Writing Contests
Tethered by Letters provides the most up-to-date information on writing contests. Do you have a contest to add? Contact us with all the details!
Memoirs |
North Street Book Prize for Self-Published BooksOpen to all writers, this contest seeks self-published books of up to 150,000 words. Works should be general fiction (literary and genre fiction), young adult fiction or creative nonfiction/memoirs. A winner in each category will be awarded the cash prize of $1,500, among other things. Any year of publication is acceptable. Medium: print | Fee: $60 | Categories: Memoirs, Fiction Prose, Books, Book Awards prize $1,500 length 150,000 words deadline 7 days June 30 |
Fiction Prose |
2017 New American Fiction PrizeOpen to all writers, this contest seeks a book of fiction. This may be a collection of short stories or flash fiction, a novella, or a novel of at least 100 pages. Grand prize is $1,000 and publication. Lori Ostend will judge. Medium: print | Fee: $25 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Books prize $1,000 length minimum 100 pages deadline 7 days June 30 |
North Street Book Prize for Self-Published BooksOpen to all writers, this contest seeks self-published books of up to 150,000 words. Works should be general fiction (literary and genre fiction), young adult fiction or creative nonfiction/memoirs. A winner in each category will be awarded the cash prize of $1,500, among other things. Any year of publication is acceptable. Medium: print | Fee: $60 | Categories: Memoirs, Fiction Prose, Books, Book Awards prize $1,500 length 150,000 words deadline 7 days June 30 |
2017 Autumn House Press Full-Length ContestsOpen to all writers, this contest seeks full length manuscripts for poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Poetry should be 50-80 pages in length, fiction should be 200-300 pages (and all fiction sub-genres or any combination of sub-genres are eligible), and nonfiction should be 200-300 pages. A winner in each category will receive publication. All finalists will be considered for publication. Medium: print | Fee: $30 | Categories: Fiction Prose, Nonfiction Prose, Poetry, Books prize $2,500 length 200-300 pages deadline 7 days June 30 |
Drue Heinz Literature PrizeOpen to writers who have published a book-length collection of fiction or at least three short stories or novellas in nationally distributed magazines or journals, this contest seeks an unpublished book length collection of short fiction (150-300 pages). Winner receives $15,000 and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press. Medium: print | Fee: FREE | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Books prize $15,000 length 150-300 pages deadline 7 days June 30 |
The Francine Ringold Awards for New WritersOpen to writers with no more than two previous publication credits, this contest seeks fiction and poetry. For fiction, no more than 5,000 words (one short story or a self-contained excerpt from a novel). For poetry, submit up to five pages (either one poem or several short poems). Open internationally. All finalists will be considered for publication. Entry fee includes a copy of the spring issue. A winner in each category will be awarded. Medium: print | Fee: $12 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Poetry prize $500 length maximum 5,000 deadline 22 days July 15 |
Crazyshorts! Short-Short Fiction CompetitionOpen to all writers, this contest seeks short fiction. Each entry may contain three short-shorts of up to 500 words each. First place wins $1,000 and publication; three runners-up will be announced. All entries will be considered for publication. Medium: print and online | Fee: $15 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose prize $1,000 length maximum 500 words deadline 38 days July 31 |
Violet Reed Haas Prize for Poetry & Serena McDonald Kennedy Fiction AwardOpen to all writers, these contests seek poetry and fiction manuscripts, respectively. Poetry manuscripts should be between 75-100 pages. Fiction manuscripts may be a novella of up to 50,000 words or a manuscript of short stories of up to 200 pages. Any topic will be considered. Previously published works for each will be accepted. Prize for each is $1,000 and publication. Medium: print and online | Fee: $25 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Poetry, Books prize $1,00 length maximum 200 pages deadline 69 days August 31 |
9th Annual Gemini Magazine Flash Fiction ContestOpen to all writers, this contest seeks flash fiction of 1,000 words or less. Any subject, style, or genre accepted. A grand prize of $1,000 will be awarded, as well as a second prize ($100) and four honorable mentions ($25 each). All six finalists will be published online and in the October 2017 issue of Gemini. Medium: online | Fee: $5 | Estimated Callback: October 31 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose prize $1,000 length 1,000 maximum words deadline 69 days August 31 |
