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Summer Short Story Award for New Writers
Masters Review
Genres: Essay, Fiction, and Non-fiction
This bi-annual contest recognizes emerging writers with submissions of previously unpublished fiction or nonfiction up to 6,000 words. Judged by Colin Barrett, it awards $3,000 for first place, $300 for second, and $200 for third, along with agency reviews for finalists.
Top Prize:
$3,000
Additional prizes:
Second place: $300 Third place: $200 Agency review for all finalists
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: August 25, 2025
First Pages Prize
First Pages Prize
Genres: Fiction and Non-fiction
The First Pages Prize supports emerging writers by recognizing their first five pages of longer works of fiction or creative nonfiction. It aims to encourage those who are un-agented and offers a prize package to aid in their writing journey.
Top Prize:
$2,000
Additional prizes:
2nd Prize: $1500 | 3rd Prize: $1000 | Mentorship and agent consultation.
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: April 24, 2024 (Expired)
Inspiring Fiction's Special Edition Short Story Contest
Inspiring Fiction
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Short Story, and Thriller
The contest invites participants to explore the theme of freedom through crime, speculative, and fantasy fiction. Winning entries will be published in a special bumper issue of Tangled Web Magazine and Mirk Fantasy Magazine.
Top Prize:
£100
Additional prizes:
Winner published in a special issue.
💰 Entry fee: $6
📅 Deadline: July 31, 2024 (Expired)
Gemini Magazine Poetry Open
Gemini Magazine
Genres: Poetry
The Poetry Open invites submissions of unpublished poems in any subject, style, or length. Winners receive cash prizes and publication in the April 2025 issue.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Second Prize: $100; Four Honorable Mentions: $25 each. All finalists will be published online.
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: January 02, 2025 (Expired)
Open Prize
National Poetry Series
Genres: Poetry
The NPS Open Competition invites submissions of book-length poetry manuscripts from U.S. residents and American citizens abroad. Winners receive cash prizes and publication.
Top Prize:
$10,000
Additional prizes:
Publication of a full-length manuscript by a participating publisher.
💰 Entry fee: $35
📅 Deadline: March 21, 2025
The Atom Learning Young Author Award
Atom Learning
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
The Atom Learning Young Author Award encourages children aged 7-11 to express their creativity through writing. The contest invites submissions of up to 500 words based on a specific theme, fostering young authors' storytelling skills.
Top Prize:
$250
Additional prizes:
A trip to Disneyland Paris, a Chromebook, and a subscription to Atom Home. £50 book voucher or one month subscription to Atom Home for 10 runners-up.
💰 Entry fee: $0
📅 Deadline: June 17, 2024 (Expired)
Trio Award for First or Second Book
Trio House Press
Genres: Poetry
The Trio Award is for emerging poets with less than two books published. It includes a reading fee of $25 and is part of the submissions period from November 1 to March 31 each year. The contest features a judge, Sierra DeMulder for the 2025 award.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication and twenty books
💰 Entry fee: $25
📅 Deadline: March 31, 5024
National High School Essay Contest
American Foreign Service Association (AFSA)
Genres: Essay
The contest invites high school students to write an essay reflecting on the role of the U.S. Foreign Service during the Vietnam War and its impacts on contemporary U.S. diplomacy.
Top Prize:
$2,500
Additional prizes:
All-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C.
📅 Deadline: March 01, 2025
World Historian Student Essay Competition
World History Association
Genres: Children's and Essay
An international competition open to K–12 students, focusing on personal connections to world history. Essays must address specific topics and demonstrate critical thinking and effective communication.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
One-year membership in the World History Association
📅 Deadline: May 01, 2025
Diode Editions Chapbook Contest
Diode Editions
Genres: Poetry
The Diode Editions Chapbook Contest is an annual competition open to English-language poets. The contest is currently closed, with winners for the 2024 contests to be announced by August 1, 2024. Multiple publications may be selected during this contest.
Top Prize:
$750
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: July 15, 2024 (Expired)
Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards
Cleveland Foundation
Genres: Novel, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Poetry
The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards recognize outstanding works that contribute to our understanding of racism and cultural diversity. Established in 1935 by Edith Anisfield Wolf, it remains the only American book prize focused on these themes.
Top Prize:
$10,000
Additional prizes:
Winners receive $10,000 and are honored at a ceremony in Cleveland.
📅 Deadline: December 31, 2024 (Expired)
Future Scholar Foundation Short Story Competition
Future Scholar Foundation
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Mystery, Science Fiction, Science Writing, and Short Story
A monthly short story competition for elementary and middle school students, with prompts and a maximum word count of 350. Winners have their work published and receive gift cards.
Top Prize:
$25
Additional prizes:
1st place: $25 Amazon gift card 2nd place: $15 Amazon gift card 3rd place: $5 Amazon gift card All winners are published in the Hall of Fame.
📅 Deadline: January 28, 2025
Genres: Flash Fiction, Fiction, and Poetry
A creative writing contest inviting participants worldwide to submit entries in response to prompts. The competition consists of three rounds, each with its own theme and deadline.
Top Prize:
£100
Additional prizes:
2nd: £50 | 3rd: £25 Publication on EGG+FROG for all winners and runners-up.
💰 Entry fee: $6
📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024 (Expired)
Red Hen Press Women's Prose Prize
Red Hen Press
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, Essay, Memoir, and Novel
Established in 2018, the Women's Prose Prize honors previously unpublished, original prose work including novels, short story collections, memoirs, and essay collections. It is open to all women writers, with a fair evaluation process ensuring anonymity during judging.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication by Red Hen Press
💰 Entry fee: $25
📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025
Michael Waters Poetry Prize
University of Southern Indiana
Genres: Poetry
The Michael Waters Poetry Prize awards $6,000 and publication by SIR Press for a full-length poetry manuscript written in English annually. All entries are considered for publication.
Top Prize:
$6,000
Additional prizes:
Publication by SIR Press
💰 Entry fee: $35
📅 Deadline: February 03, 2025
Diode Editions Full Length Book Contest
Diode Editions
Genres: Novel
Open to all poets over 18 years old writing in English. Collaborations, hybrid works, and simultaneous submissions are welcome. Please notify Diode Editions if your manuscript is accepted elsewhere.
Top Prize:
$1,500
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: July 15, 2024 (Expired)
WOW! Women On Writing Quarterly Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest
WOW! Women On Writing
Genres: Non-fiction and Essay
This contest aims to inspire creative nonfiction writing and provide recognition. Open globally and must be in English. Essays can range from personal to hybrid styles.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
2nd: $300 | 3rd: $200 | 7 runner-ups: $25 Amazon Gift Cards
💰 Entry fee: $12
📅 Deadline: January 31, 2025
Tor House Prize for Poetry
Robinson Jeffers Tor House Foundation
Genres: Poetry
The Robinson Jeffers Tor House Prize for Poetry is an annual contest honoring the poet Robinson Jeffers. Established as a living memorial, it aims to recognize outstanding poetry submissions. The prize includes an honorarium and honorable mentions.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
$200 for honorable mention
📅 Deadline: March 15, 2024 (Expired)
