Four prizes of $10,000 each are given annually to honor books of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and young people’s literature written by U.S. writers and published in the United...
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.
National Book Foundation
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $135
Application Deadline: 5/12/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Academy of American Poets
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 5/15/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $5,000 is given annually for a second book of poetry by a living poet to be published in the coming calendar year. The winner also receives an all-expenses paid...
read moreCenter for Documentary Studies
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $60
Application Deadline: 5/15/21
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $10,000 and publication in the Center for Documentary Studies digital publication is given annually for a documentary project that incorporates images and text in...
read moreAcademy of American Poets
Cash Prize: $25,000
Entry Fee: $75
Application Deadline: 5/15/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $25,000 is given annually for a poetry collection by a living poet published in the United States during the previous year. The winner also receives an all-expenses...
read moreAmerican Poetry Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 5/15/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in American Poetry Review is given annually for a single poem by a poet under the age of 40. The editors will judge. Submit up to three...
read moreGaudy Boy Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 5/15/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Gaudy Boy, an imprint of the literary nonprofit Singapore Unbound, is given annually for a poetry collection by an Asian writer. Dorothy...
read moreCarve
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $17
Application Deadline: 5/15/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $2,000 and publication in Carve is given annually for a short story. Using only the online submission system, submit a story of up to 10,000 words with a $17...
read moreCrook’s Corner Book Prize Foundation
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 5/15/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $5,000 is given annually for a debut novel set in the American South. The author may live anywhere, but eligible novels must be set primarily in Alabama, Arkansas,...
read moreLost Horse Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 5/15/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Lost Horse Press, and 20 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection by a U.S poet. Ilya Kaminsky will judge. Using only the...
read morePittsburg State University
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 5/15/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Pittsburg State University, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry chapbook. Kayleb Rae Candrilli will judge. Submit a manuscript...
read morePloughshares
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $24
Application Deadline: 5/15/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $2,000 each and publication in Ploughshares are given annually for a poem or group of poems, a short story, and an essay. Each winner also receives a...
read moreNew Letters
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $24
Application Deadline: 5/18/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $2,500 each and publication in New Letters are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay. Using only the online submission system, submit up...
read moreCenter for Fiction
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 5/30/21
Genre: Fiction
Nine fellowships of $5,000 each and a one-year membership to the Center for Fiction in New York City are given annually to fiction writers living in New York City who have not...
read moreMilkweed Editions
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 5/31/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $10,000 and publication by Milkweed Editions is given annually to a U.S. poet for a debut poetry collection. Henri Cole will judge. Using only the online submission...
read moreElixir Press
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $40
Application Deadline: 5/31/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $2,000, publication by Elixir Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a short story collection or a novel. Ann Harleman will judge. Using only the online...
read moreUniversity of Georgia Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 5/31/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Georgia Press is given annually for a collection of short fiction. Roxane Gay will judge. Using only the online submission...
read moreBridport Arts Centre
Cash Prize: $6,871
Entry Fee: $17
Application Deadline: 5/31/21
Two prizes of £5,000 (approximately $6,871) each and publication in the Bridport Prize anthology are given annually for a poem and a short story. Two second-place prizes of £1,...
read moreBOA Editions
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 5/31/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by BOA Editions is given annually for a short story collection. Peter Conners will judge. Submit a manuscript of 90 to 200 pages with a $25...
read moreSouthern Poetry Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 5/31/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Southern Poetry Review is given annually for a single poem. Submit three to five poems totaling no more than 10 pages with a $20...
read moreAnhinga Press
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 5/31/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,000, publication by Anhinga Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 100 pages with a $25 entry fee ($...
read moreStony Brook Southampton
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/1/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a short story by a college student. The winner also receives a full scholarship to attend the Southampton Writers Conference in summer...
read moreSalamander
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 6/1/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Salamander is given annually for a short story. Yiyun Li will judge. Submit a story of up to 30 pages with a $15 entry fee between...
read moreAmerican Short Fiction
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 6/1/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $2,500 and publication in American Short Fiction is given annually for a short story. Using only the online submission system, submit a story of 2,000 to 6,...
read morePEN America
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/1/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Ten grants of $3,000 each are given annually to support the translation of book-length works of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction that have not previously appeared in...
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