The shortest month has come and gone, but there are plenty of contests coming up! Start your search for your manuscripts home with these contests below.
FEATURED The Masters Review Anthology Vol. X
We’re celebrating our tenth anniversary here at The Masters Review and we want you to join us. We’re welcoming submissions of fiction and narrative nonfiction of up to 7,000 words for our tenth edition of our anthology. Guest judge Diane Cook will be selecting 10 winners, and this year our prize pool is doubled to $10,000! Check it out!
Entry fee: $20 Deadline: March 28
Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing Fellowships
Attention upcoming MFA and PhD grads: The University of Wisconsin’s Creative Writing Fellowships is waiting for your application. This nine-month fellowship includes a stipend of $39,000, generous health benefits, and several teaching assignments. It is also important that applicants have not published more than one book. Applications must include a resume and a writing sample. Apply now!
Entry Fee: $50 Deadline: March 1
Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize
The winning submission to this contest will have their story performed by an actor in Spring 2021, along with receiving a $1000 prize and a free 10 week course with Gotham Writers. Fiction submissions must be under 750 words. This contest is judged by Joshua Ferris. Find out more.
Entry fee: $25 Deadline: March 5
Nelligan Prize for Short Fiction
T. Geronimo Johnson is the final judge of this year’s Nelligan Prize for Short Fiction, sponsored by Colorado State University through the Colorado Review. This prize awards $2000 and publication to the winner. There are no theme restrictions, but entries must be over 2500 words to qualify! More details here.
Entry Fee: $15 Deadline: March 14
James Jones First Novel Fellowship
The 30th annual Fellowship by the James Jones Literary Society will be awarded to an unpublished author for a novel-in-progress, to the tune of $10,000. Per the Literary Society, “The award is intended to honor the spirit of unblinking honesty, determination, and insight into cultural and social issues exemplified by the late James Jones.” Submissions must include a two-page synopsis and a 50-page excerpt from the manuscript. Details here!
Entry Fee: $30 Deadline: March 15
Prairie Schooner Raz-Shumaker Book Prize Contest
Winners of Prairie Schooner’s Raz-Shumaker Book Prize will receive $3000 and publication through the University of Nebraska Press. This is an opportunity for all living writers, writing in English. Unpublished poetry manuscripts ought to be at least 50 pages long, while unpublished fiction manuscripts ought to be at least 150 pages long. Submit here!
Entry Fee: $25 Deadline: March 15
Kerouac Project Residency
The Kerouac Project offers 4 residencies throughout the year, an approximately 3 month stay at the cabin where Kerouac wrote Dharma Bums. $1000 food stipend an utilities will be provided to each winner, and the only stipulation is that the writers live in the cabin and participate in three events in support of their work. Check it out!
Entry Fee: $35 Deadline: March 21
The Non/Fiction Collection Prize
The Journal’s Non/Fiction Collection Prize is awarded annually to the best essay or short story collection (or combination). Winners receive $1,500 and a standard publication contract with The Ohio State University Press. The contest, judged by Nick White, is open to writers of fiction and creative nonfiction, and entries must be less than 350 pages. Details here!
Entry Fee: $23 Deadline: March 21
Red Hen Press Nonfiction Award
Red Hen Press has offered their Nonfiction Award every year since 2015. This year’s contest is judged by Deborah Thompson. Red Hen Press welcomes essay collections, memoirs, research-driven works, and narrative nonfiction, though they must be a minimum of 150 pages. The award is $1000, and also includes publication of the winning entry. Submission guidelines here.
Entry Fee: $25 Deadline: March 31
The Hudson Prize
Black Lawrence Press wants to published your unpublished collection of poetry or short fiction! The winner of The Hudson Prize receives $1,000 and 10 copies of their book. The prize is currently accepting submissions from new, emerging, and established authors. Details here.
Entry Fee: $25 Deadline: March 31
by Cole Meyer