information about creative writing contests, poetry contests, literary magazine theme issues, writing residencies, grants, fellowships etc. Now accepting creative writing contests news and announcements!
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
$9.95 to enter this and all contests at FanStory.com
$100 cash prize
Sudden Fiction is a flash fiction story that uses around 750 words. The challenge of this contest is to write a story with 750 words. The story can be on any topic. But the story must be 750 words (or very close to it).
Saturday, September 16, 2017
$9.95 to enter this contest and all contests at FanStory
$100 cash prize
For this contest you are challenged to write a Tanka poem. Tanka is a form of poetry that often follows a specific syllable count.
line 1 – 5 syllables
line 2 – 7 syllables
line 3 – 5 syllables
line 4 – 7 syllables
line 5 – 7 syllables
It contains five unrhymed lines of five, seven, five, seven, and seven syllables. (5, 7, 5, 7, 7).
FanStory
PALOOKA PRESS CHAPBOOK CONTEST
Deadline: May 15, 2017.
$10 ENTRY FEE.
Please send your best fiction, poetry, nonfiction, graphic narrative, or hybrid genres.
Manuscripts should be roughly 35-50 pages, but we’re flexible.
The $10 entry fee comes with an electronic issue of Palooka.
The winner receives publication by Palooka Press (a perfect-bound book with a glossy color cover),
$200 honorarium, 20 free copies of the book, a bio and photo featured on our website,
and chapbook sent out for review and promotion.
Visit the website: https://palookamag.submittable.com/submit
THE FICTION DESK GHOST STORY COMPETITION
£8 ENTRY FEE.
Most of the stories we publish at The Fiction Desk are more or less realistic, but we try to stray outside that from time to time: Some genre fiction should be part of any balanced reading diet. One genre that we particularly like to feature is the ghost story. This year, there is a first prize of £500, a second prize of £250, and a third prize of £100.
The deadline is Tuesday, January 31, 2017.
All stories must be written in English, and be entirely the author’s own work. All entrants must be aged 16 or over at the time of entry; there is no upper age limit. Entries must be between 1,000 and 7,000 words in length.
Visit the website: http://www.thefictiondesk.com/submissions/ghost-story-competition.php
DEVIL’S KITCHEN READING AWARDS
Postmarked deadline: February 2, 2017.
$20 ENTRY FEE. One book of poetry (book-length work or single-author collection of poems), one book of fiction (novel, novella, or single-author short fiction collection) and one book of prose nonfiction (literary nonfiction, memoir, or single-author essay collection) will be selected from submissions of single-author titles published in 2016, and the winning authors will receive an honorarium of $1,000 and will present a public reading and participate in panels at the Devil’s Kitchen Fall Literary Festival at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. The dates for the 2017 festival will be October 25-27, 2017. Travel and accommodations will be provided for the three winners.
Visit the website: http://grassroots.siu.edu/dkawards.html
Be it historical or contemporary, a grand love story or the gripping tale of a torrid affair,
through December 15, 2016, submit your Romance novel for the chance to win prizes
and be read by judges from Macmillan, Penguin Random House, and Hachette Book Group.
This is an open call for writers of romance novels targeted towards an adult audience
or a young adult/adult crossover audience. The submission must be a Romance novel,
i.e. a narrative that is driven by a romantic relationship and has a satisfying ending.
Deadline December 15, 2016.
First prize $200, second prize $100, third prize $50.
All three winners become featured submissions to the partner publishers and agents.
Fill out the forms and upload a minimum of the first 30 pages.
Complete manuscripts are welcome.
Visit the website: https://www.authors.me/romance-contest/
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Get your keyboards ready! We’ve kicked off a new competition to get your writing minds juiced this fall. The challenge of this competition is to post the most original, creative short story that contains the following characteristics:
Two entries are allowed per member. In the case of more than two entries, the first two entries submitted will be judged.
The winner will receive $100. Good luck!
Open to Premium Members of TheNextBigWriter.
Submission deadline: November 30, 2016
Know someone who else who might be interested? Feel free to forward this post.
Get motivated to write!
Haven’t written in awhile? Use this as an opportunity to get back into the writing mode. Visit TheNextBigWriter to keep yourself motivated and energized. Together we can reach our writing goals.
How to enter, visit: https://www.thenextbigwriter.com/guide/contest-how-to-enter
Judge: JoeAnn Hart
The winner will receive a cash award of $1,000
A four-week residency at PLAYA (Details below)
The contest is open to published or unpublished full-length prose manuscripts, including novels, memoirs, short story collections, and essay collections.
