A prize of $2,500 and publication of a poem on the Poetry Society of America website is given annually to a poet over 40 who has published no more than one book. Submit two...
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 Society of America
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 12/22/17
Genre: Poetry
Poetry Society of America
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $12
Application Deadline: 12/22/17
Genre: Poetry
Four prizes of $1,000 each and publication by the Poetry Society of America are given annually for poetry chapbooks by poets who have not published a full-length collection....
read moreBlack Caucus of the American Library Association
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/29/17
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Four prizes of $500 each are given annually for a poetry collection, a first novel, a book of fiction, and a book of nonfiction (including creative nonfiction) by an African...
read moreFlorida Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/30/17
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Florida Review is given annually for a chapbook of flash fiction or nonfiction, short stories, essays, or graphic narrative....
read moreNew Issues Poetry & Prose
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/30/17
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by New Issues Poetry & Prose is given annually for a first poetry collection. The winner will also receive an honorarium of $500 and...
read moreBright Hill Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 12/31/17
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by Bright Hill Press, and 30 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 64 pages with a $27 entry fee...
read moreCleveland Foundation
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/31/17
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Prizes of $10,000 each are given annually for books of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction (including creative nonfiction) published during the previous year that "contribute to...
read moreSociety of Classical Poets
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/31/17
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $500 and publication on the Society of Classical Poets website is given annually for a group of three to five poems on a theme. At least one poem must address human...
read moreRiver Styx
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 12/31/17
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,500 and publication in River Styx is given annually for a short short story. Submit up to three stories of no more than 500 words each with a $10 entry...
read moreLivingston Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 12/31/17
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000, publication by Livingston Press, and 100 author copies is given annually for a first collection of short stories by a U.S. citizen. Fiction writers who have...
read morePress 53
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 12/31/17
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Press 53 is given annually for a story collection. Kevin Morgan Watson will judge. Submit a manuscript of 100 to 250 pages with a $30 entry...
read moreBefore Columbus Foundation
Cash Prize:
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/31/17
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Awards are given annually for books published in the United States during the previous year to recognize “outstanding literary achievement from the entire spectrum of America’s...
read moreAshland Creek Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 12/31/17
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a book of fiction or creative nonfiction that focuses on the environment, animal protection, ecology, or wildlife. The winner also...
read moreTampa Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 12/31/17
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Tampa Review is given annually for a short story. The editors will judge. Submit a story of 500 to 5,000 words with a $20 entry...
read moreThe Moth
Cash Prize: $12,000
Entry Fee: $13
Application Deadline: 12/31/17
Genre: Poetry
A prize of €10,000 (approximately $12,000) and publication in the Moth is given annually for a poem. Three runner-up prizes of €1,000 (approximately $1,200) each are...
read moreThree Percent
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/31/17
Two awards of $10,000 each are given annually for a poetry collection and a short story collection or novel translated into English for the first time and published in the...
read moreTampa Review
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 12/31/17
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,000 and publication by University of Tampa Press will be given annually for a poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 100 pages with a $25 entry fee ($28...
read moreTupelo Press
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 12/31/17
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $3,000 and publication by Tupelo Press is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner also receives a weeklong residency at the Massachusetts Museum of...
read moreLascaux Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 12/31/17
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a novel published in the previous two years. Submit a book published in 2016 or 2017 with a $20 entry fee by December 31. Visit the...
read moreBoulevard
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $16
Application Deadline: 12/31/17
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,500 and publication in Boulevard is given annually for a short story by a writer who has not published a nationally distributed book. Submit a story of...
read moreCrosswinds
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 12/31/17
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Crosswinds is given annually for a poem. Lloyd Schwartz will judge. Using the online submission system, submit up to three poems of...
read moreGriffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry
Cash Prize: $65,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 12/31/17
Genre: Poetry
Two prizes of $65,000 Canadian (approximately $50,000) each are given annually for poetry collections by a Canadian poet or translator and by an international poet or...
read moreMississippi Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 1/1/18
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Mississippi Review are given annually for a poem and a short story or essay. Current or former University of Southern...
read moreBayou Magazine
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 1/1/18
Two prizes of $1,000 each will be given annually for a poem and a short story. The winners will also receive a subscription to Bayou Magazine and their work will be...
read more