Writing Contests: Fiction, Essay, Poetry & Short Story Contests

NaNoWriMo Script Frenzy!

2010-04-01T16:52:00.000-04:00

Today is the first day of NaNoWriMo's Script Frenzy!

For those who are not familiar with NaNoWriMo, it is National Novel Writing Month which is November every year. Script Frenzy is a challenge to write 100 pages of script during the month of April. The script can be a movie script, a play, graphic novel text, or comic book text. See the details on the website.

Don't know how to write script? Many writers in the Script Frenzy challenge are new to screenwriting.

Nonfiction Article Contest - March 2010

2010-02-24T18:20:00.002-05:00

HubPages
The March 2010 Helpful Health Hubs Contest

Submission Period: March 2010; writers can enter three times daily

Eligible Entry: A hub (article) about the health topic of the day submitted from noon PT to 11:59 PM; articles must be at least 300 words; Click the above link for the schedule of topics

Open to: legal residents of the US, Canada (excluding Quebec), United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, entrants must be at least 18 years old

Entry Fee: none

Prize: $1,000 grand prize, $100 weekly prizes, $50 daily prizes

Fiction Writing Contest Deadline: March 01, 2010

2010-02-12T07:52:00.000-05:00

The Ledge Fiction & Poetry Magazine
2010 Fiction Awards Competition

Submission Period: Deadline: 03/01/10

Eligible Entry: original, unpublished fiction of 7,500 words or less

Open to: No restrictions indicated

Entry Fee: $10 or $20 subscription includes entry fee; $6 for each additional entry

Prize: 1st Prize: $1,000
2nd Prize: $250
3rd Prize: $100
Winning entries are published in The Ledge magazine

Fiction Writing Contest Deadline: April 30, 2010

2010-02-11T08:37:00.000-05:00

Nimrod Literary Awards
The Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Fiction

Submission Period: Deadline: 04/30/10

Eligible Entry: an unpublished work of fiction that is 7,500 words or less

Open to: No restrictions indicated

Entry Fee: $20; entry fee includes one year subscription to Nimrod

Prize: 1st Prize: $2,000 and publication
2nd Prize: $1,000 and publication

Horror Short Story Deadline: March 30, 2010

2010-02-10T10:48:00.002-05:00

Writers' Journal
Horror/Ghost Short Story Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 3/30/10

Eligible Entry: original horror/ghost story of 2,000 words or less

Open to: No restrictions indicated

Entry Fee: $7

Prize: 1st Prize: $250
2nd Prize: $100
3rd Prize: $50
Winners are published in Writers' Journal.

Short Story Contest Deadline: May 30, 2010

2010-02-10T10:42:00.002-05:00

Writers' Journal
Short Story Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 5/30/10

Eligible Entry: original short story of 2,000 words or less

Open to: No restrictions indicated

Entry Fee: $10

Prize: 1st Prize: $350
2nd Prize: $125
3rd Prize: $75
Winners are published in Writers' Journal.

Novel Contest Deadline: Feb. 28, 2009

2010-01-21T09:06:00.000-05:00

The Association of Writers and Writing Programs
AWP Prize for the Novel

Submission Period: January 1 - February 28, 2010

Eligible Entry: novel of at least 60,000 words

Open to: students and friends of the judge are ineligible

Entry Fee: $25; $10 for AWP members

Prize: $2,000 and publication

Book Contest Deadline Feb. 15, 2010

2010-01-20T09:39:00.002-05:00

Starcherone Books
Starcherone Prize for Innovative Fiction

Submission Period: Deadline: February 15, 2010

Eligible Entry: novel or short story collection up to 400 pages

Open to: Statement of Conflict of Interest included in contest guidelines

Entry Fee: $30

Prize: publication

Short Story Collection Contest Deadline: Feb. 28, 2010

2010-01-20T09:01:00.003-05:00

The Association of Writers and Writing Programs
Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction

Submission Period: January 1 - February 28, 2010

Eligible Entry: short story collection of 150-300 pages

Open to: students and friends of the judge are ineligible

Entry Fee: $25; $10 for AWP members

Prize: $5,000 and publication

Nonfiction Contest Deadline: Feb. 28, 2010

2010-01-20T08:56:00.002-05:00

The Association of Writers and Writing Programs
AWP Awards for Creative Nonfiction

Submission Period: January 1 - February 28, 2010

Eligible Entry: 150-300 page manuscript

Open to: students and friends of the judge are ineligible

Entry Fee: $25; $10 for AWP members

Prize: $2,000 and publication

Short Story Contest Deadline: Apr. 30, 2010

2010-01-12T18:00:00.002-05:00

Once Written
2010 Spring Short Story Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: April 30, 2010

Eligible Entry: unpublished short story, up to 5,000 words

Open to: No restrictions indicated.

