Winning Writers
@winningwriters.com
News about high-quality literary contests and resources for writers since 2001. Get access to in-depth profiles of 200+ great free literary contests when you subscribe to our free email newsletter: https://winningwriters.com/free
DL Jan 15: New American Poetry Prize
Submit an ms of 48+ pages to win $1,500 and pub. Fee: $25. Some or all of the ms may have been published previously, though not in the same form that it is being submitted to NAP.
https://newamericanpress.com/2026-new-american-poetry-prize-final-judge-rick-barot/
Submit an ms of 48+ pages to win $1,500 and pub. Fee: $25. Some or all of the ms may have been published previously, though not in the same form that it is being submitted to NAP.
https://newamericanpress.com/2026-new-american-poetry-prize-final-judge-rick-barot/
December 6, 2025 at 8:00 PM
DL Jan 15: New American Poetry Prize
Submit an ms of 48+ pages to win $1,500 and pub. Fee: $25. Some or all of the ms may have been published previously, though not in the same form that it is being submitted to NAP.
https://newamericanpress.com/2026-new-american-poetry-prize-final-judge-rick-barot/
Submit an ms of 48+ pages to win $1,500 and pub. Fee: $25. Some or all of the ms may have been published previously, though not in the same form that it is being submitted to NAP.
https://newamericanpress.com/2026-new-american-poetry-prize-final-judge-rick-barot/
Deadline Jan 6: Erma Bombeck Writing Competition
Submit an unpublished personal essay of 450 words in the Humor or Human Interest categories to win $1,000 and a free registration to the sold-out March 26-28 Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop. Fee: $25 ($15 for students).
https://wclibrary.info/erma/
Submit an unpublished personal essay of 450 words in the Humor or Human Interest categories to win $1,000 and a free registration to the sold-out March 26-28 Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop. Fee: $25 ($15 for students).
https://wclibrary.info/erma/
December 5, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Deadline Jan 6: Erma Bombeck Writing Competition
Submit an unpublished personal essay of 450 words in the Humor or Human Interest categories to win $1,000 and a free registration to the sold-out March 26-28 Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop. Fee: $25 ($15 for students).
https://wclibrary.info/erma/
Submit an unpublished personal essay of 450 words in the Humor or Human Interest categories to win $1,000 and a free registration to the sold-out March 26-28 Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop. Fee: $25 ($15 for students).
https://wclibrary.info/erma/
The FISH List of lively independent literary magazines evaluates and ranks over 4,000 lit mags against 14 criteria to help you find your new favourite indie lit mag.
https://www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/p/fish-list.html
HT @chillsubs.bsky.social #litmags
https://www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/p/fish-list.html
HT @chillsubs.bsky.social #litmags
December 4, 2025 at 8:02 PM
The FISH List of lively independent literary magazines evaluates and ranks over 4,000 lit mags against 14 criteria to help you find your new favourite indie lit mag.
https://www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/p/fish-list.html
HT @chillsubs.bsky.social #litmags
https://www.fictionontheweb.co.uk/p/fish-list.html
HT @chillsubs.bsky.social #litmags
"Leda and the Swan", a poem by William Butler Yeats
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43292/leda-and-the-swan
Read by Amanda Holmes for The American Scholar
https://theamericanscholar.org/leda-and-the-swan-by-w-b-yeats/
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43292/leda-and-the-swan
Read by Amanda Holmes for The American Scholar
https://theamericanscholar.org/leda-and-the-swan-by-w-b-yeats/
December 4, 2025 at 2:00 AM
"Leda and the Swan", a poem by William Butler Yeats
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43292/leda-and-the-swan
Read by Amanda Holmes for The American Scholar
https://theamericanscholar.org/leda-and-the-swan-by-w-b-yeats/
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43292/leda-and-the-swan
Read by Amanda Holmes for The American Scholar
https://theamericanscholar.org/leda-and-the-swan-by-w-b-yeats/
Sponsored > Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp & Writing Retreat
June 21 - 27, 2026
3 Immersive Programs
2 Exciting Tracks
1 Incredible Week
Learn more at https://novelbookcamp.org/ or email our director, Dave Rank, at [email protected].
June 21 - 27, 2026
3 Immersive Programs
2 Exciting Tracks
1 Incredible Week
Learn more at https://novelbookcamp.org/ or email our director, Dave Rank, at [email protected].
