Two prizes of $1,500 each and publication in the New Guard are given annually for a poem and a short story. Patricia Smith will judge in poetry and Rick Moody 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.
New Guard
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $22
Application Deadline: 9/24/18
New York Public Library
Cash Prize: $70,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 9/28/18
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Up to 15 fellowships are given annually to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers whose work will benefit directly from access to the research collections at...
read moreNew Criterion
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 9/29/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $3,000 and publication by Criterion Books is given annually for a poetry collection that pays close attention to form. Morri Creech, Roger Kimball, and David Yezzi...
read moreLascaux Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Lascaux Review is given annually for a poem. The winner and finalists will also be published in the 2019 Lascaux Prize...
read moreUniversity of Massachusetts Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Five prizes of $1,000 each and publication by University of Massachusetts Press are given annually for a first poetry collection, a poetry collection, a short story collection...
read moreSouthwest Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $5
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Southwest Review is given annually for a poem or a group of poems by a writer who has not published a poetry collection. Submit up...
read moreNew Issues Poetry & Prose
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by New Issues Poetry & Prose, and a reading at Western Michigan University is given annually for a poetry collection. Poets who have...
read moreWinning Writers
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $12
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Poetry
Two prizes of $1,500 each and publication on the Winning Writers website are given annually for a poem in any style and a poem that either rhymes or is written in a traditional...
read moreCave Canem Foundation
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $12
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize valued at approximately $2,500 is given annually for a poetry chapbook by a Black poet. The winner will receive $500, publication by Jai-Alai Books, and a weeklong...
read moreMad Creek Books
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,500 and publication by Mad Creek Books, the literary trade imprint of Ohio State University Press, is given annually for a poetry collection. Marcus Jackson will...
read moreUniversity of Arkansas Press
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $5,000 and publication by University of Arkansas Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Billy Collins will judge. Using the online submission system,...
read moreOversound
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 9/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Oversound will be given annually for a poetry chapbook. Solmaz Sharif will judge. Using the online submission system, submit a...
read morePulitzer Prizes
Cash Prize: $15,000
Entry Fee: $75
Application Deadline: 10/1/18
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Four prizes of $15,000 each are given annually to U.S. writers to honor books of poetry, fiction, general nonfiction, and biography or autobiography (including memoir)...
read moreSouthern Indiana Review
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 10/1/18
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $2,000 each and publication in Southern Indiana Review are given annually for a poem, a work of fiction, and a work of creative nonfiction. Aimee...
read moreAmerican Literary Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 10/1/18
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in American Literary Review are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay. Using the online submission system...
read moreCalifornia State University in Fresno
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/1/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,000 and publication by Anhinga Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Peter Everwine will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 80 pages with a $25 entry...
read moreCarlow University
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 10/1/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize valued at $2,000 is given annually to a woman poet over 40 who has not published a book in any genre. The winner receives $1,000, publication in Voices From the...
read moreMissouri Review
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/1/18
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $5,000 each and publication in Missouri Review are given annually for a group of poems, a short story, and an essay. Submit up to 10 pages of poetry or...
read moreAmerican Academy in Berlin
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 10/5/18
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Residential fellowships are given annually to fiction writers and creative nonfiction writers to spend an academic semester in residence at the Hans Arnhold Center at the...
read moreSongs of Eretz Poetry Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 10/15/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Songs of Eretz Poetry Review is given annually for a poem. Published and unpublished poems are eligible. Lowell Jaeger will judge...
read moreTennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 10/15/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Louisiana Cultural Vistas Magazine is given annually for a group of poems. The winner will also be invited to give a reading at...
read moreFordham University at Lincoln Center
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 10/15/18
Genre: Poetry
Two prizes of $1,000 each, publication by Fordham University Press, and a reading at the Poets Out Loud Reading Series at Fordham-Lincoln Center in New York City are given...
read moreConduit Books
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/15/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Conduit Books, and 25 author copies will be given annually for a first book of poetry. Bob Hicok will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 90...
read moreSilverfish Review Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/15/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Silverfish Review Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a first poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of at least 48 pages with a...
read more