information about creative writing contests, poetry contests, literary magazine theme issues, writing residencies, grants, fellowships etc. Now accepting creative writing contests news and announcements!
Deadline: August 31, 2024
FIRST PRIZE: $1,000
Second Prize: $100
Four Honorable Mentions: $25
Entry Fee: $8
Deadline: August 31, 2024
Word Limit: 1,000
All Six Finalists Will Be Published Online in the October 2024 Issue of Gemini
How to enter, visit: https://gemini-magazine.com/
Deadline: May 31, 2024
Guest Judge: Literary Agent Emily Williamson with Williamson Literary Agency
Seeking short fiction of any genre between 250 – 750 words. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, great writing, and provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants.
Electronic submissions via e-mail only; reprints/previously published are okay; simultaneous submissions are okay; multiple submissions are okay. Open internationally.
Limit: 300 entries.
Prizes (20 winners!):
1st Place: $400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
2nd Place: $300, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
3rd Place: $200, publication, interview and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
7 Runners Up receive $25 Amazon Gift Cards, publication and interview
10 Honorable mentions receive $20 Amazon Gift Card
Top 10 stories are published in the WOW! Women On Writing e-zine, and contestants are interviewed on WOW’s blog, The Muffin.
Entry: $10 entry fee; critique option for an additional $10
How to enter, visit: https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php
Spring 2024 Contest Information
Deadline: April 30, 2024
Results: Announced September 9, 2024
Prizes: Win $2,100 in prizes!
Guest Judges: Wole Talabi, Sherrie Flick, C. S. E. Cooney, and Marin Sardy
Categories Accepted
Please visit our guidelines page to properly format your work for submission. We won’t reject a submission flat out for not following guidelines, but we will frown the whole time we’re reading.
What We Look For in Submissions
Our editors have drafted up this fantastic page on our website to share what we look for in our creative submissions. We strongly recommend you read this and check out the examples before submitting to get an idea of our general publishing aesthetic.
We also highly recommend checking out a past issue of F(r)iction. We have several pieces available online, but there’s nothing like holding a glossy, full-color issue in your hands. You can check out all of our issues in our shop.
Our Submission Guidelines
The winner will be announced publicly on September 9, 2024. All participants will be notified about the contest results through their Submittable account so please do not contact us before this date asking about the results. Judges’ decisions are final.
We accept work, written in English, from anywhere in the world—regardless of genre, style, or origin—and welcome speculative writing and experimental literature. Strange is good. Strange with a strong character arc is even better. Keep it weird, folks.
Writers over the age of thirteen are welcome to submit. Please note that if you are aged 13 – 16 and your work is selected for publication, we will require a signature from a parent or a guardian.
We are unable to offer refunds for contest submissions, so please read these guidelines and choose your submission category carefully.
Staff members are not eligible for participation.
We read all submissions anonymously. Please include your name and contact information in your cover letter only and remove any identifying information from both the submitted manuscript and the file name as well.
Any work previously submitted to F(r)iction for publication is not eligible.
Please also be aware that as we receive hundreds of submissions for each of our contest we are unable to offer personalized feedback. It’s not that we don’t want to, but there’s only so many volunteer staffers on our team.
We accept, and encourage, simultaneous submissions and only ask that you withdraw your piece(s) using Submittable upon acceptance elsewhere.
We do not accept work previously published elsewhere.
We edit every piece accepted for publication, including all our contest winners, whether you work is selected for publication through our online blog or in our print magazine. For this collaborative process we will pair you with one of our Senior Editors. All our editors have been trained to help guide the development of each piece to reach its fullest potential in keeping with the author’s vision. This does not mean we will take on a wild jumble of words and half-formed musings. But it does mean that we value your work and want to help each piece to be as unforgettable as possible.
