NATIONAL ONE-ACT PLAYWRITING COMPETITION (CANADA)The contests and awards listed in this section are arranged by subject. Nonfiction writers can turn immediately to nonfiction awards listed alphabetically by the name of the contest or award. The same is true for fiction writers, poets, playwrights and screenwriters, journalists, children’s writers, and translators. You’ll also find general book awards, fellowships offered by arts councils and foundations, and multiple category contests.
New contests and awards are announced in various writer’s publications nearly every day. However, many lose their funding or fold, and sponsoring magazines go out of business just as often. Contact names, entry fees, and deadlines have been highlighted and set in bold type for your convenience.
To make sure you have all the information you need about a particular contest, always send a SASE to the contact person in the listing before entering a contest or check their website. The listings in this section are brief, and many contests have lengthy, specific rules and requirements that we could not include in our limited space. Often a specific entry form must accompany your submission.
When you receive a set of guidelines, you’ll see some contests are not applicable to all writers. The writer’s age, previous publication, geographic location, and length of the work are common matters of eligibility. Read the requirements to ensure you don’t enter a contest for which you’re not qualified.
Winning a contest or award can launch a successful writing career. Take a professional approach by doing a little extra research. Find out who the previous winner of the award was by investing in a sample copy of the magazine in which the prize-winning article, poem, or short story appeared. Attend the staged reading of an award-winning play. Your extra effort will be to your advantage in competing with writers who simply submit blindly.
Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., P.O. Box 4267, Englewood CO 80155. (303)779-4035. Fax: (303)779-4315. E-mail: editors@pioneerdrama.com. E-mail: submissions@pioneerdrama.com. Website: www.pioneerdrama.com. Contact: Lori Conary, submissions editor. Playwright must be a current or retired faculty member at an accredited K-12 public or private school in the US or Canada. All plays submitted through this contest must have been produced within the last 2 years at the school where the playwright teaches. Rules and guidelines available online. Encourages the development of quality plays written specifically by teachers and other educators. All qualifying mss accepted for publication will be considered contest finalists. Deadline: Submissions will be accepted on an on-going basis with a June 30 cutoff each year. Prize: $500 royalty advance and a one-time $500 donation to the school theatre program where the play was first produced. Judged by editors.
Acclaim Scripts, 300 Central Ave, Suite 501, St. Petersburg FL 33701. E-mail: info@acclaimscripts.com. Website: www.acclaimscripts.com. Annual contest for TV and film scripts. Open to all writers worldwide. Work must be original material of the author(s). Must not be sold or optioned at time of submission. Multiple entries may be submitted (include separate entry form for each submission). Two categories for TV: comedy and drama. Contests are ongoing and deadlines change; visit website to check for updated deadlines. Prize: TV: Winner of each category receives $500. Film: 1st Place: $1,000. All winners and finalists may receive consideration by established production companies and agencies.
ScriptDoctor.com, 3661 N. Campbell Ave., Suite 222, Tucson AZ 85719. E-mail: thedoc@scriptdoctor.com. Website: www.scriptdoctor.com. Contact: Howard Allen. Contest of Contest Winners (TM) joins Sunscreen Film Festivals. There are only a few dozen prestigious, reputable competitions—but which screenplay from the winners of all of these quality competitions is the best of the best? No entry may have earned money or other consideration for more than $5,000. "Winners must have placed in a competition on our list or approved by us." Entrants qualify by having won or placed in a screenwriting competition during the past five years. With a decade of excellent industry response, a good showing in CCW proves your script stands out among the toughest competition. Provides industry-wide publicity. Deadline: Early: June 15 ($75); Late: July 15 ($85)/. Prize: Winners receive a free set of Story Notes from ScriptDoctor.com (rated No. 1 in national survey and valued at $1500), VIP Passes to the festival, along with discount lodging. Prizes given to the other Finalists:trophies at a presentation ceremony, Skype meeting with festival filmmakers, agents, and producers. Judged by working professionals, including ScriptDoctor Howard Allen, Chris Haughom, Victoria Lucas, and others.
Barter Theatre, Box 867, c/o Barter Theatre, Abingdon VA 24212-0867. (276)619-3316. Fax: (276)619-3335. E-mail: apfestival@bartertheatre.com. E-mail: apfestival@bartertheatre.com. Website: www.bartertheatre.com. Contact: Nick Piper, Associate Artistic Director/Director, New Play Development. With the annual Appalachian Festival of New Plays & Playwrights, Barter Theatre wishes to celebrate new, previously unpublished/unproduced plays by playwrights from the Appalachian region. If the playwrights are not from Appalachia, the plays themselves must be about the region. Deadline: March 2. Prize: $250, a staged reading performed at Barter's Stage II theater, and some transportation compensation and housing during the time of the festival.
P.O. Box 38756, Hollywood CA 90038. (323)662-7734. Fax: (323)661-3903. E-mail: info@theblank.com. E-mail: submissions@youngplaywrights.com. Website: ypf.theblank.com. Purpose is to give young playwrights an opportunity to learn more about playwriting and to give them a chance to have their work mentored, developed, and presented by professional artists.
Playwrights Project, 3675 Ruffin Rd., Suite 330, San Diego CA 92123-1870 USA. (858)384-2970. Fax: (858)384-2974. E-mail: write@playwrightsproject.org. Website: http://www.playwrightsproject.org/programs/contest/. Contact: Cecelia Kouma, Executive Director. Annual contest open to Californians under age 19. Annual contest. "Our organization and the contest is designed to nurture promising young writers. We hope to develop playwrights and audiences for live theater. We also teach playwriting." Submissions are required to be unpublished and not produced professionally. Submissions made by the author. SASE for contest rules and entry form. Scripts must be a minimum of 10 standard typewritten pages; send 2 copies. Scripts will not be returned. If requested, entrants receive detailed evaluation letter. Guidelines available online. Deadline: June 1. Prize: Scripts will be produced in spring at a professional theatre in San Diego. Writers submitting scripts of 10 or more pages receive a detailed script evaluation letter upon request. Judged by professionals in the theater community, a committee of 5-7; changes somewhat each year.
Drury University, 900 N. Benton Ave., Springfield MO 65802-3344. E-mail: msokol@drury.edu. Contact: Mick Sokol. Offered in even-numbered years for unpublished and professionally unproduced plays. One play per playwright. Guidelines for SASE or by e-mail. Deadline: December 1. Prize: 1st Place: $300; Honorable Mention: $150.
The Essential Theatre, 1414 Foxhall Ln., #10, Atlanta GA 30316. (404) 212-0815. E-mail: pmhardy@aol.com. Website: www.essentialtheatre.com. Contact: Peter Hardy. Offered annually for unproduced, full-length plays by Georgia resident writers. No limitations as to style or subject matter. Submissions can be e-mailed in PDF or Word Documents, or sent by postal mail. See website for full guidelines. Deadline: April 23. Prize: $600 and full production.
Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., P.O. Box 4267, Englewood CO 80155. (303)779-4035. Fax: (303)779-4315. E-mail: editors@pioneerdrama.com. E-mail: submissions@pioneerdrama.com. Website: www.pioneerdrama.com. Contact: Lori Conary, submissions editor. Annual competition that encourages the development of quality theatrical material for educational, community and children's theatre markets. Previously unpublished submissions only. Only considers mss with a running time between 20-90 minutes. Open to all writers not currently published by Pioneer Drama Service. Guidelines available online. No entry fee. Cover letter, SASE for return of ms, and proof of production or staged reading must accompany all submissions. Deadline: Ongoing contest; a winner is selected by June 1 each year from all submissions received the previous year. Prize: $1,000 royalty advance in addition to publication. Judged by editors.
Beverly Hills CA 90210 USA. E-mail: info@filmmakers.com. Website: www.filmmakers.com/screenplay/. Early: Feb. 29; regular: April 30; late: June 30; Final Jul 31st. Grand Prize: $2500; 3 X Elite Prizes: $500 per category.
New England Theatre Conference, 215 Knob Hill Dr., Hamden CT 06158. Fax: (203)288-5938. E-mail: mail@netconline.org. Website: www.netconline.org. Annually seeks unpublished full-length plays and scripts. Open to all. Playwrights living outside New England may participate. Deadline: April 15. Prize: 1st Place: $1,000; 2nd Place: $500.
P.O. Box 148, Beverly Hills CA 90213. Website: www.beverlyhillstheatreguild.com. Contact: Candace Coster, competition coordinator. The Marilyn Hall Awards consist of 2 monetary prizes for plays suitable for grades 6-8 (middle school) or for plays suitable for grades 9-12 (high school). The 2 prizes will be awarded on the merits of the play scripts, which includes its suitability for the intended audience. The plays should be approximately 45-75 minutes in length. There is no production connected to any of the prizes, though a staged reading is optional at the discretion of the BHTG. Unpublished submissions only. Authors must be U.S. citizens or legal residents and must sign entry form personally. Deadline: The last day of February. Submission period begins January 15. Prize: 1st Prize: $700; 2nd Prize: $300.
The New England Theatre Conference, Inc., 215 Knob Hill Dr., Hamden CT 06518. Fax: (203)288-5938. E-mail: mail@netconline.org. Website: www.netconline.org. Offered annually for an unpublished full-length play for young audiences. Guidelines available online or for SASE. Open to all. Deadline: May 1. Prize: 1st Place: $1,000; 2nd Place: $500
P.O. Box 940, Hudson NY 12534. (518)851-7244. E-mail: hrcshowcaseplaycontest@gmail.com. Website: www.hrc-showcasetheatre.com. Contact: Jesse Waldinger, chair. HRC Showcase Theatre invites submissions of full-length plays to its annual contest from new, aspiring, or established playwrights. Each submitted play should be previously unpublished, run no more than 90 minutes, require no more than 6 actors, and be suitable for presentation as a staged reading by Equity actors. No musicals or children's plays. Deadline: February 1. Prize: $500. Four runner-ups will receive $100 each.
L.A. Designers' Theatre, P.O. Box 1883, Studio City CA 91614. E-mail: ladesigners@gmail.com. Contact: Richard Niederberg, artistic director. "Quarterly contest to promote new work and push it through a Theatrical Production onto the conveyor belt to Filmed or Digital Origination entertainment. All submissions must be registered with the copyright office and be unpublished. Material will not be returned. Do not submit any proposal that will not fit in a #10 envelope. No rules, guidelines, fees, or entry forms. Just present an idea that can be commissioned into a full work. Proposals for as of yet uncompleted works are encouraged. Unpopular political, religious, social, or other themes are encouraged; 'street' language and nudity are acceptable. Open to any writer." Deadline: March 15, June 15, September 15, December 15. Prize: Production or publication of the work in the Los Angeles market. "We only want 'first refusal' for the Rights and a License that is clear of any legal, stated, unstated, or implied obligation to any other person or entity. You continue to own your work."
Marsh Hawk Press, P.O. Box 206, East Rockaway NY 11518-0206. E-mail: marshhawkpress1@aol.com. Website: www.MarshHawkPress.org. Contact: Prize Director. The Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Prize offers $1,000, plus publication of a book-length ms. Additionally, The Robert Creeley Poetry Prize and The Rochelle Ratner Poetry Award, both cash prizes, go to the runners-up. Submissions must be unpublished as a collection, but individual poems may have been previously published elsewhere. Submit 48-70 pages of original poetry in any style in English, typed single-spaced, and paginated. (Longer mss will be considered if the press is queried before submission.) Contest mss may be submitted by electronic upload. See website for more information. If submitting via Post Office mail, the ms must be bound with a spring clip. Include 2 title pages: 1 with ms title, poet's name, and contact information only; 1 with ms title only (poet's name must not appear anywhere in the ms). Also include table of contents and acknowledgments page. Include SASE for results only; ms will not be returned. Guidelines available on website. Deadline: April 30. Judged by Mark Doty.
970 Ninth St., Boulder CO 80302. 303-818-5771. E-mail: director@moondancefilmfestival.com; moondancefestival@gmail.com. Website: www.moondancefilmfestival.com; www.moondancefestival.com/blog. Written works submissions: feature screenplays, short screenplays, feature & short musical screenplays, feature & short screenplays for children, 1, 2 or 3-act stageplays, mini-series for TV, television movies of the week, television pilots, libretti, musical film scripts, short stories, radio plays & short stories for children. Submission service: www.withoutabox.com/login/1240. Accepts hard-copies of submissions, as well as digital submissions. Please include your full contact info on the cover page of your entry. Check out our submission guidelines on the website. Regular deadline: May 31; late deadline: June 30, extended deadline: July 15.
NATIONAL ONE-ACT PLAYWRITING COMPETITION (CANADA)Ottawa Little Theatre, 400 King Edward Ave., Ottawa ON K1N 7M7 Canada. (613)233-8948. Fax: (613)233-8027. Website: www.ottawalittletheatre.com. Contact: Lynn McGuigan, executive director. Encourages literary and dramatic talent in Canada. Guidelines available online. Deadline: October 15. Prize: 1st Place: $1,000; 2nd Place: $750; 3rd Place: $500; Sybil Cooke Award for a Play Written for Children or Young People: $500. All winning plays will receive a public reading in April, and the winning playwrights will have a one-on-one meeting with a resident dramaturg. Judged by 3 adjudicators, including dramaturgs, directors who develop new work, and playwrights from across Canada.
