60+ Best Writing Competitions in 2026: Prizes, Deadlines & How to Enter

Discover 60+ Best writing competitions in 2026. Entry details, deadlines & prizes included. Submit fiction, non fiction, translation, poetry and more, to win awards & get published.

Whether you are a beginner or a published author, writing competitions offer cash prizes, global recognition, and publishing opportunities. This updated 2026 guide lists 60+ international writing competitions, including poetry, short story, essay, translation and creative writing contests. You’ll find deadlines, entry fees, prizes, and step-by-step instruction guide on how to enter writing competitions .

If you are interested in WRITING COMPETITIONS WITH NO ENTRY FEE, we got you too!

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Key Requirements Before Applying for Writing Competitions in 2026

It might become a challenge for beginners to apply for writing competitions,without knowing the proper steps and prerequisites. So, below are the necessary details and requirements that a writer should prepare before submitting their work to any literary platform.

1. Cover letter (preferably in 3rd person)
2. Each writeup in a separate document
3. Submission platform account (includes Submittable, Duotrope )
4. Short Bio

To read in more indetail about various platforms and ways to publish writing and its monetization value, check out:

The ultimate List of WRITING COMPETITIONS 2026: Monthly updated

1. The Colorado Prize for Poetry

Deadline: Wed, Jan 20, 2027 12:30 PM

Entry fee: $28.00

Guidelines: judge is Juliana Spahr

1. Entrants must be at least 18 years old.
2. Manuscripts must be at least 48 pages but no more than 100 pages.
3. The theme and style are both open.

Prize: $2,500 honorarium and publication

2. Asymptote

Deadline: Wed, Dec 2, 2026 10:30 AM

Entry fee: $10.00

Guidelines:

1. submit creative work of no more than 5,000 words
2. Consider works originally written in English as well as works translated into English.
3. Simultaneous submissions are accepted
4. Accept only previously unpublished work for publication.

Prize: publication

3. Driftwood Press

Genre: Poetry and Fiction

Deadline: Friday, January 15th, 2027 at 11:30 PM

Entry fee: $25.00

Guidelines:

1. Fiction: 1,000-5,000
2. Submitters may send up to five poems
3. Each poem must not exceed sixty lines.
4. The work must not have been previously published.
5. Simultaneous submissions are accepted
6. Do not accept translations, and any submissions should be written primarily in English.

Prize:

1. $400 USD
2. Publication

4. Boulevard

FICTION

Deadline: Fri, Jan 1, 2027 11:30 AM

Entry fee: $18.00

Guidelines:

1. Accept works up to 8,000 words.
2. Entries will be judged by the editors of Boulevard.
3. Simultaneous submissions accepted

Prize: $1,500 and publication

5. New England Review

New Japanese Literature in Translation

Deadline: Tue, Dec 1, 2026 10:30 AM

Fee: free

Guidelines:

1. Looking for flash fiction, zuihitsu, short essays, and poetry (linked or otherwise)
2. Appropriate length is up to 1,500 words for prose, or up to three poems.
3. Include the original text along with your translation.
4. Previously published translations are not eligible.
5. Multiple submissions permitted

Prize: $20/page ($50 minimum), plus two copies of the issue

6. Baltimore Review

Genre: Flash Fiction, Non Fiction, Prose Poem

Deadline: Tue, Dec 1, 2026 10:30 AM

Entry fee: $8.00

Guidelines:

1. No theme
2. No simultaneous submissions.
3. Total word limit for is 1,000 for all categories

Prize: $400 prize and publication

7. The Florida Review

Fiction, Non- Fiction, Poetry

Deadline: open year round

Entry fee: $3.00

Guidelines:

1. Prose: limit each submission to 9,000 words.
2. Poetry: Up to 5 poems per entry.
3. Simultaneous submissions are accepted.
4. Multiple individual entries by a writer, in any category or combination of categories, will be considered.

