These are contests, grants and fellowships for writers of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, plays, and for journalists. Prizes range from about $100 to $75,000, and none charge a submission fee.
This list is divided by broad geographic demographic; for writers globally (which includes contests that don’t specify whether they are open for writers globally, or for a particular demographic), writers in the US, and so on. – S. Kalekar
PRIZES FOR ALL WRITERS/GLOBAL ENTRY
Baltimore Science Fiction Society Poetry Contest
For this
contest, poets are required to submit poetry on the science
fiction/fantasy/horror/science themes. Up to 3 entries are allowed per person,
of up to 60 lines each.
Value: $100, $75, $50
Deadline: 1 March 2020
Open for: All poets
Details
here.
TreadBikely Writing
Contest
They have announced their first
writing contest. Submit a piece of writing, in any format – short story, poem,
essay, song lyrics, etc. – on the theme of cycling.
Value: $150, $100, $50
Deadline: 1 March 2020
Open for: All writers
Details here.
Scripps Fellowships for Environmental Journalism
Five fellowships are
awarded each year at the University of Boulder, Colorado. This is for journalists interested in deepening and broadening
their knowledge of environmental issues. Applicants must have a minimum
of five years full-time professional journalism experience and have completed
an undergraduate degree. Applicants may include reporters, editors, producers,
photojournalists, documentarians, and feature writers. Both salaried staff and
full-time freelancers are welcome to apply. Prior experience in covering the
environment is not required. They welcome applications
from international applicants; however, the applicants must be authorized to
work in the US to be eligible for this position.
Value: $71,000
Deadline: 1 March 2020
Open for: All journalists (see above)
Details here.
The Fountain
Essay Contest: Facing challenges
They want an essay of 1,500-2,500 on the topic
‘Facing challenges’. Their guidelines say, “We all face new challenges in our
lives. They can be massive undertakings, such as moving across a country and
beginning a new school. Or sometimes the more routine tasks, such as getting
out of the bed in the morning while undergoing depression, can themselves be
massive challenges.
We want to hear about your challenges and how you mentally, physically, and/or
spiritually prepare for them.” Writers should read terms and conditions, which
state that any of the entries may be published, whether or not they win the
prize.
Value: $1,000, $500, $300; two prizes of $150 each
Deadline: 1 March 2020
Open for: All writers
Details here.
International
Writers Project
This is a fellowship
with residency to provide sanctuary and support for established creative
writers – fiction writers, playwrights, and poets – who are persecuted in their
home countries or are actively prevented from pursuing free expression in their
literary art. The Fellow will be a member of a supportive community at
Brown University, Rhode Island. The fellowship will be accompanied by a
series of lectures, readings and other events that highlight the national
artistic and political culture of the writer and address the global issues of
human rights and free expression. Fellows can apply themselves or be
nominated.
Value: A
stipend, residency, relocation funds, and health benefits; aid for Visa and
relocation process
Deadline: 1 March 2020
Open for: Persecuted established creative writers
Details here.
On the Premises: More Than One
Their guidelines say, “write a creative, compelling, well-crafted
story between 1,000 and 5,000 words in which one or more characters face this
problem: there is more than one of something that there should absolutely,
positively be only one of.” They do not want children’s fiction, exploitative sex,
over-the-top grossout horror, or stories that are obvious parodies of existing
fictional worlds/characters created by other authors.
Value: $220, $160, $120, $60
Deadline: 6 March 2020
Open for: All writers
Details here and here.
America Media: Generation Faith
Essay Contest
They want to hear from full-time high school and
college students interested in reflecting on the joys and challenges that come
with living out (or struggling with) one’s faith in the midst of real life. All
entries should be true personal essays, between 800 and 1,200 words.
Value: $1,000
Deadline: 8 March 2020
Open for: High school and college students
Details here
and here.
Ann Arbor District Library: ‘It’s All Write!’ Teen Writing
Contest
This international
contest is for teen writers of poetry, flash fiction, and short stories. Prizes
are for three categories/age groups in each: Grades 6-8, 9-10 and 11-12.
Value: $250, $150, $100 in each category for short stories;
$125, $75, $50 in each category for flash fiction; $100, $50, $25 for poetry
Deadline: 9 March 2020
Open for: Teen writers everywhere
Details here.
Hodson Trust: John Carter Brown Library
Fellowship
This fellowship at
Providence and Chestertown supports work by academics, independent scholars and writers
working on significant projects relating to the literature, history, culture,
or art of the Americas before 1830. Candidates with a US history topic are
strongly encouraged to concentrate on the period prior to 1801. The fellowship
is also open to filmmakers, novelists, creative and performing artists, and
others working on projects that draw on this period of history. Candidates are
encouraged to consult the John Carter Brown Library’s collections online
prior to submitting an application.
