{"id":5119,"date":"2018-04-06T06:14:19","date_gmt":"2018-04-06T13:14:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/?p=5119"},"modified":"2018-04-06T06:28:08","modified_gmt":"2018-04-06T13:28:08","slug":"15-free-writing-contests-with-cash-prizes-up-to-50000","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/uncategorized\/15-free-writing-contests-with-cash-prizes-up-to-50000\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Free Writing Contests With Cash Prizes Up to $50,000"},"content":{"rendered":"
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These are contests, grants and fellowships for writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translators, journalists, playwrights, and for student writers. Prizes range from \u00a375 to $50,000. — S. Kalekar<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\nParsec Ink Short Story Competition<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is a contest for a science fiction, fantasy or horror short story (up to 3,500 words) on the theme Flawed Reflections. Entrants must be non-professional writers. Their website says, \u201cSubmission to the contest implies consent for publication\u201d.<\/p>\n

Value: $200, $100, $50
\nDeadline: 14 April 2018
\nOpen for: Non-professional writers (see guidelines)
\nDetails here<\/a>.\n<\/div>\n

\nStories of the Nature of Cities 2099: Prize for Urban Flash Fiction <\/strong><\/p>\n

This is a prize for very short stories about cities, people and nature. Their website says, \u201cWhat are the stories of people and nature in cities in 2099? What will cities be like to live in? Are they lush and green, verdant and biodiverse? What will cities look like; be made of? How will they be designed and powered? Will they be tall, short, dense, under ground or under water? What of public spaces? Social organization? Mobility? Government? Sustainability and food? Wildlife? Climate change and resilience? Poverty, consumption, wealth, and justice? How will we interact and relate to one another and the natural world? What sort of stories can we tell about our communities and the spaces that will shape them?\u201d Works must be fiction (up to 1,000 words), be set in a city of any size in 2099, and include as significant plot elements both nature and people. Stories can be in any style or genre.<\/p>\n

Value: $3,000, $1,500, $500
\nDeadline: 15 April 2018
\nOpen for: All writers
\nDetails here<\/a>.\n<\/div>\n

\nSaroyan Writing Contest 2018: Mistakes<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is an essay contest for students. Write an essay on the theme, Mistakes: about a time in your life when you made a mistake. Did this change you in some way? Students with special needs are encouraged to participate. See guidelines if for specific requirements if this contest is used as a class project. There are five categories of participants, in grades 1 through 12.<\/p>\n

Value: $100, $75, $50
\nDeadline: 15 April 2018
\nOpen for: Students
\nDetails here<\/a> and here<\/a>.\n<\/div>\n

\nThe American Literary Translators Association Awards<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are various awards<\/a> for published translated works, most of which do not charge a submission fee, and there is the Cliff Becker Book Prize in Translation<\/a> for an unpublished translated poetry manuscript ($1,000), open to all poets regardless of nationality. Also see their Travel Fellowships<\/a> for unpublished or minimally published translators (four to six fellowships of $1,000 each), including the Jansen Fellowship<\/a>, which is preferentially awarded to an emerging translator of color or a translator working from an underrepresented Diaspora or stateless language.<\/p>\n

Value: Various
\nDeadline: 16 April 2018
\nOpen for: Various
\nDetails in the links above.\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\nUniversity of Southampton: Green Stories Competition<\/strong><\/p>\n

They want short stories (up to 3,500 words) that touch upon ideas around building a sustainable society. All genres will be considered \u2013 rom-com, literary fiction, science fiction, mystery, etc. \u2013 but stories must engage with the idea of sustainable practices and\/or societies. They will consider all stories, but encourage writers to imagine a more positive settings and practices.
\nValue: \u00a3200; \u00a350; and one prize of \u00a350 for an entry by a student
\nDeadline: 19 April 2018
\nOpen for: All writers
\nDetails here<\/a>.\n<\/div>\n

\nThe Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture: Hiett Prize in the Humanities<\/strong><\/p>\n

This prize is aimed at identifying candidates in the early stages of their careers devoted to the humanities and whose work shows extraordinary promise to have a significant impact on contemporary culture. Applications include a letter of recommendation and a plan for Future Scholarship and\/or Project in the Humanities. Past winners have included writers of columns, nonfiction, poetry and memoir, and journalists.<\/p>\n

Value: $50,000
\nDeadline: 20 April 2018
\nOpen for: Those resident in the US
\nDetails here<\/a> and here<\/a>.\n<\/div>\n

