A prize of €2,000 (approximately $2,334), publication in the Desperate Literature prize anthology, and a weeklong residency at the Civitella Ranieri Foundation’s castle in the...
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.
Poetry International
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 4/30/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Poetry International is given annually for a single poem. Using only the online submission system, submit up to three poems of any...
read moreTadpole Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 4/30/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 is given biannually for a work of flash poetry or prose. Submit a work of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction of up to 100 words with a $15 entry fee by April 30....
read moreDIAGRAM/New Michigan Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 4/30/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Cross-Genre
A prize of $1,000, publication by New Michigan Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a chapbook of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or hybrid-genre work. Ander...
read moreUniversity of Pittsburgh Press
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 4/30/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $5,000 and publication by University of Pittsburgh Press is given annually for a debut poetry collection. Using only the online submission system, submit a...
read moreTupelo Press
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 4/30/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $3,000, publication by Tupelo Press, and 20 author copies is given annually for a first or second poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 88 pages with a $30...
read moreAutumn House Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 4/30/26
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Autumn House Press is given annually for a book of creative nonfiction. The winner also receives a $1,500 travel and publicity grant. Ira...
read moreMarsh Hawk Press
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 4/30/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,000 and publication by Marsh Hawk Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Denise Duhamel will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a...
read moreNarrative
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 4/30/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
An award of $5,000 is given annually for a poem, short story, novel excerpt, or work of creative nonfiction by an emerging writer. Previously unpublished work and work...
read moreGhost Story
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/30/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,500 and publication on the Ghost Story website is given biannually for a short story with a supernatural or magical realist theme. The editors will judge...
read moreUniversity of Iowa Press
Cash Prize: $0
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/30/26
Genre: Poetry
Publication by University of Iowa Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 50 to 150 pages with a $20...
read moreInlandia Institute
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 4/30/26
Genre: Poetry
Two prizes of $1,000 each, publication by the Inlandia Institute, and 20 author copies are given annually for a poetry collection by a U.S. resident and a poetry collection by...
read morePlough
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $7
Application Deadline: 4/30/26
Genre: Poetry
An award of $2,000 and publication in Plough will be given annually for a single poem that reflects Rhina Espaillat’s “lyricism, attention to form, empathy, and...
read moreCave Canem Foundation
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 4/30/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $10,000, publication by University of Pittsburgh Press, and 15 author copies is given annually for a first book of poetry by a Black poet within the African diaspora...
read moreBeloit Poetry Journal
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 4/30/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,500 and publication in Beloit Poetry Journal is given annually for a single poem. Using only the online submission system, submit up to three poems...
read moreMcGill University
Cash Prize: $14,418
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 5/1/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $20,000 Canadian (approximately $14,418) is given biennially for a poem. Natalie Diaz will judge, and Jaswinder Bolina, Kayla Czaga, Boris Dralyuk, Iona Lee, Brandy...
read moreInterlochen Center for the Arts
Cash Prize: $25,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 5/1/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $25,000 and a two- to three-day residency at Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan, is given annually for a book of fiction or nonfiction published in...
read moreNoemi Press
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 5/1/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,000 and publication by Noemi Press is given annually for a poetry collection. The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript...
read moreBackwaters Press
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $32
Application Deadline: 5/1/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,000 and publication by Backwaters Press, an imprint of University of Nebraska Press, is given annually for a poetry collection. An honorable mention prize of $1,...
read moreHigh Desert Museum
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 5/1/26
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $3,000 is given annually for a work of nonfiction that recognizes “the vital role deserts play worldwide in the ecosystem and the human narrative.” The winner is...
read moreWinning Writers
Cash Prize: $3,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 5/1/26
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Two prizes of $3,500 each, two gift certificates for two-year memberships to the literary database Duotrope, and publication on the Winning Writers website are given annually...
read moreWick Poetry Center
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 5/1/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,500 and publication by Kent State University Press is given annually for a debut poetry collection. The winner is also invited to teach a weeklong writing...
read moreAcademy of American Poets
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 5/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $5,000 is given annually for a second poetry collection by a living poet to be published in the next calendar year. The winner also receives an all-expenses-paid...
read moreCrook’s Corner Book Prize Foundation
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 5/15/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $5,000 is given annually for a debut novel primarily set in the American South. Authors living anywhere are eligible. Self-published books are accepted, but books...
read more