Writing Contests :: Books

Deadline Dates
Jan Feb  Mar  Apr  May  June  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec
Open or No Deadline Contests / Awards for Works Published
Please note dates carefully.

 

Most recent update: July 21, 2008

 

new

The "NEW!" graphic indicates recently added or updated.

 

July Deadline
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Crab Orchard Review

Crab Orchard Series in Poetry First Book Award

Deadline: Postmark May 15 - July 1, 2008

Rain Mountain Press

(An imprint of Skidrow Penthouse)

Poetry Chapbook Contest

Deadline: July 1, 2008

University of Michigan Press

Michigan Literary Fiction Awards

For authors who have previously published at least one literary novel or story collection in English.

Deadline: February 1 - July 1

Pearl

Poetry Prize

Book Publication

Deadline: Postmark May 1 - July 15 (annual)

Texas Review Press

X. J. Kennedy Poetry Prize

Deadline: July 15 (annual)

Keyhole

Poetry Chapbook Contest

Deadline: July 30, 2008

Kore Press

First Book Award - Women Poets

Deadline: Postmark July 31, 2008

Rain Farm Press

Paradigm Novel Contest

Deadline: July 31, 2008

 

August Deadline
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Camber Press

Poetry Chapbook Contest

Deadline: Postmark August 15, 2008

Pavement Saw Press

Transcontinental Poetry Award

Deadline: Postmark June-August 15

Subito Press

University of Colorado

Poetry and Fiction Book Contests

Deadline: Postmark June 2 - August 15

Bedbug Press

The Rhea and Seymour Gorsline Poetry Competition

First Book Only

Deadline: Postmark April 15 - August 16, 2008

Many Mountains Moving Press

Poetry Book Contest

Deadline: Postmark August 16, 2008

University of North Texas Press

Katherine Anne Porter Prize in Short Fiction

Deadline: Postmark July 1 - August 29, 2008

Chiasmus Press

Undoing the Novel—First Book Contest

Eligible fiction: innovative novels, anti-novels, novellas, graphic novels, short story collections, hybrids

Deadline: August 30, 2008

Utah State University Press

May Swenson Poetry Award

Deadline: Postmark September 30 (annual)

Black Lawrence Press

St. Lawrence Book Award

For first collection of poems or short stories

Deadline: Postmark August 31, 2008

The National Poetry Review

Book Prize Series

Deadline: Postmark August 31, 2008

 

September Deadline
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University of Notre Dame Press

Sandeen Prize in Poetry

Deadline: May 1 - September 1, 2011

Sullivan Prize in Short Fiction

Deadline: May 1 - September 1, 2012

Northeastern University

University Press of New England

Morse Poetry Prize

Deadline: Postmark September 15, 2008

Texas Review Press

George Garrett Fiction Prize

Book of stories or short novel

Deadline: September 15 (annual)

The Teacher's Voice

Chapbook Contest - All genres

Deadline: September 24, 2008

newFirewheel Editions

Chapbook - Any Genre

Deadline: September 29, 2008

The Journal

Ohio State University

Award in Poetry

Deadline: September Postmark (annual)

New Issues Poetry & Prose

Western Michigan University

The Green Rose Prize in Poetry

Deadline: May 1 - September 30, 2008

The Philip Levine Prize in Poetry

California State University, Fresno and

Anhinga Press

Judge: Dorianne Laux

Deadline: Postmark September 30, 2008

Pudding House Publications

Poetry Chapbook Contest

Deadline: September 30 (annual)

University of Iowa Press

Short Fiction Award & John Simmons Fiction Award

Deadline: Postmark August 1 - September 30 (annual)

University of Massachusetts Press

The Juniper Prize for Fiction

Novels, novellas, and collections of stories

Deadline: Postmark August 1 - September 30, 2008

University of Massachusetts Press

The Juniper Prize for Poetry

Deadline: Postmark August 1 - September 30, 2008

 

October Deadline
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Alice James Books

Kinereth Gensler Award - Poetry

Deadline: Postmark October 1, 2008

C&R Press

2nd Annual De Novo Poetry Contest

Deadline: Postmark October 1, 2008

Caketrain

Chapbook Contest

Deadline: Postmark October 1, 2008

Cleveland State University

Ruthanne Wiley Memorial Novella Contest

Judge: Josip Novakovich

Deadline: April 1, 2008 and October 1, 2008

Switchback Books

The Gatewood Prize

Judge: Denise Duhamel

Deadline: Postmark October 1, 2008

For a first full-length collection of poems by a woman between the ages of 18 and 39 writing in English.

