The Best Poetry Writing Contests of 2023
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Manage a competition? Submit it here
Munster Literature Centre
Each entrant for their €20 entry fee will receive a complementary postage-free, one-year subscription to Southword. Poems will be read and judged anonymously. The winning poet will have their three poems published in Southword.
€1,000
Published in Southword
💰 Fee: $22
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestMunster Literature Center
The competition is open to new, emerging and established poets from any country. One of these winners will be the highest scoring manuscript entered by a poet with no solo collection (full-length or chapbook) previously published. Up to 25 other entrants will be publicly listed as "highly commended".
€1,000
Chapbook publication with 50 free copies, 2nd prize €500
💰 Fee: $27
Deadline: August 31, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestStephen Spender Trust
The leading annual competition for poetry in translation. Submit an English translation of a published poem from any language (max. 60 lines), together with a commentary of no more than 300 words. Open to adults aged 19+ from all over the world. Newcomers to poetry translation welcome!
£1000
💰 Fee: $13
Deadline: July 14, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestOxford Poetry Magazine
Oxford Poetry hosts the annual Oxford Poetry Prize, awarded for a single poem in the English language. The guest judge for 2023 is Will Harris.
£1000
2nd: £200 | 3rd: £100
💰 Fee: $13
Deadline: August 31, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestSaveAs Writers
SaveAs Writers invite entries of poetry and prose for their annual competition. 2023 celebrates the centenary of the publication of Freud’s The Ego and the Id. We hope that the theme of ‘all in the mind’ inspires you to write about the role of the unconscious in our daily experience and our culture. How do hidden forces motivate human beings in our spiritual, emotional, and mental lives?
£200 for both Poetry & Prose
2nd: £100 | 3rd: £50 for both Poetry & Prose
💰 Fee: $4
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Poetry
View contestNational Youth Foundation
Founded by Black women with a vision for change, the mission of the National Youth Foundation is to promote diversity, inclusion and gender equality through innovative literary programs. The “I Matter” poetry contest was launched by a 14-year old student who took action to educate the world about why Black Lives Matter. The contest calls upon students across the country to submit poems on this important topic.
$500
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: July 23, 2023 (Expired)
Children's, Poetry
View contestNarrative Magazine
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.
$4,000
💰 Fee: $27
Deadline: June 15, 2024
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestTufts Poetry Awards
Kate Tufts – widow of Kingsley Tufts, and creator of the award – had said she wanted to create a prize “that would enable a poet to work on his or her craft for awhile without paying bills.” The legacy created with the Kingsley & Kate Tufts Poetry Awards will continue to inspire countless generations of poets and lovers of poetry.
$100,000
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: June 30, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestClaremont Graduate University
The Kate Tufts Discovery Award was created in 1994, a year after the inception of the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. It is presented to a first book by a poet of genuine promise. The Kate Tufts Discovery Award offers a hefty prize of $10,000. The work submitted must be a first book of poetry published between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. Manuscripts, CDs, and chapbooks are not accepted.
$10,000
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: June 30, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestScience Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association (SFPA)
The annual SFPA Speculative (Dwarf/Short/Long) Poetry Contest is open to all poets, including non-members of the SFPA. Awards will be given across 3 categories.
$150
2nd: $75 | 3rd: $25 | Publication
💰 Fee: $3
Deadline: August 31, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry, Fiction
View contestTexas Review Press
Established in 1998, The X. J. Kennedy Prize highlights one full-length collection of poetry per year. Since 2019 the Prize comes with a $10,000 advance, a standard royalty contract, and 20 copies of the published book.
$10,000 advance
Royalty contract with TRP, publication, 20 author copies
💰 Fee: $28
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestRed Hen Press
Established in 1998, in honor of the poet Benjamin Saltman (1927–1999), this award is for a previously unpublished original collection of poetry. The awarded collection is selected through an annual competition that is open to all poets.
$3,000
Book publication by Red Hen Press, a four-week PLAYA residency
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: October 31, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestReed Magazine
The Edwin Markham Prize honors outstanding works of poetry. Our taste is eclectic and celebrates the wonderful diversity of forms, styles, and levels of diction available to the contemporary poet. Writers may submit up to five (5) poems per submission.
$1,000
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: November 01, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestWrite the World
Songs can tell stories, evoke emotion, even deliver lessons. Dear writers, what issue is most pressing to your generation? In an original song, channel this urgency into music, to be sung and celebrated—a rallying call for listeners near and far. This month, write your own song of change. We’ll select a winner for best lyrics and best performance.
