Spring has sprung, and the days are starting to shine. This month, we’ve got a round up of deadlines for poets, nonfiction, and prose writers, along with some general submissions information. There are a lot of opportunities in April so dip into our list of favorites and start writing!
Featured! The Masters Review Anthology Prize Judged by Roxane Gay
$5000 awarded! Don’t forget about our favorite March deadline, submissions to our anthology prize close on March 31. You can submit your best essay or story up to 8000 words for a chance at publication and national distribution. Stories this year are selected by the incredible Roxane Gay. Ten authors will be awarded and welcomed to The Masters Review family. Will it be you? Submit here.
Indiana Review Poetry Prize
This is a call to poets! Judged by the indomitable Vievee Francis, the winner receives $1000 and publication in Indiana Review. All entries receive a year-long subscription to the journal, and all entries are considered for publication. Submit here.
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: April 1
Tin House Summer Workshop Scholarship
The incredible Tin House Summer Workshop deadline is in May, but if you plan to apply for a scholarship to help with accommodations and travel while you attend, that deadline is fast approaching. All scholarship applicants are considered for general attendance, so there’s no need to submit two applications. Full guidelines here.
Entry Fee: $40 Deadline: April 1
The Southampton Review – General Submissions Open
There are two reading periods each year for The Southampton Review, and there is still a little time left! Not only do they accept fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, they are also interested in plays and screenplays. Do note, however, that they ask for only one submission in one category during each reading period. Submit here.
Entry Fee: $3 Deadline: April 1
Waterston Desert Writing Prize
Inspired by author and poet Ellen Waterston, this prize provides financial and other support to writers whose work reflects a connection to the desert. The Waterston Desert Prize recognizes one writer with $2000, a reading and reception, and a four-week residency at Summer Lake, OR. Applicants need to provide a biographical statement, a proposal, and a writing sample. Submission guidelines here.
Entry Fee: FREE Deadline: April 1
Poetry International Prize
Through San Diego State University, this competition is looking for a single poem to award $1000 and publication in Poetry International. Contestants may submit up to three poems, and everyone is welcome to enter, even those who won a prize last year. The judge for 2017 is Sherwin Bitsui. More details here.
Entry Fee: $15 Deadline: April 1
The Alice Munro Festival Short Story Competition
Submit up to 2500 words to be considered for publication! Prizes vary in adult and youth categories and all the winners will be recognized at the summer festival in Ontario. Munro fans, (and who isn’t?), apply now!
Entry Fee: $15 Deadline: April 1
New Ohio Review
All three of the New Ohio Review’s contests are ending this month, so enter now if you want to receive one of the three $1000 first-place prizes! Colm Toibin is judging the fiction section, Rosanna Warren is judging the poetry section, and Phillip Lopate is judging the nonfiction applicants. All of the winners and a selection of the runners up will be published! See more here.
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: April 15
A Public Space – General Submissions Close
A Public Space has been an integral part of the literary cannon for years. They welcome fiction, poetry, and multigenre work, but only until April 15 when their submissions close until the fall. Better yet, it’s free to enter. Full details here.
Entry Fee: FREE Deadline: April 15
Passages North – General Submissions Close
Passages North publishes a little bit of everything and they are currently accepting for all categories through the middle of the month for Issue #39. Poetry, fiction, nonfiction, short fiction, and other genres are welcome. Full details here.
Entry Fee: Varies Deadline: April 15
Event Nonfiction Prize
From the website: “Contest winners feature in every winter issue since 1989, and many have gone on to greatness. Winners also win a pretty nice cheque. How do you feel about $1500 in prize money?” J. Jill Robison is judging nonfiction entries. Prizes begin at $1500 for the winners. The entry fee is a little steep for this contest, but it could be your perfect match. More here.
Entry Fee: $35 Deadline: April 15
Prime Number Magazine Awards
With an emphasis on brevity, this contest for poetry and short fiction is meant to be a challenge! Make sure to note that the short story requirement is 53 to 5300 words, as a nod to their parent organization Press 53. Judged by Rebecca Foust and David Jauss (for poetry and short fiction, respectively), the first-place winner in each category receives $1000 and publication in Prime Number Magazine. Enter here!
Entry Fee: $15 Deadline: April 15
The 2017 Gulf Coast Prize
Here is an opportunity for all writers, as Gulf Coast’s contest rewards authors in nonfiction, fiction, and poetry! Diane Roberts judges nonfiction, Chinelo Okparanta judges fiction, and Cate Marvin judges poetry. The winner in each category receives $1500, and two honorable mentions in each category also receive $250. Make sure you submit to the correct category! Check it out here.
Entry Fee: $23 Deadline: April 15
Iowa Poetry Prize
Presented by the University of Iowa Press for a book-length collection of poems, this contest is open to new as well as established poets! The manuscript should be 50-150 pages, and simultaneous submissions are accepted. The winning manuscript will be published under a standard royalty agreement. Learn more here.
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: April 30
Grist Journal’s Pro Forma Contest
Grist is looking for authors who make the most of structures in writing, creating an interesting opportunity to play with form and function. Submissions can be fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, or any other form of literary expression. Judged by Alex Lemon, first-place wins $1200 and publication in the journal. Don’t miss it!
Entry Fee: $18 Deadline: April 30
The Very Short Fiction Contest
From Glimmer Train, the Very Short Fiction Contest is open to all writers, and any story that hasn’t appeared in a print publication is welcome! First place receives $2000 and publication in Glimmer Train. Winners are announced November 1. The best part of a Glimmer Train deadline is you know the competition will be fierce, the prizes generous, and the deadline comes with a week’s wiggle room. Get writing! Guidelines here.
Entry Fee: $16 Deadline: April 30
by Kimberly Guerin and TMR staff