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. Rodney Jones will judge in poetry...
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.
Arts & Letters
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 3/31/23
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Four Way Books
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 3/31/23
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 readings either virtually or in...
read moreA Public Space
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/31/23
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three six-month fellowships of $1,000 each are given annually to emerging poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers who “embrace risk in their work” and have not published...
read morePress 53
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 3/31/23
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
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 moreTrustees of the Robert Frost Farm
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $6
Application Deadline: 3/31/23
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a poem written in metrical verse. The winner also receives a scholarship to attend and give a reading at the Frost Farm Poetry...
read moreIndiana Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 3/31/23
Genre: Poetry, Creative Nonfiction
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 moreBlack Lawrence Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 3/31/23
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Cross-Genre
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 moreLaura Boss Poetry Foundation
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 3/31/23
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $5,000, publication by New York Quarterly Books, and 25 author copies will be given annually for a manuscript of narrative poetry. The winner and finalists are...
read moreFish Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,055
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 3/31/23
Genre: Poetry
A prize of €1,000 (approximately $1,055) and publication in the Fish Publishing anthology is given annually for a single poem. The winner is also invited to read at the...
read moreElixir Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 3/31/23
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Elixir Press is given annually for a first or second poetry collection. John Estes will judge. Submit a manuscript of at least 48 pages...
read moreIowa City UNESCO City of Literature
Cash Prize: $20,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/31/23
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $20,000 is given annually to a writer “who, like Paul Engle, represents a pioneering spirit in the world of literature through writing, editing, publishing, or...
read moreBanipal Trust for Arab Literature
Cash Prize: $3,665
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/31/23
A prize of £3,000 (approximately $3,665) is given annually for a book of poetry or fiction translated from Arabic into English and published for the first time in English...
read moreLascaux Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 3/31/23
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication both online and in the print edition of Lascaux Review is given annually for a single poem. Previously published and unpublished...
read moreWinning Writers
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 4/1/23
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,000, a gift certificate for two-year membership to the literary database Duotrope, and publication on the Winning Writers website is given annually for a humorous...
read moreNimrod International Journal
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/1/23
Two prizes of $2,000 each and publication in Nimrod International Journal are given annually for a poem or a group of poems and a work of fiction. A runner-up in...
read moreSaturnalia Books
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 4/1/23
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,500, publication by Saturnalia Books, and 20 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Hoa Nguyen will judge. All entries will also be considered...
read moreOrison Books
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 4/1/23
Two prizes of $1,500 each and publication by Orison Books are given annually for a poetry collection and a book of fiction. Pádraig Ó Tuama will judge in poetry and David Heska...
read moreJust Buffalo Literary Center
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/3/23
Genre: Poetry
A fellowship, which includes a stipend of $1,500 and a monthlong residency in Buffalo is given annually to a poet. The fellowship includes lodging at a private apartment for...
read moreOberon
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 4/10/23
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Oberon is given annually for a single poem. Submit up to three poems of no more than two pages each with an $18 entry fee, which...
read moreOmnidawn Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 4/13/23
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a single poem. The winner also receives 10 copies of a letterpress broadside of the winning poem. Nathalie Khankan will judge. Using...
read morePoetry Foundation
Cash Prize: $25,800
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 4/14/23
Genre: Poetry
Five fellowships of $25,800 each are given annually to U.S. poets between the ages of 21 and 31. Using only the online submission system, submit 10 pages of poetry and an...
read moreSpoon River Poetry Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/15/23
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Spoon River Poetry Review, prefaced by a judge’s introduction, is given annually for a single poem. Multilingual submissions...
read moreNew Ohio Review
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $22
Application Deadline: 4/15/23
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,500 each and publication in New Ohio Review are given annually for a poem or group of poems, a short story, and an essay. Submit a poem or group of...
read moreUniversity of Arkansas Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 4/15/23
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Arkansas Press is given annually for a first or second poetry collection by a writer of Arab heritage. Series editors Hayan...
read moreFlorida Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 4/15/23
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Florida Review are given annually for a poem or group of poems, a short story, and an essay. The editors will judge....
read more