Manuscripts should be approximately 40,000 to 90,000 words (i.e., please do not send novellas or individual essays or stories; please also note the contest is not open to poetry or children’s books).
Published books eligible for the prize must have been published within the past five (5) years; books published in the year 2010 or earlier are not eligible.
“New environmental literature” refers to literary works that focus on the environment, animal protection, ecology, and wildlife.
We’re looking for work that redefines our notions of environmentalism and sustainability, particularly when it comes to animal protection. We are not seeking books about hunting, fishing, or eating animals—unless they are analogous to a good anti-war novel being all about war. Under these basic guidelines, however, we’re open to reading a wide range of fiction and nonfiction with environmental and animal themes.
About the name:
The Siskiyou Prize is named for the Klamath-Siskiyou region of northern California and southern Oregon, one of the most diverse eco-regions in the world. The Klamath-Siskiyou has the highest concentration of Wild and Scenic Rivers in the nation, the largest area of roadless wildlands in the Pacific Northwest, and the tallest old-growth trees on earth. Due to this large network of still-intact lands, the region is a refuge for fish and other wildlife that struggle for survival in other parts of the world. Considered a global center of biodiversity, the Klamath-Siskiyou region is an inspiring example of the importance of preservation.
Manuscripts must be received between September 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016.
All submissions must be made online via Submittable and must include the following:
A Few More Details…
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Visit the website for details: http://www.siskiyouprize.com/
On the edge of the Great Basin in central Oregon, PLAYA offers creative individuals the space, the solitude, and the community to reflect and to engage their work. The winner of the Siskiyou Prize will receive a four-week residency at PLAYA.
A residency at PLAYA provides private lodging in a fully equipped cabin with kitchen/living room, a place to write, and two dinners a week (Mondays & Thursdays) with a cohort of residents, at no charge. (Transportation and other meals are not included.) Playa allows uninterrupted time and solitude amidst a spectacular landscape.
PLAYA is a nonprofit organization supporting innovative thinking through work in the arts, literature, natural sciences, and other fields of creative inquiry.
OVERVIEW:
WOW! Women on Writing hosts a (quarterly) writing contest every three months. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, communication, and well-rewarded recognition to contestants. The contest is open globally; age is of no matter, and entries must be in English. We are open to all styles and genres of writing, although we do encourage you to take a close look at our guest judge for the season (upper right-hand corner) if you are serious about winning. We love creativity, originality, and light-hearted reads. That’s not to say that our guest judge will feel the same… so go wild! Express yourself, and most of all, let’s have some fun!
WORD COUNT:
Maximum: 750
Minimum: 250
The title is not to be counted in your word count. We use MS Word’s word count to determine the submitted entry’s word count.
PROMPT:
OPEN PROMPT!
That’s right, this is your chance to shine, and get creative. You can write about anything, as long as it’s within the word count and fiction. So, dig out those stories you started way back when and tailor them to the word count.
We’re open to any style and genre. From horror to romance. So, get creative, and most of all, have fun.
Click to Download the FALL 2016 FLASH FICTION Contest Terms & Conditions PDF
CONTEST DEADLINE:
ENTRY FEE: $10.00
This is not a reading fee. Entry fees are used to award our 20 winners as well as administrative costs.
We are limiting the number of entries to a maximum of 300 stories. Please enter early to ensure inclusion. If we reach 300 entries, we will disable the PayPal buttons.
Visit the website for details on how to enter:
The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is open to anyone who loves expressing innermost thoughts and feelings into the beautiful literary art of poetry and/or writing a story that’s worth telling everyone! And welcome to all, having the ability to dream… Write a poem or short story for a chance to win cash prizes totaling $1275.00. All works must be original. http://www.dreamquestone.com
Write a poem, 30 lines or fewer on any subject, style, or form, typed or neatly hand printed.
And/or write a short story, 5 pages maximum length, on any subject or theme; fiction, nonfiction or creative nonfiction (including essay compositions, diary, journal entries and screenwriting). Also, all entries must be either typed or neatly hand printed.
Multiple and simultaneous poetry and short story entries are accepted.
Postmark deadline: January 31, 2017
All contest winners will be announced on March 26, 2017
Prizes:
Writing First Prize is $500. Second Prize: $250. Third Prize: $100.
Poetry First Prize is $250. Second Prize: $125. Third Prize: $50.