Prize: publication

8. Solstice Literary Magazine.

Genre: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry

Deadline: Wed, Jun 2, 2027 9:30 AM

Entry fee:  $3.00

Guidelines:

1. Flash fiction collections of 3-5 pieces, up to 25 pages
2. Four poems maximum
3. Up to 22 pages of Non Fiction
4. Include a short bio
5. Simultaneous submissions are accepted

Prize: publication

9. The Chestnut Review

Poetry, Prose & Flash Competitions 2026

Deadline: Dec 31, 2026

Entry fee: $5

Guidelines:

1. simultaneous submissions are accepted
2. No previously published work
3. NO ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS
4. They do not accept submissions of AI generated work.
5. Language must be English
6. All nationalities are welcome to participate
7. All those who submit work must be at least 18 years of age
8. For poetry submit up to 6 poems
9. Flash, 1000 words submission
10. Between 1000 and 5000 words are accepted for prose

Prize: publication & US $120 per piece

10. Variant Review

Fiction, Nonfiction & Poetry submission

Deadline: Sat, Nov 21, 2026 10:30 AM

Entry fee: $15

Guidelines:

1. Fiction & Nonfiction: 1200 to 5500 words
2. Submit up to to 5 poems totaling no more than 10 pages.
3. Simultaneous submissions are accepted

Prize: publication

11. The Georgia Review

Poetry, Fiction, Creative fiction

Deadline: Sun, May 16, 2027 9:30 AM

Entry fee: $3.00

Guidelines:

1. Submit up to 10 pages of poetry
2. Prose works 9,000 words or longer.
3. Do not currently accept micro reviews or pieces under 1,200 words.
4. Allow multiple submissions
5. Simultaneous submissions are accepted

Prize:

1. $4 per line for poetry, up to $800.
2. $50 per printed page of prose, up to $800.

12. Bellevue Literary Review

Deadline: December 31, 2026

Entry fee: $20

Guidelines:  

1. Submit up to three poems as one submission.
2. All submissions must be previously unpublished.
3. Poems can be of any length
4. Do not accept previously published work

Prize: $75

13. Cleaver Magazine 2026 Contests

Deadline: open year around

Entry fee: $5.00

Guidelines:

1. Submit up to 5 poems
2. Submit one story up to 4000 words
3. Submit micro-fiction (up to 700 words).
4. Submit creative nonfiction) up to 3000 words.
5. Submit micro nonfiction or short essays (up to 700 words).
6. Multiple submissions are welcome and encouraged

Prize: publication

14. The NARRATIVE| POEM OF THE WEEK

Deadline: open year round

Entry fee: $19/entry

Guidelines:

1. May contain up to five poems.
2. Your submission should give a strong sense of your style and range.
3. Accept submissions of all poetic forms and genres but do not accept translations.

Prize: Authors are paid $100 (reprints) to $200 for a poem published as a Poem of the Week, and all the Poems of the Week written by new and emerging writers are eligible for our annual $4,000 Narrative Prize.

15. Beloit Poetry Journal

Genre: 2026 Chad Walsh Chapbook Series

Deadline : Tue, Dec 1, 2026 10:30 AM

Entry Fee : $20.00

Guidelines :

1. Open to any poet writing in English, regardless of publication history
2. Submit a manuscript of 20-35 pages of poetry
3. Welcome simultaneous submissions

Payment: $2500 prize, 50 author copies and editorial consultation

16. Atlanta Review

Genre: Poetry

Deadline: Tue, Dec 1, 2026 10:30 AM

Entry fee: $3.50

Guidelines:

1. No more than five unpublished poems (7 pages total, max) per submission
2. Only one submission per submission period.
3. Simultaneous submissions are accepted

Prize: publication

17. Booth Magazine

Poetry, Fiction and Nonfiction Prize

Deadline: Tue, Dec 1, 2026 10:30 AM

Entry fee: $3

Guidelines:

1. Poetry: up to 3 poems
2. Micro: up to 3 pieces of 300 words or less
3. Fiction or Creative Nonfiction: up to 7,500 words
4. Flash: up to 2 flash pieces of 500 words or less
5. They allow multiple submissions.

