{"id":9603,"date":"2021-11-19T08:13:41","date_gmt":"2021-11-19T16:13:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/?p=9603"},"modified":"2021-11-19T09:33:57","modified_gmt":"2021-11-19T17:33:57","slug":"28-free-writing-contests-fellowships-with-cash-prizes-up-to-72000","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/uncategorized\/28-free-writing-contests-fellowships-with-cash-prizes-up-to-72000\/","title":{"rendered":"28 Free Writing Contests & Fellowships With Cash Prizes (Up to $72,000)"},"content":{"rendered":"

These contests and fellowships are for writers of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. The prizes range from $100 to $72,000. They are, very roughly, divided by geography. – S. Kalekar<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CONTESTS OPEN FOR INTERNATIONAL SUBMISSIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Undiscovered Gems Award<\/strong>
\nFor this contest, writers are to create a short story based on their book (including non-fiction and memoir). \u201cYour story must be self contained, which means readers should be able to appreciate it without reference to your whole book.
\nYour story must be based on or at least inspired by a book that you have written (or are in the process of writing) that you would like to get published by a traditional publishing house.\u201d The winner and runners-up will also be invited to submit their manuscripts.
\nValue: $500
\nDeadline: 1 December 2021
\nOpen for: All writers
\nDetails here<\/a><\/p>\n

Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poets
\n<\/strong>This is a debut poetry book contest for African writers (someone who was born in Africa, who is a national or resident of an African country, or whose parents are African).\u00a0 Manuscripts must be at least 50 pages long.
\nValue: $1,000
\nDeadline: 1 December 2021
\nOpen for: African poets
\nDetails here<\/a><\/p>\n

Thin Air Magazine: The Bird in Your Hands Prize<\/strong>
\nThis is a contest that centers and celebrates BIPOC voices. It is for poetry, fiction, and non-fiction in any form under 500 words.\u00a0Apart from a cash prize, there is publication, an invitation to a literary festival, and other prizes.
\nValue: $1,000, other prizes
\nDeadline: 1 December 2021
\nOpen for: BIPOC Writers
\nDetails here<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Invisible City: Nonfiction Flash Contest
\n<\/strong>Invisible City is an online publication of the MFA in Writing Program at the University of San Francisco. They want flash creative non-fiction entries, of up to 750 words, for this flash contest.
\nValue: $500, $200, $100
\nDeadline: 5 December 2021
\nOpen for: All writers
\nDetails here<\/a><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Awards
    \n<\/strong>Two 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. There is no fee for the work-in-progress award. The prizes are run by Columbia Journalism School \u2013 they also have the J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize and the Mark Lynton History Prize, and these awards have an entry fee.
    \nValue: $25,000
    \nDeadline: 9 December 2021
    \nOpen for: Unspecified
    \nDetails     here<\/a> and here<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Table\/\/Feast Literary Magazine Contests
    \n<\/strong>They have three contests: for flash fiction, a micro\/mini poem, and translations of poetry (send up to 3 translations).
    \nValue: $40 each for flash and micro\/mini poem; $200 for translations
    \nDeadline: 15 December 2021
    \nOpen for: All writers and poets
    \nDetails     here<\/a><\/p>\n

    Quantum Shorts Short Story Contest
    \n<\/strong>They want a short story, under 1,000 words, inspired in some way by quantum physics, which should also contain the phrase \u201cit\u2019s a lot to think about\u201d. However, please read the     rules<\/a> carefully \u2013 they ask for sweeping rights from all entrants, including \u201c\u00a0<\/strong>royalty-free, sublicensable, irrevocable, perpetual,<\/strong> worldwide, non-exclusive license\u201d<\/strong> to reproduce, modify, or publish any entrants\u2019 work by them or their partners, including derivative works. The contest is open to all writers ages 13 and above.
    \nValue: $1,500; $1,000; $500
    \nDeadline: 16 December 2021
    \nOpen for: All Writers
    \nDetails     here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    St. Martin\u2019s Minotaur\/ Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition<\/strong>
    \n<\/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. The writing should be no less than 220 pages, or approximately 60,000 words. Minotaur is an imprint of St Martin\u2019s Press, which is part of Macmillan.
    \nValue: $10,000 advance against royalties
    \nDeadline: 17 December 2021
    \nOpen for: Unpublished writers (see guidelines)
    \nDetails     here<\/a><\/p>\n

