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.

Brooklyn Film & Arts Festival

Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 11/15/23

A prize of $500 and publication on the Brooklyn Film & Arts Festival website will be given annually for a work of nonfiction that is set in Brooklyn, New York, and renders...

read more

Great Lakes Colleges Association

Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/25/23

Three prizes are given annually for first books by a poet, a fiction writer, and a creative nonfiction writer. The winners each receive an all-expenses-paid trip to several of...

read more

Georgia Writers

Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 10/1/23

Three grants of $500 each are given annually in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction to “elevate, encourage, and inspire the voices of Black writers in Georgia.” Grantees also...

read more

TulipTree Publishing

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 3/8/23

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 spirit...

read more

Futurepoem

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 8/15/23

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-genre work “that...

read more

Bellevue Literary Review

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 7/1/23

Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Bellevue Literary Review are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay about health, healing, illness, the...

read more

Schaffner Press

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 1/31/23

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Schaffner Press is given annually for a poetry collection, a novel, a story collection, an essay collection, or a memoir that “deals in...

read more

TulipTree Publishing

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 10/17/21

A prize of $1,000 and publication in TulipTree Review is given annually for a poem, story, or essay. The theme for this fall’s contest is “disruption.” Submit a poem of...

read more

DIAGRAM/New Michigan Press

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $24
Application Deadline: 4/28/23

A prize of $1,000, publication by New Michigan Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a chapbook of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or hybrid-genre work. Ander...

read more

Indiana Review

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 3/31/23

Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Indiana Review are given annually for a single poem and an essay. Submit up to three poems of any length or a work of prose...

read more

Press 53

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 3/31/23

Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Prime Number Magazine are given annually for a poem and a short story. Felicia Mitchell will judge in poetry and Dennis...

read more

New Millennium Writings

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 7/31/23

Four prizes of $1,000 each and publication in New Millennium Writings and on the journal’s website are given twice yearly for a poem, a short story, a short short story...

read more

Essay Press/University of Washington Bothell

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 12/15/22

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Essay Press will be given annually for lyric essays, prose poems, and works of experimental biography and autobiography that “challenge the...

read more

Black Lawrence Press

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 3/31/23

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. Collections...

read more

Autumn House Press

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 5/31/23

Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication by Autumn House Press are given annually for a poetry collection, a book of fiction, and a book of creative nonfiction. Each winner...

read more

Action, Spectacle

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 10/1/23

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Action, Spectacle will be given annually for a poem, a short work of fiction, or a short work of creative nonfiction. English...

read more

University of Massachusetts Press

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 9/30/21

Five prizes of $1,000 each and publication by University of Massachusetts Press are given annually for a first poetry collection, a poetry collection by an author who has...

read more

DIAGRAM/New Michigan Press

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/30/21

A prize of $1,000, publication by New Michigan Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a chapbook of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or hybrid-genre work. Ander...

read more

Nowhere

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 12/15/21

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Nowhere is given twice yearly for a poem, a short story, or an essay that "possesses a powerful sense of place." Porter Fox will...

read more

Fourth Genre

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 3/17/23

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Fourth Genre is given annually for an essay. Debra Gwartney will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit an essay of...

read more

Black Warrior Review

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 9/1/23

Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Black Warrior Review are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay. Gary Soto will judge in poetry, Michael...

read more

Sewanee Review

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 7/31/23

Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Sewanee Review are given annually for a single poem or group of poems, a short story, and a creative nonfiction essay....

read more

Slippery Elm

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 2/1/23

Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Slippery Elm are given annually for a single poem and a short story or essay. Using only the online submission system,...

read more

North Carolina Writers’ Network

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 1/2/23

A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a short story or an essay that “seeks to convey the rich and varied existence of Black North Carolinians.” The winning entry is...

read more

Cincinnati Review

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 7/15/23

Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Cincinnati Review are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay. Rebecca Lindenberg will judge in poetry,...

read more

Pages