have a book-length manuscript under contract for publication, or have published at least three shorter works are eligible. Writers who are graduate students or enrolled in a degree-granting program at the time of application are not eligible. For 2026–2027 fellowships, submit up to 10 poems of any length or a short story, a recent book chapter, or an essay totaling no more than 30 pages; a curriculum vitae; a project proposal; and contact information for three references by September 11. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.

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