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NewPages Blog :: Writing Contests

Discover writing and book contests from literary magazines, independent publishers, university presses, creative writing programs, and more.

Contest :: $5,000 Miller Williams Poetry Prize

Every year, the University of Arkansas Press accepts submissions for the Miller Williams Poetry Series and from the books selected awards the $5,000 Miller Williams Poetry Prize in the following summer. For almost a quarter century the press has made this series the cornerstone of its work as a publisher of some of the country’s best poetry. The series is edited by Patricia Smith. The deadline for the 2022 Prize is September 30, 2020. Jayson Iwen’s Roze & Blud, published in March 2020, was the winner of the 2020 Miller Williams Poetry Prize. For more information visit uapress.com.

Contest :: Laux/Millar RR Prize Closes June 1

This is just a reminder that literary magazine Raleigh Review is open to submissions for its 2020 Laux/Millar RR Prize until 5 AM EST on June 1.

Initial judges for the prize are the poetry team of the literary magazine, stacked with award winners. Joseph Millar and Dorianne Laux will then judge the finalists. All entrants will receive a copy of the prize issue (a $20 value) to be released in Fall 2020.

Entry fee for the contest is $15 to submit up to 5 poems. First prize is $500 and publication. Finalists will receive $15 and publication. All poems submitted will be considered for normal publication along with Raleigh Review‘s standard pay rate.

Submissions are accepted via Submittable only.

Contest :: Poet Hunt 25 from The MacGuffin

The MacGuffin 2020 Poet Hunt flierDeadline: June 15, 2020
The MacGuffin’s 25th Poet Hunt Contest runs April 1 through June 15! One first place winner will receive $500 and publication; up to two Honorable Mentions also selected. We’re happy to have Matthew Olzmann as guest judge! Send up to five poems per $15 entry fee. On a cover page, list your contact info and poem titles. On the following page(s), include your poems, beginning each poem on a new page devoid of personally identifiable information to preserve the blind review process. Enter via Submittable (themacguffin.submittable.com/submit), or to enter by email or post, see full rules at our website (schoolcraft.edu/macguffin/contest-rules).

2020 Marguerite McGlinn Prize for Fiction

Philadelphia Stories eLitPak flierThis annual national short fiction contest features a first place $2,000 cash award and invitation to an awards dinner on Friday, October 9, on the campus of Rosemont College; a second place cash prize of $500; and third place cash prize of $250. Requirements: unpublished works of fiction up to 8,000 words; $15 reading fee. Deadline: June 15. philadelphiastories.org

View the full May eLitPak newsletter here.

Gival Press Sponsored Contests: Novel Award Deadline Approaching

Gival Press Winter 2020 LitPak FlierGival Press is hosting three contests in 2020: the Gival Press Novel Award, the Gival Press Oscar Wilde Award, and the Gival Press Short Story Award. The Novel Award deadlines is May 30. The prize is $3k and book publication in 2021. The Oscar Wilde Award for the best LGBTQ poem deadline is June 27. The prize is $500 and online publication. The Short Story Award deadline is August 8. The Prize is $1,000 and online publication. For complete details on each contest, visit: www.Givalpress.Submittable.com.

View the full May eLitPak newsletter here.

Contest :: 2020 Red Wheelbarrow Prize 2020

Red WheelbarrowDeadline: August 15, 2020
Red Wheelbarrow Poetry Prize 2020: Judged by Dorianne Laux and Joseph Millar. $1,000 for first place and a letterpress broadside, $500 for second, $250 for third. Top five published in Red Wheelbarrow Literary Magazine. Submit up to 3 original unpublished poems. $15 entry fee. Deadline: August 15. For complete guidelines, see redwheelbarrow.submittable.com.

