Writing Contests

Poetry Contests, Fiction Contests, Creative Nonfiction, Flash Fiction, Essay and Photography Contests, and more! Contests for publications, publishers and universities listed in NewPages.com. Book contests listed separately.

Deadline Dates
Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  June  July  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec

Open or No Deadline Contests / Awards for Works Published
Please note dates carefully.

 

Most recent updated January 3, 2009

 

newThe "NEW!" graphic indicates recently added/updated.

 

January Deadline
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Dark Sky Magazine

Piccolo Fiction Open

$200/150/50 + Publication for one or more

Deadline: Postmark January 9, 2009

The Florida Review

Young Voices Award for Prose and Poetry

Open to HS Students

$15 entry fee includes 1-year subscription

Deadline: December 1, 2008

Deadline Extended: January 15, 2009

The Journal

William Allen Creative Nonfiction Prize

Deadline: Postmark January 15 (annual)

PRISM International

Poetry Contest

$1000/300/200

Short Fiction Contest

$2000 and Publication

Deadline: January 30, 2009

Chattahoochee Review

Lamar York Prize for Nonfiction

Deadline: October 1 - January 31 (annual)

Glimmer Train

Family Matters Contest

Standard Short Story Contest

Deadline: Submit during January only (annual)

Iowa Review

The Iowa Review Award

Poetry, Fiction & Nonfiction

Deadline: Postmark January 2009

New Millennium Writings

Semi-annual Contest

Fiction, Poetry, Short-short Fiction, & Creative Non-fiction

$1000 first prize in each category & publication

Deadlines: January 31 and July 17

 

 

Madhatter's Review/Web Del Sol. Video. 1/1/09

 

Press 53. Fiction. 1/1/09

 

newMeridian. Fiction, Poetry.  1/7 1/11 (annual)

 

Literal Latte Magazine. Fiction. 1/15 (annual)

 

Literary Bird Journal (LBJ). Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction. 1/15/09

 

Lyric Review. Poetry. 1/15/09

 

Rosebud. Fiction. 1/15/09

 

Sonora Review. Short Fiction. 1/15/09

 

newBoston Review. Poetry. 1/16/09

 

Buffalo Carp. Flash Fiction. 1/16/09

 

Writers' Journal. Fiction. 1/30 (annual)

 

Adirondack Review. Fiction. 1/31 (annual)

 

Transitions Abroad. Expatriate. 1/31/09

 

February Deadline
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The Malahat Review

Long Poem Contest

Deadline: Postmark February 1, 2009

The Malahat Review

Novella Contest

Deadline: Postmark February 1, 2010

Fourth Genre

Annual Editor's Prize for Best Essay/Memoir

$1000 and Publication

Judge: Jocelyn Bartkevicius

Deadline: January 15 - February 15

Passages North

Elinor Benedict Poetry Prize

$1000 First Prize

Thomas R. Hruska Memorial Prize in Nonfiction

$1000 First Prize

Deadline: October 15, 2008 - February 15, 2009

St. Petersburg Review

Poetry Contest

$1000 and Publication

Deadline: Postmark February 15, 2009

Florida Review

Editor's Award for Fiction, Poetry, Creative Nonfiction

$1000 Award and Publication

Deadline: Postmark February 16, 2009

The Kenyon Review

No Fee Fiction Prize for Writers Under 30

Deadline: February 1 - February 28, 2009

CutBank

Montana Prize in Fiction

Montana Prize in Creative Nonfiction

Patricia Goedicke Prize in Poetry

Deadline: Postmark December 1, 2008 - February 29, 2009

Glimmer Train

Very Short Fiction Award

Deadline: Submit during February only (annual)

The Ledge

Fiction Awards Competition

$1000/250/100 Prizes + Publication

Deadline: February 29, 2009

 

 

The Madison Review. Poetry, Fiction. 2/1 (annual)

 

Words and Images. Poetry, Fiction. 2/1/09

 

Converse College. Fiction. 2/15/09

 

