$4,000 IN AWARDS + 21 years of paying and publishing writers. Enter New Millennium Writing Awards by June 30—Best poetry: $1,000; Fiction: $1,000; Nonfiction: $1,000; Flash fiction: $1,000. All winners are published in our anthology and online. “Highly recommended. NMW is one of our favorite journals.”—Winning Writers. Visit www.newmillenniumwritings.org.
2018 AGHA SHAHID ALI Poetry Manuscript Prize. $1,000 award, publication with the University of Utah Press, and a reading with the Guest Writer’s Series. Deadline: April 15. 2018 judge: Kimiko Han. Reading fee: $25. Open to new and established poets. Online submissions available. Guidelines are available at http://uofupress.com/ali-poetry-prize.php.
THE 2018 CONFRONTATION MAGAZINE Poetry Prize: $750 and publication in a 2018 issue, for a single poem. Submit up to 4 previously unpublished poems with a $10 entry fee (includes a 1-year subscription to the magazine). Postmark/e-mail entries January 15–April 30. For details, see confrontationmagazine.org.
THE 2018 EDITOR’S REPRINT AWARDS offer $500+ in prizes and publication in Sequestrum for writers of previously published fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Two grand prize winners (1 fiction/nonfiction, 1 poetry) and minimum 2 runners-up. Submit via our online submission system. Deadline: April 30. E-mail: sequr.info@gmail.com. Full guidelines: www.sequestrum.org/contests.
THE 2018 KATHRYN A. MORTON PRIZE in Poetry will be judged by Ocean Vuong. The 2018 Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction will be judged by Aimee Bender. Writers may submit full-length manuscripts January 1–March 15. Guidelines at www.sarabandebooks.org/submissions.
2018 NEW AMERICAN FICTION PRIZE. $1,000 award and book publication. Final judge: John McNally. Deadline: June 15. Minimum length: 100 pages (no maximum). Reading fee: $25. Online submissions only, please. Complete guidelines: http://newamericanpress.com/contests/fiction2018.php.
2018 NIGHTJAR REVIEW POETRY CONTEST: January 30 to April 30. Submit 1 poem for $6, or 3 poems for $15. No entry limits. Judge: Jericho Brown. Winner receives $200 and publication. Two finalists will also receive publication. Winner announced by October 30. More details found at: http://nightjarreview.com/2018-nightjar-review-poetry-contest.html.
2018 PRIME NUMBER MAGAZINE AWARDS for Poetry and Short Fiction. $1,000 first prize plus publication in Prime Number Magazine in each category. Poetry judged by Terri Kirby Erickson. Short fiction judged by Clint McCown. Reading fee: $15. Deadline: April 15. Submit online only through Submittable. Complete details at www.press53.com.
THE 2018 WATERSTON DESERT WRITING PRIZE will accept submissions January 1–April 1. The Prize honors nonfiction that illustrates artistic excellence, sensitivity to place, and desert literacy, with the desert as subject and setting. It recognizes the vital role deserts play worldwide in the ecosystem and the human narrative. Emerging, mid-career, or established nonfiction writers are welcome to apply. The prize will recognize one writer with a $2,000 award, a reading and reception at the High Desert Museum in Bend, OR, and a 4-week residency at Playa at Summer Lake, OR. For submission guidelines, visit www.waterstondesertwritingprize.org.
4TH ANNUAL SPANK THE CARP Poetry Contest—2018. Any poetic form. Opens February 1. Closes March 31. Winners announced May 1. For details, see spankthecarp.com.
13TH GIVAL PRESS NOVEL AWARD for best original, previously unpublished literary novel in English, approximately 30,000–100,000 words. Prize: $3,000, copies, and book publication in 2019. Reading fee: $50 per novel submitted. Deadline: May 30. For details, visit website: www.givalpress.com or givalpress.submittable.com. Send to: Gival Press, P.O. Box 3812, Arlington, VA 22203.
17TH ANNUAL GIVAL PRESS OSCAR WILDE AWARD for best previously unpublished poem in English that best relates to GLBTQ life. Prize: $100; publication on website. Reading fee: $5 per poem submitted, any form, style, length. Deadline: June 27. Details, visit website: www.givalpress.com or givalpress.submittable.com. Send to: Gival Press, P.O. Box 3812, Arlington, VA 22203.