Contest :: 1 Month Left to Submit to Swan Scythe Press Chapbook Contest

Swan Scythe Press logoSwan Scythe Press is accepting manuscripts for its 2020 Poetry Chapbook Contest through June 15. Submit a manuscript of 20-32 pages of poems that includes a title page with author’s name, address, phone number, and email address and a second title page without personal identifiers, book title only. Manuscripts can be mailed to 1468 Mallard Way, Sunnyvale, CA 94087 or submitted online, visit swanscythepress.submittable.com/submit. Entry fee is $18.00 payable to Swan Scythe Press. Winner receives $200 and 25 perfect-bound chapbooks. For full guidelines and details, please visit www.swanscythepress.com.

Contest :: 2020 Rattle Poetry Prize

2020 RATTLE Poetry Prize flierDeadline: July 15, 2020
The 15th annual Rattle Poetry Prize has grown to $15,000 for a single poem. Ten finalists also receive $200 and publication, and are eligible for the $5,000 Readers’ Choice Award. With an entry fee that is simply a one-year subscription to the magazine—and a runner-up Readers’ Choice Award to be chosen by the writers themselves—the Rattle Poetry Prize aims to be one of the most writer-friendly and popular poetry contests around. Visit www.rattle.com/prize for the complete guidelines and to read all of the past winners.

Contest :: Fiction Southeast Story of the Month Contest

Online literary magazine Fiction Southeast has launched the Story of the Month Contest to honor the best short fiction under 1,000 words. Each month the winning story will grace the front page of the website for the entire month and will be listed on the Stories of the Month Page, as well as the Fiction Page. The reading fee is $10, and the winner will receive $50. Submit here: fictionsoutheast.submittable.com/submit/163713/story-of-the-month. Entries are accepted year-round.

Contest :: KAKALAK 2020 Poetry & Art Contest Closes May 18

KAKALAK 2019 coverDon’t forget that the deadline to submit poetry and art that evokes the spirit of the Carolinas from the Outer Banks and Low Country to the Piedmont and Appalachia is May 18. Anyone can enter. Entry fee: $12 for 1-3 poems or 1-3 images. All entries considered for publication. All contributors will receive one copy for each item selected for publication. Prize money ranges from $300 to $20. Details can be found on the Kakalak contest page of the www.MainStreetRag.com website.

Contest :: Conduit Books & Ephemera’s 2020 Marystina Santiestevan First Book Prize Accepting Submissions

Conduit Books & Ephemera logoDeadline: June 30, 2020
Now in its third year, the Marystina Santiestevan First Book Prize awards $1,000 and publication to a poet writing in English who has not yet published a full-length book of poetry. If you have a smoking hot manuscript or know someone who does, please give us a shot. The Marystina Santiestevan First Book Prize champions poets who dance to their own tune not to be different but to be true. Previously unpublished manuscripts of 48-90 pages should be submitted through our Submittable page or via the USPS. Please visit www.conduit.org/book-prizes for details.

Deadline Extension :: 2020 Sandeen Prize in Poetry

Deadline has been extended to June 1 due to COVID-19.
The Sandeen Prize in Poetry is open to any author, with the exception of ND graduates, who has published at least one collection of poetry. We pay special attention to second volumes. A $15 administrative fee should accompany submissions. Make checks payable to University of Notre Dame. The volumes of the Sandeen Prize will be published in trade paperback format. The author will be offered a standard contract with the University of Notre Dame Press. There will be a $1,000 prize, a $500 award, and a $500 advance against royalties from the Notre Dame Press. Submission information on program website: english.nd.edu/creative-writing/.

Contest :: Flying South Accepting Submissions through May 31

Winston Salem Writers is offering $2,000 in prizes for its annual Flying South writing contests. Best in each category (fiction, nonfiction, and poetry) receives $500. One of the three winners will receive an additional $500 as the WSW President’s Favorite award. All entries will be considered for publication in the next issue of literary magazine Flying South. For full details, please visit our website: www.wswriters.org.

