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
Winning 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 moreSeneca Review Books
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 8/1/21
Genre: Poetry, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $2,000 and publication by Seneca Review Books is given biennially for a collection of lyric essays. Kazim Ali will judge. Cross-genre, hybrid, and verse forms, as...
read moreDelaware Division of the Arts
Cash Prize: $6,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 8/2/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Established Professional Fellowships of $6,000 each and Emerging Artist Fellowships of $3,000 each are given annually to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers...
read moreTulipTree Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 8/9/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a poem, a short story, or an essay that “tells a story that needs to be told.” The winner will also receive a two-year subscription to...
read moreIndiana Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 8/15/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Indiana Review is given annually for a poem or a work of flash fiction or creative nonfiction. Submit up to three poems, stories,...
read moreGulf Coast
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 8/31/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Gulf Coast is given annually for a short work of prose. Submit a prose poem, a piece of flash fiction, or a micro-essay of up to 500...
read moreBlack Warrior Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 9/1/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Black Warrior Review are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay. Eduardo C. Corral will judge in poetry, K...
read moreAmerican-Scandinavian Foundation
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 9/1/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $2,500 and publication of an excerpt in Scandinavian Review is given annually for an English translation of a work of poetry, fiction, or creative...
read moreDogwood
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 9/5/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Dogwood are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay. Submit up to three poems totaling no more than 10...
read moreThe Moth
Cash Prize: $1,191
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 9/15/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of €1,000 (approximately $1,191) and publication in the Moth will be given annually for a poem, story, or essay that features “an exploration of the writer’s...
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