A fellowship of up to $5,000 is given annually to a poet, a fiction writer, a creative nonfiction writer, or a writer working in a genre beyond these categories who has lived...
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.
Maine Arts Commission
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/17/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Great Lakes Colleges Association
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/25/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes are given annually to a poet, a fiction writer, and a creative nonfiction writer to honor their first books. The winners each receive an all-expenses paid trip to...
read moreLos Angeles Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
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 short short story, and an essay. Francesca Bell will...
read moreOmnidawn Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Omnidawn Publishing, and 100 author copies is given annually for a poetry chapbook. Rae Armantrout will judge. Submit a manuscript of 20 to 40...
read moreHidden River Arts
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $17
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a short story or a novel excerpt. Using only the online submission system, submit up to 25 pages of fiction (and a synopsis if...
read moreBard College
Cash Prize: $30,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $30,000 and a one-semester appointment as writer-in-residence at Bard College is given annually to a U.S. fiction writer under the age of 40. The recipient must give...
read moreLascaux Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Lascaux Review online and in print is given annually for a work of flash fiction. Previously published stories are eligible. Using...
read moreTwyckenham Notes
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Twyckenham Notes will be given annually for a poem or group of poems. The editors will judge. Submit up to seven poems with a $20...
read moreGriffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry
Cash Prize: $51,078
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Poetry
Two prizes of CAD $65,000 (approximately $51,078) each are given annually for poetry collections by a Canadian poet or translator and by an international poet or translator...
read moreNew American Press
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,500, publication by New American Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a book of fiction. Kristen Arnett will judge. Using only the online submission...
read moreUniversity of North Texas Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of North Texas Press is given annually for a collection of short fiction. Using only the online submission system, submit a...
read moreBauhan Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Bauhan Publishing, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Meg Kearney will judge. Submit a manuscript of 50 to 80...
read moreThe Moth
Cash Prize: $3,623
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of €3,000 (approximately $3,623) is given annually for a short story. A prize of a weeklong retreat at Circle of Missé in Missé, France, with a €250 (approximately $301...
read moreUniversity of Pittsburgh Press
Cash Prize: $15,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $15,000 and publication by University of Pittsburgh Press is given annually for a collection of short fiction. Writers who have published at least one previous book...
read moreWinning Writers
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $65
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A grand prize of $5,000 and seven additional prizes of $1,000 each given annually for self-published books of poetry, fiction, genre fiction, creative nonfiction, children’s...
read moreWriter’s Center
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a first novel published in the previous calendar year. Publishers or authors may submit three copies of a novel published in 2020 by...
read moreFinishing Line Press
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,500 and publication by Finishing Line Press is given annually for a poetry chapbook by a writer who identifies as a woman and has not yet published a full-length...
read moreCider Press Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $26
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Cider Press Review, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. The editors will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48...
read moreNowhere Magazine
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Nowhere Magazine is given twice yearly for a poem, a short story, or an essay that “possesses a powerful sense of people, place,...
read moreBarrow Street Press
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,500 and publication by Barrow Street Press is given annually for a poetry collection. A. Van Jordan will judge. Submit a manuscript of 50 to 80 pages with a $25...
read moreMoon City Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 7/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Moon City Press is given annually for a poetry collection. The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a...
read moreNuclear Age Peace Foundation
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 7/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation website is given annually for a single poem that explores “positive visions of peace and the human spirit...
read moreConduit Books & Ephemera
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 7/5/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,500, publication by Conduit Books & Ephemera, and 30 author copies is given annually for a debut poetry collection. Bob Hicok will judge. Submit a manuscript...
read moreStone Canoe
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 7/8/21
Two prizes of $500 each and publication in Stone Canoe are given annually for works of poetry and fiction by writers who are current or past residents of upstate New...
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