Entry fees:
$10 per story, $5 per poem.
To send entries: Include title(s) with your story (ies) or poem(s), along with your name, address, phone#, email, brief biographical info. (Tell us a little about yourself), on the coversheet. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for entry confirmation. Fees payable to: “DREAMQUESTONE.COM”
Mail to:
Dream Quest One
Poetry & Writing Contest
P.O. Box 3141
Chicago, IL 60654
Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com for details on how to enter!
No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude. “And remember, in whatever you do, it’s okay to dream, for dreams do come true.” –Dream Quest One
TBL is pleased to announce the F(r)iction Fall Literary Competition. There are three submission categories: 1) short stories of any genre ranging from 1,000 to 7,500 words, 2) flash fiction with a word limit of 750 words, and 3) poetry no longer than three pages. Winners of the contest will be published in a future issue of F(r)ictionalongside stunning original artwork from TBL’s talented team of artists. F(r)iction is dedicated to publishing the best writing of all kinds, and we encourage submissions that push boundaries and take risks in genre, plot, and style.
Judging: The finalists for each category will be read by a guest judge, who will select a winner to be published in the Spring 2017 issue of F(r)iction. Matt Gallagher, author of Youngblood, will be reading the short story submissions. Renowned performance poet Ken Arkind will be judging the poetry submissions. And Sari Wilson, author of Girl Through Glass, will choose the winning flash fiction submission.
Submission Guidelines: Please visit our formatting guidelines page to properly format your work for submission. Staff members are not eligible for participation. Any work previously submitted to TBL for publication is not eligible if the piece received free edits from our team.
The winner of our short story contest will be awarded $1,000.00 and publication in F(r)iction. Five finalists will receive free professional edits on their submission and will be considered for publication.
Criteria: Any genre ranging from 1,000 to 7,500 words.
Fees: $15.00 USD entry fee for each submission.
The winner of our flash fiction contest will be awarded $300.00 and publication in F(r)iction. Five finalists will receive free professional edits on their submission and will be considered for publication.
Criteria: Any genre with a word limit of 750 words.
Fees: $8.00 per entry, or three entries for $12.00.
The winner of our poetry contest will be awarded $300.00 and publication in F(r)iction. Five finalists will receive free professional edits on their submission and will be considered for publication.
Criteria: Any genre or form, three pages or less per poem.
Fees: $8.00 per entry, or three entries for $12.00.
We strongly recommend checking out an issue of F(r)iction to get an idea of our aesthetic. You can do so at the TBL Store.
TBL is excited to announce a new Twitter contest!
If you think you can tell a story in 140 characters or fewer, we want to hear from you!
Every two weeks an acclaimed judge will choose the winning story. The winner will receive a free digital copy of F(r)iction, and potential publication of the Tweet in a future issue of F(r)iction.
Don’t blink, or you’ll miss it! Tweet your tiny narratives using the hashtag #BlinkTBL, and be sure to check the @TethrdByLettrs and @FrictionSeriesTwitter pages for start dates, deadlines, and judging info!
Notes: Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please notify TBL if your work is selected for publication elsewhere as soon as possible. We encourage writers to submit as many stories as they wish. All stories will be considered for publication inF(r)iction Series, our triannual print journal.
Our judges also reserve the right not to award a winner in any category if submissions do not meet our standards of publication.
Tethered by Letters reserves the right to discuss contest entries, finalists, and winners in the Untethered Podcast.
Other Categories: Please visit our submissions page for more ways to submit your work to TBL for possible publication and learn about our free-editing policy for work submitted to our journal.
Visit the website: http://tetheredbyletters.com/submissions/contest/
The 2017 Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize will be judged by Lauren Groff, author of Fates and Furies. The winning work will be performed and recorded live at a Selected Shorts performance at Symphony Space in May 2017, and published on Electric Literature. The winning writer will receive $1000 and a free 10-week course with Gotham Writers.
Contest Details and Guidelines:
For more information, visit the Selected Shorts site.
The San Francisco Writers Conference is pleased to announce the 2017 San Francisco Writing Contest. The contest is open to all writers everywhere, including those attending the 2017 San Francisco Writers Conference. The entry fee is $35 per item.
Your entry must fit into one of the following categories:
* Adult Fiction
* Adult Nonfiction (including memoir)
* Children’s/YA Books
Entries may have been self-published or not-yet published, but not traditionally published. Entries can be up to 1500 words in length (or less, but not more).