The PAGE Awards Committee, 7510 W. Sunset Blvd., #610, Hollywood CA 90046-3408 USA. E-mail: info@pageawards.com. Website: pageawards.com. Contact: Zoe Simmons, Contest Coordinator. Annual competition to discover the most talented new screenwriters from across the country and around the world. Each year, awards are presented to 31 screenwriters in 10 different genre categories: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family Film, Historical Film, Science Fiction, Thriller/Horror, Short Film Script, TV Drama Pilot, and TV Comedy Pilot. Guidelines and entry forms are online. The contest is open to all writers 18 years of age and older who have not previously earned more than $25,000 writing for film and/or television. Please visit contest website for a complete list of rules and regulations. The PAGE Awards competition was founded to introduce the work of talented new screenwriters from around the world to people working in the Hollywood industry. Deadline: January 15 (early); February 15 (regular); March 15 (late); April 15 (last minute). Prizes: Over $50,000 in cash and prizes, including a $25,000 Grand Prize, plus Gold, Silver & Bronze prizes in all 10 genre categories. Most importantly, the award-winning writers receive extensive publicity and industry exposure for their scripts. As a result of winning the contest, many past PAGE Award Winners now have movies and television shows in production, on the air and in theaters. Judging is done entirely by Hollywood professionals, including industry script readers, consultants, agents, managers, producers, and development executives.
Endorsed by Write Brothers and Robert McKee, (310)801-5366. E-mail: info@scriptapalooza.com. Website: www.scriptapalooza.com. "From choosing our judges to creating opportunities, our top priority has always been the writer. We surround ourselves with reputable and successful companies, including many producers, literary agents, and managers who read your scripts. Our past winners have won Emmy's, been signed by agents, managers, had their scripts optioned, and even made into movies. Scriptapalooza will promote, pitch and push the semifinalists and higher for a full year." Deadline: January 4, February 1, March 10, April 15, and April 29. Prize: 1st Place: $10,000; over $50,00 in prizes for the entire competition. The top 100 scripts will be considered by over 95 production companies. Judged by over 90 producers.
(310)801-5366. E-mail: info@scriptapalooza.com. Website: www.scriptapaloozatv.com. Bi-annual competition accepting entries in 4 categories: Reality shows, sitcoms, original pilots, and 1-hour dramas. There are more than 30 producers, agents, and managers reading the winning scripts. Two past winners won Emmys because of Scriptapalooza and 1 past entrant now writes for Comedy Central. Winners announced February 15 and August 30. For contest results, visit website. Length: Standard television format whether 1 hour, 1-half hour, or pilot. Open to any writer 18 or older. Guidelines available on website. Accepts inquiries by e-mail or phone. Deadline: October 15 and April 15. Prize: 1st Place: $500; 2nd Place: $200; 3rd Place: $100 (in each category); production company consideration. All the judging is done by over 25 producers.
TIPS Pilots should be fresh, new, and easy to visualize. Spec scripts should stay current with the shows, up-to-date story lines, characters, etc.
2633 Lincoln Blvd. #701, Santa Monica CA 90405. (323) 424-4243. E-mail: entry@scriptpipeline.com. Website: scriptpipeline.com. Contact: Matt Misetich, director of development. Script Pipeline's 14th Annual Screenwriting and 9th Annual TV Writing Contests continue a long tradition of discovering up-and-coming talent and connecting them with top producers, agencies, and managers across studio and independent markets. This process has proven enormously successful, with numerous screenwriting contest alumni worldwide finding elite representation and gaining crucial introductions to otherwise impossible-to-reach industry execs. The result thus far is over $5 million in screenplays and TV pilots sold from competition finalists and "Recommend" writers since 2003. Last season, over 5,000 scripts were entered in the Screenwriting and TV Writing contests combined, making Script Pipeline one of the leading companies reviewing spec material. Purpose: to circulate exceptional material industry-wide, support writers long-term, and launch careers. Early deadline: March 1. Regular deadline: May 1. Late Deadline: May 15. Screenwriting Contest: $25,000 in cash for the winner and $1,500 in cash to the runner-up.
TV Writing Contest: $10,000 in cash for the winner and $1,000 in cash to the runner-up.
Bloomington Playwrights Project, 107 W. 9th St., Bloomington IN 47404. Website: www.newplays.org. Contact: Susan Jones, Literary Manager. Annual award for unpublished/unproduced plays. The Bloomington Playwrights Project is a script-developing organization. Winning playwrights are expected to become part of the development process, working with the director in person or via long-distance. Check the website for more details. Deadline: October 31. Prize: $1,000, full production as a part of the Mainstage season. Judged by the literary committee of the BPP.
SHRIEKFEST HORROR/SCI-FI FILM FESTIVAL & SCREENPLAY COMPETITIONP.O. Box 950921, Lake Mary FL 32795. E-mail: shriekfest@aol.com. E-mail: shriekfest@aol.com. Website: www.shriekfest.com. Contact: Denise Gossett. "Our awards are to help screenwriters move their script up the ladder and hopefully have it made into a film. Our winners take that win and parlay it into agents, film deals, and options. No, we don't use loglines anywhere; we keep your script private." "We accept award-winning screenplays. No restrictions as long as it's in the horror/thriller or sci-fi/fantasy genres. We accept shorts and features. No specific lengths." Deadline: May 1, July 1, July 10. Prize: Trophies, product awards, usually cash. "Our awards are updated all year long as sponsors step onboard." Judged by at least 20-30 judges who are all in different aspects of the entertainment industry, such as producers, directors, writers, actors, and agents.
Jacksonville State University, Department of English, 700 Pelham Rd. N., Jacksonville AL 36265-1602. (256)782-5412. Fax: (256)782-5441. E-mail: jmaloney@jsu.edu. E-mail: jmaloney@jsu.edu. Website: www.jsu.edu/depart/english/southpla.htm. Contact: Joy Maloney. Competition for playwrights native to or a resident of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, or West Virginia. Plays must deal with the Southern experience. Entries must be original, full-length plays. No musicals or adaptations will be accepted. The playwright may submit only one play. All entries must be typed, securely bound, and clearly identified. Synopsis of script must be included. No electronic entries accepted. Legal clearance of all materials not in the public domain will be the responsibility of the playwright. The Southern Playwrights Competition seeks to identify and encourage the best of Southern playwriting. Deadline: January 15. Prize: $1,000 and production of the play.
The Scriptwriters Network (SWN), P.O. Box 642806, Los Angeles CA 90064 USA. E-mail: top@scriptwritersnetwork.org. E-mail: top@scriptwritersnetwork.org. Website: www.scriptwritersnetwork.org. Contact: Lucas McCain, Director. The Television Outreach Program (TOP) is a Scriptwriters Network program to support undiscovered television writing talent. The program's objective is to help writers improve their craft so that they may achieve their goals of obtaining representation, script development, mentoring and career counseling services, landing writing assignments, and/or selling their work.
Theatre Conspiracy, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Ft. Myers FL 33919. (239)936-3239. E-mail: info@theatreconspiracy.org. Website: theatreconspiracy.org. Contact: Bill Taylor, producing artistic director. Offered annually for full-length plays that are unproduced. Work submitted to the contest must be a full length play with 7 actors or less and have simple to moderate technical demands. Plays having up to three previous productions are welcome. No musicals. Deadline: March 30. Prize: $700 and full production. Judged by a panel of qualified theatre teachers, directors, and performers.
THEATRE IN THE RAW BIENNIAL ONE-ACT PLAY WRITING CONTESTTheatre In the Raw, 3521 Marshall St., Vancouver BC V5N 4S2 Canada. (604)708-5448. E-mail: theatreintheraw@telus.net. Website: www.theatreintheraw.ca. Biennial contest for an original one-act play, presented in proper stage-play format, that is unpublished and unproduced. The play (with no more than 6 characters) cannot be longer than 25 double-spaced, typed pages equal to 30 minutes. Scripts must have page numbers. Scripts are to be mailed only & will not be accepted by e-mail. Deadline: December 31. Prize: 1st Place: $200, at least 1 dramatic reading or staging of the play at a Theatre In the Raw Cafe/Venue, or as part of a mini-tour program for the One-Act Play Series Nights; 2nd Place: $100; 3rd Place: $75. Winners announced June 30.
TVWriter™, P.O. Box 65024, Port Ludlow WA 98365. (805)495-3659. E-mail: tvwriter@tvwriter.com. E-mail: tvwriter@tvwriter.com. Website: http://peoplespilot.com. Contact: Larry Brody. TVWriter.com helps to get TV pilot scripts read by those who can purchase them or hire writers. Deadline: November 1. Prize: $20,000+ worth of prizes in 3 categories. Free feedback for all entries. Judged by a team of television writing professionals.
1800 Nelwood Dr., Columbia MO 65202-1447. (573)874-5628. E-mail: jwmcontest@cectheatre.org. Website: www.cectheatre.org. Contact: Tom Phillips. Annual contest that encourages playwrights to write quality plays for family audiences. Previously unpublished submissions only. Submissions made by author. Play may be performed during the following season. All submissions will be read by at least 3 readers. Author will receive a written evaluation of the script. Guidelines available online. Deadline: June 1. Prize: $500 with production possible. Judging by current and past board members of CEC and by non-board members who direct plays at CEC.
WorldFest-Houston, 9898 Bissonnet St., Suite 650, Houston TX 77036. (713)965-9955. Fax: (713)965-9960. E-mail: entry@worldfest.org. Website: www.worldfest.org. mixed media art Contact: Entry Coordinator. WorldFest discovered Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Ang Lee, Ridley Scott, the Coen Brothers, Francis Ford Coppola, John Lee Hancock, and David Lynch with their first awards. Screenplays must be submitted as actual printed scripts, 3-hole binders, no online reading. Competition for all genres of screenplays, plus 10 other competition categories of films and videos. Deadline: December 31; Final deadline is Jan 15. Prize: Cash, options, production deals, workshops, master classes, and seminars. Judged by a jury whose members are credentialed, experienced, award-winning writers, producers, and directors. No production assistants.
Indiana Repertory Theatre, 140 W. Washington St., Indianapolis IN 46204. 480-921-5770. E-mail: info@writenow.co. Website: www.writenow.co. The purpose of this biennial workshop is to encourage writers to create strikingly original scripts for young audiences. It provides a forum through which each playwright receives constructive criticism and the support of a development team consisting of a professional director and dramaturg. Finalists will spend approximately one week in workshop with their development team. At the end of the week, each play will be read as a part of the Write Now convening. Guidelines available online. Deadline: July 31.
Theatre and Dance Program, School of the Arts, Nunn Dr., Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights KY 41099-1007. 859.572.5648. Fax: (859)572-6057. E-mail: daniellyc1@nku.edu, or mking@nku.edu. Website: http://artscience.nku.edu/departments/theatre.html, https://artscience.nku.edu/content/dam/artscience/theatre/docs/16755YesFestivalFlyer.pdf. Contact: Michael King, co-project director; Corrie Danieley, co-project director. Receives submissions until September 30 in even-numbered years for the festivals which occur in April of odd-numbered years. Open to all writers. Flyers with submission guidelines and entry forms available on the website, or via e-mail. Deadline: September 30. Open to submissions on May 1. Prize: $250 and an expense-paid visit (travel and housing) to Northern Kentucky University to see the play produced.
University of New Hampshire, Department of Theatre and Dance, PCAC, 30 Academic Way, Durham NH 03824. (603)862-3038. Fax: (603)862-0298. E-mail: mike.wood@unh.edu. Website: http://cola.unh.edu/theatre-dance/resource/zornio. Contact: Michael Wood. Offered every 4 years for unpublished well-written plays or musicals appropriate for young audiences with a maximum length of 60 minutes. May submit more than 1 play, but not more than 3. Honors the late Anna Zornio, an alumna of The University of New Hampshire, for dedication to and inspiration of playwriting for young people, K-12th grade. Deadline: March. Prize: $500.
A Room of Her Own Foundation, P.O. Box 778, Placitas NM 87043. E-mail: awards@aroho.org. Website: www.aroomofherownfoundation.org. Contact: Tracey Cravens-Gras, associate director. The publicly funded award provides very practical help—both materially and in professional guidance and moral support with mentors and advisory council—to assist women in making their creative contribution to the world. The Gift of Freedom competition will determine superior finalists from each of 3 genres: Creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. Open to female residents of the US. Award application cycle dates are yet to be determined. Visit website at www.aroho.org for more information about the next application window. Deadline: November 2. Prize: One genre finalist will be awarded the $50,000 Gift of Freedom grant, distributed over 2 years in support of the completion of a particular creative project. The 2 remaining genre finalists will each receive a $5,000 prize.
201 Monroe St., Montgomery AL 36130. (334)242-4076, ext. 236. Fax: (334)240-3269. E-mail: anne.kimzey@arts.alabama.gov. Website: www.arts.state.al.us. Contact: Anne Kimzey, literature program manager. Must be a legal resident of Alabama who has lived in the state for 2 years prior to application. Competition receives 30+ submissions annually. Accepts inquiries by e-mail and phone. The following should be submitted: a résumé and a list of published works with reviews, if available; and a minimum of 10 pages of poetry or prose, with a maximum of 20 pages. Please label each page with title, artist's name, and date. If published, indicate where and the date of publication. Please do not submit bound material. Guidelines available in January on website. Recognizes the achievements and potential of Alabama writers. Deadline: March 1. Applications must be submitted online by eGRANT. Judged by independent peer panel. Winners notified by mail and announced on website in June.
