Writing Contests: Summer 2015

There's really no end to the many avenues that writers have to improve their skills in the realm of writing. Blogs, articles, short stories, writer's prompts, novels and even greeting cards offer us a seemingly endless supply of ways to pluck from our imaginative pool and twist our words into a stream of prose meant to delight, inform or even terrify our readers. Contests provide us with an opportunity to meander off our finely beaten writerly paths and foray into a new genre - perhaps with a bonus at the end of publication or prize. Try your hand at one of these upcoming writer's contests below....

TLR Prose Poetry Contest: Accepts prose poems. Deadline 8/1/15

The Barthelme Prize for Short Prose: Accepts poetry, flash fiction and micro-essay. Deadline 8/31/15

The Sixth First Line Contest: Accepts starter sentences. Deadline 9/1/15

NANO Fiction Prize: Fiction works of 300 words or fewer. Deadline 9/1/15  

Cahoots Collaboration Contest: Must include a literary element. Deadline 10/1/15

War and Peace Fall Essay Contest: Accepts essays up to 3,000 words. Deadline 10/12/15

Write or Die: Writing Contests for the Summer of 2014

I have a wonderful friend who has begun to write seriously during the past few years, I've written about him on this blog previously. Two years ago, he didn't even believe that it was possible that he could finish a short story, let alone see it published. Now he's publishing a story almost every other month and even getting paid for some of them. When we first started talking regularly, he found it inspiring that I'd published a book and this inspiration, in part, propelled him to start writing. These days, he is the inspiration for me and the truth is that his secret is very simple. He writes. He writes stories, edits and submits them and he does something nearly every day. We writers love to lament our many reasons for not putting the pen to the page, but give yourself permission to drop the excuses, find a space of stillness today and just write...


Pressgang Prize: Deadline 5/30/14

Cloudbank Poetry and Flash Fiction Contest: Deadline 5/31/14

Creative Nonfiction The Memoir Issue: Deadline 5/31/14

American Short Fiction Short Story Contest: Deadline 6/1/14

Split Lip Magazine Chapbook Contest Deadline 6/1/14

2014 New American Fiction Prize: Deadline 6/15/14

Pulp Literature Magpie Award for Poetry: Deadline 6/15/14

Jewish Literary Journal Competition for Fiction, Poetry and Creative Nonfiction: Deadline 6/15/14

Vallum Magazine Award for Poetry: Deadline 6/15/14

Lucille Clifton Poetry Prize: Deadline 6/15/14

Literary Juice Flash Fiction Contest: Deadline 6/30/14

Bacopa Literary Review: Deadline 6/30/14

Blue Lyra Review Contest for Nonfiction and Long Poem: Deadline 6/30/14

Matrix LitPop Awards: Deadline 7/1/14

The Rattle Poetry Prize: Deadline 7/15/14

Fairy Tale Review Prose and Poetry Contest: Deadline 7/15/14

Stone Canoe Journal Annual Prize: Deadline 7/31/14

Blue Earth Review Flash Fiction Contest: Deadline 8/1/14

The Geist Tobacco Lit Writing Contest: Deadline 9/1/14

I didn't start out writing to give children hope, but I'm glad some of them found it.
-Beverly Cleary

2012 Writing Contests

I apologize for the long hiatus. Whether you've also been on a bit of a writing break or are still going full speed ahead (perhaps pumping out one of the infamous NaNoWriMo books for November) check out some writing contests to spark your creativity and perhaps bring some publication and prizes! 

