The following is a list of  contests, prizes, and fellowships require no entry or reading fee.  Whether you’re a fiction writer, poet, or essayist, there is something here that should work for you. For even more contests, visit this link.

1. The NYC Emerging Writers Fellowship is currently open to NYC-based writers. Emerging writers who have not yet published a novel or collection are invited to submit fiction pieces of 7,500 words or fewer. Between nine and fifteen grantees will receive $5,000 and a plethora of other benefits, including mentorship with a freelance editor and the opportunity to meet with agents.The deadline is February 29. To learn more, read the fellowship guidelines.

2. Binghamton University is holding the Milt Kessler Poetry Book Award. Poets may submit books of poems that total 48 pages or more. There is no limit to the amount of books a poet may submit. The grand prize winner will receive $1,000.The deadline is March 1. To learn more, read the award guidelines.

3. Hektoen International is holding the Fourth Hektoen Grand Prix Essay Competition. Writers may submit essays either on the military or on any of the topics featured in Hektoen International. There will be one winner in each category, who will receive $1,500. Essays should be no longer than 1,600 words, and winning essays will be published in the Summer 2016 issue of the magazine.The deadline is March 31. To learn more, read the competition guidelines.

4. The L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest is open for submissions. Emerging writers of fantasy or science fiction can submit prose of up to 17,000 words. Writers must be relatively unpublished (see number 5 on the guidelines). The first place winner will receive $1,000; second place will receive $750; and third place will receive $500. Winners will also receive trophies. At the end of the year, a Grand Prize winner will be announced and awarded $5,000.The next deadline is March 31, but the contest is held every quarter. To learn more, read the contest guidelines.

5. Sapiens Plurum is holding its Earth Day Short Fiction Contest. Writers can submit short stories that deal with climate change. The editors note that “stories must offer hope, at least a possibility” and “personalize the consequences of climate change so readers feel as well as know them.” The first place winner will receive $1,000; second place will receive $500; and third place will receive $300.The deadline is April 22. To learn more, read the contest guidelines.

6. St. Martin’s Press and WORDHARVEST are sponsoring the Tony Hillerman Prize for “the best first mystery set in the Southwest.” Writers who have never written a mystery may submit a full-length manuscript for consideration. The winner receives $10,000 and publication from St. Martin’s Press.The deadline is June 1. To learn more, read the prize guidelines.

7. The University of Pittsburgh Press is holding the 2016 Drue Heinz Literature Prize. Published writers may submit a collection of short fiction for consideration. The winner will receive $15,000 and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press.The deadline is June 30, but the submission period begins on May 1. To learn more, read the prize guidelines.

8. The Freeditorial Literary Contest is currently open. Writers can submit short stories of between 10,000 and 40,000 words that are fictional or historical. Over the course of the contest Freeditorial readers will have the ability to download the submitted stories for free, and the number of downloads will help determine the winner. The first place winner will receive $15,000; second place will receive $5,000; and third place will receive $2,000.The deadline is July 31. To learn more, read the contest guidelines.

9. PEN American Center is holding its Annual Prison Writing Contest. The rules state that “anyone incarcerated in a federal, state, or county prison in the year before the September 1 deadline is eligible to enter.” Writers may submit poetry, fiction, drama, and nonfiction. The first place winner will receive $200; second place will receive $100; and third place will receive $50.The deadline is September 1. Note that while there is no fee for submissions, writers must mail in their work. To learn more, read the contest guidelines.
10. The National Endowment for the Arts (The NEA) offers $25,000 grants for both prose and poetry writers. They accept around 5% of applications. Prose and poetry grants are offered in alternating years.This years application deadline is March 9th, 2016. This can be a major advancement for anyone’s career. Many writers spend several years preparing for these grants. To learn more, read the guidelines here. 
11.  The Tulsa Artist Fellowship recently expanded to include writers. Writers from Tulsa, Oklahoma can apply to receive a stipend of $20,000, plus free housing and work space.The deadline to apply is March 4, 2016. To learn more, visit their website.
    
12. The BBC National Short Story Award, open to residents of the U.K., offers a grand prize of £15,000, £3,000 for the runner-up and £500 for three further shortlisted. The stories will be read on the BBC.The deadline for submission is March 11th, 2016. To learn more, read the guidelines here.
13. The Mississippi Arts Commission Artist Fellowship awards up to $5,000 to Mississippi artists who “demonstrate the ability to create exemplary work in their chosen field.” (If you are not from Mississippi it is worth looking into the regional fellowships that may be available to you. Most states and major cities have funding opportunities for artists and writers.)The deadline is March 1st, 2016. To learn more, read the guidelines here.
14. The Writers Trust of Canada offers the Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers. The award is for $5,000. They also give $1,000 to two finalists. Writers must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.The deadline is March 7, 2016. To learn more, read their submission guidelines. 
15. The FT/OppenheimerFunds Emerging Voices Awards offers an award of $40,000 to fiction writers, film makers, and artists in more than 100 “emerging market nations.” The fiction award is presented to an author of a published work of fiction in English (or translated into English.)The deadline for submission is April 30th, 2016. To learn more, visit their website.