Genre: Creative Nonfiction

Concord Free Public Library Writer-in-Residence Program

The Concord Free Public Library Writer-in-Residence Program offers a six-month residency from January to June to a poet, fiction writer, or creative nonfiction writer at the historic Concord Free Public Library (CFPL) in Concord, Massachusetts. The writer-in-residence is given a $10,000 stipend with the expectation that they will spend an average of eight hours a week at the library for the duration of the program and will develop public programming and social opportunities for the CFPL community.

Type: 
RESIDENCY
Ignore Event Date Field?: 
yes
Event Date: 
June 14, 2026
Rolling Admissions: 
no
Application Deadline: 
July 15, 2026
Financial Aid?: 
no
Financial Aid Application Deadline: 
June 14, 2026
Free Admission: 
yes
Contact Information: 

Concord Free Public Library Writer-in-Residence Program, 129 Main Street, Concord, MA 01742. (978) 318-3377. Emily Smith, Library Director.

Emily Smith
Library Director
Contact City: 
Concord
Contact State: 
MA
Contact Zip / Postal Code: 
01742
Country: 
US
Genre: 
Poetry
Fiction
Creative Nonfiction

Vashon Artist Residency

Vashon Artist Residency offers two- and four-week residencies from January to November to poets, fiction writers, creative nonfiction writers, and translators on half an acre of waterfront property on Vashon Island, a 20-minute ferry ride from Seattle. Residents are provided with a private room, studio, and bathroom, and a shared kitchen and living space. Residents are responsible for travel and meal costs. The cost of the residency is determined on a sliding scale based on financial need; the full price is $2,175 for four weeks and $1,275 for two weeks.

Type: 
RESIDENCY
Ignore Event Date Field?: 
yes
Event Date: 
June 14, 2026
Rolling Admissions: 
no
Application Deadline: 
August 19, 2026
Financial Aid?: 
yes
Financial Aid Application Deadline: 
August 19, 2026
Free Admission: 
no
Contact Information: 

Vashon Artist Residency, 23125 Kingsbury Road SW, Vashon, WA 98070. (206) 408-7099. Heather Dwyer, Executive Director.

Heather Dwyer
Executive Director
Contact City: 
Vashon
Contact State: 
WA
Contact Zip / Postal Code: 
98070
Country: 
US
Genre: 
Poetry
Fiction
Creative Nonfiction
Translation

Book Prize

Howling Bird Press
Entry Fee: 
$20
Deadline: 
August 31, 2025
A prize of $2,500 and publication by Howling Bird Press is given in alternating years for a book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. The 2026 prize will be awarded in nonfiction. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 17,500 to 40,000 words with a $20 entry fee by August 31. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Off Topic Writers’ Conference

The 2026 Off Topic Writers’ Conference will be held online on August 8 and August 9. The conference features craft talks, panels, and workshops for poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers. The faculty includes poet Oladosu Michael Emerald; poet and fiction writer Lori Green; fiction writers Finnian Burnett, Andy Charman, and Patricia Westerhof; and creative nonfiction writers Robyn Diner and Maryam Gowralli. Participating publishing professionals include copyright lawyer Andrew M. Shaughnessy (Torys) and editor Marion Lougheed (Off Topic Publishing).

Type: 
CONFERENCE
Ignore Event Date Field?: 
no
Event Date: 
August 8, 2026
Rolling Admissions: 
yes
Application Deadline: 
June 14, 2026
Financial Aid?: 
no
Financial Aid Application Deadline: 
June 14, 2026
Free Admission: 
no
Contact Information: 

Off Topic Writers’ Conference, 10 Marble Avenue, Paradise, Canada NL A1L 0T3. Marion Lougheed, Off Topic Publishing Founder and Editor.

Marion Lougheed
Off Topic Publishing Founder and Editor
Contact City: 
Online
Genre: 
Poetry
Fiction
Creative Nonfiction

1/2 K Prize

Indiana Review
Entry Fee: 
$20
Deadline: 
August 15, 2025
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Indiana Review is given annually for a poem or a work of flash fiction or creative nonfiction. Submit up to three poems, stories, or essays of up to 500 words each with a $20 entry fee, which includes a subscription to Indiana Review, by August 15. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Maine Artist Fellowship

Maine Arts Commission
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
September 3, 2025
A fellowship of up to $5,000 is given annually to a poet, a fiction writer, a creative nonfiction writer, or a writer working in a genre outside these categories who is a resident of Maine and has lived in the state for at least one year. The fellow is expected to reside in the state for the year of the fellowship. Writers who are age 25 or older and are not enrolled in a degree-granting program are eligible. The fellowship committee can appoint a translator to assist in the review of work submitted in a language other than English. Using only the online submission system, submit up to five poems, stories, or essays of no more than eight pages each; an artist statement; and a résumé (or a brief bio) between July 23 and September 3. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Spring Story Contest

Narrative
Entry Fee: 
$27
Deadline: 
July 31, 2025
A prize of $2,500 is given annually for a work of flash fiction, a short story, a graphic story, an essay, a memoir, or an excerpt from a work of fiction or creative nonfiction. A second-place prize of $1,000 is also awarded. The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit up to 15,000 words of prose with a $27 entry fee by July 31. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Tags: 
essays | short stories | short-shorts

Literary Awards

Santa Fe Writers Project
Entry Fee: 
$30
Deadline: 
September 15, 2025
A prize of $1,500 and publication by the Santa Fe Writers Project is given biennially for a book of fiction or creative nonfiction. Deesha Philyaw will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a story collection, a novel, an essay collection, or a memoir of any length with a $30 entry fee by September 15. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Deborah Tall Lyric Essay Book Prize

Seneca Review Books
Entry Fee: 
$27
Deadline: 
August 1, 2025
A prize of $2,000 and publication by Seneca Review Books is given biennially for a collection of lyric essays. The winner will also receive an invitation to give a reading with Hobart & William Smith Colleges. Melissa Febos will judge. Hybrid work, verse forms, text and image, and “connected or related pieces” are accepted. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 48 to 120 pages with a $27 entry fee by August 1. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

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