Writing 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.

Narrative

Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 3/28/24

A prize of $2,500 and publication in Narrative is given annually for a short story, a short short story, an essay, a memoir, or an excerpt from a longer work of fiction...

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Trustees of the Robert Frost Farm

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $6
Application Deadline: 3/31/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a poem written in metrical verse. The winner also receives a scholarship to attend and give a reading at the Frost Farm Poetry...

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Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature

Cash Prize: $25,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/31/24

A prize of $25,000 is given annually to a writer “who, like Paul Engle, represents a pioneering spirit in the world of literature through writing, editing, publishing, or...

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Arts & Letters

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 3/31/24

Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Arts & Letters...

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Banipal Trust for Arab Literature

Cash Prize: $3,797
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/31/24
Genre: Poetry, Fiction

A prize of £3,000 (approximately $3,797) is given annually for a book of poetry or fiction translated from Arabic into English and published for the first time in English...

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Lascaux Review

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 3/31/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Lascaux Review is given annually for a single poem. Previously published and unpublished poems are accepted. Using only the online...

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Black Lawrence Press

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 3/31/24

A prize of $1,000, publication by Black Lawrence Press, and 10 author copies is given annually for a collection of poems, short stories, essays, or hybrid work. The editors...

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Laura Boss Poetry Foundation

Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 3/31/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $5,000, publication by New York Quarterly Books, and 25 author copies is given annually for a collection of narrative poetry. The winner is also invited to give a...

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Press 53

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 3/31/24
Genre: Poetry, Fiction

Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Prime Number Magazine...

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Four Way Books

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 3/31/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Four Way Books is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner is also invited to participate in readings either virtually or in...

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Fish Publishing

Cash Prize: $1,085
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 3/31/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of €1,000 (approximately $1,085) and publication in the Fish Publishing anthology is given annually for a single poem. The winner is also invited to read at the...

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Elixir Press

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 3/31/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Elixir Press is given annually for a first or second poetry collection. Kathleen Winter will judge. Submit a manuscript of at least 48...

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Winning Writers

Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 4/1/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $2,000, a gift certificate for a two-year membership to the literary database Duotrope, and publication on the Winning Writers website is given annually for a...

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Gemini Magazine

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $8
Application Deadline: 4/1/24
Genre: Fiction

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Gemini Magazine is given annually for a short story. The editors will judge. Submit a story of any length with an $8 entry fee by...

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Orison Books

Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 4/1/24
Genre: Poetry, Fiction

Two prizes of $1,500 each and publication by Orison Books are given annually for a poetry collection and a book of fiction. Ellen Bass will judge in poetry and Kaveh Akbar will...

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Nimrod International Journal

Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/1/24
Genre: Poetry, Fiction

Two prizes of $2,000 each and publication in Nimrod International Journal are given annually for a poem or a group of poems and a work of fiction. A runner-up in each...

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Saturnalia Books

Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 4/1/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,500, publication by Saturnalia Books, and 20 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Carmen Giménez will judge. All entries are also considered...

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Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition

Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 4/1/24
Genre: Fiction

A prize of $1,500 and publication on the competition website is given annually for a short story by a writer whose fiction has not appeared in a nationally distributed...

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North American Review

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $23
Application Deadline: 4/1/24

A prize of $1,000 and publication in North American Review is given annually for an essay. Lyric essays, memoir-style essays, and literary journalism are eligible. Toni...

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Oberon

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 4/10/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Oberon is given annually for a single poem. Submit up to three poems of no more than two pages each with an $18 entry fee, which...

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Omnidawn Publishing

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $12
Application Deadline: 4/12/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a single poem. The winner also receives 20 copies of a letterpress broadside of the winning poem. Claire Marie Stancek will judge. Using...

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Desperate Literature

Cash Prize: $1,628
Entry Fee: $22
Application Deadline: 4/14/24
Genre: Fiction

A prize of €1,500 (approximately $1,628), publication in the Desperate Literature prize anthology, and a weeklong residency at the Civitella Ranieri Foundation’s castle in the...

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University of Arkansas Press

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 4/15/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Arkansas Press is given annually for a first or second poetry collection by a writer of Arab heritage. Series editors Hayan...

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Florida Review

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 4/15/24

Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Florida Review are given annually for a poem or group of poems, a short story, and an essay. The editors will judge....

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Poetry Foundation

Cash Prize: $27,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 4/15/24
Genre: Poetry

Five fellowships of $27,000 each are given annually to U.S. poets between the ages of 21 and 31. Using only the online submission system, submit 10 pages of poetry and an...

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