Genre: Fiction

Edna Ferber Fiction Book Award

Arts Literature Laboratory
Entry Fee: 
$30
Deadline: 
January 31, 2025
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a book of fiction by a writer who is a resident of Wisconsin (or who has previously resided in Wisconsin for at least five years) published in the previous year. The winner will also receive a five-day stay at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts. Submit a copy of a book of any length published in 2024 with a $30 entry fee ($20 for Arts + Literature Laboratory members) by January 31. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Skywave Fiction Contest

High Frequency Press
Entry Fee: 
$35
Deadline: 
February 3, 2025
A prize of $1,500, 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 and television agent referrals to agencies such as Creative Artist Agency and Curtis Brown. Shanna McNair and Scott Wolven will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of up to 110,000 words with a $35 entry fee by February 3. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Eliud Martínez Prize

Inlandia Institute
Entry Fee: 
$15
Deadline: 
January 31, 2025
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Inlandia Books is given annually for a book of fiction or creative nonfiction by a writer who identifies as Hispanic, Latino/a/e/x, or Chicana/o/e/x. Manuscripts must be written primarily in English. Roberto Cantú will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 150 to 300 pages with a $15 entry fee by January 31. Proposals for longer works of up to 500 pages may be submitted along with an excerpt, a table of contents, and a synopsis. Fee waivers are available upon request. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Creative Writing Fellowships

National Endowment for the Arts
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
March 12, 2025
Approximately 35 grants of $25,000 each are given annually in alternating years to poets and prose writers to “enable the recipients to set aside time for writing, research, travel, and general career advancement.” This year fellowships will be given in fiction and creative nonfiction. Writers who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States and who have published at least five short stories, essays, or novel or memoir excerpts in two or more literary magazines, journals, anthologies, or other publications that regularly feature literature; a novel or novella; a short story collection or volume of short fiction; or a volume of creative nonfiction between January 1, 2015, and March 12, 2025, are eligible. Using only the online submission system, submit a writing sample of 20 to 25 pages of prose, a brief project description, and a list of publications by March 12. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.

Translation Projects Fellowship

National Endowment for the Arts
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
January 16, 2025
Approximately 20 grants of up to $25,000 each are given annually to translators of poetry and prose. Writers who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States and who have published, alone or in collaboration, at least 20 pages of literary translation in digital or print publications, or at least one book or other volume of translation of at least 20 pages between January 1, 2010, and January 16, 2025, are eligible. Using only the online submission system, submit 10 to 15 pages of translation along with the corresponding pages from the original work, a project description, a bio, a résumé for the original author, a justification of retranslation (if applicable), a list of published translations into English, and proof of the right to translate the specified work by January 16. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.

Women’s Prose Prize

Red Hen Press
Entry Fee: 
$25
Deadline: 
February 28, 2025
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Red Hen Press is given annually for a book of fiction or nonfiction by a writer who identifies as a woman. Alyssa Graybeal will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a story collection, essay collection, novel, memoir, or other manuscript of prose of 25,000 to 80,000 words with a $25 entry fee by February 28. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Veterans Writing Award

Syracuse University Press
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
February 15, 2025
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Syracuse University Press is given biennially for either a debut fiction or nonfiction manuscript written by a U.S. veteran, active-duty personnel in any branch of the U.S. military, or the immediate family member of a veteran or person on active duty. The contest alternates between genres each award cycle; the 2025 award will be given in fiction. Submit a novella, novel, or short story collection of up to 90,000 words by February 15. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Giving Gifts

12.11.24

‘Tis the season for gifting, which can come with stressful shopping lists, awkward gift exchanges, wrapped packages awaiting under the tree, and festive advent calendars full of treats. This week write a short story that revolves around a character who must prepare a holiday present for someone. Create a backstory of their relationship and consider whether unsaid expectations come from something that’s happened in the past. Does it turn out to be the perfect gift or is it way off the mark? You might decide to infuse your story with elements of comedy, horror, fantasy, or surrealism—or combine all of these tones into a new classic.

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