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Here are prizes/grants/residencies for writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, up to about $23,000. They are, very roughly, divided by geography. A couple of deadlines are in June, and approaching fast.    – S. Kalekar

PRIZES FOR INTERNATIONAL WRITERS

Sir Peter Ustinov Television Scriptwriting Award
The competition is designed to motivate non-American novice writers under the age of 30, and offer them the recognition and encouragement that might lead to a successful career in television scriptwriting. Entrants are asked to create a completed half-hour to one-hour English-language television drama script. Apart from the cash award, the winner also gets an invitation to the International Emmy® Awards Gala in November.
Value: $2,500
Deadline: 29 June 2022
Open for: Non-US citizens
Details here.

(A few writing contest deadlines are still approaching, in June – see this list for more.)

Richard J. Margolis Award
The award is for non-fiction writers of social justice journalism. It is for a promising new journalist or essayist whose work combines warmth, humour, wisdom and concern with social justice. Applications should include 2-3 non-fiction writing samples, up to 30 pages. At least one sample should be non-memoir material.
Value: $5,000, residency at Blue Mountain Centre artists’ colony
Deadline: 1 July 2022
Open for: Unspecified
Details here and here.

Society of Authors: Authors’ Foundation Grants
They have two grants for works in progress and the form is the same, for both. There are two rounds of funding annually, and deadlines are 1 February and 1 July. The Society of Authors also has other grants it administers. They have the Authors’ Foundation Grants, for which there is no nationality or age requirement, and the K. Blundell Trust Award, for British writers. The Authors’ Foundation Grants are for authors of fiction, non-fiction or poetry who are contracted, or who are published and working on a project that is likely to have interest from a British publisher. They are for works in progress.
Value: Unspecified
Deadline: 1 July 2022
Open for: See above (also see guidelines and FAQ, ‘What is the difference between the K Blundell Trust and the Authors’ Foundation?’)
Details here.

The Helen Schaible International Sonnet Contest
For this contest, they have two categories: a traditional sonnet, which can be Shakespearean or Petrarchan, and a modern sonnet. Poets can enter work in one or both categories.
Value: $50, $35, $15
Deadline: 15 July 2022
Open for: All poets
Details here.

The H G Wells Short Story Competition: Switch
This is an international short story contest on the theme of ‘Switch’, of 1,500-5,000 words. There is no fee for the Junior Award, i.e. for those aged under 21 years.
Value: £1,000 for the Junior Award
Deadline: 11 July 2022
Open for: Fee-free for those under 21
Details here.

Mason Jar Press: The 1729 Book Prize in Prose
This is an international contest for a prose manuscript. “We’re open to most prose genres, though we tend to lean toward semi-experimental works with a strong literary bent. Hybrid works are welcome.” They want novels, novellas, story collections, memoirs, auto/biographies, and essay collections. They do not want poetry collections, graphic novels, anything below a novella in size, or chapbooks.
Value: $1,000, and more
Deadline: 15 July 2022
Open for: All writers
Details here.

2022 ArabLit Story Prize
This is an award for the best short stories, in any genre, newly translated from Arabic into English, of up to 4,000 words. Translators must have secured rights to the work, and the translations must have been previously unpublished. Stories will be judged primarily on the quality of the translated work as a thing-in-itself, although translators must also submit the Arabic original, as this must be a translation, not a loose adaptation nor a work written originally in English.
Value: $500, split between the author and translator
Deadline: 25 July 2022
Open for: All translators
Details here.
(Their Submittable page also has details of the submission call for   ArabLit.org, deadline end-June.)

Red Hen Press: The Ann Petry Award
This award is run by the Red Hen Press and the Peauxdunque Writers Alliance. It is for a work of previously unpublished prose, either a novel or a collection of short stories or novellas, with a 25,000-word minimum (approximately 150 pages) by a Black writer. The prize includes cash, publication, and a four-week residency at The Community Library’s Ernest and Mary Hemingway House in Ketchum, Idaho. They have other awards too; those charge a submission fee.
Value: Residency, $3,000
Deadline: 31 July 2022
Open for: Black writers
Details here and here.

