A prize of $1,000, publication by the Word Works, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection by a poet who has published at least two full-length books of...
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.
Regal House Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 7/15/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Regal House Publishing is given annually for a novel. The editors will judge. Submit a manuscript of 100 to 350 pages with a $25 entry fee...
read moreLedbury Poetry Festival
Cash Prize: $1,318
Entry Fee: $6
Application Deadline: 7/15/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of £1,000 (approximately $1,318) and publication on the Ledbury Poetry Festival website is given annually for a single poem. The winner is also invited to read at the...
read moreCincinnati Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 7/15/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Cincinnati Review are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay. Rebecca Lindenberg will judge in poetry,...
read moreThe Story Prize
Cash Prize: $20,000
Entry Fee: $75
Application Deadline: 7/15/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $20,000 is given annually for a short story collection written in English and published in the United States in the current year. Two runners-up receive $5,000 each...
read moreMudfish
Cash Prize: $1,200
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 7/15/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,200 and publication in Mudfish is given annually for a single poem. Marie Howe will judge. Submit up to three poems of any length with a $20 entry fee ($3...
read moreBellevue Literary Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 7/15/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Bellevue Literary Review are given annually for a group of poems, a story, and an essay about health, healing, illness,...
read moreFuturepoem
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 7/15/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000, publication by Futurepoem, and 25 author copies is given annually for a book of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or hybrid-genre work. The editors will judge....
read moreRed Mountain Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 7/15/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Red Mountain Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Donald Platt will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a...
read moreNarrative
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 7/16/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,500 and publication in Narrative is given annually for a poem or group of poems. The poetry editors will judge. Using only the online submission system,...
read moreSixfold
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $5
Application Deadline: 7/24/21
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...
read moreNew Millennium Writings
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 7/31/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Four prizes of $1,000 each and publication in New Millennium Writings and on the journal’s website are given twice yearly for a poem, a short story, a short short...
read morePress 53
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 7/31/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Press 53, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Tom Lombardo will judge. Submit a manuscript of 60 to 120 pages with...
read moreMunster Literature Center
Cash Prize: $2,382
Entry Fee: $21
Application Deadline: 7/31/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of €2,000 (approximately $2,382) and publication in Southword is given annually for a short story. The winner also receives a weeklong residency at the Anam Cara...
read moreNarrative
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 7/31/21
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $2,500 and publication in Narrative is given annually for a short story, a short short story, an essay, or an excerpt from a work of fiction or creative...
read morePrairie Heritage, Inc.
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 7/31/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a published book of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction that “illuminates the heritage of North America’s mid-continental prairies.” Authors...
read moreSewanee Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 7/31/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Sewanee Review are given annually for a group of poems, a short story, and an essay. Paisley Rekdal will judge in poetry,...
read moreHowling Bird Press
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 7/31/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $2,500 and publication by Howling Bird Press is given in alternating years for a book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. The 2022 prize will be awarded in...
read moreRed Wheelbarrow
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 7/31/21
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Red Wheelbarrow is given annually for a single poem. The winner will also receive 20 copies of a letterpress broadside of the...
read moreSeneca Review Books
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 8/1/21
Genre: Poetry, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $2,000 and publication by Seneca Review Books is given biennially for a collection of lyric essays. Kazim Ali will judge. Cross-genre, hybrid, and verse forms, as...
read moreDelaware Division of the Arts
Cash Prize: $6,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 8/2/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Established Professional Fellowships of $6,000 each and Emerging Artist Fellowships of $3,000 each are given annually to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers...
read moreAspen Words
Cash Prize: $35,000
Entry Fee: $60
Application Deadline: 8/2/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $35,000 is given annually for a book of fiction published in the current year that “illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power...
read moreGival Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 8/8/21
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Gival Press website is given annually for a short story. Submit a story of 5,000 to 15,000 words with a $25 entry fee by August 8....
read moreTulipTree Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 8/9/21
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a poem, a short story, or an essay that “tells a story that needs to be told.” The winner will also receive a two-year subscription to...
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