Literary Competitions and Awards
updated 6/14/13
TBL provides the most up-to-date information on deadlines, guidelines, and new competition for all our members. Below you will find a complete contest list and to your right, a list of all the competitions due this month. Please note that most literary contests require an entry fee. Be sure to follow the submission guidelines (cover letter, "blind" reading formats, etc.) or your work will be recycled without being read. Happy Submitting, TBLers!
Nonfiction, Fiction, & Prose Competitions
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Open to all writers, this contest seeks stories between 1000 and 3000 words. Submissions will be judged by Sue Moorcroft and Lorraine Mace. For an addition £5, the judges will critique submission and give feedback.
Due: Rolling
PRIZES: First Prize is £300, Second Prize is £150 , Third Prize is £100
Submission Fee: £3 (subscribers), £6 (non-subscribers)
Open to all writers, this award seeks previously unpublished creative nonfiction short story submission shorter than 8000 words. No more than one piece per entry.
Due: 11-15-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $500
Submission Fee: $15
Open to all American authors, this prize seeks well-crafted, character-driven literary fiction in any genre with a maximum of 10,000 words.
Due: 06-15-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000, Second Prize is $500, Third Prize is $250
Submission Fee: $16
Open to all writers, this prize seeks poetry and prose related to the themes of healthy, healing, illness, the mind, and the body. Prose should be limited to 5000 words and poetry should not include more than three poems.
Due: 07-01-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000 (per category), Second Prize is $250 (honorable mention)
Submission Fee: $15
We are currently accepting submissions for our short story contest (2,000 to 7,500 words, open genre) and our flash fiction contest (55, 250, or 500 words). TBL strives to publish writers with engaging stories, vivid characters, and fresh writing styles. All winners will be published in Tethered by Letters’ Summer Quarterly Journal and finalists will be considered for later publication (after working with one of our Senior Editors). The prizes are $250 (USDA) for the short story winner and $50 (USDA) for flash fictions. International submissions welcome. Good luck to all our authors! We look forward to reading your work!
Due: 6-30-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $250 for Short Story, $50 for Flash Fiction
Submission Fee: $10 for Short Story, $4 per Flash Fiction (or $10 for three FLash Fictions)
We are currently accepting short stories of any genre ranging from 2,000 to 7,500 words. TBL strives to publish writers with engaging stories, vivid characters, and fresh perspectives and styles. All winners will be published in Tethered by Letters’ Summer Quarterly Journal and finalists will be considered for later publication, after working with one of our Senior Editors. International submissions welcome.
Due: 6-30-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $250 and publication in our quarterly journal
Submission Fee: $10 per entry
Open to all writers, this contest seeks exceptional fiction under 20,000 words. This contest is held quarterly.
Due: 6-30-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $2500, Second Prize is $1000, Third Prize is $600
Submission Fee: $19
Open to all writers, this award seeks works of fiction under 3,000 words. Stories must be have been published in print.
Due: 7-31-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1500, Second Prize is $500, Third Prize is $300
Submission Fee: $15
Open to all writers, this award seeks book-length works of fiction or poetry. Fiction entries may be either a novel or a collection of short stories. Entries must be longer than 64 pages.
Due: 05-17-2013 & 11-01-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $500
Submission Fee: $25
Open to all writers, this award seeks 45 double spaced pages of fiction (either a novel, stand-alone novel excerpt, or multiple short stories). All themes and subject matters are eligible. In addition to the cash prize and publication, the winner will receive 25 contributor copies.
Due: 06-15-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $20
Open to all writers, this award seeks fiction stories of less than 30 double-spaced pages. Multiple entries are acceptable.
Due: 06-15-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1500
Submission Fee: $15
Open to all writers, this award seeks previously unpublished fiction and nonfiction stories of 1,500 to 8,000. This story must not have been chosen as a finalist or a runner-up in another contest.
Due: 07-31-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $15
Open to all writers, this award seeks phenomenal literature in the following categories: 1) best unpublished short story or novel excerpt, and 2) best unproduced full-length play. Stories must be under 25 pages.
Due: 06-30-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $17
Open to all writers, this prize seeks a combination of short stories, short-short stories, and novellas (up to 100 to 200 pages in book length). Material should be previously unpublishedin book form.
Due: 07-15-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $25
Open to all writers, this award seeks original short stories with a maximum of 25 pages. Submit up to two stories per submission. Open theme.
