Contests

Feeling trapped? Click here to break out of another site's frames. Scroll down to view contests.

In the 1990s, I created a database to track writing contests in chronological order and wrote the original bimonthly "Contests Column" published in The Christian Author, the official newsletter for the Northwest Christian Writers' Association, and later for the new e-zine, www.SpiritLedWriter.com.

The contests column, which ran bimonthly since 1992, is back. Bookmark this page and check back for updates. If you manage a resource site for writers, please mention "The Write Place - Contests Column by Kimn Swenson Gollnick" and place a link to this site. Send me an e-mail to let me know. Thanks!

NOTE: "Fee-free" contests are INDENTED for easier viewing.
Unless otherwise noted, dates are "postmarked by" deadlines.

August 9, 2009: The HappenStance Short Story Competition, 2 Parkes Road, Torrington, Devon EX38 7NW UK, story@happenstancepress.com, http://www.happenstancepress.com. "International entries welcomed. Stories must be in English or Scots, maximum length 2500 words. No theme. Entrants my request a free critique of their entry (SAE required for postal entries). Judge 2009: Janice Galloway is one of Scotland's best-known, most versatile writers. Author of short story collections Blood and Where You Find It, she writes across a range of forms including novels, song cycles, plays, poetry - even an opera libretto." FEE: £5 ($7.5) per story, £6 ($9) online (includes free critique). PRIZES: $1st £150 ($223), 2nd £75 ($111), 3rd £50 ($74), plus publication in the 2009 anthology.

August 15, 2009: 4th Annual Inspirit Poetry Contest, c/o Baughman Memorial United Methodist Church, 228 Bridge St., New Cumberland, PA 17070, http://www.gbgm-umc.org/baughmanumc/. "Submit your best unpublished poem (limit 100 lines, no translations) exploring issues of Christianity, culture, faith, and/or nature." FEE: $15. PRIZES: $500 plus publication.

August 20, 2009: Writer's Journal "Write To Win!" Contest, Val-Tech Media, P.O. Box 394, Perham, MN 56573, http://www.writersjournal.com/WritetoWinContest.htm. "This is a great opportunity for those of you who want to write, but don't know what to write about. Stories must start with the starter phrase, may be dialogue—author's choice: Excuse me sir, could you...." FEE: $5. PRIZE: $150, Honorable Mentions: One-year subscription.

August 30, 2009: Writer's Journal Poetry Contest, Val-Tech Media, P.O. Box 394, Perham, MN 56573, http://www.writersjournal.com/PoetryContest.htm. "Each poem may be no longer than 25 lines. Entries must be typed on 8 1/2" x 11" paper, submitted in duplicate." FEE: $3. PRIZES: $50, $25, $15, "plus publication of winning entries."

August 31, 2009: Chicken Soup for the Soul CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: "Teacher Tales", http://www.chickensoup.com/form.asp?cid=possible_books. "We have all had that one teacher who has made a difference in our lives. And teachers, remember that one student who made you know why you decided to be a teacher and who you will never forget? We are looking for stories from both teachers and students that will tell that unforgettable story." Read the guidelines and submit your stories online. FEE: NONE.

August 31, 2009: Glimmer Train Press SHORT STORY AWARD for NEW WRITERS Contest, 1211 NW Glisan Street, Suite 207, Portland, OR 97209, http://www.glimmertrain.com/shorawfornew2.html. "Open only to writers whose fiction has not been presented in a print publication with a circulation over 5,000. Entries, of course, must be unpublished. Please send your work via our new online submission procedure (12,000 words max.)." FEE: $15. PRIZES: 1st place=$1,200, publication in Glimmer Train Stories, and 20 copies of that issue, 2nd place=$500, 3rd place=$300.

August 31, 2009: The 8th Annual Editor's Prize Best Poem Contest, MARGIE, P.O. Box 250, Chesterfield, MO, 63006, margiereview@aol.com, http://www.margiereview.com/CONTESTS/edprize09.html. "Submit 3 unpublished poems (60 line limit per poem)." FEE: $15 for 3 poems/$5 each additional. "A portion of each fee will be donated to Feed the Children." GRAND PRIZE: $1,000 plus publication.

