You have much to gain from entering writing contests. If you win, your chances of getting published increase exponentially. And if the contest is free, what have you got to lose?
_____________________
Crucible: Poetry and Fiction Competition is sponsored by the Barton College Department of English. Genres: Fiction (limited to 8,000 words or less) and poetry (limited to five poems). Restrictions: All work must be original and unpublished. Prizes: $150.00 First Prize. $100.00 Second Prize. Publication in the Crucible. Deadline: May 1, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
The Society for Humanistic Anthropology Fiction Competition. Genre: Stories that relate to the four fields of anthropology. Restrictions: Stories should not exceed 20 pages typed double-spaced. There is a limit of one story submission per applicant. Prize: The first place story will be published in the Society’s journal, Anthropology and Humanism. The first place winner(s) will receive a certificate and award of $100. Deadline: May 1, 2015. Read guidelines HERE. (Scroll down the page.)
Grant MacEwan Creative Writing Scholarship is sponsored by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. Genres: Poetry, Short Fiction & Creative Nonfiction, Drama, or Graphic Novel. Restrictions: Authors must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate creative writing program of study or mentorship. (Max age 25) Alberta residents only. Prize: $5000 (CAN). Deadline: May 1, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
Polari First Book Prize. Genres: The prize is for a first book which explores the LGBT experience and is open to any work of poetry, prose, fiction or non-fiction published in English. Self-published works in both print and digital formats are eligible for submission. Restrictions: Writer must be born in UK or resident in the UK between Feb 2, 2014 and Feb 1, 2015. Prize: £1,000.00. Deadline: May 1, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
St. Francis College Literary Prize is sponsored by St. Francis College, Brooklyn, NY. Genre: 3rd to 5th work of fiction published between June 2013 and May 2015. Self-published books and English translations are considered. Prize: $50,000. Deadline: May 1, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
West Virginia Fiction Competition is sponsored by the Shepherd University Department of English in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Genre: Any original, unpublished work of fiction, between 500 and 2,500 words, one submission only. The submission must not have received any other award, recognition, or special honor. Restrictions: Contest open to any resident of West Virginia or student attending school in West Virginia. Prize: $500.00 First Prize Award and possible publication, $100 each Second and Third Prize Awards. Deadline: May 1, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
We Need Diverse Books Short Story Contest. WNDB is a grassroots organization created to address the lack of diverse, non-majority narratives in children’s literature. Genre: Children's short story. (Ages 8-12) Restrictions: Writer must be "diverse." Prize: $1000 and inclusion in WNDB Anthology to be released by Crown Books for Young Readers/Random House Children’s Books in January 2017. Two runner-up winners will receive honorable mentions and awards of $250 each. Deadline: May 8, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
The James Laughlin Award is sponsored by the Academy of American Poets. Genre: A second book of poetry forthcoming in the next calendar year. Must be under contract with US publisher. Restrictions: Open to US citizens and residents only. Prize: $5,000, an all-expenses-paid week long residency in Florida, and the Academy will purchase approximately 1,000 copies of the book for distribution to its members. Deadline: May 15, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Non-Fiction. Genre: Literary non-fiction. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. Prize: $60,000 will be awarded to a literary nonfiction book published between September 18, 2014 and September 17, 2015. Deadline: May 27, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. Genre: Fiction. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. No self-published works. Prize: $25,000 will be awarded to a novel or short-story collection published between October 1, 2014 and September 30, 2015. Prizes of $2,500 will be awarded to each of the finalists. Deadline: May 27, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