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, 600 E Superior St., Suite 404, Duluth MN 55802. (218)722-0952 or (800)569-8134. E-mail: info@aracouncil.org. Website: www.aracouncil.org. Award is to provide financial support to regional artists wishing to take advantage of impending, concrete opportunities that will advance their work or careers. Applicants must live in the 7-county region of Northeastern Minnesota. Deadline: October and April. Grant awards of up to $3,000. Candidates are reviewed by a panel of ARAC Board Members and Community Artists.
Phillips Exeter Academy, 20 Main Street, Exeter NH 03833. E-mail: teaching_opportunities@exeter.edu. Website: www.exeter.edu/bennettfellowship. Annual award for fellow and family to provide time and freedom from material considerations to a person seriously contemplating or pursuing a career as a writer. Applicants should have a ms in progress which they intend to complete during the fellowship period. Ms should be fiction, nonfiction, novel, short stories, or poetry. Duties: To be in residency at the Academy for the academic year; to make oneself available informally to students interested in writing. Committee favors writers who have not yet published a book with a major publisher. Deadline: November 30. A choice will be made, and all entrants notified in mid-April. Prize: Cash stipend (currently $14,933), room and board. Judged by committee of the English department.
820 N. French St., Wilmington DE 19801. (302)577-8278. Fax: (302)577-6561. E-mail: Roxanne.stanulis@state.de.us. Website: www.artsdel.org. Contact: Roxanne Stanulis. Award to help further careers of emerging and established professional artists. For Delaware residents only. Guidelines available after May 1 on website. Accepts inquiries by e-mail, phone. Results announced in December. Winners notified by mail. Results available on website. Open to any Delaware writer over 18 years of ages and not in a degree-granting program. Deadline: August 1. Prize: $10,000 for masters; $6,000 for established professionals; $3,000 for emerging professionals. Judged by out-of-state, nationally recognized professionals in each artistic discipline.
TIPS "Follow all instructions and choose your best work sample."
DOBIE PAISANO WRITER'S FELLOWSHIPThe Graduate School, The University of Texas at Austin, Attn: Dobie Paisano Program, 110 Inner Campus Drive Stop G0400, Austin TX 78712-0531. (512)232-3609. Fax: (512)471-7620. E-mail: gbarton@austin.utexas.edu. Website: www.utexas.edu/ogs/Paisano. Contact: Gwen Barton. Sponsored by the Graduate School at The University of Texas at Austin and the Texas Institute of Letters, the Dobie Paisano Fellowship Program provides solitude, time, and a comfortable place for Texas writers or writers who have written significantly about Texas through fiction, nonfiction, poetry, plays, or other mediums. The Dobie Paisano Ranch is a very rural and rustic setting, and applicants should read the guidelines closely to insure their ability to reside in this secluded environment. At the time of the application, the applicant must meet one of the following requirements: (1) be a native Texan, (2) have resided in Texas at least three years at some time, or (3) have published significant work with a Texas subject. Those who meet requirement 1 or 2 do not have to meet the Texas subject matter restriction. Deadline: January 15. Applications are accepted beginning December 1 and must be post-marked no later than January 15. The Ralph A. Johnston memorial Fellowship is for a period of 4 months with a stipend of $6,250 per month. It is aimed at writers who have already demonstrated some publishing and critical success. The Jesse H. Jones Writing Fellowship is for a period of approximately 6 months with a stipend of $3,000 per month. It is aimed at, but not limited to, writers who are early in their careers.
TIPS "Three sets of each complete application must be submitted. Electronic submissions are not allowed. Guidelines and application forms are on the website (http://www.utexas.edu/ogs/Paisano/info.html) or may be requested by sending a SASE (3-ounce postage) to the above address, attention of 'Dobie Paisano Fellowship Project.'"
American Antiquarian Society, 185 Salisbury St., Worcester MA 01609-1634. (508)755-5221. Fax: (508)754-9069. E-mail: jmoran@mwa.org; library@americanantiquarian.org. Website: www.americanantiquarian.org. Contact: James David Moran. Annual fellowship for creative and performing artists, writers, filmmakers, journalists, and other persons whose goals are to produce imaginative, non-formulaic works dealing with pre-20th century American history. Application instructions available online. Website also lists potential fellowship projects. Deadline: October 5. Prize: The stipend will be $1,350 for fellows residing on campus (rent-free) in the society's scholars' housing, located next to the main library building. The stipend will be $1,850 for fellows residing off campus. Fellows will not be paid a travel allowance. Judged by AAS staff and outside reviewers.
TIPS "Successful applicants are those whose work is for the general public rather than for academic or educational audiences."
John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, 90 Park Ave., New York NY 10016. (212)687-4470. E-mail: fellowships@gf.org. Website: www.gf.org. Often characterized as "midcareer" awards, Guggenheim Fellowships are intended for men and women who have already demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts. Fellowships are awarded through two annual competitions: one open to citizens and permanent residents of the United States and Canada, and the other open to citizens and permanent residents of Latin America and the Caribbean. Candidates must apply to the Guggenheim Foundation in order to be considered in either of these competitions. The Foundation receives between 3,500 and 4,000 applications each year. Although no one who applies is guaranteed success in the competition, there is no prescreening: all applications are reviewed. Approximately 200 Fellowships are awarded each year. Deadline: September 15.
University of Minnesota, 113 Anderson Library, 222 21st Ave. South, Minneapolis MN 55455. Website: http://www.lib.umn.edu/clrc/awards-grants-and-fellowships. Marilyn Hollinshead Visiting Scholars Fund for Travel to the Kerlan Collection is available for research study. Applicants may request up to $1,500. Send a letter with the proposed purpose and plan to use specific research materials (manuscripts and art), dates, and budget (including airfare and per diem). Travel and a written report on the project must be completed and submitted in the previous year. Deadline: June 1.
The Loft Literary Center, 1011 Washington Ave. S., Suite 200, Open Book, Minneapolis MN 55415. (612)215-2575. Fax: (612)215-2576. E-mail: loft@loft.org. Website: www.loft.org. Contact: Bao Phi. "The Loft administers the McKnight Artists Fellowships for Writers. Five $25,000 awards are presented annually to accomplished Minnesota writers and spoken word artists. Four awards alternate annually between creative prose (fiction and creative nonfiction) and poetry/spoken word. The fifth award is presented in children's literature and alternates annually for writing for ages 8 and under and writing for children older than 8." The awards provide the writers the opportunity to focus on their craft for the course of the fellowship year. Prize: $25,000.
TIPS "See guidelines and follow carefully and exactly."
The Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow, 515 Spring St., Eureka Springs AR 72632. (479)253-7444. Fax: (479)253-9859. E-mail: director@writerscolony.org. Website: www.writerscolony.org. Contact: Linda Caldwell, Executive Director. "A two-week residency for writing in any genre about any aspect of nature and the outdoors. Works may be fiction or nonfiction. Supports writing of excellence which aspires to engage the mind, body and soul in the appreciation of nature. Applications accepted until May 31. "
Nickelodeon, Viacom, 231 W. Olive Ave., Burbank CA 91502. (818)736-3663. E-mail: info.writing@nick.com. Website: www.nickwriting.com, www.facebook.com/nickwriting, twitter: @nickwriting. Contact: Karen Kirkland, Vice President. Offered annually for unpublished spec scripts. Must be 18 years or older to participate. Deadline: February 28. Prize: The Nickelodeon Writing Program offers aspiring television writers all over the globe, with diverse backgrounds and experiences, the opportunity to hone their skills while writing for our live action and animated shows. Participants will have hands-on interaction with executives writing spec scripts and pitching story ideas.
The Program, developed to broaden Nickelodeon’s outreach efforts, provides a salaried position for up to six months (for International writers) and up to on
Application and submission guidelines are available on our website at www.nickwriting.com.
e year (for U.S. writers). Judged by experienced script analysts and Nickelodeon executives.
North Carolina Arts Council, Dept. of Cultural Resources, MSC #4632, Raleigh NC 27699-4634. (919)807-6512. Fax: (919)807-6532. E-mail: david.potorti@ncdcr.gov. Website: www.ncarts.org. Contact: David Potorti, literature director. See website for contact information for the local arts councils that distribute these grants. Open to any writer living in North Carolina. Deadline: Late summer/early fall. Prize: $500-3,000 awarded to writers to pursue projects that further their artistic development.
925 S.W. Washington, Portland OR 97205. (503)227-2583. E-mail: susan@literary-arts.org. Website: www.literary-arts.org. Contact: Susan Moore, Director of programs and events. Oregon Literary Fellowships are intended to help Oregon writers initiate, develop, or complete literary projects in poetry, fiction, literary nonfiction, drama, and young readers literature. Writers in the early stages of their career are encouraged to apply. The awards are merit-based. Guidelines available in February for SASE. Accepts inquiries by e-mail, phone. Oregon residents only. Recipients announced in January. Deadline: Last Friday in June. Prize: $3,000 minimum award, for approximately 8 writers and 2 publishers. Judged by out-of-state writers
Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, State of Rhode Island, One Capitol Hill, 3rd Floor, Providence RI 02908. (401)222-3880. Fax: (401)222-3018. E-mail: Cristina.DiChiera@arts.ri.gov. Website: www.arts.ri.gov. Contact: Cristina DiChiera, director of individual artist programs. Annual fellowship competition is based upon panel review of poetry, fiction, and playwriting/screenwriting manuscripts. Project grants provide funds for community-based arts projects. Rhode Island artists who have lived in the state for at least 12 consecutive months may apply without a nonprofit sponsor. Applicants for all RSCA grant and award programs must be at least 18 years old and not currently enrolled in an arts-related degree program. Online application and guidelines can be found at www.arts.ri.gov/grants/guidelines/. Deadline: April 1 and October 1. Fellowship awards: $5,000 and $1,000. Grants range from $500-5,000, with an average of around $1,500. Judged by a rotating panel of artists.
15021 Ventura Blvd., #523, Sherman Oaks CA 91403. (424)248-9221. Fax: (866)770-2994. E-mail: info@screenplayfestival.com. Website: www.screenplayfestival.com. This festival is an opportunity to give all scriptwriters a chance to be noticed and have their work read by the power players. Entries in the feature-length competition must be more than 60 pages; entries in the short screenplay contest must be fewer than 60 pages. The Screenplay Festival was established to solve two major problems. One, it is simply too difficult for talented writers who have no "connections" to gain recognition and get their material read by legitimate agents, producers, directors and investors. Two, agents, producers, directors, and investors complain that they cannot find any great material, but they will generally not accept "unsolicited material." This means that unless the script comes from a source that is known to them, they will not read it. Screenplay Festival was established to help eliminate this "chicken and egg" problem. By accepting all submitted screenplays and judging them based upon their quality—not their source or their standardized formatting or the quality of the brads holding them together—Screenplay Festival looks to give undiscovered screenwriters an opportunity to rise above the crowd. Deadline: September 1. Prize: $1,000 for feature film categories, $500 for television categories.
Creative Writing Program, Stanford University, Stanford CA 94305-2087. (650)723-0011. Fax: (650)723-3679. E-mail: stegnerfellowship@stanford.edu. Website: www.stanford.edu/group/creativewriting/stegner. Offers 5 fellowships in poetry and 5 in fiction for promising writers who can benefit from 2 years of instruction and participation in the program. Online application preferred. "We do not require a degree for admission. No school of writing is favored over any other. Chronological age is not a consideration." Deadline: December 1. Open to submissions on September 1. Prize: Fellowships of $26,000, plus tuition of over $7,000/year.
Tennessee Arts Commission, 401 Charlotte Ave., Nashville TN 37243-0780. Fax: (615)741-8559. E-mail: lee.baird@state.tn.us. Website: tnartscommission.org. Contact: Lee Baird, director of literary programs. Awarded annually in recognition of professional Tennessee artists, i.e., individuals who have received financial compensation for their work as professional writers. Applicants must have a publication history other than vanity press. Three fellowships awarded annually to outstanding literary artists who live and work in Tennessee. Categories are in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Deadline: January 26. Prize: $5,000. Judged by an out-of-state adjudicator.
6195B H.C. White Hall, 600 N. Park St., Madison WI 53706. E-mail: rfkuka@wisc.edu. Website: creativewriting.wisc.edu/fellowships.html. Contact: Sean Bishop, graduate coordinator. Fellowship provides time, space and an intellectual community for writers working on first books. Receives approximately 300 applicants a year for each genre. Judged by English Department faculty and current fellows. Candidates can have up to one published book in the genre for which they are applying. Open to any writer with either an M.F.A. or Ph.D. in creative writing. Please enclose a SASE for notification of results. Results announced on website by May 1. Applicants should submit up to 10 pages of poetry or one story or excerpt of up to 30 pages and a résumé or vita directly to the program during the month of February. See instructions on website for submitting online. An applicant's name must not appear on the writing sample (which must be in ms form) but rather on a separate sheet along with address, social security number, phone number, e-mail address and title(s) of submission(s). Candidates should also supply the names and phone numbers of two references. Accepts inquiries by e-mail and phone. Deadline: Last day of February. Open to submissions on December 15. Prize: $30,000 for a 9-month appointment.
TIPS "Send your best work. Stories seem to have a small advantage over novel excerpts."