Best Lyrics: $100
Best Performance: $100, Best Peer Review: $50
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: June 20, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Poetry
View contestHastings Book Festival
Entries for the poetry section of the 2023 Hastings Book Festival Writing Competition are now open. Submissions can be on any subject and should be no more than 40 lines long long.
£250
2nd: £100 | 3rd: £50
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: July 14, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestThe Heartland Review Press
Submit 1-3 poems of any form or style for $10 in a Word document through Submittable (link on website). No pdfs. Include a cover letter in the same file. The cover letter should be the first page in the file and contain mailing address, email, and 30-40 word bio. Simultaneous submissions accepted, but poems placed elsewhere will not be included in contest. Finalists (there's usually about 20) who provide a United States Postal Address will receive a free copy of the Spring 2024 issue of The Heartland Review wherein winners and finalists will be published. All entrants, regardless of publication, can receive a discount on the publication cost.
$750
Publication
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: November 15, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestTennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival
Submit a collection of 2-4 original, unpublished poems of any style or theme, written in English, with a combined length of up to 400 lines. This contest is open only to emerging writers who have not yet published a book of poetry with an ISBN. Those who have published books in other genres besides poetry remain eligible.
$1,000
VIP Festival pass ($600 value)
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: October 15, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestMONO
We are excited to introduce the 2023 MONO. Poetry Prize judged by Instagram poet and influencer, Blake Auden. This year we are offering the highest prize fund to date, and one of the largest prizes for a single poem in the UK. We're looking for your short-form poetry - send us your Haikus, Sonnets, Tankas, Acrostics, Limericks and any other short-form poem up to 14 lines. The theme is 'BEAT' - which is open to wide interpretation. Please be as creative as you wish. You can enter up to five poems at a cost of £6 per poem (just adjust the quantity at checkout if necessary). There will be a number of sponsored entries for those in financial difficulty. Please email for info, they will be offered on a first come basis and no proof will be required.
£650
2nd: £200 | 3rd: £100
💰 Fee: $8
Deadline: August 01, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestSunspot Literary Journal
Sunspot Lit seeks one short story, CNF, artwork, poem, graphic novel, script, or excerpt that outshines the rest. Literary and genre works accepted. Feedback available for additional fee. See guidelines for details. Enter through Sunspot’s Submittable or through Duotrope.
$500
Publication
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: May 31, 2023 (Expired)
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Script Writing, Short Story
View contestTim Saunders Publications
The Paul Cave Prize for Literature, established in 2023 by Tim Saunders Publications, is in memory of Paul Astley Cave-Browne-Cave (1917 to 2010), a hugely inspirational magazine and book publisher. What we are looking for All forms of poetry: haiku, free verse, sonnet, acrostic, villanelle, ballad, limerick, ode, elegy, flash fiction, short stories and novellas. Work must be new and unpublished. International submissions welcome.
£100
Best Short Story: £50 | Best Flash Fiction: £25 | Best Poem: £25
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestQuills and Keyboard
We are made of students hosting a contest for teen & YA authors. There are 15 categories, from journalism to a section for novelists’ favorite chapters. Qualified judges will send feedback on each piece. We partnered with many writing organizations such as Teen Author Boot Camp and Newpages and recognized by non-profits such as Polyphony Lit.
Publication in Under the Madness and Skipping Stones
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: May 20, 2023 (Expired)
Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novella, Poetry, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestPoetry.com
Poetry.com offers monthly contests for poets worldwide to gain motivation, inspiration and exposure, while building passion and enjoyment for the written creative process! How are winners chosen? Our contest boasts a clever twist: poems remain anonymous whilst applicants vote on what they believe should be the winning entry.
$500
2nd place: 300 USD | 3rd place: 200 USD | Runner up personalized Poetry.com mug
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: December 31, 2023
Poetry
View contestThe Bedford Competition
Short stories, any theme up to 3000 words. Poems up to 40 lines. Judges: short story Tim Jarvis, poetry Kirsten Norrie/MacGillvray.
£1500
2nd: £300 | 3rd: £200
💰 Fee: $9
Deadline: October 31, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry, Short Story
View contestthe archipelago
the archipelago is looking for great works of fiction, poetry, and personal essay. Eligibility: One piece per entry. One entry per person for each week (you can submit your writing for each round of competition repeating every week). The writing must be previously unpublished (including online). All entries must be in English. 700 - 1000 maximum word count for stories. 150 maximum lines for poetry. Submission Dates: April 10 - July 10
$150 AUD
Publication
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: June 10, 2023 (Expired)
Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestReader Views
The Reader Views Literary Awards program helps level the playing field for self-published authors, recognizing the most creative and exciting new books in the industry. Our awards program is recognized industry-wide as one of the top literary awards programs for independent authors.