No AI Submissions
We currently do not accept work from artificial intelligence (“AI”) generators or similar. By submitting your entry here, you are attesting that your work was not created, in whole or in part, with an AI generator or similar. Should any portion of your work be discovered to be the product of an AI generator or similar, by submitting here, you agree to indemnify Brink Literacy Project for all losses, fees, and damages it suffers relating to your submission and/or misrepresentation, including but not limited to, direct and indirect damages, loss of sale, reputational damages, attorney fees, and other expenses. You further agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Brink Literacy Project against any third-party claims relating to the work you submit.
NOTES:
F(r)iction (and its parent nonprofit organization, Brink Literacy Project) reserves the right to discuss contest entries, finalists, and winners in podcasts and marketing materials.
F(r)iction reserves the right to NOT award a winner in any categories if the submissions do not reach a publishable standard. In this case, reading fees will NOT be refunded and a winner will not be announced. Although this has rarely come to pass in our six-year publishing history, our top priority must remain with the quality of work we publish.
How to enter: https://frictioncontests.submittable.com/submit
Visit the website: https://frictionlit.org/contests/
Deadline: February 28, 2024
The ten winning flash stories will be published in the Fish Anthology 2024.
Judge: Michelle Elvy
Word Limit: 300
Closes: 28 Feb 2024
Results: 10 April
Anthology Published: July ’24
Entry Fee: €14 (US$15, £12) (€9 subsequent entries)
Flash critiques available.
Prizes:
Ten winning flash stories will be published in the FISH ANTHOLOGY 2024.
1st: €1,000
2nd: Online Writing Course + €300
3rd: €300
How to enter, visit: https://www.fishpublishing.com/competition/flash-fiction-contest/
Visit the website: https://www.fishpublishing.com/
Write By the Sea is a dynamic boutique literary festival set in the beautiful fishing village of Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford.
Deadline: Friday, 21st June 2024, competition closes at 11.59pm
Entries for the writing competition will open on March 2nd, 2024 and information for submissions is now available on our website: https://writebythesea.ie/writing-competition/
There are four competition categories with cash prizes for the winners and runners.
1. Fiction Short Story (maximum 2,500 words)
2. Flash Fiction (maximum 700 words)
3. Poetry (maximum 40 lines)
4. Memoir/Personal Essay (maximum 1,000 words)
An independent panel of judges will select the winners and each category winner will be invited to read their work at a public event as part of the festival.
Prizes
The winner of each category will receive a cash prize of €500 and a free weekend pass to Write By The Sea festival 2024. All four winning pieces will be published on the Write By The Sea website.
The runners-up in each category will receive €300 and third place will receive €200.
Entries must be submitted via the Online Entry Form on the Competition Page of the WBTS website, writebythesea.ie where entrants will upload their names and contact details.
All entries must be in English.
Entrants can submit as many entries as they wish at €10 per entry, or enter 3 pieces, in the same or different genres, for €25.
Should your entry win a prize or be published elsewhere, please let us know so that we can remove it from the WBTS 2023 Writing Competition.
The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence/contact will be entered into and no feedback will be given to individual entrants.
Entrants should retain copies of their work as entries will NOT be returned.
Committee members and relatives of committee members of the Write By The Sea festival, its agents, contributors or sponsors are not eligible to enter the competition.
All non-winning entries will be deleted from our records after three months from the date of the announcement of the competition results.
Note A: It breaks our hearts when we have to disqualify entrants who break the rules. Sadly, each year we have to disqualify a significant number of the entries for disregarding simple rules such as not submitting text in double-spacing or including their names and addresses in the text of their submissions. Please remember to spell-check and proofread your work. We look forward to receiving your entries and we wish you every success in the 2024 competition.
Timeline
Saturday 6th March 2024 – submissions open through writebythesea.ie
Deadline: Friday 21st June 2024, competition closes at 11.59pm
Friday 2nd August 2024– shortlist of the winning entry titles will be posted on the WBTS website, writebythesea.ie
Sunday 1st September 2024 – winners will be notified by WBTS
Each category winner will be invited to read their work at a public event as part of the festival.