August 31, 2009: The 2009 "AUNTIE ANN" Poetry Book Award Contest, MARGIE, P.O. Box 250, Chesterfield, MO, 63006, margiereview@aol.com, http://www.margiereview.com/CONTESTS/auntieann09.html. "Submit an unpublished book manuscript of between 48 - 64 pages of poetry. If applicable, include an "Acknowledgements Page" where poems first appeared. Simultaneous submissions accepted. Only submit copies as manuscripts will not be returned." FEE: $25. ("A portion of each fee will be donated to Feed the Children.") GRAND PRIZE: $1,000 for "Best Poetry Book" plus 100 Complimentary Author Copies. "All manuscripts will be considered for publication."

August 31, 2009: Second Annual Donald Barthelme Prize for Short Prose, Gulf Coast Journal, Department of English, University of HoustonHouston, TX 77204-3013, http://www.gulfcoastmag.org/index.php?n=7. "Submit up to 3 previously unpublished prose poems, short stories, or micro-essays, each no more than 500 words in length. Your name and address should appear on the cover letter only. All entries will be considered for publication, though only one will receive the prize. Include an SASE for results." FEE: $15 (includes one-year subscription to Gulf Coast). PRIZE: $500.

August 31, 2009: Family Circle Fiction Writing Contest , 375 Lexington Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10017, http://www.parents.com/family-life/fitness/stress-relaxation/fiction-contest-winners/;jsessionid=0TOB150WHIHVNQFIBQNSCZQ?page=12. "Send an original fictional short story of no more than 2,500 words. Entries must be original, unpublished, and may not have won any prize or award. Up to two entries per individual will be accepted, but each entry must be a unique short story. Open to amateur writers who are legal residents of the 50 United States, or the District of Columbia, age 21 or older." FEE: NONE LISTED. PRIZES: $750 plus publication, and TWO runners-up will receive $250 each plus publication online. NOTE: Website states, "Entries become the property of Meredith Corporation, 1716 Locust St., Des Moines, Iowa ("Sponsor") and will not be acknowledged or returned."

September 1, 2009: 2009 Flash Fiction Contest, Newport Review, P.O. Box 65, Warren, RI 02885, http://newportreview.org/?contests.html. "We are looking for works that are short in length but linger long in memory: small stories that pack a big emotional punch and make creative use of language. Open to all writers, published and unpublished, except writers who have close personal affiliations with Newport Review, its editorial staff or advisory board. Submit short-short stories up to 1,000 words." FEE: $7 per story, or $20 for 3 stories. PRIZES: $150, $100, $50.

Postmarked August 1 to September 30, 2009: The Iowa Short Fiction Award & the John Simmons Short Fiction Award, Iowa Writers’ Workshop, 507 North Clinton Street, 102 Dey House, Iowa City IA 52242-1000 (University of Iowa Press: 319-335-2000), http://uipress.uiowa.edu/authors/iowa-short-fiction.htm. "Any writer who has not previously published a volume of prose fiction is eligible to enter the competition. Previously entered manuscripts that have been revised may be resubmitted. The manuscript must be a collection of short stories in English of at least 150 word-processed, double-spaced pages. We do not accept e-mail submissions. Current University of Iowa students are not eligible." FEE: NONE. PRIZE: "Award-winning manuscripts will be published by the University of Iowa Press under the Press’s standard contract."

September 15, 2009: Literal Latté Essay Awards, 200 East 10th Street, Suite 240, New York, NY 10003, (212) 260-5532, http://www.literal-latte.com/contests/. "Send unpublished personal essays. 6,000 words max. All topics." FEE: $10 for one essay OR $15 for 2 essays. PRIZES: $1,000, $300, $200.