December 2, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Sponsored > Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp & Writing Retreat
June 21 - 27, 2026
3 Immersive Programs
2 Exciting Tracks
1 Incredible Week
Learn more at https://novelbookcamp.org/ or email our director, Dave Rank, at [email protected].
June 21 - 27, 2026
3 Immersive Programs
2 Exciting Tracks
1 Incredible Week
Learn more at https://novelbookcamp.org/ or email our director, Dave Rank, at [email protected].
Sponsored > Deadline Dec 31: Lilith Magazine's Annual Fiction Contest; no fee, submit a story up to 3,000 words to win $300 and publication. *Please include full contact info on your ms.* Lilith seeks quality short stories with heart, soul and chutzpah.
https://lilith.org/contact/writing-for-lilith/
https://lilith.org/contact/writing-for-lilith/
December 2, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Sponsored > Deadline Dec 31: Lilith Magazine's Annual Fiction Contest; no fee, submit a story up to 3,000 words to win $300 and publication. *Please include full contact info on your ms.* Lilith seeks quality short stories with heart, soul and chutzpah.
https://lilith.org/contact/writing-for-lilith/
https://lilith.org/contact/writing-for-lilith/
"This Animal", a poem by Aracelis Girmay
https://poems.com/poem/this-animal/
via @poetrydaily.bsky.social and BOA Editions
https://poems.com/poem/this-animal/
via @poetrydaily.bsky.social and BOA Editions
December 2, 2025 at 2:00 AM
"This Animal", a poem by Aracelis Girmay
https://poems.com/poem/this-animal/
via @poetrydaily.bsky.social and BOA Editions
https://poems.com/poem/this-animal/
via @poetrydaily.bsky.social and BOA Editions
Download 69 Free E-Books from Poetry Super Highway
Poets have generously made their books available, but only for 11 more hours!
Includes "Disruption at the Caterpillar Orgy" by Rick Lupert.
https://www.poetrysuperhighway.com/psh/great-poetry-e-book-free/
Poets have generously made their books available, but only for 11 more hours!
Includes "Disruption at the Caterpillar Orgy" by Rick Lupert.
https://www.poetrysuperhighway.com/psh/great-poetry-e-book-free/
December 1, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Download 69 Free E-Books from Poetry Super Highway
Poets have generously made their books available, but only for 11 more hours!
Includes "Disruption at the Caterpillar Orgy" by Rick Lupert.
https://www.poetrysuperhighway.com/psh/great-poetry-e-book-free/
Poets have generously made their books available, but only for 11 more hours!
Includes "Disruption at the Caterpillar Orgy" by Rick Lupert.
https://www.poetrysuperhighway.com/psh/great-poetry-e-book-free/
New contest! Deadline Dec 31: The Susan Neville Prize in Fiction & Poetry
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Booth will be given for an unpublished poem or work of fiction. $20 fee includes print subscription. Final judges: Kaveh Akbar and Paige Lewis.
https://booth.submittable.com/submit
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Booth will be given for an unpublished poem or work of fiction. $20 fee includes print subscription. Final judges: Kaveh Akbar and Paige Lewis.
https://booth.submittable.com/submit
November 30, 2025 at 4:01 PM
New contest! Deadline Dec 31: The Susan Neville Prize in Fiction & Poetry
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Booth will be given for an unpublished poem or work of fiction. $20 fee includes print subscription. Final judges: Kaveh Akbar and Paige Lewis.
https://booth.submittable.com/submit
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Booth will be given for an unpublished poem or work of fiction. $20 fee includes print subscription. Final judges: Kaveh Akbar and Paige Lewis.
https://booth.submittable.com/submit
Voting closes on Dec 7 for the 3rd Annual Chill Subs Community Favorites Best Lit Mag Awards. Nominate up to 5 of the most inspiring publications of 2025:
https://www.chillsubs.com/best-lit-mag-awards
via @chillsubs.bsky.social #litmags
https://www.chillsubs.com/best-lit-mag-awards
via @chillsubs.bsky.social #litmags
November 30, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Voting closes on Dec 7 for the 3rd Annual Chill Subs Community Favorites Best Lit Mag Awards. Nominate up to 5 of the most inspiring publications of 2025:
https://www.chillsubs.com/best-lit-mag-awards
via @chillsubs.bsky.social #litmags
https://www.chillsubs.com/best-lit-mag-awards
via @chillsubs.bsky.social #litmags
National Baseball Poetry Festival. No fee. Submit poems on theme of baseball or softball. Prizes include tickets to game in Worcester, MA in May 2026.