Due: 06-30-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $20
Open to all writers, this award seeks an original, unpublished short story under 10,000 words. In addition to the cash prize, the winner will be published in Hunger Mountain.
Due: 06-30-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $20
Open to all writers, this award seeks three categories of stories: 1) Young Adult, 2) Middle Grade (MG), and 3) Picture Book or Writing for Young Children. Works should be unpublished and under 10,000 words. Your entry may be a short story or a novel excerpt. In addition to the cash prize, the winner will receive publication with Hunger Mountain.
Due: 06-30-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $20
Open to all writers who have yet to publish a novel, this award seeks fiction manuscripts set in the American South. E-Books are not eligible. Jill McCorkle will choose the 2013 winning novel. In addition to the cash prize, the winner will also receive a free glass of wine at the Crooke Corner restaurant every day of the year!
Due: 06-30-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $25
Open to all writers, this award seeks personal essays of any form or style under 5,000 words. Works should be evocative, thought-provoking, and sincere (“if it’s humorous, even better!”).
Due: 06-30-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $20
Open to all writers, this contest seeks a single open or prose story. Poetry is should be 30 lines or few and prose should be five pages or less (any subject of theme, fiction or non-fiction).
Due: 07-31-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $500
Submission Fee: $10 (prose), $5 (poetry)
Open to all writers, this prize seeks submission for poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. All full-length collections of poetry (50-80 pages) are eligible. Novels and nonfiction books should be 200-300 pages. In addition to the cash prize (advance against royalties), the winner will receive publication of the book and a $1,500 travel/publicity grant.
Due: 06-30-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $30
Open to all writers, this award seeks an exemplary essay on literary arts education. Submissions for the award should offer compelling portraits of the work done in creative writing classrooms, address important issues in creative writing education, and/or explore the nature of writing life.
Due: 07-01-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $20
Open to writers of color with speculative fiction for publication in Ragazine.CC. This is meant to highlight a type of writing and writers who may not be well known to Ragazine readers, and to give them recognition.
Due: 06-20-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $15
Open to flash fiction writers, submit your 500 word flash fiction for publication in Words with JAM, or opt for £10 feedback on your submission.
Due: 06-30-2013, 09-30-2013, & 12-30-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is £300
Submission Fee: £5
Open to writers of the interior west or writing about the west, judged by David Abrams for publication in High Desert Journal.
Due: 06-30-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $15
Open to all writers; submit your original short story of five pages or less
Due: 07-31-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $500
Submission Fee: $10 per story
Open to all fiction and nonfiction writers. Looking for short shorts, short stories, essays, memoirs, photo essays, graphic stories, all forms of literary nonfiction, and excerpts from longer works of both fiction and nonfiction. Entries must be previously unpublished, and no longer than 15,000 words.
Due: 07-31-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $2500
Submission Fee: $22
Poetry Competitions
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Open to all writers, this prize seeks previously unpublished poems in any style, form, or genre. No more than five poems per entry.
Due: 11-15-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $500
Submission Fee:$15
Open to all poets, this award seeks up to three poetry submissions (10 pages max). All entries are considered for publication.
Due: 06-15-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee:$20
Open to all writers, this prize seeks poetry and prose related to the themes of healthy, healing, illness, the mind, and the body. Prose should be limited to 5000 words and poetry should not include more than three poems.
Due: 07-01-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000 (per category), Second Prize is $250 (honorable mention)
Submission Fee: $15
Open to all writers, this award seeks a manuscript of poetry at least 54 pages. Along with the cash prize, the manuscript will be published with Parlor Press LLC.
Due: 06-30-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $25
Open to all writers, this award seeks book-length works of fiction or poetry. Fiction entries may be either a novel or a collection of short stories. Entries must be longer than 64 pages.
Due: 05-17-2013 & 11-01-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $500
Submission Fee: $25
Open to all writers, this award seeks original, previously unpublished poetry of up to 3 poems (max of 60 lines each).
Due: 07-15-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $750, Second Prize is $250
Submission Fee: $20
Open to all writers, this contest seeks up to five unpublished poems (no more than ten pages total). All poems submitted will be considered for publication. In addition to the cash prize, the winner’s work will be published in the November/December edition of the Boston Review.
Due: 06-03-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1500
Submission Fee: $20
Open to all poets writing in English, this award seeks manuscripts of poetry of at least 48 pages. Books accepted for the Akron Series in Poetry must exhibit three essential qualities: mastery of language, maturity of feeling, and complexity of thought.