bpNichol Poetry Chapbook Award. Genre: Published poetry chapbook. Restrictions: Canadian publishers only. Prize: The author receives $4,000 and the publisher receives $500. Deadline: May 29, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
ESME. Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Essay. Submissions will be judged anonymously. The nine award winners will be announced on June 15, 2015/ Restrictions: Open to any current or former Solo Mom. Prizes: $500, $350 & $150 prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place in each category. Deadline: May 30, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
Lilith Magazine Fiction Competition. Genre: Stories with soul & chutzpah that speak to feminist Jewish readers. Preferred length is 2500 words or under. Prize: Winner will receive $250 and publication in Lilith. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
The Wolfe Pack Black Orchid Award. Genre: Mystery novellas in the style of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe novellas. Manuscript length: 15K-20K words. Prize: $1,000, plus recognition and publication in a forthcoming issue of AAMM. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
Unicorn Press First Book Contest. Genre: Unpublished book-length poetry. Individual poems do not have to be unpublished. Prize: The winner will receive $250 and the winning manuscript will be published by Unicorn Press. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
The Victoria Book Prize. Genres: Published fiction, literary non-fiction, or poetry. (Not open to self-published works.) Book submitted must have been published between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015 and must be a new work, not a re-issue or a revision of a previous work. Restrictions: Author must be a resident of the Capital Region and a Canadian citizen or resident. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
Cromwell Article Prize. Genre: Articles published in 2014 in the field of American legal history. Restrictions: Open to early career scholars. Prize: $2,500. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
Arch and Bruce Brown Foundation Writing Competition. Genre: Play. Only full-length works (dramas, comedies, musicals, screenplays) will be considered. One entry per author. Scripts must be original. Must be in English. All must concern LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender) life and be based on, or directly inspired by, a historical person, culture, work of art, or event. Prize: First Prize, $3,000. Second Prize, $1,500. Honorable Mentions, $500. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
Jerry Jazz Musician Fiction Contest. Genre: Unpublished fiction approximately 1,000 - 5,000 words. Story should pertain to music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theater, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America. Prize: $100 and publication in Jerry Jazz Musician. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
Save the Earth Poetry Prize. Genre: Poem (1). Poems submitted should, in any way possible, evoke humankind’s awareness of the natural world and nature as such. Restrictions: Open to High school students, grades 11 & 12. Prize: $200 awarded to seven winners. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
_____________________
Crucible: Poetry and Fiction Competition is sponsored by the Barton College Department of English. Genres: Fiction (limited to 8,000 words or less) and poetry (limited to five poems). Restrictions: All work must be original and unpublished. Prizes: $150.00 First Prize. $100.00 Second Prize. Publication in the Crucible. Deadline: May 1, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
The Society for Humanistic Anthropology Fiction Competition. Genre: Stories that relate to the four fields of anthropology. Restrictions: Stories should not exceed 20 pages typed double-spaced. There is a limit of one story submission per applicant. Prize: The first place story will be published in the Society’s journal, Anthropology and Humanism. The first place winner(s) will receive a certificate and award of $100. Deadline: May 1, 2015. Read guidelines HERE. (Scroll down the page.)