Prize: $50

18. Frontier Poetry Competition

2026 Devotion & Divination Prize

Deadline: Mon, Dec 14, 2026 1:30 PM

Entry fee: $20.00

Guidelines: Guest judge Hala Alyan

1. Send up to three poems per submission, for a total of no more than five pages.
2. Accepts simultaneous submissions
3. Submit unpublished poems only.
4. Submissions are open internationally, to any poet writing in English.
5. Multiple submissions are accepted

Prize:

1. Thefirst-place winner will receive $3,000 and publication.
2. Second and third-place winners will receive $300 and $200, respectively, along with publication.

19. Joyland Magazine 2026

Joyland Magazine Free Submissions

Deadline: year round.

Entry fee: free

Guidelines:

1. All submissions must be in English.
2. welcome works in translation.
3. Consider fiction submissions (short stories and stand-alone novel excerpts) of up to 12,000 words.

Prize: $200

Joyland Magazine Paid Submissions

Deadline: year round

Entry fee :$5.00

Guidelines:

1. Submissions must be in English.
2. We welcome works in translation.
3. Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
4. Consider fiction submissions (short stories and stand-alone novel excerpts) of up to 12,000 words.

Payment: $200

20. The Marrow Chapbook Prize

Poetry chapbook prize

Deadline: 11.59 pm AEST, 14 December 2026

Entry fee: AUD $42

Guidelines:

1. Judges: Maya C. Popa and Damen O’Brien
2. Submit 20-24 pages of poetry
3. Multiple submissions per entrant are permitted.
4. Translations, versions, cento or pastiches are not permitted.
5. Simultaneous submissions are permitted

Prize: $1,000 and publication

21. PRISM international

Poetry & Prose

Deadline: Mon, Nov 16, 2026 1:30 PM

Entry fee: $3.00

Guidelines:

1. Submit up to five poems, maximum of seven pages.
2. Submissions must be previously unpublished
3. Submit only one piece at a time, unless you are submitting flash fiction or non-fiction (under 1,000 words), in which case you may submit up to three pieces
4. Multiple submissions are accepted
5. Simultaneous submissions are not accepted.

Prize: publication

22. Nightboat Books

2026 Nightboat Poetry Prize

Deadline: November 15, 2026 at 11:59pm EST.

Entry fee: $28.00

Guidelines:

1. Any poet writing in English, including international Anglophone writers.
2. Minimum of 48 pages, paginated, no more than one poem per page.
3. Original work only; translations are not eligible for the prize.
4. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable
5. Submission of more than one manuscript is acceptable.

Prize: publication

23. Antler Velvet

Genre: Poetry and Prose

Deadline: November 15, 2026

Entry fee: free

Guidelines:

1. Submit one (1) poem.
2. Work should be primarily in English
3. Simultaneous submissions are encouraged

Prize: publication

24. The Ear Magazine

Fiction, Creative Fiction and Poetry

Deadline: Fri, Jan 1, 2027 1:30 PM

Entry fee: free

Guidelines:

1. Poems (up to 3)
2. Fiction (1 work)
3. Nonfiction (1 work)
4. Only previously unpublished work.
5. Simultaneous submissions are allowed

Prize: publication

25. The Core Review

Genre: The Slice Poetry Chapbook Contest

Deadline: Fri, Jan 1, 2027 10:30 AM

Entry fee: $20.00

Guidelines:

1. Poetry chapbook submissions should be up to 35 pages of poems
2. Simultaneous submissions are accepted
3. Previously unpublished work only

Prize: $500, 10 author copies, and 25% profits on book sales.

26. The Ex-Puritan Writing Competitions

Genre: Poetry, Essay, Fiction

Deadline: Sat, Dec 26, 2026 10:30 AM

Entry fee: $3.00

Guidelines:

1. include a succinct description of no more than 250 words in the Cover Letter field.
2. Submissions should not exceed 5000 words.
3. Submit stories over 10,000 words, flash fiction (under 1,000 words), or novel excerpts.
4. Poetry has no word limit

Prize:

1. $200 PER ESSAY
2. $150 PER WORK OF FICTION
3. $50 PER POEM, OR $100 PER POET IF MULTIPLE POEMS ACCEPTED

27. Iron Horse Literary Review

Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Non Fiction

Deadline: Mon, Nov 16, 2026 11:30 AM

Entry fee: $3.00

Guidelines:

1. Flash stories (1,000 words or less) and full-length stories (up to 5,000 words, approx. 17 pages).
2. Flash essays (1,000 words or less) and full-length essays (up to 5,000 words, approx. 17 pages).
3. Accept 3 to 5 poems in a submission.
4. Simultaneous submissions are accepted

Prize: publication

28. Meadowlark Press

The Birdy Poetry Prize

Deadline: Wed, Dec 2, 2026 11:30 AM

Entry fee: $25.00

Guidelines:

1. Full length poetry manuscripts (55 page minimum, 90+ pages preferred) will be considered.
2. Simultaneous submissions are allowed
3. Previously unpublished poems only

Prize: publication

29. The Poem Stellium

Same Minds, Different Continents

Deadline: TBA

Entry fee: £1

Guidelines:

1. Eligibility: International poets, 18+
2. Submit: One poem only (maximum 150 words)
3. Theme: Beginnings: across distance, across self, across the world

Prize: publication

Anthology: The Beginners of a Poet’s Journey

Deadline: TBA

Entry Fee: £1

Guidelines :

1. Theme: The Beginners of a Poet’s Journey
2. Eligibility: UK-based poets, 18+
3. Submit one poem only (maximum 150 words).

Payment: publication

30. C.D. Wright Emerging Poet’s Prize 2026

Genre: Poetry

Deadline: Mon, Nov 16, 2026 11:30 AM

Entry fee: $20

Guidelines: judges: Shane McCrae

1. Submit 3-5 poems originally written in English
2. Total of no more than 6 pages
3. Only previously unpublished work will be considered.

Prize: $1000 and publication

31. Asymptote

Fiction, Poetry, or Literary Nonfiction

Deadline: Wed, Dec 2, 2026 10:30 AM

Entry fee: $10.00

Guidelines:

1. Submit creative work of no more than 5,000 words by one author in total.
2. Consider works originally written in English as well as works translated into English.
3. Invite submissions that reckon with the climate crisis at every scale
4. Simultaneous submissions are accepted

Prize: publication

32. Abode Press

Deadline: Tue, Dec 1, 2026 10:30 AM

Entry fee: Free

Guidelines:

1. Currently focused on authors based in the U.S.
2. Accepts and encourages simultaneous submissions
3. Poetry = up to 30 pages
4. Hybrid = up to 40 pages

Prize: 200.00 USD advance, 15% of royalties, paid each quarter, or until all books sold and more

33. Blue Mesa Review

Poetry, Fiction and Creative Non Fiction

Deadline: Sun, Nov 1, 2026 11:30 AM

Entry fee: $3.00

Guidelines:

1. Accepts previously unpublished work only
2. Fiction (up to 6,000 words)
3. Nonfiction (up to 6,000 words)
4. Poetry (up to 3 poems),
5. Simultaneous submissions are accepted
6. Multiple entries are accepted

Prize: publication

34. Mississippi Review

Poetry, Fiction & Non- Fiction

Deadline: Sat, Jan 2, 2027 11:30 AM

Entry fee: $16.00

Guidelines:

1. Poetry: Poetry submissions should be 3-5 poems, totaling 10 pages or less
2. Fiction: Fiction submissions should be 600-8,000 words.
3. Non Fiction: Creative Nonfiction submissions should be 600-8,000 words.
4. Previously published work is ineligible.

Prize: $1,000 and publication

35. Ninth Letter

Fiction, Creative Fiction and Poetry

Deadline: Mon, Mar 1, 2027 11:30 AM

Entry fee: $3.00

Guidelines:

1. Submit 3-5 poems (max. 8 pages) at a time
2. Creative nonfiction: submit one essay up to 8,000 words
3. Fiction: submit one story up to 8,000 words
4. Simultaneous submission is permitted.