\nTell a Tale: Gothic Fiction<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is for those who reside in the UK. Write a 500-word tale of terror inspired by the following quotation from the play Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde: \u201cIt might be possible, of course, that far from being one, we may possess two selves.\u201d<\/em> They want writers to think about the fears we have today and how they could be expressed in a dark but fun and emotional tale. The story should grip the reader in the way that gothic novels of the late 19th century captured the imaginations of their Victorian readers and\u00a0there should be an intellectual thread running through the story.\u00a0Writers are to submit their work by registering to theatrecloud and uploading their work via the online form.<\/p>\n

Value: \u00a3300
\nDeadline: 21 April 2018
\nOpen for: Those who reside in the UK
\nDetails here<\/a>.\n<\/div>\n

\nInterzone: The James White Award<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is a short story award for non-professional writers; the aim is to highlight new writers. Write a short science fiction story of 1,000-6,000 words on any theme.<\/p>\n

Value: \u00a3200
\nDeadline: 27 April 2018
\nOpen for: Non-professional authors
\nDetails here<\/a>.\n<\/div>\n

\nRuth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowships<\/strong><\/p>\n

These fellowships are for young poets in the US. Application includes up to 10 pages of poetry.<\/p>\n

Value: Five fellowships of $25,800 each
\nDeadline: 30 April 2018
\nOpen for: US residents or citizens aged 21-31
\nDetails here<\/a>.\n<\/div>\n

\nThe Irene Adler Prize<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is a scholarship for a woman pursuing a degree in journalism, creative writing, or literature at a recognized post-secondary institution in the US or Canada based on a 500-word essay. Applicants are to pick one of these three topics:
\n\u201cWhich female writer has influenced you the most?\u201d
\n\u201cWhat is the biggest improvement in women\u2019s lives that you\u2019d like to see in the next five years?\u201d
\n\u201cWhat is your most important writing project for 2018?\u201d<\/p>\n

Value: $1,000
\nDeadline: 30 April 2018
\nOpen for: Women doing a degree in journalism, creative writing, or literature in the US or Canada
\nDetails here<\/a>.\n<\/div>\n

\nHumane Education Network: A Voice for Animals<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is an essay contest for students worldwide in two categories: for 14-15-year-olds (see details about the special prize in this category), and for 16-18-year-olds. The essay themes include mistreatment of one animal species, or the preservation of one endangered species, among others (see guidelines). Participants must currently be attending middle or high school, or be home-schooled, and less than 19 years of age on January 22, 2018. The contest is also open for those for whom English is a second language. Entries can be essays (1,400-1,500 words), essays with photos, or videos.<\/p>\n

Value: $500 and below (various categories)
\nDeadline: 30 April 2018
\nOpen for: Eligible students worldwide
\nDetails here<\/a>.\n<\/div>\n

\nAyn Rand Institute: Anthem Essay Contest for Students<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is an international essay contest for students in 8th<\/sup>, 9th<\/sup> and 10th<\/sup> grades. Submit an essay of 600-1,200 words on one of three specific topics centred around Ayn Rand\u2019s novel, Anthem (see guidelines). Also see The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged contests on their website, with later deadlines.<\/p>\n

Value: $2,000, $500, $200, $50, $30; see special regional prizes for students in Chigagoland and Wyoming.
\nDeadline: 1 May 2018
\nOpen for: All students in 8th<\/sup>, 9th<\/sup> and 10th<\/sup> grades
\nDetails here<\/a>.\n<\/div>\n

\nRemastered Words Contest<\/strong><\/p>\n

This organization creates audio dramatizations of short story submissions and an audio recording. Submit a story (up to 5,000 words) in any fantasy sub-genre.<\/p>\n

Value: \u00a375, \u00a350, \u00a325 plus royalties
\nDeadline: 1 May 2018
\nOpen for: All writers
\nDetails here<\/a>.\n<\/div>\n

\nWhiting Creative Nonfiction Grant<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is for works of nonfiction under contract with a US publisher; authors must be US residents or citizens. Writers in the process of completing a book-length work of nonfiction\u00a0for a general, not an academic, readership, can apply.\u00a0Works of history, cultural or political reportage, biography, memoir, the sciences, philosophy, criticism, food or travel\u00a0writing, and personal essays, among other categories, are eligible.\u00a0See guidelines for further eligibility requirements.<\/p>\n

Value: Up to eight grants of $40,000 each
\nDeadline: 2 May 2018
\nOpen for: US contracted writers of nonfiction
\nDetails here<\/a>.\n<\/div>\n

\nThe Nick Darke Award<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is an international award for playwrights. The application includes one full-length stage play script of minimum 45 minutes (no maximum), and a synopsis.<\/p>\n

Value: \u00a36,000
\nDeadline: 21 May 2018
\nOpen for: All playwrights
\nDetails here<\/a> and here<\/a>.\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n