ALBERTO ÁLVARO RÍOS will serve as guest judge of The MacGuffin’s 2018 Poet Hunt Contest, running April 1–June 3. First prize will receive $500 and publication. Send 3 poems with a $15 entry fee to Schoolcraft College, 18600 Haggerty, Livonia, MI 48152. Fee includes 1 free issue. Full guidelines: www.schoolcraft.edu/macguffin.
ANNOUNCING QUARTERLY WEST’S 2018 Chapbook Competition! Quarterly West seeks submissions for its annual open-genre chapbook competition, now in its second year. This year’s contest judge is Kaveh Akbar. Send us your poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and everything in between. Hybrid work and co-authored manuscripts are welcome. Regardless of genre, all manuscripts should be between 18 and 44 pages. The contest will run from March 15 to June 1, with no deadline extension. Entry fee is $25. Quarterly West will publish the winning collection, selected by contest judge Kaveh Akbar. The winning author will receive an honorarium of $500, as well as 20 author copies. For more information about contest guidelines and last year’s winners, please visit www.quarterlywest.com.
BACKWATERS PRIZE for 2018: Submit poetry manuscript in English April 1 through May 31 online at submittable.com. Cash prize of $2,500 and publication, perfect-bound. Judged blind. We follow CLMP guidelines. Final judge: Kwame Dawes. Complete guidelines at www.thebackwaterspress.org.
BELLEVUE LITERARY REVIEW’S annual prizes recognize exceptional writing about health, healing, illness, the body, and the mind. $1,000 poetry prize (Judge: Jennifer Bartlett), $1,000 nonfiction prize (Judge: Elisabeth Rosenthal), $1,000 fiction prize (Judge: TBA). We welcome submissions from March 1–July 1. Entry fee: $20 ($30 includes subscription). Website: www.blreview.org.
BELLINGHAM REVIEW announces its 2018 annual literary contests: the Tobias Wolff Award for Fiction, the 49th Parallel Award for Poetry, and the Annie Dillard Award for Creative Nonfiction. Each contest offers a $1,000 first-place prize. Online submissions only via Submittable from December 1, 2017–March 15, 2018; $20 entry fee. General submissions are also open until December 1. For those readers who subscribe to the journal between September and December, we will read submissions through June 1. Contributors receive a complimentary copy and 2 gift subscriptions. Complete guidelines at bhreview.org.
BE PART OF THE WEST’S OLDEST LITERARY JOURNAL, established in San José in 1867. Reed Magazine’s contests offer prizes for nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and art. Submit online June 1–November 1 using Submittable; $15 entry fee includes a free copy. Winners are published in our handsome print journal. Details: www.reedmag.org.
THE BLUE LYNX PRIZE, $2,000 plus publication, is awarded for an unpublished, full-length volume of poems. Submit manuscripts and $28 reading fee to P.O. Box 96, Spokane, WA 99210 or lynxhousepress.submittable.com. The 2017 winner was Marc Harshman for Woman in Red Anorak. Judges have included Yusef Komunyakaa, Melissa Kwasny, and Robert Wrigley. Deadline: May 15. For details, please visit: www.lynxhousepress.org.
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Young Poets Poetry Writing Contest. Whitman Birthplace Association invites students grades 3–12 to enter free contest. Poetry theme—“Giving Tribute”: What do you love or admire? Awards ceremony: June 3 at Whitman State Historic Site. Deadline: March 16. Details at http://waltwhitman.org/poets-poetry/2018-student-poetry-contest-guidelines or e-mail educator@waltwhitman.org.
CIDER PRESS REVIEW Editors’ Prize for a book-length poetry collection in English. Prize: $1,000 and publication. All entrants will receive the winning book. Reading period: April 1–June 30. Reading fee: $25. Judges: CPR editors. Submit 48–80 page manuscript at www.ciderpressreview.com or mail to CPR, P.O. Box 33384, San Diego, CA 92163. For guidelines, please visit our website: www.ciderpressreview.com/bookaward.
