LibGuides: Creative Writing: Contests and Prizes

Sustainable Arts Awards
Run twice yearly - Fall & Spring
Fee: Yes
Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition
Annual contest
Entry fee: Yes
Narrative Prize
Annual Prize
Entry fee: Yes
PEN American Literary Awards
Must already be published; must be nominated for many.

See the individual tabs in the box below for short fiction, novels, and specific genres.

Writer's Digest 'Your Story' Competition
Contest held every other month; no entry fee listed
K. Margaret Grossman Fiction Awards
Annual contest
Entry fee: Yes
Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition
Annual contest
Entry fee: Yes
Sixfold Short Story & Poetry Awards
Run 4 times a year - Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall
Entry fee: Yes
The Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction
Annual competition
Entry fee: Yes
The Katherine Anne Porter Prize
Annual contest
Entry fee: Yes
Narrative Story Contest
Run 3 times a year - Winter/Fall/Spring
Entry Fee: Yes
University of Pittsburgh's Drue Heinz Literature Prize
Annual prize
Entry fee: None listed
Special entry requirement: must be published already -- see guidelines for more information
Literal Latté Short Short Contest
Annual contest
Entry fee: Yes
Autumn House Fiction Contest
Annual contest
Entry fee: Yes
Howard Frank Mosher Short Fiction Prize
Annual prize
Entry fee: Yes
Robert and Adele Schiff Award in Prose
Annual Contest
Entry fee: Yes
Prize Americana for Prose
Annual prize
Entry fee: Yes
The Wilda Hearne Flash Fiction Contest
Annual contest
Entry fee: Yes
Mighty River Short Story Contest
Annual contest
Entry fee: Yes

Katherine Paterson Prize for YA and Children's Writing
Annual prize
Entry fee: Yes
First Crime Novel Competition
Annual competition
Entry fee: None
Writer's Digest Popular Fiction Awards
Annual contest
Entry fee: Yes
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6 genre categories: Romance, Horror, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Crime, and Thriller.

Prize Americana for Poetry
Annual prize
Entry fee: Yes
Sixfold Short Story & Poetry Awards
Run 4 times a year - Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall
Entry fee: Yes
Literal Latté Food Verse Contest
Annual contest
Entry fee: Yes
The Donald Hall Prize for Poetry
Annual contest
Entry fee: Yes
The Cowles Poetry Book Prize
Annual prize
Entry fee: Yes
The Pablo Neruda Prize
Annual prize
Entry fee: Yes
University of Pittsburgh's Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize Competition
Annual prize
Entry fee: Yes
Autumn House Poetry Contest
Annual contest
Entry fee: Yes
Robert and Adele Schiff Award in Poetry
Annual contest
Entry fee: Yes
Literal Latté Poetry Awards
Annual contest
Entry fee: Yes
Rattle Poetry Prize
Annual prize
Entry fee: Yes
Narrative Annual Poetry Contest
Annual contest
Entry fee: Yes
Writer's Digest Poetry Awards
Annual contest
Entry fee: Yes
Ruth Stone Poetry Prize
Annual contest
Entry fee: Yes
The APR/Honickman First Book Prize
Annual contest
Entry fee: Yes

Theatre Three's Annual One Act Play Competition
Annual contest
Entry fee: None listed.
Dayton Playhouse FutureFest
Annual contest
Entry fee: Yes (waived for Dramatists Guild members)
Richard Rodgers Awards
Annual contest
Entry fee: None listed.
New Orleans Literary Festival One Act Play Contest
Annual contest
Entry fee: Yes