October 2024 – the winning pieces will be published on the WBTS website
Visit the website for details on how to enter at:
Deadline: February 28, 2024
Guest Judge: Literary Agent Hannah Andrade with Bradford Literary Agency
Seeking short fiction of any genre between 250 – 750 words. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, great writing, and provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants.
Electronic submissions via e-mail only; reprints/previously published are okay; simultaneous submissions are okay; multiple submissions are okay. Open internationally.
Limit: 300 entries.
Prizes (20 winners!):
1st Place: $400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
2nd Place: $300, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
3rd Place: $200, publication, interview and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
7 Runners Up receive $25 Amazon Gift Cards, publication and interview
10 Honorable mentions receive $20 Amazon Gift Card
Top 10 stories are published in the WOW! Women On Writing e-zine, and contestants are interviewed on WOW’s blog, The Muffin.
Entry: $10 entry fee; critique option for an additional $10
How to enter, visit: https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php
Deadline: November 30, 2023
Guest Judge: Literary Agent Amy Giuffrida with Belcastro Literary Agency
Seeking short fiction of any genre between 250 – 750 words. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, great writing, and provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants.
Electronic submissions via e-mail only; reprints/previously published are okay; simultaneous submissions are okay; multiple submissions are okay. Open internationally.
Limit: 300 entries.
Prizes (20 winners!):
1st Place: $400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
2nd Place: $300, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
3rd Place: $200, publication, interview and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
7 Runners Up receive $25 Amazon Gift Cards, publication and interview
10 Honorable mentions receive $20 Amazon Gift Card
Top 10 stories are published in the WOW! Women On Writing e-zine, and contestants are interviewed on WOW’s blog, The Muffin.
Entry: $10 entry fee; critique option for an additional $10
How to enter: https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php
Deadline: August 31, 2023
Guest Judge: Literary Agent Fiona Smith with Beyond Words Literary Agency
Seeking short fiction of any genre between 250 – 750 words. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, great writing, and provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants.
Electronic submissions via e-mail only; reprints/previously published are okay; simultaneous submissions are okay; multiple submissions are okay. Open internationally.
Limit: 300 entries.
Prizes (20 winners!):
1st Place: $400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
2nd Place: $300, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
3rd Place: $200, publication, interview and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
7 Runners Up receive $25 Amazon Gift Cards, publication and interview
10 Honorable mentions receive $20 Amazon Gift Card
Top 10 stories are published in the WOW! Women On Writing e-zine, and contestants are interviewed on WOW’s blog, The Muffin.
Entry: $10 entry fee; critique option for an additional $10
Visit the website: https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php
Deadline: August 31, 2023
Second Prize: $100
Four Honorable Mentions: $25
Entry Fee: $7
Word Limit: 1,000
All Six Finalists Will Be Published Online in the October 2023 Issue of Gemini
How to enter, visit: https://gemini-magazine.com/flash-fiction-contest-2022/
Deadline: May 31, 2023
WOW! Women on Writing Spring 2023 Flash Fiction Contest
Guest Judge: Literary Agent Kaitlyn Katsoupis with Belcastro Literary Agency
Seeking short fiction of any genre between 250 – 750 words. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, great writing, and provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants.
Electronic submissions via e-mail only; reprints/previously published okay; simultaneous submissions okay; multiple submissions are okay as long as they are submitted in their own individual e-mail. Open internationally.
Limit: 300 entries.
Prizes (20 winners!):
1st Place: $400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
2nd Place: $300, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
3rd Place: $200, publication, interview and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
7 Runners Up receive $25 Amazon Gift Cards, publication and interview
10 Honorable mentions receive $20 Amazon Gift Card
Top 10 stories are published in the WOW! Women On Writing e-zine, and contestants are interviewed on WOW’s blog, The Muffin.
Entry: $10 entry fee; critique option for an additional $10
Visit the website: https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php
Deadline: April 30, 2023
Letter Review Prize for Flash Fiction
Prizes: $800 USD total prize pool. First Prize is $400 USD and publication, Second Prize is $250 USD and publication, Third Prize is $150 USD and publication. All entries are considered for publication.
