Here is a list of writing contests sorted alphabetically by name. You can view a list of just the upcoming contests sorted by date on the writing contests homepage.
100-Word Contest
Deadline: October 6, 2020
Prizes: $1,000 and publication
Aura Estrada Short Story Contest
Deadline: June 30, 2021
Prizes: $1000 and publication.
Black Warrior Review Contest
Deadline: September 1, 2024
Prizes: $1,000 plus publication in each category. $500 in the Flash category.
Blue Mountain Arts Poetry Card Contest
Deadline: December 31, 2022
Prizes: $350 first prize
BlueCat Screenwriting Contest
Deadline: December 11, 2022
Prizes: $7,500 grand prize
Boston Review Annual Poetry Contest
Deadline: May 31, 2022
Prizes: $1,000 and publication
Boulevard Short Fiction Contest for Emerging Writers
Deadline: December 31, 2020
Prizes: $1,500 plus publication
Crazyshorts Contest
Deadline: July 31, 2020
Prizes: $1000 first prize
Earl Weaver Baseball Prize
Deadline: September 20, 2021
Prizes: $200 prize
Emerging Writer's Contest
Deadline: May 15, 2024
Prizes: $2,000 first prize in each genre
First Pages Prize
Deadline: February 7, 2021
Prizes: $2,000 first prize.
Fish Poetry Prize
Deadline: March 31, 2024
Prizes: 1,000 Euro 1st prize.
For The Love of the Craft Content
Deadline: September 18, 2020
Prizes: $5,000 grand prize.
Gemini Magazine Flash Fiction Content
Deadline: August 31, 2020
Prizes: $1,000 cash first prize
John Steinbeck Award for Fiction
Deadline: November 1, 2024
Prizes: $1,000 prize
Juniper Literary Prizes
Deadline: September 30, 2019
Prizes: $1,000 and a publication contract with the University of Massachusetts Press
L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest
Deadline: December 31, 2024
Prizes: $1,000 cash top prize
LeVar Burton Reads Writing Contest
Deadline: August 31, 2021
Prizes: $500 1st place prize
Loraine Williams Poetry Prize
Deadline: May 15, 2019
Prizes: $1500 plus publication in The Georgie Review
Nelson Algen Literary Award
Deadline: February 17, 2020
Prizes: $3,500 grand prize
New American Fiction Prize
Deadline: June 15, 2024
Prizes: $1,500
Omnidawn Single Poem Broadside Poetry Contest
Deadline: April 17, 2023
Prizes: $1,000 cash prize plus publication
Rattle Poetry Prize
Deadline: July 15, 2021
Prizes: $15,000 top prize
Red Hen Press Fiction Award
Deadline: September 30, 2022
Prizes: $1,000 first prize plus book publication by Red Hen Press
Robert and Adele Schiff Awards in Poetry and Prose
Deadline: July 15, 2020
Prizes: $1,000 prize
Sow's Ear Poetry Contest
Deadline: November 1, 2020
Prizes: $1,000 and publication
Stan and Tom Wick Poetry Prize
Deadline: May 1, 2018
Prizes: $2,500 and publication
The Iowa Poetry Prize
Deadline: April 30, 2021
Prizes: Publication by University of Iowa Press under a standard royalty agreement
The Nelligan Prize for Short Fiction
Deadline: March 14, 2021
Prizes: $2,000 plus publication
The Raymond Carver Short Story Contest
Deadline: May 15, 2020
Prizes: $2,000 cash top prize
The Vellys
Deadline: August 20, 2024
Prizes: $25,000 Grand Prize
Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest
Deadline: April 1, 2023
Prizes: $2,000 cash first prize
Writer's Digest Annual Writing Competition
Deadline: May 6, 2024
Prizes: $5,000 Grand Prize
Writer's Digest Poetry Awards
Deadline: October 1, 2024
Prizes: $1,000 first prize plus publication
Writer's Digest Popular Fiction Awards
Deadline: October 14, 2019
Prizes: $2,500 grand prize plus featured interview and more
Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition
Deadline: November 24, 2024
Prizes: $3,000 first place plus publication
Zoetrope: All-Story Short Fiction Competition
Deadline: October 1, 2024
Prizes: $1,000 first prize
