A prize of $2,500 is given annually for a work of flash fiction, a short story, a graphic story, an essay, a memoir, or an excerpt from a work of fiction or creative nonfiction...
read moreWriting Contests, Grants & Awards
The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we’ve published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it. Ours is the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.
Narrative
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 7/31/25
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Munster Literature Centre
Cash Prize: $2,235
Entry Fee: $21
Application Deadline: 7/31/25
Genre: Fiction
A prize of €2,000 (approximately $2,235) and publication in Southword is given annually for a short story. The winner also receives a four-night stay at a hotel to give...
read moreNew Millennium Writings
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 7/31/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Four prizes of $1,000 each and publication in New Millennium Writings and on the journal’s website are given biannually for a poem, a short story, a short short story,...
read moreSewanee Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 7/31/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Sewanee Review are given annually for a single poem or group of poems, a short story, and an essay. Cindy Juyoung Ok will...
read moreAnthology Magazine
Cash Prize: $1,118
Entry Fee: $21
Application Deadline: 7/31/25
Genre: Fiction
A prize of €1,000 (approximately $1,118) and publication in Anthology Magazine is given annually for a short story. Using only the online submission system, submit a...
read moreLos Angeles Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 7/31/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Four prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Los Angeles Review are given annually for a poem, a short story, a work of flash fiction, and an essay. Using only the...
read morePress 53
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 7/31/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Press 53, and 53 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Tom Lombardo will judge. Submit a manuscript of 50 to 120 pages with...
read moreRed Wheelbarrow
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 7/31/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Red Wheelbarrow is given annually for a single poem. The winner also receives 20 copies of a letterpress broadside of the winning...
read moreRadar Poetry
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 8/1/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Radar Poetry is given annually for a group of poems by a poet who identifies as a woman. Diane Seuss will judge. Using only the...
read moreSeneca Review Books
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 8/1/25
Genre: Poetry, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $2,000 and publication by Seneca Review Books is given biennially for a collection of lyric essays. The winner will also receive an invitation to give a reading with...
read moreBOA Editions
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 8/1/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,500 and publication by BOA Editions will be given annually for a poetry collection by a poet who is a woman of color and lives in the United States, “including...
read moreGranum Foundation
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 8/1/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
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...
read moreDelaware Division of the Arts
Cash Prize: $8,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 8/1/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Established Professional Fellowships of $8,000 each and Emerging Artist Fellowships of $5,000 each are given annually to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers...
read moreBlack Warrior Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 8/1/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Black Warrior Review are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay. Using only the online submission system,...
read morePrairie Schooner
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 8/1/25
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Prairie Schooner is given annually for an essay. Submit up to 5,000 words of prose with a $20 entry fee by August 1. Visit the...
read moreAspen Words
Cash Prize: $35,000
Entry Fee: $105
Application Deadline: 8/4/25
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $35,000 is given annually for a book of fiction published in the current year that “illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power...
read moreLiterary Arts
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 8/8/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Fellowships of $3,500 each are given annually to aid Oregon writers in initiating, developing, or completing literary projects in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction....
read moreGival Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 8/8/25
Genre: Fiction
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....
read moreTulipTree Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 8/9/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
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...
read moreFuturepoem
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 8/15/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Cross-Genre
A prize of $1,000, publication by Futurepoem, and 25 author copies is given annually for a book of innovative poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or hybrid work “that...
read moreIndiana Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 8/15/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Indiana Review is given annually for a poem or a work of flash fiction or creative nonfiction. Submit up to three poems, stories, or...
read moreGrayson Books
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $26
Application Deadline: 8/15/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Grayson Books, and 10 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Alberto Ríos will judge. Using only the online submission...
read moreOmnidawn Publishing
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 8/16/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $3,000, publication by Omnidawn Publishing, and 20 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Jose-Luis Moctezuma will judge. Using only the online...
read moreMunster Literature Centre
Cash Prize: $1,118
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 8/31/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of €1,000 (approximately $1,118); publication by Southword Editions, Munster Literature Centre’s publishing imprint; and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry...
read more