Who May Enter: Unrestricted. We welcome writers from everywhere in the world.
Entry Fee: $15 USD for one story, $27 for two, and $35 for three. You may enter as many times as you wish.
Opens: Now.
Deadline: 30th April 2023 11:59 pm (ET).
Length: Up to 1000 words.
Restrictions: No genre or theme restrictions. All stories are welcome.
Further Details: https://letterreview.com/information/
Email Address: mail@letterreview.com
Deadline: February 28, 2023
The Prize is awarded in multiple categories, with a total Prize pool of $2400 USD and publication for our winners.
Letter Review is offering $1000 USD total Prize pool in a competition for short stories between 1000 – 3000 words. No genre or theme restrictions: all stories are welcome. Open to writers who live anywhere in the world. First Place receives $600 USD and publication, Second Place receives $250 USD and publication, and Third Place receives $150 USD and publication. Twenty writers will be longlisted. All entries are considered for publication, submission to the Pushcart Prize, and further anthologies. The Prize is judged blind to ensure fairness. See our Previous Winners Page here, and our Comments / Testimonials Page here. Enter via Submittable using the button below.
Letter Review is offering an $800 USD total Prize pool in a competition for poems of not more than 70 lines. No subject or style restrictions: all poems are welcome. Open to writers who live anywhere in the world. First Prize is $400 USD, Second Prize is $250 USD, and Third Prize is $150 USD. All winning entries are published at Letter Review. Twenty poets will be Longlisted. All entries are considered for publication, submission to the Pushcart Prize, and further anthologies. The Prize is judged blind to ensure fairness. See our Previous Winners Page here, and our Comments / Testimonials Page here. Enter via Submittable using the button below.
Letter Review is offering $600 USD total Prize pool in a competition for short stories up to 1000 words in length. No genre or theme restrictions: all stories are welcome. The Prize is open to writers who live anywhere in the world. First Prize is $300 USD and publication, Second Prize is $200 USD and publication, and Third Prize is $100 USD and publication. Twenty writers will be Longlisted. All entries are considered for publication, submission to the Pushcart Prize, and for further anthologies. The Prize is judged blind to ensure fairness. See our Previous Winners Page here, and our Comments / Testimonials Page here. Enter via Submittable using the button below.
Visit the website: https://letterreview.com/
Deadline: February 28, 2023
Guest Judge: Literary Agent Emily Forney with BookEnds Literary Agency
Seeking short fiction of any genre between 250 – 750 words. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, great writing, and provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants.
Electronic submissions via e-mail only; reprints/previously published okay; simultaneous submissions okay; multiple submissions are okay as long as they are submitted in their own individual e-mail. Open internationally.
Limit: 300 entries.
Prizes (20 winners!):
1st Place: $400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
2nd Place: $300, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
3rd Place: $200, publication, interview and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
7 Runners Up receive $25 Amazon Gift Cards, publication and interview
10 Honorable mentions receive $20 Amazon Gift Card
Top 10 stories are published in the WOW! Women On Writing e-zine, and contestants are interviewed on WOW’s blog, The Muffin.
Entry: $10 entry fee; critique option for an additional $10
Visit the website: https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php
——————-
Deadline: May 31, 2023
£11-£24 ENTRY FEES. Categories poetry, short story, flash fiction, and novel open for this deadline. Our short story, poetry, flash fiction and memoir competitions are open to international applicants, whilst the novel award is open to writers living in Britain and Ireland, British writers living overseas and writers living in British Overseas Territories. Poetry first prize £5,000. Limit 42 lines. Short story first prize £5,000. Limit 5,000 words. Flash Fiction first prize £1,000. Limit 250 words.
Novel winner receives £1,500 plus package. Limit 8,000 words and a synopsis – initially. Up to a year’s mentoring from The Literary Consultancy through their Chapter & Verse scheme (worth £2,640) and a detailed critique from the novel judge. Runner-up receives £750 plus full manuscript appraisal and Industry Day place from The Literary Consultancy.
