The following is a variety of prizes and contests with cash prizes of over $1,000. Most of these contests have specific entry requirements. All of them have deadlines approaching very quickly.
1. McMillan is hosting a first crime novel competition. The prize is a $10,000 advance. The deadline is December 12th. They accept electronic submissions. To learn more, read this page.
2. The Elie Weisel Foundation For Humanity is hosting an essay competition. The first place prize is $5,00. Second place is $2,500. Entrants must be full time juniors or seniors in a college or university. The deadline is December 19th, 2016. To learn more, read this page.
3. Authors of a book published in 2016 that “contribute to our understanding of racism and our appreciation of cultural diversity” are eligible to enter the contest for a $10,000 prize. To learn more, read this page.
4. Writers & Illustrators of the Future has a regular writing contest with prizes of $1,00, $750 and, $500, plus an annual grand prize of $5,000. They accept submissions of science fiction, fantasy, and dark fantasy. The word limit is 17,000 words. It is not open to professionally published writers. Learn more here.
5. The Fountain is currently hosing their 2016 essay contest. This year’s theme is “I Am an Immigrant.” Contest prizes total $2,100. Essays must be 1,500 to 2,500 words. Entry is free. The deadline is December 31st. Learn more here.
6. The US Naval Institute hosts an annual essay prize. They dare writers “to write in order to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to national defense.” First place is $6,000. The deadline is December 31st. To learn more, read this page.
7. Published a war novel in 2016? You may be eligible to enter the W.Y. Boyd Literary Award for Excellence in Military Fiction. The novel must be set in a period when the U.S. was at war. The award is “$5,000 and a 24k gold-framed citation of achievement.” To learn more, read this page.
8. The Whitehill prize offers $2,500 for the best unpublished essay on early American History, with a preference for New England. The deadline is December 31st, 2016. To learn more, read this page.
9. The J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Award offers $25,00 to support the completion of a significant work of nonfiction “on a topic of American political or social concern.” A contract with a publisher is required. This year’s deadline is December 12th. To learn more, read this page.
10. Bronx Recognizes Its Own offers 25 $3,000 grants to artists living in the Bronx. Winners are selected by a panel of arts professionals. This years deadline is December 9th(!) To learn more, read this page.
