These are for fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translation, plays and hybrid writing, with prizes ranging from $75 to £15,000. Many are for unpublished writing, and offer publishing or contracts in addition to the prize money, which is not detailed here. A few are for published and self-published works. Also see
this list for grants, residencies and fellowships for writers with upcoming deadlines. None of these charge a submission fee. ––
S. KalekarThe Journey PrizeThis prize is for an emerging Canadian writer, for a short story or excerpt from a fiction work-in-progress first published by a Canadian magazine or annual anthology during the previous calendar year. Submissions must come from eligible Canadian print and online-only literary magazines and annual anthologies.
Value: CAD10,000 for the author, CAD2,000 for the publication
Deadline: 12 February 2018
Open for: Canadian writers
Details
here.
Shambhala Publications: Bala Kids & The Khyentse Foundation Children’s Book PrizeThis is for the best Buddhist children’s book manuscript. Stories should be for children ages 0–8, both fiction and nonfiction, from all Buddhist traditions. New authors are especially encouraged to apply.Value: $5,000
Deadline: 15 February 2018
Open for: All writers
Details
here.
Words & Brushes: CollaborationFiveThey want writers to select an image from their website and write a short story (2,000-4,000 words) inspired by it.Value: $350
Deadline: 15 February 2018
Open for: All writers
Details
here.
Academy of American Poets: Ambroggio PrizeThis prize is for US poets for a book-length poetry manuscript (48-100 pages) originally written in Spanish, accompanied by an English translation. Poets can send their own translations, or collaborate with a translator who may or may not be a poet.
Value: $1,000
Deadline: 15 February 2018
Open for: US poets (see guidelines)
Details
here.
https://www.poets.org/academy-american-poets/ambroggio-prize-guidelines
Milkweed Editions: The Lindquist & Vennum Prize for PoetryThis is a manuscript contest for poets in the Upper Midwest – Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, or Winsconsin. Send a complete poetry manuscript, of 48 or more pages.Value: $10,000
Deadline: 15 February 2018
Open for: Upper Midwest poets in the US
Details
here.
Poetry Matters Literary PrizeThese are poetry prizes in four categories: for middle school students, high school students, adults (20-60 years), and senior poets (aged 61 and above). Send up to thee poems.Value: $75, $50, $35, $25 in each category
Deadline: 28 February 2018
Open for: All poets
Details
here.
The Restless Book Prize for New Immigrant WritingThis is for fiction manuscripts (at least 45,000 words) by first-generation residents of their country. They want submissions from emerging writers of sharp, culture-straddling writing that addresses identity in a global age. Candidates must not have previously published a book of fiction with a US publishing house. The award alternates each year between fiction and nonfiction.Value: $10,000 advance
Deadline: 28 February 2018
Open for: Immigrant writers
Details
here.
9th Annual Spirit First Poetry ContestPoetry submissions may be of any length and any style but must have a theme of
Meditation or
Mindfulness. Poems may reflect any discipline, any faith, or none. Poems not on the themes of meditation, mindfulness, stillness, or sacred silence will
not be included. Send up to three poems.Value: $200, $150, $100
Deadline: 28 February 2018
Open for: All poets
Details
here.
Everything Change Climate Fiction Contest 2018For this short story contest, submissions should illustrate or explore the impact of climate change on humanity and/or the Earth, in the present or the near- or moderate-term future. It should reflect current scientific knowledge about climate change. It may also illuminate and invite reflections on a climate-related challenge that individuals, communities, organizations, or societies face today, or might face in the near to moderate-term future. Submissions (5,000 words) can be in all genres, including speculative, realistic, literary, experimental, hybrid forms, and more.
Value: $1,000; nine prizes of $50
Deadline: 28 February 2018
Open for: All writers
Details
here.
Booksie Young Writer Short Story ContestThis is a contest for writers aged 13-18. Stories can be on any theme or genre (up to 5,000 words). Entrants must register on the Booksie website first; registration is free.Value: $300; two prizes of $75
Deadline: 28 February 2018
Open for: Writers aged 13-18
Details
here.
The Papatango New Writing PrizeThis is for UK and Ireland playwrights. Send an original play script (minimum running time 60 minutes, or a script of at least 40 pages, or at least 9,000 words). Translations, children’s plays, adaptations of classic plays or existing works in other media, music theatre, television, film or radio scripts are ineligible.Value: Play development, publication, royalties from box office income, £6000 commission for a new play
Deadline: 28 February 2018
Open for: UK and Ireland writers
Details
here.
Lunch Ticket: Diana Woods Award in Creative Non-fictionThis award is for creative non-fiction (up to 5,000 words) on any subject.
Value: $250
Deadline: 28 February 2018
Open for: All writers
Details
here.
Lunch Ticket: The Gabo Prize for Literature in Translation & Multilingual TextsThis award is for a translated work (up to 5,000 words). Authors should include the original work with the translation, and write on the translation process.
Value: $200
Deadline: 28 February 2018
Open for: All writers
Details
here.
Black Caucus of American Library Association AwardsThis is for the best self-published ebook by an African American author in the US in these genres: fiction and poetry.
Value: $500 in each category
Deadline: 28 February 2018
Open for: African American authors in the US
Details
here.
Cha: Auditory Cortex – A Poetry ContestThis prize, run by the Hong Kong-based literary journal Cha, is for poets who write in a ‘variety’ of Englishes and celebrates the varied voices across Englishes. Each poet can submit up to two poems on any theme (up to 40 lines each, accompanied by a recording of the author’s reading in WAV format). Poems must be written and read in the author’s local variety of English (e.g. Brunei English, Burmese English, Chinese English, Fijian English, Filipino English, Guamanian English, Hawaiian English, etc.) in a way that is also accessible to other speakers of English in Asia.
Value: HKD500, HKD300, HKD200, 8 prizes of HKD100
Deadline: 28 February 2018
Open for: All poets
Details
here.
Honeysuckle Chapbook Contest: Poetry and Prose
The contest is in two chapbook categories, poetry and prose (20-40 pages for each category). They want boundary-breaking chapbooks that evoke remarkable and human truths, work that disrupts traditional narratives, and which holds new and daring worlds. They value intention and risk.
Value: $500, jam
Deadline: 1 March 2018
Open for: All writers
Details here.
Naomi Long Madgett Poetry AwardThis is for African-American poets. Submit a book-length poetry manuscript of approximately 60-90 pages.Value: $500
Deadline: 1 March 2018
Open for: African-American poets
Details
here.
Christopher Tower Poetry CompetitionThis is for young UK poets. Send one poem, on the theme of Secrets.Value: £3,000, £1,500, £500, three prizes of £250
Deadline: 2 March 2018
Open for: UK students aged 16-18
Details
here.
RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging WritersThis is for Canadian writers aged under 35 who have published work in literary magazines, but not in book form. Candidates are to submit short fiction (up to 2,500 words), stand-alone or extracted from a longer work. The award alternates each year between short fiction and poetry.Value: CAD10,000; two prizes of CAD2,500
Deadline: 5 March 2018
Open for: Canadian writers
Details
here.
Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing PrizeThere are two categories, for published and unpublished (including self published) manuscripts of adventure writing. All manuscripts must exceed 50,000 words. The writing should take the reader on an epic journey, exploring new horizons – be they historical or geographical, explore the themes of courage, endurance and resourcefulness, and allow readers to connect with a different reality or culture.
Value: £15,000 for the published category; £7,500 grant allocated for the unpublished category, to travel to undertake research for their next story, literary agency mentorship
Deadline: 12 March 2018
Open for: All writers
Details
here.
