A prize of $1,000 and publication by BOA Editions is given annually for a first book of poetry by a U.S. resident. Patricia Smith will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 100...
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.
Mid-American Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 11/30/18
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Mid-American Review are given annually for a poem and a short story. Submit up to three poems for the James Wright Poetry...
read moreBurnside Review Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 11/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Burnside Review Press, and 10 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Ed Skoog will judge. Using the online submission system...
read moreQuarter After Eight
Cash Prize: $1,008
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 11/30/18
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,008.15 and publication in Quarter After Eight is given annually for a prose poem, a short short story, or a micro-essay. Submit up to three pieces of no...
read morePoetry International
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 11/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Poetry International is given annually for a poem. Using the online submission system, submit up to three poems with a $15 entry...
read moreCider Press Review
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $26
Application Deadline: 11/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,500, publication by Cider Press Review, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Leona Sevick will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48...
read moreTwo Sylvias Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 11/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Two Sylvias Press is given annually for a poetry collection by a woman over the age of 50. Kelli Russell Agodon and Annette Spaulding-Convy...
read moreMunster Literature Center
Cash Prize: $1,200
Entry Fee: $6
Application Deadline: 11/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of €1,000 (approximately $1,200), publication in Southword, and a weeklong residency at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Annaghmakerrig, Ireland, is given annually...
read moreUniversity of Georgia Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 11/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Georgia Press is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner also receives travel expenses and $1,000 per event to...
read moreFish Publishing
Cash Prize: $3,400
Entry Fee: $26
Application Deadline: 11/30/18
Genre: Fiction
A prize of €3,000 (approximately $3,400) and publication in the annual Fish Publishing anthology is given annually for a short story. The winner will also be invited to attend...
read moreBeloit Poetry Journal
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 11/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Beloit Poetry Journal, and 50 author copies will be given annually for a poetry chapbook. The editors will judge. Using the online...
read moreNarrative
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $26
Application Deadline: 11/30/18
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 longer work of prose. A second-...
read moreDappled Things
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 11/30/18
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $500 and publication in Dappled Things will be given annually for a short story. The editors will judge. Using the online submission system, submit a story...
read moreUniversity of North Texas
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 11/30/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $10,000 is given annually for a poetry collection published in the previous year by a mid-career poet. The winner will also receive airfare and lodging to give...
read moreFive Points
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/1/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Five Points is given annually for a group of poems. Using the online submission system, submit up to three poems of no more than...
read moreSlipstream Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 12/1/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Slipstream Press, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry chapbook. The editors will judge. Submit a manuscript of up to 40 pages...
read moreDecember
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 12/1/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,500 and publication in december is given annually for a poem. Kim Addonizio will judge. Submit up to three poems of any length with a $20 entry fee,...
read moreStanford University
Cash Prize: $26,000
Entry Fee: $85
Application Deadline: 12/1/18
Ten two-year fellowships, five in poetry and five in fiction, are given annually to allow emerging writers to develop their craft in workshops with senior faculty members at...
read moreLangum Charitable Trust
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/1/18
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a book of historical fiction published during the previous year. Publishers or authors may submit two copies of a book (or galleys)...
read moreAmerican Library Association
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/1/18
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $5,000 is given annually for a novel published in the previous year that is set in a period when the United States was at war. Publishers or authors may submit seven...
read morePushcart Press
Cash Prize:
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/1/18
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 moreOhio University Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 12/1/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Ohio University Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of 60 to 95 pages with a $30 entry fee by December 1....
read moreUniversity of Evansville
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 12/1/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in the Evansville Review is given annually for a poem translated from any language into English. Willis Barnstone will judge. Submit...
read moreAfrican Poetry Book Fund
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/1/18
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Nebraska Press is given annually for a debut poetry collection by a poet who was born in Africa, is an African national or...
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