Contest :: Raymond Carver Short Story Contest Deadline is May 15

Don’t forget that May 15 is the deadline to submit short fiction of no more than 10,000 words to Carve Magazine‘s 2020 Raymond Carver Short Story Contest. Submissions welcome from writers world-wide as long as they are written in English. Prizes: $2,000, $500, $250, + 2 Editor’s Choice $125 each. All 5 winners published in Fall 2020 issue and reviewed by lit agencies. Entry fee $17 online/$15 mailed. Guest judge Pam Houston. www.carvezine.com/raymond-carver-contest/

Contest :: 2020 Cathy Smith Bowers Chapbook Contest

Open: May 1–June 15
Prize: $1000, publication, 50 author copies. Reading Fee: $15 (electronic submission $17). Length: 28-40 pages of poetry. First round judging done blindly by Main Street Rag editors. Final Judge: Cathy Smith Bowers, former Poet Laureate of North Carolina. 2019 Contest winner, Doralee Brooks of Bridgeville, PA for her book, When I Hold You Up to the Light. All entries considered for publication. Details: www.mainstreetrag.com.

Contest :: 2020 Orison Anthology Awards

Deadline: August 1, 2020
The 2020 Orison Anthology Awards in Fiction, Nonfiction, & Poetry offer $500 and publication by Orison Books in The Orison Anthology for a single work in each genre. Judges: Blair Hurley (fiction), E. J. Koh (nonfiction), and Joy Ladin (poetry). Entry fee: $15. Submission Period: May 1-August 1. Find complete details at www.orisonbooks.submittable.com.

Contest :: Killer Nashville Accepting Entries for 2020 Silver Falchion Award

Killer Nashville 2020 ContestsThe Silver Falchion Award is an open competition for works published in 2019. These books must be in the mystery, crime, true crime, and thriller genres. Conference attendees can submit for free. If you aren’t attending the 2020 conference taking place August 20-23 in Nashville, Tennessee, then the fee is $79. Submission deadline is June 1. Finalists will be announced in July. Finalists and winners will be honored during an awards dinner on August 22. For complete details including prize information, visit www.KillerNashville.com.

Contest :: River Styx Poetry Contest – $1000 Prize plus Publication

Deadline: May 31, 2020
The 2020 River Styx International Poetry Contest awards $1,000 and publication for the best poem. Lee Ann Roripaugh is this year’s final judge. $20 entry fee includes one-year subscription to River Styx, beginning with the prize-winner issue; $15 fee includes prize-winner issue only. Up to three poems per entry. Multiple entries permitted with multiple entry fees. Submit online at riverstyx.submittable.com/submit or via postal mail to River Styx Poetry Contest, 3301 Washington Ave, Suite 2C, St. Louis, MO, 63103. Deadline is May 31, 2020 (postmarked). Complete guidelines at www.riverstyx.org/submit/poetry-contest/.

Hate Waiting? ALR’s Flash Flood Contest Is for You

ALR Flash Flood ContestMy least favorite aspect of submitting work is waiting for a reply. I’m so eager to hear back that checking my email inbox almost becomes a hobby.

For writers who feel similarly, consider submitting to American Literary Review‘s Flash Flood Contest which consists of two week submission windows for stories up to 1000 words. Winners will be decided upon by the following Friday and will be published at the ALR website shortly after.

You have a few more days to send in your stories for this submission period. Learn more about the Flash Flood guidelines at their website.

Contest :: Lynx House Press 2020 Blue Lynx Prize

TLynx House Press 2020 Poetry Prize flierhere is now one month left to submit poetry collections of at least 48 pages to Lynx House Press for their Blue Lynx Prize for Poetry. The $28 submission fee includes a copy of a book from their catalog.

The winner will receive $2,000 and publication. Previous judges have included Previous judges include James Tate, Yusef Komunyakaa, Dorianne Laux, Dara Wier, Melissa Kwasny, and Robert Wrigley. Submit your manuscripts at lynxhousepress.submittable.com/submit by June 1.

