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
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
Firewheel
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
Concrete 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)
Firewheel
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)
Briery 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