Deadline Mar 27: College Students and Adults 18+.
Deadline Apr 17: Youth Grades 4 – 12.
https://baseballpoetryfest.org/baseball-poetry-contests/
Deadline Mar 27: College Students and Adults 18+.
Deadline Apr 17: Youth Grades 4 – 12.
https://baseballpoetryfest.org/baseball-poetry-contests/
November 29, 2025 at 8:01 PM
National Baseball Poetry Festival. No fee. Submit poems on theme of baseball or softball. Prizes include tickets to game in Worcester, MA in May 2026.
Deadline Mar 27: College Students and Adults 18+.
Deadline Apr 17: Youth Grades 4 – 12.
https://baseballpoetryfest.org/baseball-poetry-contests/
Deadline Mar 27: College Students and Adults 18+.
Deadline Apr 17: Youth Grades 4 – 12.
https://baseballpoetryfest.org/baseball-poetry-contests/
"At the Galleria Shopping Mall", a poem by Tony Hoagland
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/52645/at-the-galleria-shopping-mall
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/52645/at-the-galleria-shopping-mall
November 29, 2025 at 2:00 AM
"At the Galleria Shopping Mall", a poem by Tony Hoagland
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/52645/at-the-galleria-shopping-mall
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/52645/at-the-galleria-shopping-mall
DL Dec 7: Leopold Bloom Prize for Innovative Narration sponsored by L’Esprit Literary Review
Submit a short story or novel excerpt, of up to 5,000 words, that exhibits risk-adept narration. Win $500 & pub. Fee: $10.
https://lespritliteraryreview.org/2026-leopold-bloom-prize-for-innovative-narration/
Submit a short story or novel excerpt, of up to 5,000 words, that exhibits risk-adept narration. Win $500 & pub. Fee: $10.
https://lespritliteraryreview.org/2026-leopold-bloom-prize-for-innovative-narration/
November 28, 2025 at 12:02 PM
DL Dec 7: Leopold Bloom Prize for Innovative Narration sponsored by L’Esprit Literary Review
Submit a short story or novel excerpt, of up to 5,000 words, that exhibits risk-adept narration. Win $500 & pub. Fee: $10.
https://lespritliteraryreview.org/2026-leopold-bloom-prize-for-innovative-narration/
Submit a short story or novel excerpt, of up to 5,000 words, that exhibits risk-adept narration. Win $500 & pub. Fee: $10.
https://lespritliteraryreview.org/2026-leopold-bloom-prize-for-innovative-narration/
Deadline Jan 11: The Bechtel Prize. No fee. Submit an unpublished essay under 2,500 words that describes innovation in creative writing instruction. Winner receives $1,000 and publication in Teachers & Writers Magazine. Judge: Diana Khoi Nguyen.
https://teachersandwritersmagazine.org/bechtel-prize/
https://teachersandwritersmagazine.org/bechtel-prize/
November 27, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Deadline Jan 11: The Bechtel Prize. No fee. Submit an unpublished essay under 2,500 words that describes innovation in creative writing instruction. Winner receives $1,000 and publication in Teachers & Writers Magazine. Judge: Diana Khoi Nguyen.
https://teachersandwritersmagazine.org/bechtel-prize/
https://teachersandwritersmagazine.org/bechtel-prize/
Academy of American Poets: Poems for Thanksgiving
https://poets.org/poems-thanksgiving
Poetry Foundation: Thanksgiving Poems
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/collections/101693/the-cranberry-cantos
https://poets.org/poems-thanksgiving
Poetry Foundation: Thanksgiving Poems
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/collections/101693/the-cranberry-cantos
November 26, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Academy of American Poets: Poems for Thanksgiving
https://poets.org/poems-thanksgiving
Poetry Foundation: Thanksgiving Poems
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/collections/101693/the-cranberry-cantos
https://poets.org/poems-thanksgiving
Poetry Foundation: Thanksgiving Poems
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/collections/101693/the-cranberry-cantos
DL 12/1: McGovern Center Writing Awards in Fiction
No fee. Submit unpublished fiction that is medical or healthcare-related, up to 5,000 words. Win $500 & an opportunity to publish in the Journal of Medical Humanities.