Writing Contests

November Deadlines:

Bacopa Literary Review: Accepts fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Deadline: Nov. 30th

BOA Editions A. Poulin Jr. Poetry Prize: Accepts books of poetry: Deadline: Nov. 30th

The Caribbean Writer Literary Review: Accepts poetry and fiction. Deadline: Nov. 30th

Fish Publishing Short Story Contest: Deadline: Nov. 30th

Glimmer Train Short Story Award for New Writers: Deadline: Nov. 30th

WOW Women on Writing Flash Fiction Contest: Deadline: Nov. 30th

December Deadlines

The Fiddlehead's 22nd Annual Literary Contest: Accepts poetry and short stories: Deadline: Dec 1st

Saints and Sinners Short Fiction Contest: Deadline: Dec. 3rd

Perfume River Poetry Review: Accepts poetry. Deadline: Dec.  15th

Crab Creek Review's 2012 Fiction Contest: Deadline Dec. 15th

Toasted Cheese Literary Journal: Short stories on the theme Heart and Soul: Deadline Dec. 21st

Anderbo RRofihe Trophy Short Story Contest: Deadline Dec. 31st

Dzanc Books Short Story Collection Contest: Deadline: Dec. 31st

Omnidawn Publishing Poetry Contests: Deadline: Dec 31st
 
River Styx 2013 Schlafly Beer Micro-Fiction Contest: Deadline: Dec. 31st

Suspense Magazine 2012 Writing Contest: Deadline: Dec. 31st 

 

 

 

Writing Events and Contests

Generally, I like to divide these categories up, but to streamline this post, I'm going to bring you events and contests at once. 

Michigan Writer's Events

Ann Arbor: The Author's Forum Presents Ghost Writers: Dec. 7th 

Ann Arbor: Meet Several Local Authors, such as Jonathan Rand, in December at Nicola's Books. 

Detroit Area: Visit the Motown Writer's Network Monthly Calendar to see a variety of writing groups and events in the Detroit Metro area.

Lyons: Leaven Center presents The Sacred in Everyday Life: A Writing Workshop for Women: January 13-15

Marquette: Visit the Regional Author Extravaganza at Snowbound Books in December 

Writing Contests

Beecher Magazine Fiction and Poetry Contest: Deadline Dec. 7

Hunger Mountain Ruth Stone Poetry Contest 

Crab Creek Review Fiction Contest: Deadline Dec. 15 

Toasted Cheese Fiction Contest: Deadline Dec. 21 

Bayou Magazine Fiction and Poetry Contest: Deadline Dec. 31

Boulevard Short Fiction Contest: Deadline Dec. 31

River Styx Micro-Fiction Contest: Deadline Dec. 31

Gemini Magazine Poetry Contest: Deadline Jan 3 

Diore Press Fiction and Poetry Chapbook Contest: Jan. 9 

Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it; Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Writing Contests: Short Story Contests, Poetry, Essay and More

Writing contests inspire a lot of feelings for most of us writers. Some people love them and salivate at the mere thought of crafting a string of prose about a frighteningly random topic like 'cart wheeling on the moon.' Other writers tremble at the thought of that blank page, even when the category is open-ended and they have a word folder stuffed with worthy submissions. Whether you live in the former or the latter category, writing contests give you an opportunity to share your voice, your story and your perspective. Check out the contests below and remember to stretch yourself. It's easy to stick with your genre, but it's great for your craft if you try out the opposite instead.



Writing Contests for Multiple Genres 

• Our Stories:The Generation XYZ Contest: Deadline 9/30/11

• Prescott College: 2011 National Writing Contest: Deadline 9/30/2011 

• Inscape Magazine: Writing Contest: Deadline 10/26/2011 

• Black Lawrence Press: The Black River Chapbook Competition: Deadline 10/31/2011 

• Glimmer Train: Family Stories: Deadline 10/31/2011 

Fiction Writing Contests (And Flash Fiction)

• Zoetrope: All Story Fiction Contest: Deadline 10/3/2011 

• Indiana Review: 2011 Fiction prize: Deadline 10/15/2011 

• Inkwell: 14th Annual Short Fiction Contest: Deadline 10/31/2011

• Kore Press: Short Fiction Chapbook Award: Deadline 10/31/2011 

• The New Renaissance: The Louise E. Reynolds Memorial Fiction Awards: Deadline 10/31/2011  

