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...
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.
New Letters
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $24
Application Deadline: 5/22/22
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Center for Fiction
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 5/30/22
Genre: Fiction
Nine fellowships of $5,000 each, a one-year membership to the Center for Fiction in New York City, and a year of access to the Writers Studio writing space at the center are...
read moreGival Press
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $50
Application Deadline: 5/30/22
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $3,000 and publication by Gival Press is given biennially for a novel. Submit a manuscript of 30,000 to 100,000 words with a $50 entry fee by May 30. Visit the...
read moreWriter’s Center
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 5/31/22
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $3,000 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 2021 by May...
read moreElixir Press
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $40
Application Deadline: 5/31/22
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $2,000, publication by Elixir Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a short story collection or a novel. Anthony E. Varallo will judge. Using only the...
read moreBOA Editions
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 5/31/22
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by BOA Editions is given annually for a short story collection. Peter Conners will judge. Submit a manuscript of 90 to 200 pages with a $25...
read moreBridport Arts Centre
Cash Prize: $6,759
Entry Fee: $16
Application Deadline: 5/31/22
Two prizes of £5,000 (approximately $6,759) 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...
read moreSouthern Poetry Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 5/31/22
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...
read moreMilkweed Editions
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 5/31/22
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $10,000 and publication by Milkweed Editions is given annually for a debut poetry collection by a U.S. poet. Henri Cole will judge. Using only the online submission...
read moreAnhinga Press
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 5/31/22
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,000, publication by Anhinga Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Erika Meitner will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 100...
read moreAutumn House Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 5/31/22
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication by Autumn House Press are given annually for a poetry collection, a book of fiction, and a book of creative nonfiction. Each winner...
read moreUniversity of Georgia Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 5/31/22
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Georgia Press is given annually for a collection of short fiction. Lori Ostlund will judge. Using only the online submission...
read moreBoulevard
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $16
Application Deadline: 6/1/22
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...
read moreAmerican Short Fiction
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 6/1/22
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $2,500 and publication in American Short Fiction is given annually for a short story. Using only the online submission system, submit a story of 2,000 to 6,...
read moreSalamander
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 6/1/22
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Salamander is given annually for a short story. Jamie Quatro will judge. Submit a story of up to 30 pages with a $15 entry fee...
read moreWriter’s Digest
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 6/6/22
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $5,000, an interview in Writer’s Digest, and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Writer's Digest Annual Conference held in New York City during...
read moreOmnidawn Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 6/13/22
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Omnidawn Publishing, and 100 author copies is given annually for a poetry chapbook. Ruth Ellen Kocher will judge. Submit a manuscript of 20 to...
read moreWestern Connecticut State University
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 6/13/22
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each are given annually for books of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction published in the previous year. The winners also receive $500 in travel expenses to...
read more42 Miles Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 6/15/22
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by 42 Miles Press, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Current and former students of Indiana University in South...
read moreUniversity of Akron Press
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 6/15/22
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,500 and publication by University of Akron Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Adrian Matejka will judge. Using only the online submission system,...
read moreTowson University
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/15/22
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
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...
read moreBard College
Cash Prize: $30,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/15/22
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 moreBitter Oleander Press
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 6/15/22
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,500 and publication by Bitter Oleander Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 80 pages with a $28 entry fee between May 1...
read morePulitzer Prizes
Cash Prize: $15,000
Entry Fee: $75
Application Deadline: 6/15/22
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Five prizes of $15,000 each are given annually for books of poetry, fiction, general nonfiction, U.S. history, and biography or autobiography (including memoir) first published...
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