Value: $5,000/month
(total $20,000), housing and university privileges
Deadline: 15 March 2020
Open for: Unspecified
Details here.
Deep
Wild Journal: Undergraduate Essay Contest
This is an essay contest for
students currently enrolled in undergraduate programs. They want an essay of up
to 3,000 words. Their guidelines say, “We seek work that
conjures the experiences, observations, and insights of backcountry journeys. By “backcountry,” we mean away from paved roads, preferably
more than a day’s journey by foot, skis, snowshoes, kayak, canoe, horse, or any
other non-motorized means of conveyance. We are open to a wide range of
carefully-crafted work, both personal and political (however you construe
that word).”
Value: Three prizes of $100 each
Deadline: 15 March 2020
Open for: All undergraduate students
Details here.
Green Stories Writing Competitions: Flash Fiction
This flash fiction contest is
open to all. All submissions
(up to 500 words) must conform to the green stories criteria of showing a
positive vision of what a sustainable society might look like or in some way
smuggling in green solutions/policies/characters in the context of an otherwise
mainstream story. Also see details of their other upcoming contests (scroll down), with
later deadlines.
Value: £500,
£100, £50; best student submission prize of £50
Deadline: 21 March 2020
Open for: All writers
Details here.
The Daniel Pearl Investigative Journalism Initiative Fellowship
Each
cycle, Moment—with the help of an advisory board of journalists—selects
one DPIJI Fellow, who receives $5,000 to produce a story. Fellows work closely
with Moment editors and selected mentors to publish their
completed project in Moment as well as partner media outlets.
The application includes writing samples – three stories from a print or
digital publication, including at least one long-form story – and a brief
description of the story you want to investigate and how familiar you are with
the issue, among other things.
Value: $5,000
Deadline: 30 March 2020
Open for: Journalists aged 22-28
Details here.
Hugo House Writer-in-Residence
This residency in Seattle is for practicing,
published writers of prose and writing teachers who are experienced working
with writers of all levels in a traditional workshop setting, and on a
one-on-one basis as a mentor. They should have a specific artistic project
they are working on during their residency (e.g., developing a manuscript for
publication) and should have a special interest in helping writers become
better writers and fostering an appreciation of the craft. The application
includes a writing sample of 10 pages. Their guidelines also say, “If you do not
meet some of the eligibility requirements, but have demonstrated success in
other categories, our panel will weigh the components of your application
accordingly. “Value:
$500 per month for nine months, additional compensation for Hugo Classes
Deadline: 31 March 2020
Open for: Published writers
Details here.
First
Fandom Experience: The Cosmos Prize
Their guidelines say, “Cosmos was an ambitious serial
novel orchestrated by the staff of Science Fiction Digest(later Fantasy
Magazine) beginning in June, 1933. The story of Cosmos spanned 17
chapters written by 16 different authors. Raymond A. Palmer drafted the plot
outline and coordinated the work of the writers. The young fanzine editor was
able to convince many of the prominent professionals of the day to participate.
… The results — not surprisingly — are a bit of a hash. Still, Cosmos represents an
iconic event in the early history of science fiction fandom, and deserves
remembering.
Even more
than remembering, Cosmos deserves a better ending
than it got. … the final chapter utterly failed to capitalize on the
potential of the installments that preceded it. Penned by no-less an esteemed
professional as Edmond Hamilton, the concluding Chapter 17 —
Armageddon in Space — seemed to ignore much of what came
before. …. The Cosmos Prize is our
attempt to right (or re-write) an historic tragedy.” Read the rules carefully. Successful
submissions will fit with the overall narrative of Cosmos, bring the story
to a compelling, meaningful, exciting and/or evocative conclusion, capture the
style and sensibility of science fiction of the 1930s, show originality,
coherence and strong expressive force, and focus on replacing just the last
chapter of Cosmos, Chapter 17. Apart from cash prizes, the winners will
also get merchandize.
Value: $300; $100; two prizes of $50
Deadline: 31 March 2020
Open for: Unspecified
Details here.
Candlestick Press: ‘Getting Older’ Poetry Competition
They want poems on getting
older (gracefully or otherwise) for a poetry pamphlet on the theme. See
guidelines for the judge’s preferences.
Value: £75 each for two
entries
Deadline: 31 March 2020
Open for: All poets
Details here.
11th Annual
Spirit First Poetry Contest
Poems must have a theme
of MeditationorMindfulness – they can be of any length or style. They
may reflect any discipline, any faith, or none. Poems not on the themes of
meditation, mindfulness, stillness, or sacred silence will not be included. Up to three poems will be
considered.
Value: $200, $150, $100
Deadline: 31 March 2020
Open for: All poets
Details here.
America Media: The Foley Poetry
Award
This is a poetry contest. Submit a poem
of 45 lines or fewer.
Value: $1,000
Deadline: 31 March 2020
Open for: All poets
Details here.
