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 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.
DIAGRAM/New Michigan Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/27/18
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Trio House Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 4/30/18
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 moreBeloit Poetry Journal
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 4/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,500 and publication in Beloit Poetry Journal is given annually for a poem. Naomi Shihab Nye will judge. Using the online submission system, submit up to...
read moreGlimmer Train Press
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $16
Application Deadline: 4/30/18
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $2,000, publication in Glimmer Train Stories, and 10 copies of the prize issue is given three times a year for a very short story. Using the online submission system...
read moreUniversity of Pittsburgh Press
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 4/30/18
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 moreUniversity of Iowa Press
Cash Prize: $20
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/30/18
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 moreFinishing Line Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $16
Application Deadline: 4/30/18
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 moreAshland Poetry Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 4/30/18
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 moreGhost Story
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/30/18
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 editors will judge...
read moreTrio House Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 4/30/18
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 moreFriends of Falun Gong
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 4/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $500 and publication on the Friends of Falun Gong website is given annually for a poem that advocates for human rights in China. A panel of judges selected by the...
read moreChristopher G. Moore Foundation
Cash Prize: $1,340
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 4/30/18
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of £1,000 (approximately $1,340) will be given in alternating years for a book of fiction or nonfiction published in the previous year that "contributes to the...
read moreWinning Writers
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/30/18
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 moreRed Hen Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 4/30/18
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Red Hen Press is given annually for an essay collection, memoir, or book of narrative nonfiction. Florencia Ramirez will judge. Using the...
read moreGlimmer Train Press
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $21
Application Deadline: 4/30/18
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $3,000, publication in Glimmer Train Stories, and 10 copies of the prize issue is given twice yearly for a short story. A $1,000 second-place prize is also given....
read morePoetry Foundation
Cash Prize: $25,800
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 4/30/18
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 moreMarsh Hawk Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 4/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Marsh Hawk Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Jane Hirshfield will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 84 pages with a $25...
read moreTupelo Press
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 4/30/18
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 $28 entry fee by April...
read moreNimrod International Journal
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/30/18
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 morePirate's Alley Faulkner Society
Cash Prize: $7,500
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 5/1/18
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $7,500 is given annually for a novel. A prize of $2,000 is given for a book of nonfiction; three prizes of $1,500 each are given for a short story, a novella, and a...
read moreSow's Ear Poetry Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 5/1/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Sow's Ear Press with distribution to Sow's Ear Poetry Review subscribers, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry...
read moreWhiting Foundation
Cash Prize: $40,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 5/1/18
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
Up to six 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 moreWick Poetry Center
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 5/1/18
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 graduate/...
read moreLeapfrog Press
Cash Prize: $1,150
Entry Fee: $33
Application Deadline: 5/1/18
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,150 and publication by Leapfrog Press is given annually for a short story collection, a novel, or a novella. Marie-Helene Bertino and the Leapfrog editors will...
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