42 Writing Contests in February - No entry fees

42 Writing Contests in February - No entry fees

fashion style    4:11 AM   

February is a short month, but it does not lack for writing contests.

There are 42 contests this month, and they span the gamut of prizes and genres.

Some have regional restrictions, and others have age restrictions. These are indicated, but always read the full contest guidelines to make sure you are eligible.

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Online Writing Tips Short Fiction Prize. Genre: Short story of 2000-5000 words. Prize: £150. Deadline: February 1, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Southern Exposure Writing Fellowships. Restrictions: Open to residents of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, and Yolo counties in California. Genre: Art writing. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: February 1, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Creative Nonfiction's Learning From Nature Contest (no entry fee if by mail). Genre: Essay. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: February 1, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Great Plains Emerging Tribal Writer Award. Restrictions: Open to tribally-enrolled writers from the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Nebraska who have not yet published a book of creative writing. Genres: Fiction, creative nonfiction, drama, or the screenplay (20 double-spaced pages maximum) or poetry (15 pages maximum). Prize: $500. Deadline: February 1, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Gannon University Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Entrants must be a US high school student or a home-schooled student in grades nine through twelve.Genre: Poetry. Each student may enter 1 or 2 poems; each poem may be no longer than 50 lines. Prize: First Place: $100.00 Second Place: $75.00 Third Place: $50.00. Deadline: February 1, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

The Danuta Gleed Literary Award for best first collection of short fiction in the English language was initiated by John Gleed in honour of his late wife to promote and celebrate the genre of short fiction, which she loved. Restrictions: Canadian residents only. Prize: A $10,000 prize will be awarded for the best first collection of published short fiction in the English language. Two finalist will also be awarded $500 each. Deadline: February 1, 2016. Read full guidelines HERE.

Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize. Restrictions: Open to women, US citizens only. Genre: Novel. All entries must be submitted by publishers who wish to have the work of their authors that were published in the year 2015 considered. No self-published works or works from vanity presses will be accepted. Prize: $7,500. Deadline: February 1, 2016. Read full guidelines HERE.

The Levis Reading Prize is sponsored by the Department of English and its MFA in Creative Writing program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Restrictions: The prize is given annually for the best first or second book of poetry published in the previous calendar year. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $5000 . Deadline: February 1, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

The Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award. Genre: Short story of no more than 8,000 words that shows the near future (no more than about 50-60 years out) of manned space exploration. Prize: Publication as the featured story on the Baen Books main website paid at the normal paying rates for professional story submissions. Deadline: February 1, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Paterson Poetry Prize. Genre: Poetry. Book of poems, 48 pages or more in length, published in 2015. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: February 1, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

$1000 for 1000 Words Creative Writing Contest is sponsored by the Leyla Beban Young Authors Foundation. Restrictions: Students enrolled in grades 6-12. Genre: Short fiction of exactly 1000 words. Prize: Two $1,000 scholarship prizes will be awarded, one for grades 6-8 and one for grades 9-12. Seven $100 cash prizes will also be awarded for winning entries, one per grade level. Deadline: February 1, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Wednesday Club Junior Poetry Contest. Restrictions: High School Students in grades 10 through 12 in High Schools in St. Louis and the St. Louis area. Genre: Poetry. Two individual poems. Prizes: $100, $80, $60, $40, $20, $10 for all honorable mentions. Deadline: February 1, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Wednesday Club Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Adults over 18; living within a 50-mile radius of St. Louis. Genre: Poetry. Two individual poems. Prizes: $500, $300, $150. Deadline: February 1, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Charles Crupi Memorial Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Open to high school students in Michigan. Genre: Poetry. Prize: 1st place - $250 and publication in The Albion Review, 2nd place - $150 and publication in The Albion Review; 3rd place - $100 and publication in The Albion Review. Deadline: February 6, 2016. Read submission guidelines HERE.

Writers' & Artists' Yearbook Short Story Competition. Genre: Short story. Prize: £500 and publication. Deadline: February 7, 2016.

IGGY/Litro Young Writers' Prize. Restrictions: Open to 13–18 year olds. Genre: Short story. Prize: £1,000 and publication. Deadline: February 8, 2016. Read submission guidelines HERE.

Federation of BC Writers Literary Writes Awards 2016. Genres: Short fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, and writing for children. Prize: $100 top prize per category. Deadline: February 9, 2016. Read submission guidelines HERE.

Bethesda Literary Festival Essay and Short Story Contest. The Bethesda Urban Partnership & Bethesda Magazine have partnered to honor local writers at the Bethesda Literary Festival held April 15-17, 2016. Genres: Essays and poetry. Adult and high school student categories. Restrictions: Residents of Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia are eligible. Prizes: First Place: $500 and published in Bethesda Magazine. Second Place: $250. Third Place: $150. Honorable Mention: $75. Deadline: February 12, 2016. For more details click HERE.

Library of Virginia Literary Awards. Restrictions: Open to writers who were born in or are residents of Virginia or, in the case of nonfiction, books with a Virginia theme, are eligible. Genre: Books of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction published in the previous year (2015). Prize: $2,500. Deadline: February 12, 2016. For more details click HERE.

Jessamy Stursberg Poetry Contest for Canadian Youth. Restrictions: Canadians, grades 7 - 12. Genre: Poetry.  Prize: $400 (CAN). Deadline: February 15, 2016.

Harold Morton Landon Translation Award. Genre: Poetry collection translated from any language into English and published in the previous calendar year. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: February 15, 2016. Read details HERE.

Wiley-Silver Prize in Civil War History. Genre: First book or monograph in Civil War history published in the previous year. Books published in 2015 are eligible. Books or monographs published by scholarly or popular presses are eligible. Prize: $2,000. Deadline: February 15, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

New England Youth Outdoor Writing Contest. Restrictions: The contest is open to students in New England. Submissions from students in grades 6-8 will be entered in the Junior Division; grades 9-12 will be entered in the Senior Division. Genre: Prose or poem, The topic must be outdoor-oriented (fishing, hunting, boating, canoeing, hiking, camping, nature, ecology, etc.). 500 words max. Prize: $125, $150. Deadline: February 15, 2016. Read details HERE.

