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Writing Contests, Grants & Awards
- See Recent Winners
- View the Submission Calendar
The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we’ve published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it. Ours is the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.
Loft Literary Center
Mcknight fellowships for writers.
Four prizes of $25,000 each will be given annually to Minnesota poets, prose writers, and spoken word artists. Fellows will also receive an all-expenses-paid, one- or two-week...
Poetry and Short Story Awards
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Sixfold are given quarterly for a group of poems and a short story. Using only the online submission system, submit up to...
Fall Story Contest
A prize of $2,500 and publication in Narrative is given annually for a short story, a short short story, an essay, a memoir, a photo essay, a short graphic narrative,...
White Pine Press
Poetry prize.
A prize of $1,000 and publication by White Pine Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of 60 to 80 pages with a $20 entry fee by November 30....
Green Linden Press
Wishing jewel prize.
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Green Linden Press is given annually for an innovative book of poetry “that questions the boundaries of genre, form, or mode while engaging...
Anton Chekhov Award for Flash Fiction
A prize of $1,250 and publication in LitMag is given annually for a work of flash fiction. The winner will also have their work reviewed by agents Jenny Bent (Bent...
Tadpole Press
100-word writing contest.
A prize of $2,000 and publication on the Tadpole Press website and in Tadpole Press Literary Magazine is given biannually for a work of flash poetry or prose. Submit a...
University of North Texas
Rilke prize.
A prize of $10,000 is given annually for a poetry collection published in the current year by a midcareer poet. The winner will also give a reading and book signing at the...
Stephen Mitchell Translation Prize
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Green Linden Press is given annually for a book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction translated from any language into English....
Red Hen Press
Quill prose award.
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Red Hen Press is given annually for a story or essay collection, a novel, a memoir, or a hybrid work of prose by a queer writer. Raymond...
University of Georgia Press
Georgia poetry prize.
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Georgia Press is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner is also invited to read from their book at the Georgia...
BOA Editions
A. poulin jr. poetry prize.
A prize of $1,000 and publication by BOA Editions is given annually for a debut book of poetry. Maya C. Popa will judge. Submit a manuscript of 65 to 120 pages with a $30 entry...
Quarter After Eight
Robert j. demott short prose contest.
A prize of $1,008.15 and publication in Quarter After Eight is given annually for a prose poem, a short short story, a micro essay, or other work of short prose. Lily...
Fish Publishing
Fish short story prize.
A prize of €3,000 (approximately $3,302) and publication in the annual Fish Publishing anthology is given annually for a short story. The winner will also be invited to attend...
Nina Riggs Poetry Foundation
Nina riggs poetry award.
A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a single poem that examines relationships, family, or domestic life and was published in a book or magazine in the last three years....
Munster Literature Centre
Gregory o’donoghue international poetry competition.
A prize of €2,000 (approximately $2,202) and publication in Southword is given annually for a single poem. The winner will also receive a four-night hotel stay with...
Beloit Poetry Journal
Chad walsh chapbook series.
A prize of $2,500, publication by Beloit Poetry Journal , and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry chapbook. The editors will judge. Using only the online...
Athenaeum of Philadelphia
Literary award.
Up to two prizes of $1,000 each and an invitation to give a public lecture at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia will be given annually for books of fiction and/or nonfiction...
Pushcart Press
Pushcart prizes.
Publication in The Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses is awarded annually for works of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction published by literary magazines...
Five Points
James dickey prize for poetry.
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Five Points is given annually for a group of poems. The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit up to...
Waywiser Press
Anthony hecht poetry prize.
A prize of $3,000 and publication by the Waywiser Press is given annually for a poetry collection by a poet who has published no more than one previous collection. The winner...
Poetry International
C.p. cavafy poetry prize.
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Poetry International is given annually for a single poem. The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit...
African Poetry Book Fund
Sillerman first book prize for african poetry.
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Nebraska Press and Amalion, an independent publishing house based in Dakar, is given annually for a debut poetry collection...
Regal House Publishing
W.s. porter prize for short story collections.
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Regal House Publishing is given annually for a story collection. Heather Bell Adams will judge. Submit a manuscript of 100 to 350 pages...
Slipstream Press
Poetry chapbook contest.
A prize of $1,000, publication by Slipstream Press, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry chapbook. The editors will judge. Submit a manuscript of up to 40 pages...
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- Writing Tips
7 Essay Writing Contests to Look Out For in 2023
7-minute read
- 28th December 2022
Essay contests are not only a great way to exercise your essay-writing skills but also an awesome way to win cash prizes, scholarships, and internship or program opportunities. They also look wonderful on college applications as awards and achievements.
In this article, you’ll learn about 7 essay writing contests to enter in 2023. Watch the video below, or keep reading to learn more.
1. Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
Deadline: Now–April 30, 3023
Who may enter:
This is an international contest for people of all ages (except for residents of Syria, Iran, North Korea, Crimea, Russia, and Belarus due to US government restrictions).
Contest description:
● The contest is organized by Winning Writers, located in MA, USA.
● They accept stories and essays on any theme, up to 6,000 words each. This contest defines a story as any short work of fiction and an essay as any short work of nonfiction.
● Your stories and essays must be submitted in English.
