List Of Writing Contests
 |
A free list of writing contests for creative writers. These listings are organized by deadline and include themes (if any), entry fees, prizes, and URLs. Advertisers are not affiliated with Writer's Relief.
|
Learn more about Writer's Relief, an author's submission service. Want a listing in our classifieds section? Email info@wrelief.com for information.
|
| Deadline: | 5/30/2012 |
| Submit to: | Baltimore Review. Online Form |
| Entry Fee: | $10 |
| First Prize: | $300 plus publication |
| Type: | Poetry (3 poems, 3 pages MAX), short stories, and creative nonfiction (3,000 words MAX) |
| URL: | Baltimore Review |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 5/30/2012 |
| Submit to: | The Beacon Street Prize. Online Form |
| Entry Fee: | $15 |
| First Prize: | $500 plus publication |
| Type: | Poetry (3 poems MAX) and fiction (8,000 words MAX) |
| URL: | The Beacon Street Prize |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 5/31/2012 |
| Submit to: | 2012 Field Poetry Prize. Online Form |
| Entry Fee: | $28 |
| First Prize: | $1,000 plus publication |
| Type: | Poetry (50 to 80 pages) |
| URL: | 2012 Field Poetry Prize |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 5/31/2012 |
| Submit to: | Connecticut Poetry Award, CPS, PO Box 270554, West Hartford, CT 06127 |
| Entry Fee: | $15 |
| First Prize: | $400 plus publication |
| Type: | Poetry (3 poems MAX, 80 lines MAX) |
| URL: | Connecticut Poetry Award |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 5/31/2012 |
| Submit to: | Crab Creek Review Contest. Send via one file. Entry fee payable through PayPal. Email Address |
| Entry Fee: | $10 |
| First Prize: | $200 plus publication |
| Type: | Poetry (3 poems MAX) |
| URL: | Crab Creek Review Contest |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 5/31/2012 |
| Submit to: | Hobart Buffalo Prize. Online Form |
| Entry Fee: | $16 |
| First Prize: | $500 plus publication (six winners are chosen) |
| Type: | Short stories (8,000 words MAX) |
| URL: | Hobart Buffalo Prize |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 5/31/2012 |
| Submit to: | Monstrosities of the Midway Contest. Online Form |
| Entry Fee: | $15 |
| First Prize: | $1,000 plus publication |
| Type: | Poetry (5 poems, 1 page per poem, 20 pages MAX), fiction, and nonfiction (6,000 words MAX). They want any writing that complicates issues of performance and identity. Real and unreal. Exposed and concealed. |
| URL: | Midway Journal's Contest |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 5/31/2012 |
| Submit to: | MoonPath Press, c/o Concrete Wolf, PO Box 1808, Kingston, WA 98346 |
| Entry Fee: | $20 |
| First Prize: | 50 copies of perfect-bound chapbook |
| Type: | Poetry (24 to 38 pages) |
| URL: | Moon Path Press |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 5/31/2012 |
| Submit to: | Rannu Fund for Writers of Speculative Literature. Submit via email, pasted-in text only. Email Address |
| Entry Fee: | $10 for one entry in *either* fiction or poetry, $15 for one entry in *both* fiction and poetry. |
| First Prize: | $500 |
| Type: | Fiction (7,000 words MAX) and poetry (5 poems, 10 pages MAX). Speculative literature: sci-fi, fantasy, steampunk, cyberpunk, horror, etc. |
| URL: | Rannu Fund for Writers of Speculative Literature |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 5/31/2012 |
| Submit to: | River Styx Poetry Contest, 3547 Olive Street, Suite 107, St. Louis, MO 63103-1014 |
| Entry Fee: | $20 |
| First Prize: | $1,500 plus publication |
| Type: | Poetry (3 poems MAX; no more than 14 pages) |
| URL: | 2012 International Poetry Contest |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 5/31/2012 |