WritersWeekly.com, 5726 Cortez Rd. W., #349, Bradenton FL 34210. 305-768-0261. Fax: 305-768-0261. E-mail: writersweekly@writersweekly.com. Website: www.writersweekly.com/misc/contest.php. Contact: Angela Hoy. Popular quarterly contest in which registered entrants receive a topic at start time (usually noon Central Time) and have 24 hours to write and submit a story on that topic. All submissions must be returned via e-mail. Each contest is limited to 500 people. Upon entry, entrant will receive guidelines and details on competition, including submission process. Deadline: Quarterly—see website for dates. Prize: 1st Place: $300; 2nd Place: $250; 3rd Place: $200. There are also 20 honorable mentions and 60 door prizes (randomly drawn from all participants). The top 3 winners' entries are posted on WritersWeekly.com (non-exclusive electronic rights only) and receive a Freelance Income Kit. Writers retain all rights to their work. See website for full details on prizes. Judged by Angela Hoy (publisher of WritersWeekly.com and Booklocker.com).
AEON AWARDAlbedo One/Aeon Press, Aeon Award, Albedo One, 2 Post Road, Lusk, Dublin Ireland. +353 1 8730177. E-mail: fraslaw@yahoo.co.uk. Website: www.albedo1.com. Contact: Frank Ludlow, event coordinator. Prestigious fiction writing competition for short stories in any speculative fiction genre, such as fantasy, science fiction, horror, or anything in-between or unclassifiable. Submit your story (which must be less than 10,000 words in length and previously unpublished) in the body of an e-mail with contact details and "Aeon Award Submission" as the subject. Deadline: November 30. Contest begins January 1. Prize: Grand Prize: €1,000; 2nd Prize: €200; and 3rd Prize: €100. The top three stories are guaranteed publication in Albedo One. Judged by Ian Watson, Eileen Gunn, Todd McCaffrey, and Michael Carroll.
AHWA FLASH & SHORT STORY COMPETITIONAHWA (Australian Horror Writers Association), E-mail: ahwacomps@australianhorror.com; ahwa@australianhorror.com. E-mail: ctrost@hotmail.com. Website: www.australianhorror.com. Contact: Cameron Trost, Competitions Officer. Competition/award for short stories and flash fiction. There are 2 categories: short stories (1,001 to 8,000 words) and flash fiction (less than 1,000 words). Writers may submit to one or both categories, but entry is limited to 1 story per author per category. Send submission as an attached rtf or doc. Mail submissions only accepted as a last resort. No previously published entries will be accepted—all tales must be an original work by the author. Stories can be as violent or as bloody as the storyline dictates, but those containing gratuitous sex or violence will not be considered. Please check entries for spelling and grammar mistakes and follow standard submission guidelines (e.g., 12 point font, Ariel, Times New Roman, or Courier New, one and a half spacing between lines, with title and page number on each page). Looking for horror stories, tales that frighten, yarns that unsettle readers in their comfortable homes. All themes in this genre will be accepted, from the well-used (zombies, vampires, ghosts etc) to the highly original, so long as the story is professional and well written. Deadline: May 31. Prize: The authors of the winning Flash Fiction and Short Story entries will each receive paid publication in Midnight Echo, the Magazine of the AHWA and an engraved plaque.
1974 46th Ave., San Francisco CA 94116. E-mail: sheila.oconnor@juno.com. Award is to give short story writers more exposure. Contest offered biannually. Open to any writer. All kinds of fiction are considered. Especially looking for women's pieces—romance, with a twist in the tale—but all will be considered. Results announced within 3 months of deadlines. Winners notified by mail if they include SASE. Accepts fiction and nonfiction up to 2,000 words. Entries are eligible for cash prizes, and all entries are eligible for worldwide syndication whether they win or not. For guidelines, send SASE, fax or e-mail. Published and unpublished stories are actively encouraged. Add a note of where and when previously published. Send double-spaced mss with your story/article title, byline, word count, and address on the first page above your article/story's first paragraph (no need for separate cover page). There is no limit to the number of entries you may send. Deadline: June 30 and December 31. Prize: 1st Place: $300; 2nd Place: $100; 3rd Place: $50. Judged by a panel of independent judges.
Mid-American Review, Mid-American Review, Dept. of English, Box WM, BGSU, Bowling Green OH 43403. (419)372-2725. Fax: (419)372-4642. E-mail: mar@bgsu.edu. Website: www.bgsu.edu/midamericanreview. Contact: Abigail Cloud, editor-in-chief. Offered annually for unpublished mss (6,000 word limit). Contest is open to all writers not associated with a judge or Mid-American Review. Guidelines available online or for SASE. Deadline: November 1. Prize: $1,000, plus publication in the spring issue of Mid-American Review. Four Finalists: Notation, possible publication. Judged by editors and a well-known writer, i.e., Aimee Bender or Anthony Doerr.
12330 Ashton Mill Terrace, Glen Allen VA 23059. E-mail: sherwoodandersonfoundation@gmail.com. Website: www.sherwoodandersonfoundation.org. Contact: Anna McKean, foundation president. Contest is to honor, preserve and celebrate the memory and literary work of Sherwood Anderson, American realist for the first half of the 20th century. Annual award supports developing writers of short stories and novels. Entrants must have published at least one book of fiction or have had several short stories published in major literary and/or commercial publication. Self-published stories do not qualify. Send a detailed résumé that includes a bibliography of your publications. Include a cover letter that provides a history of your writing experience and your plans for writing projects. Also, submit 2 or 3 examples of what you consider to be your best work. Do not send manuscripts by e-mail. Only mss in English will be accepted. Open to any writer who meets the qualifications listed above. Accepts inquiries by e-mail. Mail your application to the above address. No mss or publications will be returned. Deadline: April 1. Prize: $20,000 grant award.
Autumn House Press, 87 1⁄2 Westwood St., Pittsburgh PA 15211. E-mail: info@autumnhouse.org. Website: http://autumnhouse.org. Fiction submissions should be approximately 200-300 pages. All fiction sub-genres (short stories, short-shorts, novellas, or novels), or any combination of sub-genres, are eligible. All finalists will be considered for publication. Include SASE for results. Autumn House Press assumes no responsibility for lost or damaged manuscripts. All entries must be clearly marked “Fiction Prize” on the outside envelope. Enclose a $30 handling fee. Send manuscript and fee to: Autumn House Press: P.O. Box 60100, Pittsburgh, PA 15211. Deadline: June 30. Prize: Winners will receive book publication, $1,000 advance against royalties, and a $1,500 travel grant to participate in the Autumn House Master Authors Series in Pittsburgh. Judged by William Lychack (final judge).
Austin Commmunity College, Department of Creative Writing, 1212 Rio Grande St., Austin TX 78701. (512)584-5045. E-mail: joconne@austincc.edu. Website: http://www.austincc.edu/crw/html/balconescenter.html. Contact: Joe O’Connell. Awarded to the best book of literary fiction published the previous year. Books of prose may be submitted by publisher or author. Send three copies. Deadline: January 31. Prize: $1,500, winner is flown to Austin for a campus reading.
The Baltimore Review, 6514 Maplewood Rd., Baltimore MD 21212. E-mail: editor@baltimorereview.org. Website: www.baltimorereview.org. Contact: Barbara Westwood Diehl, senior editor. Each summer and winter issue includes a contest theme (see submissions guidelines for theme). Prizes are awarded for first, second, and third place among all categories—poetry, short stories, and creative nonfiction. All entries are considered for publication. Open to all writers. Only unpublished work will be considered. Asks only for the right to publish the work for the first time. Deadline: May 31 and November 30. Prize: 1st Place: $500; 2nd Place: $200; 3rd Place: $100. All entries are considered for publication. Provides a small compensation to all contributors. Judged by the editors of The Baltimore Review and a guest, final judge.
Bard College, P.O. Box 5000, Annandale-on-Hudson NY 12504-5000. (845)758-7087. Fax: (845)758-7917. E-mail: bfp@bard.edu. Website: www.bard.edu/bfp. Contact: Irene Zedlacher. The Bard Fiction Prize is awarded to a promising, emerging writer who is an American citizen aged 39 years or younger at the time of application. Cover letter should include name, address, phone, e-mail and name of publisher where book was previously published. Entries must be previously published. Open to U.S. citizens aged 39 and below. Guidelines available by SASE, fax, phone, e-mail, or on website. Results announced by October 15. Winners notified by phone. For contest results, e-mail, or visit website. The Bard Fiction Prize is intended to encourage and support young writers of fiction to pursue their creative goals and to provide an opportunity to work in a fertile and intellectual environment. Deadline: June 15. Prize: $30,000 and appointment as writer-in-residence at Bard College for 1 semester. Judged by a committee of 5 judges (authors associated with Bard College).
Bellevue Literary Review, NYU Dept of Medicine, 550 First Ave., OBV-A612, New York NY 10016. (212)263-3973. E-mail: info@blreview.org; stacy@blreview.org. Website: www.blreview.org. Contact: Stacy Bodziak, managing editor. The BLR prizes award outstanding writing related to themes of health, healing, illness, the mind and the body. Annual competition/award for short stories. Receives about 200-300 entries per category. Send credit card information or make checks payable to Bellevue Literary Review. Guidelines available in February. Accepts inquiries by e-mail, phone, mail. Submissions open in February. Results announced in December and made available to entrants with SASE, by e-mail, on website. Winners notified by mail, by e-mail. Entries should be unpublished. Anyone may enter contest. Length: No minimum; maximum of 5,000 words. Writers may submit own work. Deadline: July 1. Prize: $1,000 and publication in The Bellevue Literary Review. Honorable mention winners receive $250 and publication. BLR editors select semi-finalists to be read by an independent judge who chooses the winner. Previous judges include Nathan Englander, Jane Smiley, Francine Prose, and Andre Dubus III.
Creative Writing Program, Binghamton University, Binghamton University, Department of English, General Literature, and Rhetoric, Library North Room 1149, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton NY 13902-6000. (607)777-2713. E-mail: cwpro@binghamton.edu. Website: http://binghamton.edu/english/creative-writing/. Contact: Maria Mazziotti Gillan, director. Contest offered annually for a novel or collection of fiction published in previous year in a press run of 500 copies or more. Each book submitted must be accompanied by an application form. Publisher may submit more than 1 book for prize consideration. Send 2 copies of each book. Guidelines available on website. Author or publisher may submit. Deadline: March 1. Prize: $1,000. Judged by a professional writer not on Binghamton University faculty.
Boulevard Magazine, 6614 Clayton Rd., PMB #325, Richmond Heights MO 63117. (314)862-2643. Website: www.boulevardmagazine.org. Contact: Jessica Rogen, editor. Offered annually for unpublished short fiction to a writer who has not yet published a book of fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction with a nationally distributed press. Holds first North American rights on anything not previously published. Open to any writer with no previous publication by a nationally known press. Guidelines for SASE or on website. Accepts works up to 8,000 words. Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but previously accepted or published work is ineligible. Entries will be judged by the editors of Boulevard Magazine. Submit online or via postal mail. Deadline: December 31. Prize: $1,500, and publication in 1 of the next year's issues.
THE CAINE PRIZE FOR AFRICAN WRITING51 Southwark St., London SE1 1RU United Kingdom. E-mail: info@caineprize.com. Website: www.caineprize.com. Contact: Lizzy Attree. Entries must have appeared for the first time in the 5 years prior to the closing date for submissions, which is January 31 each year. Publishers should submit 6 copies of the published original with a brief cover note (no pro forma application). "Please indicate nationality or passport held." Submissions should be made by publishers only. Only one story per author will be considered in any one year. Only fiction work is eligible. Indicative length is between 3,000 and 10,000 words. See website for more details and rules. The Caine Prize is open to writers from anywhere in Africa for work published in English. Its focus is on the short story, reflecting the contemporary development of the African story-telling tradition. Deadline: January 31. Prize: £10,000.
English Department, University of Kansas, Lawrence KS 66045. (785)864-3380. Fax: (785)864-1159. E-mail: cmckit@ku.edu. Website: www.sfcenter.ku.edu/campbell.htm. Contact: Chris McKitterick. Honors the best science fiction novel of the year. Entries must be previously published. Open to any writer. Accepts inquiries by e-mail and fax. "Ordinarily publishers should submit work, but authors have done so when publishers would not. Send for list of jurors." Results announced in July. For contest results, send SASE. Deadline: Check website. Prize: Campbell Award trophy. Winners receive an expense-paid trip to the university to receive their award. Their names are also engraved on a permanent trophy. Judged by a jury.
CANADIAN AUTHORS ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR FICTION6 West St. N., Suite 203, Orilla ON L3X 5B8 Canada. Website: www.canadianauthors.org. Contact: Anita Purcell, executive director. Award for full-length, English language literature for adults by a Canadian author. Deadline: January 15. Prize: $1,000. Judging: Each year a trustee for each award appointed by the Canadian Authors Association selects up to 3 judges. Identities of the trustee and judges are confidential.
CANADIAN TALES SHORT STORY COMPETITIONRed Tuque Books, Unit #6, 477 Martin St., Penticton BC V2A 5L2 Canada. (778)476-5750. Fax: (778)476-5750. E-mail: dave@redtuquebooks.ca. Website: www.redtuquebooks.ca. Contact: David Korinetz, contest director. Offered annually for unpublished works. Check the guidelines on the website. Purpose of award is to promote Canada and Canadian publishing. Stories require a Canadian element. There are three ways to qualify. They can be written by a Canadian, written about Canadians, or take place somewhere in Canada. Deadline: December 31. Prize: 1st Place: $500; 2nd Place: $150; 3rd Place: $100; and 10 prizes of $25 will be given to honorable mentions. All 13 winners will be published in an anthology. They will each receive a complimentary copy. Judged by Canadian authors/publishers in the appropriate genre. Acquires first print rights. Contest open to anyone.
