At least two fellowships of $5,000 each are given annually to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers who are legal residents of Alabama and have lived in the...
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.
Alabama State Council on the Arts
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/2/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $100
Application Deadline: 3/4/26
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Two prizes of $10,000 each are given annually for a book of fiction and a book of nonfiction (including creative nonfiction) published in the previous year that “foster peace,...
read moreTulipTree Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 3/8/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in TulipTree Review is given annually for a single poem, a short story, or an essay “whose main characters embody the Wild Woman...
read moreIowa City UNESCO City of Literature
Cash Prize: $25,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/15/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $25,000 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 moreBellingham Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 3/15/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Bellingham Review are given annually for works of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. The Parallel Award for...
read moreAmerican Literary Translators Association
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/16/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Translation
A prize of $3,000 is given annually for a debut poetry collection, book of fiction, or book of creative nonfiction translated from any language into English and published in...
read moreAmerican Literary Translators Association
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/16/26
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Translation
A prize of $5,000 is given annually for a book of fiction or nonfiction translated from Basque, Catalan, Galician, or Spanish into English and written by an author of Spanish...
read moreAmerican Literary Translators Association
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/16/26
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Translation
A prize of $5,000 is given annually for a book of fiction or nonfiction translated from Italian into English and published in the previous year. Publishers or translators may...
read moreAmerican Literary Translators Association
Cash Prize: $4,000
Entry Fee: $50
Application Deadline: 3/16/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Translation
Two prizes of $4,000 each are given annually for a poetry collection and a book of prose translated from any language into English and published in the previous year....
read moreDAG Foundation
Cash Prize: $20,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/18/26
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $20,000 will be given annually to support work on a second book of fiction or creative nonfiction by an emerging writer who “expands the possibilities for American...
read moreBlack Lawrence Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 3/31/26
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. The editors...
read moreGeorgia Writers
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/31/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three grants of $500 each will be given annually to a poet, fiction writer, and nonfiction writer to “amplify the voices of LGBTQIA+ youth in Georgia.” Grantees will also...
read moreBook Industry Charitable Foundation
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/31/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Five prizes of $10,000 each are given annually for an excerpt of a poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction manuscript-in-progress written by a bookseller. Writers who are...
read moreNarrative
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 3/31/26
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $2,500 and publication in Narrative is given annually for a short story, a work of flash fiction, an essay, a memoir, or an excerpt from a longer work of...
read moreA Public Space
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/31/26
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 morePloughshares
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 3/31/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $2,000 each and publication in Ploughshares are given annually for a poem or group of poems, a short story, and an essay. Each winner also receives a...
read moreNorth American Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $23
Application Deadline: 4/1/26
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in North American Review is given annually for an essay. Lyric essays, memoir-style essays, literary journalism, and other creative...
read moreFlorida Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 4/15/26
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 moreNew Ohio Review
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $22
Application Deadline: 4/15/26
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 moreEpiphany
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 4/15/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Epiphany are given annually for a poem or a group of poems and a short work of fiction or nonfiction. Using only the...
read moreFourth Genre
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/15/26
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Fourth Genre is given annually for an essay. A. Kendra Greene will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit an essay...
read moreTadpole Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 4/30/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 is given biannually for a work of flash poetry or prose. Submit a work of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction of up to 100 words with a $15 entry fee by April 30....
read moreAutumn House Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 4/30/26
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Autumn House Press is given annually for a book of creative nonfiction. The winner also receives a $1,500 travel and publicity grant. Ira...
read moreNarrative
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 4/30/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
An award of $5,000 is given annually for a poem, short story, novel excerpt, or work of creative nonfiction by an emerging writer. Previously unpublished work and work...
read moreDIAGRAM/New Michigan Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 4/30/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Cross-Genre
A prize of $1,000, publication by New Michigan Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a chapbook of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or hybrid-genre work. Ander...
read more