| Submit to: | Sports Poetry & Prose Contest. Submit to Winning Writers, Attn: Sports Poetry & Prose Contest, 351 Pleasant Street, PMB 222, Northampton, MA 01060-3961 Online Form |
| Entry Fee: | $15 |
| First Prize: | Two awards of $1,500 and online publication |
| Type: | Sports: poetry, stories, essays (6,000 words MAX) |
| URL: | Sports Poetry & Prose Contest |
| |
|
 |
|
| Deadline: | 5/31/2012 |
| Submit to: | The Backwaters Prize. Online Form |
| Entry Fee: | $25 |
| First Prize: | $1,000 plus publication |
| Type: | Poetry (60 to 85 pages) |
| URL: | The Backwaters Prize |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 6/1/2012 |
| Submit to: | Boulevard Emerging Poets Contest, PMB 325, 6614 Clayton Road, Richmond Heights, MO 63117 |
| Entry Fee: | $15 |
| First Prize: | $1,000 plus publication |
| Type: | Poetry (3 poems MAX) |
| URL: | Boulevard Emerging Poets Contest |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 6/1/2012 |
| Submit to: | Fourth and Verse Books, c/o Matthew Ritger, The English Department, 250 Goldwin Smith Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-3201. Online submissions preferred. Online Form |
| Entry Fee: | $10 |
| First Prize: | Publication, 75% royalties (after cost), and 50 copies. |
| Type: | Poetry (15 - 30 pages) |
| URL: | Fourth and Verse Chapbook Prize |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 6/1/2012 |
| Submit to: | James DenBoer, Managing Editor, Swan Scythe Press, 515 P Street, Apartment 804, Sacramento, CA 95814 |
| Entry Fee: | $16 |
| First Prize: | Publication of chapbook and 25 copies |
| Type: | Poetry (20 - 32 pages MAX) |
| URL: | Chapbook Contest |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 6/1/2012 |
| Submit to: | St. Martin's Press/ Hillerman Mystery Contest, Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010 |
| Entry Fee: | None |
| First Prize: | Winner is awarded a contract with St. Martin's Press for publication of the novel and $10,000. |
| Type: | Novels (220 pages OR 60,000 words MAX) |
| URL: | 2012 Hillerman Mystery Competition |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 6/1/2012 |
| Submit to: | Tiferet Writing Contest. Online Form |
| Entry Fee: | $20 |
| First Prize: | $400 per genre |
| Type: | Poetry (6 poems) or prose (20 pages). |
| URL: | Tiferet Writing Contest |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 6/4/2012 |
| Submit to: | The MacGuffin/Poet Hunt Contest, Schoolcraft College, 18600 Haggerty Road, Livonia, MI 48152 |
| Entry Fee: | $15 |
| First Prize: | $500 |
| Type: | Poetry (5 poems) |
| URL: | The MacGuffin’s National Poet Hunt Contest |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 6/15/2012 |
| Submit to: | Nicole Louise Reid, Editor, RopeWalk Press, University of Southern Indiana, 8600 University Boulevard, Evansville, IN 47712. Or send online. Online Form |
| Entry Fee: | $20 |
| First Prize: | $1,000 plus 25 copies |
| Type: | Fiction (45 pages MAX) |
| URL: | RopeWalk Press |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 6/15/2012 |
| Submit to: | The Akron Poetry Prize, The University of Akron Press, 120 E. Mill Street, Suite 415, Akron, OH 44308 |
| Entry Fee: | $25 |
| First Prize: | $1,500 plus publication |
| Type: | Poetry (48 pages MAX) |
| URL: | The Akron Poetry Prize |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 6/15/2012 |
| Submit to: | The Bitter Oleander Library Of Poetry Book Award, The Bitter Oleander Press, 4983 Tall Oaks Drive, Fayetteville, NY 13066-9776 |
| Entry Fee: | $25 |
| First Prize: | $1,000 plus publication |
| Type: | Poetry (48 to 80 pages MAX) |
| URL: | The Bitter Oleander Library Of Poetry Book Award |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 6/15/2012 |
| Submit to: | The Writer 2012 Travel Essay Contest. Submission Link |
| Entry Fee: | $10 |
