Up to eight 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...
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.
Whiting Foundation
Cash Prize: $40,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 4/22/19
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
Omnidawn Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 4/22/19
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in OmniVerse, Omnidawn Publishing’s online journal, is given annually for a single poem. The winner also receives 50 copies of a...
read moreSixfold
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $5
Application Deadline: 4/23/19
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Sixfold are given quarterly for a group of poems and a short story. Using the online submission system, submit up to five...
read moreDIAGRAM/New Michigan Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/26/19
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000, publication by New Michigan Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a chapbook of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or hybrid-genre work. Ander...
read moreBeloit Poetry Journal
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 4/30/19
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,500 and publication in Beloit Poetry Journal is given annually for a single poem. Patricia Smith will judge. Using the online submission system, submit...
read moreUniversity of Pittsburgh Press
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 4/30/19
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $5,000 and publication by University of Pittsburgh Press is given annually for a debut poetry collection. Poets who have not published a full-length poetry...
read moreTrio House Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 4/30/19
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Trio House Press, and 20 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner is also asked to serve as a part-time volunteer...
read moreGlimmer Train Press
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 4/30/19
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $2,500, publication in Glimmer Train Stories, and 20 copies of the prize issue is given for a short story by a writer whose fiction has not appeared in a print...
read moreAshland Poetry Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 4/30/19
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Ashland Poetry Press, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of 64 to 96 pages with a $25 entry...
read moreFinishing Line Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $16
Application Deadline: 4/30/19
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 moreWinning Writers
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/30/19
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Two prizes of $2,000 each and publication on the Winning Writers website are given annually for a short story and an essay. Dennis Norris II will judge. Using the online...
read moreUniversity of Iowa Press
Cash Prize:
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/30/19
Genre: Poetry
Publication by University of Iowa Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of 50 to 150 pages with a $20 entry fee during the month of April. Visit...
read moreInlandia Institute
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/30/19
Genre: Poetry
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication by the Inlandia Institute will be given annually for a poetry collection by a U.S. resident and a poetry collection by a poet residing...
read morePoetry Foundation
Cash Prize: $25,800
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 4/30/19
Genre: Poetry
Five fellowships of $25,800 each are given annually to U.S. poets between the ages of 21 and 31. Using the online submission system, submit 10 pages of poetry, a one-page...
read moreTrio House Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 4/30/19
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Trio House Press, and 20 author copies is given annually for a first or second poetry collection. The winner is also asked to serve as a part-...
read moreMarsh Hawk Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 4/30/19
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Marsh Hawk Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Marge Piercy will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 84 pages with a $25 entry...
read moreMudfish
Cash Prize: $1,200
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/30/19
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,200 and publication in Mudfish is given annually for a single poem. John Yau will judge. Submit up to three poems of any length with a $20 entry fee ($3...
read moreTupelo Press
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 4/30/19
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $3,000 and publication by Tupelo Press is given annually for a first or second poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 88 pages with a $30 entry fee by April...
read moreGlimmer Train Press
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 4/30/19
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $2,500, publication in Glimmer Train Stories, and 20 copies of the prize issue is given for a short story about families of any configuration. Using the...
read moreNimrod International Journal
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/30/19
Two prizes of $2,000 each and publication in Nimrod International Journal are given annually for works of poetry and short fiction. A runner-up in each category...
read moreGhost Story
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/30/19
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Ghost Story website is given twice yearly for a short story with a supernatural or magic realism theme. The winning work will...
read moreAtlanta Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 5/1/19
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Atlanta Review is given annually for a single poem. Using the online submission system, submit up to three poems of any length...
read moreWick Poetry Center
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 5/1/19
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,500 and publication by Kent State University Press is given annually for a debut poetry collection. The winner is also invited to teach a weeklong writing...
read morePleiades Press
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 5/1/19
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,000 and publication by Pleiades Press is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner also receives $1,000 to fund a book tour. The editors will judge....
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