Genre: Poetry

Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholarship

Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholarship
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
October 15, 2025
An award of approximately $76,000 is given annually to a U.S. poet for a year of travel and study outside of North America. Submit two copies of up to 40 pages of published or unpublished poetry, or two copies of a published poetry collection along with two copies of up to 20 pages of additional poetry by October 15. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.

Poetry Prize

Lightscatter Press
Entry Fee: 
$30
Deadline: 
September 17, 2025
A prize of $1,000, multimodal publication by Lightscatter Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection or hybrid work by an emerging writer. Heid E. Erdrich will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 48 to 64 pages with a $30 entry fee (waivers are available upon request and given based on financial need) by September 17. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Stegner Fellowships

Stanford University
Entry Fee: 
$55
Deadline: 
November 1, 2025
Ten fellowships, five in poetry and five in fiction, of $75,000 each per year to attend Stanford University’s two-year creative writing program are given annually for manuscripts of poetry and fiction. The creative writing faculty at Stanford University will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit up to 15 pages of poetry or up to 9,000 words of prose, a statement of purpose, a statement on your participation as a workshop member, and contact information for two references with a $55 entry fee (waivers are available based on financial need) by November 1. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Surrealist Poetry Prize

Willow Springs Magazine
Entry Fee: 
$15
Deadline: 
October 1, 2025
A prize of $1,000 and publication in the Spring issue of Willow Springs Magazine is given annually for a surrealist poem. Michael McGriff will judge. Submit up to three poems totaling no more than 10 pages with a $15 entry fee by October 1. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

International Short Story and Poetry Awards

Bedford Competition
Entry Fee: 
$11
Deadline: 
October 31, 2025
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.

Emily Dickinson Award for Poetry

LitMag
Entry Fee: 
$18
Deadline: 
November 15, 2025
A prize of $1,500 and publication in LitMag is given annually for a single poem. The winner will also have their work reviewed by agents Amy Bishop-Wycisk (Trellis Literary Management), Kelsey Day (Aragi, Inc.), Hailey Hedemann (William Morris Endeavor), PJ Mark (Janklow & Nesbit), Rayhané Sanders (Massie McQuilkin & Altman), and Emily Wescott (Creative Artists Agency). The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit up to three poems with an $18 entry fee by November 15. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

X. J. Kennedy Poetry Prize

Texas Review Press
Entry Fee: 
$28
Deadline: 
September 30, 2025
A prize of $10,000, publication by Texas Review Press, and 10 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner also receives a three-week residency at the Vermont Studio Center. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 50 to 100 pages with a $28 entry fee by September 30. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Drinking Gourd Chapbook Poetry Prize

Northwestern University Press
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
October 31, 2025
A prize of $500 and publication by Northwestern University Press will be given annually for a poetry chapbook by a writer of color. Writers who have not previously published a book-length poetry collection are eligible. Chris Abani and Susannah Young-ah Gottlieb will judge. Submit 25 to 35 pages of poetry by October 31. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Philip Levine Prize for Poetry

California State University in Fresno
Entry Fee: 
$25
Deadline: 
September 30, 2025
A prize of $2,000, publication by Black Lawrence Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner is also invited to give a public reading at California State University in Fresno. Jake Skeets will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 48 to 80 pages with a $25 entry fee by September 30 (a limited number of fee waivers based on financial need are available upon request until September 12). Visit the website for complete guidelines.

McKnight Fellowships for Writers

Loft Literary Center
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
November 15, 2025
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.

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