Prospero Prizes. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $150 and feature publication. Deadline: February 15, 2016. Read details HERE.

Raiziss/de Palchi Translation Award. Genre: Poetry - translation into English of a significant work of modern Italian poetry. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: February 15, 2016. Read details HERE.

Scotiabank Giller Prize. Restrictions: Open to books published in Canada in English. Books must be published in Canada in English between October 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016 to be eligible for the 2016 Prize. Must  be nominated by publisher. Genre: Fiction. Full-length novel or collection of short stories published in English, either originally, or in translation. Prize: $100.000 to the winner and $10,000 to each of the finalists. Deadline: February 15, 2015.

Writers' and Artists' Yearbook Short Story Competition. Genre: Short Story. All entries must be original unpublished prose of 2,000 words or fewer. Prize: £500. Deadline: February 15, 2015. Read details HERE.

Al Smith Individual Artist Fellowships. Restrictions: Open to Kentucky poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers. Genre: Literary arts. Prize: $7,500 Deadline: February 16, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

The Matthew Power Literary Reporting Award supports the work of a promising early-career nonfiction writer on a story that uncovers truths about the human condition. Genres: Nonfiction journalism works in progress with “strong, character-driven narratives with detailed scene writing and lyrical description.” Restrictions: The award will not fund proposals to report on armed conflicts where journalists are already imperiled, nor projects that are mainly investigatory. Prize: $12,500 grant and use of the NYU library. Deadline: February 16, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Moment Magazine's Publish-a-Kid Contest. Restrictions: Open to children 9-13. Genre: Book review. Prize: Publication and a free book. Deadline: February 16, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Christopher Tower Poetry Competition. Restrictions: Open to UK students between 16-18 years of age. Genre: Poetry, one poem, maximum 48 lines. Theme is "wonder." Prize: £3,000. Deadline: February 19, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Reader's Digest 100-word-story competition. Genre: 100-word story. Prize: £2,000 and publication. Deadline: February 20, 2016.

The Lakefly Writers Conference. Restrictions: Open to residents of Wisconsin. Genres: Short story fiction:  1500 words or less. Any genre. Theme: Wisconsin Choices. Flash fiction:  500 words or less. Any genre. No theme. Poetry:  All poems, free verse to formal and everything in between—75 lines max. Theme: Wisconsin Choices. The Jean Nelson Essay for Young Adults: For young adult writers (ages 12 through 17). 2500 words or less. Theme: Notable Wisconsin figure (living or dead) who most inspires me. Prize: First place winners will receive a cash prize of $100; second place winners will receive $75; and third place winners will receive $50. Winners must be able to attend an awards ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday, May 13, 2016 at the Oshkosh Public Library. Deadline: February 26, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Central PA Writing Contest. Restrictions: Open to legal residents of Pennsylvania who are at least 18 years old. Genre: Short fiction, 1500 words max. Original, unpublished, work of fiction only; no poetry or nonfiction. Prize: $500, runner-up $200. Deadline: February 26, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

SLF Working Class/Impoverished Writers Grant is sponsored by the Speculative Literature Foundation. Genres: Speculative fiction, magical realism. Restrictions: Applicants must be working class (see guidelines page for definition) and demonstrate financial hardship. Available to international writers. Prize: $750. Deadline: February 28, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

The Atlantic & College Board Writing Prize. Restrictions: Open to high school students 16 to 19 years of age. Genre: Essay. 1,000 to 1,500 words. Prize: $5,000 and publication in September issue of The Atlantic. Deadline: February 28, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

The Gabo Prize for Literature in Translation & Multi-Lingual Texts. Genre: Literary translations and multi-lingual texts. Prize: $200. Deadline: February 28, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Science Fiction & the Medical Humanities Writing Competition.  Genre: Science-fiction short stories (and also self-contained novel excerpts) of up to 3000 words that address themes of medicine, health, and illness. Prize: £300.  Deadline: February 29, 2016.

Event Horizon Magazine Science Poetry Competition. Genre: Poetry. Submitted work shall be inspired by and/or incorporate scientific thinking, concepts, or principles. Prize: $500 and publication. Deadline: February 29, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

National Indigenous Writing Contest. Restrictions: Open to Canadian Native Americans. Genre: Short story, under 3000 words. Story must contain Indigenous content. Prize: $2,000. Deadline: February 29, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Spirit First Meditation Poetry Contest. Genre: Poetry. Submissions may be of any length and any style but must have a theme of Meditation or Mindfulness. Prize: $200. Deadline: February 29, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

The Penny Fiction Flash Fiction Competition. Genre: Flash fiction stories told in exactly 16 words. Prize: $25 and publication. Deadline: February 29, 2016. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE (scroll down).

Writing Contest: Win a Manuscript Evaluation - No entry fee

Writing Contest: Win a Manuscript Evaluation - No entry fee

fashion style    4:26 AM   

Writer's Digest recently announced a free contest held by best-selling author and writing consultant, Barbara Kyle.

Barbara is offering to evaluate a full manuscript for free - a service for which she normally charges $1,200. Second and third place winners can have portions of their manuscripts evaluated.

Your manuscript does not have to be complete to enter. If you win, you will have a full year to submit. The deadline is December 31, 2015.

Good luck!

 

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CONTEST! Win a Manuscript Evaluation

Grand Prize: a *$1,200 manuscript evaluation

Want an expert critique of your manuscript? Then this contest is for you.

It’s open to anyone with a work of fiction or narrative non-fiction. All genres are welcome. There is no fee to enter the contest.

And here’s the great thing. If you win, you’ll have up to a year to send me your manuscript. If it’s ready now, that’s fine, send it as soon as you hear you’ve won. But if you need more time to complete it, that’s fine too. Contest winners will have up to a year to send me their manuscript.

I’ll choose three winners based on writing samples that suggest the writer’s work has a good chance of succeeding in the publishing marketplace. Agents and publishers want books that sell, and my goal is to help you move forward in your writing career. I want you to land that agent. I want you to sign that book deal.

