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. Red Hen Press: Benjamin Saltman Poetry Award

Deadline: Sun, Nov 1, 2026 12:30 PM

Entry fee: $25.00

Guidelines:

1. 48 page minimum, 96 page maximum.
2. Award is for a previously unpublished work only
3. final judge will be TBA.

Prize: $3,000 and publication

2. Willow Springs Surrealist Poetry Prize 2026

Deadline: Fri, Oct 2, 2026 12:30 PM

Entry fee: $15.00

Guidelines:

1. Submit a packet of up to 3 poems
2. Multiple submissions are welcome
3. Simultaneous submissions are accepted
4. Accept only previously unpublished work for publication.

Prize: $1000 and publication

3. Northwest Review

Deadline: Mon, Nov 2, 2026 1:30 PM

Entry fee: $15.00

Guidelines: judged by Mat Johnson and Michelle Peñaloza

1. Submit up to 3 poems (or 6 pages total)
2. Previously published manuscripts will not be considered.
3. Simultaneous submissions are accepted

Prize:

1. Book publication
2. $1,000 honorarium

4. The Arkansas International

Non fiction, Fiction, Poetry, Translation

Deadline: Fri, Oct 16, 2026 10:30 AM

Entry fee: $4.00

Guidelines:

1. Include a brief cover letter and bio.
2. Prose submissions should be no more than 8,000 words
3. Poem packets no more than five poems
4. Simultaneous submissions accepted
5. Previously published work is ineligible.

Prize:

1. Prose contributors will be paid $25 per 500-word page, with payments capped at $200.
2. Poets will be paid $25 per page, with payments capped at $200.

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. EVENT Magazine

Non Fiction

Deadline: Fri, Oct 16, 2026 12:30 PM

Entry fee: $34.95

Guidelines:

1. 5,000 word limit on entries.
2. No simultaneous submissions.
3. Multiple entries are allowed
4. Entries must not have been previously published

Prize:

1. $3,000 in total prizes, plus publication in EVENT
2. First Place $1,500; Second Place $1,000; Third Place $500.

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. Gasher Press

Chapbook Poetry, Full length Poetry

Deadline: Sat, Oct 31, 2026 9:30 AM

Entry fee:  $10.00- $15.00

Guidelines:

1. 2026 Poetry Chapbook Prize: Submit manuscripts between 20-37pgs
2. 2026 Open Reading: Full-Length Poetry Books: poetry and hybrid books between 50- 100 pages
3. 2026 Open Reading Full-Length Poetry (BIPOC WRITERS): poetry and hybrid books between 50-100 pages
4. Entries must be previously unpublished.
5. International writers are welcome to submit.
6. Simultaneous submissions are accepted

Prize:

1. The chapbook prize includes 10 free copies and $300.
2. Publication.

9. The Chestnut Review

Poetry, Prose & Flash Competitions 2026

Deadline: Sept 30, 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. Potomac Review

Fiction, Nonfiction & Poetry submission

Deadline: October 1, 2026

Entry fee: Free

Guidelines:

1. Fiction & Nonfiction: 7,500 words.
2. Include up to five poems for each submission.
3. Simultaneous submissions are accepted

Prize: publication

11. Copytext Magazine

Poetry, Fiction, Creative fiction

Deadline: Mon, Nov 2, 2026 1:30 PM

Entry fee: free

Guidelines:

1. Submission may include up to five poems.
2. In poetry, submit work where all versions are less than 50 lines (or two pages) each.
3. Submission package may include up to three pieces of fiction, up to 750 words each.
4. Allow multiple submissions
5. Copytext has no specific thematic or formal preferences

Prize: publication

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. SWING

Poetry, Fiction & Non Fiction

Deadline : Fri, Oct 2, 2026 10:30 AM

Entry Fee : $15

Guidelines :

1. Poems shouldn’t be over 75 lines
2. Send up to 5 poems in one submission
3. Nonfiction (up to 8000 words)
4. Fiction (auto-, hybrid, very short, or regular) up to 8000 words
5. Consider a maximum of one submission each in two genres.
6. Simultaneous submissions are accepted.

Payment: publication

16. Iowa Review

Poetry, Fiction, Creative Fiction

Deadline: Fri, Oct 2, 2026 10:30 AM

Entry fee: $4.00

Guidelines:

1. The page limit for fiction is 25 pages
2. The page limit for poetry is 8 pages.
3. The page limit for nonfiction is 25 pages
4. Simultaneous submissions are accepted

Prize: $0.08 per word ($100 minimum).

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 Myths & Fables

Deadline: Mon, Sep 14, 2026 12:30 PM

Entry fee: $20.00

Guidelines: Guest judge Matthew Olzmann

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 London Magazine

Short Story Prize 2026

Deadline: Mon, Oct 19, 2026 4:30 AM

Entry fee: £12 per story

Guidelines:

1. Previously unpublished stories of no more than 4,000 words.
2. Judged by Camilla Grudova, Tim MacGabhann and Ayşegül Savaş.
3. Multiple submissions are accepted

Prize: First Prize: £1000 , Second Prize: £600 , Third Prize: £400

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. The Markaz Prize 2026-27

Short Story, and Literary Essay/Creative Nonfiction.

