A prize of $5,000, publication on the Writer’s Digest website, and an all-expenses paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Conference in New York City is given annually for a...
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.
Writer’s Digest
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 6/5/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Western Connecticut State University
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 6/14/20
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 moreUniversity of Akron Press
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 6/15/20
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,500 and publication by University of Akron Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Philip Metres will judge. Using only the online submission system,...
read moreTowson University
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/15/20
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: 6/15/20
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 moreAmerican-Scandinavian Foundation
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/15/20
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 moreNew American Press
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 6/15/20
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,500 and publication by New American Press is given annually for a book of fiction. Nick White will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a...
read moreOmnidawn Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 6/15/20
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Omnidawn Publishing, and 100 author copies is given annually for a poetry chapbook. Victoria Chang will judge. Submit a manuscript of 20 to 40...
read morePulitzer Prizes
Cash Prize: $15,000
Entry Fee: $75
Application Deadline: 6/15/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Four prizes of $15,000 each are given annually to U.S. writers for books of poetry, fiction, general nonfiction, and biography or autobiography (including memoir) published in...
read moreWillow Springs Books
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 6/15/20
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $2,000 and publication by Willow Springs Books is given annually for a short story collection. Submit a manuscript of three or more stories totaling at least 98...
read moreBitter Oleander Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 6/15/20
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 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 moreMaine Arts Commission
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/18/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A fellowship of up to $5,000 is given annually to a poet, a fiction writer, or a creative nonfiction writer who has lived in the state of Maine for at least one year. The...
read moreMexico
Cash Prize: $150,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/22/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $150,000 is given annually to honor the lifetime achievement of a poet, fiction writer, or creative nonfiction writer who writes in Catalan, French, Galician,...
read moreGreat Lakes Colleges Association
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/25/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
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 moreArtist Trust
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/29/20
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Grants of $1,500 each are given annually to poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers who are residents of Washington State. Students enrolled in a degree-granting program...
read moreConduit Books & Ephemera
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 6/30/20
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Conduit Books & Ephemera, and 30 author copies is given annually for a debut poetry collection. Bob Hicok will judge. Using only the...
read moreLascaux Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 6/30/20
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Lascaux Review is given annually for a work of flash fiction. Using only the online submission system, submit up to three stories...
read moreHidden River Arts
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $17
Application Deadline: 6/30/20
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Hidden River Review of Arts & Letters is given annually for a short story or a novel excerpt. Using only the online submission...
read moreAutumn House Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 6/30/20
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 moreCider Press Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $26
Application Deadline: 6/30/20
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Cider Press Review, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. The editors will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48...
read moreFinishing Line Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $16
Application Deadline: 6/30/20
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Finishing Line Press is given annually for a poetry chapbook by a woman who has not yet published a full-length collection. Leah Maines...
read moreThe Moth
Cash Prize: $3,270
Entry Fee: $16
Application Deadline: 6/30/20
Genre: Fiction
A prize of €3,000 (approximately $3,270) is given annually for a short story. A prize of a weeklong retreat at Circle of Missé in Missé, France, with a €250 (approximately $272...
read moreBarrow Street Press
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 6/30/20
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,500 and publication by Barrow Street Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Dorianne Laux will judge. Submit a manuscript of 50 to 80 pages with a $25...
read moreFeminist Press/TAYO Literary Magazine
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 6/30/20
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $5,000 and publication by the Feminist Press is given annually for a debut book of fiction or narrative nonfiction by a woman of color or a nonbinary writer of color...
read more