University of Wisconsin Press

Brittingham and Pollak Poetry Prize

Deadline: Postmark Sept 1 - 30 (Received Sept 1 - Oct 1)

Barnard College

The Barnard College Women Poets Prize

Deadline: August 1 - October 15, 2008

Silverfish Review Press

Gerald Cable Book Award for First Book of Poetry

Deadline: Postmark October 15, 2008

Texas Review Press

Clay Reynolds Novella Prize

Deadline: October 15 (annual)

Three Candles Press

Open Book Award (even years)

Deadline: Postmark October 15 (annual)

Sunken Garden Poetry Chapbook Contest

Published with Tupelo Press

Deadline: Postmark Aug 15 - Oct 15, 2008

Quercus Review

Poetry Series Book Award

Deadline: Postmark October 17, 2008

White Crane

James White Poetry Prize for Gay Male Poets

Deadline: October 30 (annual)

Black Lawrence Press

Black River Poetry Chapbook Contest

Deadline: October 31 and May 31 (annual)

The Ledge

Poetry Chapbook Contest

Deadline: Postmark October 31 (annual)

Truman State University Press

T.S. Eliot Prize for Poetry

Deadline: Postmark October 31 (annual)

University of Arkansas Press

Miller Williams Poetry Prize

Deadline: Postmark September - October 2008

Wings Press

Whitebird Chapbook Series Poetry Contest

Deadline: September 1 - October 31 (annual)

 

November Deadline
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American Book Review

Sponsored by Fiction Collective 2 (FC2)

Ronald Sukenick Innovative Fiction Prize

Collection of short stories, one or more novellas, or a novel.

Deadline: Postmark August 15 - November 1, 2008

 

newConcrete Wolf. Poetry. Deadline 11/3/08.

 

Yale University

Yale Series of Younger Poets

Deadline: Postmark October 1 - November 15, 2008

For writers under the age of 40 who have not published a book of poetry.

Codhill Press

Poetry Chapbook Contest

Deadline: Postmark November 14, 2008

New Rivers Press

Many Voices Project Competition

Open Poetry

Prose/Any Genre Closed to Minnesota/New York Residents

Deadline: Postmark September 15 - November 15, 2008

Nightboat Books

Poetry Prize

Deadline: Postmark November 15, 2008

University of North Texas Press

Vassar Miller Prize in Poetry

Deadline: Postmark November 15, 2008

Perugia Press

Intro Award for a First or Second Book of Poetry by a Woman

Deadline: August 1 - November 15 (annual)

newFirewheel Editions

Sentence Book Award - Prose Poems

Deadline: November 17, 2008

Bear Star Press

Dorothy Brunsman Poetry Prize

For writers living west of the central time zone.

Deadline: Postmark September - November 30 (annual)

BOA Editions

A. Poulin, Jr. Poetry Prize

For a poet's first book

Deadline: Postmark August 1 - November 30, 2008

Cider Press Review

Book Award for Poetry Manuscript

Deadline: Postmark September 1 - November 30

New Issues Poetry & Prose

Western Michigan University

The New Issues Poetry Prize for a first book of poems

Deadline: Postmark November 30, 2008

Snake Nation Press

Violet Reed Haas Prize for Poetry

Deadline: November 30, 2008

White Pine Press

Poetry Prize Competition

Deadline: July 1 - Postmark November 30 (annual)

 

December Deadline
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Alice James Books

Beatrice Hawley Award for Poetry

Deadline: Postmark December 1, 2008

Carolina Wren Press

Poetry Prize for First Book

Deadline: December 1, 2008

Flume Press

Poetry Chapbook Contest

Deadline: December 1 (annual)

(Fiction/Poetry in alternating years.)