COMSTOCK REVIEW’S Muriel Craft Bailey Memorial Award single poem contest invites submissions April 1 to July 1. Maggie Smith, final judge. First prize: $1,000 (others $250 and $100). Check website for complete rules for all entries. No simultaneous submissions, previous print or electronic publication. U.S. Mail entry fee: $5 per poem, 40 lines max. Extra fee for online submissions. Website: www.comstockreview.org. Address: Comstock Review Contest, 4956 St. John Dr., Syracuse, NY 13215. Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/comstockreview/186488898068352?ref=ts-219.
CONGRATULATIONS to the 2017 winners of the Brighthorse Prize: David Bajo, Carrie Messenger, and Judith Small. Brighthorse Books will once again award $1,000 and publication for the best novel, collection of poetry, and collection of short fiction submitted by August 16. To learn more: http://brighthorsebooks.com. To submit: https://brighthorsebooks.submittable.com/submit.
CONIUM REVIEW 2018 Innovative Short Fiction Contest. Judged by Maryse Meijer, author of Heartbreaker. Winner receives $500, publication in The Conium Review, contributor copies, and a copy of the judge’s book. Submission deadline: May 1. Entry fee: $15. More details at http://coniumreview.com/contests.
CONNECTICUT CENTER FOR THE BOOK at Connecticut Humanities is now accepting submissions for the Connecticut Book Awards. These awards recognize the best titles of 2017 by authors and illustrators who reside in CT. Categories include: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Young Readers. For more information and to submit, please visit http://bit.ly/2018CBA.
CONNECTICUT POETRY AWARD of the Connecticut Poetry Society (CPS). Fee: $15 for up to 3 unpublished poems; any form, 80-line limit. Submit via connecticutriverreview.submittable.com. Opens: April 1. Deadline: May 31. Prizes—1st: $400; 2nd: $100; 3rd: $50. Winning poems published in Connecticut River Review and posted on CPS website. See guidelines on Submittable and CPS website: ctpoetry.net.
THE COWLES OPEN POETRY BOOK PRIZE. $2,000, publication/distribution of full-length poetry manuscript, 30 copies for author. Color cover, 48 to 100 pp, $25 reading fee. Deadline: April 1. Submit through our Submittable account. Guidelines at www.semopress.com/events/cowles-prize.
CRAB CREEK REVIEW 2018 Poetry Prize. Judge: Maggie Smith. $500 plus publication. Submit up to 4 poems. $16 entry fee. All entries considered for publication. Winner & finalists will appear in Crab Creek Review. Deadline: May 15. Full guidelines: http://crabcreekreview.org/contests.html.
CREATIVE NONFICTION MAGAZINE is seeking new work for an upcoming issue dedicated to “Sex.” 4,000 words max. Deadline: July 16. $1,000 for best essay; $500 for runner-up. Guidelines at www.creativenonfiction.org/submissions.
DECEMBER MAGAZINE seeks submissions for our 2018 Curt Johnson Prose Awards in fiction and nonfiction. Judges—Anne Tyler (fiction) and Dinty Moore (nonfiction). Prizes—$1,500 & publication (winners); $500 & publication (honorable mentions) in both genres. All finalists will be listed in the 2018 Fall/Winter awards issue. Maximum of 8,000 words for fiction and nonfiction entries. $20 entry fee includes copy of the awards issue. Submit March 1 to May 15. For complete guidelines, please visit our website: https://decembermag.org/2018-curt-johnson-prose-awards.
DZANC BOOKS is seeking innovative literary fiction in the form of novels, short story collections, and hybrid works. Contests open March 1, including the annual Prize for Fiction, awarding a $5,000 advance and publication. $25 reading fee per submission. Open March 1–September 30. Details at dzancbooks.org.
ENTER—1000 BELOW, Midway Journal’s annual flash prose and poetry contest. The contest runs from March 1–May 31. $500 grand prize. $250 second prize. $50 third prize. $10 entry fee. Unlimited entries. For more details, go to midwayjournal.com.
