{"id":11442,"date":"2023-11-17T10:38:51","date_gmt":"2023-11-17T18:38:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/?p=11442"},"modified":"2023-11-17T10:38:55","modified_gmt":"2023-11-17T18:38:55","slug":"25-contest-grants-and-fellowships-for-writers-december-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/uncategorized\/25-contest-grants-and-fellowships-for-writers-december-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"25 Contest, Grants, and Fellowships for Writers (December, 2023)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n


<\/strong><\/a>These are contests, fellowships, and grants for fiction, non-fiction, poetry, plays, and journalism. They\u2019re roughly divided geographically. – S. Kalekar
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

INTERNATIONAL CONTESTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

African Poetry Book Fund: Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry
<\/strong>It is for poets born in Africa, or who are nationals of an African country, or whose parents are African, and who have not yet had a full-length poetry book published (this includes self-published books if they were sold online, in stores, or at readings. Writers who have edited and published an anthology or a similar collection of other writers\u2019 work remain eligible). Manuscripts have to be at least 50 pages long. Only poems written in English can be considered, but they accept poems in translation too. In the case that the winning work is translated, a percentage of the prize money would be awarded to the translator. Apart from a cash prize, the winner also gets publication from the University of Nebraska Press.
Value: $1,000
Deadline: 1 December 2023
Open for:
Details here<\/a> (guidelines) and here<\/a> (Submittable).
(See all the African Poetry Book Fund contests here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The London Society: Love Letters to London<\/strong>
This is an international, themed contest, about London. \u201cTell us why you love this city. Write a Love Letter to London of up to 500 words. Entries are to be around the theme of \u201cLove Letters to London of the Future\u201d and can be about any aspect of London\u2019s past, present or future. It can be reportage, an historical essay, a \u2018think piece\u2019, a spot of futurology, a work of fiction, a poem.\u201d There are 4 categories: Aged 11 and under; 12-18 year olds; Open – all other entrants; and Poetry. Entries can have been published elsewhere but must fit the brief and have been written in 2023.
Value: \u00a3500, \u00a3250, and \u00a3100 each for Open and Poetry categories; \u00a3500, and 4 runners up prizes of \u00a3150 each for 11 and under, and 12-18 categories
Deadline: 1 December 2023
Open for: All writers
Details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Ohio University: E.W. Scripps School of Journalism \u2013 2024 Kiplinger Fellowship
<\/strong>This is an international journalism fellowship. \u201cThe Kiplinger Fellowship will be held April 14-20 at Ohio University and the Scripps School of Journalism. This upcoming fellowship will focus on the critical reporting topic of Immigration and Migration<\/strong>. If you are a working journalist with at least five years of experience covering this issue, please consider applying. The fellowship is made up of a combination of international and U.S. journalists. Kiplinger will pay all of your lodging and training for the week. We will cover most of your meals and a large percentage of your travel.\u201d
Value: Unspecified; covers training, lodging, meals and some social events + travel stipend
Open for: Journalists in all media
Deadline: 2 December 2023
Details here<\/a>.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Awards<\/strong> 
These awards are given for non-fiction works in progress which deal with a topic of American political or social concern, to aid their completion. Writers must already have a contract with a US-based publisher. One of the application requirements is 50-75 pages from the work in progress. There is no fee for the work-in-progress award. The prizes are run by Columbia Journalism School \u2013 they also have other awards, which charge entry fees.  
Value: $25,000 
Deadline: 7 December 2023 
Open for: Unspecified 
Details here<\/a> and here<\/a>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minotaur Books \/ Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition
<\/strong>This is an international contest for crime novel manuscripts, for writers who have never been the author of any published novel in any genre and are uncontracted. The writing should be no less than approximately 65,000 words. Authors of self-published works only may enter, as long as the manuscript submitted is not the self-published work. Minotaur is an imprint of Macmillan.\u00a0
Value: $10,000 advance against royalties\u00a0
Deadline: 15 December 2023\u00a0
Open for: Unpublished writers (see guidelines)\u00a0
Details here<\/a>\u00a0
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

