Contests

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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.

September 30, 2010: 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.

Postmarked August 1 to September 30, 2009: The Iowa 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://www.uiowapress.org/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 30, 2010: The Hackney Literary Awards for NOVELS, 1305 2nd Avenue North, #103, Birmingham, Alabama 35203, info@hackneyliteraryawards.org, http://www.bsc.edu/events/hackney/index.htm. "Open to writers nationwide." Read guidelines here. "Length is open but the novel must be unpublished. Publication rights revert to winner." FEE: $30/entry. PRIZES: $5,000 for unpublished novel, plus $600, $400, $250.

September 30, 2010: Southwest Writers International Quarterly Writing Competition: "Poetry", 3721 Morris St NE, Ste A, Albuquerque, NM 87111 (print name of category under your return address), 505-265-9485, http://southwestwriters.com/contestQuarterlyCurrent.php. "Enter a poem of any form, any topic, but no longer than 2 pages, double-spaced, in length." FEE: $10. PRIZES: $150, $50, $25.

September 30, 2010: Bananagrams® Writing Contest, Newport Review, P.O. Box 65, Warren, RI 02885, http://newportreview.org/?contests.html. "Writers must use all seven words from the 21-letter Bananagrams® grid displayed on this site (stories/poems up to 1,400 wds. max.)." FEE: $7 per story or poem, or $20 for 3 stories/poems. PRIZES: Bananagrams® game set, plus $500, $200, $50.

October 1, 2010: 20th 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, 2010: Boston Review Aura Estrada Short Story Contest, P.O. Box 425786, Cambridge, MA 02142, 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 1, 2010: Springfield Writers' Guild 17th 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, 2010: 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: $750 advance plus publication.

October 1, 2010: 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.

August 1 to October 30, 2010: 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: $15/story. PRIZES: $1,500 plus publication.

August 1 to October 30, 2010: 14TH ANNUAL POETRY 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 5 previously unpublished poems (40 lines or fewer)." FEE: $10 for first poem, $5 each additional. PRIZES: $1,000 plus publication.

October 20, 2010: 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: Hey, what are you...." FEE: $5/entry. PRIZE: $150, Honorable Mentions: One-year subscription.

October 31, 2010: Chicken Soup for the Soul CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: "Pre-Teens", http://www.chickensoup.com/form.asp?cid=possible_books. "Being a preteen can be tough. Puberty, friends, school, family issues can all seem challenging. Our preteen book will be like a portable support group. You remember your preteen years. Please share your own personal stories that you think will help preteens navigate these challenging years. Stories can be about serious topics, friends, most embarrassing moments, and anything else that is relevant to 9-12-year-olds." Read the guidelines and submit your stories online. FEE: NONE.

October 31, 2010: Chicken Soup for the Soul CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: "Teens", http://www.chickensoup.com/form.asp?cid=possible_books. "A completely new book on one of our most requested topics - TEENS. The stories in this book, written almost entirely by teens, will be stories that you will want to read again and again. They will serve as your guide on topics such as the daily pressures of life, love, school, friendships, parents and much more. We are looking for stories that will encourage you, inspire you, make you laugh, make you cry and show you that, as tough as things can get, you are not alone." Read the guidelines and submit your stories online. FEE: NONE.

November 30, 2010: The Hackney Literary Awards for SHORT STORY, 1305 2nd Avenue North, #103, Birmingham, Alabama 35203, info@hackneyliteraryawards.org, http://www.bsc.edu/events/hackney/index.htm. "Open to writers nationwide." Read guidelines here. "Entries must be typed, double spaced (5,000 wds.max." FEE: $20/entry. PRIZES: $600, $400, $250.

December 20, 2010: 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: The $420,000 price tag...." FEE: $5/entry. PRIZE: $150, Honorable Mentions: One-year subscription.

December 31, 2010: Chicken Soup for the Soul CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: "Mothers and Daughters", http://www.chickensoup.com/form.asp?cid=possible_books. "Mothers and daughters - they are, at the same time, very similar and also completely unique. Mothers show daughters who they will become. Daughters live out mothers’ dreams. Through birth, childhood, teen years, adulthood, grandchildren, aging, and every step in between, this relationship can be the best, the hardest, and the sweetest." Read the guidelines and submit your stories online. FEE: NONE.

December 31, 2010: Chicken Soup for the Soul CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: "Young at Heart", http://www.chickensoup.com/form.asp?cid=possible_books. "So, you've crossed that magic age and you are ready to retire or start a second career. But you're not ready to stop living! You feel energetic and young and there is still so much to see and do and enjoy. We are looking for stories that will share with our readers humorous and fun adventures from those who are actively enjoying their "senior years!" Tell us about your new careers, your volunteer work, your sports and sports cars, your new love interest, your travels, your families and all of those things you always wanted to do that you are finally doing now that you have the time." Read the guidelines and submit your stories online. FEE: NONE.

January 15, 2011: Literal Latté k. Margaret Grossman Fiction Awards, 200 East 10th Street, Suite 240, New York, NY 10003, (212) 260-5532, http://www.literal-latte.com/contests/. "All subjects and styles welcome, unpublished original (8,000 words max)." FEE: $10 for one essay OR $15 for 2 essays. PRIZES: $1,000, $300, $200.

January 15, 2011: Boston Review Poetry Contest, P.O. Box 425786, Cambridge, MA 02142, http://www.bostonreview.net/contests.html. "open to poets who have not published a book of poems (chapbooks and self-published books included). Visit the Web site for complete guidelines." FEE: $10 entry fee. PRIZES: Four winners receive $500 each.