{"id":9682,"date":"2021-12-17T07:01:53","date_gmt":"2021-12-17T15:01:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/?p=9682"},"modified":"2021-12-17T07:01:53","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T15:01:53","slug":"27-free-writing-contests-with-cash-prizes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/uncategorized\/27-free-writing-contests-with-cash-prizes\/","title":{"rendered":"27 Free Writing Contests with Cash Prizes"},"content":{"rendered":"

These are contests for fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and plays. Prizes range from $100 to $72,000, and none of them charge an entry fee. They are, very roughly, divided geographically. – S. Kalekar<\/strong><\/p>\n

PRIZES OPEN FOR INTERNATIONAL WRITERS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fourteen Hills: Stacey Doris Memorial Poetry Award
\n<\/strong>This is a poetry contest \u2013 send one poem of 3 to 10 pages. Their guidelines say, \u201cStacy Doris\u00a0was a poet, translator, and an Associate Professor in San Francisco State University’s Department of Creative Writing, where she taught for ten years. … Doris created new worlds with her unexpected poetics. Following upon her spirit of creative invention, engaging wit and ingenious playfulness, discovery in construction, and radical appropriations based on classical forms, pastiche, etc., and love, the Stacy Doris Memorial Poetry Award is given to a poet with a truly inventive spirit.\u201d Works that don\u2019t win will be considered for publication in Fourteen Hills.<\/p>\n

Value: $500
\nDeadline: 1 January 2022
\nOpen for: Unspecified
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n


\nDefenestration.net Lengthy Poem Contest
\n<\/strong>They are reading entries for a lengthy poem, of at least three 120 lines, or roughly chapbook-length (see guidelines). Poem cycles are accepted. They do not want prose poems. It is best to divide it into parts or sections, though this is not a strict requirement.
\nValue: $300
\nDeadline: 1 January 2022
\nOpen for: Unspecified
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n


\nMartha 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 2022
\nOpen for: Writers working on biographies
\nDetails here<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Walter Muir Whitehill Prize in Early American History<\/strong>
\nThis prize is for an essay on early American history (up to 1826), not previously published, with preference being given to New England subjects.\u00a0Essays should be 40-60 pages, and can be emailed or mailed.
\nValue: $2,500
\nDeadline: 15 January 2022 (postmarked)
\nOpen for: Unspecified
\nDetails here<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/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: 15 January 2022 (extended)
\nOpen for: All writers
\nDetails here<\/a><\/p>\n

The Hillman Prize for Journalism
\n<\/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:\u00a0<\/strong>Book (bound volumes and ebooks), Newspaper Journalism (story or series\/in print or online),<\/strong>\u00a0Magazine Journalism (story or series\/in print or online),\u00a0Broadcast Journalism (story\/series\/documentary that has aired on television or radio),\u00a0Web Journalism (story\/series or multimedia that did not appear in print)<\/strong>, and\u00a0Opinion\u00a0<\/strong>&\u00a0Analysis Journalism (any medium)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>– includes all types of advocacy, opinion, commentary and analysis, normally short-form and\/or frequent, regardless of medium; open to newspaper and magazine columnists,\u00a0TV\u00a0and radio presenters, podcasters, blogs, and bloggers. The US prize is open to all journalists and subjects globally but the work must have been primarily accessible to a US audience; the Canadian prize, too, is open to all journalists and subjects globally but the work must have been primarily accessible to a Canadian audience, and must have been published in Canada.
\nValue: $5,000 each
\nDeadline: 15 January for Canadian, 30 January 2022 for US entries
\nOpen for: Journalists
\nDetails here<\/a> and here<\/a>
\n(They also have Labor and Workforce Reporting Grants<\/a> \u2013 they accept pitches on a rolling basis, and grants are up to $5,000.)<\/p>\n

Learning Pool: Tall Tales Short Story Competition
\n<\/strong>This is a story contest for children. Writers ages 7-12 can enter. Their guidelines say, \u201cWe are asking you to write a short story of no more than 500 words based on a mythical character of your choice. Whether it\u2019s a shy dragon or a surfing mermaid, a silly werewolf or a scary fairy, we want to read your story. If you\u2019re feeling really creative, send us a picture of your character to bring your story to life.\u201d There are two categories, for ages 7-9 and 10-12 years. Writers have to ask an adult to submit their stories on the contest website. Royalties will be donated to Make-a-Wish International.
\nValue: \u00a3200 for winners in each category, \u00a3100 for runners-up
\nDeadline: 21 January 2022
\nOpen for: Writers ages 7-12 years
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Good Story Grant
\n<\/strong>They will award two grants, and writers of all levels, in all genres, can apply. Their guidelines say, \u201cThe 2022 Good Story Grant aims to help two writers reach the next step in their creative journeys. This grant is open to writers of all skill levels, and working in all genres and categories. The award is $1,500 US, used however you\u2019d like \u2026 as long as it has to do with writing and helps you tell your story. This year\u2019s award is two grants. One open to all writers and one open to writers who identify as BIPOC, with the aim of championing underrepresented voices.\u201d One of the requirements is an essay on what the grant will mean to you and how you will use the funds,
\nValue: $1,500 for two writers
\nDeadline: 31 January 2022
\nOpen for: All writers
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Jerry Jazz Musician Short Fiction Contest
\n<\/strong>The magazine runs a short story contest thrice a year. Readers of this magazine are interested in music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theater, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America. While the writing should appeal to a reader with these interests, stories can be on any theme. Stories should be up to 3,000 words, but up to 4,000 words will be considered.
\nValue: $100
\nDeadline: 31 January 2022
\nOpen for: All writers
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

