Three prizes are given annually to a poet, a fiction writer, and a creative nonfiction writer to honor their first books. The winners each receive an all-expenses paid trip to...
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.
Great Lakes Colleges Association
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/25/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Bard College
Cash Prize: $30,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $30,000 and a one-semester appointment as writer-in-residence at Bard College is given annually to a U.S. fiction writer under the age of 40. The recipient must give...
read moreNowhere Magazine
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Nowhere Magazine is given twice yearly for a poem, a short story, or an essay that “possesses a powerful sense of people, place,...
read moreUniversity of North Texas Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of North Texas Press is given annually for a collection of short fiction. Using only the online submission system, submit a...
read moreHidden River Arts
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $17
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a short story or a novel excerpt. Using only the online submission system, submit up to 25 pages of fiction (and a synopsis if...
read moreLos Angeles Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Four prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Los Angeles Review are given annually for a poem, a short story, a short short story, and an essay. Francesca Bell will...
read moreUniversity of Pittsburgh Press
Cash Prize: $15,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $15,000 and publication by University of Pittsburgh Press is given annually for a collection of short fiction. Writers who have published at least one previous book...
read moreNew American Press
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,500, publication by New American Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a book of fiction. Kristen Arnett will judge. Using only the online submission...
read moreLascaux Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Lascaux Review online and in print is given annually for a work of flash fiction. Previously published stories are eligible. Using...
read moreThe Moth
Cash Prize: $3,623
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of €3,000 (approximately $3,623) is given annually for a short story. A prize of a weeklong retreat at Circle of Missé in Missé, France, with a €250 (approximately $301...
read moreWriter’s Center
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a first novel published in the previous calendar year. Publishers or authors may submit three copies of a novel published in 2020 by...
read moreWinning Writers
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $65
Application Deadline: 6/30/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A grand prize of $5,000 and seven additional prizes of $1,000 each given annually for self-published books of poetry, fiction, genre fiction, creative nonfiction, children’s...
read moreStone Canoe
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 7/8/21
Two prizes of $500 each and publication in Stone Canoe are given annually for works of poetry and fiction by writers who are current or past residents of upstate New...
read moreFuturepoem
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 7/15/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000, publication by Futurepoem, and 25 author copies is given annually for a book of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or hybrid-genre work. The editors will judge....
read moreThe Story Prize
Cash Prize: $20,000
Entry Fee: $75
Application Deadline: 7/15/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $20,000 is given annually for a short story collection written in English and published in the United States in the current year. Two runners-up receive $5,000 each...
read moreBellevue Literary Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 7/15/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Bellevue Literary Review are given annually for a group of poems, a story, and an essay about health, healing, illness,...
read moreRegal House Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 7/15/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Regal House Publishing is given annually for a novel. The editors will judge. Submit a manuscript of 100 to 350 pages with a $25 entry fee...
read moreCincinnati Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 7/15/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Cincinnati Review are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay. Rebecca Lindenberg will judge in poetry,...
read moreSixfold
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $5
Application Deadline: 7/24/21
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...
read moreMunster Literature Center
Cash Prize: $2,382
Entry Fee: $21
Application Deadline: 7/31/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of €2,000 (approximately $2,382) and publication in Southword is given annually for a short story. The winner also receives a weeklong residency at the Anam Cara...
read morePrairie Heritage, Inc.
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 7/31/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a published book of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction that “illuminates the heritage of North America’s mid-continental prairies.” Authors...
read moreSewanee Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 7/31/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Sewanee Review are given annually for a group of poems, a short story, and an essay. Paisley Rekdal will judge in poetry,...
read moreHowling Bird Press
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 7/31/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $2,500 and publication by Howling Bird Press is given in alternating years for a book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. The 2022 prize will be awarded in...
read moreNew Millennium Writings
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 7/31/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Four prizes of $1,000 each and publication in New Millennium Writings and on the journal’s website are given twice yearly for a poem, a short story, a short short...
read moreNarrative
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 7/31/21
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $2,500 and publication in Narrative is given annually for a short story, a short short story, an essay, or an excerpt from a work of fiction or creative...
read more