| First Prize: | $1,000, plus publication in The Writer magazine, an online class from Gotham Writers' Workshop, and a year's subscription to The Writer |
| Type: | Travel essays (1,200 words MAX) |
| URL: | The Writer 2012 Travel Essay Contest |
| |
|
 |
|
| Deadline: | 6/15/2012 |
| Submit to: | Veterans’ Contest: Genre Submitting, The Iowa Review, 308 EPB, Iowa City, IA 52242. Or send online. Online Form |
| Entry Fee: | $15 |
| First Prize: | $1,000 plus publication |
| Type: | Poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction (20 pages MAX). Writers MUST BE veterans or in active duty. |
| URL: | The Jeff Sharlet Memorial Award for Veterans |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 6/18/2012 |
| Submit to: | THE NEW GUARD, P.O. Box 10612, Portland, ME 04104. Or send online. Online Form |
| Entry Fee: | $15 per genre |
| First Prize: | $1,000 (per genre) plus publication |
| Type: | Poetry (3 prose/narrative poems, 300 lines MAX) and short stories (7,500 words MAX) |
| URL: | The New Guard Contests |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 6/30/2012 |
| Submit to: | Barrow Street Press Book Contest, PO Box 1558, Kingston, RI 02881 Online Form |
| Entry Fee: | $25 (or $28 if sending online) |
| First Prize: | $1,000 plus publication |
| Type: | Poetry (50 - 70 pages MAX) |
| URL: | Barrow Street Press Book Contest |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 6/30/2012 |
| Submit to: | Drue Heinz Literature Prize, University of Pittsburgh Press, 3400 Forbes Avenue, Eureka Building, Fifth Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15260 |
| Entry Fee: | None |
| First Prize: | $15,000 and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press under its standard contract. |
| Type: | Short Stories (150 - 300 pages MAX), one or more novellas (130 pages MAX); or a combination of one or more novellas and short stories. |
| URL: | Drue Heinz Literature Prize |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 6/30/2012 |
| Submit to: | Margaret Reid Poetry Contest for Traditional Verse. Submit to Winning Writers, Attn: Margaret Reid Poetry Contest, 351 Pleasant Street, PMB 222, Northampton, MA 01060-3961 Online Form |
| Entry Fee: | $8 for every 25 lines |
| First Prize: | $3,000 and online publication |
| Type: | Poetry: traditional verse forms |
| URL: | Margaret Reid Poetry Contest for Traditional Verse |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 6/30/2012 |
| Submit to: | Mary Ballard Poetry Chapbook Prize. Email Address |
| Entry Fee: | None |
| First Prize: | $500, 25 printed copies of the chapbook, and a book contract for the sale of physical and electronic versions of the chapbook. |
| Type: | Poetry (20 to 40 pages MAX) |
| URL: | Mary Ballard Poetry Chapbook Prize |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 6/30/2012 |
| Submit to: | Women Who Write, P.O. Box 6167, Louisville, KY 40206. Or send online. Online Form |
| Entry Fee: | $12 for each poem or prose piece |
| First Prize: | $300 plus publication and five copies |
| Type: | Poetry, fiction, and nonfiction (3,000 words MAX). Writers MUST BE women. |
| URL: | Women Who Write International Poetry & Short Prose Contest |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 6/30/2012 |
| Submit to: | ABZ Poetry Prize, ABZ Press, PO Box 2746, Huntington WV 25727-2746 |
| Entry Fee: | $30 |
| First Prize: | $1,000 and 50 copies of winning book |
| Type: | Poetry (48 - 76 pages) |
| URL: | ABZ Poetry Prize |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 7/1/2012 |
| Submit to: | Betty Gabehart Prize, Kentucky Women Writers Conference, University of Kentucky, 232 East Maxwell Street, Lexington, KY 40506-0344 |
| Entry Fee: | $10/poem, story, or essay |
| First Prize: | $200, 2 two-day passes to the conference, opportunity to read the work, space in a small writing workshop |
