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. Francisco Aragón 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.
Los Angeles Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 7/14/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Comstock Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 7/15/20
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Comstock Review is given annually for a single poem. Patricia Smith will judge. Submit up to five poems of no more than 40 lines...
read moreThe Story Prize
Cash Prize: $20,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 7/15/20
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $20,000 is given annually for a short story collection written in English and published in the United States in the current year. Two runners-up receive $5,000 each...
read moreBellevue Literary Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 7/15/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Bellevue Literary Review are given annually to a poet, a fiction writer, and a creative nonfiction writer for works...
read moreRegal House Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 7/15/20
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Regal House Publishing will be given annually for a novel. The editors will judge. Submit a manuscript of 100 to 350 pages with a $25 entry...
read moreRattle
Cash Prize: $15,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 7/15/20
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $15,000 and publication in Rattle is given annually for a single poem. A Reader’s Choice Award of $5,000 is also given to one of ten finalists. Submit up to...
read moreCincinnati Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 7/15/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in the Cincinnati Review are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay. Rebecca Lindenberg will judge in...
read moreNowhere Magazine
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 7/15/20
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 place.”...
read moreLedbury Poetry Festival
Cash Prize: $1,235
Entry Fee: $6
Application Deadline: 7/16/20
Genre: Poetry
A prize of £1,000 (approximately $1,235); a course at Ty Newydd, the National Writing Centre of Wales; and publication on the Ledbury Poetry Festival website is given annually...
read moreNarrative
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 7/17/20
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,500 and publication in Narrative is given annually for a poem or group of poems. The poetry editors will judge. Using only the online submission system,...
read moreSixfold
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $5
Application Deadline: 7/24/20
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 moreBard College
Cash Prize: $30,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 7/30/20
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 moreRed Hen Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 7/31/20
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Red Hen Press is given annually for a novella. Donna Hemans will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 15,...
read moreMunster Literature Centre
Cash Prize: $2,180
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 7/31/20
Genre: Fiction
A prize of €2,000 (approximately $2,180) and publication in Southword is given annually for a short story. The winner also receives a weeklong residency at the Anam Cara...
read moreF(r)iction
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 7/31/20
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 is given three times a year for a short story. Using only the online submission system, submit a story of 1,000 to 7,500 words with a $15 entry fee by July 31...
read moreJournal of Experimental Fiction
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 7/31/20
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Journal of Experimental Fiction and JEF Books is given annually for an innovative novel. Submit a manuscript of any length with a $...
read moreNew Millennium Writings
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 7/31/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Four prizes of $1,000 each and publication in New Millennium Writings and on the journal’s website are given twice yearly for a poem, a short story, a short short story...
read morePrairie Heritage, Inc.
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 7/31/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction published in the previous year that “illuminates the heritage of North America’s mid-...
read moreNarrative
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 7/31/20
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, or an excerpt from a work of fiction or creative...
read moreHowling Bird Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 7/31/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Howling Bird Press is given in alternating years for a book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. The 2021 prize will be awarded in...
read morePress 53
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 7/31/20
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Press 53, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Tom Lombardo will judge. Submit a manuscript of 60 to 120 pages with...
read morePEN America
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 8/1/20
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A grant of $10,000 will be given annually for a nonfiction work-in-progress that “uses oral history to illuminate an event, individual, place, or movement.” Using only the...
read moreAspen Words
Cash Prize: $35,000
Entry Fee: $60
Application Deadline: 8/1/20
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $35,000 is given annually for a book of fiction published in the current year that “illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power...
read moreTulipTree Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 8/3/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a poem, a short story, or an essay that “tells a story that needs to be told.” The winner will also receive a two-year subscription to...
read moreDelaware Division of the Arts
Cash Prize: $6,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 8/3/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Established Professional Fellowships of $6,000 each and Emerging Artist Fellowships of $3,000 each are given annually to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers...
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