Prize: $25 per poem and $100 for prose upon publication

36. F(r)iction

Deadline: Sat, Nov 14, 2026 1:30 PM

Entry fee: $10-$15

Guidelines: Judges: Joy Baglio, Renia White, and Wes Blake

1. Short stories: 1,001 – 7,500 words
2. Poetry: up the three pages per poem
3. Flash fiction: up to 1,000 words per piece

Prize: $1,600

37. 2026 River Heron Editors’ Prize

Deadline: Mon, Nov 16, 2026 10:30 AM .

Entry fee: $15.00

Guidelines: judges: Dawn Terpstra and Virginia Smith.

1. Simultaneous submissions are accepted.
2. Poets may submit up to 3 poems.
3. Previously published poems are not eligible.
4. No theme

Prize: First place wins $500. Four finalists will receive $100 each.

38. Jennifer A. Lurie Memorial Poetry Prize

Poetry

Deadline: Sun, Nov 15, 2026 11:30 AM

Entry fee: $15.00

Guidelines:

1. Submit 1-5 poems (for a maximum of 10 pages)
2. Simultaneous submissions are accepted
3. Multiple entries are allowed

Prize: First place wins $750, second $150, third $50

39. Arkana Magazine

Deadline: March 31, 2027

Entry fee: free

Guidelines:

1. Fiction/ Creative Nonfiction: total word count 4,000 words or fewer.

2. Poetry: submit up to three poems

3. Translation: Submissions should be 3 pages of poetry and 4,000 words of prose.

Prize: publication

40. Grist: A Journal of the Literary Arts

Poetry, Fiction and Non Fiction

Deadline: Sun, Nov 1, 2026 9:30 AM

Entry fee: $4.00

Guidelines:

1. Submit original, unpublished work.
2. Submit 3-5 poems.
3. Non fiction: limit your submission to 7,000 words.
4. Submit one fiction story of up to 7,000 words.
5. Simultaneous submissions allowed

Prize: publication

41. Vestal Review

Flash Fiction

Deadline: Mon, Nov 16, 2026 10:30 AM

Entry fee: $3.00

Guidelines:

1. No longer than 500 words
2. Include a brief author bio in the message space, 200 words maximum.
3. Simultaneous submissions are accepted

Prize: publication

42. Tupelo Press

Genre: The 2026 Dorset Prize for Poetry

Deadline: Friday, January 1st, 2027 at 10:29 AM

Entry fee: $30.00

Guidelines: Final Judge: Allison Benis White

1. Multiple submissions are accepted
2. Simultaneous submissions are accepted
3. Open to anyone writing in the English language
4. Translations are not eligible for this prize

Prize: $1,500

43. The Tiny Journal

Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry

Deadline: Mon, Nov 2, 2026 10:30 AM

Entry fee: $2.00

Guidelines:

1. Submit up to three fiction and/or nonfiction works 1000 words or less. 
2. Send up to three poems.
3. Simultaneous submissions are encouraged

Prize: publication

44. Scott King Award in Eco-Poetry

Poetry

Deadline: Sun, Nov 8, 2026 11:30 AM

Entry fee: $25.00

Guidelines: judge is Anna Lena Phillips Bell 

1. Poetry manuscripts must be under 120 pages of poetry
2. Simultaneous submissions are accepted
3. Translations are not eligible for publication, nor are previously published or self-published books
4. No submissions from those living outside of the United States.

Prize: $1000 + publication

45. Tupelo Press

The 2026 Helena Whitehill Award

Deadline: Sunday, November 1st, 2026 at 9:29 AM

Entry fee: $30.00

Guidelines:

1. Open to anyone writing in the English language
2. Translations are not eligible for this prize, nor are previously self-published books.
3. Submit a previously unpublished, full or chapbook-length poetry manuscript, or creative non-fiction manuscript
4. Simultaneous submissions are accepted
5. Multiple submissions are accepted

Prize: $1,000

46. Iron Horse Literary Review

Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction

Deadline: Mon, Nov 16, 2026 11:30 AM

Entry fee: $3.00

Guidelines:

1. Flash stories (1,000 words or less) and full-length stories (up to 5,000 words, approx. 17 pages).
2. Stories longer than 5,000 words should be submitted
3. Flash essays (1,000 words or less) and full-length essays (up to 5,000 words, approx. 17 pages).
4. Essays longer than 5,000 words should be submitted
5. Submit 3 to 5 poems in a submission. 
6. All submissions must be previously unpublished
7. Simultaneous submissions are accepted

Prize: $50 per poem or flash piece and $100 per story or essay.