TIPS "The 2016 contest, 'Canadian Tales of the Fantastic,' will be looking for the fantastic (Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror). The 2017 contest, 'Canadian Tales of the Mysterious,' will be looking for stories that have an element of Mystery (Mystery/Detective/Ghost Story). The 2018 contest, 'Canadian Tales of the Heart,' will be looking for stories that elicit strong emotion (Romance/Humor/Contemporary). "
New Letters, University of Missouri-Kansas City, New Letters Awards for Writers, UMKC, University House, 5101 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City MO 64110-2499. (816)235-1168. Fax: (816)235-2611. E-mail: newletters@umkc.edu. Website: http://www.newletters.org/writers-wanted/writing-contests. Offered annually for the best short story to discover and reward new and upcoming writers. Buys first North American serial rights. Open to any writer. Short story should not exceed 8,000 words. Deadline: May 18. Prize: 1st Place: $1,500 and publication in a volume of New Letters.
Oregon Christian Writers, 1075 Willow Lake Road N., Keizer Oregon 97303. E-mail: cascade@oregonchristianwriters.org. E-mail: cascade@oregonchristianwriters.org. Website: http://oregonchristianwriters.org/. Contact: Marilyn Rhoads and Julie McDonald Zander. The Cascade Awards are presented at the annual Oregon Christian Writers Summer Conference (held at the Red Lion on the River in Portland, Oregon, each August) attended by national editors, agents, and professional authors. The contest is open for both published and unpublished works in the following categories: contemporary fiction book, historical fiction book, speculative fiction book, nonfiction book, memoir book, young adult/middle grade fiction book, young adult/middle grade nonfiction book, children's chapter book and picture book (fiction and nonfiction), poetry, devotional, article, column, story, or blog post. Two additional special Cascade Awards are presented each year: the Trailblazer Award to a writer who has distinguished him/herself in the field of Christian writing; and a Writer of Promise Award for a writer who demonstrates unusual promise in the field of Christian writing. For a full list of categories, entry rules, and scoring elements, visit website. Guidelines and rules available on the website. Entry forms will be available on the first day for entry. Annual multi-genre competition to encourage both published and emerging writers in the field of Christian writing. Deadline: March 31. Submissions period begins February 14. Prize: Award certificate and pin presented at the Cascade Awards ceremony during the Oregon Christian Writers Annual Summer Conference. Finalists are listed in the conference notebook and winners are listed online. Cascade Trophies are awarded to the recipients of the Trailblazer and Writer of Promise Awards. Judged by published authors, editors, librarians, and retail book store owners and employees. Final judging by editors, agents, and published authors from the Christian publishing industry.
Texas Institute of Letters, P.O. Box 609, Round Rock TX 78680. E-mail: tilsecretary@yahoo.com. Website: www.texasinstituteofletters.org. Offered annually for work published January 1-December 31 of previous year to recognize the best short story. The story submitted must have appeared in print for the first time to be eligible. Writers must have been born in Texas, must have lived in Texas for at least 2 consecutive years, or the subject matter of the work must be associated with Texas. See website for guidelines. See website for details and instructions on entering the competition. Deadline: January 10. Prize: $1,000.
BkMk Press, University of Missouri-Kansas City, BkMk Press, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 5100 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City MO 64110-2499 USA. (816)235-2558. Fax: (816)235-2611. E-mail: bkmk@umkc.edu; newletters@umkc.edu. Website: www.umkc.edu/bkmk. Contact: Ben Furnish. Offered annually for the best book-length ms collection (unpublished) of short fiction in English by a living author. Translations are not eligible. Initial judging is done by a network of published writers. Final judging is done by a writer of national reputation. Guidelines for SASE, by e-mail, or on website. Short fiction collections should be approximately 125 pages minimum, 300 pages maximum, double spaced. Deadline: January 15. Prize: $1,000, plus book publication by BkMk Press.
PEGGY CHAPMAN-ANDREWS FIRST NOVEL AWARDP.O. Box 6910, Dorset DT6 9QB United Kingdom. E-mail: info@bridportprize.org.uk. Website: www.bridportprize.org.uk. Contact: Kate Wilson, Prize Administrator. Award to promote literary excellence and new writers. Enter first chapters of novel, up to 8,000 words (minimum 5,000 words) plus 300 word synopsis. Send SASE for entry form or enter online. Deadline: May 31. Prize: 1st Place: £1,000 plus mentoring & possible publication; Runner-Up: ££500. Judged by The Literary Consultancy & A.M. Heath Literary Agents.
THE CHARITON REVIEW SHORT FICTION PRIZETruman State University Press, 100 East Normal Ave., Kirksville MO 63501-4221. (660)785-7336. Fax: (660)785-4480. E-mail: chariton@truman.edu; tsup@truman.edu. Website: http://tsup.truman.edu. Contact: Barbara Smith-Mandell. An annual award for the best unpublished short fiction on any theme up to 5,000 words in English. Mss must be double-spaced on standard paper and bound only with a clip. Electronic submissions are not allowed. Include 2 title pages: 1 with the ms title and the author's contact information (name, address, phone, e-mail), and the other with only the ms title. (The author's name must not appear on or within the ms.) Enclose a SASE for notification when your ms is received. Mss will not be returned. Current Truman State University faculty, staff, or students are not eligible to compete. Deadline: September 30. Prize: $500 and publication in The Chariton Review for the winner. Two or three finalists will also be published and receive $200 each. The final judge will be announced after the finalists have been selected in January.
THE ARTHUR C. CLARKE AWARD55 Burtt House, Fanshaw Street, London N1 6LE U.K.. E-mail: clarkeaward@gmail.com. Website: www.clarkeaward.com. Contact: Tom Hunter, award director. Annual award presented to the best science fiction novel, published between January 1 and December 31 of the year in question, receiving its first British publication during the calendar year. Deadline: 2nd week in December. Prize: £2,016 (rising by £1 each year), and an engraved bookend. Judged by representatives of the British Science Fiction Association, the Science Fiction Foundation, and Sci-Fi-London Film Festival
Sponsored by Oak Tree Press, 1700 Dairy Avenue
Apt #49, Corcoran CA 93212. E-mail: publisher@oaktreebooks.com. E-mail: CT-ContestAdmin@oaktreebooks.com. Website: www.oaktreebooks.com. Contact: Billie Johnson, publisher. Open to novels and true stories that feature a law enforcement main character. Word count should range from 60,000-80,000 words. Text must be typed in a clean, readable word document and double-spaced. Ms cover page must list author e-mail address and estimated word count. Guidelines and entry forms are available for SASE or online. The goal of the CopTales Contest is to discover and publish new authors, or authors shifting to a new genre. This annual contest is open to writers who have not published in the mystery genre in the past three years, as well as completely unpublished authors. Deadline: September 1. Prize: Publishing contract, book published in trade paperback and e-book formats with a professionally designed, four-color cover. See website for details. Judged by a select panel of editors and professional crime writers.
Tampa Review, University of Tampa, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa FL 33606. 813-253-6266. E-mail: utpress@ut.edu. Website: www.ut.edu/TampaReview. Annual award for the best previously unpublished short fiction. Deadline: November 30. Prize: $1,000, plus publication in Tampa Review.
Oak Tree Press, 1700 Dairy Avenue, # 49, Corcoran CA 93212. (217)824-6500. E-mail: publisher@oaktreebooks.com. E-mail: DO-ContestAdmin@oaktreebooks.com. Website: www.oaktreebooks.com. Offered annually for an unpublished mystery manuscript (between 60,00-80,000 words) of any sort from police procedurals to amateur sleuth novels. Acquires first North American, audio and film rights to winning entry. Open to authors not published in the past 3 years. Deadline: September 1. Prize: Publishing Agreement, and launch of the title. Judged by a select panel of editors and professional mystery writers.
Deadly Quill Magazine, E-mail: lorne@deadlyquill.com. E-mail: contest@deadlyquill.com. Website: www.deadlyquill.com. Contact: Lorne McMIllan. "We are hoping to give an outlet for short stories that follow the tradition of The Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock, and The Outer Limits." Deadline: August 31. Prizes: $250 first place; $200 second place; $150 third place. Plus, more prizes described online. Author Edward Willett, Author Lorne McMillan, Author Colin Douglas
E-mail: editors@toasted-cheese.com. Website: www.toasted-cheese.com. Contact: Stephanie Lenz, editor. The contest is a winter-themed horror fiction contest with a new topic/theme each year. Theme and word count parameters announced October 1. Entries must be unpublished. Accepts inquiries by e-mail. Cover letter should include name, address, e-mail, word count, and title. Word count parameters vary each year. Open to any writer. Guidelines available in October on website. Deadline: December 21. Results announced January 31. Winners notified by e-mail. List of winners on website. Prize: Amazon gift certificates and publication in Toasted Cheese. Also offers honorable mention. Judged by 2 Toasted Cheese editors who blind judge each contest. Each judge uses her own criteria to rate entries.
TIPS "Follow online submission guidelines."
Malice Domestic, P.O. Box 8007, Gaithersburg MD 20898-8007. 301-730-1675. E-mail: malicegrants@comcast.net. Website: www.malicedomestic.org. Contact: Harriette Sackler. Offered annually for unpublished work in the mystery field. Malice awards up to 2 grants to unpublished writers in the Malice Domestic genre at its annual convention in May. The competition is designed to help the next generation of Malice authors get their first work published and to foster quality Malice literature. Malice Domestic literature is loosely described as mystery stories of the Agatha Christie type, i.e., traditional mysteries. These works usually feature no excessive gore, gratuitous violence, or explicit sex. Writers who have been published previously in the mystery field, including publication of a mystery novel, short story, or dramatic work, are ineligible to apply. Members of the Malice Domestic Board of Directors and their families are ineligible to apply. Malice encourages applications from minority candidates. Guidelines online. Deadline: November 15. Prize: $1,500, plus a comprehensive registration to the following year's convention and two nights' lodging at the convention hotel.
THE JACK DYER FICTION PRIZECrab Orchard Review, Department of English, Mail Code 4503, Faner Hall 2380, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 1000 Faner Drive, Carbondale IL 62901. (618)453-6833. Fax: (618)453-8224. E-mail: jtribble@siu.edu. Website: www.craborchardreview.siu.edu. Contact: Jon C. Tribble, managing editor. Annual award for unpublished short fiction. Entries should consist of 1 story up to 6,000 words maximum in length. Crab Orchard Review acquires first North American serial rights to all submitted work. One winner and at least 2 finalists will be chosen. Length: 6,000 words maximum. All submissions must be made through Submittable. Submissions must be unpublished original work, written in English by a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or person who has DACA/TPS status (current students and employees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are not eligible). See Submittable guidelines online for complete formatting instructions. The author's name should not appear on any page of the entry. Results announced by end of August. Deadline: April 21. Submissions period begins February 21. Prize: $2,000, publication and 1-year subscription to Crab Orchard Review. Finalists are offered $500 and publication. Judged by editorial staff (pre-screening); winner chosen by genre editor.
TIPS "Carefully read directions for entering and follow them exactly. Send us your best work. Note that simultaneous submissions are accepted for this prize, but the winning entry must NOT be accepted elsewhere. All submissions should be made through Submittable: https://craborchardreview.submittable.com/submit."
THE FAR HORIZONS AWARD FOR SHORT FICTIONThe Malahat Review, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 1700, Stn CSC, Victoria BC V8W 2Y2 Canada. (250)721-8524. Fax: (250)472-5051. E-mail: malahat@uvic.ca. E-mail: horizons@uvic.ca. Website: www.malahatreview.ca. Contact: John Barton, editor. Submissions must be unpublished. No simultaneous submissions. Submit 1 piece of short fiction, 3,500 words maximum; no restrictions on subject matter or aesthetic approach. Include separate page with author's name, address, e-mail, and title; no identifying information on mss pages. E-mail submissions are accepted. Do not include SASE for results; mss will not be returned. Guidelines available on website. Winner and finalists contacted by e-mail. Open to "emerging short fiction writers from Canada, the US, and elsewhere" who have not yet published their fiction in a full-length book (48 pages or more). 2011 winner: Zoey Peterson; 2013 winner: Kerry-Lee Powell. Deadline: May 1. Prize: $1,000 CAD, publication in fall issue of The Malahat Review (see separate listing in Magazines/Journals). Announced in fall on website, Facebook page, and in quarterly e-newsletter, Malahat Lite.
firstwriter.com, United Kingdom. Website: https://www.firstwriter.com/competitions/short_story_contest/. Contact: J. Paul Dyson, managing editor. Accepts short stories up to 3,000 words on any subject and in any style. Deadline: April 1. The prize-money for first place is £200 (over $300). Ten special commendations will also be awarded, and all the winners will be published in firstwriter.magazine and receive a voucher that can be used to take out an annual subscription for free. Judged by firstwriter.magazine magazine editors.
