Writing 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.

Florida Review

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 4/15/24

Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Florida Review are given annually for a poem or group of poems, a short story, and an essay. The editors will judge....

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Pen Parentis

Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/17/24
Genre: Fiction

A prize of $2,000, a year of mentorship, and publication in Dreamers Creative Writing Magazine is given annually to a fiction writer who is the parent of a child under...

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Whiting Foundation

Cash Prize: $40,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 4/23/24

Up to 10 grants of $40,000 each are given annually for creative nonfiction works-in-progress to enable writers to complete their books. Creative nonfiction writers under...

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Sixfold

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $5
Application Deadline: 4/23/24
Genre: Poetry, Fiction

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...

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Australian Book Review

Cash Prize: $3,931
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/24/24
Genre: Fiction

A prize of $6,000 AUD (approximately $3,931) is given annually for a short story. A second-place prize of $4,000 AUD (approximately $2,621) and a third-place prize of $2,500...

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University of Iowa Press

Cash Prize: $20
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/30/24
Genre: Poetry

Publication by University of Iowa Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 50 to 150 pages with a $20...

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Ghost Story

Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/30/24
Genre: Fiction

A prize of $1,500 and publication on the Ghost Story website and in the 21st Century Ghost Stories anthology series is given biannually for a short story with a...

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University of Pittsburgh Press

Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 4/30/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $5,000 and publication by University of Pittsburgh Press is given annually for a debut poetry collection. Using only the online submission system, submit a...

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Oversound

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 4/30/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000, publication by Oversound, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry chapbook. Diana Khoi Nguyen will judge. Using only the online submission...

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Autumn House Press

Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 4/30/24

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Autumn House Press is given annually for a book of nonfiction. The winner also receives a $1,500 travel and publicity grant. Clifford...

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Inlandia Institute

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/30/24
Genre: Poetry

Two prizes of $1,000 each, publication by the Inlandia Institute, and 20 author copies are given annually for a poetry collection by a U.S. resident and a poetry collection by...

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Poetry International

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 4/30/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Poetry International is given annually for a single poem. Using only the online submission system, submit up to three poems of any...

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Tupelo Press

Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 4/30/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $3,000, publication by Tupelo Press, and 20 author copies is given annually for a first or second poetry collection. English translations of works originally written...

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F(r)iction

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 4/30/24
Genre: Fiction

A prize of $1,000 is given biannually for a short story. Using only the online submission system, submit a story of 1,001 to 7,500 words with a $15 entry fee...

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Marsh Hawk Press

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 4/30/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Marsh Hawk Press is given annually for a poetry collection. John Keene will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a...

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Tadpole Press

Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 4/30/24

A prize of $2,000 is given biannually for a work of flash poetry or prose. Manuscripts written in a language other than English are accepted when accompanied by an English...

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Atlanta Review

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 5/1/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Atlanta Review is given annually for a single poem. Using only the online submission system, submit up to five poems of any length...

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Winning Writers

Cash Prize: $3,500
Entry Fee: $22
Application Deadline: 5/1/24

Two prizes of $3,500 each, two gift certificates for two-year memberships to the literary database Duotrope, and publication on the Winning Writers website are given annually...

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McGill University

Cash Prize: $14,807
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 5/1/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $20,000 Canadian (approximately $14,807) and publication in the Montreal Poetry Prize anthology is given biennially for a poem. A.E. Stallings will judge, and...

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Backwaters Press

Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $32
Application Deadline: 5/1/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $2,000 and publication by Backwaters Press, an imprint of University of Nebraska Press, is given annually for a poetry collection. An honorable...

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High Desert Museum

Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 5/1/24

A prize of $3,000 is given annually for a work of nonfiction that recognizes “the vital role deserts play worldwide in the ecosystem and the human narrative...

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Breakwater Review

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 5/1/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Breakwater Review...

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Moon City Press

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 5/1/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Moon City Press is given annually for a poetry collection. The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a...

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Ashland Poetry Press

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 5/1/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000, publication by Ashland Poetry Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Matthew Rohrer will judge. Using only the online...

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Noemi Press

Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 5/1/24
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $2,000 and publication by Noemi Press is given annually for a book of poetry. The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of...

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