Deadline: Midnight (ET), Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

Entry fee: $10

Guidelines:

1. Applicants must be 18 or older and must not have yet published a book of fiction or creative nonfiction.
2. Work translated into English from any language is welcome.
3. Simultaneous submissions are encouraged
4. 1,000–3,000 word count.

Prize:

1. First place: $3,000 cash prize and more
2. Second place: $1,000 cash prize and publication in The Markaz Review.

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. Red Rock Review

Poetry, Short Fiction and Creative Fiction

Deadline: Thu, Oct 1, 2026 12:30 PM

Entry fee: $2.00

Guidelines: Prose judge: Emily Mitchell & Poetry judge: Kimberly Johnson.

1. Prose submissions up to 5,000 words.
2. Poetry submissions of no more than 80 lines
3. Send no more than five poems/ ten pages of poetry per submission.
4. Send no more than one story or essay in a single submission.

Prize: Publication and Two free contributor copies

26. The Ex-Puritan Writing Competitions

Poetry

Deadline: Sat, Sep 26, 2026 9:30 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.

Prize: $50 PER POEM, OR $100 PER POET IF MULTIPLE POEMS ACCEPTED

Essays

Deadline: Sat, Sep 26, 2026 9:30 AM

Entry Fee: $3.00

Guidelines : no more than 250 words in the Cover Letter. Submissions should not exceed 5000 words.

Payment: $200 PER ESSAY

27. The Brooklyn Review

Poetry, Fiction, Essay

Deadline: Thu, Oct 1, 2026 9:30 AM

Entry fee: $3.00

Guidelines:

1. Submit 3-5 poems, totaling no more than 10 pages
2. Fiction: work between 2,000 and 7,000 words.
3. Essay: pieces up to 3500 words.
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. Reed Magazine

Fiction, Poetry, Non- Fiction

Deadline: Fri, Oct 2, 2026 12:30 PM

Entry fee: $20

Guidelines: judges: Suzanne Rico

1. John Steinbeck Award for Fiction 2027: limit submissions to 5,000 words.
2. Gabriele Rico Challenge for Nonfiction 2027: limit prose submissions to 5,000 words. 
3. Edwin Markham Prize for Poetry 2027: submit up to five (5) poems per submission.

Prize: Fiction-$1,000, Poetry-$1,000, Non- Fiction-$1,333

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

The 2026 Helena Whitehill Award

Deadline: October 31st, 2026

Entry fee: $30.00

Guidelines:

1. Open to anyone writing in the English language, whether living in the United States or abroad.
2. Submit a previously unpublished, full or chapbook length poetry manuscript, or creative non-fiction manuscript
3. Cover letters or biography notes are optional
4. Simultaneous submissions to other publishers or contests are permitted

Prize: $1,000

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. Cherry Tree

Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction

Deadline: Fri, Oct 2, 2026 9:30 AM

Entry fee: $3.00

Guidelines:

1. Send no more than 5 poems.
2. Send no more than 20 total pages of prose or no more than 5 flash prose pieces
3. All submissions must be previously unpublished
4. Simultaneous submissions are accepted

Prize: $20 per contributor and two contributor’s copies.

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. TRP: The University Press of SHSU

The X. J. Kennedy Poetry Prize Prize

Deadline: Thu, Oct 1, 2026 10:30 AM

Entry Fee: $28

Guidelines: 2026 Judge: Phillip B. Williams

1. Welcome manuscripts of any style/form.
2. Prize is open to poets at any stage of their career.
3. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable.
4. Manuscripts must be between 50 and 100 pages in length.
5. Submitters must be 18+ years of age.
6. Translations are not eligible.

Prize: $10,000 Advance + Residency Fellowship at Vermont Studio Center

50. The Fourth River

Poetry, Fiction , Non Fiction

Deadline: Wed, Sep 16, 2026 9:30 AM

Entry Fee: $3.00

Guidelines: theme: WATER.

1. Send up to 4,000 words of prose at a time.
2. Send 3-5 poems at a time.
3. Welcome submissions of previously unpublished poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and visual art

Prize: publication

51. Copper Nickel

Jake Adam York Manuscript Prize

Deadline: Mon, Oct 19, 2026 9:30 AM

Entry Fee: $25.00

Guidelines: judge: Rick Barot

1. Open to writers who  live in the US or are US citizens
2. Translations are not eligible, nor are previously self-published books.
3. CAN submit your manuscript to other book prizes simultaneously

Prize: $2,500 and publication by MILKWEED EDITIONS.

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

Short Fiction and Prose

Deadline: Mon, Sep 14, 2026 12:30 PM

Entry Fee: $3

Guidelines:

1. Up to 7,000 words; this limit is flexible
2. No minimum word count requirement and will consider flash length work.
3. Consider Auto theory, personal essays, and narrative-driven non-fiction

Prize: honorarium of $10 per published piece of writing as payment

55. Phoebe Journal

Poetry, Fiction and Non Fiction

Deadline: Fri, Oct 9, 2026 9:30 AM

Entry Fee: $3

Guidelines:

1. SUBMISSION SIZE: 1 piece per submission.
2. Nonfiction and Fiction pieces should not be longer than 4,000 words
3. Up to five (5) poems submission.
4. May submit multiple submissions.
5. Accept simultaneous submissions.

Prize: honorarium of $10 per published piece of writing as payment

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

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