Sisters in Crime: Pride Award for Emerging LGBTQIA+ Crime Writers
This is a grant for an emerging writer in the LGBTQIA+ community. It is for an unpublished work of crime fiction, aimed at readers from children’s chapter books through adults. This may be a short story or first chapter(s) of a manuscript in-progress of 2,500 to 5,000 words. An unpublished writer is preferred, but writers with publication of not more than 10 pieces of short fiction and/or up to 2 self-published or traditionally published books are also eligible. Also, winners and any runners-ups who wish to maintain their anonymity, may do so, or they may choose to select a pen name for announcements.
Value: $2,000
Deadline: 31 July 2022
Open for: Unpublished/emerging LGBTQIA+ writers (see above)
Details here.

Singapore Unbound Awards: Singapore and Other Literatures
These awards are for the best undergraduate critical essays on Singapore and Other Literatures. “The author does not have to be residing in Singapore nor to have maintained their citizenship. The work(s) discussed may be in any of the literary genres, including but not limited to poetry, fiction, literary non-fiction, drama, and graphic novels.”
Value: S250 each for three essayists
Deadline: 31 July 2022
Details here.
(The page also has details of their other callouts.)

Speculative Literature Foundation: Two grants
They will be open for two grants in July; writers can apply for one or both grants.
— The Diverse Writers grant is to support new and emerging writers of speculative fiction from underrepresented groups, including writers of color, disabled, women or working-class writers.
— The Diverse Worlds grant is for work that best represents a diverse world, irrespective of the writer’s background.
Writers may apply for one or both grants. The project must be a proposed book-length work of speculative fiction (novels, short story collections). Non-fiction, poetry, picture books, and editorial projects are not currently eligible. See their schedule for other grants, with later reading periods.
Value: Two grants of $500 each
Reading period: 1-31 July 2022
Open for: Underrepresented writers for Diverse Writers; and writers whose work represents a diverse world for Diverse Worlds
Details here (grant details) and here (schedule for all their grants).
(A couple of contests with later deadlines are:
— Kindle Storyteller Award: This is an international award for those who publish their work through Kindle Direct Publishing in English in any genre. Entrants must make the book available for sale in both digital and print versions through KDP. The book must be at least 24 pages long, and can have a maximum of 2 co-authors. Please note, readers play a significant role in winner selection. The award is £20,000, and the deadline is 31 August 2022. Details here.

PRIZES FOR WRITERS IN THE US, CANADA, AND THE CARIBBEAN

Associates of the Boston Public Library Writer-in-Residence

The fellowship aims to provide an emerging children’s writer with the financial support and office space needed to complete one literary work for children or young adults. The year-long fellowship also entails working at the library. All genres are welcome, including fiction, non-fiction, scripts, graphic novels, or poetry. (The format is flexible and can include illustrated children’s books or graphic novels, but the majority of their submissions are generally Young Adult novels.) Applicants must be US citizens and cannot have prior professional book publications. Application includes a writing sample and a proposal.

Value: $23,000, can request an additional $2,000 for training or hiring a professional (see guidelines); residency for half a year
Deadline: 24 June 2022
Open for: Those eligible to work in the US, as a US citizen or green card holder
Details here.

Brooklyn Caribbean Literary Festival: Two awards
They have two awards: BCLF Elizabeth Nunez Award for Writers in the Caribbean, and the BCLF Elizabeth Nunez Caribbean-American Writer’s Prize.
— BCLF Elizabeth Nunez Award for Writers in the Caribbean: This is for a short story of up to 3,000 words, by a writer who was born and raised in the Caribbean, at any stage in their career. Writers currently on temporary assignment elsewhere in the world (except the US and Canada) can enter. There are other prizes apart from cash.
Value: $1,750
Deadline: 1 July 2022
Open for: See above
Details here and here.

— BCLF Elizabeth Nunez Caribbean-American Writer’s Prize: This is for a short story of up to 3,000 words. Writers must be of Caribbean heritage or a Caribbean-descended writer whose work has not appeared in a nationally distributed publication with a circulation of 5,000 or more, and be a resident of the United States/Canada.
Value: $1,750
Deadline: 1 July 2022
Open for: See above
Details here and here.