FISH PUBLISHING FLASH FICTION COMPETITIONDurrus, Bantry, County Cork Ireland. E-mail: info@fishpublishing.com. Website: www.fishpublishing.com. Contact: Clem Cairns. Annual prize awarding flash fiction. Max length: 300 words. You may enter as many times as you wish. See website for details and rules. "This is an opportunity to attempt what is one of the most difficult and rewarding tasks—to create, in a tiny fragment, a completely resolved and compelling story in 300 words or less." Deadline: February 28. First Prize: $1,200. The 10 published authors will receive 5 copies of the Anthology and will be invited to read at the launch during the West Cork Literary Festival in July. Judged by Nuala O'Connor.
The Ghost Story, P.O. Box 601, Union ME 04862. E-mail: editor@theghoststory.com. Website: www.theghoststory.com. Contact: Paul Guernsey. Biannual contest for unpublished fiction. "Ghost stories are welcome, of course—but submissions may involve any paranormal or supernatural theme, as well as magic realism. What we're looking for is fine writing, fresh perspectives, and maybe a few surprises in the field of supernatural fiction." Guidelines available online. Length: 1,000-10,000 words. Deadline: April 30 and September 30. Winner receives $1,000 and publication in The Ghost Story. Honorable Mention wins $250 and publication, and Second Honorable Mention is awarded $100 and publication. Judged by the editors of The Ghost Story.
Gival Press, LLC, P.O. Box 3812, Arlington VA 22203. (703)351-0079. E-mail: givalpress@yahoo.com. Website: www.givalpress.submittable.com. Contact: Robert L. Giron. Offered annually for a previously unpublished original novel (not a translation). Guidelines by phone, on website, via e-mail, or by mail with SASE. Results announced late fall of same year. Winners notified by phone. Results made available to entrants with SASE, by e-mail, on website. Open to any author who writes original work in English. Length: 30,000-100,000 words. Cover letter should include name, address, phone, e-mail, word count, novel title; include a short bio and short synopsis. Only the title and word count should appear on the actual ms. Writers may submit own work. Purpose is to award the best literary novel. Deadline: May 30. Prize: $3,000, plus publication of book with a standard contract and author's copies. Final judge is announced after winner is chosen. Entries read anonymously.
TIPS "Review the types of mss Gival Press has published. We stress literary works."
Gival Press, P.O. Box 3812, Arlington VA 22203. (703)351-0079. E-mail: givalpress@yahoo.com. Website: www.givalpress.submittable.com. Contact: Robert L. Giron, publisher. Annual literary, short story contest. Entries must be unpublished. Open to anyone who writes original short stories, which are not a chapter of a novel, in English. Receives about 100-150 entries per category. Guidelines available online, via e-mail, or by mail. Results announced in the fall of the same year. Winners notified by phone. Results available with SASE, by e-mail, and on website. Length: 5,000-15,000 words. Include name, address, phone, e-mail, word count, title on cover letter; include short bio. Only the title and word count should be found on ms. Writers may submit their own fiction. Recognizes the best literary short story. Deadline: August 8. Prize: $1,000 and publication on website. Judged anonymously.
Glimmer Train, P.O. Box 80430, Portland OR 97280. (503)221-0836. Fax: (503)221-0837. E-mail: eds@glimmertrain.org. Website: www.glimmertrain.org. Contact: Susan Burmeister-Brown. This contest is now held once a year, during the months of November and December. Winners are contacted on March 1. Submit online at www.glimmertrain.org. The word count for this contest generally ranges from 1,500 to 5,000 words, though up 12,000 words is fine. See complete guidelines online. Deadline: December 31. Prize: 1st Place: $2,500, publication in Glimmer Train Stories, and 10 copies of that issue; 2nd Place: $500 and consideration for publication; 3rd Place: $300 and consideration for publication. The editors judge.
TIPS "We are looking for stories about families of all configurations. It's fine to draw heavily on real life experiences, but the work must read like fiction and all stories accepted for publication will be presented as fiction."
Glimmer Train, Inc., Glimmer Train Press, Inc., P.O. Box 80430, Portland OR 97280. (503)221-0836. Fax: (503)221-0837. E-mail: eds@glimmertrain.org. Website: www.glimmertrain.org. Contact: Susan Burmeister-Brown. Submissions to this category generally range from 3,000-8,000 words, but up to 20,000 is fine. Held twice a year: March 1 - April 30 and July 1 - August 31. Submit online at www.glimmertrain.org. Winners will be called 2 months after the close of the contest. Deadline: April 30 and August 31. Prize: 1st Place: $3,000, publication in Glimmer Train Stories, and 10 copies of that issue; 2nd Place: $1,000 and consideration for publication; 3rd Place: $600 and consideration for publication. Judged by the editors.
TIPS This category is open to all writers and all themes. The prize was just increased in 2016.
Glimmer Train Press, Inc., P.O. Box 80430, Portland OR 97280. (503)221-0836. Fax: (503)221-0837. E-mail: eds@glimmertrain.org. Website: www.glimmertrain.org. Contact: Susan Burmeister-Brown. Offered for any writer whose fiction hasn't appeared in a nationally distributed print publication with a circulation over 5,000. Submissions to this category generally range from 1,500–5,000 words, but up to 12,000 is fine. Held three times a year: January 1–February 29, May 1–June 30, September 1–October 31. Submit online at www.glimmertrain.org. Winners will be called 2 months after the close of the contest. Deadline: February 29, June 30, and October 31. Prize: 1st Place: $2,500, publication in Glimmer Train Stories, and 10 copies of that issue; 2nd Place: $500 and consideration for publication; 3rd Place: $300 and consideration for publication.
TIPS "In a recent edition of Best American Short Stories, of the top '100 Distinguished Short Stories,' 10 appeared in Glimmer Train Stories, more than any other publication in the country, including The New Yorker. Of those 10, 3 were those authors' first stories accepted for publication."
Glimmer Train Press, Inc., P.O. Box 80430, Portland OR 97280. (503)221-0836. Fax: (503)221-0837. E-mail: eds@glimmertrain.org. Website: www.glimmertrain.org. Contact: Susan Burmeister-Brown. Offered to encourage the art of the very short story. Word count: 3,000 maximum. Held twice a year: March 1–April 30 and July 1–August 31. Submit online at www.glimmertrain.org. Results announced 2 months after the close of the contest. To encourage the art of the very short story. Deadline: April 30 and August 31. Prize: 1st Place: $2,000, publication in Glimmer Train Stories, and 10 copies of that issue; 2nd Place: $500 and consideration for publication; 3rd Place: $300 and consideration for publication. Judged by the editors.
TIPS There is no minimum word count, though it is rare for a piece under 500 words to read as a full story.
Best New Writing, P.O. Box 11, Titusville NJ 08530. Fax: (609)968-1718. E-mail: submissions@bestnewwriting.com. Website: www.bestnewwriting.com/BNWgover.html. Contact: Christopher Klim, senior editor. The Gover Prize, named after groundbreaking author Robert Gover, awards an annual prize and publication in Best New Writing for the best short fiction and creative nonfiction. Open to all writers. Submissions must be previously unpublished. Guidelines available on website. Entries limited to 500 words or less. Deadline: January 10. Open to submissions on September 15. Prize: $250 grand prize; publication in Best New Writing for finalists (approximately 12), holds 6-month world exclusive rights. Judged by Best New Writing editorial staff.
LYNDALL HADOW/DONALD STUART SHORT STORY COMPETITIONFellowship of Australian Writers (WA), P.O. Box 6180, Swanbourne WA 6910 Australia. (61)(8)9384-4771. Fax: (61)(8)9384-4854. E-mail: fellowshipaustralianwriterswa@gmail.com. Website: www.fawwa.org. Annual contest for unpublished short stories (maximum 3,000 words). Reserves the right to publish entries in a FAWWA publication or on website. Guidelines online or for SASE. Deadline: June 1. Submissions period begins April 1. Prize: 1st Place: $400; 2nd Place: $100; Highly Commended (2): $50.
International Association of Crime Writers, North American Branch, 243 Fifth Avenue, #537, New York NY 10016. E-mail: mfrisque@igc.org. Website: www.crimewritersna.org.. Contact: Mary A. Frisque, executive director, North American Branch. Award for crime novels, story collections, nonfiction by one author. "Our reading committee seeks suggestions from publishers and they also ask the membership for recommendations." Nominations announced in January; winners announced in fall. Winners notified by e-mail or mail and recognized at awards ceremony. For contest results, send SASE or e-mail. For guidelines, send SASE or e-mail. Accepts inquiries by e-mail. Entries must be previously published. To be eligible, the book must have been published in the US or Canada during the calendar year. The author must be a US or Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Award established to honor a work of literary excellence in the field of crime writing by a US or Canadian author. Deadline: December 15. Prize: Trophy. Judged by a committee of members of the organization. The committee chooses 5 nominated books, which are then sent to 3 outside judges for a final selection. Judges are outside the crime writing field.
Big Muddy: A Journal of the Mississippi River Valley, WHFF Contest, Southeast Missouri State University Press, One University Plaza, MS 2650, Cape Girardeau MO 63701. (573) 651-2044. E-mail: sswartwout@semo.edu. Website: www.semopress.com. Contact: Susan Swartwout, publisher. Annual competition for flash fiction, held by Southeast Missouri State University Press. Work must not be previously published. Send maximum of 500 words, double-spaced, with no identifying name on the pages, and a separate cover sheet with story title, author's name, address, and phone number. Send SASE for notification of results; all manuscripts will be recycled. Entries should be sent via postal mail. Deadline: October 1. Prize: $500 and publication in Big Muddy: A Journal of the Mississippi River Valley. Semi-finalists will be chosen by a team of published writers. The final manuscript will be chosen by Susan Swartwout, publisher of the Southeast Missouri State University Press.
University of Pittsburgh Press, 7500 Thomas Blvd., Pittsburgh PA 15260. Fax: (412)383-2466. E-mail: info@upress.pitt.edu. Website: www.upress.pitt.edu. Offered annually to writers who have published a book-length collection of fiction or a minimum of 3 short stories or novellas in commercial magazines or literary journals of national distribution. Does not return mss. Deadline: June 30. Open to submissions on May 1. Prize: $15,000. Judged by anonymous nationally known writers such as Robert Penn Warren, Joyce Carol Oates, and Margaret Atwood.
Hemingway Days Festival, P.O. Box 2011 c/o Cynthia. D. Higgs: Key West Editorial, Key West FL 33045. E-mail: shortstorykeywest@hushmail.com. Website: www.shortstorycompetition.com. Contact: Eva Eliot, editorial assistant. Offered annually for unpublished short stories up to 3,500 words. Guidelines available via mail, e-mail, or online. Accepts inquiries by e-mail, or visit website. Entries must be unpublished. Open to all writers whose work has not appeared in a nationally distributed publication with a circulation of 5,000 or more. Looking for excellence, pure and simple—no genre restrictions, no theme restrictions. We seek a writer's voice that cannot be ignored. All entrants will receive a letter from Lorian Hemingway and a list of winners, via mail or e-mail, by October 1. Results announced at the end of July during Hemingway Days festival. Winners notified by phone prior to announcement. Award to encourage literary excellence and the efforts of writers whose voices have yet to be heard. Deadline: May 15. Prizes: 1st Place: $1,500, plus publication of his or her winning story in Cutthroat: A Journal of the Arts; 2nd-3rd Place: $500; honorable mentions will also be awarded. Judged by a panel of writers, editors, and literary scholars selected by author Lorian Hemingway. (Lorian Hemingway is the competition's final judge.)
Wordharvest, 1063 Willow Way, Santa Fe NM 87507. (505)471-1565. E-mail: wordharvest@wordharvest.com. Website: www.wordharvest.com. Contact: Anne Hillerman and Jean Schaumberg, co-organizers. Awarded annually, and sponsored by St. Martin's Press, for the best first mystery set in the Southwest. Murder or another serious crime or crimes must be at the heart of the story, with the emphasis on the solution rather than the details of the crime. Multiple entries accepted. Accepts inquiries by e-mail, phone. Entries should be unpublished; self-published work is generally accepted. Length: no less than 220 type written pages, or approximately 60,000 words. Cover letter should include name, address, phone, e-mail, list of publishing credits. Please include SASE for response. Writers may submit their own work. Entries should be mailed to St. Martin's Press: St. Martin's Minotaur/THWC Competition, St. Martin's Minotaur, 175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010. Honors the contributions made by Tony Hillerman to the art and craft of the mystery. Deadline: June 1. Prize: $10,000 advance and publication by St. Martin's Press. Nominees will be selected by judges chosen by the editorial staff of St. Martin's Press, with the assistance of independent judges selected by organizers of the Tony Hillerman Writers Conference (Wordharvest), and the winner will be chosen by St. Martin's editors.
Ballantine Hall 465, Indiana University, 1020 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington IN 47405-7103. E-mail: inreview@indiana.edu. Website: http://indianareview.org. Contact: Peter Kispert, editor. Contest for poetry in any style and on any subject. Open to any writer. Mss will not be returned. No works forthcoming elsewhere, are eligible. Simultaneous submissions accepted, but in the event of entrant withdrawal, contest fee will not be refunded. Deadline: April 1. Submission period begins February 15. Prize: $1,000, publication in the Indiana Review and contributor's copies. Judged by Camille Rankine.
TIPS "We look for a command of language and structure, as well as a facility with compelling and unusual subject matter. It's a good idea to obtain copies of issues featuring past winners to get a more concrete idea of what we are looking for."