Rose Metal Press

Short Short Stories Chapbook Contest

Deadline: October 15 - December 1

Slipstream

Poetry Contest

Book Publication

Deadline: December 1 (annual)

University of Evansville Press

The Richard Wilbur Award for Poetry

Deadline: Postmark December 1, 2008

Burnside Review

Fiction Chapbook Contest

Deadline: Postmark September 15 - December 31 (annual)

Poetica Magazine

First Annual Chapbook Contest

Judge: Jane Ellen Glasser

Deadline: September 1 -  December 31, 2008

The Tampa Review

Prize for Poetry

Deadline: Postmark December 31 (annual)

 

January Deadline
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Toadlily Press

Quartet Poetry Chapbook Series

Deadline: January Postmark (annual)

The Ohio State University Press

Prize in Short Fiction

Deadline: January Postmark (annual)

BkMk Press

The G. S. Sharat Chandra Prize for Short Fiction

The John Ciardi Prize for Poetry

Deadline: Postmark January 15, 2009

Main Street Rag

Annual Poetry Book Award

Deadline: Postmark January 31 (annual)

 

February Deadline
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Sarabande Books

The Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry

The Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction

Deadline: Postmark Jan 1 - Feb 15 (annual)

 

March Deadline
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Apprentice House

Loyola University

Chapbook Contest

Deadline: Postmark March 14 (annual)

University of Utah Press

Agha Shahid Ali Prize in Poetry

Deadline: Postmark February 1 - March 31 (annual)

newBriery Creek Press

The Liam Rector First Book Prize for Poetry

Deadline: February 1 - March 30, 2009

 

April Deadline
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Saturnalia Books

Poetry Prize

Deadline: Postmark April only (annual)

University of Iowa Press

Iowa Poetry Prize

Deadline: Postmark during the month of April

University of Pittsburgh Press

Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize Competition

Deadline: Postmark March - April

 

May Deadline
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Anhinga Press

Prize for Poetry

For poets trying to publish a first or second book of poetry in English.

Deadline: February 15 - May 1 (annual)

Sow's Ear Poetry Review

Chapbook Contest

Open March-April only

Deadline: Postmark May 1 (annual)

Spire Press

Spring Poetry Chapbook Contest

Deadline: May 1 (annual)

Ashland Poetry Press

The Richard Snyder Memorial Publication Prize

Deadline: May 15 (annual)

Lost Horse Press

The Idaho Prize for Poetry

Deadline: Postmark May 15

Gival Press

Novel Award

Deadline: Postmark May 30, 2008

Black Lawrence Press

Black River Poetry Chapbook Contest

Deadline: October 31 and May 31 (annual)

Elixir Press

Poetry Award

Deadline: May 31, 2009

(Fiction chapbook competition held in even-numbered years.)

Field Magazine

Oberlin College Press Poetry Prize

Deadline: Postmark during May

(*Guidelines available in March)

University of Georgia Press

Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction

Deadline: Postmark April - May

June Deadline
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Texas Review Press

Robert Phillips Poetry Chapbook Prize

Deadline: June 15 (annual)

University of Akron Press

Akron Poetry Prize

Deadline: Postmark May 15 to June 30 (annual)

Autumn House Press

Poetry and Fiction Contests

Deadline: Postmark June 30 (annual)

University of Akron

Akron Poetry Prize

Deadline: Postmark May 15 - June 30 (annual)

 

Awards for Published Works
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Arc Poetry Society

Lampman-Scott Award for Poetry

For an outstanding book of English-language poetry by an author living in the National Capital Region, Canada, published between January and December 2007.

Deadline: Postmark January 31, 2008.

Elysian Fields Quarterly

The Dave Moore Award

For "the most important work of literature on baseball from the previous year."

Deadline: November 15, 2007

Paterson Literary Review

Passaic County Community College

Paterson Poetry Prize

For a book of poems published in 2006 must be 48 pages or more and have a print run of 500 copies or more         Deadline: February 1, 2008

Paterson Prize for Books for Young People

For a book published in 2006 for following categories Pre-K - Grade 3; Grades 4 - 6; Grades 7 - 12

Deadline: March 15, 2008

Paterson Fiction Prize

For a novel or collection of short fiction published in 2006      Deadline: April 1, 2008

Shenandoah

The Glasgow Prize for Emerging Writers

For writers of poetry with only one published book in that genre.

Deadline: March 15 - March 31

(2008 - Creative Nonfiction; 2009 - Short Stories; 2010 - Poetry)

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Grassroots Undergrad Lit Mag

Devil's Kitchen Reading Awards

Deadline: Postmarked Dec 1, 2007 - Feb 1, 2008

The University of Pittsburgh Press

Drue Heinz Literature Prize

For writers of short fiction and makes their work available to readers around the world. Open to writers who have published a book-length collection of fiction or at least three short stories or novellas in commercial magazines or literary journals.

Deadline: Postmark May - June