Entry Fee: $20

Prize: 1st Prize: $1,000 and publication
2nd Prize: $100 and publication

Playwriting Contest Deadline: Dec. 31, 2009

2009-10-24T01:36:00.003-04:00

Pioneer Drama Service
Shubert Fendrich Memorial Playwriting Contest

Submission Period: ongoing contest with a deadline of 12/31 each year

Eligible Entry: plays for educational and community theatre purposes

Open to: those not previously published by Pioneer Drama

Entry Fee: none

Prize: $1,000 plus publication

Humorous Fiction and Nonfiction Contest Deadline: Dec. 01, 2009

2009-10-12T07:27:00.000-04:00

The Brad Schreiber Home Page
Mona Schreiber Prize for Humorous Fiction and Nonfiction

Submission Period: Deadline: 12/01/09

Eligible Entry: unpublished works up to 750 words

Open to: No restrictions indicated

Entry Fee: $5

Prize: 1st Place: $500
2nd Place: $250
3rd Place: $100

Playwriting Contest Deadline: Oct. 31, 2009

2009-10-11T05:12:00.000-04:00

Forest Roberts Theatre - Northern Michigan University
Playwriting Competition

Submission Period: Entries must be received by 10/31/09

Eligible Entry: full-length play; no musicals, one-act plays, or previously submitted work

Open to: No restrictions indicated.

Entry Fee: None mentioned in rules

Prize: $2,000 and transportation to act as artist-in-residence during production week

Ohio Book Awards Deadline: Dec. 31, 2009

2009-10-10T23:01:00.002-04:00

Ohioana Library Association
Ohioana Annual Book Award

Submission Period: Deadline: 12/31/09

Eligible Entry: published books by Ohio authors or editors by a recognized publisher

Open to: writers born in Ohio or lived in Ohio for at least 5 years are strongly preferred; books about Ohio by non-native writers may be considered

Entry Fee:

Prize:

Screenwriting Contest Final Deadline: April 30, 2010

2009-10-07T16:37:00.002-04:00

Flat Shoe Entertainment & Hollywood Scriptwriter Magazine
American Screenwriting Competition

Submission Period: Final Deadline: 04/30/2010

Eligible Entry: complete screenplay 70 - 150 pages

Open to: No restrictions indicated.

Entry Fee: $40 (by 11/15/2009) early
$50 (by 01/15/2010) regular
$60 (by 03/15/2010) late
$65 (by 04/30/2010) final

Prize: 1st Prize: $7,000 cash, $4,000 option towards purchase, screenwriting software
2nd Prize: $2,000 cash and screenwriting software
3rd Prize: $1,000 cash and writing software
4th Prize: $400 cash and writing software
5th Prize: $200 cash and writing software

Fiction Contest Deadline: Oct. 31, 2009

2009-10-05T13:11:00.002-04:00

OnceWritten.com
Fall Fiction Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 10/31/09

Eligible Entry: short story unpublished (including online), 5,000 words or less

Open to: No restrictions indicated except winners must be able to receive winnings by American bank check or PayPal

Entry Fee: $20; $15 for Daily Sparks subscribers

Prize: $1,000 plus publication
$100 plus publication

Oncewritten.com seems like an interesting site. I'll have to check it out when I get a chance. Please leave a comment if you have had any experience (good or bad) with this website.

Short Story Contest Deadline: Nov. 16, 2009

2009-10-04T08:58:00.003-04:00

24th Annual Tennessee Williams/ New Orleans Literary Festival
Fiction Writing Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 11/16/09

Eligible Entry: short story up to 7,000 words

Open to: writers who have not published a book of fiction

Entry Fee: $25

Prize: $1,500, publication in New Orleans Review, domestic airfare and accommodations to attend the 2010 festival in New Orleans, VIP pass and
public reading at the 2010 Festival

Short Story Contest Deadline: Nov. 07, 2009

2009-10-02T01:39:00.003-04:00

Roanoke Review
The Roanoke Review's 2009 Fiction Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 11/07/09

Eligible Entry: short story up to 5,000 words

Open to: No restrictions indicated

Entry Fee: $15

Prize: 1st Place: $1,000
2nd Place: $500

Short Story & Poetry Contest Deadline: Nov. 30, 2009

2009-09-29T13:01:00.002-04:00

FolioAlley
2009 Writing Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 11/30/09

Eligible Entry: short story or poem with the theme "Alley Cats and Alley Rats"

Open to: members of folioalley.com and U.S. residents, 18 years old or older

Entry Fee: None

Prize: $500

Novel, Novella, Short Story Collection, Poetry Chapbook Contests Deadline: Oct.. 15, 2009 (Sept. 30 for Novels)

2009-09-28T06:55:00.002-04:00

New Rivers Press
Many Voices Project

Submission Period: Deadline: 10/15/09

Eligible Entry: 50 - 80 page poetry chapbook, short story collection or novella of 100-200 pages, novel or memoirs up to 400 pages

Open to: writers who have not published more than 2 books

Entry Fee: $20

Prize: $1,000 and standard publication contract

Screenwriting and Fiction Fellowships Deadline: Nov. 02, 2009

2009-09-27T20:47:00.003-04:00

New York Foundation for the Arts
NYFA Artists' Fellowships in Creative Writing

Submission Period: Deadline: 11/02/09

Eligible Entry: application for fiction and playwriting/screenwriting fellowships available on the website

Open to: residents of New York

Entry Fee:

Prize: $7,000

Novel Contest Deadline: Oct. 02, 2009

2009-09-24T06:47:00.001-04:00

The National Writers United Service Organization
The Bellwether Prize for Fiction

Submission Period: Deadline: 10/02/09

Eligible Entry: unpublished novel of at least 80,000 words

Open to: United States citizens who have not published a book that sold more than 10,000 copies, must have some publication record

Entry Fee: $25

Prize: $25,000, and will enter into a publishing contract

Short Short Story Contest Deadline: Dec. 08, 2009

2009-09-23T07:48:00.000-04:00

American Short Fiction
Short Story Contest

Submission Period: 09/15/09 - 12/08/09

Eligible Entry: unpublished short story of 6,000 words or less

Open to: Current employees or others affiliated with Badgerdog Literary Publishing are ineligible

Entry Fee: $20

Prize: 1st Prize: $1,000 and publication
2nd Prize: $500

Homeland Security Essay Contest Deadline: Jan. 31, 2010

2009-09-22T07:13:00.000-04:00

The Coast Guard Compass
Homeland Security Essay Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 01/31/10

Eligible Entry: essay of 5 pages or less that answers the question: How can, or should, the United States make Homeland Security a more layered, networked, and resilient endeavor involving all citizens?

Open to: No restrictions indicated

Entry Fee: None

Prize: $1,500

Creative Essay Contest Deadline: Oct. 31, 2009

2009-09-21T23:24:00.003-04:00

DIAGRAM
Hybrid Essay Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 10/31/09

Eligible Entry: a fusion of essay and another artistic form, audio and poetry are given as examples, entries must be unpublished outside of personal blogs

Open to: people who have relationships with the judges, Ander Monson and Nicole Walker, are not eligible

Entry Fee: $15

Prize: $1,000 plus publication

Short Story, Creative Nonfiction, and Poetry Contest Deadline: Nov. 01, 2009

2009-09-18T14:26:00.004-04:00

CBC Radio Canada
CBC Literary Awards

Submission Period: Deadline: 11/01/09

Eligible Entry: original, unpublished short story, poetry, or creative nonfiction in English or French

Open to: Canadian citizens and permanent residents

Entry Fee: $20

Prize: 1st Prize: $6,000
2nd Prize: $4,000
Winners are published in enRoute magazine.

Short Story Competition Deadline: Dec. 18, 2009

2009-09-17T16:59:00.002-04:00

The Willesden Herald
International Short Story Competition

Submission Period: Deadline: 12/18/09

Eligible Entry: unpublished short story of 8,000 words or less

Open to: International entries welcome. No restrictions indicated

Entry Fee: £3

Prize: 1st Prize: £300
2nd Prize: £150 (2 runners up)

Top ten stories will be published.

Short Short Story Contest Deadline: Nov. 01, 2009

2009-09-16T12:00:00.002-04:00

Reed Magazine
John Steinbeck Award

Submission Period: Deadline: 11/01/09

Eligible Entry: unpublished stories up to 6,000 words

Open to: employees and board members of the National Steinbeck Center, REED Magazine, or the Center for Steinbeck Studies are not eligible

Entry Fee: $15

Prize: $1,000 and publication in Reed Magazine

All entrants receive a copy of Reed Magazine.

Novel Contest - SC Residents - Deadline: Jan. 05, 2010

2009-09-15T12:37:00.003-04:00

The South Carolina Arts Commission
FY2010 First Novel Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 01/05/10

Eligible Entry: unpublished novel of 150-400 pages

Open to: S.C. residents 18 years old or older who have never published a novel

Entry Fee: $25

Prize: book publication contract and $1,000 advance on royalties

*I would like to create a list of novel contests. If you know of one that should be added to the list, please leave a comment with the website address of the contest guidelines. Thank you!

Fiction & Poetry Contest Deadline: Oct. 15, 2009

2009-09-14T06:47:00.000-04:00

Dogwood Journal of Poetry & Prose
Fiction Prize

Submission Period: Deadline: 10/15/09

Eligible Entry: 25 pages of unpublished fiction for the Fiction Award or up to 3 unpublished poems (10 page maximum)

Open to: No restricitons indicated

Entry Fee: $15

Prize: $1,000 & publication for the Poetry & Fiction Awards

Dickens-Themed Short Story Contest Deadline: Oct. 01, 2009

2009-09-13T16:11:00.003-04:00

Friends of the Dr. Eugene Clark Library
Scare the Dickens Out of Us Short Story Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 10/01/09

Eligible Entry: unpublished short story set around a December holiday; story must be 4,000 words or less and include a Dickens character

Open to: judges and their families are not eligible

Entry Fee: $20

Prize: 1st prize: $500 & trophy
2nd prize: $250
3rd prize: $150
local prize for Caldwell county, TX resident: $100

Short Short Story Contest Deadline: Dec. 01, 2009

2009-09-12T13:38:00.002-04:00

Writer's Digest
Short Short Story Competition

Submission Period: Deadline: 12/01/09

Eligible Entry: unpublished short story 1,500 words or less (including the title)

Open to: no restrictions indicated

Entry Fee: $15

Prize: First Place: $3,000
Second Place: $1,500
Third Place: $500
Fourth Through Tenth Place: $100
Eleventh Through Twenty-Fifth Place: $50 gift certificate for Writer's Digest Books

