Upcoming Writing Contests in 2012

Spring is here -  a time for rebirth and for many writers a spike in motivation. As winter releases her final grappling hold, we begin to see again the life that lays dormant during those barren, chilly months. Of course this year, our usually frozen scape was accentuated by hot sunny days in February and spring-like weekends in December. No less, we move with the rhythms of the earth and today she is telling us that Spring is returning. The rain of the last several days has made everything greener and more vibrant - the perfect sight to induce our creativity and lure us back to our pens, typewriters and keyboards.

Check out some upcoming writing contests below.

Free Writing Contests

AuthorStand Free Writing Contest: Short stories 1,500 to 10,000 words. Deadline May 10th.

The Vocabula Well Written Writing Contest: 200 to 500 words of beautiful writing. Deadline May 31st.

Writing Contests that Include a Reading Fee

Empirical Magazine Spring Writing Contest: Up to three short stories. Fees range. Deadline May 15th.

Abandoned Towers Magazine Writing Contest: Fiction, poetry or flash fiction on the theme Abandoned Towers. Fees vary by category. Deadline May 18th.

Work Magazine Employee of the Year Contest: Work related memoir. Fee $10. Deadline May 18th.

The New Letter Literary Awards: Prizes for poetry, essay and fiction. Deadline May 18th.

Redivider Beacon Street Prize: Best story and poetry. Fee $15. Deadline May 30th.

Pecan Grove Press- The H. Palmer Hall Prize for Short Fiction: Short story manuscripts between 125 and 150 pages. Fee $15. Deadline May 30th.

Writer's Journal Short Story Contest: Short story of 2,000 words or less. Fee $10. Deadline May 30th.

Glimmer Train Short Story Award: Short stories. Fee $15. Deadline is May 31st.

Spilling Ink Short Story Prize: Short story of 1,500 words or less. Fee $10. Deadline May 31st.

The Backwater Prize: Manuscript of original poems. Fee $25. Deadline May 31st.

Calyx- 2012 Lois Cranston Memorial Poetry Prize: Up to 3 unpublished poems. Fee $15. Deadline May 31st.

Crab Creek Review Poetry Contest: Up to 3 unpublished poems. Fee $10. Deadline May 31st.

Pearl- 2012 Pearl Poetry Prize: 48 to 64 pages of original poetry. Fee $25. Deadline May 31st.

WOW Women on Writing Flash Fiction Contest: Open prompt fiction of no more than 750 words. Fee $10. Deadline May 31st.

Tiferet Journal Writing Contest: Spiritually focused fiction, poetry and nonfiction. $20 Fee. Deadline June 1st.

Nilsen Prize for a First Novel: Full length fiction manuscript. Fee $25. Postmark by November 1st.

Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.

- Jane Yolen