A prize of $1,000 and publication by Boa Editions is given annually for a debut book of poetry. Jennifer Chang will judge. Submit a manuscript of 65 to 120 pages with a $30...
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.
Fish Publishing
Cash Prize: $3,500
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of €3,000 (approximately $3,500) and publication in the annual Fish Publishing anthology is given annually for a short story. The winner will also be invited to attend...
read moreUniversity of Georgia Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Georgia Press is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner is also invited to read from their book at the Georgia...
read moreGreen Linden Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Green Linden Press is given annually for a book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction translated from any language into English....
read moreMunster Literature Centre
Cash Prize: $2,330
Entry Fee: $8
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of €2,000 (approximately $2,330) and publication in Southword is given annually for a single poem. The winner will also receive a four-night hotel stay,...
read morePushcart Press
Cash Prize: $0
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/1/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Publication in The Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses is awarded annually for works of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction published by literary magazines...
read moreRegal House Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/1/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Regal House Publishing is given annually for a story collection. Heather Bell Adams will judge. Using only the online submission system,...
read moreUniversity of Southern Indiana
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 12/1/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $3,000, a seven-day residency at James A. Sanders Scholar’s Retreat in New Harmony, Indiana, and a $750 travel stipend will be given annually for a book of fiction...
read moreFive Points
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/1/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Five Points is given annually for a group of poems. The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit up to...
read moreAfrican Poetry Book Fund
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/1/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Nebraska Press is given annually for a debut poetry collection by an African poet. Writers who were born in Africa, are...
read moreMeadowlark Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/1/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Meadowlark Press, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript...
read moreNarratively
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 12/6/26
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $3,000 and publication on Narratively’s storytelling platform is given annually for a short work of memoir written in the first person. Using only the online...
read morePoetry Society of America
Cash Prize: $20,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $20,000 is given annually for a unified and complete sequence of poems published in the United States in a print or online journal, a chapbook, or a book during the...
read morePoetry Society of America
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 12/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,500 and publication on the Poetry Society of America website is given annually to a poet over 40 who has published no more than one poetry collection. Using only...
read moreTwo Sylvias Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $24
Application Deadline: 12/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Two Sylvias Press, and 20 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection by a writer over 50 who identifies as female or femme (...
read morePoetry Society of America
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 12/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Poetry Society of America website is given annually for poetry from a manuscript-in-progress. Using only the online submission system,...
read moreCenter for Book Arts
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 12/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $500 and letterpress publication by the Center for Book Arts is given annually for a poetry chapbook. The winner also receives 10 copies of their chapbook, an...
read moreMassachusetts Center for the Book
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/15/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three awards of $1,000 each will be given annually for a poetry collection, book of fiction, and a book of nonfiction written by a current Massachusetts resident and published...
read moreTexas Institute of Letters
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 12/18/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A fellowship of $10,000 will be given annually to an emerging, mid-level, or returning writer to support the completion of a poetry collection, book of fiction, or book of...
read moreGriffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry
Cash Prize: $7,218
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/18/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $10,000 Canadian (approximately $7,218) is awarded for a debut poetry collection by a living Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada published during the...
read moreGriffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry
Cash Prize: $93,832
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/18/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $130,000 Canadian (approximately $93,832) is given annually for a poetry collection written in or translated into English by a living international poet or...
read moreVirginia Commonwealth University
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/30/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $5,000 is given annually for a debut novel published during the current year. The winner is also provided money for the cost of travel and lodging to attend the...
read moreTupelo Press
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 12/31/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $3,000, publication by Tupelo Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner also receives a two-week residency at Gentle House in...
read moreBurnside Review Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/31/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Burnside Review Press, and 10 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Danielle Pafunda will judge. Using only the online...
read more