Caine Prize for African Writing
Caine Prize for African Writing
Entry Fee:
$0
Deadline:
February 27, 2026
A prize of £10,000 (approximately $13,323) is given annually for a previously published short story by a writer of African descent.
Genre: Fiction
Bryan Washington: Palaver
Caption:
In this episode of Poured Over: The Barnes & Noble Podcast hosted by Miwa Messer, Bryan Washington speaks about how his experiences in Tokyo and Osaka informed his latest novel, Palaver (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2025), and how third-person narratives reflect the estrangement of being in a different country.
Genre:
Fiction & Poetry Contest
Hayden’s Ferry Review
Entry Fee:
$15
Deadline:
February 28, 2026
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Hayden’s Ferry Review are given for a poem or a group of poems and a work of fiction. Sarah Ghazal Ali will judge in poetry and Gina Chung will judge in fiction. Using only the online submission system, submit one to three poems totaling no more than 10 pages or a short story or novel excerpt of up to 20 pages with a $15 or $23 entry fee, which includes a digital or print subscription to Hayden’s Ferry Review, respectively, by February 28. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
William Saroyan International Prize for Writing
Stanford University Libraries
Entry Fee:
$50
Deadline:
January 30, 2026
Two prizes of $5,000 each are given biennially for books of fiction and nonfiction published in the previous two years. The awards, cosponsored by the Stanford University Libraries and the William Saroyan Foundation, are “intended to encourage new or emerging writers” and honor the “life, legacy and intentions of William Saroyan.” Writers who have published up to two books are eligible. Submit five copies of a fiction or nonfiction book published between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025, with a $50 entry fee by January 30. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.
Iowa Review Awards
Iowa Review
Entry Fee:
$20
Deadline:
January 31, 2026
Three prizes of $1,500 each and publication in Iowa Review are given annually for works of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Using only the online submission system, submit up to 10 pages of poetry or up to 25 pages of prose with a $20 entry fee between January 1 and January 31. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Writing Prizes
swamp pink
Entry Fee:
$20
Deadline:
January 31, 2026
Three prizes of $2,000 each and publication in swamp pink are given annually for a single poem, a short story, and an essay. Using only the online submission system, submit up to three poems or a story or essay of up to 25 pages with a $20 entry fee by January 31. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Literary Arts Fellowships
Alabama State Council on the Arts
Entry Fee:
$0
Deadline:
March 2, 2026
At least two fellowships of $5,000 each are given annually to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers who are legal residents of Alabama and have lived in the state for a minimum of two years. Using only the online submission system, submit up to 20 pages of poetry or prose and a résumé including a list of publications by March 2 at 5 PM CDT. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
First Novel Fellowship
James Jones Literary Society
Entry Fee:
$33
Deadline:
March 15, 2026
A fellowship of $12,000 is given annually for a novel-in-progress that honors “the spirit of unblinking honesty, determination, and insight into modern culture as exemplified by (the writings of) James Jones.” The first runner-up receives $3,000 and the second runner-up receives $2,000. U.S. writers who have not published a novel are eligible. Using only the online submission system, submit the first 50 pages of a novel-in-progress and a synopsis of up to two pages with a $33 entry fee by March 15. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Tags:
Wild Women Story Contest
TulipTree Publishing
Entry Fee:
$20
Deadline:
March 8, 2026
A prize of $1,000 and publication in TulipTree Review is given annually for a single poem, a short story, or an essay “whose main characters embody the Wild Woman spirit.” Submit up to five pages of poetry or up to 10,000 words of prose with a $20 entry fee by March 8. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
American Short(er) Fiction Prize
American Short Fiction
Entry Fee:
$18
Deadline:
February 1, 2026
A prize of $1,000 and publication in American Short Fiction is given annually for a work of flash fiction. Using only the online submission system, submit up to two stories of no more than 1,500 words each with an $18 entry fee by February 1. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
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