EYEWEAR PUBLISHING LTD of London, England, announces the 2018 Sexton Prize: A $1,500 award and publication for a poetry collection by an American poet. The winner will be published in the U.S. and U.K. simultaneously in 2019. Judge: Lloyd Schwartz, poet and critic. Deadline: May 1. Guidelines: https://eyewearpublishing.submittable.com/submit/100264/the-2018-sexton-prize-for-poetry.
FISCHER PRIZE. Open to all U.S. poets. All styles welcome. Two page max. $3,000 in prizes and travel stipends. Telluride (CO) award ceremony, May 18. $9 per poem, 3 poems for $20. Judged by Santa Fe Poet Laureate Emeritus Joan Logghe. Deadline: May 1. For information, go to talkinggourds.weebly.com.
THE FLYFISHING & TYING JOURNAL invites entries of short fiction up to 3,000 words that deal with fly fishing. One story per entrant. Name on cover letter only. No entry fee. Deadline: July 21. Final Judge: John Larison. Prizes include publication in the winter issue. All questions and entries should be sent by email to FTJ’s deputy editor, Henry Hughes at hughesh@wou.edu.
FOURTH GENRE Steinberg Essay Contest is accepting submissions from January 1 to March 15 at fourthgenre.submittable.com. The 2018 contest judge is Robin Hemley. Winning author receives $1,000 and publication in the issue that’s featured at AWP. $20 per entry, up to 6,000 words. For detailed submission guidelines, visit our website: fourthgenre.msu.edu.
HARMONY MAGAZINE is an annual visual-arts, prose magazine dedicated to the voice and images of medical humanities. Published by the University of Arizona College of Medicine; all types of submissions are welcome. $350 given to the best submission in both visual arts and prose, including fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Deadline April 1. See magazine for submission guidelines at medicine.arizona.edu/harmony. Questions and submissions directed to harmonymagazine@gmail.com.
THE HILLARY GRAVENDYK PRIZE, Sponsored by Inlandia Institute. Final judges: Valerie Wallace and Megan Gravendyk Estrella. Submit 48- to 100-page poetry book manuscript through Submittable, February 1–April 30. $20 submission fee. Two prizes: National and Regional, $1,000 each plus 20 copies. Judged blind. Complete details: www.inlandiainstitute.org.
THE INDIANA REVIEW POETRY PRIZE is open February 1 through March 31. Send 3 poems for a chance to win $1,000 and publication. $20 fee includes a year-long subscription to the journal. Gabrielle Calvocoressi will judge. For full guidelines, or to submit: https://indianareview.org/contests.
KENTUCKY WOMEN WRITERS Conference: Gabehart Prizes in poetry, fiction, nonfiction. Winners receive free admission to September 13–16 conference and 1 workshop, a reading, and $300. Fee: $10 for up to 5 pages of poetry or 6,000 words of fiction or nonfiction. Postmarked by June 1. Guidelines: www.kentuckywomenwriters.org or kentuckywomenwriters@gmail.com.
LITERAL LATTE FOOD VERSE AWARD: Deadline March 15. Short Shorts Award: Deadline June 30. First prize for each: $500 and publication. All styles and subjects welcome, up to 2,000 words per poem or short. Entry fees: $10 (up to 10 poems or shorts). For tastes, guidance and online submissions, go to www.literal-latte.com. E-mail: litlatte@aol.com.
NELLIGAN PRIZE for Short Fiction. $2,000 awarded for the winning short story, plus publication in the Fall 2018 issue of Colorado Review. Deadline: postmark of March 14. Entry fee: $15. Final judge: Margot Livesey. Friends and students of the judge are ineligible to compete. Obtain complete guidelines at http://nelliganprize.colostate.edu or Nelligan Prize, Colorado Review, 9105 Campus Delivery, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-9105.
NORTH STREET BOOK PRIZE for Self-Published Books. Fourth year. Grand prize of $3,000. Top winner in each category will win $1,000. Categories: mainstream/literary fiction, genre fiction, creative nonfiction & memoir, poetry (new), and children’s picture book (new). $9,250 in total cash prizes. Fee: $60 per book. Submit by June 30. Final judges: Jendi Reiter and Ellen LaFleche. Submit online or by mail. Guidelines: winningwriters.com/north.
