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.

New Letters

Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $24
Application Deadline: 5/19/25

Three prizes of $2,500 each and publication in New Letters are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay. Using only the online submission system, submit up...

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Gaudy Boy

Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 5/19/25
Genre: Poetry

A grant of $1,500 and publication by Gaudy Boy, an imprint of the New York City–based literary nonprofit Singapore Unbound, is given annually for a poetry collection by a...

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Great Lakes Colleges Association

Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 5/25/25

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...

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Livingston Press

Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 5/30/25

A prize of $500, publication by Livingston Press, and 20 author copies is given annually for a novel-in-verse. Eleanor Boudreau will judge. Submit a manuscript of 90 to 160...

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Southern Poetry Review

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 5/31/25
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Southern Poetry Review is given annually for a single poem. Submit three to five poems totaling no more than 10 pages with a $20...

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Fence

Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 5/31/25
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $5,000, publication by Fence Books (with distribution by Consortium), and 40 author copies will be given annually for a poetry collection by a writer who identifies...

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Sixfold

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $5
Application Deadline: 5/31/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction

Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Sixfold are given quarterly for a group of poems and a short story. Using only the online submission system, submit up to...

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Two Sylvias Press

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 5/31/25
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000, publication by Two Sylvias Press, and 20 author copies will be given annually for a poetry chapbook. Ellen Bass will judge. Using only the online submission...

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Anhinga Press

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 5/31/25
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000, publication by Anhinga Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner also receives $500 to cover travel costs for the...

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Tupelo Press

Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 5/31/25
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $3,000, publication by Tupelo Press, and 20 author copies is given annually for a first or second poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 88 pages with a $30...

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Bridport Arts Centre

Cash Prize: $6,482
Entry Fee: $14
Application Deadline: 5/31/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction

Two prizes of £5,000 (approximately $6,482) each and publication in the Bridport Prize anthology are given annually for a poem and a short story. A second-place prize of £1,000...

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PEN America

Cash Prize: $4,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/1/25

Ten grants of $4,000 each are given annually to support the translation of book-length works of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction that have not previously appeared in...

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Boulevard

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 6/1/25
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Boulevard is given annually for a group of poems by a poet who has not published a poetry collection with a nationally distributed...

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PEN America

Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/1/25

Two grants of $5,000 each are given annually for poetry, fiction, and nonfiction works-in-progress “by immigrant and refugee writers, recognizing that the literature of...

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National Book Foundation

Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $135
Application Deadline: 6/6/25

Four prizes of $10,000 each are given annually for books of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and young people’s literature written by U.S. writers and published in the United...

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Towson University

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/15/25

A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction by a current resident of Maryland who has lived in the state for at least three years...

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Tusculum Review

Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 6/15/25

A prize of $1,500 and publication in Tusculum Review is given annually for a collection of poems, a short story, or an essay in alternating years. The winner’s work is...

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42 Miles Press

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 6/15/25
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000, publication by 42 Miles Press, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner is also invited to give a reading at Indiana...

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University of Akron Press

Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 6/15/25
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,500 and publication by University of Akron Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Eduardo C. Corral will judge. Using only the online submission system...

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Omnidawn Publishing

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 6/16/25
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000, publication by Omnidawn Publishing, and 20 author copies is given annually for a poetry chapbook. Ewa Chrusciel will judge. Using only the online submission...

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Griffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry

Cash Prize: $6,960
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/20/25
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $10,000 Canadian (approximately $6,960) is awarded for a debut poetry collection by a living Canadian poet or permanent resident. The winner is also offered a six-...

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Griffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry

Cash Prize: $90,479
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/20/25
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $130,000 Canadian (approximately $90,479) is given annually for a poetry collection written in or translated into English by a living poet or translator from...

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Artist Trust

Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/23/25

Grants of $1,500 each are given annually to poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers who are residents of Washington State. Students enrolled in a degree-granting program...

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Barrow Street Press

Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 6/30/25
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,500 and publication by Barrow Street Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 50 to 80...

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Bauhan Publishing

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 6/30/25
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000, publication by Bauhan Publishing, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Anthony Walton will judge. Using only the online submission...

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