International Women\u2019s Media Foundation: Kim Wall Memorial Fund
<\/strong>This grant is for women or nonbinary journalists with one or more years of professional experience working in news media from anywhere in the world. \u201cThe IWMF’s Kim Wall Memorial Fund will provide $5,000 grants to journalists whose work embodies the spirit of Kim\u2019s reporting. The grant will fund women or non-binary reporters covering subculture, broadly defined, and what Kim liked to call \u201cthe undercurrents of rebellion.\u201d
Value: $5,000 each
Deadline: 17 December 2023
Open for: Women and nonbinary journalists
Details here<\/a>.
(See more of IWMF\u2019s programs\/grants\/awards here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Writers College: My Writing Journey Competition
<\/strong>They want a 600-word piece on \u2018The best writing tip I\u2019ve ever received\u2019. The contest is open to writers all over the world.
Deadline: 31 December 2023
Value: AUD200\/\u00a3100
Open for: All writers
Details here<\/a>.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poetry Society of America: The Four Quartets Prize <\/strong> 
This is\u202ffor a unified and complete sequence of poems published in America in a print or online journal, chapbook, or book in 2023.\u202f<\/strong>Poems in the sequence may have been published in different journals provided that they were published in 2023 and that brought together, they form a complete sequence. The minimum requirement is 14 pages of published poems unified by subject, form, and style.\u202fEntire books composed of a unified sequence, however long, are also welcome.Submissions will have to be mailed. Self-published work is not eligible. They have other upcoming awards also, though these have an entry fee, or do not have an application process.  
Value: $1,000 for three finalists, an additional $20,000 for the winner 
Deadline: 31 December 2023 
Open for: Unspecified 
Details here<\/a>  

<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lilith Magazine Fiction Contest<\/strong> 
This magazine publishes work of interest to Jewish women. They like work with both feminist and Jewish content. Submit fiction up to 3,000 words.   
Value: $300 
Deadline: 31 December 2023  
Open for: All writers 
Details here<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Caribbean Writer Prizes<\/strong>
Their website says, \u201cThe Caribbean Writer (TCW) has issued a call for submissions for Volume 38 under the 2024 theme: Legacies: Reckoning and Resolve. We inherit the legacies of our those who march before us, if not directly, some other way and so reckoning has become a way of life. Some suggests that what will save us is our resolve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contributors may submit works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essays or one act plays which explore the ideas resonating within the region and its diaspora. The Caribbean should be central to the work, or the work should reflect a Caribbean heritage, experience or perspective.\u201d Submissions are also eligible for various prizes (there is no separate application process): The Canute A. Brodhurst Prize of $600 for best short fiction; The Daily News Prize of $500 awarded to a resident of the US Virgin Islands or the British Virgin Islands; The Marvin E. Williams Literary Prize of $500 for a new or emerging writer; The Cecile deJongh Literary Prize of $500 for a Caribbean author whose work best expresses the spirit of the Caribbean; The Vincent Cooper Literary Prize of $300 awarded to a Caribbean author for exemplary writing in Caribbean Nation Language.
Value: $300-600
Deadline: 31 December 2023
Open for: Unspecified
Details here<\/a> and here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kinsman Quarterly: Iridescence Award<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is an award for short stories and poetry by BIPOC authors. \u201cThemes should include the supernatural, extraterrestrial, or the paranormal. Prizes include publication in the Iridescence anthology with cash awards up to $500. \u2026 Genres include, but are not limited to, fantasy, folk mythology, science fiction, and the paranormal.\u201d
Value: $500, $250, $100; gift cards for finalists
Deadline: 31 December 2023
Open for: BIPOC writers
Details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Meridians: The Elizabeth Alexander Creative Writing Award
<\/strong>Meridians is a literary magazine affiliated with Smiths College. This award is for short works – poetry, fiction and non-fiction, and play scripts. \u201cThe Elizabeth Alexander Creative Writing Award celebrates an author whose work embodies the lyrically powerful and historically engaged nature of Dr. Alexander\u2019s writing. We aim for this award to highlight different forms of knowledge production that emerge from the artistic, political, and cultural advocacy undertaken by women of color nationally, transnationally, and globally.\u201d
Value: $500
Deadline: 31 December 2023
Open for: Unspecified
Details here<\/a>.

International Young Theatre Playwriting Contest
<\/strong>This prize is for bold and powerful plays for young audiences (no plays for children or adult audiences, or musicals), written in any official European language. Performance time for Category A is 60-120 minutes; for Category B, 30-60 minutes; for Category C, 10-30 minutes. They accept plays co-authored by more than one writer. The play must be a new and original piece of work. Writers of any age or nationality can enter the contest. \u00a0
Value: \u20ac2,400 for Category A, \u20ac1,000 for Category B, \u20ac400 for Category C, and other non-cash prizes
Deadline: 31 December 20243
Open for: All playwrights
Details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Defenestrationism.net Lengthy Poem Contest
<\/strong>They are reading entries for a lengthy poem, of at least 120 lines and up to chapbook-length (see guidelines). It is best to divide it into parts or sections, though this is not a strict requirement. Poem cycles will be considered. Please note, the shortlisted poems will be posted on the website, which will be followed by fan voting.
Value: $300
Deadline: 1 January 2024
Open for: All writers
Details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Leon Levy Centre for Biography: Biography Fellowships <\/strong>\u00a0
These are four resident fellowships at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City, to nonfiction writers working on biographies. preference in the award of fellowships is given to those who have not yet published a biography or received fellowships for the writing of a biography. They also welcome applications from published and accomplished writers who are undertaking their first biography. The Leon Levy Center for Biography does not award fellowships for memoirs, essays, plays, films, or fiction. One of the application requirements is a sample of the proposed biography, a maximum of 2,500 words. (Also see the Sloan Fellowship<\/a>, given annually to a writer working on a biography of a figure in the field of science or technology.)\u00a0
Value: $72,000, residency\u00a0
Deadline: 4 January 2024\u00a0
Open for: Writers working on biographies\u00a0
Details here<\/a> \u00a0

