Genre: Fiction

Danahy Fiction Prize

Tampa Review
Entry Fee: 
$20
Deadline: 
December 31, 2025

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Tampa Review is given annually for a short story. Using only the online submission system, submit a story of 500 to 5,000 words with a $20 entry fee, which includes one copy of the next issue of Tampa Review, by December 31. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Amity Literary Prize

Anamcara Press
Entry Fee: 
$25
Deadline: 
December 31, 2025

A prize of $1,000, publication by Anamcara Press, and 50 author copies will be given annually for a poetry collection, story collection, essay collection, novel, or memoir. Using only the online submission system, submit a poetry manuscript of 60 to 120 pages, a fiction manuscript of at least 70,000 words, or a nonfiction manuscript of 80,000 to 100,000 words (plus a summary of 500 to 750 words) with a $25 entry fee by December 31. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Mississippi Review Prize

Mississippi Review
Entry Fee: 
$15
Deadline: 
January 1, 2026

Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Mississippi Review are given annually for a single poem, a short story, and an essay. Current or former University of Southern Mississippi students are ineligible. Submit three to five poems totaling no more than 10 pages or a story or essay of 800 to 8,000 words with a $15 entry fee ($16 for electronic submissions) by January 1, 2026. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

100-Word Writing Contest

Tadpole Press
Entry Fee: 
$15
Deadline: 
November 30, 2025

A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Tadpole Press website and in Tadpole Press Literary Magazine is given biannually for a work of flash poetry or prose. Angeline Boulley will judge. Submit a work of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction of no more than 100 words with a $15 entry fee by November 30. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.

Literary Award

Athenaeum of Philadelphia
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
December 1, 2025

Up to two prizes of $1,000 each and an invitation to give a public lecture at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia is given annually for books of fiction and/or nonfiction published in the current year that are by a writer from Philadelphia or examine and reflect life in the greater Philadelphia area. Members of the award committee will judge. Authors or publishers may submit two hard copies (or advance reader’s copies) of books published in 2025 by December 1. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Fall Story Contest

Narrative
Entry Fee: 
$27
Deadline: 
November 21, 2025

A prize of $2,500 is given annually for a short story, a short short story, an essay, a memoir, a photo essay, a short graphic narrative, or an excerpt from a longer work of prose. 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 November 21. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Cabell First Novelist Award

Virginia Commonwealth University
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
December 30, 2025

A prize of $5,000 is given annually for a debut novel published during the current year. The winner is also provided money for the cost of travel and lodging to attend the Cabell First Novelist Award event at VCU in fall 2026. A committee of VCU faculty and MFA candidates will judge. Agents, editors, and authors may submit one digital copy and five hard copies of a book published in 2025 by December 30. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Literary Awards

Black Caucus of the American Library Association
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
December 31, 2025

Four prizes of $1,000 each are given annually for a poetry collection, a debut novel, a book of fiction, and a book of nonfiction (including creative nonfiction) by African American writers published in the United States in the current year. The awards honor books that depict the “cultural, historical, or sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora.” Publishers may nominate books published in 2025 by December 31. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for a list of jurors to whom books should be sent and complete guidelines.

Jack Hazard Fellowships

New Literary Project
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
January 9, 2026
Up to ten fellowships of $5,000 each are given annually to creative writers who are high school teachers to support summer work on an ongoing fiction, creative nonfiction, memoir, or poetry project. Full-time instructors at accredited U.S. high schools teaching in the 2025–2026 academic year who are contracted to return to their schools in fall 2026 and who have been teaching for at least three years are eligible. Using only the online submission system, submit a writing sample of up to 5,000 words of poetry or prose, a brief bio, a curriculum vitae, a project description, and contact information for the head of school by January 9, 2026. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Short Short Story Competition

Writer’s Digest
Entry Fee: 
$30
Deadline: 
December 15, 2025

A prize of $3,000 is given annually for a short short story. The winner is also provided money for travel and lodging expenses to attend the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference. A second-place prize of $1,500 is also awarded. The winners will both be published in Writer’s Digest. Using only the online submission system, submit a story of up to 1,500 words with a $30 entry fee by the early bird deadline of November 17 or with a $35 entry fee by December 15. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

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