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 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.
African 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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...
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 moreVirginia Commonwealth University
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/30/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $5,000 is given annually for a debut novel published during the current year. The winner is also provided money for the cost of travel and lodging to attend the...
read morePlentitudes
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 12/31/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Four prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Plentitudes is given annually for a single poem, a short story, an essay, and a work of flash fiction or nonfiction....
read moreTampa Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 12/31/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Tampa Review is given annually for a short story. Using only the online submission system, submit a story of 1,000 to 5,000 words...
read moreLitMag
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/31/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $3,000 and publication in LitMag is given annually for a short story. The winner will also have their work reviewed by agents Lisa Bankoff (Bankoff...
read moreBlack Caucus of the American Library Association
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/31/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Four prizes of $1,000 each are given annually for a poetry collection, a debut novel, a book of fiction, and a book of nonfiction (including creative nonfiction) by African...
read moreThe Moth
Cash Prize: $7,002
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 12/31/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of €6,000 (approximately $7,002) is given annually for a single poem. Three runners-up prizes of €1,000 (approximately $1,167) each are also given. The winner and...
read morePress 53
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 12/31/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000, publication by Press 53, and 53 author copies is given annually for a story collection. Kevin Morgan Watson will judge. Submit a manuscript of 100 to 250...
read moreBoulevard
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 12/31/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,500 and publication in Boulevard is given annually for a short story by a writer who has not published a nationally distributed book. The editors will...
read moreOhio University Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 12/31/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Ohio University Press is given annually for a poetry collection. George David Clark will judge. Using only the online submission system,...
read moreBurnside Review Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/31/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Burnside Review Press, and 10 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Danielle Pafunda will judge. Using only the online...
read moreTupelo Press
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 12/31/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $3,000, publication by Tupelo Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner also receives a two-week residency at Gentle House in...
read moreBefore Columbus Foundation
Cash Prize: $0
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/31/26
Genre: Not Genre-Specific, Poetry
Awards are given annually for books published in the United States during the current year in recognition of “outstanding literary achievement from the entire spectrum of...
read moreMississippi Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $16
Application Deadline: 1/1/27
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Mississippi Review are given annually for a single poem, a short story, and an essay. Current or former University of...
read more