Black Warrior Review 2017 ContestOpen to all writer, this contest seeks poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Fiction and nonfiction should be up to 7,000 words, while poetry can be a packet of up to three poems. Multiple and simultaneous submissions are allowed. Winner will be announced in October. Grand prize of $1,000 in each category will be awarded, as well as a runner-up in each category (who will earn $100 and publication online). Medium: print | Fee: $20 | Estimated Callback: October 31 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Nonfiction Prose, Poetry prize $1,000 length maximum 7,000 words deadline 70 days September 01 |
FanStory Romance Writing ContestOpen to all writers, this contest seeks romance writing. No more than 5,000 words. First place prize is $100. Fee: $9.95 to enter this and all contests at FanStory (over $5,000 in cash prizes). Medium: print and online | Fee: $9.95 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose prize $100 length maximum 5,000 words deadline 141 days November 11 |
Nonfiction Prose |
2017 Autumn House Press Full-Length ContestsOpen to all writers, this contest seeks full length manuscripts for poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Poetry should be 50-80 pages in length, fiction should be 200-300 pages (and all fiction sub-genres or any combination of sub-genres are eligible), and nonfiction should be 200-300 pages. A winner in each category will receive publication. All finalists will be considered for publication. Medium: print | Fee: $30 | Categories: Fiction Prose, Nonfiction Prose, Poetry, Books prize $2,500 length 200-300 pages deadline 7 days June 30 |
Black Warrior Review 2017 ContestOpen to all writer, this contest seeks poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Fiction and nonfiction should be up to 7,000 words, while poetry can be a packet of up to three poems. Multiple and simultaneous submissions are allowed. Winner will be announced in October. Grand prize of $1,000 in each category will be awarded, as well as a runner-up in each category (who will earn $100 and publication online). Medium: print | Fee: $20 | Estimated Callback: October 31 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Nonfiction Prose, Poetry prize $1,000 length maximum 7,000 words deadline 70 days September 01 |
FanStory Non-Fiction Writing ContestOpen to all writers, this contest seeks all forms of non-fiction writing. No more than 5,000 words. First place prize is $100. Fee: $9.95 to enter this and all contests at FanStory (over $5,000 in cash prizes). Medium: print and online | Fee: $9.95 | Categories: Nonfiction Prose prize $100 length maximum 5,000 words deadline 113 days October 14 |
The Writing Pittsburgh Book PrizeOpen to all writers, this contest seeks creative nonfiction book manuscripts focusing on a subject of regional and national significance, by a writer with a meaningful Pittsburgh connection. Author of the winning manuscript will receive a $10,000 honorarium, publication of their book, national distribution, and a marketing and publicity campaign. Manuscripts will be judged on originality, the subject’s broad appeal and resonance with a national readership, interpretation of the “Writing Pittsburgh” theme, and literary quality and strength of prose. Winner will be announced in February 2018. Medium: print | Fee: $25 | Categories: Nonfiction Prose, Books, Book Awards prize $1,000 deadline 122 days October 23 |
There are currently no contests available in this category. |
Journal/General |
There are currently no contests available in this category. |
Poetry |
2017 Burnside Review Chapbook ContestOpen to all writers, this contest seeks poetry chapbooks between 18 and 24 pages of poetry. Winner will receive $200 and 10 copies of their book. Judge is Diane Seuss. Chapbooks are elegantly designed with letterpresses covers. Medium: print | Fee: $15 | Categories: Poetry, Books, Book Awards prize $200 length 18–24 pages deadline 7 days June 30 |
Bauhan Publishing’s May Sarton New Hampshire Poetry PrizeOpen to all poets, new and experienced, this annual prize is awarded for a book-length (50-80 pages) collection of poetry. The collection as a whole must be previously unpublished. We accept multiple submissions. All submissions go directly to this year's judge, poet Jennifer Militello, we do not pre-screen manuscripts. The winner receives $1,000, publication of their collection, 100 copies, and distribution with our other titles through University Press of New England. Cost per submission is $25, we accept submissions online via Submittable and print manuscripts. Deadline for submissions is June 30, 2017. Medium: print | Fee: $25 | Categories: Poetry, Books, Book Awards prize $1,000 length 50–80 pages deadline 7 days June 30 |