America Media: George W. Hunt,
S.J., Prize for Excellence in Journalism, Arts & Letters
For this cycle, the prize will be
awarded for journalism. “Journalists are defined as those who generate regular
written content for popular audiences and mass distribution (e.g.,
newspaper/magazine columnists and reporters; contributing editors/ writers;
editors, op-ed writers and bloggers, etc.) Topical areas include religion, the
arts, sports, politics, economics and national/international public affairs”,
according to their guidelines. The entrants must be 22-49 years old. This is
mainly for print and digital media, not broadcast journalism. Submission
requirements include a writing sample of 10,000 words.
Value: $25,000
Deadline: 31 March 2020
Open for: Journalists ages 22-49
Details here.
Speculative Literature Foundation: Older Writers Grant
This is for a writer who is 50 years of age or older at the time of grant application, and is intended to assist such writers who are just starting to work at a professional level. The writing application sample could be of poetry, fiction, drama, or creative non-fiction. A writing sample (up to 10 pages of poetry, 10 pages of drama, or 5,000 words of fiction or creative nonfiction — if sending a segment of a novel, novella, or novelette, include a one-page synopsis as well) is part of the application.
Value: $1,000
Deadline: 31 March 2020
Open for: All speculative fiction writers above 50
Details here.
Waterston Desert Writing Prize
This prize is for a proposed book of literary non-fiction that illustrates artistic excellence, sensitivity to place, and desert literacy – with the desert both as subject and setting. Writing samples about deserts and natural settings are more likely to be reviewed favorably.
Value: $2,500 and a residency at Playa
at Summer Lake, Oregon
Deadline: 1 April 2020
Open for: All writers
Details here.
Wergle Flomp Humor
Poetry Contest
This prize is for humor poetry. Submit a poem
of up to 250 lines.
Value: $1,000and a subscription to Duotrope; $250; 10 prizes of $100 each
Deadline: 1 April 2020
Open for: All poets
Details here.
Alpine Fellowship Prizes: Two prizes for creative writers
Apart from themed
Writing and Theatre prizes detailed below, they also have the Visual Arts Prize,
and the Academic Writing Prize.
– Writing PrizeThis international prize is awarded for the best piece of writing on the theme of ‘Forgiveness and Retribution’ (up to 2,500 words in any genre), which is the theme of the 2020 Alpine Fellowship Annual Symposium. The winner and two runners-up are invited to attend the Fjällnäs (Sweden) symposium. The award will be presented by poet John Burnside, who is also the head judge.
Value: £10,000, £3,000, £2,000
Deadline: 1 April 2020
Open for: All writers
Details here and here.
– Theatre Prize
This prize is awarded for the best play on the theme of ‘Forgiveness and Retribution’ Aimed at encouraging theatre writers at the start of their careers to explore and challenge philosophical ideas using the dramatic form. Apart from the cash prize, the winner also gets a rehearsed reading at the Fellowship’s annual Symposium to which they will be invited to attend. Runners up will be invited to attend the Fjällnäs symposium to exhibit their work. To apply, applicants must send: 1) A treatment of your idea in response to the theme; up to 500 words; 2) A sample of previous work of at least 10 pages; and 3) A 3-4 sample pages of your proposed script or a 1-2 detailed page synopsis of your story. The final piece must be 45 minutes in length and require no more than 4 actors.
Value: £3,000
Deadline: 1 April 2020
Open for: All playwrights
Details here and here.
The Marguerite and Lamar Smith
Fellowship for Writers
The three-month fellowships are to afford writers uninterrupted time to focus
on their work at an apartment in Carson McCuller’s childhood home in Columbus,
Georgia, free from the distractions of daily life and other professional
responsibilities. A spouse or companion is welcome. The application includes a
writing sample of up to 20 pages.
Value: $5,000
Deadline: 1 April 2020
Open for: Unspecified
Details here.
PRIZES FOR WRITERS IN THE U.S.
US-Japan Creative Artists
Exchange Fellowships
This grant
offers artists, including writers of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, and
playwrights, the opportunity to work in Japan. They invite leading contemporary and traditional
artists from the US to apply for a unique collaborative artistic fellowship
designed to highlight US-Japan artistic partnerships. Applicants must be professional creative
artists (see guidelines for details about writers’ publishing requirements)
working in their field. Proficiency in Japanese language is not required. Their
guidelines say, “Artists should have compelling reasons for their residency in
Japan, and they should conduct preliminary research to identify contacts
there. The Commission encourages artists to consider collaboration with
Japanese colleagues, as appropriate for the artistic field, and artists are
free to interact with artists anywhere in the country.”
Value: $20,000 for three months; additional $4,000 a month up to five months
Deadline: 1 March for cover sheet, and 29 March 2020 for narrative application
and work samples
Open for: US Citizens or permanent residents
Details here.