Poetry Contests 

• New Issues Poetry and Prose: The 2010 Green Rose Prize: Deadline 9/30/11

• Pudding House: Poetry Chapbook Competition: Deadline 9/30/11

• Red Hen Press: Ruskin Art Club Poetry Award: Deadline 9/30/11 

• Fordham University: Poets Out Loud Prize: Deadline 10/15/2011 

• Silverfish Review Press: Gerald Cable Book Award: Deadline 10/15/2011 

Essay Contests

• Review of English Studies: 2011 RES Essay Prize: Deadline 9/30/2011

• Diagram: Essay Contest: Deadline 10/31/2011 

'Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.'

William Wordsworth

Freelance Markets

Happy March Writers. I began this post as a listing of jobs; however, several of my usual job sites are down this evening so I bring to you instead some submission information. Magazines submissions are a great way to earn a living as a freelance writer. Consider areas of interest or, better yet, areas of expertise when brainstorming article ideas.

Also keep your network of friends and family in mind as they are great resources for interviews. For instance, do you have a girlfriend who owns a bakery? A single interview could leave you with a variety of pitches such as women in business, small business during recession, baking trends for 2011 and many more. Most magazines prefer a query first, which allows you to offer some ideas without having to pen the entire article. See the end of the post for some links on How to Write Query Letters.

Magazines and Websites

Fourtean Times: World of Strange Phenomena

Smoking Mountains Living Magazine 

Backpacker Magazine 

Submissions for Thin Threads and MamaZina Magazine 

The Escapist Magazine 

Fiasco Magazine 

Praise and Coffee Magazine 

Defenders of Wildlife Magazine 

Upper Room Writing Devotionals 

Road and Travel Magazine

Bird Times Magazine 

Blue Suit Mom Online Magazine 

I Love Cats Magazine

Fuse Magazine: Art, Culture and Politics

Short Story Submissions/Contests

Suns and Silences: Poetry, Fiction and Nonfiction

Room Magazine: Fiction, Nonfiction and Poetry

Short Story Contest for Deadly Ink 

The StorySouth Million Writers Award

Trading Card Fiction Contest  

Witness: Accepts Fiction, Nonfiction and Poetry

Query Letter Help

Writing.com: Query Letter Do's and Dont's 

How to Write an Assignment Winning Magazine Query Letter 

What no wife of a writer 

can ever understand is that a writer is working when he's staring out of the window.  ~Burton Rascoe 

Wake Up with Spring Writing Contests

Okay writers - February is drawing to a close and March is nipping at our heels. Let's follow the words of Doug Larson, "Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush," and seize this great moment of renewal to pour some new energy into our writing. Look at the contests below and find something that resonates with you, and then find another one and another one. Submit again and again and you may find that all of your efforts now continue to feed you as winter dies and life is born again. 


The Southeast Review - The World's Best Short Story Contest - Fee:$15 - Deadline: March 15th


Arts and Letters Short Story Competition - Fee:$15 - Deadline: March 15th


Gulf Coast Contest for Poetry, Fiction and Nonfiction - Fee:$23 - Deadline: March 15th


Fish Publishing One Page Flash Fiction Contest - Fee:$14 - Deadline: March 20th


The Pinch Literary Awards in Fiction and Poetry - Fee:$20 - Deadline: March 15th 


Ninth Annual Glass Woman Prize for Short Fiction of Creative Nonfiction by a Woman - Fee:Free - Deadline: March 21st


Narrative Magazine Winter 2011 Story Contest - Fee:$20 - Deadline: March 31st


Grain Magazine's Annual Short Writing Contest - Fee:$40 - Deadline: April 1st


The Gemini Magazine Short Story Competition - Fee:$4 - Deadline: March 31st


Personal Essay/Creative Nonfiction Contest - Fee:$10 - Deadline: April 15th


GCWA's Let's Write Literary Contest - Fee$8 - Deadline: April 15th


My First Car Contest - Fee: Free - Deadline: March 4th