Writing Contests!

Hey guys! I've been looking into some writing/publishing contests so I figured I'd share what I found with you all here, in case anyone is interested. Some of them pay well, others don't, but I'm more interested in winning a contest and getting something published than money (although it sure is a nice bonus). Also keep in mind that most of these contests do have some kind of submission fee!

Feel free to add to this list if you know of any upcoming contests! And be sure to let us know if you enter a contest so we can root for you!




Writer's Digest Annual Writing Competition - accepting poetry, short stories, scripts and more. Grand Prize is $3,000. Deadline is May 2, 2011.


Northwest Institute of Literary Arts - multiple contests for poetry and fiction, deadlines are ongoing. Prizes between $100-$300. 

Snag Today Writing Contest - short stories, essays, prose. Deadline is January 31, 2011. Prize is $50.

America's Got Stories - short fiction or non-fiction, theme is "supernatural." Deadline is February 28, 2011. Not sure if there's a cash prize.

Cut Bank Literary Journal - fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry. Deadline is February 28, 2011. Prize is $500. They also have an essay contest and flash fiction/poetry contest later in the year.

Pinch Literary Awards - fiction and poetry. Deadline is March 15, 2011. Prizes between $1000 and $1500.

Chapter One Contest - submit up to 25 pages from a novel in progress (I think this applies to a lot of us!). Deadline is March 15, 2011. Prize is $500.

Gemini Magazine "No Boundaries" Contest - short fiction, novel excerpts. Deadline is March 31, 2011. Grand Prize is $1000.