The end of summer can be so stressful, so instead of back-to-school shopping, why not shop through these contests and pick your favorite? It’s all up to you, the sky’s the limit!
Black Warrior Review 2022 Contest
We want you to play to your strengths, and Black Warrior Review has a contest for everyone in this contest! The 2022 Fiction Contest is judged by Maurice Carlos Ruffin, the 2022 Nonfiction Contest is judged by Kendra Allen, and the 2022 Poetry Contest is judged by Diane Seuss. The first-place prize is $1000 and publication in each genre. There’s also a Flash Contest, judged by Angie Sijun Lou, that awards $500. Let’s get started!
Entry Fee: $15 Deadline: September 1
Dogwood Literary Awards
These are actually three contests offered by Dogwood: A Journal of Poetry and Prose, looking for exceptional writing and outstanding poetry! Submissions may be up to 22 pages, or a set of 1-3 poems, and the winner of each contest receives $1000 and publication. Make sure to select the correct contest for your submission! Submit here.
Entry Fee: $12 Deadline: September 5
Young Lions Fiction Award
If you’ve published a book during the 2022 calendar year, and you’re younger than 35, this is an amazing opportunity tailor-made for you! Offered through the New York Public Library, both novels and short story collections are accepted, and the winner receives $10,000. This year is the 23nd anniversary of the first contest, and excitement is building! Books must be entered by the publisher, not the author. Learn more here!
Entry Fee: FREE Deadline: September 9
2022 Nature & Place Prize
Open to new and emerging poets, this Frontier Poetry contest is in pursuit of gentleness, nostalgia, and a reimagining of “home.” They are looking for poems that pay homage to nature, geography, and the landscape. Amaud Johnson is judging. The winning poet will receive $3000 and publication for their poem, and second and third place receive $300 and $200 respectively. All ten finalists will be recognized. Get started!
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: September 15
Blue Mesa Review Contest
There are actually three contests offered here, looking for fresh prose and powerful poetry! The judges are James Crews for poetry, Debra Monroe for nonfiction, and Ben Loory for fiction. Submissions may be up to 6000 words, or up to 3 poems, and the winner of each contest receives $500 and publication. Make sure to select the correct contest for your submission! More details here.
Entry Fee: $15 Deadline: September 30
Cullman Center Fellowships
The Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers offers up to fifteen fellowships each year, for academics, journalists, and creative writers. Part of the New York Public Library system, this is an amazing opportunity to access the research collections at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building! A Cullman Center Fellow receives a stipend of up to $75,000, an office, and full use of the Library’s physical and electronic resources. Don’t miss out!
Entry Fee: FREE Deadline: September 30
Dzanc Books Contests
Dzanc Books is offering opportunities for all writers, with two different contests both ending this September! The Dzanc Books Prize for Fiction, judged by Angel Khoury, Josip Novakovich, and Blair Austin, awards a $5,000 advance and publication for the original and daring winning manuscript. The Dzanc Books Short Story Collection Competition celebrates imaginative and inventive short form writing, offering a $2500 advance and publication to the winning submission. Check them both out!
Entry Fee: $25 Deadline: September 30
The Iowa Short Fiction Award
Presented by the University of Iowa Press for a book-length collection of short stories, this contest is open to any writer who hasn’t published a volume of prose fiction! The manuscript should be at least 150 pages, and must be mailed, as e-mail entries are not accepted. The winning manuscript will be published under a standard royalty agreement. Learn more here.
Entry Fee: FREE Deadline: September 30
Juniper Literary Prizes
The University of Massachusetts Press honors the memory of Robert Francis, who lived and wrote his poetry in Fort Juniper, and applicants should keep in mind his dedication to creativity and nature! The Juniper Prize for Poetry awards $1000 and publication to two original poetry manuscripts, one first book prize for an unpublished author, and one prize for a previously published author. The Juniper Prize for Fiction also awards $1000 and publication to two original fiction manuscripts, one for a short story collection, and one for a novel. The Juniper Prize for Creative Nonfiction awards $1000 and publication to one original manuscript. Learn more here!
Entry Fee: $30 Deadline: September 30
Lascaux Prize in Creative Nonfiction
If you think you’re ready to medal in writing creative nonfiction, then this is the contest for you! They’re looking for memoirs, chronicles, personal essays, humorous perspectives, or literary journalism. The Lascaux Review is accepting multiple submissions, less than 10,000 words each. All finalists in this contest will be published, but the winner also receives $1000 and a bronze medallion for their efforts. Check it out!
Entry Fee: $15 Deadline: September 30
Miller Williams Poetry Prize
This prize is named for and operated to honor the longtime director of the University of Arkansas Press, Miller Williams. Submissions of book-length poetry manuscripts should reflect his preference for poetry that was plain spoken, evocative, ironic, and humorous. The top four entries will receive publication, and the first-place winner also receives $5000. Submit here!
Entry Fee: $28 Deadline: September 30
2022 Red Hen Press Fiction Award
Red Hen Press is looking for a fresh and original story of fiction, and they’re willing to pay for it! Open to all authors, the fiction manuscript must be a minimum of 150 pages, and submitted without any identifying material. The award is $1000, and also includes publication of the winning entry. Judged by Daniel Suarez! Details here.
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: September 30
by Kimberly Guerin