Please use the contest registration form on this web site SFWriters.org/contest-registration to upload your entry/entries and pay. It’s easy! If you prefer to send your fee by check, mail both the entry and check to SF Writing Contest, PO Box 326, Oakley, CA 94561.
All fees and entries must be received by 5:00 pm Pacific Time on January 13, 2017.
Finalists will be announced on the website on February 3, 2017.
Winners will be announced during lunch on Friday, February 17, 2017, at the Conference.
The Grand Prize winner will receive $250 and a 15-minute in-person meeting at the conference or a 15-minute scheduled telephone call with a literary agent who represents work like yours. First place winners in each category will receive checks for $100.
Questions? Problems? Contact Contest Coordinator Tricia Skinner at SFWritingContest@gmail.com.
Contest Rules: https://sfwriters.org/2017-contest-rules/
The Writers’ Workshop of Asheville, a nonprofit literary center founded in 1984, is sponsoring its 10th Annual Literary Fiction Contest, open to any writer regardless of residence.
The deadline is: postmarked or emailed by August 30, 2016.
Awards:
1st Place: Your choice of a 2 night stay at our Mountain Muse B&B in Asheville, NC; or 2 free workshops (in person or on-line); or 50 pages line-edited and revised by our editorial staff.
2nd Place: Two free workshops, in person or on-line; or 35 pages line-edited.
3rd Place: One free workshop; or 25 pages line-edited.
10 Honorable Mentions
Guidelines:
Submit a short story or chapter of a novel of 5,000 words or less. Multiple entries are accepted. All work must be unpublished.
Winning stories will be chosen for originality and creative writing style.
All work must be double-spaced, in 12 point font.
Your name, address, email and title of work should appear on the first page. The entry fee per submission is $25 ($20 for Workshop members).
Enclose self-sealing SASE for critique and list of winners. Make check or money order payable to The Writers’ Workshop, and mail to: Fiction Contest, 387 Beaucatcher Road, Asheville, NC 28805. Or pay online at www.twwoa.org.
Emailed submissions may be sent in Word document to writersw@gmail.com, with “Fiction Contest” in the subject. The entry fee is payable online at www.twwoa.org. No SASE is necessary as judges will email their comments.
DEADLINE: August 31st, 11:59 PM (Pacific Time) – NOW OPEN!
OVERVIEW:
WOW! hosts a (quarterly) writing contest every three months. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, communication, and well-rewarded recognition to contestants. The contest is open globally; age is of no matter; and entries must be in English. We are open to all styles and genres of writing, although we do encourage you to take a close look at our guest judge for the season (upper right hand corner) if you are serious about winning. We love creativity, originality and light-hearted reads. That’s not to say that our guest judge will feel the same… so go wild! Express yourself, and most of all, let’s have some fun!
WORD COUNT:
Maximum: 750
Minimum: 250
The title is not to be counted in your word count. We use MS Word’s word count to determine the submitted entry’s word count.
PROMPT:
OPEN PROMPT!
That’s right, this is your chance to shine, and get creative. You can write about anything, as long as it’s within the word count and fiction. So, dig out those stories you started way back when and tailor them to the word count.
We’re open to any style and genre. From horror to romance. So, get creative, and most of all, have fun.
Click to Download the SUMMER 2016 FLASH FICTION Contest Terms & Conditions PDF
How to enter: http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php
New Millennium Writings’ 42nd Literary Competition
Poetry
Fiction
Flash Fiction
Nonfiction
~$4,000 in Awards~
Award Winner in each category receives $1,000 plus publication.
Every submitter receives a free copy of the anthology.
$20 per submission
July 31, 2016 deadline
Visit the website for details: www.newmillenniumwritings.org
Contact: Alexis Williams Carr, Editor, hello@newmillenniumwritings.org
Attention: The contest deadline has been extended! All entries must be submitted via postal mail or electronically by August 18, 2016 – 11:59PM – Central Standard Time (CST).
The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is open to anyone who loves expressing innermost thoughts and feelings into the beautiful literary art of poetry and/or writing a story that’s worth telling everyone! And welcome to all, having the ability to dream… Write a poem or short story for a chance to win cash prizes totaling $1275.00. All works must be original. http://www.dreamquestone.com
Write a poem, 30 lines or fewer on any subject, style, or form, typed or neatly hand printed.
And/or write a short story, 5 pages maximum length, on any subject or theme; fiction, nonfiction or creative nonfiction (including essay compositions, diary, journal entries and screenwriting). Also, all entries must be either typed or neatly hand printed.