Contest :: North Street Book Prize for Self-Published Books

Winning Writers North Street Book PrizeDeadline: June 30, 2020
6th year. Grand prize of $5,000. Top winner in each category will win $1,000. Co-sponsored by BookBaby and Carolyn Howard-Johnson. Categories: Mainstream/Literary Fiction, Genre Fiction, Creative Nonfiction & Memoir, Poetry, Children’s Picture Book, and Graphic Novel & Memoir. $12,500 in total cash prizes. Fee: $65 per book. Final judges: Jendi Reiter and Ellen LaFleche. Submit online or by mail. Winning Writers is one of the “101 Best Websites for Writers” (Writer’s Digest). Guidelines: winningwriters.com/north.

Deadline Extension Alert :: Southern Humanities Review 2020 Auburn Witness Poetry Prize

Yes, that’s right! Literary magazine Southern Humanities Review has chosen to extend the deadline to their annual Auburn Witness Poetry Prize. You know have until May 8 to submit up to three poems. SHR welcomes submissions from poets of all levels in their careers and especially seek work from underrepresented voices. First place is $1,000 and publication in the journal. The winner will also receive travel expenses to attend a reading at Auburn University in October. This year’s judge is Paisley Rekdal. www.southernhumanitiesreview.com/auburn-witness-poetry-prize.html

Contest :: 2020 Laux/Millar RR Prize

Raleigh Review - Spring 2020Deadline: June 1, 2020 at 5 AM EST
Raleigh Review is open for the 2020 Laux/Millar Raleigh Review Poetry Prize. All entrants to the contest receive the fall 2020 issue. Raleigh Review is a nonprofit literary arts organization now in its 11th year. Works selected during the spring submission period will appear in the fall issue. To submit, visit: raleighreview.submittable.com/submit/.

Black Warrior Review Reduces Entry Fee for Annual Contests

Black Warrior Review - Spring 2020Black Warrior Review has decided to lower the rates to enter work into their annual writing contests. The submission fee to enter fiction, nonfiction, and poetry is now $15 while the fee to enter flash is now $6. Winners will receive publication and cash prizes ($500 for flash and $1,000 for poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction). This year’s judges are Mayukh Sen, Paul Tran, C Pam Zhang, and Lucy Corin. Open until September 1. Complete information available at bwr.ua.edu.

Contest :: Orison Chapbook Prize Open to Submissions

July 1 is the deadline to submit 20-45 page manuscripts to the 2020 Orison Chapbook Prize. Submissions are welcome in any literary genre, i.e. poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or hybrid. Orison Books founder and editor Luke Hankins will judge. The winner receives $300 and publication. $12 entry fee. For complete guidelines, see www.orisonbooks.submittable.com.

Contest :: Baltimore Review Wants Short Shorts

The Baltimore Review has not set a theme for their annual summer contest this year. Instead, they want to see short shorts. Send flash fiction, flash creative nonfiction, and prose poetry. They want to be amazed at how you abracadabra a sprinkling of words into magic. And maybe be a little jealous of how you do that. One writer in each category will be awarded a $300 prize and published in the summer issue. All entries considered for publication. Total word limit for each category is 1,000. See www.baltimorereview.org for complete details. Deadline: May 31, 2020. Fee: $5.

Digital Storytelling with Runestone Journal

Runestone Journal logoUndergraduate writers, Runestone Journal wants to see your take on digital storytelling. Digital works based on a piece of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry are all welcome.

Editor Richard Pelster-Wiebe will be judging your submissions, and after an initial screening, the selection process will take place during Hamline’s “Introduction to Literary Publishing: Runestone.” The winner will receive a prize of $250.

Submissions are free and are open until October 1, so you have plenty of time to craft a great digital piece.

2020 Marguerite McGlinn Prize for Fiction

Philadelphia Stories 2020 Prize for Fiction flierThis annual national short fiction contest features a first place $2,000 cash award and invitation to an awards dinner on Friday, October 9, on the campus of Rosemont College; a second place cash prize of $500; and third place cash prize of $250. Requirements: unpublished works of fiction up to 8,000 words; $15 reading fee. Deadline: June 15. philadelphiastories.org

View the full April eLitPak Newsletter here.