The Stony Brook Short Fiction Prize
This prize is for short fiction of up to 7,500 words. It is for undergraduates enrolled full time in US and Canadian universities and colleges. Apart from the cash prize, the winner also gets a scholarship to the Southampton Writers Conference.
Value: $1,000
Deadline: 14 July 2022
Open for: Undergraduate students from the US and Canada
Details here.

Strive Publishing & Free Spirit Publishing: Black Voices in Children’s Literature 
This is a contest for US-based Black writers. They want children’s stories by and about Black people. “Eligible entries will include original children’s books for ages 0–4 (50–125 words) or for ages 4–8 (300–800 words) featuring authentic, realistic Black characters and culture and focusing on one or more of the following topics: character development, self-esteem, identity, diversity, getting along with others, engaging with family and community, or other topics related to positive childhood development. Religious and fantasy themes will not be considered.”
Value: $1,000, $500, $250
Deadline: 24 July 2022
Open for: Black writers in the US
Details here.

The Lincoln Forum: Platt Family Scholarship Prize Essay Contest
This essay contest is for full-time undergraduates at an American college or university in Spring 2022. The topic for this year’s essay is: “The year 2022 is the anniversary of the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial. How has the whole question of memorializing leading figures of the Civil War, including Lincoln, changed in the hundred years since then?” Entries must be 1,500- 5,000 words.
Value: $1,500, $750, $500
Deadline: 31 July 2022
Open for: Students in a US college or university
Details here.

Polar Expressions Publishing: Annual National Poetry and Short Story Competitions
These poetry and short story contests are for Canadian residents and citizens. Poems must be up to 48 lines and short stories, up to 750 words. Fan fiction and essays are not allowed. Translations are accepted.
Value: CAD500, CAD250, CAD100 each in poetry and short story for those aged 16 or over; CAD200, CAD100 and CAD50 each in poetry and short stories for those 15 and under
Deadline: 31 July 2022
Open for: Canadian writers
Details here.

Lee & Low Books: New Visions Award
This award is by Tu Books, the middle grade and young adult imprint of Lee & Low Books. The award is for writers of color or  Indigenous/Native writers who are residents of the US, and have not previously had a middle grade or young adult novel traditionally published. Manuscripts may be fiction or narrative non-fiction for children ages 8 to 12 or young adults ages 12 to 18. Manuscripts should address the needs of children and teens of color and Native nations by providing stories with which they can identify and relate, and which promote a greater understanding of one another. They are interested in contemporary or historical fiction, literary fantasy, science fiction, mystery, suspense, and genre fusions. Graphic novel scripts and novels in verse for these categories are also welcome. Submissions should be of full, unagented manuscripts or graphic novel scripts plus synopsis. Middle grade novels are not to exceed 75,000 words in length; young adult novels are not to exceed 95,000 words in length. Graphic novels should not exceed 150 scripted pages.
Value: $2,000 and publishing contract; $1,000
Deadline: 1 August 2022
Open for: US writers of color and Native nations
Details here.

Granum Foundation Prizes
Submissions are open for the Granum Foundation Prize and the Granum Foundation Translation Prize. These are for works in progress, to help US-based writers complete substantive literary projects, including novels, memoirs, books of poetry, short story collections, and works in translation.
Value: The Granum Foundation Prize is $5,000, with up to three finalist prizes of with $500 or more each; and the Translation Prize is $500 or more
Deadline: 2 August 2022
Open for: US-based writers
Details here and here.

Forward Funds: Creative Capital x Skoll Foundation Fund
The crowdsourcing platform for creatives, Kickstarter, now has Forward Funds. Their website says, “Forward Funders are foundations, nonprofits, and organizations that back Kickstarter campaigns related to their visions and missions around a more creative and equitable world. Each Forward Funder makes a public commitment and then backs projects just like anyone else—through single pledges that bring the works one step closer to reality.” One such fund is the $500,000 Creative Capital x Skoll Foundation Fund. This backs projects by Asian, Black, Indigenous, and Latinx creators in the US on the crowdfunding platform – “Effective immediately, funds will be awarded on an ongoing basis to creators with active projects across all of Kickstarter’s categories: Arts, Comics & Illustration, Design & Tech, Film, Food & Craft, Games, Music, and Publishing.” Projects launched on Kickstarter following their rules are eligible, and creators can nominate themselves for specific Forward Funds via a form. This is for both, creators and organizations.
Value: Varies
Deadline: Ongoing
Open for: Asian, Black, Indigenous, and Latinx creators in the US
Details here.

