Writing Contests
Tethered by Letters provides the most up-to-date information on writing contests. Do you have a contest to add? Contact hmaimaris[at]tetheredbyletters[dot]com with all the details!
Memoirs |
2017 The Epoch Times Inspiring the World Writing ContestOpen to all writers, this contest seeks short, inspiring journalism articles with viral potential on social media. Articles should be between 500 and 1,000 words long. Stories should capture any of the following themes: compassion, redemption, triumph of the human spirit, or life’s surprises. Events written about must be true. A first prize of $5,000, a second prize of $3,000, and a third prize of $1,500 will be awarded, as well as honorable mention(s). Medium: online | Fee: FREE | Categories: Memoirs, Nonfiction Prose prize $5,000 length 500 - 1,000 words deadline 34 days September 18 |
Fiction Prose |
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 16 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 16 days August 31 |
The Writing District CompetitionOpen to all writers, this contest runs every month. The contest seeks short stories of no more than 3,000 words. Entries must be in English. One entry per person, per month. Open theme. Medium: online | Fee: FREE | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose prize $50 length maximum 3,000 words deadline 16 days August 31 |
Black Warrior Review 2017 ContestOpen to all writers, 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 ($30 for international) | Estimated Callback: October 31 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Nonfiction Prose, Poetry prize $1,000 length maximum 7,000 words deadline 17 days September 01 |
2017 concīs Pith of Prose and Poem ContestOpen to all writers, this contest seeks poetry or prose, up to 250 words or 25 lines. One entry per author, but each entry may contain up to two unpublished poems, prose poems, visual poems, flash fictions, micro-essays, or other prose. A first ($250), second ($150), and third place prize ($100) will be awarded, as well as a $50 honorable mention. Fee: FREE | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Nonfiction Prose, Poetry prize $250 length maximum 250 words deadline 19 days September 03 |
Barthelme Prize for Short ProseOpen to all writers, this contest seeks prose poetry, flash fiction, and micro-essays of 500 words or fewer. Winner receives $1,000 and publication in the journal. Two honorable mentions will receive $250, and all entries will be considered for paid publication on the website as Online Exclusives. This year’s judge is Roxane Gay. Medium: print and online | Fee: $18 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Nonfiction Prose, Poetry prize $1,000 length maximum 500 words deadline 26 days September 10 |
2017 Consequence Magazine Women Writing War AwardOpen to all women writers and those identifying as women, this contest seeks fiction (one story, no more than 15 pages) and poetry (no more than three poems). Entries must capture the nuances of the cultures and consequences of war. The topic is not limited to military matters but includes social, political, and cultural subjects. A first prize will be awarded for each category. Medium: print and online | Fee: $10 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Poetry prize $250 length maximum 15 pages deadline 47 days October 01 |
The Missouri Review’s Jeffrey E. Smith Editors’ PrizeOpen to all writers, this contest seeks fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Fiction and nonfiction should be up to 8,500 words, and poetry may be any number of poems up to 10 pages. Multiple submissions and simultaneous submissions are welcome. Entries must be previously unpublished. Each entrant receives a one-year subscription to the Missouri Review in digital format. A winner in each category will be selected. Medium: print | Fee: $22 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Nonfiction Prose, Poetry prize $5,000 length maximum 8,500 words deadline 48 days October 02 |
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 88 days November 11 |
Dialogue Only Writing ContestOpen to all writers, this contest seeks stories that are written only using dialogue. Much like listening in on a phone conversation, you can find out many details through dialogue only, and that’s the challenge here. Share a complete story but only include dialogue. First place prize is $100. Medium: online | Fee: $9.95 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose prize $100 deadline 151 days January 13 |
Dribble Flash FictionOpen to all writers, this contest seeks flash fiction of only 50 words. Can you write a complete story with only 50 words? First place prize is $100. Medium: online | Fee: $9.95 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose prize $100 deadline 151 days January 13 |
Nonfiction Prose |
Black Warrior Review 2017 ContestOpen to all writers, 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 ($30 for international) | Estimated Callback: October 31 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Nonfiction Prose, Poetry prize $1,000 length maximum 7,000 words deadline 17 days September 01 |
2017 concīs Pith of Prose and Poem ContestOpen to all writers, this contest seeks poetry or prose, up to 250 words or 25 lines. One entry per author, but each entry may contain up to two unpublished poems, prose poems, visual poems, flash fictions, micro-essays, or other prose. A first ($250), second ($150), and third place prize ($100) will be awarded, as well as a $50 honorable mention. Fee: FREE | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Nonfiction Prose, Poetry prize $250 length maximum 250 words deadline 19 days September 03 |