* value based on a manuscript of 450 pages

PRIZES

Grand Prize: my evaluation of a full manuscript – a $1,200 value
Second Prize: my evaluation of a manuscript’s first 50 pages
Third Prize: my evaluation of a manuscript’s first 25 pages

The manuscript evaluation will be conducted in a discussion with me by Skype or by phone. The Grand Prize winner will get a 1.5-hour (one and a half hour) discussion with me. The Second Prize winner and Third Prize winner will each get a half-hour discussion with me.

The evaluation will consist of my in-depth analysis in which I’ll pinpoint the manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses with regard to premise, story structure, character development, voice, dialogue, setting, pacing, POV, and marketability. I’ll also offer suggestions on how any weaknesses might be improved.

CONTEST RULES

The deadline for entering is 12:00 midnight EST on 31 December 2015.

There is no fee to enter.

To enter, complete the contest entry form (click the “Register Here” button below) and attach your writing sample. Maximum length of the sample: 1,500 words.

Only one entry per person.

The 3 winners will be announced on 21 January 2016 and their names will be posted on my website and in my Newsletter for Writers.

The 3 winners can send me their manuscripts as soon as they have been notified that they have won, or they can take up to 12 months to do so. (So, if you win, there’s lots of time to finish your manuscript if you need it.)

For the Grand Prize winner, the maximum length of the full manuscript to be evaluated is 120,000 words. The manuscript must be double-spaced in 12-point font.

For the Second Prize winner, the maximum length of the manuscript to be evaluated is 50 pages, double-spaced in 12-point font.

For the Third Prize winner, the maximum length of the manuscript to be evaluated is 25 pages double-spaced in 12-point font.

Ready to enter? Great! Here’s how.

HOW TO ENTER THE CONTEST

Complete the entry form (click the “Register Here” button below) and attach to it your writing sample.
• Maximum length of the sample: 1,500 words. Format: double-spaced
• The sample can be from your work-in-progress or a previous work
• Attach your sample as a Word document or PDF

Deadline to enter is midnight on 31 December 2015.

Click here to enter the contest. 

33 Writing Contests in January - No entry fees

33 Writing Contests in January - No entry fees

fashion style    4:36 AM   

The new year brings a host of fresh writing contests with genres that cover the gamut from poetry, essays, and creative non-fiction, to short stories and books (published and in-progress), as well as translations.

Some of these contests have geographic and age restrictions. Make sure to read the full contest rules.

Good luck!

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Nuff Said Publishing's annual Speculative Writing Contest to Promote Diversity (SWCPD). Restrictions: The contest is open to United States residents. Genre: Speculative fiction less than 10,000 words. Prize: $100 and publication in an anthology. Deadline: January 3rd, 2016.

John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest is sponsored by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. Restrictions: The contest is open to United States high school students in grades nine through twelve attending public, private, parochial, or home schools; US students under the age of twenty enrolled in a high school correspondence/GED program; and US citizens attending schools overseas. Genre: Essay on an act of political courage by a US elected official who served during or after 1956. Prize: The first-place winner receives $10,000 comprised of a $5,000 cash award and $5,000 from John Hancock. The second-place winner receives $1,000. Up to five finalists receive $500 each. Deadline: January 6, 2016.

Thirdspace Short Fiction Contest. Genre: Short fiction stories that center on experience(s) of medical education. Prize: First prize: $350 and publication in Thirdspace. Deadline: January 6, 2016.

Japan Center-Canon Essay Competition. The aim of the Japan Center Essay Competition is to promote awareness and understanding of Japan in the United States and to help young Americans broaden their international horizons. Genre: Essay. Contestants should write, in English, one or more aspects of Japan including art, culture, tradition, values, philosophy, history, society, politics, business, and technology in relation to their personal views, experiences, and/or future goals.  (Contestants do not need to have any experience in visiting Japan or studying Japanese. Prize: Best Essay Award in the High School Division: 1st Place: $3,000 and a Canon camera, 2nd Place: $1,500 and a Canon camera, 3rd Place: $750 and a Canon camera; Best Essay Award in the College Division: $3,000 and a Canon camera; Uchida Memorial Award: $1,000 and a Canon camera; Merit Award: $200 (each) for up to five awards. Deadline: January 8, 2016.

Texas Institute of Letters Literary Awards. Restrictions: Entrants must have resided in Texas for at least 2 consecutive years, or have been born in Texas. Genre: Book (published). 11 different categories. Prize: $6,000. Deadline: January 8, 2016.

Moving Words Poetry Contest. Restrictions: People who live within the DC Metro transit area (the Northern Virginia counties Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun and the cities Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church; the District of Columbia; and the Maryland counties Montgomery and Prince George's) and who are over 18. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $250 honorarium. Deadline: January 11, 2016.

VCU Cabell First Novelist Award. Genre: First novel published July–December 2015. No self-published books. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: January 14, 2016.

Andres Montoya Poetry Prize. Restrictions: US residents and citizens. Genre: Poetry. first book by a Latino/a poet. Prize: $1000 and publication at the University of Notre Dame Press. Deadline: January 15, 2016.

Climate Fiction Short Story Contest. Genre: Short fiction about climate change. Prize: $1000. Deadline: January 15, 2016.

The Roswell Award. The Los Angeles Science Fiction One-Act Play Festival is initiating a new short story writing contest for adult writers over the age of 18 called THE ROSWELL AWARD. All submissions must be short stories (not plays) and must be an original work of science fiction (not fan fiction) and be no longer than 1500 words. The contest is open to U.S. writers and writers outside the U.S. Five finalists will be chosen and their stories will be read aloud by professional actors associated with iconic Sci-Fi TV shows in a special awards ceremony. Prize: The winner will receive a cash prize of $1,000.00. Submissions can be made at www.sci-fest.com. Terms and conditions can be read on the website. Deadline: January 15th, 2016. Finalists will be notified by March 15th. Read submission guidelines HERE.

The Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award introduces emerging writers to the New York City literary community. The prestigious award aims to provide promising writers a network for professional advancement. Since Poets & Writers began the Writers Exchange in 1984, 85 writers from 33 states and the District of Columbia have been selected to participate. Restrictions: Open to Hawaii residents. Genre: Poetry and Fiction. Prize: A $500 honorarium; A trip to New York City to meet with editors, agents, publishers, and other writers. All related travel/lodgings expenses and a per diem stipend are covered by Poets & Writers. Winners will also give a public reading of their work; and One-month residency at the Jentel Artist Residency Program in Wyoming. Deadline: January 15, 2016. For guidelines click HERE

MASH Competition. Every three months, three random objects are selected from a randomly gathered list. Writers are invited to incorporate them into a short, sensible and convincing story. Prize: $100 for the winning story! All shortlisted stories are published on their website, and Mash Club stories are narrated by professional voice actors and broadcast in MASH podcast.  Deadline: January 15, 2016. For guidelines click HERE.

The Ellen Meloy Fund for Desert Writers was established in 2005 to honor the memory of Ellen Meloy. The Fund provides support to writers whose work reflects the spirit and passions embodied in Ellen’s writing and her commitment to a “deep map of place.” Ellen’s own map-in-progress was of the desert country she called home. Genre: Only literary or creative nonfiction proposals will be considered. No fiction or poetry proposals will be reviewed. Prize: $3,000. Deadline: January 15, 2016. For more details click HERE.

Transitions Abroad Narrative Travel Writing Contest. Professionals, freelancers, and aspiring travel writers are invited to write an article which describes how traveling in a slower manner and attempting to adapt to the space and time of locals, their culture, and their land has deepened your experience of both the people and the destination. One of the results of a slower form of immersion travel is the experience of epiphanies that change one's perceptions of the world, of others, and of oneself. We urge you to translate one or more of those moments into a narrative which will convey this view to many who still tend to see travel as a way to "do" as many countries, cities, and continents in the world as possible—as if travel was some form of competition or consumption. Prize: $500 first-place. Deadline: January 15, 2016. For more details click HERE.

French-American Foundation Translation Prizes. Genre: Book - best English translation of French in both fiction and non-fiction. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: January 15, 2016.

Science Fiction Writing Contest. Genre: Short science fiction, 750 words max. Prize: 50 euro first prize (or equivalent amount in your currency); 25 euro second prize; 15 euro third prize. Deadline: January 15, 2016. Submissions: Email to: brilliantflashfiction@gmail.com

Lee Bennett Hopkins Promising Poet Award. Restrictions: Open to poets who have published no more than two books of children's poetry. Genre: Children's poetry (for children and young adults up to grade 12). A book-length single poem may be submitted. The award is for published works only. Poetry in any language may be submitted; non-English poetry must be accompanied by an English translation. Poetry copyrighted from 2013 to 2015 may be submitted. Prize: $500. Deadline: January 15, 2016.

Orwell Prize. Genre: Political writing published between 1st January and 31st January 2015. All entries must have a clear British link. Fiction and non-fiction. Prize: £3,000.00. Deadline: January 15, 2016.

Student Stowe Prize. Restrictions: High school and college students in the US. Genre: Social justice writing. Prize: $2,500.00 Deadline: January 15, 2016. See more details HERE.

Women Artists Datebook. Restrictions: Women. Genre: 4 poems. Peace and Justice. Prize: $70. Deadline: January 15, 2016. See more details HERE.

The Writers’ Trust of Canada/McClelland & Stewart Journey Prize is awarded annually to a new and developing writer of distinction for a short story published in a Canadian literary publication. This award is made possible by James A. Michener’s generous donation of his Canadian royalty earnings from his novel Journey, published by McClelland & Stewart in 1988. Prize: A $10,000 prize will given to the winner and the journal that published the winning entry receives $2,000. Two finalists each receive $1,000. Deadline: January 18, 2016. Read full submission guidelines HERE.

Lex Allen Literary Festival Prizes. Restrictions: Open to college undergraduates. Genres: Poetry, short fiction. Prize: $100. Deadline: January 19, 2016.

Northwest Perspectives Essay Contest. Genre: Nonfiction, personal essays of up to 1,500 words on any topic related to the Pacific Northwest. Prize: $750. Deadline: January 20, 2016.

Bethesda Literary Festival Essay and Short Story Contest. The Bethesda Urban Partnership & Bethesda Magazine have partnered to honor local writers at the Bethesda Literary Festival held April 15-17, 2016. Genres: Essays and short stories. Restrictions: Residents of Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia are eligible. Prizes: First Place: $500 and published in Bethesda Magazine. Second Place: $250. Third Place: $150. Honorable Mention: $75. Deadline: January 22, 2016. For more details click HERE.

Stop the Hate: Youth Speak Out Essay Contest Grades 11-12. Stop the Hate® is designed to create an appreciation and understanding among people of differing religions, races, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. Genre: Essay, 500 words. Restrictions: Northeast Ohio 11-12th Graders. Prize: $40,000. Deadline: January 22, 2016.

Nelson Algren Literary Awards is a short story contest sponsored by the Chicago Tribune. This contest is open to residents of the United States. All entries must be: fiction, less than 8,000 words, double spaced, written in English. Prize: One grand prize winner will receive $3,500. Four finalists will each receive $1,000. Five runners-up will each receive $500. Total value of all prizes: $10,000. Deadline: Closing date January 31, 2016. How to enter: Click HERE for complete rules.

Imagine Little Tokyo. Little Tokyo Historical Society (LTHS) seeks fictional short stories in Japanese or English for its second annual “Imagine Little Tokyo” writing contest. The setting of the story should be in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA– either past, present or future. Prize: $600. The winner of the youth division (18 or younger) will receive $400. Deadline: January 31, 2016. How to enter: Click HERE for complete rules.

Caine Prize for African Writing. Restrictions: Open to writers born in Africa, or nationals of an African country, or with a parent who is African by birth or nationality, Genre: Short fiction (published). Prize: £10,000. Deadline: January 31, 2016.

Jack London Fiction Writing Contest. Restrictions: Open to students, grades 9-12. Genre: Short fiction, essays. Prize: First place $2000.00; Second place $1000.00; Third place $500.00. Deadline: January 31, 2016.

Jerry Jazz Musician Fiction Contest. "The Jerry Jazz Musician reader has interests in music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theater, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America." Genre: previously unpublished work of short fiction. Prize: $100.00. Deadline: January 31, 2016.

Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize. The annual Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize is awarded each spring to honor an outstanding literary translation from German into English published in the USA the previous year.  Genre: Published fiction or non-fiction, may include: novels, novellas, short stories, plays, poetry, biographies, essays and correspondence. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: January 31, 2016.

College Undergraduate Poetry and Florence Kahn Memorial Award. Restrictions: Undergraduates working toward a degree in an accredited U.S. college or university. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $500. Deadline: January 31, 2016.

Walter Rumsey Marvin Grant. Restrictions: Open to authors under 30 years of age who have not had a book published. Applicant must have been born in Ohio or have lived in Ohio for a minimum of five years. Genre: Short fiction and creative non-fiction. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: January 31, 2016.

45 Writing Contests in December 2015 - No Entry Fees

45 Writing Contests in December 2015 - No Entry Fees

fashion style    4:22 AM   

Painting of Russian writer Evgeny Chirikov by Ivan Kulikov, 1904

There is something about the last month of the year that inspires deadlines.

December boasts of no fewer than 45 free writing contests, encompassing a broad range of forms and genres.

There are prizes this month for published books, for unpublished manuscripts, for poetry, short stories, essays, memoirs, mysteries, and nonfiction.

None of these competitions charge an entry fee.



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The Schneider Family Book Award is sponsored by the American Library Association. The award honors an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.

Prize: Three annual awards each consisting of $5000 and a framed plaque, will be given annually in each of the following categories: birth through grade school (age 0-10), middle school (age 11-13) and teens (age 13-18). (Age groupings are approximations).

Genre: May be fiction, biography, or other form of nonfiction.

Deadline: December 1, 2015. Read details here.

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Poetry Center at Smith College Prize.

Restrictions: Open to sophomore or junior high school girls in New England.

Genre: Poetry.

Prize: $500.

Deadline: December 1, 2015. Read details here.

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The David J. Langum, Sr. Prize in American Historical Fiction is offered annually to the best book in American historical fiction that is both excellent fiction and excellent history.

Prize: $1.000.

Deadline: December 1, 2015. Read guidelines here.

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The Lyric College Poetry Contest.

Restrictions: Open to undergraduates enrolled full time in an American or Canadian college or university.

Genre: Poetry.

Prize: $500.

Deadline: December 1, 2015. Read details here.

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The W.Y. Boyd Literary Award for Excellence in Military Fiction honors the best fiction set in a period when the United States was at war. It recognizes the service of American veterans and military personnel and encourages the writing and publishing of outstanding war-related fiction.

Genre: Military fiction.

Prize: $5000.

Deadline: December 1, 2015. For details click HERE.

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Spark Award: Held by SCBWI.

Restrictions: Open to members of SCBWI who are self-published.

Genres: Fiction and nonfiction, self-published.

Prize: Envy. The SCBWI is our most prestigious national organization (US) for children's book and YA writers.

Deadline: December 1, 2015. Read submission guidelines HERE.

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The Pushcart Prize honors the best "poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot" published in small presses and literary magazines. Magazine and small press editors may nominate up to six works. Pushcart Press publishes yearly anthologies of the winning submissions.

Prize: Publication.

Deadline: December 1, 2015. Read submission guidelines HERE.

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Tony Quagliano Poetry Fund, International Poetry Award.

Restrictions: Open to poets who have a published body of work over a period of years. Poems must be in English.

Genre: Poetry.

Prize: $1,000.

Deadline: December 1, 2015. Read submission guidelines HERE.

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The Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry.

Restrictions: Open to African poets who have not yet published a collection of poetry.

Genre: Poetry.

Prize: $1,000 and book publication through the University of Nebraska Press and Amalion Press in Senegal.

Deadline: December 1, 2015. Read submission guidelines HERE.

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David J. Langum Sr. Prize in American Historical Fiction.

Restrictions: Self-published and subsidized novels are not eligible.

Genre: American Historical Fiction.

Prize: $1,000

Deadline: December 1, 2015. Read submission guidelines HERE.

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Quantum Shorts.

Genre: Flash fiction (1000 words max). The story must be inspired by quantum physics.

Prize: $1,500

Deadline: December 1, 2015. Read submission guidelines HERE.

Requires registration.

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Words and Brushes.

Genre: Short story inspired by one of the pieces of art on the website.

Prize: $300

Deadline: December 1, 2015. Read submission guidelines HERE.

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Bronx Recognizes Its Own (BRIO) provides direct support to individual Bronx artists who create literary, media, visual, and performing works of art.

Restrictions: Residents of the Bronx

Prize: 25 BRIO grants of $3,000 each are awarded to Bronx artists. BRIO award winners complete a one-time public service activity.

Deadline: December 4, 2015. Read submission guidelines HERE.

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White River Environmental Law Writing Competition is sponsored by the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law and Vermont Law School.

Restrictions: Open to all students currently pursuing a degree (J.D. or LL.M) at an accredited law school in the United States. Submissions written as a class component, as a journal requirement, or otherwise for academic credit are acceptable.

Genre: Original essays addressing any relevant topic in the fields of environmental law, natural resource law, energy law, environmental justice, land use law, animal law, and agricultural law.

Prize: $1000 cash prize and an offer of publication with the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law.

Deadline: December 9, 2015. Read more details HERE.

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Friends of American Writers. 

Restrictions: The author must be a resident (or previously have been a resident for approximately five years) of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota or Wisconsin; or the locale of the book must be in a region identified above. The author must not have published more than three books under his/her own pen name.

Genres: Books can be fiction or creative non-fiction and published in 2015. Self-published and e-Books are not eligible.

Prize: $4000.

Deadline: December 10, 2015. Read more details HERE.

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Austin Chronicle Short Story Contest.

Genre: Unpublished short story, no more than 2,500 words.

Prize: $1,500 to be divided among the five winners. Manuscript will be published in early winter in The Austin Chronicle.

Deadline: December 11, 2015. Read more details HERE.

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J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Award.

Genre: Uncompleted work of nonfiction on a topic of American political or social concern.

Prize: $30,000 fellowship.

Deadline: December 11, 2015. Read more details HERE.

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J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize.

Genre: Book-length work of narrative nonfiction on a topic of American political or social concern.