The Heartland Review. Poetry Prize. 2/15/09

 

Passager. Poetry. 2/15/09

 

Yemassee Journal. Poetry. 2/15 (annual)

 

National Poetry Series Open. 2/16

 

Writers' Journal. Write to win. 2/20/09

 

Opium. Memoir. 2/22/09

 

Fence Magazine. Poetry, Fiction. 2/28/09

 

Press 53. Genre Fiction. 2/28/09

 

March Deadline
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Bellingham Literary Review

49th Parallel Award for Poetry

1st Prize: $1,000

Final Judge: Paulann Peterson

Annie Dillard Award for Creative Nonfiction

1st Prize: $1,000 Final Judge: Kim Stafford

Tobias Wolff Award for Fiction

1st Prize: $1,000 Final Judge: Kathleen Alcala

Deadline: Postmarked December 1, 2008 - March 1, 2009

The Southeast Review

The World's Best Short Story Contest

Poetry Contest

Narrative Nonfiction Contest

Deadline: Postmark March 6, 2009

Colorado Review

Nelligan Prize for Short Fiction

$1000 and Publication

Final Judge: Robert Boswell

Deadline: Postmark January 12 - March 13, 2009

Gulf Coast

Poetry, Short Story, & Nonfiction Contest

$1000 each category and Publication

Judged by Brigit Pegeen Kelly (poetry), Antonya Nelson (fiction), and Dinty W. Moore (nonfiction)

Deadline: Postmark December 22, 2008 - March 31, 2009

So To Speak

Annual Short Fiction Contest

Deadline: Postmark March 15, 2009

Bayou Magazine

Nonfiction Bonanza

Deadline: Postmark November 15 - March 31 (annual)

Glimmer Train

Fiction Open

Deadline: Submit during March only (annual)

Harpur Palate

The John Gardner Memorial Prize for Fiction

Deadline: January 1 - March 31 (annual)

Indiana Review

Poetry Prize

$1000 Honorarium and Publication

Final Judge: Natasha Trethewey

Deadline: Postmark March 31, 2009

Shenandoah

The Glasgow Prize for Emerging Writers

2006 Prize - Short Fiction; 2007 Prize - Poetry; 2008 Prize - Creative Nonfiction; 2009 Prize - Short Stories

Deadline: March 15 - March 31 (annual)

 

 

Blue Mesa Review. Fiction. 3/1/09

 

Grain. Poetry, Fiction. 3/1/09

 

Transitions Abroad. Travel writing. 3/1/09

 

Stony Brook State University of New York. Fiction. 3/2/09

 

newSelected Shorts. Fiction. 3/6/09

 

Diagram. Fiction. 3/9/09

 

Modern Haiku. 3/13 (annual)

 

Claremont Review. Fiction, Poetry. 3/15/09

 

Flint Hills Review. Nonfiction. 3/15 (annual)

 

The Pinch. Fiction, Poetry. 3/15

 

Potomac Review. Fiction. 12/1-3/15/09

 

So To Speak. Fiction. 3/15/09

 

The Tusculum Review. Fiction. 3/15/09

 

Arts & Letters. Drama, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry. 3/16/09

 

Other Voices. Fiction. 3/21/09

 

Toasted Cheese. Fiction. 3/21 +/- (annual)

 

Writers' Journal. Fiction. 3/30 (annual)

 

Writing Our Hope. HS Poetry. 1/1-3/30/09

 

Canadian Writer's Journal. Fiction. 3/31/09

 

Permafrost. Fiction. 3/31 (annual)

 

Poetica Magazine. Poetry. 3/31 (annual)

 

Press 53. Poetry, Fiction, Short-Short, Novella, Creative Non-Fiction, Genre Fiction, Young Writers. 3/31/09

 

Whiskey Island. Poetry, Fiction. 3/31 (annual)

 

April Deadline
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Paterson Literary Review