September 15, 2009: 2009 Robert Watson Literary Prizes , Jim Clark, Editor, The Greensboro Review, MFA Writing Program, 3302 HHRA Building, UNC Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170, http://www.greensbororeview.org/contests/. "No previously published works, works accepted for publication, or simultaneous submissions are eligible. Poetry may be any length; maximum length for fiction is 7,500 words. Fiction manuscripts may be double-spaced." FEE: NONE listed. PRIZES: $500 each for poetry and fiction.

September 30, 2009: Southwest Writers International Quarterly Writing Competition: "Anything Goes Poetry", 3721 Morris St NE, Ste A, Albuquerque, NM 87111 (print name of category under your return address), 505-265-9485, http://southwestwriters.com/quarterlycontest.php. "Send us your poetry. Any style. Any meter. Any subject. Any spacing. Rhymed or unrhymed. Just fit it on one page. Contact information may go on either cover page or the page with the poetry." FEE: $10. PRIZES: $150, $50, $25.

September 30, 2009: Chicken Soup for the Soul CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: "Endurance Sports" http://www.chickensoup.com/form.asp?cid=possible_books. "Whether you are a triathlete, a duathlete, or you just love to swim, run, or cycle, we want to hear about your sports, your races, and how endurance sports fit into your life, whether you are an amateur, a student athlete, or a pro." Read the guidelines and submit your stories online. FEE: NONE.

September 30, 2009: Chicken Soup for the Soul CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: "Dieting and Fitness" http://www.chickensoup.com/form.asp?cid=possible_books. "Eat less - exercise more! We have all heard these simple words but, in reality, dieting and staying fit require a lot of work. Tell us about your commitment to health and fitness. What changes did you make in your eating habits? What kind of an exercise program did you follow that made the difference? Were you still able to treat yourself to that occasional delicious piece of chocolate cake and stay in shape? The true stories in this book will inspire you, make you laugh, touch your heart, and let you know that you can do it!" Read the guidelines and submit your stories online. FEE: NONE.

September 30, 2009: Glimmer Train Press FICTION OPEN Contest, 1211 NW Glisan Street, Suite 207, Portland, OR 97209, http://www.glimmertrain.com/fictionopen.html. "Open to all writers, all themes, so have at it! (We don't publish stories for children.) Please send your work via our new online submission procedure." FEE: $20. PRIZES: 1st place=$2,000, publication in Glimmer Train Stories, and 20 copies of that issue, 2nd place=$1,000, 3rd place=$600.

September 30, 2009: The Hackney Literary Awards, Birmingham-Southern College, Box 549066, Birmingham, AL 35254, http://www.bsc.edu/events/hackney/index.htm. "Open to writers nationwide." Read complete guidelines here (opens in a .PDF document). FEE: $15/entry. PRIZES: $5,000 for unpublished novel, plus $600, $400, $250.

September 30, 2009: The Scent of an Ending™ Contest, White Eagle Coffee Store Press, PO Box 383, Fox River Grove, IL 60021, http://thescentofanending.com/. "Submit the Title of an imaginary novel and the Final 25-125 Words." FEE: $6.37. PRIZES: 1st Place $89.93, 2nd Place $67.32, 3rd Place $31.18, "plus dubious fame and publication for winners and all finalists. Initial publication on website, then in print."

October 1, 2009: A Cup of Comfort® for Couples: Stories that celebrate what it means to be in love, F+W Media, Inc., Consumer Books Direct, P.O. Box 5009, Iola, WI 54945, 1-800-258-0929, http://www.cupofcomfort.com/CallForSubmissions/. "From celebrating special moments between you to overcoming bumps in your relationship. From experiences that brought you closer together to experiences that threatened to tear you apart. From endearing rituals to challenging changes. From sparkling new love to glorious golden love. Or any other topic that speaks to the joys, the challenges, and/or the nature of a romantic partnership that works for you. Narrative essays preferred. Length: 1,000 to 2,000 words." FEE: NONE. Finalists notified by October 15, 2009.

