Genre: Poetry

Two prizes of £2,000 (approximately $2,680) each and publication in the Bedford Competition anthology are given annually for a poem and a short story. Fran Lock will judge in poetry, and Toby Litt will judge in fiction. Submit a poem of up to 40 lines or a short story of up to 3,000 words with an £8.50 (approximately $11) entry fee by October 31. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.

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 $25 entry fee, which includes a copy of the winning book, by October 15. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Four prizes of $25,000 each are given annually to Minnesota poets, prose writers, and spoken word artists. Fellows will also receive an all-expenses-paid, one- or two-week residency in partnership with Artist Communities Alliance and have the opportunity to attend one-on-one career consultations, workshops, and networking events run by the nonprofit organization Springboard for the Arts. The prizes are offered in poetry/spoken word and prose in alternating years; the 2026 fellowships will be awarded in poetry and spoken word. Writers who have been residents of Minnesota for the year prior to the deadline and who will reside in Minnesota for the duration of the fellowship are eligible; writers must also have published at least one book, have had work appear in several journals, or have been booked to perform their work. Using only the online submission system, submit 15 to 18 pages of poetry by November 15. Spoken-word poets can also submit 8 to 10 minutes of recorded poetry. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Voices From the Attic is given annually to a woman poet over 40 who has not published a full-length poetry collection. The winner also receives a travel and lodging stipend to give a reading with the contest judge at Carlow University. E-mail two poems of up to 75 lines each with a $20 entry fee (entrants should wait for the editors to reply with an online link to pay or specify that they prefer to make a payment via check) by October 31. Visit the website for complete guidelines.