Edward
R. Murrow Press Fellowship
Applicants
must have covered international news as a working journalist for print,
broadcast, or online media widely available in the United States, and must be
US citizens. The Fellow spends nine months
full-time in residence at the Council for Foreign Relations’ headquarters in
New York. The program enables the Fellow to engage in sustained analysis and
writing, expand his or her intellectual and professional horizons, and
extensively participate in CFR’s active program of meetings and events.
Value:$75,000 and a modest travel grant
Deadline: 1 March 2020
Open for: US citizens
Details here.
National Endowment for the Arts
These literature fellowships are for
poetry, to buy creative writers time for writing. Applicants are to submit a
poetry manuscript of 7-10 pages and a list of their publications (see eligibility
guidelines). These grants alternate
between poetry and prose each year; several grants are made at a time.
Value: $25,000
Deadline: 11 March 2020
Open for: Published US poets
Details here.
Cave Canem Residency
This is a residency for African American
poets at The Rose
O’Neill Literary House
in Chestertown, Maryland.
It provides poets with the uninterrupted time and space to focus solely on
their writing projects for a full month. The application includes a 10-page
poetry sample. The Fellow is awarded the use of a private, single-family
residence for the entire month of June.
Value: $1,000
Deadline: 15 March 2020 (postmarked)
Open for: African American poets
Details here.
PRIZES FOR WRITERS IN
UK & IRELAND
Christopher Tower Poetry Competition
This is the UK’s most valuable
prize for poets aged 16-18 years. Submit a poem of up to 48 lines on the theme
of ‘Trees’.
Value: £3,000 for the winner (See their Tweet)
Deadline: 2 March 2020
Open for: Young UK poets
Details here.
The Women’s Prize for
Playwriting
This is a playwriting contest
for writers who identify as female in the UK or Ireland. Scripts should be an
hour or more of playing time (usually 60 pages). Scripts written by more than
one author are eligible. Musicals and pantomimes are not eligible. Writers can submit more than one
script.
Value: £12,000
as a fee in respect of an exclusive option for Paines Plough and EKP to
co-produce the winning script
Deadline: 2 March 2020
Open for: Female-identifying writers in the UK and Ireland
Details here.
BBC Radio 4: BBC National Short Story Award
This prestigious award,
by BBC and the Cambridge University, is for UK writers, for a short story of up
to 8,000 words. Writers must have a prior record of publication in the UK.
Value: £15,000,
four awards of £600 each
Deadline: 9 March 2020
Open for: Published UK writers (see guidelines)
Details here.
2020
Fitzcarraldo Editions/Mahler & LeWitt Studios Essay Prize
This is a cash prize (advance)
for the best
proposal for a book-length essay (minimum 25,000 words) by a writer resident in
the UK and Ireland who has yet to secure a publishing deal. They also offer a
residency for up to three months at the Mahler & LeWitt Studios in Spoleto,
Italy.
Value: £3,000
advance, residency
Deadline: 15 March 2020
Open for: Writers in UK and Ireland
Details here.
PRIZES FOR WRITERS IN CANADA
Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction
This is for a literary nonfiction book, published or contracted (see guidelines), by Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. Translations are eligible.
Value: CAD60,000; CAD5,000 for 3-5 shortlisted works
Deadline 1: March 11, 2020 (for books published between October 1, 2019 and March 10, 2020); Deadline 2: May 20, 2020 (for books published between March 11, 2020 and May 19, 2020); Deadline 3: July 15, 2020 (for books published between May 20, 2020 and September 30, 2020)
Open for: Canadian writers
Details here.
Rogers Writers’ Trust
Fiction Prize
This
is for a novel or short story collection, contracted or published, by Canadian
citizens or permanent residents of Canada. Translations are eligible.
Value: CAD50,000; CAD5,000 for 3-5 finalists
Deadline 1: March 11, 2020 (for books
published between October 1, 2019 and March 10, 2020); Deadline 2: May 20, 2020 (for books
published between March 11, 2020 and May 19, 2020); Deadline 3: July 15, 2020 (for books
published between May 20, 2020 and September 30, 2020)
Open for: Canadian writers
Details here.
PRIZE FOR ASIAN WRITERS
Speculative Literature Foundation:
A. C. Bose Grant for South Asian Speculative Literature
This grant is to a South
Asian/South Asian Diaspora writer developing speculative fiction. It supports
adult fiction, but work that is also accessible to older children and teens
will be given preference in the jury process. The donors hope that this grant
will help develop work that will let young people imagine different worlds and
possibilities. The application includes a fiction writing sample.
Value: $1,000
Deadline: 31 March 2020
Open for: South Asian and South Asian Diaspora writers
Details here.
Author Bio: S. Kalekar is the pseudonym of a regular contributor to this magazine. She is the author of 182 Short Fiction Publishers. She can be reached here.
