The Best Writing Contests of 2020
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Browse 48 contests that match your search 🔦
Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize
University of Pittsburgh Press
The University of Pittsburgh Press announces the Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize for a first full-length book of poems. Named after the first director of the Press, the prize carries a cash award of $5,000 and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press in the Pitt Poetry Series under its standard royalty contract. The winner will be announced in the fall; no information about the winner will be released before the fall announcement. The Starrett Prize is our only venue for first-book poetry manuscripts.
Deadline April 30, 2020
Learn moreTop prize
$5,000
Additional prizes
Publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $25
Inkitt's Writing Contest
Inkitt’s writing contest runs quarterly and gives authors the chance to win an exclusive GALATEA publishing deal and the chance to showcase their book to the world. Monthly, alongside the quarterly publishing deal prize draw, cash prize contest winners are announced, determined on how many likes the author has received on their book. Monthly these winners will receive $150. Authors can also use Inkitt’s Writing app — found in the app store under ‘Inkitt Writing” — to draft up their novels!
Deadline December 31, 2020
Learn moreTop prize
Publishing contract with GALATEA
Additional prizes
$150
Genres
Fiction,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: FREE
The Morton Marr Poetry Prize
The Morton Marr Poetry Prize is an endowment by Marilyn Klepak of Dallas in honor of her father, whose love of poetry has encouraged her to pass this love on to others. The contest is open to any writer who has not published a book of poetry. You may enter up to six poems, but they must be entered one at a time. Only unpublished, formal poems are eligible: sonnets, sestinas, villanelles, rhymed stanzas, blank verse, et al.
Deadline September 30, 2020
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in Southwest Review
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $5
Nowhere Magazine Fall 2019 Travel Writing Contest
We are looking for young, old, novice and veteran writers to send us stories that possess a powerful sense of place. Stories can be fiction, nonfiction, poetry or essay.
Deadline November 20, 2020
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Essay, Non-fiction, Poetry, Fiction,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $20
Nowhere Magazine Spring 2019 Travel Writing Contest
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Nowhere Magazine is given twice yearly for a travel-specific short story, long-form creative nonfiction piece, poem or essay that possesses a powerful sense of place, character or time. Unpublished and published pieces that have not previously been chosen as a contest winner are eligible. Submit your 800- to 5,000-word piece with a $20 entry fee by July 15, 2019.
Deadline July 15, 2020
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in Nowhere magazine
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $20
Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards
The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards recognizes outstanding works that contribute to our understanding of racism and our appreciation of cultural diversity. Awards are given for fiction, poetry and nonfiction.
Deadline December 31, 2020
Learn moreTop prize
$10,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $0
The Peseroff Prize Poetry Contest
Submit up to three poems and a $10 entry fee. There are no restrictions on content or form: “it’s all poetry.” Poems should be previously unpublished. The winner and finalists will be published in our FALL issue.
Deadline July 15, 2020
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $10
The Lascaux Prize in Creative Nonfiction
The Lascaux Prize in Creative Nonfiction will reopen 1 April 2020. Creative nonfiction may include memoirs, chronicles, personal essays, humorous perspectives, literary journalism—anything the author has witnessed, experienced, learned, or discovered. Pieces may be previously published or unpublished, and simultaneous submissions are accepted. Winner receives $1,000, a bronze medallion, and publication online in The Lascaux Review. The winner and all finalists will be published in the annual print journal Lascaux 8.
Deadline September 22, 2020
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $15
The Lascaux Prize in Flash Fiction
The Lascaux Prize in Flash Fiction will reopen 1 January 2020. Stories may be previously published or unpublished, and simultaneous submissions are accepted. True stories and prose poetry are welcome as long as they’re written in a narrative style. Winner receives $1,000, a bronze medallion, and publication online in The Lascaux Review. The winner and all finalists will be published in the annual print journal Lascaux 8.
Deadline June 30, 2020
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $15
Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Prize
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Marsh Hawk Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Manuscripts should be between 48 to 84 pages. [Submissions open December 1, 2019]
Deadline April 30, 2020
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication by Marsh Hawk Press
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $25
Trio Award for First or Second Book
The Trio Award for First or Second Book includes $1,000, publication, and twenty books. The Trio Award for First or Second Book is only open to poets with less than two books published. [Submissions open November 1, 2019]
Deadline April 30, 2020
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Novel,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $25
Narrative Prize
The Narrative Prize is awarded annually for the best short story, novel excerpt, poem, one-act play, graphic story, or work of literary nonfiction published by a new or emerging writer in Narrative. The submission system is open all year.
Deadline June 15, 2020
Learn moreTop prize
$4,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: FREE
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
Welcome to the 27th annual Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest. Submit published or unpublished work. $5,000 in prizes. [Submissions open from October 15, 2019]
Deadline April 30, 2020
Learn moreTop prize
$2,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $2
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