Allen Ginsberg Poetry Awards

$1000/200/100

Deadline: April 1, 2009

Willow Springs

Fiction Prize

$1000 and Publication

Deadline: Postmark April 1, 2009

sub-TERRAIN

Lush Triumphant

Fiction, Poetry, Creative Non-fiction

Deadline: Postmark April 15 (annual)

Glimmer Train

Family Matters Contest

Standard Short Story Contest

Deadline: April 30 (annual)

The Ledge

Poetry Awards Competition

$1000/250/100 Prizes + Publication

Deadline: April 30, 2009

Nimrod International

The 31th Nimrod/Hardman Awards

The Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Fiction &

The Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry

$2k + Trip to Tulsa Awards/1k

Deadline: Postmark January 1 - April 30, 2009

 

 

The Baltimore Review. Nonfiction. 4/1 (annual)

 

Crab Orchard Review. Poetry, Prose. 4/1 (annual)

 

Eleventh Muse. Poetry. 4/1/09

 

Event. Creative Non-Fiction. 4/15/09

 

Poetry International. 4/15/09

 

Canadian Writer's Journal. Fiction. 4/30/09

 

Crab Orchard Review. Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction. 4/30/09

 

Writers' Journal. Poetry. 4/30 (annual)

 

May Deadline
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The Journal

Short Story Contest

Deadline: Postmark May 1 (annual)

The Malahat Review

Far Horizons Award for Fiction

Deadline: Postmark May 1, 2009

(Alternating years fiction/poetry: poetry-2010.)

The Southwest Review

David Nathan Mayerson Prize for Fiction

Deadline: May 1 (annual)

subTerrain

Annual Literary Awards Competition

Fiction, Poetry, Creative Non-fiction

Deadline: Postmark May 15 (annual)

New Letters

Annual Literary Awards Competition

Poetry, Creative Non-Fiction, and Fiction

Deadline: Postmark May 18 (annual)

Glimmer Train

Short Story Award for New Writers

Deadline: Submit during May only (annual)

 

 

Blue Collar Review. Poetry. Dealine 5/1 (annual)

 

Atlanta Review. Poetry. 5/8/09

 

The LBJ: Avian Life, Literary Arts. Poetry, Prose.

5/15 (annual).

 

Blind Man's Rainbow. Poetry. 5/15 (annual)

 

Dancing Poetry Contest. Poetry. 5/15 (annual)

 

Room of One's Own. Fiction, Poetry. 5/15 (annual)

 

Vocabula Review. Prose. 5/30 (annual)

 

Writers' Journal. Photography. 5/30 (annual)

 

Writers' Journal. Fiction. May 30 (annual)

 

Perigee. Poetry. 5/31 (annual)

 

Runes: A Review of Poetry. Poetry. 5/31 (annual)

 

University of Georgia Press. Fiction. 5/31 (annual)

 

June Deadline
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Southern Poetry Review

Guy Owen Prize Contest

Deadline: March 1 - June 15 (annual)

Glimmer Train

Fiction Open

Deadline: Submit during June only (annual)

the new renaissance

tnr Poetry Award

The Louise E. Reynolds Memorial Fiction Award

The awards are give for each 3-issue volume of tnr, and only writers published in that volume are eligible.

Deadline: January 2 – June 30 for fiction or poetry;
September 1 – October 31 for fiction only

 

 

Boston Review. Poetry. 6/1 (annual)

 

Literal Latte Magazine. Fiction. 6/7 (annual)

 

Chelsea. Fiction. 6/15 (annual)

 

Toasted Cheese. Nonfiction. 6/21 (annual)

 

Gival Press. Poetry. 6/27 (annual)

 

The Litchfield Review. Poetry, Prose. 6/30 (semi-annual)

 

Lunch Hour Stories. Fiction. 6/30 (annual)

 

July Deadline
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Comstock Review

The Comstock Review Poetry Contest

Final Judge: Carolyn Forché

Deadline: Postmark July 1 (annual)

Glimmer Train

Fiction Open

Summer Deadline: May 1– July 15 (annual)

Winter Deadline: November 1 - January 15 (annual)

