As we approach Halloween, don’t get spooked by the array of contests awarded for poetry collections, novel excerpts, flash fiction, creative nonfiction, translations, and more, all with a deadline of October 31! Several prizes celebrate the work of writers who identify as women, including one that features an optional six-week, all-expenses-paid residency at the Civitella Ranieri Center in Umbria, Italy. Nine of eleven prizes offer publication in addition to a cash award of at least $1,000. What better way of honoring the holiday than overcoming your fears and submitting your work?
Bedford Competition
International Short Story & Poetry Awards
Two prizes of £1,500 each (approximately $1,914) and publication in the Bedford Competition anthology are given annually for a poem and a short story. MacGillivray will judge in poetry and Tim Jarvis will judge in fiction. Entry fee: £7.50 (approximately $9.50), or £15 (approximately $19) for three poems or stories.
Carlow University
Patricia Dobler Poetry Award
A prize valued at $2,000 is given annually to a woman poet over 40 who has not published a full-length poetry collection. Allison Joseph will judge. The winner receives $1,000, publication in Voices From the Attic, and travel and lodging to give a reading with the contest judge at Carlow University. Entry fee: $20.
Cloudbank Books
Vern Rutsala Book Prize
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Cloudbank Books is given annually for a collection of poetry, flash fiction, or a combination of the two. Entry fee: $25.
Elixir Press
Poetry Award
A prize of $2,000, publication by Elixir Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Jennifer Franklin will judge. All entries are considered for publication. Entry fee: $30.
Novel Slices
Novel Excerpt Contest
Five prizes of $1,000 each will be given twice yearly for a novel excerpt. Winners will also receive letters of support sent on their behalf to agents and publishers. Juliette Wade will judge. Entry fee: $12 (which includes an issue of Novel Slices).
Persea Books
Lexi Rudnitsky First Book Prize
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Persea Books is given annually for a debut poetry collection by a writer who identifies as a woman. The winner also receives an optional six-week, all-expenses-paid residency at the Civitella Ranieri Center in Umbria, Italy. Writers who are either U.S. citizens or who currently reside in the United States are eligible. Entry fee: $30.
Poetry Society of the United Kingdom
National Poetry Competition
A prize of £5,000 (approximately $6,382) and publication on the Poetry Society of the United Kingdom website is given annually for a single poem. A second-place prize of £2,000 (approximately $2,553) and a third-place prize of £1,000 (approximately $1,276) is also given. The top three winners will be published in Poetry Review. Poems written in English by poets from any country are eligible. Jane Draycott, Will Harris, and Clare Pollard will judge. Entry fee: £8 (approximately $10) entry fee, plus £5 (approximately $6) for each additional poem.
Red Hen Press
Benjamin Saltman Poetry Award
A prize of $3,000 and publication by Red Hen Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Juan Felipe Herrera will judge. Entry fee: $25.
Saturnalia Books
Malinda A. Markham Translation Prize
A prize of $2,000 and publication by Saturnalia Books is given annually for a translation of a poetry collection. Translators who identify as female (including those who are assigned-female-at-birth [AFAB] nonbinary, genderfluid, agender, and intersex) and who are translating the work of a woman poet (including those who are AFAB nonbinary, genderfluid, agender, and intersex) are eligible. Entry fee: $25.
Tucson Festival of Books
Literary Awards
Three prizes of $1,000 each are given annually for works of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. The winners will also receive scholarships to attend a workshop at the University of Arizona campus in March 2024. Entry fee: $20.
University of North Texas Press
Vassar Miller Prize
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of North Texas Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Melissa Range will judge. Entry fee: $25.
Visit the contest websites for complete guidelines, and check out the Grants & Awards database and Submission Calendar for more contests in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and translation.