A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a short story. The winning story will also be considered for publication in Thomas Wolfe Review. Therese Anne Fowler will judge....
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.
North Carolina Writers’ Network
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 1/30/21
Genre: Fiction
New Millennium Writings
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 1/31/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Four prizes of $1,000 each and publication in New Millennium Writings are given twice yearly for a poem, a short story, a work of flash fiction, and a work of creative...
read moreMasters Review
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 1/31/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $3,000 and publication in Masters Review is given twice yearly for a short story by an emerging writer. The winning story will also be reviewed by a...
read moreRegal House Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 1/31/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Regal House Publishing is given annually for a poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 100 pages with a $25 entry fee by January 31...
read moreIowa Review
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 1/31/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,500 each and publication in Iowa Review are given annually for works of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Using only the online submission system,...
read moreCrazyhorse
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 1/31/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $2,000 each and publication in Crazyhorse are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay. Using only the online submission system, submit up...
read moreMoney for Women/Barbara Deming Memorial Fund
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 1/31/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Grants of up to $1,500 each are given in alternating years to feminist poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers who are citizens of the United States or Canada. The...
read moreGhost Story
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 1/31/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Ghost Story website and in the 21st Century Ghost Stories anthology will be given annually for a flash fiction piece with a...
read moreAKO Caine Prize for African Writing
Cash Prize: $12,860
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 1/31/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of £10,000 (approximately $12,860) is given annually for a previously published short story by an African writer. Shortlisted writers will receive £500 (approximately $...
read moreMain Street Rag
Cash Prize: $1,200
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 1/31/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,200, publication by Main Street Rag, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. The editors and previous winners will judge. Submit a...
read moreFish Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,170
Entry Fee: $21
Application Deadline: 1/31/21
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
A prize of €1,000 (approximately $1,170) and publication in the Fish Publishing anthology is given annually for a short memoir. The winner is also invited to give a reading at...
read moreSchaffner Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 1/31/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Schaffner Press is given annually for a poetry collection, a novel, a short story collection, an essay collection, or a memoir that “deals...
read moreBlack Lawrence Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 1/31/21
A prize of $1,000, publication by Black Lawrence Press, and 10 author copies is given annually for a novel. The contest is open to traditional novels “as well as novels-in-...
read moreAustin Community College
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 1/31/21
Two prizes of $1,500 each are given annually for a poetry collection and a book of fiction published during the previous year. Authors or publishers may submit three copies of...
read moreVirginia Commonwealth University
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $3,000 to $5,000 and an all-expenses paid trip to give a reading at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond is given annually for a first or second book of...
read moreSouthern Indiana Review
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 2/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $3,000 and publication by Southern Indiana Review Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Michael Waters will judge. Submit up to 80 pages of poetry (no...
read moreAmerican Short Fiction
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $17
Application Deadline: 2/1/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in American Short Fiction is given annually for a piece of flash fiction. Using only the online submission system, submit up to three...
read moreW. B. Yeats Society of NY
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 2/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the W. B. Yeats Society of NY website is given annually for a single poem. The winner is also invited to a ceremony in New York City in the...
read morePoetry Center at Passaic County Community College
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 2/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Paterson Literary Review is given annually for a single poem. The winning poet will also be invited to give a reading at the Poetry...
read moreStadler Center for Poetry & Literary Arts
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/1/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Two four-month residencies, which include a stipend of $5,000 each, at the Stadler Center for Poetry & Literary Arts at Bucknell University are given annually to fiction...
read morePoetry Center at Passaic County Community College
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/1/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a book of poetry published in the previous year. The winning poet is expected to participate in an awards ceremony and give a reading...
read moreRuminate
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 2/1/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,500 and publication in Ruminate is given annually for a short story. Using only the online submission system, submit a story of up to 5,500 words with a $...
read moreSlippery Elm
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 2/1/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Slippery Elm are given annually for a poem and a short story or essay. Using only the online submission system, submit up to...
read moreChattahoochee Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 2/8/21
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Chattahoochee Review are given annually for a short story and an essay. Using only the online submission system, submit a...
read moreWinter Anthology
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $11
Application Deadline: 2/10/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Winter Anthology is given annually for a group of poems, a story, or an essay. Both unpublished and previously published work is...
read more