A prize of $1,000 and publication in Boulevard is given annually for an essay by a writer who has not published a full-length book in any genre with a nationally...
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.
Boulevard
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 9/30/25
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
Dzanc Books
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 9/30/25
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,500 and publication by Dzanc Books will be given triannually for a book of nonfiction, including essays, memoir, polemical writing, historical writing, and...
read moreUniversity of Mississippi
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 9/30/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $3,000 is given annually for a single poem that evokes the U.S. South. The winner will also receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Oxford, Mississippi, for the awards...
read moreZoetrope: All-Story
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 10/1/25
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Zoetrope: All-Story website is given annually for a short story. The winner and finalists are considered for representation by...
read moreWillow Springs Magazine
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 10/1/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in the Spring issue of Willow Springs Magazine is given annually for a surrealist poem. Michael McGriff will judge. Submit up to...
read moreMad Creek Books
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/1/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,500 and publication by Mad Creek Books, the literary trade imprint of Ohio State University Press, is given annually for a poetry collection. Marcus Jackson will...
read moreAction, Spectacle
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 10/1/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Action, Spectacle is given annually for a poem, a short work of fiction, or a short work of creative nonfiction. Using only the...
read moreGeorgia Writers
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 10/1/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three grants of $500 each are given annually in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction to “elevate, encourage, and inspire the voices of Black writers in Georgia.” Grantees also...
read moreWinning Writers
Cash Prize: $3,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/1/25
Genre: Poetry
Two prizes of $3,500 each, two-year gift certificates for membership to the literary database Duotrope, and publication on the Winning Writers website are given annually for a...
read moreAfrican Poetry Book Fund
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 10/1/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a book of poetry by an African poet published in the previous year. Writers who were born in Africa, who are nationals or residents of...
read moreAmerican Poetry Review
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/1/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $3,000 and publication by American Poetry Review is given annually for a debut poetry collection. The winning book is distributed by Copper Canyon Press...
read moreOne Story
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 10/8/25
Genre: Fiction
A yearlong fellowship of $2,000, access to One Story online classes, and admission to One Story’s weeklong summer writers’ conference, which includes craft lectures,...
read morePrincipal Foundation
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 10/12/25
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Short Édition website and in Principal Foundation’s Short Story Dispensers (located in six cities across the United States) will be...
read moreTennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 10/15/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a group of poems by a writer who has not published a chapbook or full-length book of poetry. The winner is also invited to give a...
read moreNational Federation of State Poetry Societies
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/15/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by National Federation of State Poetry Societies Press, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner also receives...
read moreCopper Nickel
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/15/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,000 and publication by Milkweed Editions is given annually for a first or second poetry collection. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript...
read moreSan Diego Entertainment & Arts Guild
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 10/15/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in San Diego Poetry Annual is given annually for a single poem. The winner also receives an invitation to read at an award ceremony...
read morePulitzer Prizes
Cash Prize: $15,000
Entry Fee: $75
Application Deadline: 10/15/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Six prizes of $15,000 each are given annually for books of poetry, fiction, general nonfiction, U.S. history, biography, and memoir first published in the United States during...
read morePermafrost
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/15/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Alaska Press is given in alternating years for a book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. The 2025 prize will be...
read moreColumbus State University
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/15/25
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $10,000 and publication with DLJ Books, the imprint of Columbus State University Press, will be given annually for a book of fiction or creative nonfiction “that...
read moreSilverfish Review Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/15/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Silverfish Review Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a debut poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of at least 48 pages with a...
read moreUniversity of Louisville
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/15/25
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $2,000 and publication in Miracle Monocle is given annually for a work of fiction written in the fabulist experimental style of Italo Calvino. Jenny Boully...
read moreFinishing Line Press
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 10/15/25
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 published a full-length...
read moreFordham University at Lincoln Center
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 10/15/25
Genre: Poetry
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication by Fordham University Press are given annually for poetry collections. The winners also receive a one-on-one publicity consultation...
read moreTennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/15/25
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,500 is given annually for a short story by a writer who has not published a book of fiction. The winner also receives domestic airfare of up to $500, private...
read more