As the call of the outdoors becomes a whisper, take advantage of the rainy afternoons to stay indoors with a pile of submissions! There are plenty of contests and prizes in November, and here are eleven of them you can still enter.
Featured! The Masters Review Fall Fiction Contest
Judged by the incredible Kelly Link, the winner receives $2000, a year’s subscription to Duotrope, and publication. This is a great opportunity for emerging writers, as all submissions will be considered for publication. Check it out!
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: November 15
Briar Cliff Review Writing Contest
There is still just enough to time to enter The Briar Cliff Review’s writing contest, for fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction! The first-place winner in each category is awarded $1000 and will be published in the 2017 edition of The Briar Cliff Review. Don’t miss it!
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: November 1
John Steinbeck Fiction Award
Reed Magazine is currently accepting submissions for this award, but not for long. Send in works of fiction under 5000 words, and you could win $1000! Submit here.
Entry Fee: $15 Deadline: November 1
Nilsen Literary Prize
Are you wondering what to do with your just-finished manuscript? Well, this prize is meant for an applicant’s first novel! The manuscript must be unpublished, as the winner will receive $2000 and be published through Southeast Missouri State University Press. Check it out!
Entry Fee: $25 Deadline: November 1
Coal Hill Review Chapbook Contest
Autumn House Press presents a great opportunity for poets with short manuscripts! Judged by the wonderful Gerry LaFemina, the winner is awarded with $1000 and publication. Submission guidelines here.
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: November 1
Patrick Henry Writing Fellowship
This is a huge one! The fellowship includes a $45,000 stipend, a book allowance, and a nine-month residency in Chestertown, MD. Applicants should have a book-length project in progress, and it should be focused on American history and culture. More details here.
Entry Fee: FREE Deadline: November 1
Walt Whitman Award
If you are an unpublished poet, this is an opportunity meant specifically for you. The Walt Whitman Award is meant to honor a poet’s first book, with a $5000 prize, publication, and distribution of the winning book to all members of the Academy of American Poets. As an extra bonus, the judge is US Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera. Do it!
Entry Fee: $35 Deadline: November 1
A Public Space Emerging Writer Fellowships
This amazing fellowship will be awarded to three writers, who will each receive $1000, publication, mentorship, and a free workspace in New York City. They’re looking for writers who have not yet published or been contracted to write a book-length work—and that could be you! Details here.
Entry Fee: FREE Deadline: November 15
VanderMey Nonfiction Prize
Now open, the VanderMey Nonfiction Prize is a big one, with the winner receiving $1500 and publication. Submissions need to be 5500 words or less, and there are no limits on the number of entries per person. Judged by Josh MacIvor-Andersen. Submit here.
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: November 15
Baltimore Review “Milestones” Contest
The Baltimore Review is celebrating 20 years of publishing, and in honor of their long journey they want to hear about yours. Both fiction and creative nonfiction are accepted, up to 5,000 words, and the first-place prize is $500. Submission guidelines here.
Entry Fee: $10 Deadline: November 30
Mid-American Review Poetry and Fiction Contest
These are actually two contests through The Mid-American Review; Charles Yu is judging the fiction contest, and Jeannine Hall Gailey is judging the poetry contest. Submissions may be up to 6000 words, or up to three poems, and the winner of each contest receives $1000 and publication. Make sure to select the correct contest for your submission! More details here.
Entry Fee: $10 Deadline: November 30
by Kimberly Guerin