A prize of £10,000 (approximately $13,323) is given annually for a previously published short story by a writer of African descent. Shortlisted writers will...
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.
Caine Prize for African Writing
Cash Prize: $13,323
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/27/26
Genre: Fiction
Hayden’s Ferry Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 2/28/26
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Hayden’s Ferry Review are given for a poem or a group of poems and a work of fiction. Sarah Ghazal Ali will judge in...
read moreFish Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,155
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 2/28/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of €1,000 (approximately $1,155) and publication in the annual Fish Publishing anthology is given annually for a work of flash fiction. The winner is also invited to...
read moreBlack Caucus of the American Library Association
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/28/26
Two prizes of $2,500 each are given annually for a poetry e-book and a fiction e-book self-published by an African American writer during the previous year. The awards honor...
read moreLittle Tokyo Historical Society
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/28/26
Genre: Fiction
Two prizes of $500 each and publication in Rafu Shimpo and on the Discover Nikkei and Little Tokyo Historical Society websites are given annually for short stories...
read moreAssociation of Writers & Writing Programs
Cash Prize: $5,500
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 2/28/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $5,500 each and publication by a participating press are given annually for a poetry collection, a short story collection, and a novel. A prize of $2,500 and...
read morePinch
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 2/28/26
Genre: Fiction
An award of $2,000, publication in Pinch, and two contributor copies will be given annually for a short story. Using only the online submission system, submit a story...
read moreAutumn House Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 2/28/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Autumn House Press is given annually for a book of fiction. The winner also receives a $1,500 travel and publicity grant. Amber Sparks will...
read morePoets & Writers, Inc.
Cash Prize: $750
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/1/26
Two prizes of $750 each are given annually to a poet and a fiction writer residing in the United States. Both winners also receive a monthlong residency at Jentel Artist...
read moreMississippi Arts Commission
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/1/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Fellowships of up to $5,000 each are given in alternating years to Mississippi poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers. This year the fellowships will be...
read moreBiographers International Organization
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 3/1/26
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $5,000 is given annually for a work-in-progress by a debut biographer. The winner also receives a review of their manuscript proposal by an agent, publicity through...
read moreAlabama State Council on the Arts
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/2/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
At least two fellowships of $5,000 each are given annually to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers who are legal residents of Alabama and have lived in the...
read moreDayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $100
Application Deadline: 3/4/26
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Two prizes of $10,000 each are given annually for a book of fiction and a book of nonfiction (including creative nonfiction) published in the previous year that “foster peace,...
read moreSelected Shorts
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 3/6/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and tuition for a 10-week writing class through New York City’s Gotham Writers Workshop is given annually for a short story. The winning work is published on...
read moreTulipTree Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 3/8/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in TulipTree Review is given annually for a single poem, a short story, or an essay “whose main characters embody the Wild Woman...
read moreThe Center for Fiction
Cash Prize: $15,000
Entry Fee: $100
Application Deadline: 3/13/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $15,000 is given annually for a debut novel by an American citizen or permanent resident published in the United States during the award year. Six finalists receive...
read moreJames Jones Literary Society
Cash Prize: $12,000
Entry Fee: $33
Application Deadline: 3/15/26
Genre: Fiction
A fellowship of $12,000 is given annually for a novel-in-progress that honors “the spirit of unblinking honesty, determination, and insight into modern culture as exemplified...
read morePrairie Schooner
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 3/15/26
Two prizes of $3,000 each and publication by University of Nebraska Press are given annually for a poetry collection and a story collection. Submit a poetry manuscript of at...
read moreIowa City UNESCO City of Literature
Cash Prize: $25,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/15/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
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...
read moreBellingham Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 3/15/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Bellingham Review are given annually for works of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. The Parallel Award for...
read moreAmerican Literary Translators Association
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/16/26
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Translation
A prize of $5,000 is given annually for a book of fiction or nonfiction translated from Basque, Catalan, Galician, or Spanish into English and written by an author of Spanish...
read moreAmerican Literary Translators Association
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/16/26
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Translation
A prize of $5,000 is given annually for a book of fiction or nonfiction translated from Italian into English and published in the previous year. Publishers or translators may...
read moreAmerican Literary Translators Association
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/16/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Translation
A prize of $3,000 is given annually for a debut poetry collection, book of fiction, or book of creative nonfiction translated from any language into English and published in...
read moreAmerican Literary Translators Association
Cash Prize: $4,000
Entry Fee: $50
Application Deadline: 3/16/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Translation
Two prizes of $4,000 each are given annually for a poetry collection and a book of prose translated from any language into English and published in the previous year....
read moreDAG Foundation
Cash Prize: $20,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/18/26
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $20,000 will be given annually to support work on a second book of fiction or creative nonfiction by an emerging writer who “expands the possibilities for American...
read more