Due: 06-15-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1500
Submission Fee: $25
Open to anyone writing in English, this award seeks 48 to 80 pages of poetry.
Due: 06-15-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $25
Open to all poets writing in English, this prize seeks previously unpublished poetry (up to four poems) with no line limit. Poems may be any length, any style, or any subject.
Due: 07-15-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $5000
Submission Fee: $20
Open to all writers, this contest seeks up to 26 pages of poetry. Previous chapbook publication does not apply. The top ten finalists will be offered publication.
Due: 07-15-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $15
Open to all poets who have yet to land a book publication, this prize seeks manuscripts of poetry. In addition to the cash prize, the winner will receive 25 contributor copies.
Due: 06-30-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $25
Open to all writers, this prize seeks full-length collections of poetry of 50-80 pages in length. In addition to the cash prize, the winner will receive publication and a $1500 travel grant to promote his or her book.
Due: 06-30-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $30
Open to all writers, this award seeks a previously unpublished manuscript of poetry. Submissions should be between 50 and 80 pages.
Due: 06-30-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $25
Open to all writers, this away seeks 48-80 pages of original poetry written in English. Individual poems may have been previously published but the collection must be unpublished as a whole. In addition to the cash prize, the winner will receive publication and 25 contributor copies.
Due: 06-30-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $25
Open to all writers who have either never published a full-length book of poetry or who have published only one full-length book of poetry, this contest seeks manuscripts of up to 120 pages of poetry.
Due: 06-30-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $3000
Submission Fee: $27
Open to all writers, this contest seeks a single open or prose story. Poetry is should be 30 lines or few and prose should be five pages or less (any subject of theme, fiction or non-fiction).
Due: 07-31-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $500
Submission Fee: $10 (prose), $5 (poetry)
Open to all writers, this award seeks a full-length book of poetry between 48-76 pages. Submissions should include a table of contents, acknowledgements, and two title pages.
Due: 06-30-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $30
Open to all writers, this prize seeks submission for poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. All full-length collections of poetry (50-80 pages) are eligible. Novels and nonfiction books should be 200-300 pages. In addition to the cash prize (advance against royalties), the winner will receive publication of the book and a $1,500 travel/publicity grant.
Due: 06-30-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $30
Open to all writers, this award seeks unpublished poems (cannot be published or in consideration anywhere). Submissions should not exceed 40 lines.
Due: 07-01-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $5
Open to all writers, this award seeks works of unpublished poetry that explore and illuminate positive visions of peace and the human spirit. There are three possible categories: adult, youth (13-18), and youth (12 and under).
Due: 07-01-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $15
Open to all writers, this award seeks a book of poems ranging from 50 to 75 pages. The winner will be published with Southern Illinois University Press, receive a prize of $2000, and a $1500 honorarium for a reading at the university.
Due: 07-06-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $3500
Submission Fee: $25
Submit up to 5 unpublished poems (but not simultaneously) and be considered for publication in the Newfound Journal and up to $1,000.
Due: 08-15-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $17
Send in any unpublished poem under 2,000 words for a chance at $1,000 and publication
Due: 07-15-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $15
Send up to three short shorts or prose poetry, a maximum of 500 words each for a chance at cash and publication in the Indiana Review.
Due: 08-01-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $20
Open to all writers, enter up to 3 poems no more than 2 manuscript pages long for cash and publication in Peregrine.
Due: 07-01-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $18
Open to poets of all styles, Flash 500 is looking for original poems of any style of humor for publication in Words with JAM.
Due: 06-30-2013, 09-30-2013, & 12-30-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is £150
Submission Fee: £3
Open to all poets; submit your 30 or less lined original poem on any subject or theme.
Due: 07-31-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $250
Submission Fee: $5 per poem
Published Writers Awards
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Open to all writers, submit your manuscript (in English) by snail mail or online, and be considered for publication with Bauhan Publishing. Whether it is your first book or one of many, all kinds of manuscripts are welcome. Please do not include acknowledgements, biographical information, or dedication pages at this stage.
Due: 06-30-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $1000
Submission Fee: $25
Open to writers of Nonfiction, Fiction, and Poetry. Submit your 200-300 page manuscript to Autumn House Press and become eligible for publication. Submissions will be judged first by Sharon Dilworth and Heather Cazad, all final judging will be done by Kathleen George.
Due: 06-30-2013
PRIZES: First Prize is $2500
Submission Fee: $30
Residencies and Fellowships
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