NUCLEAR AGE PEACE FOUNDATION’S Barbara Mandigo Kelly Peace Poetry Awards, prize of $1,000 given annually for the adult category poem that best explores and illuminates positive visions of peace and the human spirit. Submit up to 3 poems with $15 entry fee for adults; $5 for 13–18; and free for 12 and under. Complete guidelines at peacecontests.org.
OMNIDAWN OFFERS $1,000 prize for our annual Poetry Chapbook Contest. Bhanu Kapil will judge. Electronic and postal submissions February 1–April 23. Winner receives cash prize, publication, and 100 copies. Entry fee: $18. Entrants who add $2 shipping receive Omnidawn chapbook of their choice. For guidelines, see www.omnidawn.com/contest.
OMNIDAWN OFFERS $3,000 prize for our annual 1st/2nd Poetry Book Contest. Srikanth Reddy will judge. Electronic and postal submissions May 1–June 18. Winner receives cash prize, publication, 100 copies. Entry fee: $27. Entrants who add $3 shipping receive an Omnidawn book of their choice. For guidelines, see www.omnidawn.com/contest.
ON THE PREMISES is an online fiction magazine entering its 11th year. We feature newer and/or relatively unknown writers who write creative, compelling, well-crafted stories that use our contest premises well. We are open to authors from any country if their stories are written in English. Winning entries in no-fee short story contests launched each December and June are published in On The Premises. Each contest challenges writers to produce a great story based on a broad premise that we supply. Winning stories are published in individual magazine issues each April and October and pay up to $220. We also hold no-fee “mini-contests” 4 times a year in April, May, October, and November. Winning mini-contest entries are published on our website and pay up to $25. OTP does not charge fees for entering its contests. To learn more about OTP, write to questions@onthepremises.com or visit www.onthepremises.com.
THE ORCHARD STREET PRESS announces its 2018 Poetry Contest. $250 first prize, $150 second, $100 third. Submit 4 previously unpublished poems and $12 fee, postmarked by March 31 to: The Orchard Street Press, P.O. Box 280, Gates Mills, OH 44040. Details at orchpress.com.
PASSAGER POETRY CONTEST. Writers over 50. Deadline: April 15. Reading fee: $20, check or money order payable to Passager/UB, includes 1-year subscription. Winner receives $500 and publication. Honorable mentions published. Submit 5 poems, 40 lines max per poem. Snail mail or Submittable. Cover letter, bio. SASE or e-mail for results. No previously published work. No e-mail submissions. Send to: Passager, University of Baltimore, 1420 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21201. Website: www.passagerbooks.com.
THE POET’S BILLOW is currently accepting submissions for the Bermuda Triangle Prize. Three poems on the theme of nature from up to 3 different poets will receive $50 each, for a total prize of $150. Poems will be published and considered for Pushcart and other qualifying prizes. Website: thepoetsbillow.org.
POETRY CONTEST. Deadline: April 15. Winners read at California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco. Any subject, 40 lines max, 51 cash awards. Three grand prizes choreographed. Send 2 copies, 1 with ID. 1/$5, 3/$10, no limit. To: Judy Cheung, 704 Brigham Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95404. Website: www.dancingpoetry.com.
PUERTO DEL SOL will be accepting entries to our annual contest in poetry and prose between January 1 and March 31, with judges Farid Matuk (poetry) and Danielle Dutton (prose). Winners receive $500 and publication. $9 entry fee includes 1-year subscription. All manuscripts entered will be considered for publication. See website for complete guidelines—puertodelsol.org.
R.M. KINDER PRIZE in Realistic Fiction. A prize of $1,000 and publication in Pleiades: Literature in Context is given annually for the best realistic story. Submit your story during the month of March. $25 entry fee includes a 1-year subscription. Complete guidelines at www.pleiadesmag.com/submit.
RIVER STYX ISSUE 101. Enter our 2018 International Poetry Contest judged by Maggie Smith. Winners will be featured in Issue 101. First-place prize: $1,500. Submit up to 3 poems with entry fee, which includes a prize issue copy. All entries are considered for publication. For complete details, visit our website: riverstyx.org.