    Cove Park Residencies
    \n<\/strong>These two- to six-week residencies are to provide artists with the time and support required to focus on their practice. These are for UK-based, and international artists in many disciplines, including writers, poets, and translators; and including those engaged in cross-disciplinary work, and those working collaboratively. \u201cWe are pleased to accept applications from those wishing to engage with Cove Park\u2019s first enquiry connected to the environmental crisis.\u201d See guidelines for work sample requirements that are part of the application.
    \nValue: \u00a3450 per week, accommodation at Cove Park, overlooking Loch Long on Scotland\u2019s west coast, and some travel fees, ranging from \u00a350 to \u00a3750, depending on the applicant\u2019s location
    \nDeadline: 20 December 2021
    \nOpen for: All writers and translators, including UK-based ones
    \nDetails     here<\/a> and here<\/a><\/p>\n

    International Young Theatre Playwriting Contest
    \n<\/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; and for Category C, 10-30 minutes. They accept plays co-authored by more than one writer. Writers can send up to three entries. The play must be a new and original piece of work. Writers of any age or nationality can enter the contest.
    \nValue: \u20ac2,400 for Category A, \u20ac1,000 for Category B; \u20ac400 for Category C + other prizes
    \nDeadline: 20 December 2021
    \nOpen for: All playwrights
    \nDetails     here<\/a><\/p>\n

    Omega Sci-Fi Awards: The Roswell Award
    \nThe Roswell Award<\/strong> is an international short science fiction story competition for emerging writers age 16 and older; send a story of 500-1,500 words. (The \u201cWomen Hold Up Half the Sky Award\u201d <\/strong>for feminist sci-fi is co-presented by Artemis literary journal. This is an additional special prize category for a feminist themed sci-fi story. The winner will be published by Artemis literary journal with more prizes to be announced.) Also see their award for Los Angeles County high school students.
    \nValue: $500, $250, $100 for the Roswell Award
    \nDeadline: 21 December 2021 for the Roswell Award
    \nOpen for: All writers
    \nDetails     here<\/a><\/p>\n

    Green Stories Writing Competitions: Orna Ross Green Stories Novel Prize<\/strong>
    \nThis is for novels (completed or in progress) which showcases positive visions of a more sustainable society or incorporating green solutions into the context of an otherwise mainstream story.\u00a0One of the entry requirements is an excerpt of 4,000-10,000 words (see guidelines). Also, \u201centrants must show they have read at least one chapter from successfully published pieces from the Green Stories project that provide an example of entertaining mainstream fiction that meets the criteria of showing green solutions (not just problems) that readers can engage with.\u201d (They provide a free excerpt).
    \nValue: \u00a31000; \u00a3500; other non-cash prizes
    \nDeadline: 30 December 2021
    \nOpen for: All writers
    \nDetails     here<\/a><\/p>\n


    \nPoetry Society of America: The Four Quartets Prize
    \n<\/strong>This is\u00a0for a unified and complete sequence of poems published in America in a print or online journal, chapbook, or book in 2021.<\/strong>\u00a0Poems in the sequence may have been published in different journals provided that they were published in 2019 and that brought together, they form a complete sequence. The minimum requirement is 14 pages of published poems unified by subject, form, and style.\u00a0Entire books composed of a unified sequence, however long, are also welcome.<\/strong> Submissions will have to be mailed. Self-published work is not eligible.\u00a0 They have other upcoming awards also, though these have an entry fee.
    \nValue: $20,000; $1,000 to finalists
    \nDeadline: 31 December 2021 (postmarked)
    \nOpen for: Unspecified
    \nDetails     here<\/a><\/p>\n

    Center Field of Gravity Award<\/strong>
    \nThey want previously unpublished science-fiction, fantasy, and horror short stories or long-form poems up to 17,000 words.
    \nValue: $200; $25 for runners-up
    \nDeadline: 31 December 2021
    \nOpen for: All writers
    \nDetails     here<\/a><\/p>\n

    Lilith Magazine Fiction Contest
    \n<\/strong>This magazine publishes work of interest to Jewish women. They like work with both feminist and Jewish content. Submit up to 3,000 words.
    \nValue: $250
    \nDeadline: 31 December 2021
    \nOpen for: All writers
    \nDetails     here<\/a><\/p>\n

