| Organization |
Submit By |
Requirements |
| 2003 | |
| Scribendi Editorial Services |
September 15 |
Fiction up to 3000 words. $10 entry fee. First prize of $5000, second and third prizes of $500 and $50. |
| Preservation Foundation |
September 30 |
General or travel nonfiction, 1500 to 5000 words. First prize of $100. |
| Bellwether Prize |
October 1 |
Unpublished novel supporting social change, at least 80,000 words long. $25 entry fee. First prize of $25,000 and publication. |
| Boston Review |
October 1 |
Short story. $20 entry fee. Grand prize of $1000. |
| Rosebud |
October 1 |
Short, imaginative fiction up to 3500 words. $10 entry fee. Grand prize of $1000 and publication. |
| Zoetrope |
October 1 |
Fiction up to 5000 words. $15 entry fee. First prize of $1000, second and third prizes of $500 and $250. |
| Indiana Review |
October 6 |
Fiction up to 35 pages. $15 entry fee. Grand prize of $1000 and publication. |
| Missouri Review |
October 15 |
Prose up to 25 pages or poetry up to 10 pages. $15 fee per entry. First prize of $2000 in each category. |
| Writers' Journal |
October 20 |
Fiction up to 1500 words, beginning with He approached slowly.... $3 entry fee. Winners will be published. |
| Dana Awards |
October 31 |
Short fiction up to 10,000 words, group of five poems, first 50 pages of novel, or portfolio. Entry fees enumerated on site. First prize of $3000 in portfolio category, $1000 for each other category. |
| Kalliope |
November 1 |
Less than 50 lines of poetry by a woman. Entry fees of $4 per poem or three poems for $10. Grand prize of $1000. |
| The Writers' Union of Canada |
November 3 |
Short prose, 2500 words or less. Entrants must be Canadian. $25 entry fee. Prize of $2500. (Both figures Canadian currency.) |
| Fish Publishing |
November 30 |
Fiction up to 5000 words. $12 entry fee. Grand prize of $1200 and publication. |
| Ohio State University Press |
November 30 |
Short story or novella collection, 150-300 typed pages. $20 entry fee. Grand prize of $1500 and publication. |
| Writers' Journal |
December 20 |
Fiction up to 1500 words, beginning with Oh, by the way.... $3 entry fee. Winners will be published. |
| Whim's Place |
December 30 |
Flash fiction up to 500 words. Entry fee of $5. Submit using entry form. First prize of $250, second and third prizes of $200 and $100, eight honorable mentions of $50 each. |
| Birmingham-Southern College Writing Today |
December 30 |
Fiction, up to 5000. $10 entry fee. Prizes up to $5000, website vague on amounts. |
| Birmingham-Southern College Writing Today |
December 30 |
Poetry, up to 50 lines. $10 entry fee. Prizes up to $5000, website vague on amounts. |
| Whim's Place |
December 30 |
Flash fiction up to 500 words. Entry fee of $5. Submit using entry form. First prize of $250, second and third prizes of $200 and $100, eight honorable mentions of $50 each. |
| The Adirondack Review |
December 31 |
Previously unpublished short story. $8 entry fee. First prize of $500, honorable mentions of $50. |
| Short Publications |
December 31 |
Short fiction up to 5000 words by unpublished writer. $15 entry fee. First prize of $300 and publication, second and third prizes of $150 and $50 with publication. |
| Writers of the Future |
December 31 |
Less than 17,000 words of SF/F/H (with fantastic elements). First prize of $1000, second and third prizes of $750 and $500. |
| 2004 | |
| ByLine Magazine |
January 5 |
Free verse, any length. $3 entry fee. First prize of $40, second and third prizes of $25 and $15. |
| Broken Umbrella Press, Anubis Award |
January 15 |
A horror novel. Entry fee of $25 for online entries. Grand prize of $500 and publication. |
| ByLine Magazine |
January 15 |
Personal essay, up to 1200 words. $5 entry fee. First prize of $50, second and third prizes of $30 and $20. |
| Glimmer Train Press |
January 15 |
Fiction, any length. $15 entry fee. Enter at form on website. First prize of $2000 and publication; second and third prizes of $1000 and $600. |
| Literal Latte |
January 15 |
Fiction, up to 6000 words. $10 entry fee. First prize of $1000, second and third prizes of $300 and $200. |
| Writers' Journal |
January 30 |
Fiction up to 2000 words. $5 entry fee. First prize of $50, second and third prizes of $25 and $15. |
| Iowa Review |
January 31 |
Up to 25 pages of prose or 10 pages of poetry. $15 entry fee. Grand prize of $1000 in each category. |
| New Millennium Writings Awards |
January 31 |
Prose up to 6000 words, or up to three poems. $17 entry fee per item. Use entry form on website. Grand prize of $1000 in each category. |
| Carve Magazine |
February 1 |
Short fiction up to 8500 words. $15 entry fee. Grand prize of $1000. |
| The First Line |
February 1 |
