Writing 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.

Academy 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 more

Academy of American Poets

Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/15/25

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....

read more

Arrowsmith Press

Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 2/15/25
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $2,000 is given annually for a poetry collection by a writer who is not a citizen of the United States published in English during the previous year. Authors or...

read more

Sarabande Books

Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $34
Application Deadline: 2/15/25

Three prizes of $2,000 each and publication by Sarabande Books are given annually for a poetry collection, a work of fiction, and an essay collection. For the Kathryn A. Morton...

read more

Center for African American Poetry and Poetics/Autumn House Press

Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/15/25
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $3,000 and publication by Autumn House Press is given annually for a first or second poetry collection (or a work that intersects with poetry, including hybrid text...

read more

Finishing Line Press

Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 2/15/25
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,500 and publication by Finishing Line Press is given annually for a poetry chapbook. Saba Syed Razvi will judge. Submit a manuscript of 16 to 34 pages, a brief...

read more

Omnidawn Publishing

Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 2/16/25
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $3,000, publication by Omnidawn Publishing, and 20 author copies is given annually for a first or second poetry collection. Daniela Naomi Molnar will judge. Using...

read more

West Chester University

Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/17/25
Genre: Poetry

Five prizes of $1,000 to $1,500 each are given annually for a single poem “composed in the traditional modes of meter, rhyme, and received forms” (Iris N. Spencer Poetry Award...

read more

Fish Publishing

Cash Prize: $1,056
Entry Fee: $17
Application Deadline: 2/28/25
Genre: Fiction

A prize of €1,000 (approximately $1,056) and publication in the Fish Publishing anthology is given annually for a work of flash fiction. The winner is also invited to give a...

read more

Autumn House Press

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $35
Application Deadline: 2/28/25
Genre: Fiction

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Autumn House Press is given annually for a book of fiction. The winner also receives a $1,500 travel and publicity grant. Alexandra Kleeman...

read more

Black Caucus of the American Library Association

Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/28/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction

Two prizes of $2,500 each are given annually for a poetry e-book and a fiction e-book self-published by an African American writer during the previous year. The awards honor...

read more

Association of Writers & Writing Programs

Cash Prize: $5,500
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 2/28/25

Three prizes of $5,500 each and publication by a participating press are given annually for a poetry collection, a short story collection, and a novel. A prize of $2,500 and...

read more

Hayden’s Ferry Review

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 2/28/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction

Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Hayden’s Ferry Review will be given for a poem or a group of poems and a work of fiction. Using only the online submission...

read more

Red Hen Press

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 2/28/25

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Red Hen Press is given annually for a book of fiction or nonfiction by a writer who identifies as a woman. Alyssa Graybeal will judge....

read more

Little Tokyo Historical Society

Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 2/28/25
Genre: Fiction

Two prizes of $500 each and publication in Rafu Shimpo and on the Discover Nikkei and Little Tokyo Historical Society websites are given annually for short stories that...

read more

Tupelo Press

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 2/28/25
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000, publication by Tupelo Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry chapbook. Deborah Landau will judge. Submit a manuscript of 20 to 36 pages...

read more

Alabama State Council on the Arts

Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/1/25

At least two fellowships of $5,000 each are given annually to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers who are legal residents of Alabama and have lived in the...

read more

Airlie Press

Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 3/1/25
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Airlie Press is given annually for a poetry collection. The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a...

read more

Poets & Writers, Inc.

Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/1/25
Genre: Poetry, Fiction

Two prizes of $500 each are given annually to a poet and a fiction writer residing in the United States. Each winner also receives a monthlong residency at the Jentel Artist...

read more

Biographers International Organization

Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 3/1/25

A prize of $5,000 is given annually for a work-in-progress by a writer who has not published a biography, a book of historical nonfiction, or other book-length work of...

read more

Mississippi Arts Commission

Cash Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/1/25

Grants of up to $5,000 each are given in alternating years to Mississippi poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers. This year the fellowships will be offered in...

read more

Wayne State University

Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/1/25
Genre: Poetry

A prize of $500 will be given annually for a chapbook-length work of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction. The 2025 prize will be given in poetry. Using only the online submission...

read more

Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation

Cash Prize: $10,000
Entry Fee: $100
Application Deadline: 3/1/25

Two prizes of $10,000 each are given annually for a book of fiction and a book of nonfiction (including creative nonfiction) published in the previous year that “foster peace,...

read more

Masters Review

Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 3/2/25
Genre: Fiction

A prize of $3,000 and online publication in Masters Review is given biannually for a short story by an emerging writer. Writers who have not published a book or who have...

read more

Poetry Foundation

Cash Prize: $27,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 3/3/25
Genre: Poetry

Five fellowships of $27,000 each are given annually to U.S. poets between the ages of 21 and 31. Using only the online submission system, submit 10 pages of poetry and an...

read more

Pages