A prize of $1,000 and publication by Autumn House Press is given biennially for a debut poetry collection. The winner will also receive a $500 grant for travel and book...
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.
BOA Editions
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 11/30/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by BOA Editions is given annually for a first book of poetry by a U.S. resident. Stephanie Burt will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 100...
read moreWhite Pine Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 11/30/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by White Pine Press is given annually for a poetry collection by a U.S. citizen. Submit a manuscript of 60 to 80 pages with a $20 entry fee by...
read moreGreen Linden Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 11/30/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Green Linden Press will be given annually for a book of poetry “that challenges expectations of genre, form, or mode” and that “questions...
read moreUniversity of North Texas
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 11/30/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $10,000 is given annually for a poetry collection published in the previous year by a mid-career poet. U.S. poets who have previously published at least two poetry...
read moreMunster Literature Center
Cash Prize: $2,344
Entry Fee: $8
Application Deadline: 11/30/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of €2,000 (approximately $2,344) and publication in Southword is given annually for a single poem. Submit a poem of up to 40 lines with a €7 (approximately $8)...
read morePoetry International
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 12/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Poetry International is given annually for a single poem. The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit...
read moreSlipstream Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 12/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Slipstream Press, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry chapbook. The editors will judge. Submit a manuscript of up to 40 pages...
read morePushcart Press
Cash Prize:
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/1/21
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 moreWaywiser Press
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $29
Application Deadline: 12/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $3,000 and publication by the Waywiser Press is given annually for a poetry collection by a poet who has published no more than one previous collection. The winner...
read moreFive Points
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Five Points is given annually for a group of poems. The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit up to...
read moreHawai’i Council for the Humanities
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 will be given biennially to a poet with a body of work that “pushes the boundaries of poetic craft” who also “contributes meaningfully to the literary...
read moreAfrican Poetry Book Fund
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Nebraska Press in conjunction with Amalion Press is given annually for a debut poetry collection by an African poet. Writers...
read moreMeadowlark Books
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Meadowlark Books, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry book. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of at...
read moreOhio University Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 12/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Ohio University Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of 60 to 95 pages with a $30 entry fee by December 1....
read moreCommonwealth Club of California
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/15/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Five prizes of $5,000 are given annually for a poetry collection, a book of fiction, a first book of fiction, a book of creative nonfiction, and a book of fiction or nonfiction...
read moreCenter for Book Arts
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 12/15/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $500 and letterpress publication by the Center for Book Arts is given annually for a poetry chapbook. The winner will also receive 10 copies of their chapbook and an...
read moreNowhere
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 12/15/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
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 moreSilverfish Review Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/21/21
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 moreCodhill Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 12/30/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Codhill Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. James Sherwood will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 70...
read moreBefore Columbus Foundation
Cash Prize:
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/31/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Awards are given annually for books published in the United States during the previous year to recognize “outstanding literary achievement from the entire spectrum of America’s...
read moreCrosswinds
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 12/31/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Crosswinds is given annually for a single poem. Chard deNiord will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit up to...
read moreBlack Caucus of the American Library Association
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/31/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Four prizes of $1,000 each are given annually for a poetry collection, a first novel, a book of fiction, and a book of nonfiction (including creative nonfiction) by African...
read moreTupelo Press
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 12/31/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $3,000 and publication by Tupelo Press is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner also receives a weeklong residency at the Massachusetts Museum of...
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