Critique My Novel, 2408 W. 8th, Amarillo TX 79106. E-mail: contest@InkandInsights.com. Website: http://InkandInsights.com. Contact: Catherine York, contest administrator. Ink & Insights is a writing contest geared toward strengthening the skills of independent writers by focusing on feedback. Each entry is assigned four judges who specialize in the genre of the manuscript. They read, score, and comment on specific aspects of the segment. The top three mss in the Master and Nonfiction categories move on to the Agent Round and receive a guaranteed read and feedback from a panel of agents. Send the first 10,000 words of your manuscript (unpublished, self-published, or published through a vanity/independent press). Include a cover sheet that contains the following information: novel title, genre, word count of full ms, e-mail address. Do not put name on submission. See website for full details and formatting guidelines. Deadline: April 30 (regular entry), June 30 (late entry). Prize: Prizes vary depending on category. Every novel receives personal feedback from 4 judges. Judges listed on website, including the agents who will be helping choose the top winners this year.
Iowa Writers' Workshop, 507 N. Clinton St., 102 Dey House, Iowa City IA 52242-1000. Website: www.uiowapress.org. Contact: James McCoy, director. Annual award to give exposure to promising writers who have not yet published a book of prose. Open to any writer. Current University of Iowa students are not eligible. No application forms are necessary. Announcement of winners made early in year following competition. Winners notified by phone. No application forms are necessary. Do not send original ms. Include SASE for return of ms. Entries must be unpublished, but stories previously published in periodicals are eligible for inclusion. The ms must be a collection of short stories of at least 150 word-processed, double-spaced pages. Deadline: September 30. Submission period begins August 1. Prize: Publication by University of Iowa Press. Judged by senior Iowa Writers' Workshop members who screen mss; published fiction author of note makes final selections.
JESSE H. JONES AWARD FOR BEST WORK OF FICTIONP.O. Box 609, Round Rock TX 78680. E-mail: tilsecretary@yahoo.com. Website: http://texasinstituteofletters.org. Offered annually by Texas Institute of Letters for work published January 1-December 31 of year before award is given to recognize the writer of the best book of fiction entered in the competition. Writers must have been born in Texas, have lived in the state for at least 2 consecutive years at some time, or the subject matter of the work should be associated with the state. See website for details and information on submitting. Deadline: January 10. Prize: $6,000.
Wilkes University, Creative Writing Department, Wilkes University, 84 West South Street, Wilkes-Barre PA 18766. (570)408-4547. Fax: (570)408-3333. E-mail: jamesjonesfirstnovel@wilkes.edu. Website: www.wilkes.edu/. Offered annually for unpublished novels and novellas (must be works-in-progress). This competition is open to all American writers who have not previously published novels. Submit a 2-page (maximum) outline of the entire novel and the first 50 pages of the novel-in-progress are to be submitted. The ms must be typed and double-spaced; outline may be single-spaced. Entrants submitting via snail mail should include their name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address (if available) on the title page, but nowhere else on the manuscript. For those entrants submitting online, name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address should appear only on your cover letter. Cover letter should be dropped in the cover letter box and outline and ms should be attached as one document. The award is intended to honor the spirit of unblinking honesty, determination, and insight into modern culture exemplified by the late James Jones. Deadline: March 15. Submission period begins October 1. Prize: $10,000; 2 runners-up get $1,000 honorarium.
Prairie Schooner, 123 Andrews Hall, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln NE 68588-0334. (402)472-0911. Fax: (402)472-9771. E-mail: prairieschooner@unl.edu. Website: www.prairieschooner.unl.edu. Offered annually for the best short story published in Prairie Schooner in the previous year. Only work published in Prairie Schooner in the previous year is considered. Work is nominated by editorial staff. Results announced in the Spring issue. Winners notified by mail in February or March. Prize: $1,000. Judged by editorial staff of Praire Schooner.
Michigan Quarterly Review, 0576 Rackham Bldg., 915 E. Washington Street, Ann Arbor MI 48109-1070. (734)764-9265. E-mail: mqr@umich.edu. Website: www.michiganquarterlyreview.com. Contact: Vicki Lawrence, managing editor. This annual prize is awarded by the Michigan Quarterly Review editorial board to the author of the best short story published in MQR that year. The prize is sponsored by University of Michigan alumnus and fiction writer Leonard S. Bernstein, a trustee of the Lawrence Foundation of New York. Approximately 20 short stories are published in MQR each year. Guidelines available under submission guidelines on website. Prize: $1,000. Judged by editorial board.
Literal Latté, 200 E. 10th St., Suite 240, New York NY 10003. (212)260-5532. E-mail: litlatte@aol.com. E-mail: Link to submittable on www.literal-latte.com. Website: www.literal-latte.com. Contact: Edward Estlin, contributing editor. Award to provide talented writers with 3 essential tools for continued success: money, publication, and recognition. Offered annually for unpublished fiction (maximum 20,000 words). Guidelines online. Open to any writer. Deadline: January 15. Prize: 1st Place: $1,000 and publication in Literal Latté; 2nd Place: $300; 3rd Place: $200; also up to 7 honorable mentions. All winners published in Literal Latté.
Literal Latté, 200 E. 10th St., Suite 240, New York NY 10003. (212)260-5532. E-mail: litlatte@aol.com. E-mail: Link to submittable on www.literal-latte.com. Website: www.literal-latte.com. Contact: Jenine Gordon Bockman, editor. Annual contest. Send unpublished shorts, 2,000 words max. All styles welcome. Name, address, phone number, e-mail address (optional) on cover page only. Include SASE or e-mail address for reply. All entries considered for publication. Deadline: June 30. Prize: $500. Judged by the editors.
The Writers' Workshop of Asheville, NC, Literary Fiction Contest, 387 Beaucatcher Rd., Asheville NC 28805. E-mail: writersw@gmail.com. Website: www.twwoa.org. Submit a short story or chapter of a novel of 5,000 words or less. Multiple entries are accepted. All work must be unpublished. Pages should be paper clipped, with your name, address, phone and title of work on a cover sheet. Double-space and use 12-point font. Deadline: August 30. Prize: 1st Place: Your choice of a 2 night stay at the Mountain Muse B&B in Asheville, 3 free online workshops, or 50 pages line-edited and revised by editorial staff; 2nd Place: 2 free workshops or 35 pages line-edited; 3rd Place: 1 free workshop or 25 pages line-edited; 10 Honorable Mentions.
Soul-Making Keats Literary Competition, The Webhallow House, 1544 Sweetwood Dr., Broadmoor Village CA 94015. E-mail: SoulKeats@mail.com. Website: www.soulmakingcontest.us. Contact: Eileen Malone. Open annually to any writer. One story/entry, up to 5,000 words. All prose works must be typed, page numbered, and double-spaced. Identify only with 3x5 card. Deadline: November 30. Prize: Cash prizes.
THE MALAHAT REVIEW NOVELLA PRIZEThe Malahat Review, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria BC V8W 2Y2 Canada. (250)721-8524. E-mail: malahat@uvic.ca. E-mail: novella@uvic.ca. Website: malahatreview.ca. Contact: John Barton, editor. Held in alternate years with the Long Poem Prize. Submit novellas between 10,000 and 20,000 words in length. Include separate page with author's name, address, e-mail, and novella title; no identifying information on mss. pages. E-mail submissions are now accepted. Do not include SASE for results; mss will not be returned. Guidelines available on website. 2010 winner was Tony Tulathimutte, 2012 winner was Naben Ruthnum, and the 2014 winner was Dora Dueck. Winner and finalists contacted by e-mail. Offered to promote unpublished novellas. Obtains first world rights. After publication rights revert to the author. Open to any writer. Deadline: February 1 (even years). Prize: $1,500 CAD and one year's subscription. Winner published in summer issue of The Malahat Review and announced on website, Facebook page, and in quarterly e-newsletter, Malahat Lite. Judges for the 2016 Novella Prize are Mark Anthony Jarman, Stephen Marche, and Joan Thomas. Their bios are on our website.
THE MAN BOOKER PRIZEFour Colman Getty PR, 20 St Thomas Street, London SE1 9BF United Kingdom. (44)(207)697 4200. Website: www.themanbookerprize.com. Contact: Four Colman Getty PR. Books are only accepted through UK publishers. However, publication outside the UK does not disqualify a book once it is published in the UK. Open to any full-length novel (published October 1-September 30). No novellas, collections of short stories, translations, or self-published books. Open to citizens of the Commonwealth or Republic of Ireland. Deadline: July. Prize: £50,000. Judges appointed by the Booker Prize Management Committee.
Sarabande Books, 2234 Dundee Rd., Suite 200, Louisville KY 40205. (502)458-4028. Fax: (502)458-4065. E-mail: info@sarabandebooks.org. Website: www.sarabandebooks.org. Contact: Sarah Gorham, Editor-in-Chief. Annual competition to honor a collection of short stories, novellas, or a short novel. All mss should be between 150 and 250 pages. All finalists considered for publication. Guidelines available online. Deadline: April 30. Submission period begins March 15. Prize: $2,000 and publication (standard royalty contract).
MARJORIE GRABER MCINNIS SHORT STORY AWARDACT Writers Centre, Gorman House Arts Centre, Ainslie Ave., Braddon ACT 2612 Australia. (61)(2)6262-9191. Fax: (61)(2)6262-9191. E-mail: admin@actwriters.org.au. Website: www.actwriters.org.au. Open theme for a short story with 1,500-3,000 words. Guidelines available on website. Open only to unpublished emerging writers residing within the ACT or region. Deadline: September 18. Submissions period begins in early September. Prize: $600 and publication. Five runners-up receive book prizes. All winners may be published in the ACT Writers Centre newsletter and on the ACT Writers Centre website.
Memphis Magazine, co-sponsored by booksellers of Laurelwood and Burke's Book Store, Fiction Contest, c/o Memphis magazine, P.O. Box 1738, Memphis TN 38101. (901)521-9000, ext. 451. Fax: (901)521-0129. E-mail: sadler@memphismagazine.com. Website: www.memphismagazine.com. Contact: Marilyn Sadler. Annual award for authors of short fiction living within 150 miles of Memphis. Each story should be between 3,000 and 4,500 words long. See website for guidelines and rules. Deadline: February 15. Prize: $1,000 grand prize, along with being published in the annual Cultural Issue; two honorable-mention awards of $500 each will be given if the quality of entries warrants.
Southwest Review, Southern Methodist University, P.O. Box 750374, Dallas TX 75275-0374. (214)768-1037. Fax: (214)768-1408. E-mail: swr@smu.edu. Website: www.smu.edu/southwestreview. Contact: Jennifer Cranfill, senior editor. Annual award given to a writer who has not published a first book of fiction, either a novel or collection of stories. All contest entrants will receive a copy of the issue in which the winning piece appears. Submissions must be no longer than 8,000 words. Work should be printed without the author's name. Name and address should appear only on the cover letter. Submissions will not be returned. Deadline: May 1 (postmarked). Prize: $1,000 and publication in the Southwest Review.
TIPS "A cover letter with name, address, and other relevant information may accompany the piece which must be printed without any identifying information. Get guidelines for SASE or online."
1011 Washington Ave. S., Suite 300, Minneapolis MN 55415. (612)332-3192. Fax: (612)215-2550. E-mail: editor@milkweed.org. Website: www.milkweed.org. Contact: Patrick Thoman, editor and program manager. Annual award for unpublished works. Mss should be one of the following: a novel, a collection of short stories, one or more novellas, or a combination of short stories and one or more novellas. Mss should be of high literary quality and between 150-400 pages in length. Work previously published as a book in the US is not eligible, but individual stories or novellas previously published in magazines or anthologies are eligible. Guidelines available online. Deadline: Rolling submissions. Check website for details of when they're accepting mss. Prize: Publication by Milkweed Editions and a cash advance of $5,000 against royalties, agreed upon in the contractual arrangement negotiated at the time of acceptance. Judged by the editors.
Cutbank Literary Magazine, CutBank, University of Montana, English Dept., LA 133, Missoula MT 59812. E-mail: editor.cutbank@gmail.com. Website: www.cutbankonline.org. Contact: Allison Linville, editor-in-chief. The Montana Prize in Fiction seeks to highlight work that showcases an authentic voice, a boldness of form, and a rejection of functional fixedness. Accepts online submissions only. Send a single work, no more than 35 pages. Guidelines available online. Deadline: January 15. Submissions period begins November 9. Prize: $500 and featured in the magazine. Judged by a guest judge each year.
Vermont College, 36 College St., Montpelier VT 05602. (802)828-8517. E-mail: hungermtn@vcfa.edu. Website: www.hungermtn.org. Contact: Samantha Kolber, managing editor. The Howard Frank Mosher Short Fiction Prize is an annual contest for short fiction. Enter one original, unpublished story under 10,000 words. Do not put name or address on the story; entries are judged blind. Accepts submissions online or via postal mail. Deadline: March 1. Prize: One first place winner receives $1,000 and publication. Two honorable mentions receive $100 each, and are considered for publication. Judged by Janet Burroway in 2016 and Caitlyn Horrocks in 2017.
