A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a short story. The winning story will also be considered for publication in Thomas Wolfe Review. Randall Kenan will judge. Submit...
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.
North Carolina Writers’ Network
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 1/30/20
Genre: Fiction
New Millennium Writings
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 1/31/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Four prizes of $1,000 each and publication in New Millennium Writings are given twice yearly for a poem, a short story, a work of flash fiction, and a work of creative...
read moreWinter Anthology
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 1/31/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Winter Anthology is given annually for a group of poems, a story, or an essay. Using only the online submission system, submit up to...
read moreChattahoochee Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 1/31/20
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Chattahoochee Review are given annually for a short story and an essay. Using only the online submission system, submit a...
read moreStanford Libraries
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $50
Application Deadline: 1/31/20
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Two prizes of $5,000 each are given biennially for books of fiction and nonfiction. The awards, cosponsored by the Stanford Libraries and the William Saroyan Foundation, are “...
read moreCrazyhorse
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 1/31/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $2,000 each and publication in Crazyhorse are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay. Cyrus Cassells will judge in poetry, Jamel Brinkley...
read moreMoney for Women/Barbara Deming Memorial Fund
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 1/31/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Grants of up to $1,500 each are given in alternating years to feminist poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers who are citizens of the United States or Canada. The...
read moreCaine Prize for African Writing
Cash Prize: $12,600
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 1/31/20
Genre: Fiction
A prize of £10,000 (approximately $12,600) is given annually for a previously published short story by an African writer. Shortlisted candidates will receive £500 (...
read moreLittle Tokyo Historical Society
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 1/31/20
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $500 and publication in Rafu Shimpo and on the Discover Nikkei website is given annually for a short story that takes place in the Little Tokyo district of...
read moreAustin Community College
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 1/31/20
Two prizes of $1,500 each are given annually for a poetry collection and a book of fiction published during the previous year. Authors and publishers may submit three copies of...
read moreSchaffner Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 1/31/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Schaffner Press is given annually for a poetry collection, a novel, a short story collection, an essay collection, or a memoir that “deals...
read moreBlack Lawrence Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 1/31/20
A prize of $1,000, publication by Black Lawrence Press, and 10 author copies is given annually for a novel. The contest is open to traditional novels “as well as novels-in-...
read moreIowa Review
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 1/31/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,500 each and publication in Iowa Review are given annually for works of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Stephanie Burt will judge in poetry, Lan...
read moreMasters Review
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 1/31/20
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $3,000 and publication in Masters Review is given twice yearly for a short story by an emerging writer. The winning story will also be reviewed by a select...
read moreAmerican Short Fiction
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $17
Application Deadline: 2/1/20
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in American Short Fiction is given annually for a piece of flash fiction. Deb Olin Unferth will judge. Using only the online submission...
read moreBinghamton University
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/1/20
Two prizes of $1,000 each are given annually for books of poetry and fiction published during the previous year. The Milt Kessler Poetry Book Award is given for a poetry...
read moreBreakwater Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 2/1/20
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Breakwater Review is given annually for a story. Submit a story of 1,000 to 5,000 words with a $10 entry fee by February 1, 2020....
read moreStadler Center for Poetry & Literary Arts
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/1/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Two four-month residencies, which include a stipend of $5,000 each, at the Stadler Center for Poetry at Bucknell University are given annually to fiction and nonfiction writers...
read moreSouthern Illinois University
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 2/8/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each are given annually for a poetry collection, a book of fiction, and a book of creative nonfiction published in the previous year. Each winner will...
read moreCenter for Fiction
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/14/20
Genre: Fiction
Nine fellowships of $5,000 each, membership to the Center for Fiction in New York City, and access to the Writers Studio writing space at the center are given annually to...
read moreSarabande Books
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $29
Application Deadline: 2/15/20
Two prizes of $2,000 each and publication by Sarabande Books are given annually for collections of poetry and fiction. For the Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry, submit a...
read moreRuminate
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 2/15/20
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,500 and publication in Ruminate is given annually for a short story. Using only the online submission system, submit a story of up to 5,500 words with a $...
read moreColgate University
Cash Prize: $42,745
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/15/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Two nine-month residencies at Colgate University, including a stipend of $42,745, health benefits, and travel expenses, are given annually to poets, fiction writers, or...
read moreChicago Tribune
Cash Prize: $3,500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/17/20
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $3,500 is given annually for a short story. Using only the online submission system, submit a story of up to 8,000 words by February 17. There is no entry fee. All...
read moreBlack Caucus of the American Library Association
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/28/20
Two prizes of $500 each are given annually for a poetry e-book and a fiction e-book by an African American writer self-published in the United States during the previous year....
read more