$2,500
Several marketing prizes (e.g. book review)
💰 Fee: $89
Deadline: December 31, 2023
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestWB Yeats Society of NY
The Yeats Poetry Prize is open to anyone worldwide. Unpublished poems in English, up to 60 lines on any subject, may be entered at Yeats.Submittable.com from November 1st. Postal entries are also welcome. Fees: $15 USD for first poem, $12 USD for each additional one. This is a blind competition.
1000
2nd: $500
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: January 02, 2024
Poetry
View contestCANTERBURY FESTIVAL
All poems entered are registered, numbered and then judged totally anonymously. From the entries received around 35 poems will be chosen for the long list and these are published in an anthology; copies will be available from the Festival Office. From these a shortlist of around 15 poems is then selected, any of which may be the winning poem. The winners will be announced on National Poetry Day, Thursday 5 October 2023, during our on-line Awards Evening.
£200
2nd: £100 | 3rd: £50
💰 Fee: $6
Deadline: June 02, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestAmerican Writers Museum
"Give me a song of hope and a world where I can sing it.” – Pauli Murray, Dark Testament Pauli Murray (1910-1985) was difficult to define. They were a poet, a lawyer, a priest, a freight hopper, Eleanor Roosevelt’s friend, arrested for refusing to comply with bus segregation laws, a closeted member of the LBGTQ+ community, a professor, and so much more. Their work has influenced Supreme Court decisions, the Civil Rights movement, and countless individual people. This prompt is a quote from Murray’s collection of poems titled Dark Testament. It can be used as a first line, a last line, a jumping-off point, an inspiration for your students’ work. They can use the entire quote or portions of it to write a fiction or nonfiction story, poem, song, scene, short monologue or other form of writing. Submissions should be 1,000 words or less regardless of format.
3x Elementary Grade winners: $500 | 3x Middle School winners: $1,000 | 3x High School winners: $2,000
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: June 05, 2023 (Expired)
Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Script Writing
View contestAuroras & Blossoms
Auroras & Blossoms is turning four this year. So, we want to celebrate in style. And what better way to do that than doing it with poetry? Welcome to the Auroras & Blossoms Haiku Anthology!
1% royalties per published piece ($)
Publication
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: May 31, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestInvisible City
Theme: Levity. The world around us continues to move, spin and bring chaos. Levity helps ground us, keep us sane. What does “levity” mean to you? How has it made an impact in your life? We would love to read how you interpret “levity,” through prose or poetry, or some combination of the two. All genres and themes are welcome.
$750
2nd: $350 | 3rd: $100 | Publication for top 5
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: April 07, 2023 (Expired)
Flash Fiction, Poetry
View contestTupelo Press
Submit a previously unpublished, chapbook-length poetry manuscript with a table of contents. Manuscripts are judged anonymously and all finalists will be considered for publication. The Snowbound Chapbook Award includes a cash award of $1,000 in addition to publication by Tupelo Press, 25 copies of the winning title, a book launch, and national distribution with energetic publicity and promotion.
$1,000
Publication by Tupelo Press
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: March 30, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestUniversity of Pittsburgh Press
The award is open to any poet writing in English who has not had a full-length book of poetry published previously. We define “full-length book” as a volume of 48 or more pages published in an edition of 500 or more copies. Books whose publication costs have been borne by their authors are excluded from this definition.
$5,000
Publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: April 30, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestThe Georgia Review
The Loraine Williams Poetry Prize is an award for a single poem, to be published in The Georgia Review. The winner will receive an honorarium of $1,500 and an expenses-paid trip to Athens, Georgia, to give a public reading with the judge. We are pleased to announce that Hanif Abdurraqib will serve as the final judge for the 2023 Loraine Williams Poetry Prize.
$1,500
Expenses-paid trip to Athens, Georgia
💰 Fee: $30
Deadline: May 15, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestPloughshares
In the spirit of the journal 's founding mission, the Ploughshares Emerging Writer's Contest recognizes work by an emerging writer in each of three genres: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. One winner in each genre per year will receive $2,000 and publication in the literary journal. Authors are considered "emerging" if they haven 't published or self-published a book.
3x $2000
Publication in Ploughshares
💰 Fee: $24
Deadline: May 15, 2023 (Expired)
Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestWinston-Salem Writers
Winning submissions in each of the three categories (Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Poetry) will be awarded prizes of $400 for First Place, $200 for Second Place, and $100 for a total of $2,100 in prizes. All finalists will be accepted for publication and will receive one copy of the current issue of Flying South.
3x $400
3x 2nd: $200 | 3x 3rd: $100 | Publication in Flying South 2023
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: May 31, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contest