Up to twenty awards of $5,000 each are given annually to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers with children. Writers with at least one child under the age 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.
Sustainable Arts Foundation
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 2/26/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Black Caucus of the American Library Association
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/28/21
Two prizes of $500 each are given annually for a poetry e-book and a fiction e-book by an African American writer self-published in the United States during the previous year....
read moreTupelo Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 2/28/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Tupelo Press is given annually for a poetry chapbook. Submit a manuscript of 20 to 36 pages with a $25 entry fee by February 28. All...
read moreAssociation of Writers & Writing Programs
Cash Prize: $5,500
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 2/28/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Two prizes of $5,500 each and publication by a participating press are given annually for a poetry collection and a short story collection. In addition, two prizes of $2,500...
read moreOmnidawn Publishing
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 2/28/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $3,000, publication by Omnidawn Publishing, and 100 author copies is given annually for a first or second poetry collection. Kazim Ali will judge. Submit a...
read moreAlabama State Council on the Arts
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/1/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Fellowships of $5,000 each are given annually to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers who have lived in the state of Alabama for at least two years. Submit...
read moreBroadside Lotus Press
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $500 and publication by Broadside Lotus Press is given annually for a poetry collection by an African American poet. Submit two copies of a manuscript of 60 to 90...
read moreUniversity of Wisconsin
Cash Prize: $39,000
Entry Fee: $50
Application Deadline: 3/1/21
An academic year in residence, which includes a stipend of at least $39,000, at the University of Wisconsin in Madison is given annually to at least five writers working on a...
read moreHunger Mountain
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 3/1/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication on the Hunger Mountain website are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay. Submit up to three poems or a...
read moreMississippi Arts Commission
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/1/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Grants 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 offered in...
read morePersea Books
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 3/7/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,000 and publication by Persea Books is given annually for a poetry collection by a U.S. poet who has published at least one book of poetry. Using only the online...
read moreTulipTree Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 3/8/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in TulipTree Review is given annually for a poem, a short story, or an essay that tells a story with female main characters who are “...
read moreYemassee
Cash Prize: $1,250
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 3/15/21
Two prizes of $1,250 and publication by Yemassee is given annually for a poetry chapbook and a fiction chapbook. Dustin Pearson will judge in poetry and Mira T. Lee...
read moreAirlie Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 3/15/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Airlie Press is given annually for a poetry collection. The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a...
read moreNational Poetry Series
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 3/15/21
Genre: Poetry
Five prizes of $10,000 each and publication by participating trade, university, or small press publishers are given annually for poetry collections. The 2021 publishers are...
read moreBellingham Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 3/15/21
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 49th Parallel Award for...
read moreVerse
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $16
Application Deadline: 3/15/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $500 and publication by Factory Hollow Press is given annually for a poetry chapnbook. The winner will also receive a monthlong residency in summer 2022 in a private...
read moreRobinson Jeffers Tor House Foundation
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 3/15/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a single poem. Kim Stafford will judge. Submit up to three poems of no more than three pages each with a $10 entry fee by March 15. Send...
read moreThe Word Works
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 3/15/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,500 and publication by the Word Works is given annually to a U.S. or Canadian poet for a poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 80 pages with a $25 entry...
read morePrairie Schooner
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 3/15/21
Two prizes of $3,000 each and publication by University of Nebraska Press are given annually for a poetry collection and a short story collection. Kwame Dawes will judge....
read moreFour Way Books
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 3/31/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Four Way Books is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner will also be invited to participate in a reading in New York City....
read moreFish Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,188
Entry Fee: $16
Application Deadline: 3/31/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of €1,000 (approximately $1,188) and publication in the Fish Publishing anthology is given annually for a single poem. The winner is also invited to read at the...
read moreIowa City UNESCO City of Literature
Cash Prize: $20,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/31/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $20,000 will be given annually to a writer “who, like Paul Engle, represents a pioneering spirit in the world of literature through writing, editing, publishing, or...
read moreElixir Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 3/31/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Elixir Press is given annually for a first or second poetry collection. Kirun Kapur will judge. Submit a manuscript of at least 48 pages...
read moreArts & Letters
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 3/31/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Arts & Letters are given annually for a group of poems, a short story, and an essay. Romeo Oriogun will judge in...
read more