A prize of $25,000 and publication by University of Pittsburgh Press is given annually for a collection of short fiction. Writers who have published at least one previous 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.
University of Pittsburgh Press
Cash Prize: $25,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 7/31/26
Genre: Fiction
The Center For Fiction
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 7/31/26
Genre: Fiction
Nine fellowships of $5,000 each, a one-year membership to the Center for Fiction, and a year of access to the Writers Studio writing space are given annually to fiction writers...
read moreLos Angeles Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 7/31/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Four prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Los Angeles Review are given annually for a poem, a short story, a work of flash fiction, and an essay. Using only the...
read moreConnecticut Poetry Society
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 7/31/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Connecticut Poetry Society website is given annually for an innovative poem. Using only the online submission system, submit up to...
read moreAnthology Magazine
Cash Prize: $1,179
Entry Fee: $21
Application Deadline: 7/31/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of €1,000 (approximately $1,179) and publication in Anthology Magazine is given annually for a short story. Submit a story of no more than 1,500 words with an...
read morePress 53
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 7/31/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Press 53, and 53 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Tom Lombardo will judge. Using only the online submission system,...
read moreMunster Literature Centre
Cash Prize: $2,350
Entry Fee: $22
Application Deadline: 7/31/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of €2,000 (approximately $2,350) and publication in Southword is given annually for a short story. The winner also receives a four-night stay at a hotel to...
read moreBlack Warrior Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 8/1/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Black Warrior Review are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay. Using only the online submission system...
read morePrairie Schooner
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 8/1/26
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Prairie Schooner is given annually for an essay. Submit up to 5,000 words of prose with a $20 entry fee by August 1. Visit the...
read moreGranum Foundation
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 8/1/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $5,000 is given annually to a poet, fiction writer, or creative nonfiction writer to support the completion of a manuscript-in-progress. Up to three finalists are...
read moreDelaware Division of the Arts
Cash Prize: $8,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 8/3/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Established Professional Fellowships of $8,000 each and Emerging Professional Fellowships of $5,000 each are given annually to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction...
read moreLiterary Arts
Cash Prize: $4,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 8/7/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Fellowships of $4,000 each are given annually to aid Oregon writers in initiating, developing, or completing literary projects in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction....
read moreGival Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 8/8/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Gival Press website is given annually for a short story. Submit a story of 5,000 to 15,000 words with a $25 entry fee by August 8....
read moreTulipTree Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 8/9/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a poem, a short story, or an essay that responds to the following prompt: “What if the only way to save yourself from this reality is to...
read moreGrayson Books
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $26
Application Deadline: 8/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Grayson Books, and 10 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Bruce Cohen will judge. Using only the online submission system...
read moreFuturepoem
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 8/15/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Cross-Genre
A prize of $1,000, publication by Futurepoem, and 25 author copies is given annually for a book of innovative poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or hybrid work “that...
read moreOmnidawn Publishing
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 8/16/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $3,000, publication by Omnidawn Publishing, and 20 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Julie Carr will judge. Using only the online submission...
read moreMasters Review
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 8/30/26
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $3,000 and publication in Masters Review is given annually for a short story or an essay by an emerging writer. Writers who have not published a book, self-...
read moreDynamo Verlag
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $21
Application Deadline: 8/31/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Dynamo Verlag is given annually for a book-length work of poetry, prose, or hybrid work. The editors will judge. Submit at least 80 pages...
read moreOxford Poetry
Cash Prize: $2,702
Entry Fee: $14
Application Deadline: 8/31/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of £2,000 (approximately $2,702) and publication in Oxford Poetry is given annually for a single poem. A second-place prize of £1,000 (approximately $1,351) is...
read moreBlack Lawrence Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 8/31/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000, publication by Black Lawrence Press, and 10 author copies is given annually for a debut collection of poems, short stories, or essays. The editors and a...
read moreUtica University
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 8/31/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $3,000 is given annually for a poetry collection published during the previous year by a resident of upstate New York. The winner will also give a reading and teach...
read moreGrid Books
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 8/31/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in print and audiobook formats by Grid Books is given annually for a poetry collection by a writer over the age of 60. Elise Paschen will...
read moreMunster Literature Centre
Cash Prize: $1,175
Entry Fee: $29
Application Deadline: 8/31/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of €1,000 (approximately $1,175); publication by Southword Editions, Munster Literature Centre’s publishing imprint; and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry...
read more