New Millennium Writings

Semi-annual Contest

Fiction, Poetry, Short-short Fiction, & Creative Non-fiction

$1000 first prize in each category & publication

Deadlines: January 31 and July 17

Glimmer Train

Family Matters Contest

Standard Short Story Contest

Deadline: Submit during July only (annual)

 

The Baltimore Review. Poetry. 7/1 (annual)

 

Literal Latte Magazine. Poetry. 7/15 (annual)

 

Post Road Magazine. Fiction, Poetry. 7/15 (annual)

 

Rosebud. Poetry. 61-7/15 (annual)

 

Writers' Journal. Fiction. 7/30 (annual)

 

Adirondack Review. Poetry. 7/31 (annual)

 

August Deadline
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Rattle

Poetry Prize

$5k 1st & 10 $100 Honorable Mentions

Deadline: Postmark August 1, 2009

Glimmer Train

Very Short Fiction Award

Deadline: Submit during August only (annual)

Our Stories

Emerging Writers Story Contest

Deadline: June 1 - August 31 (annual)

Feedback provided for all entries

 

 

Smartish Pace. Poetry. 8/15 (annual)

 

The Writers Journal. Fiction. 8/20 (annual)

 

Writers' Journal. Poetry. 8/30 (annual)

 

Whidbey Island Writers Association. Prose, Poetry. Monthly

 

September Deadline
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Glimmer Train

Fiction Open

Deadline: Submit during September only (annual)

The Southwest Review

Morton Marr Poetry Prize

Deadline: Postmark September 30 (annual)

 

 

The SubtleTea Poetry, Fiction, Essay. 9/15 (annual)

 

Literal Latte Magazine. Essay. 9/20 (annual)

 

Other Voices. Poetry. 9/21/09

 

Toasted Cheese. Fiction. 9/21 +/- (annual)

 

ARC Poetry Magazine. Poetry. 9/30 (annual)

 

Canadian Writer's Journal. Fiction. 4/30/09

 

October Deadline
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Harpur Palate

The Milton Kessler Memorial Prize for Poetry

Deadline: July 1 - October 1 (annual)

Glimmer Train

Family Matters Contest

Standard Short Story Contest

Deadline: Submit during October only (annual)

 

 

Boston Review. Fiction. 10/1 (annual)

 

The Mid-American Review. Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction. 10/1 (annual)

 

The Missouri Review. Prose, Poetry. 10/1 (annual)

 

Rosebud. Fiction. 10/1/09

 

Yalobusha Review. Fiction. 10/1 (annual)

 

North American Review. Poetry. 10/31 (annual)

 

Wild Violet. Fiction. 10/31 (annual)

 

November Deadline
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The Briar Cliff Review

Poetry and Fiction Contest

Deadline: November 1 (annual)

Harpur Palate

The Milton Kessler Memorial Prize for Poetry

Deadline: July 1 -  Extended to November 1 (annual)

The Tampa Review

Danahy Fiction Prize

Deadline: November 1 (annual)

Glimmer Train

Short Story Award for New Writers

Deadline: Submit during November only (annual)

 

 

The Baltimore Review. Fiction. 11/1 (annual)

 

Compass Rose. Poetry. 11/1 (annual)

 

Smartish Pace. Poetry. 11/1 (annual)

 

Sow's Ear Poetry Review. Poetry. 11/1 (annual)

 

Blind Man's Rainbow. Poetry. 11/15 (annual)

 

Compass Rose. Poetry. 8/1 - 11/15 (annual)

 

Hollins University. Poetry. 11/15 (annual)

 

Yemassee Journal. Fiction. 11/15 (annual)

 

Writers' Journal. Photography. 11/30 (annual)

 

Writers' Journal. Nonfiction. 11/30 (annual)

 

December Deadline
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Phoebe

Winter Fiction Contest

Judge: Benjamin Percy

Greg Grummer Poetry Award

Judge: Bin Ramke

Deadline: Postmark December 1 (annual)

Glimmer Train

Fiction Open

Deadline: Submit during December only (annual)