Prize: $10,000.

Deadline: December 11, 2015. Read more details HERE.

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Mark Lynton History Prize.

Genre: Book-length work of history on any topic that "best combines intellectual distinction with felicity of expression."

Prize: $10,000.

Deadline: December 11, 2015. Read more details HERE.

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Rider University Annual High School Writing Contest.

Restrictions: Open to high school students.

Genres: Essays, poetry, fiction.

Prizes: 1st-$100, 2nd-$50, 3rd-$25.

Deadline: December 11, 2015. Read more details HERE.

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Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America Best First Novel Competition.

Restrictions: The competition is open to any writer, regardless of nationality, aged 18 or older, who has never been the author of any published novel (except that authors of self-published works only may enter, as long as the manuscript submitted is not the self-published work) and is not under contract with a publisher for publication of a novel.

Genre: Murder or another serious crime or crimes is at the heart of the story.

Prize: $10,000.

Deadline: December 14, 2015. Entry form and details here.

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Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest.

Restrictions: Registered undergraduate full-time Juniors or Seniors at accredited four-year colleges or universities in the United States during the Fall 2015 Semester.

Genre: Essay on  any topic that explores the theme of ethics. 3,000 to 4,000 words.

Prize: $5,000. 2nd Prize $2,500, 3rd Prize $1,500, two Honorable Mentions $500 each.

Deadline: December 14, 2015. Read details here.

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Christopher Doheny Award.

Genre: Fiction or non-fiction book-length manuscript on the topic of serious physical illness by a writer who has personally dealt or is dealing with life-threatening illness, either his or her own or that of a close relative or friend.

Prize: $10,000 and production and promotion of the book in an audio edition, with the option to pursue print publication with Audible's assistance.

Deadline: December 15, 2015. Read details here.

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Black Caucus of the American Library Association. BCALA presents four awards to an African American writer published in the United States during the previous year: one for adult fiction, one for nonfiction, one for a first novelist and one for poetry. These awards acknowledge outstanding achievement in the presentation of the cultural, historical and sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora.

Restrictions: African American writers

Genres: Books, published

Prize: Four $500.00 awards.

Deadline: December 18, 2015. Details here.

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Amazon Little A Poetry Contest.

Restrictions: Open to US poets who have published no more than one book of poetry.

Genre: Poetry; full-length collection.

Prize: The winner will receive $5,000 in prize money and a publishing contract featuring a $2,000 advance with Little A, Amazon Publishing’s literary imprint.

Deadline: December 20, 2015. Read details here.

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Commonwealth Club of California Book Awards.

Restrictions: Open to residents of California.

Genre: Book of poetry, fiction or nonfiction.

Prize: Medal.

Deadline: December 22, 2015. Entry form here.

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Alice Fay Di Castagnola Award.

Restrictions: Only Poetry Society of America members may enter.

Genre: Poetry, unpublished and published.

Prize: $1,000.

Deadline: December 22, 2015. Read details here.

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Lucille Medwick Memorial Award.

Restrictions: Only Poetry Society of America members may enter.

Genre: Poetry, unpublished and published. Original poem in any form on a humanitarian theme.

Prize: $500.

Deadline: December 22, 2015. Read details here.

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Cecil Hemley Memorial Award.

Restrictions: Only Poetry Society of America members may enter.

Genre: Poetry, unpublished and published. Lyric poem that addresses a philosophical or epistemological concern.

Prize: $500.

Deadline: December 22, 2015. Read details here.

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Lyric Poetry Award.

Restrictions: Only Poetry Society of America members may enter.

Genre: A lyric poem on any subject.

Prize: $500.

Deadline: December 22, 2015. Read details here.

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The Writer Magazine/Emily Dickinson Award.

Restrictions: Only Poetry Society of America members may enter for free.

Genre: A poem inspired by Dickinson though not necessarily in her style.

Prize: $250.

Deadline: December 22, 2015. Read details here.

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Robert H. Winner Memorial Award.

Restrictions: Only Poetry Society of America members may enter for free. There is a charge of $15 for non-members. Open to mid-career poets who have not had substantial recognition, and is over forty, and who have published no more than one book.

Genre: Poetry.

Prize: $2,500.

Deadline: December 22, 2015. Read details here.

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The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards recognizes outstanding works that contribute to our understanding of racism and our appreciation of the rich diversity of human cultures. Awards are given for both fiction and nonfiction.

Prize: $10,000.

Deadline: December 31, 2015. The winners are announced in the spring. Read full submission guidelines HERE.

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GENEii Award. The Southern California Genealogical Society sponsors its annual family-history writing contest to support and encourage the writing of family history, local history, and memoirs, both by genealogists and by the public at large.

Genre: Nonfiction.

Prize: $200.

Deadline: December 31, 2015. Read full submission guidelines HERE.

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The Push [START] to Begin Chapbook Contest.

Genres: Chapbook-length collections of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and hybrid work inspired by video games. For fiction or non-fiction submissions, a word count between 5,000 and 20,000 is preferable. For poetry, 10 to 30 poems is best, depending on their length.

Prize: $150.

Deadline: December 31, 2015. Read details HERE.

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Griffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry, Griffin Poetry Prize.

Restrictions: One prize goes to a living Canadian poet or translator, the other to a living poet or translator from any country, which may include Canada.

Genre: Poetry. Books must have been published in English during the calendar year preceding the year of the award.

Prize: C$200,000, is awarded annually in two categories – International and Canadian. Each prize is worth C$65,000.

Deadline: December 31, 2015. Read details HERE.

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Society of Classical Poets, Poetry Competition.

Genre: Poetry. Three to five poems, each of which does not exceed 50 lines. The poems must be within the four themes used by the Society (at least one poem must be in the Falun Dafa theme or about the plight of the Chinese people under communism in general).

Prize: First Prize: $500.

Deadline: December 31, 2015. Read details HERE.

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Caribbean Writer Prizes.

Restrictions: Open to Caribbean authors.