Contest :: Shooter Literary Magazine 2020 Short Story Competition

Deadline: May 31, 2020
UK-based Shooter Literary Magazine‘s 2020 Short Story Competition is currently open to short fiction of any theme/genre, from anywhere in the world, up to a maximum length of 5,000 words. All entrants will receive an e-copy of Shooter‘s Winter 2021 issue, in which the winning story will appear. Winner receives £400 and publication both in print and online; runner-up wins £100 and online publication. The winners will be announced online in July. Entry fee of £7 per story or £10 for two. Guidelines and entry details can be found at shooterlitmag.com/competition.

Contest :: SHR 2020 Auburn Witness Poetry Prize

Deadline: May 1, 2020
The quarterly literary magazine Southern Humanities Review is currently open for submissions of poetry to its annual Auburn Witness Poetry Prize. SHR seeks submissions from writers in all stages of their careers, and especially in work from historically underrepresented voices. Poets may submit up to three poems for a prize of $1,000 and publication in the magazine. The winner will also receive travel expenses to give a reading at a poetry event at Auburn university in Alabama in October 2020 alongside the contest judge. This year’s judge is Paisley Rekdal. www.southernhumanitiesreview.com/auburn-witness-poetry-prize.html

Contest :: Swan Scythe Press 2020 Poetry Chapbook Contest

Swan Scythe Press logoSwan Scythe Press is now considering manuscripts for its 2020 Poetry Chapbook Contest. Submit a manuscript of 20-32 pages of poems that includes a title page with author’s name, address, phone number, and email address and a second title page without personal identifiers, book title only. Manuscripts can be mailed to 1468 Mallard Way, Sunnyvale, CA 94087 or submitted online, visit swanscythepress.submittable.com/submit. Entry fee is $18.00 payable to Swan Scythe Press. Deadline is June 15th. Winner receives $200 and 25 perfect-bound chapbooks. For full guidelines and details, please visit www.swanscythepress.com.

Memoir Magazine Extends Inaugural Book Prize Deadline

Memoir Prize for BooksOnline literary magazine Memoir Magazine has extended the deadline for its first-ever book contest to April 30. The Memoir Prize is dedicated to memoirs and creative nonfiction of book-length works of exceptional merit. They have three categories: published, self-published, and unpublished. The grand prize winner receives $2,000. The fee to enter is $95. Results to be announced in June.

Under the Gum Tree Celebrates 9 Years of Telling Stories Without Shame

Under the Gum Tree Spring 2020 Issue

Under the Gum Tree is an electronic literary magazine and they are currently celebrating nine years in 2020. They are partnering with Stories on Stage Davis for their Northern California Writers Creative Nonfiction Contest. There is no fee to submit. Winners will be featured at Stories on Stage Davis on October 10, have their stories published in the 9th anniversary issue of Under the Gum Tree, and receive a $100 cash prize.

The contest is open until June 30 at 11:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time. Entries cannot have been previously published.

Don’t forget to check out their Spring 2020 issue featuring Kathy Stearman, Laura Halferty, Kirsten Ismene Schilling, Catherine Jagoe, Marilyn Martin, and Janine DeBaise. They offer both print and digital subscriptions.

Contest :: KAKALAK 2020

KAKALAK 2019 coverDeadline: May 18, 2020
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES apply to both poetry and art. Anyone can enter. Goal: We’re looking for work that evokes the SPIRIT of the Carolinas from the Outer Banks and Low Country to the Piedmont and Appalachia. Submission Period: March 1—May 18, 2020. Entry fee: $12 for 1-3 poems or 1-3 images. All entries considered for publication. All contributors will receive one copy for each item selected for publication. Prize money ranges from $300 to $20. Details can be found on the Kakalak contest page of the www.MainStreetRag.com website.

Contest :: Fiction Southeast Story of the Month

Each month, the editors will select one short-short story (under 1,000 words). The winning story will grace the front page of the website for the entire month and will be listed on the Stories of the Month Page, as well as the Fiction Page. The reading fee will be $10, and the winner will receive $50. Submit here: fictionsoutheast.submittable.com/submit/163713/story-of-the-month.