300- to 3000-word story beginning with the line, There were five of them, which was two more than I'd been expecting. A copy and $5 payment if published. Include two- or three-sentence biography with submission. |
| Author Mania |
February 14 |
Short fiction up to 5000 words. $20 entry fee. First prize of $2000, second and third prizes of $1000 and $300, seven honorable mentions of $100. |
| ByLine Magazine |
February 20 |
Short article, up to 1500 words. $5 entry fee. First prize of $40, second and third prizes of $25 and $15. |
| Writers' Journal |
February 20 |
Fiction up to 1500 words, beginning with The phone was still dead.... $3 entry fee. Winners will be published. |
| Association of Writers and Writing Programs |
February 28 |
Book-length collection of poetry, short stories, or essays, or a novel. Contest opens January 1. $20 entry fee. Grand prize of $4000 for poetry, $2000 for each prose category. |
| New Century Writer |
February 28 |
Fiction up to 10,000 words. $10 entry fee. First prize of $1500, second and third prizes of $750 and $500, seven honorable mentions of $100. |
| Hemispheres Magazine |
March 1 |
Parody of either Hemingway or Faulkner, up to 500 words. Grand prize in each category is a trip, to Memphis for Faulkner or Italy for Hemingway. |
| SpecFicWorld.com |
March 15 |
SF/F/Horror up to 10,000 words. $6 entry fee. First prize of $150 and publication, second, third, and fourth prizes of $100, $50, and $25 and publication. |
| ByLine Magazine |
March 20 |
Character sketch, up to 500 words. $4 entry fee. First prize of $40, second and third prizes of $25 and $15. |
| Whim's Place |
March 30 |
Flash fiction up to 500 words. Entry fee of $5. Submit using entry form. First prize of $250, second and third prizes of $200 and $100, eight honorable mentions of $50 each. |
| Glimmer Train Press |
March 31 |
Fiction, up to 12000 words. $12 entry fee. Enter at form on website. First prize of $1200 and publication; second and third prizes of $500 and $300. |
| BOMB Magazine |
April 1 |
Fiction up to 20 double-spaced pages. $20 entry fee. Grand prize of $1000 and publication. |
| WinningWriters.com |
April 1 |
Seriously bad poetry. No entry fee. First prize of $817.70, second and third prizes of $132 and $57.95. |
| ByLine Magazine |
April 5 |
Flash fiction, up to 1000 words. $5 entry fee. First prize of $60, second and third prizes of $30 and $20. |
| Bulwer-Lytton |
April 15 |
A really, really bad first sentence. Check out previous entries for sheer entertainment value. |
| Writers' Journal |
April 20 |
Fiction up to 1500 words, beginning with The game was over, and.... $3 entry fee. Winners will be published. |
| ByLine Magazine |
April 30 |
General poetry, up to 2000 words. $3 entry fee. First prize of $60, second and third prizes of $30 and $15. |
| Donard Publishing |
April 30 |
Fiction up to 20,000 words. Contest limited to 100 submissions total. $15 entry fee. Grand prize of £2000. |
| Nimrod International Journal of Prose and Poetry |
April 30 |
Fiction up to 7500 words or poetry: one long poem or 3-10 shorter poems. $20 entry fee. First prize in each category of $2000 and publication, second prize of $1000 and publication. |
| The Purple Pen |
April 30 |
500- to 1500-word story beginning with, Hank waited impatiently in the drizzling rain for his taxi to arrive; he carefully gripped his battered old suitcase, protective of its secrets... $15 entry fee. First prize of $5000, 5 honorable mentions of $100. |
| Writecorner Press |
April 30 |
Fiction up to 3000 words. $15 entry fee. First prize of $1100, editor's choice award of $100. |
| The First Line |
May 1 |
300- to 3000-word story beginning with the line, "Why are you always so cynical?" A copy and $5 payment if published. Include two- or three-sentence biography with submission. |
| Word Smitten |
May 1 |
Flash fiction, up to 500 words. $10 entry fee. Grand prize of $150 and publication. |
| ByLine Magazine |
May 5 |
New-talent short fiction, up to 5000 words. $5 entry fee. First prize of $50, subsequent prizes of $35, $25, and $15. |
| ByLine Magazine |
May 20 |
Personal memoir, up to 1000 words. $5 entry fee. First prize of $60, second and third prizes of $30 and $20. |
| Writers' Journal |
May 30 |
Fiction up to 2000 words. $7 entry fee. First prize of $300, second and third prizes of $100 and $50. |
| WinningWriters.com |
May 31 |
Poetry on theme of war, up to 500 lines. $10 entry fee. First prize of $1000 and publication, second and third prizes of $500 and $250 and publication, ten honorable mentions of $50 each. |
| Boston Review |
June 1 |
Poetry, up to 10 pages. $15 entry fee. Grand prize of $1000 and publication. |
| ByLine Magazine |
June 5 |
Short fiction, up to 2000 words. $5 entry fee. First prize of $70, second and third prizes of $35 and $20. |
| Literal Latte |
June 7 |
Short fiction, up to 2000 words. $10 entry fee. Grand prize of $500. |