2017 Autumn House Press Full-Length ContestsOpen to all writers, this contest seeks full length manuscripts for poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Poetry should be 50-80 pages in length, fiction should be 200-300 pages (and all fiction sub-genres or any combination of sub-genres are eligible), and nonfiction should be 200-300 pages. A winner in each category will receive publication. All finalists will be considered for publication. Medium: print | Fee: $30 | Categories: Fiction Prose, Nonfiction Prose, Poetry, Books prize $2,500 length 200-300 pages deadline 7 days June 30 |
Island Verse Poetry Chapbook PrizeOpen to all writers 18 years old and up who have not published a full-length collection of poetry, this contest seeks poetry chapbooks between 22 and 28 pages. Winner will receive $250 honorarium, publication, and 10 author copies of their chapbook. Individual poems may be previously published. Medium: print | Fee: $20 | Categories: Poetry, Books prize $250 length 22-28 pages deadline 7 days June 30 |
Rabbit Catastrophe Press’ Real Good Poem PrizeOpen to all writers, this contest seeks poetry. Each entry may include up to three poems. Multiple submissions are allowed. Entry fee includes subscription. Poems must be written in English. No previously published work accepted. Grand prize is $2,000 plus 25 original limited edition broadsides and publication in Rabbit Catastrophe Review. Medium: print | Fee: $20 | Categories: Poetry prize $2,000 deadline 7 days June 30 |
First Annual Tupelo Broadside PrizeOpen to all writers writing in the English language, this contest seeks poetry. Each entry should consist of up to 3-5 poems, max. 21 lines each, in one file. The editors of Tupelo Press will choose three winners who will each receive $350 in addition to broadside publication, 20 copies of the winning broadside, and publication in Tupelo Quarterly. Simultaneous submissions allowed. Results will be announced in early fall. Medium: print | Fee: $22 | Categories: Poetry prize $350 length maximum 21 lines deadline 8 days July 01 |
$10,000 Rattle Poetry PrizeOpen to all writers, this contest seeks poetry. Each entry may contain up to four poems, and there is no line limit. Poems may be any length, style, or subject. Multiple entries accepted, as well as simultaneous submissions. Medium: print and online | Fee: $20 | Categories: Poetry prize $10,000 deadline 22 days July 15 |
2017 Tomaž Šalamun PrizeOpen to all writers, this contest seeks a poetry chapbook between 18-28 pages in length. Prize is open to poets at any stage of their career. Winner will receive $500, chapbook publication, and a one-month residency at the Tomaž Šalamun Center for Poetry in downtown Ljubljana, Slovenia. Medium: print | Fee: $12 | Categories: Poetry, Books, Book Awards prize $500 length 18-28 pages deadline 22 days July 15 |
The Francine Ringold Awards for New WritersOpen to writers with no more than two previous publication credits, this contest seeks fiction and poetry. For fiction, no more than 5,000 words (one short story or a self-contained excerpt from a novel). For poetry, submit up to five pages (either one poem or several short poems). Open internationally. All finalists will be considered for publication. Entry fee includes a copy of the spring issue. A winner in each category will be awarded. Medium: print | Fee: $12 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Poetry prize $500 length maximum 5,000 deadline 22 days July 15 |
2018 Press 53 Award for PoetryOpen to all writers in the United States, this contest seeks poetry manuscripts between 60 and 120 pages. Previously published poems may be included, but the work as a whole should be unpublished. Winner will be announced on or before November 1, 2017. Medium: print | Fee: $30 | Categories: Poetry, Books prize $1,000 length 60-120 pages deadline 38 days July 31 |
Violet Reed Haas Prize for Poetry & Serena McDonald Kennedy Fiction AwardOpen to all writers, these contests seek poetry and fiction manuscripts, respectively. Poetry manuscripts should be between 75-100 pages. Fiction manuscripts may be a novella of up to 50,000 words or a manuscript of short stories of up to 200 pages. Any topic will be considered. Previously published works for each will be accepted. Prize for each is $1,000 and publication. Medium: print and online | Fee: $25 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Poetry, Books prize $1,00 length maximum 200 pages deadline 69 days August 31 |