AKO Caine Prize for African Writing
\n<\/strong>This is for a published short story by an African writer (see guidelines), of 3,000-10,000 words. The story must have been published in the five years preceding the submissions deadline. Submissions have to be made by publishers only. Works published in translation are also eligible (see \u2018Rules of Entry\u2019 for details).
\nValue: \u00a310,000, and \u00a3500 and travel expenses for up to five short-listed candidates
\nDeadline: 31 January 2022
\nOpen for: African writers
\nDetails here<\/a> and here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Drip Action Theatre Company: Joy Goun Award
\n<\/strong>They are looking for plays that are 30-40 minutes long, and these will be performed in the UK as part of the Arundel Festival Theatre Trail. Their website says the Train \u201cis a great showcase for both new and established writers, from the UK and beyond.\u201d There is a prize for the best submitted script, as well as for other successful playwrights. Seven plays will be chosen from the open call, along with a specially commissioned piece.
\nValue: \u00a3250; \u00a3200 each for other successful playwrights
\nDeadline: 31 January 2022
\nOpen for: Unspecified
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award
\n<\/strong>They want a short story, of up to 8,000 words, that shows the near future (no more than about 50-60 years out) of manned space exploration. They want to see Moon bases, Mars colonies, orbital habitats, space elevators, asteroid mining, artificial intelligence, nano-technology, realistic spacecraft, heroics, sacrifice, adventure. They do not want stories that show technology or space travel as evil or bad, galactic empires, paranormal elements, UFO abductions, zombie stories, thinly veiled copies of previous winners, non-standalone novel excerpts, or screenplays.
\nValue: 8c\/word, and various non-cash awards
\nDeadline: 1 February 2022
\nOpen for: All writers
\nDetails here<\/a>.
\n(They also have a fantasy short story contest, the Baen Fantasy Adventure Award<\/a>, that pays $0.08\/word for stories of up to 8,000 words in all fantasy genres, and will open for submissions from 14 February to 30 April 2022.)<\/p>\n

Neukom Institute Literary Arts Award for Playwriting
\n<\/strong>Playwrights have to write to a prompt: What does it mean to be a human in a computerized world?
\nValue: $5,000
\nDeadline: 1 February 2022
\nOpen for: All playwrights
\nDetails here<\/a><\/p>\n

(A couple of contests with later deadlines are:
\n— <\/strong>National Endowment for the Arts\u2019<\/strong> Creative Writing Fellowships<\/a> for US writers<\/strong> \u2013 they are accepting applications for poetry this year, awards are up to $25,000, and the deadline is 10 March 2022; and
\n— <\/strong>Robert Louis Stevenson Fable Competition<\/a> for writers globally \u2013 write a fable in up to 350 words, in the style of Robert Louis Stevenson; and they accept entries from minors as well as multiple entries; please read the guidelines<\/a> carefully, all entrants grant the Robert Louis Stevenson Club the right to publish any entries; prizes are \u00a3500 and \u00a3100, and the deadline is 2 April 2022.)<\/strong><\/p>\n


\nPRIZES FOR US- AND CANADA-BASED WRITERS
\n(Also see The Hillman Prize for Journalism in the section above.) <\/strong><\/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

 <\/p>\n

National Endowment for the Arts: Translation Project Fellowship
\n<\/strong>These are for published translators. The fellowship is for the translation of works of\u00a0prose,\u00a0poetry,\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0drama<\/strong>\u00a0from other languages into English. They encourage translations of writers and of work that are not well represented in English translation. The proposed projects must be for creative translations of literary material into English.
\nValue:\u00a0<\/strong>Up to $25,000
\nDeadline: 12 January 2022<\/strong>
\nOpen for: Published translators who are citizens or permanent residents of the US
\nDetails here<\/a> and here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The John F Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest
\n<\/strong>This is for US high school students in grades 9 through 12. Essays must describe an act of political courage by a US elected official who served during or after 1917, the year John F Kennedy was born. The official may have addressed an issue at the local, state, or national level.\u00a0Essays should be 700-1,000 words and must quote at least five sources.
\nValue: $10,000, $3,000, $1,000 each for finalists, $100 each for semi-finalists
\nDeadline: 14 January 2022
\nOpen for: US high school students
\nDetails\u00a0here<\/a> (also see tabs on the page for various details)<\/p>\n