How to enter, visit: https://thebridportprize.submittable.com/submit
Deadline: November 30, 2022
Guest Judge: Literary Agent Savannah Brooks with KT Literary Agency
Seeking short fiction of any genre between 250 – 750 words. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, great writing, and provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants.
Electronic submissions via e-mail only; reprints/previously published okay; simultaneous submissions okay; reprints/previously published are okay; multiple submissions are okay as long as they are submitted in their own individual e-mail. Open internationally.
Limit: 300 entries.
Prizes (20 winners!):
1st Place: $400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
2nd Place: $300, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
3rd Place: $200, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
7 Runners Up receive $25 Amazon Gift Cards, publication, and an interview
10 Honorable mentions receive $20 Amazon Gift Card
Top 10 stories are published in the WOW! Women On Writing e-zine and contestants are interviewed on WOW’s blog, The Muffin.
Entry: $10 entry fee; critique option for an additional $10
How to enter, visit:
Pet Flash Fiction Contest! Grand prize of $250.
Dogs, cats, parrots, gerbils, hamsters, iguanas, etc. The list of pets could go on and on. The challenge of this contest is to write a true story about a pet in 300 words or fewer. The story can be funny, silly, scary, sad, or any other adjective as long as it involves a pet. And to make it extra interesting, include a picture of the pet in the story if you can.
Remember, the challenge of flash fiction is to create a thought-provoking story within the tight word constraints of the writing form. Good luck and have fun!
The story can be any genre as long as it is based on the picture.
Prizes:
Entry fees:
The cost to enter is $4.99 for regular members and $2.50 for Premium members (Premium members receive a 50% discount on all contest entries).
Frequently Asked Questions
Many of the most common questions are answered in our contest rules.
Is there a word limit on contest entries?
Yes, this is flash fiction. The maximum length of your story is 300 words.
Can I enter as many stories as I want?
Yes, you can enter an unlimited number of stories.
Do I have to be a member of Booksie to enter?
Yes, you must be a Booksie member but membership is free. If you are not a member, you can easily become one as part of the entry process.
About Booksie Contests
Booksie is an online writing platform to help writers tell their stories and promote their written work. It is not a publisher and does not take any ownership of the writing posted to the site. Booksie has run writing contests for the last three years. Our sister writing workshop site, TheNextBigWriter, has run writing contests for the last thirteen years. Click here to view a list of previous Booksie winners.
Deadline: February 28, 2023
Prizes: $250 grand prize. Two $50 runner-up prizes. Writing fun!
Visit the website for details on how to enter at:
https://www.booksie.com/contest/pet-flash-fiction-contest-31
WOW! Women on Writing Summer 2022 Flash Fiction Contest
Deadline: August 31, 2022
Guest Judge: Literary Agent Amy Elizabeth Bishop with DG&B Literary Agency
Seeking short fiction of any genre between 250 – 750 words. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, great writing, and provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants.
Electronic submissions via e-mail only; reprints/previously published okay; simultaneous submissions okay; reprints/previously published are okay; multiple submissions are okay as long as they are submitted in their own individual e-mail. Open internationally.
Limit: 300 entries.
Prizes (20 winners!):
1st Place: $400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
2nd Place: $300, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
3rd Place: $200, publication, interview and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
7 Runners Up receive $25 Amazon Gift Cards, publication and interview
10 Honorable mentions receive $20 Amazon Gift Card
Top 10 stories are published in the WOW! Women On Writing e-zine, and contestants are interviewed on WOW’s blog, The Muffin.
Entry: $10 entry fee; critique option for an additional $10
Deadline: May 31, 2022
Guest Judge: Literary Agent Sharon Pelletier with DG&B Literary Agency
Seeking short fiction of any genre between 250 – 750 words. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, communication, and well-rewarded recognition to contestants.
Electronic submissions via e-mail only; reprints/previously published okay; simultaneous submissions okay; reprints/previously published are okay; multiple submissions are okay as long as they are submitted in their own individual e-mail. Open internationally.