https://med.uth.edu/mcgovern/resources/mcgovern-center-writing-awards-in-fiction/
No fee. Submit unpublished fiction that is medical or healthcare-related, up to 5,000 words. Win $500 & an opportunity to publish in the Journal of Medical Humanities.
https://med.uth.edu/mcgovern/resources/mcgovern-center-writing-awards-in-fiction/
November 24, 2025 at 4:05 PM
DL 12/1: McGovern Center Writing Awards in Fiction
No fee. Submit unpublished fiction that is medical or healthcare-related, up to 5,000 words. Win $500 & an opportunity to publish in the Journal of Medical Humanities.
https://med.uth.edu/mcgovern/resources/mcgovern-center-writing-awards-in-fiction/
No fee. Submit unpublished fiction that is medical or healthcare-related, up to 5,000 words. Win $500 & an opportunity to publish in the Journal of Medical Humanities.
https://med.uth.edu/mcgovern/resources/mcgovern-center-writing-awards-in-fiction/
Deadline Nov 30: ServiceScape Short Story Award
No fee. Submit unpublished fiction or nonfiction, up to 5,000 words, to win $1,000 and online publication.
https://www.servicescape.com/short-story-award
HT FundsforWriters
No fee. Submit unpublished fiction or nonfiction, up to 5,000 words, to win $1,000 and online publication.
https://www.servicescape.com/short-story-award
HT FundsforWriters
November 23, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Deadline Nov 30: ServiceScape Short Story Award
No fee. Submit unpublished fiction or nonfiction, up to 5,000 words, to win $1,000 and online publication.
https://www.servicescape.com/short-story-award
HT FundsforWriters
No fee. Submit unpublished fiction or nonfiction, up to 5,000 words, to win $1,000 and online publication.
https://www.servicescape.com/short-story-award
HT FundsforWriters
"The Hanged Man", a poem by Ariana Reines
https://poems.com/poem/the-hanged-man/
via @poetrydaily.bsky.social and @graywolfpress.bsky.social
https://poems.com/poem/the-hanged-man/
via @poetrydaily.bsky.social and @graywolfpress.bsky.social
November 23, 2025 at 2:00 AM
"The Hanged Man", a poem by Ariana Reines
https://poems.com/poem/the-hanged-man/
via @poetrydaily.bsky.social and @graywolfpress.bsky.social
https://poems.com/poem/the-hanged-man/
via @poetrydaily.bsky.social and @graywolfpress.bsky.social
The increasing use of AI is enabling publishing scams to fabricate entire teams of fake executives and use the identities of real authors to create a highly deceptive corporate facade.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/nov/17/authors-writers-caught-in-global-ai-publishing-scam
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/nov/17/authors-writers-caught-in-global-ai-publishing-scam
November 22, 2025 at 4:02 PM
The increasing use of AI is enabling publishing scams to fabricate entire teams of fake executives and use the identities of real authors to create a highly deceptive corporate facade.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/nov/17/authors-writers-caught-in-global-ai-publishing-scam
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/nov/17/authors-writers-caught-in-global-ai-publishing-scam
"Soap Suds", a poem by Louis MacNeice
https://www.blueridgejournal.com/poems/lm-soap.htm
Read by Amanda Holmes for The American Scholar
https://theamericanscholar.org/soap-suds-by-louis-macneice/
https://www.blueridgejournal.com/poems/lm-soap.htm
Read by Amanda Holmes for The American Scholar
https://theamericanscholar.org/soap-suds-by-louis-macneice/
November 21, 2025 at 2:01 AM
"Soap Suds", a poem by Louis MacNeice
https://www.blueridgejournal.com/poems/lm-soap.htm
Read by Amanda Holmes for The American Scholar
https://theamericanscholar.org/soap-suds-by-louis-macneice/
https://www.blueridgejournal.com/poems/lm-soap.htm
Read by Amanda Holmes for The American Scholar
https://theamericanscholar.org/soap-suds-by-louis-macneice/
Deadline Dec 15: Writer's Digest Call for 28th Annual 101 Best Websites for Writers Nominations - Please nominate Winning Writers!