    Blue Mountain Arts: Poetry Card Contest
    \n<\/strong>This biannual contest is for poetry for the greeting card company. Poems can be rhyming or non-rhyming, though they find non-rhyming poetry reads better. Poets can enter the contest as often as they like.
    \nValue: $350, $200, $100
    \nDeadline: 31 December 2021
    \nOpen for: All poets
    \nDetails     here<\/a><\/p>\n

    Story Unlikely Short Story Contest<\/strong>
    \nThis is for short stories, and also other genres, of up to 2,250 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.
    \nValue: $500; $25 for runners-up
    \nDeadline: 31 December 2021
    \nOpen for: All writers
    \nDetails     here<\/a><\/p>\n

    The Society of Classical Poets: 2022 Poetry Translation Competition <\/strong>This is for poetry translations, which should not exceed 108 lines. Translated poetry should be from the Romantic period or earlier. Translations should be metered. Include the poem in its original language.<\/em>\u00a0Rhyme and other traditional techniques are encouraged as well, but not required. They have other classical poetry contests, including one for students, which have entry fees.
    \nValue: $100
    \nDeadline: 31 December 2021
    \nOpen for: Unspecified
    \nDetails     here<\/a><\/p>\n

    Martha Heasley Cox Center for Steinbeck Studies: Steinbeck Fellowships
    \n<\/strong>These are fellowships to help writers complete a book project. Up to six Steinbeck Fellows are selected each year from disciplines including fiction, creative non-fiction, biography, drama, and Steinbeck studies (no poetry). Also, \u201cIn awarding fellowships, the selection committee considers the quality of the candidate’s proposal and any factors that would lead to expectations of future publication and other achievement. The creative writing fellowship does not require that there be any direct connection between Steinbeck’s works and that of the applicant.\u201c
    \nValue: $15,000, residency at San Jos\u00e9 State University
    \nDeadline: 3 January 2022
    \nOpen for: Unspecified
    \nDetails     here<\/a><\/p>\n

    The Leon Levy Centre for Biography: Biography Fellowships
    \n<\/strong>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. We 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.)
    \nValue: $72,000, residency
    \nDeadline: 4 January 2021
    \nOpen for: Writers working on biographies
    \nDetails     here<\/a><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    CONTESTS FOR US- AND CANADA-BASED WRITERS<\/strong><\/p>\n

    US Writers Aid Initiative
    \n<\/strong>This is intended to assist fiction and non-fiction authors, poets, playwrights, screenwriters, translators, and journalists. To be eligible, applicants must be based in the United States, be professional writers, and be able to demonstrate that this one-time grant will be meaningful in helping them to address an emergency situation. Writers do not have to be PEN members. The U.S. Writers Aid Initiative is not intended to subsidize writing-related expenses, such as equipment, printing, shipping, travel, or publicity services.\u00a0 They have a few deadlines through the year, and the upcoming one is 1st<\/sup> December.
    \nValue: Unspecified
    \nDeadline: 1 December 2021
    \nOpen for: US-based writers
    \nDetails     here<\/a>
    \n(Submissions are also open for PEN America\u2019s fellowship for New York based writer activists:     Writing as Activism<\/strong> Fellowship<\/strong><\/a>; the stipend is $2,000, and the deadline is 3 December 2021.)<\/p>\n

    Polar Expressions: Student Contest for Short Story
    \n<\/strong>Polar Expressions has announced their annual short story contest for Canadian students, from kindergarten to grade 12. Stories should be up to 450 words, on any topic.
    \n(The deadline for their poetry prize is earlier.)
    \nValue: First prizes of $60-100 (Canadian) for students of various grades, as well as second and third prizes; additional cash prizes for schools
    \nDeadlines: 3 December 2021 for short stories
    \nOpen for: Canadian students
    \nDetails     here<\/a><\/p>\n

    The Tratt Fiction Award
    \n<\/strong>This is for US-based writers, for a debut short story manuscript \u2013 it must be the writer\u2019s first collection of short fiction. Manuscript length has to be 160-275 pages. Apart from the cash prize, there is a standard royalty contract.
    \nValue: $1,000
    \nDeadline: 31 December 2021
    \nOpen for: US-based writers
    \nDetails     here<\/a><\/p>\n

