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 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.
Sixfold
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $5
Application Deadline: 7/24/21
Mudfish
Cash Prize: $1,200
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 7/31/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,200 and publication in Mudfish is given annually for a single poem. Marie Howe will judge. Submit up to three poems of any length with a $20 entry fee ($3...
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 moreRed Wheelbarrow
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 7/31/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Red Wheelbarrow is given annually for a single poem. The winner will also receive 20 copies of a letterpress broadside of the...
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 morePress 53
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 7/31/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Press 53, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Tom Lombardo will judge. Submit a manuscript of 60 to 120 pages with...
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 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 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 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 moreAspen Words
Cash Prize: $35,000
Entry Fee: $60
Application Deadline: 8/2/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $35,000 is given annually for a book of fiction published in the current year that “illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power...
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 moreGival Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 8/8/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Gival Press website is given annually for a short story. Submit a story of 5,000 to 15,000 words with a $25 entry fee by August 8....
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 moreDiode Editions
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 8/15/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Diode Editions, and 25 author copies will be given annually for a poetry collection. The winner will also have select poems from their book...
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 moreDogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 8/15/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $500, publication by Broadkill River Press, 10 author copies, and two cases of Dogfish Head craft beer are given annually for a poetry collection written by a poet...
read moreGrayson Books
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 8/15/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Grayson Books is given annually for a poetry collection. Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer will judge. Using only the online submission system,...
read moreOmnidawn Publishing
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 8/16/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $3,000, publication by Omnidawn Publishing, and 100 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. John Lau will judge. Submit a manuscript of 40 to 120...
read moreKallisto Gaia Press
Cash Prize: $1,200
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 8/20/21
Two prizes of $1,200 each and publication in Ocotillo Review are given annually for a poem and a short story. Edward Vidaurre will judge the Julia Darling Memorial...
read moreMasters Review
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 8/29/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $3,000 and publication in Masters Review is given twice yearly for a short story by an emerging writer. Writers who have not published a book are eligible, as...
read moreGulf Coast
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 8/31/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Gulf Coast is given in alternating years for a group of poems or a prose excerpt translated from any language into English. The 2021...
read moreUniversity of New Orleans Press
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 8/31/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $10,000 and publication by University of New Orleans Press is given annually for a short story collection or novel. Using only the online submission system, submit a...
read moreAesthetica
Cash Prize: $3,434
Entry Fee: $16
Application Deadline: 8/31/21
Two prizes of £2,500 (approximately $3,434) each and publication in Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual are given annually for a poem and a short story. The winner in...
read more