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 at...
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.
Passaic County Community College
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/1/19
Genre: Poetry
Passaic County Community College
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 2/1/19
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Paterson Literary Review is given annually for a poem. Submit four copies of up to five poems of no more than two pages each with...
read moreChicago Tribune
Cash Prize: $3,500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/1/19
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $3,500 is given annually for a short story. Using the online submission system, submit a story of up to 8,000 words by February 1. There is no entry fee. All entries...
read moreAmerican Short Fiction
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $17
Application Deadline: 2/1/19
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in American Short Fiction is given annually for a piece of flash fiction. Using the online submission system, submit up to three...
read moreBinghamton University
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/1/19
Two prizes of $1,000 each are given annually for books of poetry and fiction published during the previous year. The Milt Kessler Poetry Book Award is given for a poetry...
read moreColgate University
Cash Prize: $40,500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/1/19
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Two nine-month residencies at Colgate University, including a stipend of $40,500, health benefits, and travel expenses, are given annually to poets, fiction writers, or...
read moreSouthern Illinois University
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 2/2/19
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Two prizes of $1,000 each are given annually for a poetry collection and a book of fiction published in the previous year. Each winner will also receive $500 to give a reading...
read moreMain Street Rag
Cash Prize: $1,200
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 2/2/19
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...
read moreFurious Flower Poetry Center
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 2/10/19
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Obsidian, the literary journal of Illinois State University, is given annually for a group of poems. Poets who have published no...
read moreHippocrates Prize
Cash Prize: $1,300
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 2/14/19
Genre: Poetry
A prize of £1,000 (approximately $1,300) and publication in the Hippocrates Prize anthology and on the website is given annually for a poem on a medical theme. A prize of £1,...
read moreCenter for Fiction
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/15/19
Genre: Fiction
Fellowships of $5,000 each, membership to the Center for Fiction in New York City, and access to writing space at the center are given annually to fiction writers living in New...
read moreAcademy of American Poets
Cash Prize: $25,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/15/19
Genre: Poetry
A fellowship of $25,000 and a five-week residency at the American Academy in Rome is given biennially to a U.S. translator for a work-in-progress of modern Italian poetry...
read moreAcademy of American Poets
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/15/19
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Bilingual Press/Editorial Bilingüe is given annually for a book of poetry originally written in Spanish by a living writer and translated...
read moreRuminate
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 2/15/19
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,500 and publication in Ruminate is given annually for a short story. Using the online submission system, submit a story of up to 5,500 words with a $20...
read moreSalem State University
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 2/15/19
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Soundings East is given annually for a group of poems. Sean Thomas Dougherty will judge. Using the online submission system,...
read moreMilkweed Editions
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/15/19
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $10,000 and publication by Milkweed Editions, previously called the Lindquist & Vennum Prize, is given annually for a poetry collection by a poet currently...
read moreCenter for Documentary Studies
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $50
Application Deadline: 2/15/19
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $3,000 is given biennially for an essay that demonstrates a “reliance on documentary methods, specifically immersive fieldwork, research, and interviewing conducted...
read moreSarabande Books
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $29
Application Deadline: 2/15/19
Two prizes of $2,000 each and publication by Sarabande Books are given annually for collections of poetry and fiction. Each winner will also receive a two-week residency at the...
read moreAcademy of American Poets
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/15/19
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a book of poetry translated from any language into English and published in the United States during the previous year. Collaborations...
read moreHidden River Arts
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $22
Application Deadline: 2/15/19
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Hidden River Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Using the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 75 to 100 pages...
read moreNew American Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 2/15/19
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by New American Press is given annually for a book of poetry. Sara Gelston will judge. Using the online submission system, submit a poetry...
read moreOmnidawn Publishing
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 2/18/19
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $3,000, publication by Omnidawn Publishing, and 100 author copies is given annually for a first or second poetry collection. Dawn Lundy Martin will judge. Submit a...
read moreTulipTree Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 2/23/19
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in TulipTree Review will be given annually for a poem, a short story, or an essay that tells a story about “women who are the...
read moreGlimmer Train Press
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $21
Application Deadline: 2/28/19
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $3,000, publication in Glimmer Train Stories, and 20 copies of the prize issue is given twice yearly for a short story. A second-place prize of $1,000 is...
read more