Douglas B. Rogers Conditions of a Free Society Essay Competition
\n<\/strong>This competition is meant to encourage undergraduate students in the US and Canada to join the Center for Political and Economic Thought at Saint Vincent College in discussing themes of Western Civilization such as individual freedom, limited constitutional government, free market economics, and the philosophical and moral foundations of America and the West. This year students are asked to consider a particular passage from Edmund Burke\u2019s Speech on Moving Resolutions for Conciliation With the Colonies, and address the following prompt: \u201cIgnored at a critical time preceding hostilities, comment on how Burke\u2019s salient arguments may have provided proscriptive emollients to America\u2019s bitter internecine conflict resultant from a perspectival bias towards the compact formed by the United States Constitution.\u201d
\nValue: $2,000; $1,000; $500
\nDeadline: 15 January 2022
\nOpen for: Undergraduate students in the US and Canada
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest<\/strong>
\nThis contest is for registered undergraduate full-time Juniors or Seniors at accredited four-year colleges or universities in the US. 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. See guidelines for potential topics and issues.
\nValue: $10,000, $5,000, $3,000, two prizes of $1,000 each
\nDeadline: 18 January 2022
\nOpen for: Students in the US (see guidelines)
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Z\u00f3calo Public Square Poetry Prize<\/strong>
\n<\/strong>They want poetry from US poets whose poem best evokes a connection to place. \u201cThe prize interprets \u201cplace\u201d in many ways: A place may possess historical, cultural, political, or personal importance, and may be literal, imaginary, or metaphorical.\u201d
\nValue: $1,000
\nDeadline: 22 January 2022
\nOpen for: US poets
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Poetry Northwest: James Welch Prize for Indigenous Writers
\n<\/strong>This is a poetry prize for Indigenous writers in the US \u2013 \u201cnew, emerging, and established poets who are community-recognized members of tribal nations within the United States and its trust territories (including American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Chamorros, and American Samoans). Only poets who have not published more than one book-length collection are eligible; however, previous publication is not a requirement.\u201d Submit up to three poems. Apart from cash prizes, two poets will also be invited to read at a literary venue.
\nValue: $1,000 each
\nDeadline: 31 January 2022
\nOpen for: Indigenous writers in the US
\nDetails here<\/a> and here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Bucknell University: Philip Roth Residence in Creative Writing
\n<\/strong>This residency is offered by Bucknell University, and provides writing time of up to four months. It\u2019s for writers of fiction or creative non-fiction 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 2022
\nOpen for: US writers
\nDetails here<\/a>.
\n(Also see details of the Bucknell Seminar for Undergraduate Poets<\/a>, for those in the US – fellowships include tuition, housing in campus apartments and meals, and the application deadline is 31 January 2022; and some travel scholarships are also available.)<\/p>\n

PRIZES FOR UK- AND IRELAND-BASED AUTHORS
\n<\/strong>(Also see Homebound Publications: The Prism Prize for Climate Literature, in the section above)
\n<\/strong>
\nDiscoveries 2022
\n<\/strong>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 \u2013 send the first 10,000 words and a synopsis. Apart from a cash prize, the winner also gets literary representation.
\nValue: \u00a35,000
\nDeadline: 17 January 2022
\nOpen for: UK- and Ireland-based women writers
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Curtis Brown Creative: The New Beginnings Poetry Competition
\n<\/strong>This prize is for UK- and Ireland-based writers, and it celebrates the launch of their online poetry-writing course. The theme is \u2018New Beginnings\u2019, and writers can interpret it as they like. Poems should be up to 40 lines. Entrants must not have previously published a full collection of poetry with a traditional publisher.
\nValue: \u00a3500, online poetry writing course
\nDeadline: 21 January 2022
\nOpen for: UK- and Ireland-based poets
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Red Dragonfly: Taking Flight Playwriting Competition
\n<\/strong>This is for playwrights with East and South-East Asian heritage, and who are UK-based. They want one-page ideas for a one-hour play.
\nUp to 10 shortlisted writers will attend a free workshop and mentorship sessions, before a winner is finalized.
\nValue: \u00a31,000
\nDeadline: 31 January 2022 (for ideas)
\nOpen for: UK-based writers of East and South-East Asian heritage and those from the British East and South-East Asian communities (see guidelines)
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

SOHO Theatre: The Verity Bargate Award
\n<\/strong>This is the 40th<\/sup> anniversary of their playwriting award. They want a play, of at least one hour production time (usually 40 pages, though monologues may be shorter). Musicals and plays with songs are accepted, but will be judged on text alone. Also, \u201cIf you\u2019ve never written before, that\u2019s fine by us. What matters is that great stories are told \u2013 human, inspiring and urgent stories which can only exist in this moment.\u201d
\nValue: \u00a37,500, production
\nDeadline: 21 January 2022
\nOpen for: Any playwright who has had fewer than three professional productions and who lives in the UK or Republic of Ireland
\nDetails here<\/a>.<\/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 are contests for fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and plays. Prizes range from $100 to $72,000, and none of them charge an entry fee. They are, very roughly, divided geographically. – S. Kalekar PRIZES OPEN FOR INTERNATIONAL WRITERS Fourteen Hills: Stacey Doris Memorial Poetry Award This is a poetry contest \u2013 send one poem of 3…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9684,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9682","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\/9682","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=9682"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9682\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9685,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9682\/revisions\/9685"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9684"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}