A prize of $1,000, publication by Black Lawrence Press, and 10 author copies is given annually for a novel. The contest is open to traditional novels as well as “novels-in-...
read moreWriting Contests, Grants & Awards
The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we’ve published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it. Ours is the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.
Black Lawrence Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 1/31/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Cross-Genre
Schaffner Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 1/31/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Schaffner Press is given annually for a poetry collection, a novel, a story collection, an essay collection, or a memoir that “deals in...
read moreIowa Review
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 1/31/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,500 each and publication in Iowa Review are given annually for works of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Using only the online submission...
read moreMoney for Women/Barbara Deming Memorial Fund
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 1/31/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Grants of up to $2,000 each are given in alternating years to feminist poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers who are citizens of the United States or Canada. This year...
read moreArts Literature Laboratory
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 1/31/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a poetry collection by a writer who is a resident of Wisconsin (or who has previously resided in Wisconsin for at least five years)...
read moreNimrod International Journal
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 1/31/25
Two prizes of $2,000 and publication in Nimrod International Journal are given annually for a poem or group of poems and a work of fiction. A runner-up in each category...
read moreArts Literature Laboratory
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 1/31/25
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a book of fiction by a writer who is a resident of Wisconsin (or who has previously resided in Wisconsin for at least five years)...
read moreswamp pink
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 1/31/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $2,000 each and publication in swamp pink are given annually for a single poem, a short story, and an essay. Using only the online submission system,...
read morePEN America
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 1/31/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Nine fellowships of $1,500 each and participation in a virtual five-month mentorship program, which includes one-on-one mentorship with an established writer; introductions to...
read moreChautauqua Institution
Cash Prize: $7,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 1/31/25
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $5,000 and publication in Chautauqua is given annually for a single work of fiction or nonfiction by an emerging writer displaying “daring formal and...
read moreArts Literature Laboratory
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 1/31/25
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a book of nonfiction, including creative nonfiction, by a writer who is a resident of Wisconsin (or who has previously resided in...
read moreGhost Story
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 1/31/25
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Ghost Story website is given biannually for a work of flash fiction with a supernatural or magical realist theme. The editors...
read morePoetry Center at Passaic County Community College
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/1/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,000 is given annually for a poetry collection published in the previous year. The winning poet is expected to participate in an awards ceremony, give a reading,...
read moreSalem State University
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 2/1/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Soundings East, the annual literary journal of Salem State University, is given annually for a group of poems. Shangyang Fang will...
read moreWB Yeats Society of NY
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 2/1/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the WB Yeats Society of NY website is given annually for a single poem. The winner also receives a two-year membership to the organization...
read moreStadler Center for Poetry & Literary Arts
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/1/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Two residencies of up to four months at the Stadler Center for Poetry & Literary Arts at Bucknell University, which include a stipend of $5,000 each, are given annually to...
read moreBiographers International Organization
Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/1/25
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
Two prizes of $5,000 each are given annually to writers “working on a biographical work about an African American figure (or figures) whose story provides a significant...
read moreSlippery Elm
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 2/1/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Slippery Elm are given annually for a single poem and a short story or essay. Using only the online submission system,...
read morePoetry Center at Passaic County Community College
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $18
Application Deadline: 2/1/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,000 and publication in Paterson Literary Review is given annually for a single poem. A second-place prize of $1,000 and publication is also given. The...
read moreHigh Frequency Press
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 2/3/25
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,500, publication by High Frequency Press, and 25 author copies will be given annually for a novel or a short story collection. The winner will also receive film...
read moreSouthern Indiana Review
Cash Prize: $6,000
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 2/3/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $6,000 and publication by Southern Indiana Review Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Monica Youn will judge. Submit 40 to 120 pages of poetry (no more...
read moreHigh Frequency Press
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 2/3/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,500, publication by High Frequency Press, and 25 author copies will be given annually for a poetry collection. The winner will also have 15 poems published for...
read moreHippocrates Prize
Cash Prize: $1,271
Entry Fee: $8
Application Deadline: 2/14/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of £1,000 (approximately $1,271) and publication in the Hippocrates Prize anthology is given annually for a single poem on a medical theme. A prize of £1,000 (...
read moreAcademy of American Poets
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/15/25
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a poetry collection translated from any language into English and published in the United States during the previous year....
read moreAcademy of American Poets
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/15/25
Genre: Poetry, Translation
A prize of $10,000 is given biennially for the translation into English of a work of modern, standard (non-dialect) Italian poetry. Books by living translators are eligible....
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