{"id":4786,"date":"2018-01-09T11:32:25","date_gmt":"2018-01-09T19:32:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/?p=4786"},"modified":"2018-01-12T06:20:55","modified_gmt":"2018-01-12T14:20:55","slug":"21-free-writing-competitions-with-cash-prizes-and-residencies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/uncategorized\/21-free-writing-competitions-with-cash-prizes-and-residencies\/","title":{"rendered":"21 Free Writing Contests & Residencies With Cash Prizes"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This is a list of contests and residencies for writers, poets, essayists, playwrights, journalists and bloggers. These include prizes for first novels, essays, poetry collections, to name a few, and are for unpublished, contracted and published writers. There are some great opportunities for fellowships, including to Japan; some are a few weeks and others are for a term or a year, including one for writers persecuted in their home countries. Some have teaching duties attached; all endeavour to buy writers time for their work. Prizes and residencies range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. See this list<\/a> for some other upcoming contest deadlines in January.\u00a0 \u2013\u2013 S. Kalekar<\/strong><\/div>\n
Virginia Commonwealth University First Novelist Award<\/strong>This award is for debut novels first published in the US between July-December 2017. The author may have published previous work in a different form, such as poems or short stories, but the submission must be his or her first published novel.
\nValue: $5,000
\nDeadline: 14 January 2018
\nOpen for: Those with a first published novel
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Hektoen International<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Grand Prix Essay Competition<\/strong>Submit original essays up to 1,600 words relating to\u00a0art, history, literature, education, personal narratives, and music as they relate to medicine, as well reports on famous physicians or hospitals. The rules also say that any of the entries may be published in Hektoen International<\/em> journal at any time, whether or not they win.<\/p>\n

Value: $3,000; two prizes of $800 each
\nDeadline: 14 January 2018
\nOpen for: All writers
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Ellen Meloy Fund for Desert Writers<\/strong>This is a prize for desert writing and honors the memory of Ellen Meloy. It provides support to writers whose work reflects the spirit and passions embodied in Ellen\u2019s writing and her commitment to a \u201cdeep map of place.\u201d Literary or creative non-fiction submissions are accepted. The writing sample\u2019s artistic excellence and desert literacy, the proposal\u2019s strength, and the biography\u2019s ability to demonstrate a history and future of writing and desert experience will be taken into consideration. Any desert region in the world is applicable to this award. Send up to 10 pages of a writing sample \u2013 it can be published, unpublished, or a work in progress. Emerging, mid-career or established non-fiction writers can apply.
\nValue: $5,000
\nDeadline: 15 January 2018
\nOpen for: All writers
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Andr\u00e9s<\/strong>\u00a0 Montoya Poetry Prize
\n<\/strong>This prize is for the publication of a full-length poetry manuscript by an emerging Latinx poet. Applicants must neither have published, nor committed to publish a book-length collection of poems (48 pages of poems or more) with a registered ISBN, either in the US or abroad. There is no restriction on theme or style. Manuscripts must be between 48 and 100 pages.Value: $1,000
\nDeadline: 15 January 2017
\nOpen for: Emerging Latinx poets
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Letras Latinas\/Red Hen Poetry Prize<\/strong>This prize supports the publication of a second or third full-length book of poems by a Latinx poet. The manuscript should be 48-100 pages.<\/p>\n

Value: $1,000
\nDeadline: 15 January 2018
\nOpen for: Latinx poets living in the US<\/p>\n

Details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize<\/strong>This prize is for a woman writer who is\u00a0a US citizen, and who has written the best book-length work of prose fiction \u2013 novel, short stories, or experimental writing. The works must have been published in 2017 and be submitted by the publisher. They particularly welcome work of a promising but less established writer.
\nValue: $7,500
\nDeadline: 15 January 2018 (postmarked)
\nOpen for: Women writers who are US citizens
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\nSummer Poet in Residence, University of Mississippi<\/strong>This is for poets who have at least one full-length book, either published or under contract, and no more than two books. Poets will give a public reading and make 1-2 class visits in a week during the four-week residency. Poets need to send a work sample of up to 10 pages.<\/p>\n