(So far, there is one other Forward Funder: Japanese publishing company Kodansha; it “support artists, designers, makers, and creators of all kinds from around the world. With a $50,000 fund they opt for more backings of slightly smaller amounts—they have been able to support over 100 creators so far.”)

PRIZES FOR WRITERS IN THE UK/IRELAND

Society of Authors: K. Blundell Trust Award
They have two grants for works in progress and the form is the same, for both. There are two rounds of funding annually, and deadlines are 1 February and 1 July. The Society of Authors also has other grants it administers. They have the Authors’ Foundation Grants, for which there is no nationality or age requirement, and the K. Blundell Trust Award, for British writers. The K. Blundell Trust Award is a work-in-progress award for young British writers of fiction or non-fiction. The work must contribute to the greater understanding of existing social and economic organisation.
Value: Up to approximately £6,000
Deadline: 1 July 2022
Open for: British writers under 40 who have had at least one book published (See guidelines and FAQ, ‘What is the difference between the K Blundell Trust and the Authors’ Foundation?’)
Details here (scroll down).

Scottish Book Trust: New Writers Awards
This is an opportunity for emerging Scotland-based writers. The categories include Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction (also known as creative non-fiction), Poetry, Children’s and Young Adult Fiction, and more. All travel expenses are covered. There is also a one-week retreat (depending on circumstances) and mentorship.
Value: £2,000
Deadline: 13 July 2022
Open for: Scotland-based writers
Details here.

The Stephen Spender Prize: Youth categories
This is a prize for UK or Irish citizens, or pupils at a British School overseas, for translated poetry. Translate into English any published poem from any language, ancient or modern, including from the Sign language, spoken word, and rap. The categories are: 18-and-under, 16-and-under, 14-and-under, and Open (adult); entry for the Youth categories is free. There’s a special ‘Spotlight’ prize for translation from Romanian – for those 18 and under, 14 and under, 10 and under.
Value: Three winners in each category – £75 each for 14-and-under category; £100 each for 16-and-under category; £150 each for 18-and-under category, for Youth entries; £100 for the Spotlight prize
Deadline: 15 July 2022 for Youth and Spotlight prizes
Open for: UK or Irish citizens, or pupils at a British School overseas
Details here (Youth categories), here  (Spotlight prize), and here.

Writers & Artists: Working-Class Writers Prize
This prize is for writers with a working class background, in the UK and Ireland. Submission requirements include the beginning of a work-in-progress in any genre of prose, of up to 2,000 words. They have other prizes also apart from the cash prize, including mentorship, and a year’s free subscription to The Society of Authors.

Value: £200, mentorship, other prizes

Deadline: 18 July 2022
Open for: UK writers
Details here.

John McGahern Award
This is a call to emerging writers of fiction resident in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. Applicants must have had some fiction or short stories published in a recognised journal or anthology selected by an established publisher or editor. Application includes three samples of recent separate work of up to 500 words each.
Value: €2,500
Deadline: 29 July 2022
Open for: Those resident in Ireland/Northern Ireland
Details here.

Morley Prize for Unpublished Writers of Colour
This is an annual prize jointly presented by Morley College London and the Rachel Mills Literary Agency, awarded to a previously unpublished aspiring author of colour in the UK. For 2022, as well as being open for works of fiction, they have expanded to life writing and creative non-fiction categories. Apart from cash, the winner and shortlisted writers get editorial consultation with an agent.
Value: £500
Deadline: 29 July 2022
Open for: Unpublished writers of colour in the UK/Ireland (see guidelines)
Details here and here.

Bio: S. Kalekar is the pseudonym of a regular contributor to this magazine. She can be reached here.