A prize of $1,250 and publication in LitMag is given annually for a work of flash fiction. The winner will also have their work reviewed by agents Jenny Bent (Bent...
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.
Red Hen Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Red Hen Press is given annually for a story or essay collection, a novel, a memoir, or a hybrid work of prose by a queer writer. Using only...
read moreGreen Linden Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Green Linden Press is given annually for an innovative book of poetry “that questions the boundaries of genre, form, or mode while engaging...
read moreGreen Linden Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Green Linden Press is given annually for a book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction translated from any language into English....
read moreAtlanta Writers Club
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $75
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $2,000 is given biennially for a novel, novella, or a short story collection written by a current or past resident of Georgia and published in the past two years....
read moreUniversity of North Texas
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $10,000 is given annually for a poetry collection published in the current year by a midcareer poet. The winner will also give a reading and book signing at the...
read moreMichigan Quarterly Review
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $2,000 and publication in Michigan Quarterly Review is given annually for a short story. Bruna Dantas Lobato will judge. Using only the online submission...
read moreFish Publishing
Cash Prize: $3,500
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of €3,000 (approximately $3,500) and publication in the annual Fish Publishing anthology is given annually for a short story. The winner will also be invited to attend...
read moreBoa Editions
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Boa Editions is given annually for a debut book of poetry. Jennifer Chang will judge. Submit a manuscript of 65 to 120 pages with a $30...
read moreUniversity of Southern Indiana
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 12/1/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $3,000, a seven-day residency at James A. Sanders Scholar’s Retreat in New Harmony, Indiana, and a $750 travel stipend will be given annually for a book of fiction...
read moreMeadowlark Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/1/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Meadowlark Press, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript...
read moreAfrican Poetry Book Fund
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/1/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Nebraska Press is given annually for a debut poetry collection by an African poet. Writers who were born in Africa, are...
read moreFive Points
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/1/26
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 morePushcart Press
Cash Prize: $0
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/1/26
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 moreRegal House Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/1/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Regal House Publishing is given annually for a story collection. Heather Bell Adams will judge. Using only the online submission system,...
read morePoetry Society of America
Cash Prize: $20,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $20,000 is given annually for a unified and complete sequence of poems published in the United States in a print or online journal, a chapbook, or a book during the...
read moreMassachusetts Center for the Book
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/15/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three awards of $1,000 each will be given annually for a poetry collection, book of fiction, and a book of nonfiction written by a current Massachusetts resident and published...
read morePoetry Society of America
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 12/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,500 and publication on the Poetry Society of America website is given annually to a poet over 40 who has published no more than one poetry collection. Using only...
read moreCenter for Book Arts
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 12/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $500 and letterpress publication by the Center for Book Arts is given annually for a poetry chapbook. The winner also receives 10 copies of their chapbook, an...
read morePoetry Society of America
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 12/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Poetry Society of America website is given annually for poetry from a manuscript-in-progress. Using only the online submission system,...
read moreTwo Sylvias Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $24
Application Deadline: 12/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Two Sylvias Press, and 20 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection by a writer over 50 who identifies as female or femme (...
read moreGriffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry
Cash Prize: $7,218
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/18/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $10,000 Canadian (approximately $7,218) is awarded for a debut poetry collection by a living Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada published during the...
read moreTexas Institute of Letters
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 12/18/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A fellowship of $10,000 will be given annually to an emerging, mid-level, or returning writer to support the completion of a poetry collection, book of fiction, or book of...
read moreGriffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry
Cash Prize: $93,832
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/18/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $130,000 Canadian (approximately $93,832) is given annually for a poetry collection written in or translated into English by a living international poet or...
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