The Best Poetry Writing Contests of 2023
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
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Showing 221 contests
Horizons
SaveAs Writers
2021 marks the centenary of T S Eliot’s visit to Margate, where he wrote part of The Waste Land. To celebrate his work and the views from our coastline, SaveAs Writers launch their annual international creative writing competition, this year asking for poems and short stories on the theme of Horizons. The theme can be literal, figurative, a celebration of views, a reflection on Eliot and his work, or a broader take on the theme.
Top prize
£200
Additional prizes
£100 second place, £50 third place
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: August 31, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry, Short Story
View contestTypehouse Literary Magazine Open Fiction Contest
Typehouse Literary Magazine
We are pleased to announce Typehouse Literary Magazine 's third biennial Open Fiction Contest! All pieces must be between 1000-6000 words, entries must be previously unpublished and all genres are accepted.
Top prize
$175
Additional prizes
$100 for second place and $50 for third place
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: June 30, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestNowhere Magazine Spring 2021 Travel Writing Contest
Nowhere Magazine
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 Unpublished and published pieces that have not previously been chosen as a contest winner are eligible.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 June 30, 2021.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in Nowhere magazine
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: June 30, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestJane Martin Poetry Prize (UK)
Girton College
A UK-only competition for young poets (aged 18-30 years). The winners receive a cash prize of £700 and have an opportunity to give a reading at a celebratory event at Girton College.
Top prize
£700
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: March 05, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contestNowhere Emerging Travel Writers' Prize
Nowhere Magazine
We are looking for never-been-published travel writers from anywhere in the world to send us stories—fiction, nonfiction, essay or poetry—that possess a powerful sense of place, people and time.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication in Nowhere Magazine
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: March 31, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestJuniper Prizes
University of Massachusetts Press
The Juniper Prizes for Poetry, Fiction, and Creative Nonfiction are awarded annually to original manuscripts: two books of poetry, one work of creative nonfiction, one short story collection, and one novel. The University of Massachusetts Press publishes the winning manuscripts and the authors receive a $1,000 award upon publication. Submissions are accepted between August 1 and September 30.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication by University of Massachusetts Press
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $30
Deadline: September 30, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Short Story
View contestThe Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry
African Poetry Book Fund
The Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry is awarded annually to an African poet who has not yet published a collection of poetry. Along with $1,000, the winner recives book publication through the University of Nebraska Press and Amalion Press in Senegal. Poetry manuscripts should be at least 50 pages long. [Submissions open September 15, 2021]
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Book publication through the University of Nebraska Press and Amalion Press in Senegal
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: December 01, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contestLighthouse Poetry Series
Cleveland State University Poetry Center
The Cleveland State University Poetry Center welcomes submissions for the Lighthouse Poetry Series. The Lighthouse Poetry Series publishes contemporary poetry from poets with any history of publication. The winner will receive $1,000, publication, and a standard royalty contract. This year’s contest will be judged by Randall Mann.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Royalty contract
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $28
Deadline: March 31, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contestRattle Poetry Prize
Rattle
The annual Rattle Poetry Prize offers $15,000 for a single poem to be published in the winter issue of the magazine. Ten finalists will also receive $500 each and publication, and be eligible for the $5,000 Readers’ Choice Award, to be selected by subscriber and entrant vote.
Top prize
$15,000
Additional prizes
Published in the Winter 2020 issue of Rattle
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: July 15, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contestWomen's National Book Association Writing Contest
Women's National Book Association
Do you want to show the world your writing? Then enter the 2020 WNBA Writing Contest! You can enter your work in four categories: fiction, creative nonfiction, flash prose, and poetry.
Top prize
$250
Additional prizes
Publishication in an anthology
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: December 01, 2020 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestThe Milt Kessler Poetry Award
Binghamton University
$1,000 Award for a book of poems written in English, 48 pages or more in length, selected by our judges as the strongest collection of poems published in 2019.
Top prize
$1,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: February 01, 2020 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contest