Contest :: 3rd Annual Marystina Santiestevan First Book Prize

Conduit Books & Ephemera logoDeadline: June 30, 2020
Our third annual first book prize is open and accepting manuscripts. If you have a smoking hot manuscript or know someone who does, please give us a shot. Awarded annually to a poet writing in English who has not yet published a full-length poetry book, the Marystina Santiestevan First Book Prize champions poets who dance to their own tune not to be different but to be true. Previously unpublished manuscripts of 48-90 pages should be submitted through our Submittable page or via the USPS. Please visit www.conduit.org/book-prizes for details.

Nimrod Extends Deadline for 2020 Literary Awards

Nimrod 2020 Literary AwardsExtended Deadline: April 15, 2020
Submissions for The Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry and The Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Fiction, with prizes of $2,000 and $1,000 and publication, have been EXTENDED to April 15th. Finalists and selected semi-finalists will be published and paid at a rate of $10/page. For poetry, submit 3-10 pages (one long poem or several short poems); for fiction, one story, 7,500 words maximum. Manuscripts may be mailed or submitted online: nimrodjournal.submittable.com/submit. Each entry must be accompanied by a $20 entry fee, which includes a one-year subscription. For more information and the complete rules, email [email protected] or visit nimrod.utulsa.edu.

Contest :: Carve Magazine 2020 Raymond Carver Short Story Contest

Carve Magazine flierCarve Magazine‘s Raymond Carver Short Story Contest is open April 1 – May 15. Accepting submissions from all over the world, but story must be in English. Max 10,000 words. Prizes: $2,000, $500, $250, + 2 Editor’s Choice $125 each. All 5 winners published in Fall 2020 issue and reviewed by lit agencies. Entry fee $17 online/$15 mailed. Guest judge Pam Houston. www.carvezine.com/raymond-carver-contest/

Contest :: Black Warrior Review Seeks Work for 2020 Writing Contest

Deadline: September 1, 2020
Biannual print journal Black Warrior Review seeks 2020 contest submissions. Winners will receive publication and cash prizes ($500 for flash and $1,000 for poetry, fiction, and CNF). Judges: Mayukh Sen (nonfiction), Paul Tran (poetry), C Pam Zhang (flash), and Lucy Corin (fiction). Open until 9/1. Submission fee: $20. Complete information available at bwr.ua.edu.

Fiction Southeast Extends Hemingway Flash Fiction Prize Deadline

Good news, writers! You now have until April 30 to submit your flash fiction of 1,500 words or less to literary magazine Fiction Southeast. They have extended the deadline of their Hemingway Flash Fiction Prize from March 31. Winner receives $200 and publication in the journal. All finalists considered for publication. $10 entry fee. Check out their website for full guidelines.

Contest :: Baltimore Review Wants Short Shorts for Summer Contest

Something new: No theme for our summer contest! Subject matter is entirely up to you. Surprise us. But keep it short. Three categories: flash fiction, flash creative nonfiction, prose poem. We want to be amazed at how you abracadabra a sprinkling of words into magic. And maybe be a little jealous of how you do that. One writer in each category will be awarded a $300 prize and published in the summer issue. All entries considered for publication. Total word limit for each category is 1,000. See www.baltimorereview.org for complete details. Deadline: May 31, 2020. Fee: $5.

Contest :: Killer Nashville Wants to Know if You’re a Killer Writer

Killer Nashville 2020 ContestsThe 2020 Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference will take place August 20-23 in Nashville, Tennessee. This is a premier forum for all literature incorporating mystery, thriller, suspense, or true crime. Scholarships are available! Apply today. Killer Nashville is also seeking both published and unpublished works for its annual contests. The Claymore Award is an open competition for unpublished works open to entries through April 1. The Silver Falchion Award is an open competition for works published in 2019 open to entries through June 1. For complete details including prize information, visit www.KillerNashville.com.