https://www.writersdigest.com/best-websites-for-writers-nomination-2026
https://www.writersdigest.com/best-websites-for-writers-nomination-2026
November 20, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Deadline Dec 15: Writer's Digest Call for 28th Annual 101 Best Websites for Writers Nominations - Please nominate Winning Writers!
https://www.writersdigest.com/best-websites-for-writers-nomination-2026
https://www.writersdigest.com/best-websites-for-writers-nomination-2026
Rolling deadline: $1,000 John Updike Review Emerging Writers Prize
No fee. Writers up to 40 years old may submit essays that deepen our understanding of the work of John Updike. Submit to: Prof. James Schiff, Editor, The John Updike Review, [email protected].
https://updikereview.com/submissions/
No fee. Writers up to 40 years old may submit essays that deepen our understanding of the work of John Updike. Submit to: Prof. James Schiff, Editor, The John Updike Review, [email protected].
https://updikereview.com/submissions/
November 20, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Rolling deadline: $1,000 John Updike Review Emerging Writers Prize
No fee. Writers up to 40 years old may submit essays that deepen our understanding of the work of John Updike. Submit to: Prof. James Schiff, Editor, The John Updike Review, [email protected].
https://updikereview.com/submissions/
No fee. Writers up to 40 years old may submit essays that deepen our understanding of the work of John Updike. Submit to: Prof. James Schiff, Editor, The John Updike Review, [email protected].
https://updikereview.com/submissions/
DL 11/30: Bath Children’s Novel Award
International. Emerging authors may submit novels for YA & younger or the text of story picture books to win £5,000. Submissions may be unpublished, self-published, or published without an advance. Fee: £29.99.
https://bathnovelaward.co.uk/childrens-novel-award/
International. Emerging authors may submit novels for YA & younger or the text of story picture books to win £5,000. Submissions may be unpublished, self-published, or published without an advance. Fee: £29.99.
https://bathnovelaward.co.uk/childrens-novel-award/
November 19, 2025 at 12:02 PM
DL 11/30: Bath Children’s Novel Award
International. Emerging authors may submit novels for YA & younger or the text of story picture books to win £5,000. Submissions may be unpublished, self-published, or published without an advance. Fee: £29.99.
https://bathnovelaward.co.uk/childrens-novel-award/
International. Emerging authors may submit novels for YA & younger or the text of story picture books to win £5,000. Submissions may be unpublished, self-published, or published without an advance. Fee: £29.99.
https://bathnovelaward.co.uk/childrens-novel-award/
When Annie Mydla judges book submissions, she frequently sees strong starts followed by weak action and an unsatisfying resolution that's at odds with the book's genre, characters, and story arc.
https://winningwriters.com/resources/choosing-your-books-resolution-status-quo-or-new-normal #WriteTips
https://winningwriters.com/resources/choosing-your-books-resolution-status-quo-or-new-normal #WriteTips
November 18, 2025 at 8:02 PM
When Annie Mydla judges book submissions, she frequently sees strong starts followed by weak action and an unsatisfying resolution that's at odds with the book's genre, characters, and story arc.
https://winningwriters.com/resources/choosing-your-books-resolution-status-quo-or-new-normal #WriteTips
https://winningwriters.com/resources/choosing-your-books-resolution-status-quo-or-new-normal #WriteTips
DL Nov 30: The Gulliver's Travel Grant sponsored by the Speculative Literature Foundation
No fee. Writers of speculative literature can receive $1,000 for travel expenses involved with non-academic research.
https://speculativeliterature.org/grants-3/the-gulliver-travel-grant/
HT FundsforWriters
No fee. Writers of speculative literature can receive $1,000 for travel expenses involved with non-academic research.
https://speculativeliterature.org/grants-3/the-gulliver-travel-grant/
HT FundsforWriters
November 18, 2025 at 4:04 PM
DL Nov 30: The Gulliver's Travel Grant sponsored by the Speculative Literature Foundation
No fee. Writers of speculative literature can receive $1,000 for travel expenses involved with non-academic research.
https://speculativeliterature.org/grants-3/the-gulliver-travel-grant/
HT FundsforWriters
No fee. Writers of speculative literature can receive $1,000 for travel expenses involved with non-academic research.
https://speculativeliterature.org/grants-3/the-gulliver-travel-grant/
HT FundsforWriters