● You may submit published or unpublished work.
Entry fee: USD 22 per entry
● Story: First Prize is USD 3,000.
● Essay: First Prize is USD 3,000.
● 10 Honorable Mentions will receive USD 300 each (any category).
● The top 12 entries will be published online.
Official website
Please visit the competition’s official website for more information on judges and submissions.
2. 2023 Calibre Essay Prize
Deadline: Now–January 15, 2023, 11:59 pm
Who may enter: All ages and any nationality or residency are accepted.
● This contest is hosted by the Australian Book Review.
● Your essay must be between 2,000 and 5,000 words.
● You may submit nonfiction essays of all kinds, e.g., personal, political, literary, or speculative.
● You may enter multiple essays but will need to pay separate fees for each one.
● Your essay must be unpublished.
Entry fee: AU 30 for non-members
Prize: AU 7,500
Official website:
For more information on this contest, please visit its official website.
3. John Locke Institute Essay Competition
Deadline: June 30, 2023
● Students from any country.
● Students aged 15 to 18 years by the competition deadline.
● Students aged 14 years or younger by the competition deadline are eligible for the Junior prize.
● The contest is organized by the John Locke Institute.
● Your essay cannot exceed 2,000 words.
● There are seven subjects or categories for essay submissions: Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology, and Law.
Entry fee: Free to enter
● The best overall essay winner receives an honorary John Locke Fellowship, which comes with a USD 10,000 scholarship to attend one or more summer schools or gap year courses.
● There is also a prize for the best essay in each category. The prize for each winner of a subject category and the Junior category is a scholarship worth USD 2,000 toward the cost of a summer program.
● All winning essays will be published on the Institute’s website.
For more information about this competition and the John Locke Institute, please visit the official website . Also, be sure to check out our article on all you need to know about this contest.
4. The American Foreign Service Association 2023 Essay Competition
Deadline: April 3, 2023
● Students in grades 9–12 in any of the 50 states, DC, the US territories, or if they are US citizens or lawful permanent residents attending high school overseas.
● Students attending a public, private, or parochial school.
● Home-schooled students.
● Your essay should be 1,000–1,500 words.
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● You will select a country or region in which the United States Foreign Service has been involved at any point since 1924 and describe how the Foreign Service was successful or unsuccessful in advancing American foreign policy goals – including promoting peace – in this country or region and propose ways in which it might continue to improve those goals in the coming years.
● Your essay should follow MLA guidelines.
● Your essay should use a variety of sources.
● The first-place winner receives USD 2,500, a paid trip to the nation’s capital from anywhere in the U.S. for the winner and their parents, and an all-expense-paid educational voyage courtesy of Semester at Sea.
● The runner-up receives USD 1,250 and full tuition to attend a summer session of the National Student Leadership Conference’s International Diplomacy program.
Please visit the American Foreign Service website for more information.
5. The Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) 2023 Essay Contest
Deadline: Mid-February 2023–June 1, 2023
Who may enter: High school (including homeschooled), college, and graduate students worldwide.
● The 2023 essay contest topic is marriages and proposals.
● High school students may focus on Pride and Prejudice only or bring in other Austen works.
● Undergraduate and graduate students should discuss at least two Austen novels of their choice.
● Your essay must be in MLA format and 6 to 8 pages (not including your Works Cited page).
● Your essay must be written in English.
● First place wins a USD 1,000 scholarship.
● Second place wins a USD 500 scholarship.
● Third place wins a USD 250 scholarship.
● Winners will also receive one year of membership in JASNA, publication of their essays on this website, and a set of Norton Critical Editions of Jane Austen’s novels.
For more information and submission guidelines, please visit JASNA’s official website .
6. 2023 Writing Contest: Better Great Achievements by EngineerGirl
Deadline: February 1, 2023
● Students in Grades 3–12. If international or homeschooled, please select your grade level based on if you were attending a public school in the U.S.
● This contest is organized by EngineerGirl.
● Students should write a piece that shows how female or non-white engineers have contributed to or can enhance engineering’s great achievements.
● You should choose one of the 20 Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century as a topic and explore the technologies developed in the last century and the new ones being developed today. Make sure to follow the specific guidelines for your grade level.
● Essays should be 650–750 words based on your grade level.
● Please visit the contest’s website to see specific requirements based on your grade.
Winners in each grade category will receive the prizes listed below:
● First-place winners will be awarded USD 500.
● Second-place entries will be awarded USD 250 .
● Third-place entries will be awarded USD 100 .
For more information and submission guidelines, please visit the official website .
7. World Historian Student Essay Competition
Deadline: May 1, 2023
Who may enter: Students enrolled in Grades K–12 in public, private, and parochial schools and home-study programs worldwide.
● Your essay must address the following issue: In what way has the study of world history affected my understanding of the world in which I live?
● Your essay should be 1,000 words.
Prizes: USD 500
For more information and submission requirements, please visit the contest’s official website.
Essay contests are a great way to expand your writing skills, discuss a topic that is important to you, and earn prize money and opportunities that will be great for you in the long term. Check out our articles on writing thesis statements, essay organization, and argumentative writing strategies to ensure you take first place every time.
If you need help with your essays and would like to make sure that every comma is in place, we will proofread your first 500 words for free !
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