    The Lyric Magazine: College Poetry Contest<\/strong>
    \nThis is a contest open to\u00a0undergraduates 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.
    \nValue: $500, $150, $100
    \nOpen for: Undergraduates in an American or Canadian college or university
    \nDetails     here<\/a><\/p>\n

    U.S. Naval Institute General Prize Essay Contest
    \n<\/strong>This prize is for an essay of up to 3,000 words on US defence (see guidelines for details on the theme). The contest is open to \u201call contributors – active-duty military, reservists, veterans, and civilians\u201d, according to their guidelines.
    \nValue: $6,000, $3,000, $2,000
    \nDeadline: 31 December 2021
    \nOpen for: \u201cAll contributors – active-duty military, reservists, veterans, and civilians\u201d
    \nDetails     here<\/a><\/p>\n

    Minotaur Books: The Tony Hillerman Prize for Best First Mystery Set in the Southwest
    \n<\/strong>This is for US and Canadian writers, for a first novel (manuscript) of mystery \u2013 in which a serious crime or crimes is at the heart of the story, and the emphasis is on the solution rather than the details of the crime \u2013 of approximately 60,000 words. The story\u2019s primary setting must be one or more of the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and\/or Utah. Each manuscript will be assessed based on the following criteria, weighted as indicated: publishable quality of manuscript (60%); creativity (20%); and originality (20%). In the event of a tie, the tie will be broken based on the higher score in the \u201cpublishable quality of manuscript\u201d category.\u00a0Minotaur is an imprint of St Martin\u2019s Press, which is part of Macmillan.
    \nValue: $10,000 advance against royalties
    \nDeadline: 1 January 2022
    \nOpen for: US and Canadian writers
    \nDetails     here<\/a><\/p>\n

    Homebound Publications: The Prism Prize for Climate Literature
    \n<\/strong>This is for a work of fiction, non-fiction, or poetry manuscript in the genre of climate literature. The final manuscript of up to 75,000 words (for fiction and non-fiction) and a market assessment and\/or statement of marketing intentions are part of the submission requirement. The contest is for authors living in the US or UK.
    \nValue: $1,000, publication contract
    \nDeadline: 8 January 2022
    \nOpen for: US and UK authors
    \nDetails     here<\/a> and here<\/a><\/p>\n

    CONTESTS FOR UK- AND IRELAND-BASED WRITERS
    \n<\/strong>(Also see \u2018Cove Park Residencies\u2019 and \u2018Homebound Publications: The Prism Prize for Climate Literature\u2019 in the sections above)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The Graphic Short Story Prize
    \nThis is an opportunity for UK-based aspiring graphic novelists, or a team of writer and artist, for a graphic story. The prize is organized by Jonathan Cape and Comica, together with The Observer. Stories can be fiction or non-fiction, in black and white or color, and with or without words. Entries have to be mailed.
    \nValue: \u00a31,000, \u00a3250
    \nDeadline: 10 December\u00a0 2021
    \nOpen for: UK-based aspiring graphic novelists\/graphic novel writer and artist teams
    \nDetails     here<\/a> (scroll down) \u2013 download the entry form from here for terms & conditions, acceptable format, and other details.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    A couple of contests with later deadlines are: <\/b><\/p>\n

    Discoveries 2022<\/a><\/b>, a prize for UK and Ireland based women writers for a novel \u2013 send the first 10,000 words and a synopsis; the prize is 5,000 pounds and literary representation; the deadline is 17 January 2022.<\/p>\n

    Submissions are also open for the Black Orchid Novella Award<\/a><\/b>; submit a mystery novella in the tradition of Nero Wolfe, of 15,000-20,000 words \u2013 the prize is $1,000, publication in Alfred Hitchcock\u2019s Mystery Magazine, and the deadline is 31 May 2022.<\/p>\n

    \n

    Bio:<\/strong>\u00a0S. Kalekar is the pseudonym of a regular contributor to this magazine. She is the author of\u00a0182 Short Fiction Publishers<\/a>.\u00a0She can be reached\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    These contests and fellowships are for writers of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. The prizes range from $100 to $72,000. They are, very roughly, divided by geography. – S. Kalekar   CONTESTS OPEN FOR INTERNATIONAL SUBMISSIONS Undiscovered Gems Award For this contest, writers are to create a short story based on their book (including non-fiction and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9606,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9603","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9603","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=9603"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9603\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9609,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9603\/revisions\/9609"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9606"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9603"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9603"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9603"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}