A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a book of poetry by an African poet published in the previous year. Writers who were born in Africa, who are nationals or residents 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.
African Poetry Book Fund
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 10/1/26
Genre: Poetry
Georgia Writers
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 10/1/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three grants of $500 each are given annually in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction to “elevate, encourage, and inspire the voices of Black writers in Georgia.” Black writers who...
read moreOne Story
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 10/13/26
Genre: Fiction
A yearlong fellowship of $2,000, access to One Story online classes, and admission to One Story’s weeklong summer writers’ conference, which includes craft...
read moreSilverfish Review Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Silverfish Review Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a debut poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of at least 48 pages with a...
read moreFinishing Line Press
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 10/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,500 and publication by Finishing Line Press is given annually for a poetry chapbook by a writer who identifies as a woman and has not published a full-length...
read morePulitzer Prizes
Cash Prize: $15,000
Entry Fee: $75
Application Deadline: 10/15/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Six prizes of $15,000 each are given annually for books of poetry, fiction, general nonfiction, U.S. history, biography, and memoir or autobiography first published in the...
read moreNational Federation of State Poetry Societies
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by National Federation of State Poetry Societies Press, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner also receives...
read moreTennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/15/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,500 is given annually for a short story by a writer who has not published a book of fiction. The winner will also receive domestic airfare of up to $500, private...
read moreTennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 10/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a group of poems by a writer who has not published a chapbook or full-length book of poetry. The winner is also invited to give a...
read moreSan Diego Entertainment & Arts Guild
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 10/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in San Diego Poetry Annual is given annually for a single poem. The winner also receives an invitation to read at an award ceremony...
read moreAlice James Books
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 10/16/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,000 and publication by Alice James Books is given annually for a poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 100 pages with a $30 entry fee by October 16. All...
read moreCleveland Foundation
Cash Prize: $30,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 10/16/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Four prizes of $30,000 each are given annually for a poetry collection, a book of fiction, a memoir or autobiography, and a book of nonfiction (including creative nonfiction)...
read moreTuliptree Publishing
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 10/17/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in the Fall/Winter issue of TulipTree Review is given annually for a humorous poem, story, or essay. Submit a poem of up to five...
read moreUniversity of Wisconsin Press
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 10/30/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,500 and publication by University of Wisconsin Press is given annually for a poetry collection in translation. Jennifer Feeley will judge. Using only the online...
read moreCloudbank Books
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/31/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Cross-Genre
A prize of $1,000, publication by Cloudbank Books, and 50 author copies is given annually for a collection of poetry, flash fiction, or a combination of the two. Submit a...
read morePoetry Society of the United Kingdom
Cash Prize: $6,679
Entry Fee: $12
Application Deadline: 10/31/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of £5,000 (approximately $6,679) and publication on the Poetry Society of the United Kingdom website is given annually for a single poem. A second-place prize of £3,000...
read moreNorthwestern University Press
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 10/31/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $500 and publication by Northwestern University Press is given annually for a poetry chapbook “creating, giving voice to, and sharing the experiences of people of...
read moreCarlow University
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 10/31/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in the anthology Voices From the Attic is given annually for a single poem to a woman poet age 40 or over who has not published a...
read moreBedford Competition
Cash Prize: $2,670
Entry Fee: $11
Application Deadline: 10/31/26
Two prizes of £2,000 (approximately $2,670) each and publication in the Bedford Competition anthology are given annually for a poem and a short story. Fran Lock will judge in...
read moreTucson Festival of Books
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 10/31/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each are given annually for works of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. The winners will also receive scholarships to attend a workshop at the...
read moreComstock Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 10/31/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Comstock Review, and 50 author copies is given biennially for a poetry chapbook. Martin Willitts Jr. will judge. Submit a manuscript...
read moreRiver Teeth
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 10/31/26
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of New Mexico Press is given annually for a book of creative nonfiction. Sue William Silverman will judge. Using only the online...
read moreDzanc Books
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/31/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,500 and publication by Dzanc Books is given for a poetry collection. Jonathan Fink and Keith Taylor will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a...
read moreUniversity of North Texas Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/31/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of North Texas Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of...
read moreTupelo Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 10/31/26
Genre: Poetry, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Tupelo Press is given annually for a full- or chapbook-length poetry collection or a book of creative nonfiction (including memoir, essays...
read more