Micro-fiction Contest Deadline: Nov. 01,2009

2009-09-11T07:06:00.002-04:00

Lyrical Passion Poetry E-zine
Micro-fiction Competition

Submission Period: Deadline: 11/01/09

Eligible Entry: original, unpublished flash fiction story of 300 words or less

Open to: writers must be 18

Entry Fee: $3.00 per story; $7.00 for 3 stories

Prize: 1st Place Prize - $ 200.00 (US) & Certificate
2nd $ 70.00
3rd $ 30.00

Young Adult Novel Contest Deadline: Dec. 31, 2009

2009-09-10T07:43:00.000-04:00

Delacorte Press Books
The Twenty-Eighth Annual Delacorte Press Contest for a First Young Adult Novel

Submission Period: 10/01/09 - 12/31/09

Eligible Entry: 100-224 page full length manuscripts for readers ages 12-18

Open to: U.S. and Canadian writers who have not previously published a young adult novel; empolyees of Random House and their families are not eligible

Entry Fee: None indicated

Prize: $1,500 in cash and a $7,500 advance against royalties.

Fast Approaching Deadline! Sept. 15, 2009

2009-09-09T07:27:00.000-04:00

Good Housekeeping
Short Story Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 09/15/09

Eligible Entry: unpublished short story 3,500 words or less about women's lives

Open to: United States residents 21 years old or older

Entry Fee: None

Prize: $3,000 and publication in the May 2010 issue of Good Housekeeping
2 runners up receive $750

'77 Short Story Contest Deadline: Oct. 15, 2009

2009-09-08T14:18:00.002-04:00

Reading Writers
Seventy-Seven Writing Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 10/15/09

Eligible Entry: short story 1,000 words or less inspired by a song from 1977

Open to: international writers welcome

Entry Fee: None

Prize: $100 and publication in The Verb

Student Essay Contest Deadline: Oct. 15, 2009

2009-09-07T14:24:00.001-04:00

Creative Communication
Essay Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 10/15/09

Eligible Entry: original poem of 250 words or less

Open to: students in grades K-12 in the United States or Canada

Entry Fee: none indicated in the guidelines

Prize: $50 savings bond, publication in an anthology, a free copy of the anthology

Fiction & Poetry Chapbook Contest Deadline: Feb. 15, 2010

2009-09-06T11:27:00.000-04:00

Gertrude Press
Poetry and Fiction Chapbook Contest

Submission Period: 8/01/09 - 2/15/10

Eligible Entry: 16-20 pages of poetry or fiction, any subject matter

Open to: no restrictions indicated

Entry Fee: $15

Prize: $50 cash award50 complimentary copies of the chapbook

Flash Fiction Contest Deadline: Oct. 01, 2009

2009-09-04T07:06:00.000-04:00

Southeast Missouri State University Press
The Wilda Hearne Flash Fiction Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 10/01/09

Eligible Entry: unpublished short story, 500 words or less

Open to: no restrictions indicated

Entry Fee: $10

Prize: $200 and publication in Big Muddy: A Journal of the Mississippi River Valley

Short Story Contest Deadline: Oct. 01, 2009

2009-09-03T07:00:00.002-04:00

Southeast Missouri State University Press
Misty River Short Story Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 10/01/09

Eligible Entry: unpublished short story 30 pages or less

Open to: No restrictions indicated

Entry Fee: $15

Prize: $500 and publication in Big Muddy: A Journal of the Mississippi River Valley

Novel, Short Story, and Poetry Contests Deadline: Nov. 30, 2009 (Sept. 30 for Novels)

2009-09-02T07:17:00.001-04:00

Birmingham-Southern College
Hackney Literary Awards

Submission Period: Deadline: 11/30/09; 09/30/09 for novels

Eligible Entry: short story- less than 5,000 words; poetry- less than 50 lines

Open to: writers in the United States

Entry Fee: novels- $25; short stories- $15; poetry- $10

Prize: national and state prizes
1st place: $600
2nd place: $400
3rd place: $250

Dialogue Short Story Contest Deadline: Sept. 30, 2009

2009-09-01T12:07:00.003-04:00

Bartleby Snopes Literary Magazine
Bartleby Snopes Writing Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 09/30/09

Eligible Entry: a short story entirely made of dialogue, must be unpublished

Open to: No restrictions indicated.

Entry Fee: $10 for unlimited entries

Prize: at least $250 (see contest guidelines)

This sounds like a fun challenge. You can't even use dialogue taglines ("he said", "she said") in the story.