 

 

The Atlantic. Poetry, Fiction, Essay. 12/1 (annual)

 

Blue Earth Review. Flash Fiction. 12/1 (annual)

 

The Cream City Review. Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry. 12/1 (annual)

 

Chelsea. Poetry. 12/15 (annual)

 

The Fiddlehead. Poetry, Fiction. 12/15 (annual)

 

Toasted Cheese. Fiction. 12/21 (annual)

 

Writers' Journal. Poetry. 12/30 (annual)

 

The Adirondack Review. Photography. 12/31 (annual)

 

The Litchfield Review. Poetry, Prose. 12/31 (semi-annual)

 

Lunch Hour Stories. Fiction. 12/31 (annual)

 

Perigee. Fiction. 12/31 (annual)

 

Wild Violet. Poetry. 12/31 (annual)

 

Open Deadline or No Noted Deadline
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Zone 3

Annual Fiction Award

No Deadline

 

 

poemeleon. Poetry. 

Awards for Published Works
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American Poetry Review

The Jerome J. Shestack Poetry Prizes

Two annual prizes for poetry published in APR dduring the calendar year.

Beloit Poetry Journal

The Chad Walsh Poetry Prize

"Awarded to the author of the poem or group of poems that the editors judge to be the most outstanding among those we've published during the previous year."

Michigan Quarterly Review

Lawrence Foundation Prize

"This is not a contest."

Best short story published in MQR the previous year.

Narrative Magazine

The $4,000 Narrative Prize is awarded annually for the best short story, novel excerpt, poem, or work of literary nonfiction published by a new or emerging writer in Narrative.

the new renaissance

tnr Poetry Award

The Louise E. Reynolds Memorial Fiction Award

The awards are give for each 3-issue volume of tnr, and only writers published in that volume are eligible.

Deadline: January 2 – June 30 for fiction or poetry;
September 1 – October 31 for fiction only

The Paris Review

The Plimpton Prize

Awarded to the best work of fiction published in The Paris Review in a given year by an emerging or previously unpublished writer.

The Paris Review Hadada

Awarded annually to a distinguished member of the literary community who has demonstrated a strong and unique commitment to the literary arts.  

PRISM International

The Earle Birney Prize for Poetry

Awarded annually to an outstanding poetry contributor published in PRISM.

Rhino

Annual Editors’ Prizes for works published in Rhino.

Shenandoah

Fiction, Poetry, Essay

Awarded annually to the best author in each genre published during the volume year.

The Glasgow Prize for Emerging Writers

Eligibility for 2007 Prize: all writers of POETRY  with only one published book in that genre.

Deadline: March 15 to March 31

Flannery O'Connor

$1000 for Best O'Connor-related work published in the Fall 2010 issue of Shenandoah.

Deadline: October 1, 2009

The Southern Review

The Eudora Welty Prize in Fiction
given to the best short story published in The Southern Review each volume year

The Robert Penn Warren Prize in Poetry
given to the best poem or group of poems published in The Southern Review each volume year

The Cleanth Brooks Prize in Nonfiction
given to the best work of nonfiction published in The Southern Review each volume year

Southwest Review

McGinnis-Ritchie Awards for Fiction and Nonfiction, Essay

Awarded annually to the best genre works published during the previous year in SR's pages.

The Elizabeth Matchett Stover Memorial Award

Awarded to the best poem or group of poems published during the previous year in SR's pages.

Morton Marr Poetry Prize

An annual award to a poem by a writer who has not yet published a first book of poetry.

The David Nathan Meyerson Prize for Fiction

New prize, beginning in 2008, for fiction writers who have not published a first book.

 

 

Arc Poetry Magazine. Poetry. Reviews.

 

Birmingham Poetry Review. Poetry.

 

Chaffin Journal. Poetry. Fiction

 

Free Lunch. Poetry.

 

Hunger Mountain. Open Genre.

 

Pilgrimage. Essay. 2008.

 

Weber Studies. Poetry, Prose.

 

 

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