Two prizes of $1,500 each and publication in the New Guard are given annually for a poem and a short story. Patricia Smith will judge in poetry and Rick Moody will...
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.
New Guard
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $22
Application Deadline: 9/24/18
Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award
Cash Prize: $39,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 9/28/18
Genre: Fiction
A prize of £30,000 (approximately $39,000) is given annually for a short story by a writer whose work has been previously published in the United Kingdom or Ireland. Five...
read moreNew York Public Library
Cash Prize: $70,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 9/28/18
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Up to 15 fellowships are given annually to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers whose work will benefit directly from access to the research collections at...
read moreNew Criterion
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 9/29/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $3,000 and publication by Criterion Books is given annually for a poetry collection that pays close attention to form. Morri Creech, Roger Kimball, and David Yezzi...
read moreWinning Writers
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $12
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Poetry
Two prizes of $1,500 each and publication on the Winning Writers website are given annually for a poem in any style and a poem that either rhymes or is written in a traditional...
read moreOversound
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Oversound will be given annually for a poetry chapbook. Solmaz Sharif will judge. Using the online submission system, submit a...
read moreUniversity of Massachusetts Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Five prizes of $1,000 each and publication by University of Massachusetts Press are given annually for a first poetry collection, a poetry collection, a short story collection...
read moreUniversity of Arkansas Press
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $5,000 and publication by University of Arkansas Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Billy Collins will judge. Using the online submission system,...
read moreSouthwest Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $5
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Southwest Review is given annually for a poem or a group of poems by a writer who has not published a poetry collection. Submit up...
read moreGhost Story
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000, publication on the Ghost Story website and in the Ghost Story print anthology, 21st Century Ghost Stories, is given twice yearly...
read moreHidden River Arts
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $22
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Hidden River Press, an imprint of Hidden River Publishing, will be given annually for an essay collection. Using the online submission...
read moreDzanc Books
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $2,500 and publication by Dzanc Books is given annually for a story collection. The editors will judge. Using the online submission system, submit a story collection...
read moreBoulevard
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $16
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Boulevard will be given annually for an essay by a writer who has not published a full-length book in any genre with a nationally...
read moreHackney Literary Awards
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $5,000 is given annually for an unpublished novel. Submit a manuscript of any length with a $30 entry fee by September 30. Visit the website for complete guidelines...
Cave Canem Foundation
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $12
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize valued at approximately $2,500 is given annually for a poetry chapbook by a Black poet. The winner will receive $500, publication by Jai-Alai Books, and a weeklong...
read moreMad Creek Books
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
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. Marcus Jackson will...
read moreNew Issues Poetry & Prose
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by New Issues Poetry & Prose, and a reading at Western Michigan University is given annually for a poetry collection. Poets who have...
read moreLiteral Latté
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Literal Latté is given annually for a personal essay. Submit an essay of up to 10,000 words with a $10 entry fee ($5 for each...
read moreDzanc Books
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,500 and publication by Dzanc Books will be given annually for a book of nonfiction. Memoirs, essay collections, biographies, and works of sociocultural or...
read moreRed Hen Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Red Hen Press is given annually for a short story collection or a novel. Ann Hood will judge. Submit a manuscript of at least 150 pages...
read moreLascaux Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Lascaux Review is given annually for a poem. The winner and finalists will also be published in the 2019 Lascaux Prize...
read moreDzanc Books
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $5,000 and publication by Dzanc Books is given annually for a novel. John Domini, Alice Hatcher, and Emily Geminder will judge. Using the online submission system,...
read moreCalifornia State University in Fresno
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/1/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,000 and publication by Anhinga Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Peter Everwine will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 80 pages with a $25 entry...
read morePulitzer Prizes
Cash Prize: $15,000
Entry Fee: $75
Application Deadline: 10/1/18
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Four prizes of $15,000 each are given annually to U.S. writers to honor books of poetry, fiction, general nonfiction, and biography or autobiography (including memoir)...
read moreAmerican Literary Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 10/1/18
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 the online submission system...
read more