| Whim's Place |
June 30 |
Flash fiction up to 500 words. Entry fee of $5. Submit using entry form. First prize of $250, second and third prizes of $200 and $100, eight honorable mentions of $50 each. |
| Writers of the Future |
June 30 |
Less than 17,000 words of SF/F/H (with fantastic elements). First prize of $1000, second and third prizes of $750 and $500. |
| Word Smitten |
July 1 |
Short story, exactly 1010 words (excluding title). $15 entry fee. Grand prize of $1010 and publication. |
| ByLine Magazine |
July 5 |
Short fiction, up to 5000 words. $5 entry fee. First prize of $70, second and third prizes of $35 and $20. |
| Literal Latte |
July 19 |
Poetry, up to 2000 words. $10 entry fee. First prize of $1000, second and third prizes of $300 and $200. |
| Glimmer Train Press |
July 31 |
Short fiction, up to 2000 words. $10 entry fee. Enter at form on website. First prize of $1200 and publication; second and third prizes of $500 and $300. |
| New Century Writer |
July 31 |
Novel or novella excerpt, 60 pages at most. $30 entry fee. First prize of $1500, second and third prizes of $750 and $500, seven honorable mentions of $100. |
| New Century Writer |
July 31 |
Poetry, up to 100 lines per poem. $3 entry fee. First prize of $300, second and third prizes of $150 and $75, seven honorable mentions of $25. |
| The First Line |
August 1 |
300- to 3000-word story beginning with the line, I was born Rosa Carlotta Silvana Grisanti, but in the mid-Eighties, I legally changed my name to Eve. A copy and $5 payment if published. Include two- or three-sentence biography with submission. |
| ByLine Magazine |
August 20 |
Creative nonfiction, up to 2000 words. $5 entry fee. First prize of $40, second and third prizes of $25 and $15. |
| University of North Texas Press Katherine Ann Porter Prize |
August 29 |
Fiction collection between 100 and 200 pages. $20 entry fee. Grand prize of $1000 and publication, second and third prizes of $25 and $15. |
| Moxie Films |
August 31 |
Screenplay, 75-130 pages. $40 entry fee (Less if you enter early, more if you enter late). Must be accompanied by forms available from website. First prize of $3000, second and third prizes of $1000 and $500, seven honorable mentions of $200 each. All winners will be considered for production. |
| Moxie Films |
August 31 |
Stageplay, up to three acts. $40 entry fee (Less if you enter early, more if you enter late). Must be accompanied by forms available from website. First prize of $2000, second and third prizes of $500 and $250, seven honorable mentions of $100 each. All winners will be considered for production. |
| Literal Latte |
September 20 |
Essay, up to 6000 words. $10 entry fee. First prize of $1000, second and third prizes of $300 and $200. |
| ByLine Magazine |
September 30 |
Poetry, formal structure. $3 entry fee. First prize of $40, second and third prizes of $25 and $15. |
| Glimmer Train Press |
September 30 |
Fiction, up to 12,000 words. $12 entry fee. Enter at form on website. First prize of $1200 and publication; second and third prizes of $500 and $300. |
| Writers of the Future |
September 30 |
Less than 17,000 words of SF/F/H (with fantastic elements). First prize of $1000, second and third prizes of $750 and $500. |
| Boston Review |
October 1 |
Fiction up to 4000 words. $20 entry fee. Grand prize of $1000 and publication. |
| ByLine Magazine |
October 5 |
Flash fiction under 1000 words. $5 entry fee. First prize of $50, second and third prizes of $30 and $15. |
| Science Fiction Writers of Earth |
October 30 |
SF/F short story between 2000 and 7500 words. $5 entry fee. First prize of $200, second and third prizes of $100 and $50. |
| Writer Works |
October 30 |
Travel-related prose up to 6000 words. $5 entry fee. First prize of $300, second and third prizes of $200 and $100. |
| The New Writer |
October 31 |
Fiction, nonfiction, and poetry of varying lengths; many contests. £4-£10 entry fee. Enter using entry form on website. Prizes vary by category; highest is £300. |
| The First Line |
November 1 |
300- to 3000-word story beginning with the line, The inside was dark. A copy and $5 payment if published. Include two- or three-sentence biography with submission. |
| ByLine Magazine |
November 5 |
New-talent short story, up to 5000 words. $5 entry fee. First prize of $50, second and third prizes of $35 and $25. |
| University of North Texas Press Vassar Miller Prize |
November 15 |
Poetry collection between 50 and 80 pages. $20 entry fee. Grand prize of $1000 and publication, second and third prizes of $25 and $15. |
| ByLine Magazine |
November 20 |
Personal experience essay, up to 2000 words. $5 entry fee. First prize of $45, second and third prizes of $25 and $15. |
See individual websites for more details.