Blog Entry Contest Deadline: Sept. 30, 2009

2009-08-30T17:28:00.002-04:00

Quark Expeditions
Blog Your Way to Antarctica Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 9/30/09 at noon EDT but early entries may benefit since the winner is selected by viewer voting

Eligible Entry: a blog post of 300 words or less

Open to: 21 years old or older

Entry Fee: None

Prize: $20,000 Expedition for 2 to Antarctica

Sonnet Contest Deadline: Nov. 15, 2009

2009-08-29T06:49:00.000-04:00

University of Evansville Press
Howard Nemerov Sonnet Award

Submission Period: Deadline: 11/15/09

Eligible Entry: original, unpublished sonnet

Open to: No restrictions indicated

Entry Fee: $3 per sonnet

Prize: $1,000 and publication in the Srping 2010 in the Measure

Playwriting Contest Deadline: Dec. 31, 2009

2009-08-28T22:00:00.002-04:00

Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland
Dorothy Silver Playwriting Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 12/31/09

Eligible Entry: unproduced, original play about the Jewish experience

Open to: No restrictions indicated

Entry Fee: No entry fee mentioned

Prize: $500 at time of announcement of the winner, $500 for travel expenses and costs during production

1,001 Awesome Words Contest Deadline: Sept. 30, 2009

2009-08-27T07:22:00.000-04:00

PANK Magazine
1,001 Awesome Words Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 09/30/09

Eligible Entry: "any form or formlessness" 1,001 words or less, must be unpublished

Open to: no restrictions indicated

Entry Fee: $15 for one entry; $25 for two entries

Prize: 1st Place: $750 and publication in PANK 4
2nd Place: $500 and publication in PANK 4
3rd Place: $250 and publication in PANK 4
Prize amounts are predicted and may vary from these predictions based on the prize pool.
Each entrant receives a copy of PANK 4.

Collection of Short Stories Competition Deadline: Sept. 30, 2009

2009-08-26T17:14:00.004-04:00

University of Iowa
Short Ficiton Award

Submission Period: Deadline: 09/30/09

Eligible Entry: a collection of short stories, minimum of 150 pages

Open to: writers who have not published a volume of prose fiction, current University of Iowa students are not eligible

Entry Fee: none

Prize: publication and standard publication contract

Fiction, Essay, & Poetry Contest Deadline: Oct. 01, 2009

2009-08-25T15:35:00.003-04:00

The Missouri Review
Editor's Prize

Submission Period: Deadline: 10/01/09

Eligible Entry: entries must be previously unpublished, no more than 25 pages long for fiction and essay categories, 10 page limit for poetry contest

Open to: No restrictions indicated.

Entry Fee: $20

Prize: $5,000 for each category

All entrants receive a subscription to The Missouri Review.

Short Fiction Contest Deadline: Aug. 31, 2009

2009-08-22T07:18:00.000-04:00

Truman State University
The Chariton Review Short Fiction Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 08/31/09

Eligible Entry: unpublished short fiction up to 5,000 words

Open to: no restrictions indicated

Entry Fee: $20

Prize: $1,000 and publication in The Chariton Review

Playwriting Contest Deadline: Oct. 15, 2009

2009-08-21T14:42:00.002-04:00

Northern Michigan University
Forest Roberts Theatre Playwriting Award

Submission Period: Deadline: 10/15/09

Eligible Entry: previously unproduced, unpublished full-length plays, no musicals or one-act plays

Open to: no restrictions indicated

Entry Fee: None mentioned in the submission instructions or rules.

Prize: $2,000, production of the play, transportation and accomodations to serve as artist-in-residence for the week of play production, transportation and accomodations to participate in a summer workshop

NaNoWriMo!

2009-08-20T11:52:00.002-04:00

National Novel Writing Month
NaNoWriMo

National Novel Writing Month is November. The goal of NaNoWriMo is to write a short novel of 50,000 words during the month of November. While it may seem early to think about a challenge so far in advance, a little preparation beforehand can prevent blocks and false starts. Participants can not write any part of the 50,000 words before November 1st. However, participants may do character studies or outlines to prepare for NaNoWriMo. During NaNoWriMo, writers may become stuck which can impede their progress and ultimately make them feel like giving up or reduce the amount of actual writing time they have left. A chapter outline or at least a detailed idea of the storyline can be extremely beneficial!

Horror Story Contest Deadline: Sept. 17, 2009

2009-08-19T13:29:00.002-04:00

Fanstory.com
Horror or Thriller Story Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 09/17/09

Eligible Entry: horror or thriller story with 7,000 words or less

Open to: members of the website. Membership for writers is $2.80/month according to the membership information on the website at the time of this blog entry. Membership fee includes a subscription to their ezine (online magazine).

Entry Fee: free to website members

Prize: 1st prize: $100 pre-paid VISA card
2nd prize: 25 member dollars
3rd prize: 10 member dollars

I'm not a member of this website. They seem to have several short story and poetry contests. You'll have to be the judge of whether you think the website is worth the membership fee.

Ongoing Prize for Children's Literature

2009-08-18T07:31:00.001-04:00

Milkweed
Milkweed Prize for Children's Literature

Submission Period: ongoing

Eligible Entry: manuscript for children ages 8 - 13, no picture books or collections of stories, must not have been published in book form in the U.S.

Open to: anyone not previously published by Milkweed

Entry Fee: none

Prize: publication and $10,000 advance on royalties

Ongoing Fiction Prize for $5K Advance on Royalties

2009-08-17T11:26:00.002-04:00

Milkweed
Milkweed National Fiction Prize

Submission Period: ongoing

Eligible Entry: manuscript for a novel, collection of short stories, one or more novellas, or a combination of short stories and one or more novellas previously unpublished in book form in the U.S.