47. Fonograf Editions

Open Genre Book Prize contest

Deadline: November 1st, 2026

Entry fee: $28

Guidelines: Judge: Brian Blanchfield

1. FORMAT: 48 to 180 pages
2. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable.
3. Multiple submissions are accepted

Prize: $1,500, a standard royalty contract, a 3 week residency at The Rice Place (residency will take place in June 2027), and 15 free copies of their book.

48. Gulf Stream Magazine

Poetry, Fiction and Non Fiction

Deadline: Thu, Nov 5, 2026 10:30 AM

Entry fee: $3.00

Guidelines:

1. Fiction: 5,000 words (or 3 pieces of up to 1,000 words)
2. Creative Nonfiction: 5,000 words
3. Poetry: 3 poems per submission
4. Hybrid: 5,000 words
5. Translations: 3 poems or 5,000 words of prose
6. Book Reviews: 500-750 words
7. Work must be previously unpublished as a whole
8. Simultaneous submissions are accepted

Prize: publication

49. Cygnus Magazine

Genre: Poetry, Short Fiction, Flash Fiction

Deadline: Sun, Dec 6, 2026 10:30 AM

Entry Fee: $5.20

Guidelines:

1. Open to all writers over 18 years old.
2. Submit up to 5 poems per submission. Do not exceed 12 pages.
3. Submit one short story per submission. Do not exceed 5000 words.
4. Submit one flash fiction per submission. Do not exceed 1500-2000 words.
5. Multiple submissions are welcome
6. Submissions must be in English or accompanied by an English translation

Prize: $33 to $50 per piece

50. C.P. Cavafy Poetry Prize 2026

Genre: Poetry

Deadline: Wed, Dec 2, 2026 1:30 PM

Entry Fee: $15

Guidelines:

1. Submit up to 3 poems
2. Only previously unpublished work is eligible
3. Simultaneous submission allowed

Prize: $1,000 and publication

51. Newcastle Poetry Prize

Genre: Poetry

Deadline: 8 pm AEDT, Sunday 6 December 2026

Entry Fee: $35.20

Guidelines: judge: Magdalena Ball and Grace Yee

1. Who can enter: Australian citizens or residents aged 18 years and above.
2. Poems up to 200 lines can be entered.
3. Simultaneous submissions are accepted

Prize: $21,000 prize pool and publication

52. The Florida Review

2027 Jeanne Leiby Memorial Chapbook Award

Deadline: Fri, Jan 8, 2027 10:30 AM

Entry Fee: $25.00

Guidelines:

1. Length limit: up to 45 pages
2. Entries must not have been previously published
3. Simultaneous submission is permitted.

Prize: Chapbook publication, 50 copies of the winning chapbook, and $1,000

53. Okay Donkey Press

Flash Fiction and Poetry

Deadline: Sat, Jan 2, 2027 1:30 PM

Entry Fee: $2.50

Guidelines:

1. One flash fiction per author, per submission period.
2. Our maximum word limit for flash fiction is 1,200 words.
3. One poem per author, per submission period.
4. No strict word limits for poetry
5. Include a brief cover letter with a short third-person bio

Prize: $25 and publication

54. L’Esprit Literary Review

Genre: Poetry

Deadline: Mon, Dec 14, 2026 1:30 PM

Entry Fee: free

Guidelines:

1. Submit a previously unpublished chapbook-length poetry manuscript
2. Manuscripts should be approximately 16-40 pages in length
3. Can submit multiple manuscripts

Prize: publication

55. Overland

Genre: 2026 Judith Wright Poetry Prize

Deadline: midnight 4th December 2026

Entry Fee: $12

Guidelines:

1. The prize is open to Australian and New Zealand writers only.
2. Poems must be unpublished
3. Poems must be no more than 80 lines.
4. Multiple entries are permitted
5. Accept simultaneous submissions.