Multiple and simultaneous poetry and short story entries are accepted.
Extended deadline: August 18, 2016, 11:59PM, CST.
All contest winners will be announced on October 9, 2016
Prizes:
Writing First Prize is $500. Second Prize: $250. Third Prize: $100.
Poetry First Prize is $250. Second Prize: $125. Third Prize: $50.
Entry fees:
$10 per story, $5 per poem.
To send entries: Include title(s) with your story (ies) or poem(s), along with your name, address, phone#, email, brief biographical info. (Tell us a little about yourself), on the coversheet. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for entry confirmation. Fees payable to: “DREAMQUESTONE.COM”
Mail to:
Dream Quest One
Poetry & Writing Contest
P.O. Box 3141
Chicago, IL 60654
Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com for details on how to enter!
No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude. “And remember, in whatever you do, it’s okay to dream, for dreams do come true.” –Dream Quest One
Set up in 2009 to support emerging writers in competitive times,
the NWP has been successful in helping to boost the confidence of
creative voices of all ages and from all around the world.
Supported by renowned names in world literature, including Brian
Chikwava, Colin Grant, Maya Jaggi, Jackie Kay, Tabish Khair,
Toby Litt and Blake Morrison, we are delighted to have Diran Adebayo,
Imtiaz Dharker and Vesna Goldsworthy as this year’s judges,
with Wasafiri’s Founding Editor Susheila Nasta.
The prize welcomes submissions in three categories,
Poetry, Fiction and Life Writing,
HOW TO ENTER
The competition is open to anyone who has not published a complete book in the category entered. We welcome submissions in one of three categories: Poetry, Fiction and Life Writing.
Simply fill in anentry form and send it to us with your entry and fee of UK Sterling £6.00 if entering one category, £10.00 for two and £15.00 for three categories (please see the terms and conditions).
The closing date is 5:00pm GMT, on 15 July 2016. Entrants who are visually impaired or who are prevented from typing through disability can enter their work on audio CD.
PRIZES
£300 will be awarded to the winner of each category and the work will be published in Wasafiri.
JUDGES
Susheila Nasta MBE (Chair) Founding Editor of Wasafiri and Emeritus Professor of Modern Literature at the Open University.
Diran Adebayo Named ‘one of the Best Young Novelists’ in 2002, Adebayo is also a cultural critic, academic and journalist.
Imtiaz Dharker World-renowned prize-winning poet, Dharker also works as an artist and film-maker.
Vesna Goldsworthy Award-winning writer, former BBC World Service journalist and Professor of Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia.
and is open until 5pm GMT on Friday, 15 July 2016.
Further details are at: www.wasafiri.org/wasafiri-new-writing-prize.asp
Deadline: September 2, 2016. The premise of our 28th short story contest is “Darkness”. Write a creative, compelling, well-crafted story between 1,000 and 5,000 words long in which the concept of “darkness” plays an important role. You may interpret “darkness” any way you want—literally, metaphorically, or any other way. Darkness doesn’t have to have a value judgment attached to it, and it doesn’t have to be symbolic in any way, although it can.
Please remember that we value creativity. A story about “the forces of light” fighting “the forces of darkness” will struggle to rate highly on the creativity meter. Try something else.
Winners receive between US$60 and US$220, and publication. There is no fee to enter our contest.
GENRE NOTE: Any genre except children’s fiction, exploitative sex, or over-the-top gross-out horror is fine. We will also never accept parodies of another author’s specific fictional character(s) or world(s). No exceptions!
Click for details and instructions on submitting your story. To be informed when new contests are launched, subscribe to our free, short, monthly newsletter. On The Premises magazine is recognized in Duotrope, Writer’s Market, Ralan.com, and other short story marketing resources.
Visit the website: http://onthepremises.com/current-contest/
Deadline: August 31, 2016.
Submit electronically or by mail. We congratulate the winner of our most recent Serena McDonald Kennedy Fiction Award, Misty Urban of Findlay, IL, for her manuscript A Lesson in Manners, chosen by Jacob Appel. The winner of our Violet Reed Haas Prize for Poetry is John Paul O’Connor of Franklin, NY, for his manuscript Half the Truth, chosen by Tania Rochelle. Read the judges’ comments.
Violet Reed Haas Prize for Poetry
Serena McDonald Kennedy Fiction Award
Creative Writing Contests 