Black Warrior Review 2017 ContestOpen to all writer, this contest seeks poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Fiction and nonfiction should be up to 7,000 words, while poetry can be a packet of up to three poems. Multiple and simultaneous submissions are allowed. Winner will be announced in October. Grand prize of $1,000 in each category will be awarded, as well as a runner-up in each category (who will earn $100 and publication online). Medium: print | Fee: $20 | Estimated Callback: October 31 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Nonfiction Prose, Poetry prize $1,000 length maximum 7,000 words deadline 70 days September 01 |
FanStory Short Poem ContestOpen to all writers, this contest seeks poems that have exactly 20 syllables. First place prize is $100. Fee: 9.95 to enter this and all contests at FanStory (over $5,000 in cash prizes). Medium: print and online | Fee: $9.95 | Categories: Poetry prize $100 deadline 133 days November 03 |
Screenwriting |
There are currently no contests available in this category. |
Books |
2017 New American Fiction PrizeOpen to all writers, this contest seeks a book of fiction. This may be a collection of short stories or flash fiction, a novella, or a novel of at least 100 pages. Grand prize is $1,000 and publication. Lori Ostend will judge. Medium: print | Fee: $25 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Books prize $1,000 length minimum 100 pages deadline 7 days June 30 |
2017 Burnside Review Chapbook ContestOpen to all writers, this contest seeks poetry chapbooks between 18 and 24 pages of poetry. Winner will receive $200 and 10 copies of their book. Judge is Diane Seuss. Chapbooks are elegantly designed with letterpresses covers. Medium: print | Fee: $15 | Categories: Poetry, Books, Book Awards prize $200 length 18–24 pages deadline 7 days June 30 |
North Street Book Prize for Self-Published BooksOpen to all writers, this contest seeks self-published books of up to 150,000 words. Works should be general fiction (literary and genre fiction), young adult fiction or creative nonfiction/memoirs. A winner in each category will be awarded the cash prize of $1,500, among other things. Any year of publication is acceptable. Medium: print | Fee: $60 | Categories: Memoirs, Fiction Prose, Books, Book Awards prize $1,500 length 150,000 words deadline 7 days June 30 |
Bauhan Publishing’s May Sarton New Hampshire Poetry PrizeOpen to all poets, new and experienced, this annual prize is awarded for a book-length (50-80 pages) collection of poetry. The collection as a whole must be previously unpublished. We accept multiple submissions. All submissions go directly to this year's judge, poet Jennifer Militello, we do not pre-screen manuscripts. The winner receives $1,000, publication of their collection, 100 copies, and distribution with our other titles through University Press of New England. Cost per submission is $25, we accept submissions online via Submittable and print manuscripts. Deadline for submissions is June 30, 2017. Medium: print | Fee: $25 | Categories: Poetry, Books, Book Awards prize $1,000 length 50–80 pages deadline 7 days June 30 |
2017 Autumn House Press Full-Length ContestsOpen to all writers, this contest seeks full length manuscripts for poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Poetry should be 50-80 pages in length, fiction should be 200-300 pages (and all fiction sub-genres or any combination of sub-genres are eligible), and nonfiction should be 200-300 pages. A winner in each category will receive publication. All finalists will be considered for publication. Medium: print | Fee: $30 | Categories: Fiction Prose, Nonfiction Prose, Poetry, Books prize $2,500 length 200-300 pages deadline 7 days June 30 |
Island Verse Poetry Chapbook PrizeOpen to all writers 18 years old and up who have not published a full-length collection of poetry, this contest seeks poetry chapbooks between 22 and 28 pages. Winner will receive $250 honorarium, publication, and 10 author copies of their chapbook. Individual poems may be previously published. Medium: print | Fee: $20 | Categories: Poetry, Books prize $250 length 22-28 pages deadline 7 days June 30 |
Drue Heinz Literature PrizeOpen to writers who have published a book-length collection of fiction or at least three short stories or novellas in nationally distributed magazines or journals, this contest seeks an unpublished book length collection of short fiction (150-300 pages). Winner receives $15,000 and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press. Medium: print | Fee: FREE | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Books prize $15,000 length 150-300 pages deadline 7 days June 30 |
2017 Tomaž Šalamun PrizeOpen to all writers, this contest seeks a poetry chapbook between 18-28 pages in length. Prize is open to poets at any stage of their career. Winner will receive $500, chapbook publication, and a one-month residency at the Tomaž Šalamun Center for Poetry in downtown Ljubljana, Slovenia. Medium: print | Fee: $12 | Categories: Poetry, Books, Book Awards prize $500 length 18-28 pages deadline 22 days July 15 |