October 1, 2009: 2009 Springfield Writers' Guild 16th Annual Literary Awards, Dr. Jerry Wible, 2987 E. Kemmling Lane, Springfield, MO 65804, jwible@sbcglobal.net, http://www.swgsite.org/contests.html. Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, plus nine other categories. FEE: $3 (some categories $2). PRIZES: Grand Prize winners of three categories will each receive $100. The top winners of the remaining nine categories will receive $20, $10, $5, and Honorable Mention. See website for complete details and guidelines.

October 1, 2009: 19th Annual Jeffrey E. Smith Editors' Prize in Fiction, Essay and Poetry Contest, Missouri Review Editors' Prize, 357 McReynolds Hall, UMC, Columbia, MO 65211, http://www.missourireview.com/contest/editors_prize.php. "Please include no more than 25 typed, double-spaced pages for fiction and nonfiction. Poetry entries can include any number of poems up to 10 pages. Each story or essay constitutes one entry." FEE: $20 (includes one-year subscription to TMR, either for you or someone you designate). PRIZES: $5,000 Fiction | $5,000 Poetry | $5,000 Essay.

October 1, 2009: Boston Review Short Story Contest, 35 Medford Street, Suite 302, Somerville, MA 02143, (617) 591-0505, http://www.bostonreview.net/contests.html. "Submit a story of up to 4,000 words and must be previously unpublished. Visit the Web site for complete guidelines." FEE: $20 entry fee, $30 for international entries (includes a one-year subscription to Boston Review.) PRIZES: $1,500 and publication in Boston Review.

October 2, 2009: Miami University Press Novella Contest, MU Press Novella Prize, English Department, 356 Bachelor Hall, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, http://www.orgs.muohio.edu/mupress/novella.html. "We are happy to present a rare venue for publishing individual novellas as stand-alone volumes. Submit manuscripts, 18,000–40,000 words, with two title pages: one with author’s name, address and phone number, one without. Author’s name must not appear elsewhere. Word count must be included on title page." FEE: $25 (each entrant receives copy of the winning volume). PRIZE: $1,000 plus publication.

October 5, 2009: Fellowships for Historical Research, American Antiquarian Society, 185 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609-1634, (508) 471-2131, http://www.americanantiquarian.org/artistfellowship.htm. "Applications for 2010 fellowships will be available in 2009. At least three fellowships are given annually to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers for monthlong residencies at the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester, Massachusetts, to research pre-twentieth-century American history and culture." FEE: NONE. PRIZES: See website for details.

October 15, 2009: Fourth River Award for Poetry and Creative Nonfiction 2009, The Fourth River, Chatham University, Woodland Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, Attention: Fourth River Award for (please insert genre here--Poetry or Nonfiction), fourthriver@chatham.edu, http://fourthriver.chatham.edu/submit.cfm. "We are looking for poetry and creative nonfiction that capture the places—natural, built and imagined, urban, rural or wild—where humans and nature converge and collide. Unpublished entries only. Students, faculty and employees of Chatham University are not eligible." FEE: $5 for one poem or one essay (7,000 words max.), includes copy. PRIZES: $500 in two categories (poetry and creative nonfiction).

October 15, 2009: SHELTERING PINES PRESS FIFTH ANNUAL CHAPBOOK COMPETITION, P.O. Box 1344, Kennebunk, ME 04043, http://www.shelteringpinespress.com/chapbookcontest5.html. "Submit between 10-24 pages of poetry.(One page = maximum 38 lines, including spacing between lines). (Manuscripts either too short or too long will be disqualified.) Poems may have been previously published in journals, which should be credited on a separate, removable page." FEE: $15. PRIZE: $100 and fifty copies of your chapbook.

October 15, 2009: 2009 RRofihe Trophy, 270 Lafayette Street, Suite 1412, New York, NY 10012, http://www.opencity.org/rrofihe.html. "For an unpublished short story (up to 5,000 words). Author must not have been previously published in Open City." FEE: $10. PRIZES: $500 cash, trophy, and publication in Open City.