Limit: 300 entries.
Prizes (20 winners!):
1st Place: $400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
2nd Place: $300, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
3rd Place: $200, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
7 Runners Up receive $25 Amazon Gift Cards, publication, and interview
10 Honorable mentions receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card
Top 10 stories are published in the WOW! Women On Writing e-zine, and contestants are interviewed on WOW’s blog, The Muffin.
Entry: $10 entry fee; critique option for an additional $10
Visit the website: https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php
Deadline: February 28, 2022
Guest Judge: Literary Agent Hannah Andrade with Bradford Literary Agency
Seeking short fiction of any genre between 250 – 750 words. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, communication, and well-rewarded recognition to contestants.
Electronic submissions via e-mail only; reprints/previously published okay; simultaneous submissions okay; reprints/previously published are okay; multiple submissions are okay as long as they are submitted in their own individual e-mail. Open internationally.
Limit: 300 entries.
Prizes (20 winners!):
1st Place: $400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
2nd Place: $300, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
3rd Place: $200, publication, interview and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
7 Runners Up receive $25 Amazon Gift Cards, publication and interview
10 Honorable mentions receive $20 Amazon Gift Card
Top 10 stories are published in the WOW! Women On Writing e-zine, and contestants are interviewed on WOW’s blog, The Muffin.
Entry: $10 entry fee; critique option for an additional $10
Visit the website: https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php
Deadline: December 1, 2021 (must be received by this date).
Recommended free contest gives $1,000 prize for an English-language work of fiction (novels, short story and flash fiction collections) with significant Jewish thematic content by a single author published and available for purchase in the US during the deadline year. “Jewish thematic content” is defined by the sponsor as “an extended grappling with Jewish themes throughout the book, including Judaism, Jewish history and culture, Jewish identity, etc.” Winner must attend award ceremony during sponsor’s annual conference, and support will be provided to defray the cost of attending. Note that all genres compete together. Book must be written for adults. Author need not be of Jewish heritage. Titles published exclusively as e-books are ineligible. Author or publisher must send a review copy to each of the contacts listed on the sponsor’s website. Sponsored by the Association of Jewish Libraries, an international membership organization that “fosters access to information…relating to Jews, Judaism, the Jewish experience, and Israel”.
Association of Jewish Libraries
Guidelines: https://jewishlibraries.org/jewish-fiction-award/
Association of Jewish Libraries Address:
Association of Jewish Libraries
P.O. Box 1118
Teaneck, New Jersey 07666
United States
Active
Recommended
Published Prose Book
Novels, short story collections, and flash fiction collections
12/01/21
Received By Deadline
“2022” award has a 2021 deadline.
Annual
$1,000.00
$1,000 prize (all genres compete together) as well as financial support to defray travel and hotel costs associated with attending the sponsor’s conference and award ceremony in June of the year following the deadline.
Honorable mentions may be awarded in a given year, but there is no remuneration for these titles.
No
No Restrictions
Novels, short story and flash fiction collections by a single author and written for adult readers are eligible.
Book must have significant Jewish thematic content related to Jewish identity, Judaism, or Jewish history or culture. According to sponsor’s website, “Works with little Jewish content (e.g. a peripheral character or two) will not be considered.”
Book-length
No
No
Postal and Electronic
Books submitted for the current award must have been published during the deadline year. Authors or publishers may submit books for consideration. Entries must be written in English. No anthologies, collections by multiple authors, reprints, or books published only as e-books. A review copy (advance reader’s copy, digital copy, or finished book) must be sent to each of the committee members listed on the sponsor’s website; note that additional copies may be requested at the committee’s discretion. Winner must attend the Association of Jewish Libraries Conference in June of the year following the deadline to receive the award.
Authors with Published Books
Other
Open to authors internationally, but books submitted must be available for purchase in the United States.
The author does not need to be of Jewish heritage.
No Restriction
Sponsor offers three other annual literary prizes. See their website for more information.
