As the heat spikes this summer, writing indoors is always an attractive option… Take a look at your work, and find the best contest for it in our carefully collected list!
FEATURED! Summer Short Story Award for New Writers
Our contest has finally arrived, and we couldn’t be more excited! The Masters Review is looking for stories under 6,000 words, written by emerging writers who are good with grammar and show finesse with fiction! The winner receives $3,000, publication and agency review, and the runners-up also receive cash prizes, publication and review. Don’t miss your chance! Details here.
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: August 25
Bellevue Literary Review Prizes
All three of the Bellevue Literary Review’s contests are ending soon, so enter now if you want to receive one of the three $1,000 and publication first-place prizes! All entries should be related to themes of health, healing, illness, the mind, and the body. Wayétu Moore is judging fiction, Leila Mottley is judging poetry and Esmé Weijun Wang is judging nonfiction. Honorable mention winners also earn $300 and publication! Submit here.
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: July 1
2024 LAR Literary Awards
Here is a great chance for writers of all stripes, as the Los Angeles Review’s contest rewards authors in creative nonfiction, short fiction, flash fiction, and poetry! Alyssa Graybeal judges creative nonfiction, Juliana Lamy judges short fiction, C Bain judges flash fiction, and Brenda Cardenas judges poetry. The winner in each category receives $1,000 and publication—Make sure you submit to the correct category! Submission guidelines here.
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: July 1
New Millennium Writing Awards
There’s a little something for everyone in this contest, presented by literary journal New Millennium Writings! Writers can send in submissions for poetry, fiction, flash fiction, or nonfiction, with no restrictions on style or subject matter. Fiction and nonfiction must be fewer than 7,499 words, flash fiction must be under 1,000 words, and poetry may include three poems fewer than five pages long. First place in each category receives $1,000, a certificate, publication online and in print, and two copies. Select finalists may also be published and receive complimentary copies. Don’t wait!
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: July 1
Richard J. Margolis Award
Inspired by journalist and essayist Richard J. Margolis, this prize has provided financial and other support to a promising journalist whose work combines warmth, humor, and wisdom with social justice since 1992. This prize recognizes one writer with $5,000, and a one-month residency at the Blue Mountain Center in Blue Mountain Lake, NY. Applicants need to provide a cover letter, biographical note, a project description, and two writing samples. Guidelines here.
Entry Fee: FREE Deadline: July 1
The Story Prize
This competition is a daunting gauntlet for any first-time author to run, but the reward at the end is well worth the effort! A $20,000 book prize is awarded to the author of a collection of short stories that was published this year, and entries may be submitted by agents, authors, or publishers. Currently they’re accepting submissions of books that were published from January through June. Are you eligible? Do it!
Entry Fee: $75 Deadline: July 1
Rattle Poetry Prize
Rattle is looking for an outstanding piece of poetry, and they are definitely willing to bribe you for it! This annual competition awards $15,000 for a single poem to be published in the winter issue of their magazine. Ten finalists also receive $500 and publication, and are eligible for the $5,000 Reader’s Choice Award. Four poems are allowed per entry, and there is no line limit. What are you waiting for? Enter here!
Entry Fee: $30 Deadline: July 15
Robert and Adele Schiff Awards
The Cincinnati Review is currently accepting submissions for their annual contest, but all good things will eventually come to an end. The winning poem, fiction piece, and literary nonfiction piece will be judged by Erica Dawson, Michael Griffith, and Kristen Iversen, respectively. The winning entries will be published in 2025 and receive $1,000 each, so don’t lose your chance! Learn more here.
Entry Fee: $25 Deadline: July 15
The Screw Turn Flash Fiction Competition
The Ghost Story is looking for the finest work they can find that incorporates the uncanny, as long as it’s below 1,000 words! Stories don’t need to involve ghosts specifically, but they do need fresh perspectives and superb writing. The winner receives $1,000 and both online and print publication. Submit here!
Entry Fee: $15 Deadline: July 15
William Faulkner Literary Competition
This is a multi-faceted event, with opportunities for a staggering variety of writers. Authors can submit their work to novel, adult short story, student short story, one-act play, and poetry categories! Prizes and deadlines vary for each category, with the winning novel receiving $2,000 and publication. Make sure you read each category closely! More information here.
Entry Fee: $50 Deadline: July 15
Narrative Spring Story Contest
This contest is open to all fiction and nonfiction writers, writing anything from short stories and memoirs, to photo essays and literary nonfiction! The entries need to be fewer than 15,000 words and previously unpublished, while containing a strong narrative drive and intense insights. First prize is $2,500, second is $1,000, and third is $500. Guidelines here.
Entry Fee: $27 Deadline: July 31
The Sewanee Review Contest
The oldest continuously published quarterly in the US, the Sewanee Review is opening its sixth annual Fiction, Poetry, and Nonfiction contest on July 1! Entries can be up to 10,000 words or 6 poems. Lorrie Moore is judging fiction, Shane McCrae is judging poetry, and John Jeremiah Sullivan is judging creative nonfiction. The winners of each category receive $1,000 and publication! More details here.
Entry Fee: TBA Deadline: July 31
by Kimberly Guerin