Open to: anyone

Entry Fee: none

Prize: publication and a $5,000 advance on royalties

Fiction Contest Deadline: Sept. 08, 2009

2009-08-16T06:51:00.001-04:00

The Bear Deluxe Magazine
Doug Fir Fiction Award

Submission Period: Deadline: 09/08/09

Eligible Entry: unpublished short story, 5,000 words or less, must be related to the natural world or evironmental issues

Open to: English writers not affiliated with The Bear Deluxe magazine, Orlo, or friends or students of the judge

Entry Fee: $15

Prize: $1,000 and publication in The Bear Deluxe magazine

Creative Nonfiction Contest Deadline: Nov. 30, 2009

2009-08-15T07:34:00.000-04:00

The National League of American Pen Women, Inc
Katheryn Krotzer Laborde Creative Nonfiction Prize

Submission Period: Deadline: 11/30/09

Eligible Entry: 3,000 words or less

Open to: no restrictions indicated

Entry Fee: $5

Prize: 1ST PRIZE: $100
2ND PRIZE: $50
3RD PRIZE: $25

Nonfiction Contests Deadline: Aug. 31, 2009

2009-08-14T07:40:00.000-04:00

The Preservation Foundation
General Nonfiction and Travel Nonfiction Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 08/31/09

Eligible Entry: creative nonfiction, 1,500 - 5,000 words stories, may enter up to 3 stories

Open to: no restrictions indicated

Entry Fee: No entry fee for the 1st story, $10 for each additional story

Prize: 1st Prize: $100

Short Story & Poetry Contest Deadline: Sept. 15, 2009

2009-08-13T07:47:00.000-04:00

The Greesnboro Review
Robert Watson Literary Prizes

Submission Period: Deadline 09/15/09

Eligible Entry: an unpublished poem or short story 7,500 words or less

Open to: no restrictions indicated

Entry Fee: None

Prize: $500 and publication in The Greensboro Review

Short Story Prize Deadline Nov. 30, 2009

2009-08-12T07:45:00.000-04:00

National League of American Pen Women & Mary Mackey
Mary Mackey Short Story Prize

Submission Period: Deadline: 11/30/09

Eligible Entry: short story up to 5,000 words

Open to:

Entry Fee: $5

Prize: 1st Prize: $100
2nd prize: $50
3rd prize: $25

Short Story Contest Deadline: Sept. 01, 2009

2009-08-11T07:36:00.002-04:00

Brian Agincourt Massey
InnermoonLit Short Story Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 09/01/09

Eligible Entry: short story under 500 words

Open to: writers over the age of 18

Entry Fee: None

Prize: 1st prize: $100
2nd prize: $50
3rd prize: $25

Australian Short Story Contest - Deadline Sept. 25, 2009

2009-08-10T07:37:00.000-04:00

ACT Writers Centre
Majorie Graber-McInnis Short Story Award

Submission Period: Deadline: 09/25/09

Eligible Entry: short story 1,500-3,000 words

Open to: Australian writers who reside in the ACT or region (which covers the shires of Young, Harden, Gundagai, Tumut, Boorowa, Yass Valley, Upper Lachlan, Goulburn, Mulwaree, Wingecarribee, Palerang, Greater Queanbeyan, Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla, Bega Valley, Bombala, Cooma Monaro, and Snowy River).

Entry Fee: $5/ members, $7.50/nonmembers

Prize: $600 and publication

Canadian Prose Competition - Nov. 03, 2009

2009-08-10T07:32:00.001-04:00

The Writers' Union of Canada
Short Prose Competition for Developing Writers

Submission Period: Deadline: 11/03/09

Eligible Entry: nonfiction or fiction, unpublished, up to 2,500 words

Open to: Canadian writers who have not published a book.

Entry Fee: $25

Prize: $2,500

3-Day Novel Writing Contest Registration Deadline: 09/04/09

2009-08-09T06:50:00.000-04:00

3-Day Novel Writing Contest

Submission Period: Deadline for registration: 09/04/09

Eligible Entry: a novel written between 12:01 a.m., on Saturday, September 5, and must stop by 11:59 on Monday, September 7

Open to: anyone. collaboration with one other author is allowed

Entry Fee: $50

Prize: publication

The entry fee for this novel contest is steep, but many people love to participate in this contest. Apparently, some people even organize writing retreats for this contest.

Short Story and Poetry Contest Deadline: Oct. 01, 2009

2009-08-08T07:36:00.000-04:00

University of Southern Mississippi
Mississippi Review Prize

Submission Period: Deadline: 10/01/09

Eligible Entry: short story 1,000-5,000 or 3 poems that total 10 pages or less

Open to: writers in English except current or former employees and students

Entry Fee: $15

Prize: $1,000 and publication in the Mississippi Review

Novel and Short Fiction Awards Deadline: Oct. 31, 2009

2009-08-07T07:14:00.000-04:00

Dana Awards
Novel, Short Fiction, & Poetry Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 10/31/09

Eligible Entry: unpublished short stories 10,000 words or less, 5 poems, or first 50 pages of a novel

Open to: No entries from children under 16

Entry Fee: $15 for poems and short stories and $25 for novel

Prize: $1,000 per category

Fiction, Poetry, and Creative Fiction Contest Deadline: Nov. 01, 2009

2009-08-06T06:57:00.001-04:00

The Briar Cliff Review
Fiction, Poetry, and Creative Nonfiction Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 11/01/09

Eligible Entry: Short stories and creative nonfiction of 6,000 words or less

Open to: No restrictions indicated.