Prize: major prize is $6000, with a second prize of $2000 and a third prize of $1000.

56. AGNI Magazine

Poetry, Fiction and Non Fiction

Deadline: Wednesday, December 16th, 2026 at 10:29 AM

Entry Fee: $3.00

Guidelines:

1. Limit your submission to no more than five poems
2. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable
3. Submit one piece of fiction, flash fictions of less than 1,000 words each
4. Flash nonfiction pieces of less than 1,000 words each, welcome up to three.

Prize: $50 per page for accepted poetry and $30 per printed page for accepted prose

57. Women’s Poetry Competition 2026

Genre: Poetry

Deadline: 7 December 2026

Entry Fee: £12.00

Guidelines: judge: Rachel Long

1. Open to unpublished poems of any length, on any subject.
2. Entries should not be a translation of another author’s work.
3. Simultaneous submissions are accepted

Prize:

1. 1st: £2,000;
2. 2nd: £500;
3. 3rd: £250

58. The Southeast Review

Poetry, Non Fiction and Story

Deadline: Mon, Dec 21, 2026 10:30 AM

Entry Fee: $16.00

Guidelines: judges: Amina Gautier, Li-Young Lee, Rose McLarney

1. Story: under 250 words
2. Send up to three poems, no more than 10 pages total.
3. Send essays up to 5000 words.
4. Simultaneous submissions are accepted

Prize: $750 per category

59. Solstice

Poetry, Fiction, Non Fiction and Translation

Deadline: Wed, Jun 2, 2027 9:30 AM

Entry Fee: $3.00

Guidelines:

1. Fiction: Up to 25 sequentially numbered pages
2. Poetry: Four poems maximum
3. Translation: Four poems maximum
4. Non Fiction: Up to 22 pages
5. Do not accept multiple submissions
6. Do accept simultaneous submissions

Prize: publication

60. The Stern Prize

Poetry

Deadline: Sat, Jan 2, 2027 10:30 AM

Entry Fee: $25.00

Guidelines:

1. Open to all poets age 50 and over
2. Submit a manuscript of 48 pages or more
3. simultaneous submissions are accepted

Prize: $2,000

61. River Teeth Literary

Nonfiction Book Prize

Deadline: Sun, Nov 1, 2026 9:30 AM

Entry Fee: $27

Guidelines: Judge: Sue William Silverman

1. Contest for a book-length manuscript of literary nonfiction
2. Manuscripts must be in English, between 35K-85K words long (approximately 150-350 pages)
3. Submissions should be previously unpublished
4. Simultaneous submissions are accepted

Prize: $1,000 and publication

62. Red Hen Press

Fiction

Deadline: Sat, Jan 16, 2027 1:30 PM

Entry Fee: $25.00

Guidelines:

1. Original story of fiction with a minimum of 150 pages.
2. 25,000-word minimum
3. Simultaeous submissions are accepted

Prize: $5000

63. CutBank Literary Journal

Genre: Poetry, Fiction and Non Fiction

Deadline: Tue, Feb 2, 2027 12:30 PM

Entry fee: $5.00

Guidelines:

1. Fiction submissions should be no longer than 8,500 words.
2. Submissions should be no longer than 8,500 words for Non Fiction
3. Poetry submissions may include up to five poems.
4. Simultaneous submissions are accepted

Prize: $500

64. The Columbia Journal

Genre: Poetry , Fiction and Non Fiction

Deadline: Tue, Nov 10, 2026 10:30 AM

Entry Fee: $15.00

Guidelines:

1. Works of up to 5,000 words in length
2. Consider works of up to 1-3 pages of poetry
3. Simultaneous submissions are allowed

Prize: $300 and publication

65. WEST TRADE REVIEW

Genre: Poetry , Fiction and Non Fiction

Deadline: Wed, Dec 16, 2026 10:30 AM

Entry Fee: $3

Guidelines:

1. Submit up to 3 poems as one submission
2. Submissions are limited to five poems per reading period
3. Only previously unpublished work will be considered.
4. Include a cover letter and a short 3rd person biography of no more than 150 words.

Prize: publication

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