Established in 1966 with the merging of the Jewish Librarians Association and the Jewish Library Association, the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) is a volunteer-run nonprofit that “promotes Jewish literacy through enhancement of…library resources and through leadership for the profession…of Judaica librarianship”. AJL “fosters access to information, learning, teaching, and research relating to Jews, Judaism, the Jewish experience, and Israel”. Its membership is open to individuals and libraries worldwide.
Through its literary awards program, AJL draws attention to the best in Jewish literature and scholarship each year, encouraging publication and purchase of high-quality Jewish writing. This particular award is funded by Dan Wyman Books, a specialty Jewish bookstore based in Brooklyn.
(Contest year is based on when the winner is announced, which is the year following the deadline year.)
2021:
Max Gross, ‘The Lost Shtetl’
2020:
Goldie Goldbloom, ‘On Division’
2019:
Mark Sarvas, ‘Memento Park’
2017
Visit the website: https://jewishlibraries.org/jewish-fiction-award/
Deadline: December 16, 2021
NO MENTION OF ENTRY FEE.
The submission must not exceed 1,000 words in length. The submission must be clearly inspired by some aspect of quantum physics. The submission must include the sentence “It’s a lot to think about” (“Constraint”). The submission must be in English. The Submission must be typed or copied and pasted into the entry form at the time of entry. Up to ten stories will be shortlisted. A shortlist award of $100, a certificate and a one-year digital subscription to Scientific American will be awarded to each Shortlisted Entrant. First prize $1,500 and an engraved trophy. Runner up $1,000 and an engraved trophy. People’s Choice Prize $500 and an engraved trophy.
Visit the website: https://shorts.quantumlah.org/rules
Deadline: December 1, 2021
$15 ENTRY FEE (includes print copy of the journal).
Charlotte Lit’s inaugural Writers/South Awards offers $10,000 in prizes plus publication in four categories: poetry, short fiction, nonfiction, and flash. Four prize levels: $1,500, $500, $250, $50 honorable mentions. All prize winners published in the new Writers/South: Journal of Charlotte Lit. Judges: Ron Rash (fiction, 4,000 words), Jessica Jacobs and Nickole Brown (poetry, one to three poems, up to five total pages), Stephanie Elizondo Griest (nonfiction, 4,000 words), and flash (one to two pieces, up to 500 words each). Open to current and past residents of North Carolina and its four contiguous states: South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia.
Visit the website: https://www.charlottelit.org/writerssouth/awards/
Deadline: November 30, 2021
Guest Judge: Literary Agent Erin Clyburn with Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency
Seeking short fiction of any genre between 250 – 750 words. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, communication, and well-rewarded recognition to contestants.
Electronic submissions via e-mail only; reprints are okay; simultaneous submissions okay; reprints/previously published are okay; multiple submissions are okay as long as they are submitted in their own individual e-mail. Open internationally.
Limit: 300 entries.
Prizes (20 winners!):
1st Place: $400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
2nd Place: $300, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
3rd Place: $200, publication, interview and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
7 Runners Up receive $25 Amazon Gift Cards, publication and interview
10 Honorable mentions receive $20 Amazon Gift Card
Top 10 stories are published in the WOW! Women On Writing e-zine, and contestants are interviewed on WOW’s blog, The Muffin.
Entry fee: $10 entry fee; critique option for an additional $10
How to enter, visit:
Closing Date: September 1st, 2021
Entry Fee: None
Top Prize: $75
Other Details: We will be announcing the winners in early September. They will be featured on our site and receive their prize ($75 for first place, $50 for second place, and $25 for third place) then.
Our main rules concerning the actual submissions are that they fit in a Quote Tweet on Twitter (as this is where we receive submissions) and mention the Strawberry Suspense tea.
The rest of the rules and our contact information are at theteainme.com/fun/ and theteainme.com/support/ respectively,
and the contest invitation is at https://twitter.com/TheTeaInMe/status/1420125719548547074.
Creative Writing Contests 