Barthelme Prize for Short ProseOpen to all writers, this contest seeks prose poetry, flash fiction, and micro-essays of 500 words or fewer. Winner receives $1,000 and publication in the journal. Two honorable mentions will receive $250, and all entries will be considered for paid publication on the website as Online Exclusives. This year’s judge is Roxane Gay. Medium: print and online | Fee: $18 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Nonfiction Prose, Poetry prize $1,000 length maximum 500 words deadline 26 days September 10 |
2017 The Epoch Times Inspiring the World Writing ContestOpen to all writers, this contest seeks short, inspiring journalism articles with viral potential on social media. Articles should be between 500 and 1,000 words long. Stories should capture any of the following themes: compassion, redemption, triumph of the human spirit, or life’s surprises. Events written about must be true. A first prize of $5,000, a second prize of $3,000, and a third prize of $1,500 will be awarded, as well as honorable mention(s). Medium: online | Fee: FREE | Categories: Memoirs, Nonfiction Prose prize $5,000 length 500 - 1,000 words deadline 34 days September 18 |
The Missouri Review’s Jeffrey E. Smith Editors’ PrizeOpen to all writers, this contest seeks fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Fiction and nonfiction should be up to 8,500 words, and poetry may be any number of poems up to 10 pages. Multiple submissions and simultaneous submissions are welcome. Entries must be previously unpublished. Each entrant receives a one-year subscription to the Missouri Review in digital format. A winner in each category will be selected. Medium: print | Fee: $22 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Nonfiction Prose, Poetry prize $5,000 length maximum 8,500 words deadline 48 days October 02 |
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 60 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 69 days October 23 |
True StoryOpen to all writers, this contest seeks creative nonfiction. Share insight into your thoughts and feelings during an event from your life. For an example see the contest announcement. First place prize is $100. Medium: online | Fee: $9.95 | Categories: Nonfiction Prose prize $100 deadline 151 days January 13 |
There are currently no contests available in this category. |
Journal/General |
There are currently no contests available in this category. |
Poetry |
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 16 days August 31 |
Black Warrior Review 2017 ContestOpen to all writers, 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 ($30 for international) | Estimated Callback: October 31 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Nonfiction Prose, Poetry prize $1,000 length maximum 7,000 words deadline 17 days September 01 |
2017 concīs Pith of Prose and Poem ContestOpen to all writers, this contest seeks poetry or prose, up to 250 words or 25 lines. One entry per author, but each entry may contain up to two unpublished poems, prose poems, visual poems, flash fictions, micro-essays, or other prose. A first ($250), second ($150), and third place prize ($100) will be awarded, as well as a $50 honorable mention. Fee: FREE | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Nonfiction Prose, Poetry prize $250 length maximum 250 words deadline 19 days September 03 |
Barthelme Prize for Short ProseOpen to all writers, this contest seeks prose poetry, flash fiction, and micro-essays of 500 words or fewer. Winner receives $1,000 and publication in the journal. Two honorable mentions will receive $250, and all entries will be considered for paid publication on the website as Online Exclusives. This year’s judge is Roxane Gay. Medium: print and online | Fee: $18 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Nonfiction Prose, Poetry prize $1,000 length maximum 500 words deadline 26 days September 10 |
Diode Editions Full Length Book and Chapbook Contest: PoetryOpen to writers over the age of 18 writing in English, this contest seeks poetry chapbook manuscripts between 18 and 38 pages. Translations will be considered, as well as collaborations. Winner will be announced by Sept. 30, 2017. More than one winner may be announced. Winner(s) will be published by March 1. Multiple submissions, along with multiple entry fees, are acceptable. Medium: print | Fee: $12 | Estimated Callback: September 30 | Categories: Poetry, Books prize $250 length 18 - 38 pages deadline 31 days September 15 |
Philip Levine Prize for Poetry 2017Open to all writers, this contest seeks poetry book manuscripts between 48 – 80 pages. Manuscripts should be previously unpublished. Winner will receive $2,000, publication, 25 author copies, and a public reading at California State University, Fresno. Medium: print | Fee: $25 by mail, $28 by Submittable | Categories: Poetry, Books, Book Awards prize $2,000 length 48 – 80 pages deadline 46 days September 30 |
Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry ContestOpen to all writers, this contest seeks poetry of no more than 250 lines. Both published and unpublished work accepted. A top prize of $1,500 will be awarded to both a poem in any style and a poem that rhymes or has a traditional style. Winning entries will be published online. Medium: online | Fee: $12 | Categories: Poetry prize $1,500 length maximum 250 lines deadline 46 days September 30 |
