Glimmer Train is accepting submissions for its Fiction Open through June 30, 2015. The writing contest is open to all writers, subjects, and themes. The first-place winner garners $2,500 and publication. The reading fee is $20 per story. Writers may submit their stories here.
The Ashton Group is seeking submissions of 60-minute one-act stage plays for its Finding Words initiative. The writer should be no older than 25. The play can be on any theme or subject. Writers should submit a synopsis (including the plot and character outline) and the first ten pages of the play to the Ashton Group’s associate director, Chris Loveless, at chrisloveless@hotmail.co.uk. There is a prize of £500 for the winning play, which will be produced by the Apprenticed Actors Company. All writers will receive feedback on their work. The submission deadline is Monday, July 6, 2015.
Fifth Wednesday Journal is accepting submissions of short essays of 800 words or fewer on the subject of small literary magazines and the advance toward a digital world for literature. The winning essayist will receive a one-year subscription to Fifth Wednesday Journal and a FWJ T-shirt, and his or her essay will appear in FWJ’s fall issue and blog. To submit, email miller@fithwednesdayjournal.org. Put “Essay Competition” in the subject line and include your name, e-mail address, and a postal address in your message, but separate from your essay. The submission deadline is July 1, 2015. FWJ will announce the winner on August 15,… Read Article →
Narrative awards the $4,000 Narrative Prize annually for the best short story, novel excerpt, poem, one-act play, graphic story, or work of literary nonfiction that a new or emerging writer publishes in Narrative. Writers can submit their work here. The deadline for this year’s prize is June 15, 2015.
Glimmer Train is accepting submissions for its Short Story Award for New Writers. The contest is open to writers whose fiction has not appeared in any print publication with a circulation of more than 5,000. The reading fee is $15 per story. The submission deadline is May 31, 2015.
The 2015 New Letters Literary Awards are accepting poetry, essay, and fiction submissions. Writers can enter their work for consideration for the following prizes: The $1,500 New Letters Prize for Poetry for the best group of three to six poems The $1,500 Dorothy Cappon Prize for the best essay The $1,500 Alexander Cappon Prize for Fiction for the best short story The submission deadline is midnight on Monday, May May 18.
The Luminarts Cultural Foundation at the Union League Club of Chicago is accepting applications for its annual creative writing competition, which awards five $5,000 grant awards and Luminarts Fellowships across the categories of creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. Luminarts competitions are open to applicants aged 18–30 who live within 150 miles of the Union League Club of Chicago. The submission deadline is June 1, 2015. Writers may submit their work here.
The Kentucky Women Writers Conference will award five postgraduate merit scholarships to women enrolled in graduate school to attend this year’s conference. The conference will take place September 11–12, 2015, in Lexington, Kentucky. To apply, submit a five-page writing sample—enclosing a cover letter that describes your interest in the event and mentions the writing workshop in which you would like to enroll—to the following address: Postgraduate Scholarships Kentucky Women Writers Conference 232 East Maxwell Street Lexington, KY 40506 The postmark deadline is June 1. For other prizes the Kentucky Women Writers Conference offers, click here.
Notting Hill Editions is accepting submissions for its 2015 Essay Prize. The submission deadline is midnight on May 1, 2015. First prize is £20,000. Five runners-up will receive £1,000 each. Applicants can enter their essays into the contest here.
Cowbird is accepting applications for its first ever Unheard Voices grant. Cowbird will award grants to two multimedia storytellers, journalists, or photographers to work with communities whose voices aren’t usually heard and to help share these communities’ stories. Grantees will receive a $2,500 stipend and technical and logistical support. The submission deadline is May 10, 2015. Cowbird will announce the grants on or before June 1. To apply, send a résumé and one professional reference to hay@cowbird.com and complete a list of questions.
Glimmer Train‘s Very Short Fiction Award is now accepting submissions. This contest welcomes any story of up to 3,000 words that has not been accepted for print publication. The reading fee is $15 per story. The prizes are as follows: • First place: $1,500, publication in Glimmer Train Stories, and 20 copies of that issue • Second place: $500 (or, if accepted for publication, $700 and 10 copies) • Third place: $300 (or, if accepted for publication, $700 and 10 copies) The submission deadline is April 30, 2015.
Black Warrior Review is accepting submissions for its eleventh annual contest starting today, April 1. This year’s guest judges are Heather Christle (poetry), Alissa Nutting (fiction/prose), and Mary Roach (nonfiction). The submission deadline is September 1, 2015. The $20 entry fee includes a one-year subscription to Black Warrior Review. Writers may submit their work here. Winners in each genre will receive a $1,000 prize and publication in BWR 42.2, Spring/Summer 2016. Three runners-up will receive $100 in addition to publication.