A prize of $1,000 and publication by Autumn House Press is given biennially for a debut poetry collection. The winner will also receive a $500 grant for travel and book...
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.
Fish Publishing
Cash Prize: $3,517
Entry Fee: $26
Application Deadline: 11/30/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of €3,000 (approximately $3,517) and publication in the annual Fish Publishing anthology is given annually for a short story. The winner will also be invited to attend...
read moreNarrative
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 11/30/21
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $2,500 and publication in Narrative is given annually for a short story, a short short story, an essay, a short graphic narrative, or an excerpt from a...
read moreMunster Literature Center
Cash Prize: $2,344
Entry Fee: $8
Application Deadline: 11/30/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of €2,000 (approximately $2,344) and publication in Southword is given annually for a single poem. Submit a poem of up to 40 lines with a €7 (approximately $8)...
read moreWhite Pine Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 11/30/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by White Pine Press is given annually for a poetry collection by a U.S. citizen. Submit a manuscript of 60 to 80 pages with a $20 entry fee by...
read moreUniversity of North Texas
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 11/30/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $10,000 is given annually for a poetry collection published in the previous year by a mid-career poet. U.S. poets who have previously published at least two poetry...
read moreBOA Editions
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 11/30/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by BOA Editions is given annually for a first book of poetry by a U.S. resident. Stephanie Burt will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 100...
read moreGreen Linden Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 11/30/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Green Linden Press will be given annually for a book of poetry “that challenges expectations of genre, form, or mode” and that “questions...
read moreSlipstream Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 12/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Slipstream Press, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry chapbook. The editors will judge. Submit a manuscript of up to 40 pages...
read moreRegal House Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/1/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Regal House Publishing will be given annually for a short story collection. The editors will judge. Submit a manuscript of 100 to 350 pages...
read moreLangum Foundation
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/1/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a book of historical fiction published during the previous year. Publishers or authors may submit two copies of a book (or galleys)...
read morePoetry International
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 12/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Poetry International is given annually for a single poem. The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit...
read moreHawai’i Council for the Humanities
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 will be given biennially to a poet with a body of work that “pushes the boundaries of poetic craft” who also “contributes meaningfully to the literary...
read morePushcart Press
Cash Prize:
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/1/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Publication in The Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses is awarded annually for works of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction published by literary magazines...
read moreBreakwater Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 12/1/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Breakwater Review is given annually for a story. Submit a story of 1,000 to 4,000 words with a $10 entry fee by December 1. All...
read moreFive Points
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Five Points is given annually for a group of poems. The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit up to...
read moreOhio University Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 12/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Ohio University Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of 60 to 95 pages with a $30 entry fee by December 1....
read moreWaywiser Press
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $29
Application Deadline: 12/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $3,000 and publication by the Waywiser Press is given annually for a poetry collection by a poet who has published no more than one previous collection. The winner...
read moreAmerican Library Association
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/1/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $5,000 is given annually for a novel published in the previous year that is set in a period when the United States was at war. Publishers or authors may submit seven...
read moreMeadowlark Books
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Meadowlark Books, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry book. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of at...
read moreAfrican Poetry Book Fund
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Nebraska Press in conjunction with Amalion Press is given annually for a debut poetry collection by an African poet. Writers...
read moreFriends of American Writers
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/10/21
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $2,500 is given annually for a book of fiction or creative nonfiction published during the previous year by a writer who is a resident of the Midwest (or who...
read moreWriter’s Digest
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 12/15/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $3,000 and travel and lodging expenses for a trip to the Writer’s Digest Conference in New York City is given annually for a short short story. A second-place prize...
read moreCommonwealth Club of California
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/15/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Five prizes of $5,000 are given annually for a poetry collection, a book of fiction, a first book of fiction, a book of creative nonfiction, and a book of fiction or nonfiction...
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