Value: $3,000, travel reimbursement, residency
\nDeadline: 15 January 2018 (postmarked)
\nOpen for: Emerging published or contracted poets
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Hillman Prize for Journalism<\/strong>This is for journalists who pursue investigative reporting and deep storytelling in service of the common good. Recipients\u00a0exemplify reportorial excellence, storytelling skill, and social justice impact.\u00a0The categories are books, newspaper journalism, broadcast journalism, web journalism, and opinion & analysis journalism, which includes all kinds of advocacy, opinion, commentary and analysis, normally short-form and\/or frequent, regardless of medium. It is open to newspaper and magazine columnists,\u00a0TV\u00a0and radio presenters, podcasters, blogs, and bloggers. There is a Canadian Hillman Prize and a US Hillman Prize \u2013 the US prize is open to all journalists and subjects globally but the work must have been primarily accessible to a US audience in 2017.<\/p>\n

Value: $5,000 each
\nDeadline: 15 January for Canadian, 30 January 2018 for US entries
\nOpen for: Journalists and bloggers
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Program<\/strong>This is for contracted authors of literary fiction, short story collections and literary non-fiction, such as travel essays, memoirs, or other non-fiction with a strong narrative, as well as for graphic novels, memoirs, or histories written and illustrated by one person. Books should be for an adult or young adult audience. The publisher must have US distribution. Debuting authors and writers with three or fewer previously published books who have yet to receive a major literary award are eligible. Exceptions are sometimes made for authors who have published more books, but have yet to break out to a larger audience. Submissions must be made by publishers, not authors, at least 3-6 months before the publishing date. They accept submissions thrice a year.
\nValue: Total prizes worth $105,000 for six writers
\nDeadline: 18 January 2018 for Summer 2018
\nOpen for: Contracted writers
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Fountain Essay Contest<\/strong>Submit an essay of 1,500-2,500 on this topic: How to face a disaster? Writers should say how they faced difficult times, and share their advice and life lessons. Writers should read terms and conditions laid out in the FAQ, which specify that they \u201cmight publish submissions in The Fountain, both the print and web editions, even if the essays did not win any prize.\u201d
\nValue: $1,000, $500, $300; two prizes of $150 each
\nDeadline: 31 January 2018
\nOpen for: All writers
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Caine Prize for African Writing<\/strong>This is for a published short story by an African writer, of 3,000-10,000 words. Publishers need to enter the works. Works received after the deadline will be put forward to the next year’s prize. The short-list is selected from work originally published in the five years preceding the submissions deadline and not previously considered for a Caine Prize.<\/p>\n

Value: \u00a310,000, and \u00a3500 and travel expenses for short-listed candidates
\nDeadline: 31 January 2018
\nOpen for: African writers
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Ohioana Walter Rumsey Mavin Grant<\/strong>This is a grant for Ohio writers who are 30 years or younger, and have not had a book published. Send up to 4 pieces of prose, of 10-40 pages.<\/p>\n

Value: $1,000
\nDeadline: 31 January 2018
\nOpen for: Ohio writers
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Binghampton Book Awards: The Milt Kessler Poetry Award and The John Gardner Fiction Award<\/strong>
\nThe awards are for one book of poetry and a book of prose (novel or a collection of fiction), published in the previous year. The writers need to have a US Social Security number for the prize to be awarded.Value: $1,000 each
\nDeadline: 1 February 2018
\nOpen for: Published poets and writers
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Roth Residence in Creative Writing<\/strong>This residency is offered by Bucknell University, and provides writing time of up to four months. For 2018-19, it is open for poets working on a first or second book. There are two residencies, in fall and spring semesters. Some record of publication is desirable.
\nValue: $5,000 and residency
\nDeadline: 1 February 2018
\nOpen for: Poets living in the US
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Olive B. O\u2019Connor Fellowship in Creative Writing<\/strong>The annual fellowship from Colgate University is designed to support writers completing their first book. It provides a stipend and office space. Each fellow teaches a creative writing workshop each semester and gives a public reading of his or her work. Those who have completed MFA, MA or PhD in creative writing and working on their first book are encouraged to apply.<\/p>\n