Entry Fee: $20

Prize: First Prize: $1,000 for each category

All entrants receive a copy of The Briar Cliff Review magazine issue that includes the winning entries.

Short Story Contest Deadline Nov. 02, 2009

2009-08-05T07:46:00.000-04:00

Writer's Digest
Short Story Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 11/02/09

Eligible Entry: unpublished short story of 4,000 words or less; Short stories for the short story contest can be romance, mystery, science fiction, fantasy, horror, and suspense categories.

Open to: no restrictions indicated

Entry Fee: $15

Prize: Grand Prize: $2,500 cash, $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books and the 2010 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market.
1st Prize for each category: $500 and $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books and the 2010 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market.

Short Story Contest Deadline: Aug. 31, 2009

2009-08-04T03:04:00.003-04:00

Glimmer Train
Short Story Award for New Writers

Submission Period: Deadline: 08/31/09

Eligible Entry: unpublished story under 12,000 words

Open to: writers who have not published fiction in a publication with a circulation over 5,000

Entry Fee: $15

Prize: 1st place: $1,200, publication in Glimmer Train Stories, and 20 copies of that issue.
2nd place: $500
3rd place:$300

Ten Minute Play Contest Deadline: Nov. 01, 2009

2009-08-03T07:32:00.002-04:00

Actors Theatre of Louisville
National Ten Minute Play Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 11/01/09

Eligible Entry: script for a play less than ten minutes long, script must be 10 pages or less

Open to: citizens or permanent residents of the US

Entry Fee: No entrance fee mentioned in the contest guidelines.

Prize: $1,000

Short Story Contest Deadline Oct. 15, 2009

2009-08-02T07:19:00.000-04:00

Open City Magazine
RRofihe Trophy

Submission Period: Deadline: 10/15/09

Eligible Entry: unpublished short story up to 5,000 words

Open to: authors not previously published in Open City

Entry Fee: $10

Prize: $500, trophy, and publication in Open City

Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry Contest Deadline: Nov. 01, 2009

2009-08-01T07:54:00.000-04:00

Middlebury College
Bakeless Literary Prizes

Submission Period: Sept. 15- Nov. 01, 2009

Eligible Entry: 50 pages of poetry, 150-450 pages for short story collections or novels, or 150-300 pages of creative non-fiction; all entries must be unpublished and in English

Open to: new, English-speaking authors

Entry Fee: $10

Prize: publication by Graywolf Press and a fellowship to attend the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference

Playwriting Contest - Deadline: October 31, 2009

2009-07-31T06:43:00.000-04:00

Bloomington Playwrights Project
Reva Shiner Play Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 10/31/2009

Eligible Entry: Entries for the playwriting contest must be unproduced and unpublished plays one hour and fifteen minutes to two and a half hours long.

Open to: No Restrictions

Entry Fee: $10

Prize: $500 and play production

Short Story Contest - Deadline: Oct. 15, 2009

2009-07-30T07:28:00.000-04:00

Rosebud Magazine
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Prize for Imaginative Fiction

Submission Period: Deadline: 10/15/09

Eligible Entry: short story up to 4,500 words that takes literary and creative risks

Open to: Entrants do not need to be US citizens.

Entry Fee: $10 or $15 to include a copy of Rosebud magazine in which the winners appear

Prize: $1,000 and publication in Rosebud magazine

Free Science Fiction Contest Deadline: Sept. 30, 2009

2009-07-29T05:53:00.000-04:00

L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 09/30/09

Eligible Entry: unpublished science fiction or fantasy short story or novella, 17,000 words or less

Open to: Writers who have not had a novel or short novel professionally published.

Entry Fee: No Entry Fee

Prize: 1st prize: $1,000
2nd prize: $750
3rd prize: $500

Legitimate free writing contests are hard to find! Try it!

Free Short Story Contest Deadline: Aug. 16, 2009

2009-07-28T01:37:00.003-04:00

Spruce Mountain Press; Ourpastloves.com
Past Loves Short Story Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: Aug. 16, 2009

Eligible Entry: true story of a past love, 700 words or less

Open to: No Restrictions.

Entry Fee: No entry fee.

Prize: 1st Prize: $100 and publication on the website
2nd Prize: $75
3rd Prize: $50

Free short story contests are a rare find. Why not try it?

Short Fiction Contest Deadline: October, 01, 2009

2009-07-28T01:14:00.003-04:00

Zoetrope
Zoetrope All-Story Short Fiction Contest

Submission Period: Deadline: 10/01/09

Eligible Entry: short story, unpublished, 5,000 words or less

Open to: Any writer, in or outside the United States

Entry Fee: $15 per story

Prize: 1st prize: $1,000 and publication in Zoetrope Spring 2010 issue
2nd prize: $500
3rd prize: $250

Top 10 finalists will be considered for agency representation.