San Jos\u00e9 State University:<\/strong> Center for Steinbeck Studies \u2013 The<\/strong> Steinbeck Fellows Program
<\/strong>This awards writers of any age and background a $15,000 fellowship to finish a significant writing project. Fellowships are currently offered in Creative Writing (excluding poetry) and Steinbeck Studies; Fellows may be appointed in many fields, including fiction, drama, creative non-fiction, and biography. The creative writing fellowship does not require that there be any direct connection between your work and Steinbeck’s. The emphasis of the program is on helping writers who have had some success but have not published extensively, and whose promising work would be aided by the financial support and sponsorship of the Center and the University’s creative writing program.
Value: Up to 6 fellowships of $15,000 each
Deadline: 5 January 2024
Open for: Unspecified
Details here<\/a> and here<\/a>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quantum Shorts Flash Fiction Contest
<\/strong>This is for Quantum-inspired flash fiction. \u201cThe challenge for writers is this: craft a story no longer than 1000 words that takes inspiration from quantum physics. The story must also incorporate the phrase \u201cnobody said this was going to be easy\u201d.\u201d
Value: $1,500, $1,000, a People\u2019s Choice prize of $500; $100 for shortlisted stories
Deadline: 8 January 2024
Open for: All writers
Details here<\/a> and here<\/a>.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

A couple of contests with later deadlines are:
— Harbor Editions Prizes: <\/strong>They are running two prizes \u2013 the Laureate Prize for Poetry<\/strong>, for which they accept fee-free submissions from BIPOC writers and previous finalists for poetry manuscripts, the prize is $500 and publication; they also have the Harbor Review Editor Prize<\/strong>, which is for a micro poetry chapbook manuscript, and for which, also, submissions for BIPOC writers and previous finalists are free, and prize is $200; entries for other poets have a submission fee; the deadline for both prizes is 31st<\/sup> January 2024, details are in their Submittable here<\/a>; please be sure to submit in the correct category.

— Story Unlikely Short Story Contest: <\/strong>This is for short stories, and also other genres, of up to 4,500 words – \u201cThere are no restrictions on genre: fantasy, sci fi, memoir, fiction\/nonfiction, etc – we don’t care as long as it’s a good story.\u201d Read the terms carefully \u2013 writers have to subscribe to their newsletter, otherwise they will be disqualified; see \u2018Anything I missed?\u2019. The prizes are $750, $500, and $250, and the deadline is 31 January 2024. Details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Dragonblade Publishing: Write Track Competition for Historical Romance: <\/strong>This is a contest for a historical romance manuscript, and they want submissions from all writers, including those writing LGBTQ+ romance. The first prize is $1,000 and publishing, and the deadline is 1 February 2024. Details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

FOR WRITERS IN US\/CANADA
<\/strong>(Also see The Caribbean Writer Prizes<\/strong>, above.)
 