Value: $40,500 and travel expenses; residency
\nDeadline: 1 February 2018
\nOpen for: Unspecified
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

US-Japan Creative Artists Exchange Fellowships<\/strong>This grant offers artists, including writers and playwrights, the opportunity to work in Japan. Collaboration with Japanese colleagues is encouraged \u2013 it is important to identify potential partners\/collaborators\/teachers and articulate the reason behind the choice. Artists are free to live anywhere in the country to pursue activities of greatest relevance to their creative process. Applicants must be professional creative artists (see guidelines for details about writers\u2019 publishing requirements) working in their field.
\nValue: $20,000 for three months, $28,000 for up to five months; up to $2,000 for travel to Japan
\nDeadline: 1 February for cover sheet, and 1 March 2018 for narrative application and work samples
\nOpen for: US Citizens or permanent residents
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Golden Shovel Anthology International Student Competition<\/strong>This is for student poets in the US and internationally. It honors Gwendolyn Brooks, the first Black person to win a Pulitzer Prize, and Terrance Hayes, who created The Golden Shovel form. Students must draw a borrowed line from a poem in\u00a0The Golden Shovel Anthology:\u00a0\u00a0New Poems Honoring Gwendolyn Brooks<\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0They may borrow\u00a0from Terrance Hayes\u2019s original \u201cThe Golden Shovel,\u201d from one of Gwendolyn Brooks\u2019s five poems in the anthology, to any of the 300 other poems in the anthology. Students must choose 5-14\u00a0words\u00a0out of a sentence or line to use to create their own 5-14\u00a0line\u00a0Golden Shovel poem by vertically running those words as the last word in each of their lines (see guidelines for examples and further details).<\/p>\n

Value: $1000 for the Undergraduate College\/University division; $500 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0for Middle\/High School division (both pending completion of W9 tax \u00a0form, etc.)
\nDeadline: 1 February 2018
\nOpen for: US and international students
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Nelsen Algren Literary Awards<\/strong>This contest is for US-based writers and is sponsored by the Chicago Tribune. Send one short story of up to 8,000 words.<\/p>\n

Value: $3,500, 4 prizes of $1,000 each, 5 prizes of $500 each
\nDeadline: 7 February 2018
\nOpen for: Legal residents of the US and District of Columbia
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Life Writing Prize<\/strong>This is a prize for UK-based writers who have not published a full-length work. Life writing is \u2018intended to be true\u2019, that is, based on a significant portion of the author\u2019s own experience. Send a sample of 5,000 words.<\/p>\n

Value: \u00a31500, an Avron course, membership to the Royal Society of Literature; meetings with a literary agent and an editor; two prizes of \u00a3500 each, a writing mentor, meetings with a literary agent and an editor
\nDeadline: 9 February 2018
\nOpen for: UK-based writers
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


\nInternational Writers Project<\/strong>This is a one-year 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. \u00a0The Fellow will be a member of a supportive community at Brown University, Rhode Island.\u00a0The 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.\u00a0Fellows can apply themselves or be nominated. Send a letter, providing publishing history and explaining need, together with a resume, and if available, a writing sample (preferably in English) of creative work by the candidate. Supporting letters from others would be helpful.<\/p>\n

Value: A stipend, residency, relocation funds, and health benefits; aid for Visa and relocation process
\nDeadline: 15 February 2018
\nOpen for: Persecuted established creative writers
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Madeleine P. Plonsker Prize Emerging Writers Residency Prize<\/strong>This prize is for an emerging writer under forty years old with no major book publication, to spend time at the Lake Forest College. There are no formal teaching duties. Time is to be spent completing a manuscript, participating in a literary festival, and offering a series of public presentations. Send a 30-page excerpt of a fiction manuscript in progress.
\nValue: $10,000, residency
\nDeadline: 1 March 2018 \u2013 entries close after the first 200 submissions
\nOpen for: Writers under 40 years
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n