If you’re a farmer, you may know you’ve had a good growing year if your corn is knee-high by the Fourth of July. When you’re a writer, you know you’re having a good year when there are enough contests to satisfy throughout the month of July!
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 6000 words, written by emerging writers who are good with grammar and show finesse with fiction! The winner receives $3000, publication, and agency review, and the runners-up also receive cash prizes, publication, and review. Judged by Kristen Arnett. Don’t miss your chance! Details here.
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: August 30
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 less than 7499 words, flash fiction must be less than 1000 words, and poetry may include three poems less than five pages long. First place in each category receives $1000, 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 $5000, 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
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 $1000 and publication first-place prizes! All entries should be related to themes of health, healing, illness, the mind, and the body. Amy Hempel is judging fiction, Crystal Valentine is judging poetry, and Michele Harper is judging nonfiction. Honorable mention winners also earn $250 and publication! Submit here.
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: July 15
The Francine Ringold Awards for New Writers
These awards, presented by Nimrod International Journal through the University of Tulsa, honor the work of writers at the beginning of their careers in either fiction or poetry. Contestants can enter up to five pages of poetry, and up to 5000 words of prose. The winner of each category will receive $500 and their manuscript will be published in the spring issue of Nimrod! Details here.
Entry Fee: $12 Deadline: July 15
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 $5000 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: $25 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 Rebecca Lindenberg, Michael Griffith, and Kristen Iversen, respectively. The winning entries will be published in 2021 and receive $1000 each, so don’t lose your chance! Learn more here.
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: July 15
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: FREE 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 $2000 and publication. Make sure you read each category closely! More information here.
Entry Fee: $50 Deadline: July 15
Howling Bird Press Fiction Prize
Howling Bird Press, the publishing house of Augsburg University’s MFA program, is currently accepting submissions for their contest, but all good things will eventually come to an end. Entries are open to both established and emerging writers, as long as their work is original, innovative, and between 20,000 to 60,000 words. The winning manuscript will receive $2500 and publication. Don’t lose your chance!
Entry Fee: $25 Deadline: July 31
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 less than 15,000 words and previously unpublished, while containing a strong narrative drive and intense insights. First prize is $2500, second is $1000, and third is $500. Guidelines here.
Entry Fee: $27 Deadline: July 31
by Kimberly Guerin