Grant MacEwan Creative Writing Scholarship is sponsored by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. Genres: Poetry, Short Fiction & Creative Nonfiction, Drama, or Graphic Novel. Restrictions: Authors must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate creative writing program of study or mentorship. (Max age 25) Alberta residents only. Prize: $5000 (CAN). Deadline: May 1, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
Polari First Book Prize. Genres: The prize is for a first book which explores the LGBT experience and is open to any work of poetry, prose, fiction or non-fiction published in English. Self-published works in both print and digital formats are eligible for submission. Restrictions: Writer must be born in UK or resident in the UK between Feb 2, 2014 and Feb 1, 2015. Prize: £1,000.00. Deadline: May 1, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
St. Francis College Literary Prize is sponsored by St. Francis College, Brooklyn, NY. Genre: 3rd to 5th work of fiction published between June 2013 and May 2015. Self-published books and English translations are considered. Prize: $50,000. Deadline: May 1, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
West Virginia Fiction Competition is sponsored by the Shepherd University Department of English in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Genre: Any original, unpublished work of fiction, between 500 and 2,500 words, one submission only. The submission must not have received any other award, recognition, or special honor. Restrictions: Contest open to any resident of West Virginia or student attending school in West Virginia. Prize: $500.00 First Prize Award and possible publication, $100 each Second and Third Prize Awards. Deadline: May 1, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
We Need Diverse Books Short Story Contest. WNDB is a grassroots organization created to address the lack of diverse, non-majority narratives in children’s literature. Genre: Children's short story. (Ages 8-12) Restrictions: Writer must be "diverse." Prize: $1000 and inclusion in WNDB Anthology to be released by Crown Books for Young Readers/Random House Children’s Books in January 2017. Two runner-up winners will receive honorable mentions and awards of $250 each. Deadline: May 8, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
The James Laughlin Award is sponsored by the Academy of American Poets. Genre: A second book of poetry forthcoming in the next calendar year. Must be under contract with US publisher. Restrictions: Open to US citizens and residents only. Prize: $5,000, an all-expenses-paid week long residency in Florida, and the Academy will purchase approximately 1,000 copies of the book for distribution to its members. Deadline: May 15, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Non-Fiction. Genre: Literary non-fiction. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. Prize: $60,000 will be awarded to a literary nonfiction book published between September 18, 2014 and September 17, 2015. Deadline: May 27, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. Genre: Fiction. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. No self-published works. Prize: $25,000 will be awarded to a novel or short-story collection published between October 1, 2014 and September 30, 2015. Prizes of $2,500 will be awarded to each of the finalists. Deadline: May 27, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
bpNichol Poetry Chapbook Award. Genre: Published poetry chapbook. Restrictions: Canadian publishers only. Prize: The author receives $4,000 and the publisher receives $500. Deadline: May 29, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
ESME. Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Essay. Submissions will be judged anonymously. The nine award winners will be announced on June 15, 2015/ Restrictions: Open to any current or former Solo Mom. Prizes: $500, $350 & $150 prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place in each category. Deadline: May 30, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
Lilith Magazine Fiction Competition. Genre: Stories with soul & chutzpah that speak to feminist Jewish readers. Preferred length is 2500 words or under. Prize: Winner will receive $250 and publication in Lilith. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
The Wolfe Pack Black Orchid Award. Genre: Mystery novellas in the style of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe novellas. Manuscript length: 15K-20K words. Prize: $1,000, plus recognition and publication in a forthcoming issue of AAMM. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
Unicorn Press First Book Contest. Genre: Unpublished book-length poetry. Individual poems do not have to be unpublished. Prize: The winner will receive $250 and the winning manuscript will be published by Unicorn Press. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
The Victoria Book Prize. Genres: Published fiction, literary non-fiction, or poetry. (Not open to self-published works.) Book submitted must have been published between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015 and must be a new work, not a re-issue or a revision of a previous work. Restrictions: Author must be a resident of the Capital Region and a Canadian citizen or resident. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
Cromwell Article Prize. Genre: Articles published in 2014 in the field of American legal history. Restrictions: Open to early career scholars. Prize: $2,500. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
Arch and Bruce Brown Foundation Writing Competition. Genre: Play. Only full-length works (dramas, comedies, musicals, screenplays) will be considered. One entry per author. Scripts must be original. Must be in English. All must concern LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender) life and be based on, or directly inspired by, a historical person, culture, work of art, or event. Prize: First Prize, $3,000. Second Prize, $1,500. Honorable Mentions, $500. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
Jerry Jazz Musician Fiction Contest. Genre: Unpublished fiction approximately 1,000 - 5,000 words. Story should pertain to music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theater, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America. Prize: $100 and publication in Jerry Jazz Musician. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
Save the Earth Poetry Prize. Genre: Poem (1). Poems submitted should, in any way possible, evoke humankind’s awareness of the natural world and nature as such. Restrictions: Open to High school students, grades 11 & 12. Prize: $200 awarded to seven winners. Deadline: May 31, 2015. Read guidelines HERE.
RSS Feed