October 20, 2009: Writer's Journal "Write To Win!" Contest, Val-Tech Media, P.O. Box 394, Perham, MN 56573, http://www.writersjournal.com/WritetoWinContest.htm. "This is a great opportunity for those of you who want to write, but don't know what to write about. Stories must start with the starter phrase, may be dialogue—author's choice: In one quick motion...." FEE: $5. PRIZE: $150, Honorable Mentions: One-year subscription.

August 1 to October 30, 2009: 12TH ANNUAL SHORT FICTION CONTEST, INKWELL, Manhattanville College, 2900 Purchase Street, Purchase, NY 10577, 914-323-7239, inkwell@mville.edu, http://www.inkwelljournal.org/competitions.htm. "Send up to 3 previously unpublished stories (5,000 word max.)." FEE: $15/story. PRIZE: $1,500 plus publication.

August 1 to October 30, 2009: 13TH ANNUAL SHORT FICTION CONTEST, INKWELL, Manhattanville College, 2900 Purchase Street, Purchase, NY 10577, 914-323-7239, inkwell@mville.edu, http://www.inkwelljournal.org/competitions.htm. "Send up to 3 previously unpublished stories (5,000 word max.)." FEE: $10 for first poem, $5 each additional. PRIZES: $1,000 plus publication.

October 31, 2009: Tenth Annual Poetry Contest, Elixir Press, P.O. Box 27029, Denver, CO 80227, http://www.elixirpress.com/guidelines.html#poetrycontest. "Open to all poets writing in English. Manuscripts must be at least 48 pages in length." FEE: $25. PRIZES: Judge's Prize: $2,000. Editor's Prize: $1,000.

MUST BE POSTMARKED in October 2009: Fifth annual Arthur Edelstein Prize for Short Fiction, writingsite.com, ATTN: Short Story Contest, P.O. Box 93, Pomfret Center, CT 06259, http://www.writingsite.com/index.htm?pages/shorts_contest05.htm. "Submit a story of up to 6,000 words. A successful story requires technical fluency (good writing), a well-rendered and engaging concept, and satisfying structure (beginning, middle, end) all of which work together to produce an artistic result greater than the sum of its parts." FEE: $10. PRIZES: $1,000 and publication on writingsite.com .

July 1 to October 31, 2009: Writers Alliance of Gainesville (WAG) Bacopa Annual Literary Journal 2010 CONTEST, address above, http://www.bacopaonline.com/. "Fiction (3,300 words), Non-Fiction (3,300 words), Poetry (50 lines per poem), Poetry (Submit up to three poems per contest submission)." FEE: Free for WAG members, $11 for nonmembers (or join with fee of $36/year). PRIZES (EACH GENRE): First=$350, Second=$75, Honorable Mention, plus free copy of issue.

August 15 to November 1, 2009: Ronald Sukenick/American Book Review Innovative Fiction Prize, American Book Review, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Houston-Victoria, 3007 N. Ben Wilson, Victoria, TX 77901-5731, http://americanbookreview.org/contest.asp. "Open to any writer of English who is a citizen of the United States and who has not previously published with Fiction Collective Two. Submissions may include a collection of short stories, one or more novellas, or a novel. There is no length requirement. Works that have previously appeared in magazines or in anthologies may be included. Translations and previously self-published collections are not eligible. Winner will be announced May 2010." FEE: $25. PRIZE: $1,000 and publication by FC2, an imprint of the University of Alabama Press.

LAST DAY OF EVERY MONTH, 2009: Memoirs Ink "What's Your Status?" Contest, 10866 Washington Blvd, Suite 518, Culver City, CA 90232, http://www.memoirsink.com/statuscontest/. "Memoirs Ink hosts a free mini-memoir competition inspired by some great lines we’ve seen on Gmail status, Facebook status, Twitter and others. The status line, while it can be a boring travelogue, is also a great form of mini memoiring—yes, we just made that word up. So email us your status and win cool prizes (150 characters max.)." FEE: NONE. PRIZE: "Publication and glory."