2018 Press 53 Award for PoetryOpen to all writers in the United States, this contest seeks poetry manuscripts between 60 and 120 pages. Previously published poems may be included, but the work as a whole should be unpublished. Winner will be announced on or before November 1, 2017. Medium: print | Fee: $30 | Categories: Poetry, Books prize $1,000 length 60-120 pages deadline 38 days July 31 |
Violet Reed Haas Prize for Poetry & Serena McDonald Kennedy Fiction AwardOpen to all writers, these contests seek poetry and fiction manuscripts, respectively. Poetry manuscripts should be between 75-100 pages. Fiction manuscripts may be a novella of up to 50,000 words or a manuscript of short stories of up to 200 pages. Any topic will be considered. Previously published works for each will be accepted. Prize for each is $1,000 and publication. Medium: print and online | Fee: $25 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Poetry, Books prize $1,00 length maximum 200 pages deadline 69 days August 31 |
The Writing Pittsburgh Book PrizeOpen to all writers, this contest seeks creative nonfiction book manuscripts focusing on a subject of regional and national significance, by a writer with a meaningful Pittsburgh connection. Author of the winning manuscript will receive a $10,000 honorarium, publication of their book, national distribution, and a marketing and publicity campaign. Manuscripts will be judged on originality, the subject’s broad appeal and resonance with a national readership, interpretation of the “Writing Pittsburgh” theme, and literary quality and strength of prose. Winner will be announced in February 2018. Medium: print | Fee: $25 | Categories: Nonfiction Prose, Books, Book Awards prize $1,000 deadline 122 days October 23 |
Book Awards |
2017 Burnside Review Chapbook ContestOpen to all writers, this contest seeks poetry chapbooks between 18 and 24 pages of poetry. Winner will receive $200 and 10 copies of their book. Judge is Diane Seuss. Chapbooks are elegantly designed with letterpresses covers. Medium: print | Fee: $15 | Categories: Poetry, Books, Book Awards prize $200 length 18–24 pages deadline 7 days June 30 |
North Street Book Prize for Self-Published BooksOpen to all writers, this contest seeks self-published books of up to 150,000 words. Works should be general fiction (literary and genre fiction), young adult fiction or creative nonfiction/memoirs. A winner in each category will be awarded the cash prize of $1,500, among other things. Any year of publication is acceptable. Medium: print | Fee: $60 | Categories: Memoirs, Fiction Prose, Books, Book Awards prize $1,500 length 150,000 words deadline 7 days June 30 |
Bauhan Publishing’s May Sarton New Hampshire Poetry PrizeOpen to all poets, new and experienced, this annual prize is awarded for a book-length (50-80 pages) collection of poetry. The collection as a whole must be previously unpublished. We accept multiple submissions. All submissions go directly to this year's judge, poet Jennifer Militello, we do not pre-screen manuscripts. The winner receives $1,000, publication of their collection, 100 copies, and distribution with our other titles through University Press of New England. Cost per submission is $25, we accept submissions online via Submittable and print manuscripts. Deadline for submissions is June 30, 2017. Medium: print | Fee: $25 | Categories: Poetry, Books, Book Awards prize $1,000 length 50–80 pages deadline 7 days June 30 |
2017 Tomaž Šalamun PrizeOpen to all writers, this contest seeks a poetry chapbook between 18-28 pages in length. Prize is open to poets at any stage of their career. Winner will receive $500, chapbook publication, and a one-month residency at the Tomaž Šalamun Center for Poetry in downtown Ljubljana, Slovenia. Medium: print | Fee: $12 | Categories: Poetry, Books, Book Awards prize $500 length 18-28 pages deadline 22 days July 15 |
The Writing Pittsburgh Book PrizeOpen to all writers, this contest seeks creative nonfiction book manuscripts focusing on a subject of regional and national significance, by a writer with a meaningful Pittsburgh connection. Author of the winning manuscript will receive a $10,000 honorarium, publication of their book, national distribution, and a marketing and publicity campaign. Manuscripts will be judged on originality, the subject’s broad appeal and resonance with a national readership, interpretation of the “Writing Pittsburgh” theme, and literary quality and strength of prose. Winner will be announced in February 2018. Medium: print | Fee: $25 | Categories: Nonfiction Prose, Books, Book Awards prize $1,000 deadline 122 days October 23 |
Residencies/Fellowships/Grants |
There are currently no contests available in this category. |