| Type: | Poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction (6,000 words MAX) |
| URL: | Betty Gabehart Prize |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 7/1/2012 |
| Submit to: | L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest, PO Box 1630, Los Angeles, CA 90078 |
| Entry Fee: | None |
| First Prize: | $1,000 |
| Type: | Fiction (17,000 words MAX). MUST HAVE fantasy, sci-fi, or horror topics. |
| URL: | L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 7/31/2012 |
| Submit to: | Augury Books - Editors' Prize in Poetry Online Form |
| Entry Fee: | $20 |
| First Prize: | $750, plus publication and 20 copies |
| Type: | Poetry (45 to 70 pages) |
| URL: | Editors' Prize in Poetry |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 7/31/2012 |
| Submit to: | Creative Nonfiction, Attn: Southern Sin, 5501 Walnut Street, Suite 202, Pittsburgh, PA 15232 |
| Entry Fee: | $20 |
| First Prize: | $5,000 plus publication |
| Type: | Essays (4,000 words MAX) on the topic of "Southern Sin" |
| URL: | Creative Nonfiction |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 7/31/2012 |
| Submit to: | Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest. Submission Link |
| Entry Fee: | $5 per poem/$10 per story |
| First Prize: | $250 Poetry, $500 Short Story |
| Type: | Poetry (1 poem/30 lines MAX), Prose (1 short story, 5 pages MAX) |
| URL: | Dream Quest One |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 8/15/2012 |
| Submit to: | MYSTERY SHORT STORY CONTEST, New Mexico Magazine, 495 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501 |
| Entry Fee: | $20 |
| First Prize: | Publication in New Mexico Magazine plus two tickets to the awards ceremony at the Tony Hillerman Writers Conference |
| Type: | Short stories (2,500 words MAX). Story MUST take place in New Mexico. |
| URL: | Hillerman Short Story Contest |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 8/31/2012 |
| Submit to: | Gemini Magazine, Flash Fiction Contest, P.O. Box 1485, Onset, MA 02558. Or send via email. Email Address |
| Entry Fee: | $4, $3 for additional story |
| First Prize: | $1,000 plus publication |
| Type: | Short stories (1,000 words MAX) |
| URL: | Gemini Magazine Flash Fiction Contest |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 10/15/2012 |
| Submit to: | Anderbo Self-Published Book Contest, Postal-22, 75 East 4th St, New York, NY 10003 |
| Entry Fee: | $20 |
| First Prize: | $500 plus excerpt published on the Anderbo.com website |
| Type: | Self-published fiction or nonfiction books (40 pages to judge) |
| URL: | Anderbo Self-Published Book Contest |
| |
|
|
|
| Deadline: | 10/15/2012 |
| Submit to: | Ruminate Magazine: William Van Dyke Short Story Prize. Online Form |
| Entry Fee: | $15 |
| First Prize: | $1,000 plus publication |
| Type: | Short stories (7,000 words MAX) |
| URL: | William Van Dyke Short Story Prize |
| |
|
|
A free list of writing contests for creative writers, compiled and updated regularly by Writer’s Relief. This easy-to-skim writing contest list is developed for all levels of writers. You’ll find competitions for poetry, short stories, flash fiction, personal essays, creative nonfiction, fiction, memoir, novels, poetry collections, chapbooks, books of all kinds, and more. Some of these writing contests are free (no entry fee, aka “no fee contests”) and some of them require an entry fee. Prizes often include publication (online or in print) and also some monetary award. Writers must look into and research these writing contests prior to entering them. We hope you enjoy our free writing contests list, and we encourage writers to share these listings with their friends. Learn how you can advertise your writing contest with us and reach our subscribers.