A prize of $2,500 is given annually for a short story, a short short story, an essay, a memoir, a photo essay, a short graphic narrative, or an excerpt from a longer work of...
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.
Narrative
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 11/21/25
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Quarter After Eight
Cash Prize: $0
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 11/30/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,008.15 and publication in Quarter After Eight is given annually for a prose poem, a short short story, a micro essay, or other work of short prose....
read moreGreen Linden Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 11/30/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Green Linden Press is given annually for a book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction translated from any language into English....
read moreRed Hen Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 11/30/25
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Red Hen Press is given annually for a story or essay collection, a novel, a memoir, or a hybrid work of prose by a queer writer. Andrew Lam...
read moreMichigan Quarterly Review
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 11/30/25
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $2,000 and publication in Michigan Quarterly Review is given annually for a short story. Kevin Wilson will judge. Using only the online submission system,...
read moreNew Millennium Writings
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 11/30/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Four prizes of $1,000 each are given biannually for a single poem, a short story, a short short story, and an essay. The winners also receive publication in New Millennium...
read moreLitMag
Cash Prize: $1,250
Entry Fee: $16
Application Deadline: 11/30/25
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,250 and publication in LitMag is given annually for a work of flash fiction. The winner will also have their work reviewed by agents Jenny Bent (Bent...
read moreTadpole Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 11/30/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Tadpole Press website and in Tadpole Press Literary Magazine is given biannually for a work of flash poetry or prose. Angeline...
read moreFish Publishing
Cash Prize: $3,528
Entry Fee: $26
Application Deadline: 11/30/25
Genre: Fiction
A prize of €3,000 (approximately $3,528) and publication in the annual Fish Publishing anthology is given annually for a short story. The winner will also be invited to attend...
read moreAthenaeum of Philadelphia
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/1/25
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Up to two prizes of $1,000 each and an invitation to give a public lecture at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia is given annually for books of fiction and/or nonfiction published...
read moreRegal House Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/1/25
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Regal House Publishing is given annually for a story collection. Heather Bell Adams will judge. Using only the online submission system,...
read morePushcart Press
Cash Prize: $0
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/1/25
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 moreNarratively
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 12/7/25
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $3,000 and publication on Narratively’s storytelling platform is given annually for a short work of memoir written in the first person. The winner will also be...
read moreFriends of American Writers
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/13/25
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of around $2,500 is given annually for a book of fiction or creative nonfiction published during the current year that is set in the Midwest or by a writer who is a...
read moreWriter’s Digest
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 12/15/25
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $3,000 is given annually for a short short story. The winner is also provided money for travel and lodging expenses to attend the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference....
read moreStory
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/15/25
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,500 and publication in Story is given annually for a short story. Deesha Philyaw will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a story of...
read moreVirginia Commonwealth University
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/30/25
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 moreAction, Spectacle
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/31/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Cross-Genre
A prize of $1,000, publication by Action, Spectacle, and 25 author copies is given annually for a chapbook of poetry, prose, or hybrid-genre work. Using only the...
read moreHub City Press
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/31/25
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $5,000 and publication by Hub City Press is given biennially for a short story collection. Emerging writers who have not published a story collection or more than...
read moreBoulevard
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 12/31/25
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 morePress 53
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 12/31/25
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 morePlentitudes
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 12/31/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Four prizes of $1,000 each and publication in the Plentitudes is given annually for a single poem, a short story, an essay, and a work of flash fiction or nonfiction....
read moreBlack Caucus of the American Library Association
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/31/25
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 moreLascaux Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 12/31/25
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Lascaux Review is given annually for a short story. Previously published and unpublished stories are eligible. The editors will...
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