A prize of $1,000 will be given annually for a book of poetry by an African poet published in the previous year. Writers who were born in Africa, who are a national or a...
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.
African Poetry Book Fund
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 10/1/20
Genre: Poetry
Pulitzer Prizes
Cash Prize: $15,000
Entry Fee: $75
Application Deadline: 10/1/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Five prizes of $15,000 each are given annually to U.S. writers to honor books of poetry, fiction, general nonfiction, U. S. history, and biography or autobiography (including...
read moreAmerican Literary Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 10/1/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in American Literary Review are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay. Using only the online submission...
read moreCarlow University
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 10/1/20
Genre: Poetry
A prize valued at $2,500 is given annually to a woman poet over 40 who has not published a book in any genre. The winner receives $2,500 and publication in Voices From the...
read moreZoetrope: All-Story
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 10/1/20
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Zoetrope: All-Story website is given annually for a short story. The winner and finalists are considered for representation by...
read moreTennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/1/20
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,500 and publication in Louisiana Literature is given annually for a short story by a writer who has not published a full-length book of fiction. The winner...
read moreMissouri Review
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/1/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $5,000 each and publication in Missouri Review are given annually for a group of poems, a short story, and an essay. Submit up to 10 pages of poetry or...
read moreMad Creek Books
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $23
Application Deadline: 10/3/20
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,500 and publication by Mad Creek Books, the literary trade imprint of Ohio State University Press, is given annually for a poetry collection. Kathy Fagan and...
read moreOmnidawn Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 10/12/20
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000, publication by Omnidawn Publishing, and 100 author copies is given annually for a work of fabulist fiction. Molly Gloss will judge. Submit a manuscript of...
read moreFordham University at Lincoln Center
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 10/15/20
Genre: Poetry
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication by Fordham University Press are given annually for poetry collections. The winners also each receive a publicity consultation and $500...
read moreSan Diego Poetry Annual
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 10/15/20
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in San Diego Poetry Annual is given annually for a single poem. The winner will also receive an invitation to read at an award ceremony...
read moreCopper Nickel
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/15/20
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,000 and publication by Milkweed Editions is given annually for a first or second poetry collection. Randall Mann will judge. Using only the online submission...
read moreSilverfish Review Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/15/20
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Silverfish Review Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a first poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of at least 48 pages with a...
read moreUniversity of Louisville
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/15/20
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $2,000 and publication in Miracle Monocle is given annually for a work of fiction written in the fabulist experimental style of Italo Calvino. The winner will...
read moreTennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 10/15/20
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Antenna::Signals is given annually for a group of poems. The winner will also be invited to give a reading at the Tennessee Williams...
read moreJohn Pollard Foundation
Cash Prize: $11,387
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 10/16/20
Genre: Poetry
A prize of €10,000 (approximately $11,387) is given annually for a debut poetry collection published during the current year. Publishers may submit a book published between...
read moreRed Mountain Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 10/18/20
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Red Mountain Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Lisa Rosenberg will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 72 pages with a $35...
read moreSixfold
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $5
Application Deadline: 10/24/20
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Sixfold are given quarterly for a group of poems and a short story. Using only the online submission system, submit up to...
read moreFinishing Line Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 10/31/20
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Finishing Line Press is given annually for a poetry chapbook. Submit a manuscript of 16 to 36 pages with a $15 entry fee by October 31. All...
read moreTucson Festival of Books
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 10/31/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each are given annually for works of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. The winners will also receive scholarships to attend a workshop on the...
read moreCloudbank Books
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/31/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Cloudbank Books is given annually for a collection of poetry, flash fiction, or a combination of the two. Christopher Buckley will judge....
read moreIndiana Review
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 10/31/20
A prize of $2,000 and publication by Indiana University Press is given in alternating years for a collection of poetry or a collection of short fiction. The 2021 prize will be...
read moreUniversity of North Texas Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/31/20
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of North Texas Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of...
read moreComstock Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 10/31/20
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by the Comstock Writers Group, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry chapbook. Michael McAnaney will judge. Submit a manuscript of...
read more