A prize of £2,000 (approximately $2,602) is given annually for a single poem. A second-place prize of £1,000 (approximately $1,301) is also given. Both winners receive...
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.
New York Public Library
Cash Prize: $85,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 9/27/24
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Translation
Fifteen fellowships are given annually to artists, academics, and creative writers, including poets, fiction writers, creative nonfiction writers, and translators, whose work...
read moreCalifornia State University in Fresno
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 9/30/24
Genre: Poetry
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...
read moreTexas Review Press: The University Press of SHSU
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 9/30/24
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $10,000, publication by Texas Review Press: The University Press of SHSU, and 10 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner also receives a...
read moreThe Moth
Cash Prize: $1,094
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 9/30/24
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of €1,000 (approximately $1,094) and online publication in Irish Times is given annually for a poem, a story, or an essay that features “an exploration of the...
read moreUniversity of Massachusetts Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 9/30/24
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Five prizes of $1,000 each and publication by University of Massachusetts Press are given annually for a debut poetry collection, a poetry collection by an author who has...
read moreUniversity of Mississippi
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 9/30/24
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $3,000 is given annually for a single poem that evokes the U.S. South. The winner will also receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Oxford, Mississippi, for the awards...
read moreConnecticut Poetry Society
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 9/30/24
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Connecticut River Review and on the Connecticut Poetry Society website is given annually for a single poem. Aaron Caycedo-Kimura...
read moreOne Page
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 9/30/24
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,000 is given annually for a single poem. A second-place prize of $1,000 is also given. Mark Graham, Monique Jonath, Mridvi Khetan, and Ann Tinkham will judge....
read moreDzanc Books
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 9/30/24
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Dzanc Books will be given for a poetry collection. Jonathan Fink and Keith Taylor will judge. Using only the online submission system,...
read morePermafrost
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/1/24
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Alaska Press will be given in alternating years for a book of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction. The 2024 prize will be given in...
read moreAmerican Literary Review
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 10/1/24
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in American Literary Review are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay. Using only the online submission...
read moreAmerican Poetry Review
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/1/24
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $3,000 and publication by American Poetry Review is given annually for a debut poetry collection. The winning book is distributed by Copper Canyon Press...
read moreGeorgia Writers
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 10/1/24
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three grants of $500 each are given annually in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction to “elevate, encourage, and inspire the voices of Black writers in Georgia.” Grantees also...
read moreWinning Writers
Cash Prize: $3,500
Entry Fee: $22
Application Deadline: 10/1/24
Genre: Poetry
Two prizes of $3,500 each, two-year gift certificates for membership to the literary database Duotrope, and publication on the Winning Writers website are given annually for a...
read moreWillow Springs Magazine
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 10/1/24
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Willow Springs Magazine will be given annually for a surrealist poem. Melissa Kwasny will judge. Submit up to three poems totaling...
read moreAfrican Poetry Book Fund
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 10/1/24
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a book of poetry by an African poet published in the previous year. Writers who were born in Africa, who are nationals or residents of...
read moreChanges Press
Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 10/1/24
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $10,000, publication by Changes Press, and 50 author copies is given annually for a first or second poetry collection. The winner will also receive an all-expenses-...
read moreMad Creek Books
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $23
Application Deadline: 10/9/24
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,500 and publication by Mad Creek Books, the literary trade imprint of Ohio State University Press, is given annually for a poetry collection. Marcus Jackson will...
read moreAlice James Books
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 10/11/24
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,000 and publication by Alice James Books is given annually for a poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 100 pages with a $30 entry fee by October 11. All...
read moreSan Diego Entertainment & Arts Guild
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 10/15/24
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in San Diego Poetry Annual is given annually for a single poem. The winner also receives an invitation to read at an award ceremony in...
read moreFordham University at Lincoln Center
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 10/15/24
Genre: Poetry
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication by Fordham University Press are given annually for poetry collections. The winners also receive a one-on-one publicity consultation...
read moreNational Federation of State Poetry Societies
Cash Prize: $1,300
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/15/24
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, publication by National Federation of State Poetry Societies Press, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner also receives...
read moreCopper Nickel
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 10/15/24
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,000 and publication by Milkweed Editions is given annually for a first or second poetry collection. Matthew Olzmann will judge. Using only the online submission...
read moreTennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 10/15/24
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a group of poems by a writer who has not published a chapbook or full-length book of poetry. The winner is also invited to give a...
read more