Short Story Contest Deadline Oct. 01, 2009

2009-07-28T01:09:00.003-04:00

Boston Review
17th Annual Short Story Contest

Submission Period: 10/01/09

Eligible Entry: previously unpublished short story written in English, 4,000 words or less

Open to: No Restrictions.

Entry Fee: $20; $30 for international submissions

Prize: $1,500 and publication in the Boston Review

12th Annual Short Fiction Contest Deadline: Oct. 30, 2009

2009-07-28T01:02:00.003-04:00

Manhattanville College & Inkwell Journal
12th Annual Short Fiction Contest

Submission Period: 08/01/09 - 10/30/09

Eligible Entry: up to 3 unpublished stories, 5,000 word limit

Open to: No Restrictions.

Entry Fee: $15 per story

Prize: $1,500 and publication in Inkwell

Short Story Contest- Deadline March 01, 2009

2008-11-22T11:41:00.001-05:00

The Tobias Wolff Award for Fiction
Bellingham Review
Western Washington University

Eligible Entry: unpublished short story or novel excerpt up to 8,000 words postmarked December 1, 2008- March 1, 2009

Open to: Current students and employees of Western Washington University are not eligible.

Entry Fee: $18 for first entry; $10 each additional entry

Prize: $1,000 and publication i the Bellingham Review
2nd & 3rd place winners may be considered for publication

Short Story Contest- Deadline Dec. 1, 2008

2008-11-21T01:22:00.002-05:00

Winter Fiction Contest
Phoebe

Eligible Entry: unpublished short story, 7,500 words or less

Open to: No restrictions indicated.

Entry Fee: $15

Prize: $1,000 and publication in Phoebe

Short Fiction Contest - Deadline January 2009

2008-11-19T23:01:00.004-05:00

The Ohio State University Prize in Short Fiction
The Ohio State University Press

Eligible Entry: unpublished collection of short stories or novellas, 150-300 typed pages; each story must be 125 pages or less

Open to: Students and employees of Ohio State University are ineligible.

Entry Fee: $20

Prize: publication and $1,500 advance against royalties

Short Story Contest- Deadline Dec. 31, 2008

2008-11-18T11:28:00.002-05:00

H. E. Francis Contest
The Ruth Hindman Foundation and the UAH English Department

Eligible Entry: unpublished short story under 5000 words

Open to: No restrictions indicated

Entry Fee: $15

Prize: $1,000

Short Story Collection- Deadline Jan. 15, 2009

2008-11-17T13:11:00.002-05:00

The G. S. Sharat Chandra Prize for Short Fiction
BkMk Press

Eligible Entry: unpublished short fiction collection 150-300 pages, double spaced

Open to: No restrictions indicated

Entry Fee: $25

Prize: $1,000 plus publication

Short Story Collection- Deadline Dec. 31

2008-11-16T17:55:00.000-05:00

Tartt Fiction Contest
Livingston Press

Eligible Entry: 150-275 manuscript of a first short story collection

Entry Fee: $15

Prizes: publication & $1,000

Screenwriting Competition- Late Deadline September 30, 2008

2008-07-22T16:47:00.000-04:00

American Screenwriting Competition

Eligible Entry: feature-length screenplay (70-150 pages) written in English

Open to: no restrictions mentioned, international submissions are welcome

Entry Fee: $60 by 9/30/08; $65 by 10/31/08; $40 for each additional script

Prizes: cash and prizes including over $12,000 in prizes for the grand prize winner
2nd place- $3,000 in cash and prizes
3rd place- $2,000 in cash and prizes
4th place- $1,000 in cash and prizes
5th-10th place- cash and prizes

Short Story Deadline: October 1

2008-07-22T11:22:00.000-04:00

Boston Review 16th Annual Short-Story Contest

Eligible Entry: previously unpublished short story under 4,000 words
Open to: any author writing in English
Entry Fee: $20 U.S. entrants; $30 international entrants
Prizes: 1st Prize- $1,500 and publication in MAy/ June 2009 Boston Review

Entrants will receive a one-year print subscription to the Boston Review beginning with the May/June 2009 issue.

True Story of Past Love Deadline: August 17, 2008

2008-07-20T11:45:00.000-04:00

Past Loves Story Contest

Eligible Entry: heart-warming or humorous true story of past love (maximum 700 words)
Open to: no restrictions mentioned
Entry Fee: none
Prizes: 1st Place- $100
2nd Place- $75
3rd Place- $50

All winners and Honorable Mentions will receive a copy of If Only I Could Tell You: Where Past Loves and Current Intimacy Meet, by Kate Harper and Leon Marasco

Sci-Fi Short Story or Novelette Deadine: Sept. 30

2008-07-15T11:00:00.000-04:00

L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest

Eligible Entry: unpublished science fiction or fantasy short stories or novelettes under 17,000 words
Open to: those who have not published a novel or novella
Entry Fee: none
Prizes: 1st Place- $1,000
2nd Place- $750
3rd Place- $500
Quarterly Contest Deadlines: September 30, December 31