Prizes: The Virgin Islands Daily News Prize for a fiction or nonfiction essay to an author residing in the U.S. or British Virgin Islands. $500; The Canute A. Brodhurst Prize for best short fiction $400; The Gilbert Literary Prize $500; The David Hough Literary Prize to a Caribbean author $500; The Marvin E. Williams Literary Prize to an emerging Caribbean author $500; The First Lady Cecile de Jongh Literary Prize to a Caribbean author whose work best expresses the spirit of the Caribbean $500; and The Charlotte & Isidor Paiewonsky Prize for first-time publication in The Caribbean Writer $250.

Deadline: December 31, 2015. Read details HERE.

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Golfwell's Annual Golf Story Writing Competition.

Genre: Original unpublished golf stories: Fact or Fiction.

Prize: First Prize $300.00 - 2nd Prize $150.00 - 3rd Prize $50.00 and First, Second and Third Prizes receive publication as the "Golfwell.net Best Golf Stories Ever Heard."

Deadline: December 31, 2015. Read details HERE.

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Gover Story Prize.

Genres: Short fiction and creative nonfiction.

Prize: annual cash prize ($250) and publication in Best New Writing for the best fiction and creative nonfiction under 10,000 words. Finalists are also published in Best New Writing.

Deadline: December 31, 2015. Submit HERE.

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Kansas Book Award.

Restrictions: Author must establish a connection to Kansas by birth, education, employment, residence or other significant claim.

Genre: Book of poems.

Prize: $1,000.

Deadline: December 31, 2015. Read details HERE.

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L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest.

Genre: Speculative fiction prose, up to 17,000 words.

Prize: $1,000 with $5,000 grand prize.

Deadline: December 31, 2015. Read details HERE.

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Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing.

Restrictions: Open to first-generation residents of the United States. “First-generation” can refer either to people born in another country who relocated to the U.S., or to American-born residents whose parents were born elsewhere.

Genre: Unpublished fiction and nonfiction books.

Prize: $10,000 and publication.

Deadline: December 31, 2015. Read details HERE.

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SPS Studios Poetry Card Contest.

Genre: Poem.

Prize: $300.

Deadline: December 31, 2015. Read details HERE.

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William Carlos Williams Poetry Competition.

Restrictions: Open to students attending allopathic or osteopathic schools of medicine in the United States and Canada.

Genre: Poetry.

Prize: $300.

Deadline: December 31, 2015. Read details HERE.

29 Writing Contests in November 2015 - No entry fees

29 Writing Contests in November 2015 - No entry fees

fashion style    4:45 AM   

There is an impressive number of writing contests during the month of November, some of which offer substantial prizes.

Canadians can win $25,000 for their literary nonfiction. Two prestigious British prizes are awarding 30,000 pounds apiece, and Australian poets can win a $12,000 travel stipend to visit Ireland.

In addition there are numerous smaller prizes for short stories, poems, creative nonfiction, non-creative nonfiction, essays, as well as prizes for books both published and unpublished.

Good luck!
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Commonwealth Short Story Prize. Restrictions: Open to citizens of the British Commonwealth. Genre: Unpublished short fiction (2,000-5,000 words) in English. Short stories translated into English from other languages are also eligible. Prize: Regional winners receive £2,500 (US$3,835) and the overall winner will receive £5,000 (US$7,670). Deadline: November 1, 2015. Read details here.

Jane Lumley Prize for Emerging Writers. Restrictions: The Jane Lumley Prize will only be awarded to writers who have not already published a full length book. However, they may have published a chapbook, and/or found a home for their works in other literary journals. Genre: Poetry. Maximum of eight poems (totaling not more than ten pages). Prize: $300 and winning entries will be featured in the January issue of Hermeneutic Chaos. Deadline: November 1, 2015. Read details here.

William F. Deeck-Malice Domestic Grants Program for Unpublished Writers.  Restrictions: Writers must not have published a book, short story, or dramatic work in the mystery field, either in print, electronic, or audio form. Genre: Mystery stories of the Agatha Christie type—i.e., “traditional mysteries.” These works usually feature no excessive gore, gratuitous violence, or explicit sex. Prize: Each grant may be used to offset registration, travel, or other expenses related to attendance at a writers' conference or workshop within a year of the date of the award (no later than May 2016). In the case of nonfiction, the grant may be used to offset research expenses. Each grant currently includes a $1,500 award plus a comprehensive registration for the following year's convention and two nights' lodging at the convention hotel, but does not include travel to the convention or meals. Deadline: November 1, 2015. Read details here.

Vermont Writers' Prize. Restrictions: Open to residents of Vermont. Genres: Short story, poem, play or essay on the theme of Vermont - its people, places, history or values. Entries must be unpublished and fewer than 1,500 words long. Writers may submit only one entry per year. Prize: $1,500 and publication in Vermont Magazine. Deadline: November 1, 2015. Read details here.

Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction. Restrictions: Canadian citizens only. Genre: Nonfiction book published between August 1 and September 30, 2015. Prize: C$25,000. Shortlisted authors receive $2,000. Prize: Deadline: November 2, 2015. Read details here.

Creative Loafing Fiction Contest. Restrictions: Open to residents of Georgia. Genre: Fiction. The story must incorporate “Space” in some way — as a theme, metaphor, or literal interpretation. Prize: 1st Prize $500, 2nd Prize $250, 3rd Prize $100; winners published in Creative Loafing. Deadline: November 2, 2015. Read details here.

Dylan Thomas Prize. Restrictions: Authors must be aged 39 or under. Eligible books must have been commercially published for the first time in the English language between January 1 and December 31 of the year in which the deadline falls. Genre: Published books of poetry, fiction (novel, novella, or short story collection), radio scripts, or screenplays. Eligible books must have been commercially published for the first time in the English language between January 1 and December 31, 2015. Prize: 30,000 pounds, plus 1,000 pounds for shortlisted authors. Deadline: November 2, 2015. Read details here.

Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction. Restrictions: Female authors of any nationality. Genre: Novel first published in the UK between April 1, 2015 and March 31, 2016, but may have been previously published outside the UK. Must be in English. Prize: £30,000 and a limited edition bronze figurine known as a 'Bessie', created and donated by the artist Grizel Niven. Deadline: November 9, 2015. Read details here.