Oklahoma Romance Writers of America (OKRWA), E-mail: nrca@okrwa.com. Website: www.okrwa.com. Contact: Kathy L Wheeler. "To provide writers of romance fiction with a competition where their published novels are judged by readers." See the website for categories and descriptions. Additional award for best first book. All entries must have an original copyright date during the current contest year. Entries will be accepted from authors, editors, publishers, agents, readers, whoever wants to fill out the entry form, pay the fee, and supply the books. No limit to the number of entries, but each title may be entered only in one category. Open to any writer published by an RWA approved non-vanity/non-subsidy press. For guidelines, send e-mail or visit website. Deadline: December 1st. Prize: Plaques and finalist certificates awarded at the awards banquet hosted at the Annual National Romance Writers Convention. Judged by readers.
The National Writers Association, 10940 S. Parker Rd. #508, Parker CO 80134. (303)841-0246. E-mail: natlwritersassn@hotmail.com. Website: www.nationalwriters.com. Contact: Sandy Whelchel, director. Open to any genre or category. Contest begins December 1. Open to any writer. Entries must be unpublished. Length: 20,000-100,000 words. Contest forms are available on the NWA website or an attachment will be sent upon request via e-mail or with an SASE. Annual contest to help develop creative skills, to recognize and reward outstanding ability, and to increase the opportunity for the marketing and subsequent publication of novel mss. Deadline: April 1. Prize: 1st Place: $500; 2nd Place: $250; 3rd Place: $150. Judged by editors and agents.
10940 S. Parker Rd., #508, Parker CO 80134. (303)841-0246. E-mail: natlwritersassn@hotmail.com. Website: www.nationalwriters.com. Any genre of short story manuscript may be entered. All entries must be postmarked by July 1. Contest opens April 1. Only unpublished works may be submitted. All manuscripts must be typed, double-spaced, in the English language. Maximum length is 5,000 words. Those unsure of proper manuscript format should request Research Report #35. The entry must be accompanied by an entry form (photocopies are acceptable) and return SASE if you wish the material and rating sheets returned. Submissions will be destroyed, otherwise. Receipt of entry will not be acknowledged without a return postcard. Author's name and address must appear on the first page. Entries remain the property of the author and may be submitted during the contest as long as they are not published before the final notification of winners. Final prizes will be awarded in June. The purpose of the National Writers Assn. Short Story Contest is to encourage the development of creative skills, recognize and reward outstanding ability in the area of short story writing. Prize: 1st Prize: $250; 2nd Prize: $100; 3rd Prize: $50; 4th-10th places will receive a book. 1st-3rd place winners may be asked to grant one-time rights for publication in Authorship magazine. Honorable Mentions receive a certificate. Judging will be based on originality, marketability, research, and reader interest. Copies of the judges evaluation sheets will be sent to entrants furnishing an SASE with their entry.
Colorado Review/Center for Literary Publishing, Colorado State University, 9105 Campus Delivery, Dept. of English, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins CO 80523-9105. (970)491-5449. E-mail: creview@colostate.edu. Website: http://nelliganprize.colostate.edu. Contact: Stephanie G'Schwind, editor. Annual competition/award for short stories. Receives approximately 900 stories. All entries are read blind by Colorado Review's editorial staff. Ten-to-fifteen entries are selected to be sent on to a final, outside judge. Stories must be unpublished and between 10 and 50 pages. "The Nelligan Prize for Short Fiction was established in memory of Liza Nelligan, a writer, editor, and friend of many in Colorado State University's English Department, where she received her master's degree in literature in 1992. By giving an award to the author of an outstanding short story each year, we hope to honor Liza Nelligan's life, her passion for writing, and her love of fiction." Deadline: March 14. Prize: $2,000 and publication of story in Colorado Review. Judged by a different writer each year.
SEAN O’FAOLAIN SHORT STORY COMPETITIONThe Munster Literature Centre, Frank O’Connor House, 84 Douglas Street, Cork Ireland. +353-0214319255. E-mail: munsterlit@eircom.net. Website: www.munsterlit.ie. Contact: Patrick Cotter, artistic director. Entries should be unpublished. Anyone may enter contest. Length: 3,000 words max. Cover letter should include name, address, phone, e-mail, word count, novel/story title. Purpose is to reward writers of outstanding short stories. Deadline: July 31. Prize: 1st prize €2,000; 2nd prize €500. Four runners-up prizes of €100 (approx $146). All six stories to be published in Southword Literary Journal. First-Prize Winner offered week's residency in Anam Cara Artist's Retreat in Ireland.
descant, Texas Christian University's literary journal, TCU Box 298300, Fort Worth TX 76129. (817)257-5907. Fax: (817)257-6239. E-mail: descant@tcu.edu. Website: www.descant.tcu.edu. Contact: Matthew Pitt, editor. Offered annually for an outstanding story accepted for publication in the current edition of the journal. Publication retains copyright but will transfer it to the author upon request. Deadline: September 1 - March 31. Prize: $500.
On The Premises, LLC, 4323 Gingham Court, Alexandria VA 22310. E-mail: questions@onthepremises.com. Website: www.onthepremises.com. Contact: Tarl Kudrick or Bethany Granger, co-publishers. On the Premises aims to promote newer and/or relatively unknown writers who can write creative, compelling stories told in effective, uncluttered, and evocative prose. Each contest challenges writers to produce a great story based on a broad premise that the editors supply as part of the contest. Submissions are accepted only through web-based submissions system. Entries should be unpublished. Length: minimum 1,000 words; maximum 5,000. No name or contact info should be in ms. Writers may submit own work. Check website for details on the specific premise that writers should incorporate into their story. Results announced within 2 weeks of contest deadline. Winners notified via e-mail and with publication of On the Premises. Results made available to entrants on website and in publication. Deadline: Short story contests held twice a year; smaller mini-contests held four times a year; check website for exact dates. Prize: 1st Prize: $220; 2nd Prize: $160; 3rd Prize: $120; Honorable Mentions receive $60. All prize winners are published in On the Premises magazine in HTML and PDF format. Judged by a panel of judges with professional editing and writing experience.
TIPS "Write a compelling, creative and well-crafted short story that clearly uses the contest premise."
KENNETH PATCHEN AWARD FOR THE INNOVATIVE NOVELEckhard Gerdes Publishing, 1110 Varsity Blvd., Apt. 221, DeKalb IL 60115. E-mail: egerdes@experimentalfiction.com. Website: www.experimentalfiction.com. Contact: Eckhard Gerdes. This award will honor the most innovative novel submitted during the previous calendar year. Kenneth Patchen is celebrated for being among the greatest innovators of American fiction, incorporating strategies of concretism, asemic writing, digression, and verbal juxtaposition into his writing long before such strategies were popularized during the height of American postmodernist experimentation in the 1970s. See guidelines and application form online at website. Deadline: All submissions must be postmarked between January 1 and July 31. Prize: $1,000 and 20 complimentary copies. Judged by novelist Dominic Ward.
THE PATERSON FICTION PRIZEThe Poetry Center at Passaic Community College, One College Blvd., Paterson NJ 07505. (973)684-6555. Fax: (973)523-6085. E-mail: mgillan@pccc.edu. Website: www.pccc.edu/poetry. Contact: Maria Mazziotti Gillan, executive director. Offered annually for a novel or collection of short fiction published the previous calendar year. For more information, visit the website or send SASE. Deadline: April 1. Prize: $1,000.
The Missouri Review, 357 McReynolds Hall, Columbia MO 65211. (573)882-4474. Fax: (573)884-4671. E-mail: mutmrcontestquestion@moreview.com. Website: www.missourireview.com. Contact: Michael Nye, managing editor. Offered annually for the best story published in the past volume year of the magazine. All stories published in The Missouri Review are automatically considered. Guidelines online or for SASE. Prize: $1,000 and a reading/reception.
PEN/Faulkner Foundation, 201 E. Capitol St. SE, Washington DC 20003. (202)898-9063. E-mail: awards@penfaulkner.org. Website: www.penfaulkner.org. Contact: Emma Snyder, executive director. Offered annually for best book-length work of fiction by an American citizen published in a calendar year. Deadline: October 31. Prize: $15,000 (one Winner); $5,000 (4 Finalists).
Phoebe, MSN 2D6, George Mason University, 4400 University Dr., Fairfax VA 22030. (703)993-2915. E-mail: phoebe@gmu.edu. Website: www.gmu.edu/pubs/phoebe. Offered annually for an unpublished story (25 pages maximum). Guidelines online or for SASE. First serial rights if work is accepted for publication. Purpose is to recognize new and exciting fiction. Deadline: March 21. Prize: $500 and publication in the Spring online issue. Judged by a recognized fiction writer, hired by Phoebe (changes each year). For 2016, the fiction judge will be Joshua Ferris.
TIPS Submit no more than 1 story/25 pages per entry.
1140 Broadway, Suite 1507, New York NY 10001. (212)888-8171. E-mail: mwa@mysterywriters.org. Website: www.mysterywriters.org. Mystery Writers of America is the leading association for professional crime writers in the United States. Members of MWA include most major writers of crime fiction and nonfiction, as well as screenwriters, dramatists, editors, publishers, and other professionals in the field. Categories include: Best Novel, Best First Novel by an American Author, Best Paperback/E-Book Original, Best Fact Crime, Best Critical/Biographical, Best Short Story, Best Juvenile Mystery, Best Young Adult Myster, Best Television Series Episode Teleplay, and Mary Higgins Clark Award. Purpose of the award: Honor authors of distinguished works in the mystery field. Previously published submissions only. Submissions should be made by the publisher. Work must be published/produced the year of the contest. Deadline: November 30. Prize: Awards ceramic bust of "Edgar" for winner; certificates for all nominees. Judged by active status members of Mystery Writers of America (writers).
Nimrod International Journal, The University of Tulsa, 800 S. Tucker Dr., Tulsa OK 74104. (918)631-3080. Fax: (918)631-3033. E-mail: nimrod@utulsa.edu. Website: www.utulsa.edu/nimrod. Contact: Eilis O'Neal. Submissions must be unpublished. Work must be in English or translated by original author. Author's name must not appear on ms. Include cover sheet with title, author's name, address, phone number, and e-mail address (author must have a US address by October of contest year to enter). Mark "Contest Entry" on submission envelop and cover sheet. Include SASE for results only; mss will not be returned. Guidelines available for #10 SASE or on website. 7,500-word maximum for short stories. Deadline: April 30. Prizes: 1st Place: $2,000 and publication; 2nd Place: $1,000 and publication. Judged by the Nimrod editors, who select the finalists and a recognized author, who selects the winners.
Press 53, 560 N. Trade St., Suite 193, Winston-Salem NC 27101. (336)770-5353. E-mail: kevin@press53.com. Website: www.press53.com. Contact: Kevin Morgan Watson, Publisher. Awarded to an outstanding, unpublished collection of short stories. Details and guidelines available online. Deadline: December 31. Submission period begins September 1. Finalists announced March 1. Winner announced no later than May 1. Publication in October. Prize: Publication of winning short story collection, $1,000 cash advance, 1⁄4-page color ad in Poets & Writers magazine, plus 10 copies of the book. Judged by Press 53 publisher Kevin Morgan Watson.
PRISM INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL SHORT FICTION CONTESTCreative Writing Program, UBC, Buch. E462 - 1866 Main Mall, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z1 Canada. (604)822-2514. Fax: (604)822-3616. Website: http://prismmagazine.ca/contests. Contact: Clara Kumagai, executive editor, promotions. Offered annually for unpublished work to award the best in contemporary fiction. Works of translation are eligible. Guidelines by SASE, by e-mail, or on website. Acquires first North American serial rights upon publication, and rights to publish online for promotional or archival purposes. Open to any writer except students and faculty in the Creative Writing Department at UBC, or people who have taken a creative writing course at UBC with the 2 years prior to the contest deadline. Deadline: February 1. Prize: 1st Place: $1,500; 1st Runner-up: $600; 2nd Runner-up: $400; winner is published.
THOMAS H. RADDALL ATLANTIC FICTION AWARDWriters' Federation of Nova Scotia, 1113 Marginal Rd., Halifax NS B3H 4P7 Canada. (902)423-8116. Fax: (902)422-0881. E-mail: director@writers.ns.ca. Website: www.writers.ns.ca. Contact: Nate Crawford, executive director. The Thomas Head Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award is awarded for a novel or a book of short fiction by a full-time resident of Atlantic Canada. Detailed guidelines and eligibility criteria available online. Deadline: First Friday in December. Prize: Valued at $25,000 for winning title.
Hadassah Magazine, Hadassah WZOA, 40 Wall Street 8th floor, New York NY 10005. (212) 451-6286. Fax: (212) 451-6257. E-mail: magtemp3@hadassah.org. Website: www.hadassahmagazine.org/. Contact: Deb Meisels, coordinator. Offered annually for English-language books of fiction (novel or short stories) on a Jewish theme published the previous year. Books should be submitted by the publisher. Administered annually by Hadassah Magazine. Deadline: April 1. Prize: $3,000. The official announcement of the winner will be made in the fall.
THE ROGERS WRITERS' TRUST FICTION PRIZEThe Writers' Trust of Canada, 460 Richmond St. W., Suite 600, Toronto ON M5V 1Y1 Canada. (416)504-8222. Fax: (416)504-9090. E-mail: info@writerstrust.com. Website: www.writerstrust.com. Contact: Amanda Hopkins. Awarded annually to the best novel or short story collection published within the previous year. Presented at the Writers' Trust Awards event held in Toronto each fall. Open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents only. Deadline: July 27. Prize: $25,000 and $2,500 to 4 finalists.