<\/strong>The New York Times Newsroom Fellowship Program
<\/strong>Their website says, \u201cIt is a yearlong program for up-and-coming journalists that replaced our newsroom\u2019s summer internships in 2019. We believe the fellowship provides superior training, offers greater benefits for participants and our newsroom, and establishes relationships that will pay off for years to come. \u2026 The program is designed for journalists with some experience who are early in their careers, including recent college graduates.\u201d Applicants must be eligible to work in the US. The position will be at their New York office, unless otherwise stated (see guidelines). Apart from a reporting fellowship, they have others, including photo editor, visual investigations, and more; see here<\/a>.
Value: Approximately $79,000 (see here<\/a>)
Deadline: 1 December 2023
Open for: Early-career journalists eligible to work in the US
Details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Tony Quagliano Poetry Award<\/strong>
This biennial award \u201crecognizes an accomplished poet with an outstanding body of innovative, cutting-edge work pushing the boundaries of poetic craft, such as experimental approaches to form and\/or language. This award also recognizes a poet who contributes meaningfully to a literary community. Preference is given to poets with connection to Hawai\u2018i and\/or the Pacific.\u201d One of the submission requirements is 20 pages of poetry, published or unpublished; and writers must have had at least 25 poems published, to qualify. Applicants must be a resident of a US state or territory, and will be judged 75% on quality of published work and 25% on literary community involvement.
Value: $1,000
Deadline: 1 December 2023
Open for: US writers (see guidelines)
Details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest<\/strong>
This contest is for registered undergraduate full-time Juniors or Seniors at accredited four-year colleges or universities in the US in the Fall 2023 Semester. Students are invited to write an essay about an ethical issue they have encountered, and analyze what it has taught them about ethics, and themselves. \u201cWhat challenges awaken your conscience?
Is it the conflicts in American society?\u00a0 An international crisis?
Maybe a difficult choice you currently face or a hard decision you had to make?\u201d
Value: Unspecified
Deadline: 29 December 2023
Open for: US students (see guidelines)
Details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lyric Magazine: College Poetry Contest<\/strong> 
This is a contest open to\u202fundergraduates enrolled full time in an American or Canadian college or university. Poems must be original and unpublished, 39 lines or less, written in English in traditional forms, preferably with regular scansion and rhyme. Students can send up to three poems.  
Value: $500, $200, $100 
Deadline: 31 December 2023 
Open for: Undergraduates in an American or Canadian college or university 
Details here<\/a> 

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The AIIRA Writing Contest: How will AI change the landscape of your career within the next decade?<\/strong>
They want fiction or creative non-fiction (see guidelines), of up to 3,500 words, from US high schoolers. The theme is, \u201cHow will AI change the landscape of your career within the next decade?\u201d Their website says, \u201cThink of a career you’d like to have in the future. How might AI technology advance your field and help you perform your job within the next decade? What aspects or duties of your job may become irrelevant due to AI? Describe a day in the life of your job with AI as your new work partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your submission can be either a creative nonfiction essay speculating on the changes your desired career may undergo or a fictional scene depicting what your desired job may look like in ten years.\u201d  
Value: $550, $400, $250 
Deadline: 31 December 2023 
Open for: US high schoolers  
Details here<\/a> and here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jack Hazard Fellowship<\/strong>
Their website says, \u201cJack Hazard Fellows are fiction, creative nonfiction, and memoir writers who teach full time in an accredited high school in the United States. We provide a $5,000 award that enables these creative writers who teach to focus on their writing for a summer.\u201d
Value: $5,000
Deadline: 4 January 2024
Open for:
Details here<\/a> and here<\/a>.

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FOR WRITERS IN UK\/IRELAND
<\/strong>
<\/strong>Cove Park Residencies: The Loch Long Crime Writing Residency<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cove Park hosts residencies for artists and writers. Currently, they are accepting applications for the Loch Long Crime Writing Residency, which is a new, fully funded residency for Scotland-based writers developing new work in crime fiction. This two-week residency is scheduled to take place in March 2024. The writer should be developing new work in crime fiction, including but not limited to sub-genres such as psychological or legal thrillers, detective fiction, police procedurals, or private eye. It is for writers who have published, with a traditional publisher, at least one book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Writers established in other genres but wishing to develop a crime writing project are also welcome to apply. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Value: \u00a31,100 (\u00a3550 per week) and a travel allowance of up to \u00a375
Deadline: 4 December 2023
Open for: Scotland-based writers
Details here<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discoveries 2024<\/strong>\u00a0
This prize is run by The Women\u2019s Prize Trust, Audible, Curtis Brown Literary Agency, and Curtis Brown Creative writing school. It is for UK- and Ireland-based women writers, for a novel-in-progress (adult fiction) \u2013 send the first 10,000 words and a synopsis. Apart from a cash prize, the winner also gets literary representation. There are also non-cash prizes for shortlisted and longlisted writers.\u00a0
Value: \u00a35,000\u00a0
Deadline: 8 January 2024\u00a0
Open for: UK- and Ireland-based women writers\u00a0
Details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Bio:<\/strong>\u00a0S. Kalekar is the pseudonym of a regular contributor to this magazine.\u00a0She can be reached\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

These are contests, fellowships, and grants for fiction, non-fiction, poetry, plays, and journalism. They\u2019re roughly divided geographically. – S. Kalekar INTERNATIONAL CONTESTS African Poetry Book Fund: Sillerman First Book Prize for African PoetryIt is for poets born in Africa, or who are nationals of an African country, or whose parents are African, and who have…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11442"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11442\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11443,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11442\/revisions\/11443"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}