Shaughnessy Cohen Award for Political Writing. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada between September 9, 2015 and December 31, 2015. Self-published books are not eligible. Genre: A book of literary nonfiction that captures a political subject of relevance to Canadian readers and has the potential to shape or influence thinking on contemporary Canadian political life. Prize: Winner: $25,000; Finalists: $2,500. Deadline: November 11, 2015: For books published between September 9, 2015 and December 31, 2015 Read details here.

A Public Space Emerging Writer Fellowships. Restrictions: Open to writers who have not yet published or been contracted to write a book-length work. Prize: $1,000, 6-month fellowship, and a mentorship from an established author. Deadline: November 15th, 2015. Read details here.

Brooklyn Non-Fiction Prize is sponsored by the Brooklyn Film & Arts Festival. Genre: Non-fiction essay between 4 to 10 pages, set in Brooklyn about Brooklyn and/or Brooklyn people/characters. (Up to 2500 words). Prize: $500. Deadline: November 15th, 2015. Read details here.

Flo Gault Student Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Full-time undergraduate college students in Kentucky. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $500. Deadline: November 15th, 2015. Read details here.

Work Stew Writing Contest. Genre: List: "Ten Pearls of Hard-Earned, Work-Related Wisdom." Prize: $100 for Pearl #1. $60 for Pearl #2. $40 for Pearl #3. Deadline: November 15th, 2015. Read details here.

Arts & Letters Awards. Restrictions: Residents of the Canadian Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Genre: Original creative work in literature, music, visual art and digital multi-media may be entered. Prize: $1,000.00 CAN. Deadline: November 20, 2015. Read details here.

We Said Go Travel Writing Contest. Genre: Travel essays of 500-800 words on the theme of 'Gratitude: A Place that Inspires You to Feel Thankful'. You may enter up to 5 essays with a photo. Entries must be unpublished and family-friendly. Prize: $500, 2nd Prize $100, 3rd Prize $50. Deadline: November 26, 2015. Read details here.

Princeton University Poetry Contest for High School Students. Restrictions: Student writers in the 11th grade. Prizes: First Prize – $500, Second Prize – $250, Third Prize – $100. Deadline: November 27, 2015. Read details here.

Vincent Buckley Poetry Prize. Genre: Poetry. Restrictions: Published Australian authors only. Prize: $12,000.00 AUS stipend for an Australian poet to visit Ireland. Deadline: November 27, 2015. Read details here.

Build Your Own Blog New Writer Scholarship. Restrictions: Students aged 16 years and up. Genre: Unpublished short story/poem/blog post/(Any written material you are proud of). Prize: $4,000.00. Deadline: November 29, 2015. Read details here.

Financial Times/Bodley Head Essay Prize. Restrictions: Open to writers 35 years old or under. Genre: Long-form essay. "We are looking for a dynamic, authoritative and lively essay of no more than 3,500 words on a non-fiction topic of your choice." Prize: £1,000, an e-publication with Bodley Head, and a mentoring session with the FT/Bodley Head. Two runners-up will each receive £500 and e-publication. Deadline: November 29, 2015. Read details here.

Fountain Magazine Essay Contest. Genre: Essay. 1,500 - 2,500 words. "Throughout human history, different periods have been captured by a defining theme: the Dark Ages… the Industrial Age… the Nuclear Age… the Information Age… the Space Age, etc. What do you think the theme of the 21st century will be? The age of connections? Rebirth of faith? Clash of civilizations? Age of the internet? Rise of fundamentalism? Interstellar travel? Gender equality? Human trafficking? WW III? Artificial intelligence? Genetics? Cooperation? Competition? Spiritual revolution? Secularism? Values? Ethics? … You may include as many topics as you think are relevant; the possibilities seem endless." Prize: 1st Place - $1,500, 2nd Place - $750, 3rd Place - $300, Two Honorable Mentions - $200 each. Deadline: November 30, 2015. Entry form and rules click HERE.

Best Translated Book Awards for Fiction. Genre: Any work of poetry or fiction published in translation for the first time ever between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015. Prize: $5,000.00. Two awards of $5,000: one apiece for the author and translator of the winning book in fiction. Deadline: November 30, 2015. Read details here.

Betty Trask Prize. Restrictions: Author must be a Commonwealth citizen. Genre: First novels, published or unpublished, written by authors under the age of 35 in a "traditional or romantic, but not experimental, style." Prize: Awards totaling 20,000 pounds. Top prize 10,000 pounds. The prize money must be used for foreign travel. Deadline: November 30, 2015. Read details here.

Brunel University African Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Open to poets who were born in Africa, or who are nationals of an African country, or whose parents are African. Genre: 10 poems exactly. Prize: 3,000 pounds. Deadline: November 30, 2015. Read details here.

Encore Award. Restrictions: Open to British or Commonwealth citizens. Genre: Second published novel. Book must have been first published in the UK. Prize: 10,000 pounds. Deadline: November 30, 2015. Read details here.

Hudson Review Short Story Contest. Genre: Short story. Prize: First prize is $500. Second and third prizes are $250. Winning stories will be published in The Hudson Review. All entries will be considered for publication. Payment at regular rates. Deadline: November 30, 2015. Read details  here.

Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers. Restrictions: Open to writers aged 16-18. Genre: Poem (1). Prize: Full scholarship to The Kenyon Review Young Writers workshop, an intensive two-week summer seminar for writers aged 16-18. Deadline: November 30, 2015. Read details here.

Somerset Maugham Awards. Restrictions: Open to writers under the age of 35. Genre: Published work of fiction, non-fiction or poetry. Prize: 2,500 pounds apiece to four winners. Prize money must be used for travel. Deadline: November 30, 2015. Read details here.

UNT Rilke Prize. Restrictions: US citizens or residents. Open to authors with at least two prior published books of poetry. Genre: Book of poetry published between November 1, 2014 and October 31, 2015. Prize: $10,000.00. Deadline: November 30, 2015. Read details here.

West Coast Eisteddfod Online Poetry and Short Story Competitions. Genre: Poetry, short story. (No limericks.) Prize: Poetry: $200 in each language category (Welsh and English). Short Story: $200.00 (one English-language entry) Deadline: November 30, 2015. Read details here.