13th Annual Mudfish Poetry PrizeOpen to all writers, this contest seeks poetry. Up to three poems can be submitted with the entry fee, and each additional poem after will cost $3. First place will receive $1,200 and publication in Mudfish, with two honorable mentions also receiving publication. All entries will be considered for publication. Medium: print | Fee: $20 | Categories: Poetry prize $1,200 deadline 46 days September 30 |
2017 Consequence Magazine Women Writing War AwardOpen to all women writers and those identifying as women, this contest seeks fiction (one story, no more than 15 pages) and poetry (no more than three poems). Entries must capture the nuances of the cultures and consequences of war. The topic is not limited to military matters but includes social, political, and cultural subjects. A first prize will be awarded for each category. Medium: print and online | Fee: $10 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Poetry prize $250 length maximum 15 pages deadline 47 days October 01 |
The Missouri Review’s Jeffrey E. Smith Editors’ PrizeOpen to all writers, this contest seeks fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Fiction and nonfiction should be up to 8,500 words, and poetry may be any number of poems up to 10 pages. Multiple submissions and simultaneous submissions are welcome. Entries must be previously unpublished. Each entrant receives a one-year subscription to the Missouri Review in digital format. A winner in each category will be selected. Medium: print | Fee: $22 | Categories: Short Stories, Fiction Prose, Nonfiction Prose, Poetry prize $5,000 length maximum 8,500 words deadline 48 days October 02 |
2017 Coal Hill Review Chapbook ContestOpen to all writers, this contest seeks poetry chapbooks between 12 – 20 pages. Simultaneous submissions allowed. Manuscripts will not be returned. All finalists will be considered for publication. Finalists will be notified in November, and the winner will be posted by December 15. Medium: print | Fee: $20 | Categories: Poetry, Books prize $1,000 length 12 - 20 pages deadline 78 days November 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 80 days November 03 |
Acrostic Poetry ContestOpen to all writers, this contest seeks acrostic poems. An acrostic is a poem where the first letter of each line spells out a word, and is often a form used for love poems, where the acrostic spells out a name. See an example in the contest announcement. First place prize is $100. Medium: online | Fee: $9.95 | Categories: Poetry prize $100 deadline 151 days January 13 |
Screenwriting |
Stories and Pilots: A Screenwriting CompetitionOpen to all writers, this contest seeks screenplays. Work must be original and not based on any source material. Writers should submit a 5-10 page pilot. Pilots will be selected based on originality, proficiency, and their potential as a web series. Notifications will be made by 10/15/2017. Medium: online | Fee: $25 | Categories: Screenwriting prize $1,000 length 5 - 10 pages deadline 51 days October 05 |
Books |
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 16 days August 31 |
Diode Editions Full Length Book and Chapbook Contest: PoetryOpen to writers over the age of 18 writing in English, this contest seeks poetry chapbook manuscripts between 18 and 38 pages. Translations will be considered, as well as collaborations. Winner will be announced by Sept. 30, 2017. More than one winner may be announced. Winner(s) will be published by March 1. Multiple submissions, along with multiple entry fees, are acceptable. Medium: print | Fee: $12 | Estimated Callback: September 30 | Categories: Poetry, Books prize $250 length 18 - 38 pages deadline 31 days September 15 |
Philip Levine Prize for Poetry 2017Open to all writers, this contest seeks poetry book manuscripts between 48 – 80 pages. Manuscripts should be previously unpublished. Winner will receive $2,000, publication, 25 author copies, and a public reading at California State University, Fresno. Medium: print | Fee: $25 by mail, $28 by Submittable | Categories: Poetry, Books, Book Awards prize $2,000 length 48 – 80 pages deadline 46 days September 30 |
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 69 days October 23 |
2017 Coal Hill Review Chapbook ContestOpen to all writers, this contest seeks poetry chapbooks between 12 – 20 pages. Simultaneous submissions allowed. Manuscripts will not be returned. All finalists will be considered for publication. Finalists will be notified in November, and the winner will be posted by December 15. Medium: print | Fee: $20 | Categories: Poetry, Books prize $1,000 length 12 - 20 pages deadline 78 days November 01 |
Book Awards |
Philip Levine Prize for Poetry 2017Open to all writers, this contest seeks poetry book manuscripts between 48 – 80 pages. Manuscripts should be previously unpublished. Winner will receive $2,000, publication, 25 author copies, and a public reading at California State University, Fresno. Medium: print | Fee: $25 by mail, $28 by Submittable | Categories: Poetry, Books, Book Awards prize $2,000 length 48 – 80 pages deadline 46 days September 30 |
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 69 days October 23 |
Residencies/Fellowships/Grants |
There are currently no contests available in this category. |