SOLSTICE: A MAGAZINE of Diverse Voices, with notable essays cited in The Best American Essays 2015 & 2016, Best of Net, Pushcart finalist, announces immediate call for submissions on social justice for online/print issue. Also, annual contests. Judges TBA. $1,000 fiction prize; $500 Stephen Dunn Prize in Poetry; $500 nonfiction prize, donated by Michael Steinberg. Deadline: March 1–April 20. Reading fee: $18. Website: www.solsticelitmag.org.
THE SOUTHEAST REVIEW, Florida State University’s national literary magazine, welcomes submissions to our 2018 contests in 2 categories, with $1,000 prizes for each: Gearhart Poetry Prize, judged by Barbara Hamby; World’s Best Short Story, judged by Robert Olen Butler. Deadline: March 15. Website: http://southeastreview.org/contests.
SRPR (SPOON RIVER POETRY REVIEW) 2018 Editor’s Prize: Winner awarded $1,000. Two runners-up awarded $100 each. 3–5 honorable mentions. All winning poems plus several finalists are published. 2017 judge: Ewa Chrusciel. 2018 judge announced after winners are selected. Submit up to 3 poems by April 15. Entry fee of $20 includes 1-year subscription (2 issues). See website for guidelines and recent winners: www.litline.org/spoon.
STONE CANOE, the award-winning annual journal of art, writing, and ideas, is now reading submissions for its 2018 issue. The journal is open to work by poets, writers, and artists who are either current or former residents of Upstate NY. When funds permit, prizes of $500 are also awarded to emerging writers and artists; awards are selected by our editors, from amongst works accepted for publication, and no entry fee is required. For complete submission guidelines, visit www.ycny.org/stone-canoe.html, or e-mail: stonecanoe@syracuseymca.org.
SUBMISSIONS FOR THE 2018 Tomaž Šalamun Prize are being accepted until March 15. The winner receives $500, chapbook publication, and a 1-month residency in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The prize is open to poets at any stage of their career. To submit, go to: https://verse.submittable.com.
SWAN SCYTHE PRESS announces its 2018 poetry chapbook contest. Entry fee: $18. We are accepting submissions from March 1 to June 15 (postmark deadline). Winner receives $200 and 25 perfect-bound chapbooks. The 2017 winner is Kyle Liang for How To Build A House. For full guidelines, visit www.swanscythepress.com and swanscythepress.submittable.com/submit.
TOM HOWARD/JOHN H. REID Fiction & Essay Contest. 26th year. Prize for best short story: $2,000. Prize for best essay: $2,000. Total prizes: $5,000. Winning entries published online. Fee: $20. Limit: 6,000 words. Both published and unpublished work accepted. Submit by April 30. Final judge: Dennis Norris II. Enter at winningwriters.com/tomstory.
THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PRESS is accepting submissions for the Miller Williams Poetry Prize, judged by Billy Collins. The winner receives $5,000 in cash in addition to publication. Applications are accepted year-round. The deadline for the following year’s prize is September 30. Website: www.uapress.com.
VALLUM CHAPBOOK AWARD 2018. Deadline: April 30 (postmarked). 1st Prize: $300 + chapbook publication. Vallum is now accepting original and previously unpublished chapbook submissions for the annual Vallum Chapbook Award. Notable poets published with Vallum include George Elliott Clarke, Franz Wright, Fanny Howe, and more! Entry fee: $25. Website: www.vallummag.com/chapbookrules.html.
WERGLE FLOMP HUMOR POETRY CONTEST. No fee. 17th year. Top prize: $1,000. Total prizes: $2,250. Winning entries published online. Submit 1 humor poem by April 1. Both published and unpublished work accepted. Final judge: Jendi Reiter. Enter at winningwriters.com/wergle.
WILLOW SPRINGS BOOKS is now accepting submissions for the Spokane Prize for Short Fiction: $2,000 prize for a previously unpublished book-length manuscript (minimum 98 pages, 3 short stories). Reading fee $27.50. Deadline: June 5. Previous winners include Jaclyn Watterson, Glori Simmons, Serena Crawford, and Molly Giles. Full guidelines at www.willowspringsbooks.org/submit.