These are contests for writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and for translators, offering cash prizes up to $25,000. None charge an entry fee. They are broadly divided by geography. There are also several grants and fellowships with deadlines this month, and beyond – a list on that will be published on Tuesday. – S. Kalekar
INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
Planet Essay Competition
This is an essay contest for writers under 30 years, on any subject. Entries for the contest run by this Welsh magazine should be 1,500-2,000 words. Their guidelines say, “We would welcome creative and unconventional ways of exploring the essay form as well as a more traditional style.” Submissions have to be sent by mail.
Value: £200
Deadline: 1 September 2020
Open for: All writers under 30
Details here.
The Academy for Teachers: Stories Out of School
They want honest, unsentimental stories, of 6-479 words, about teachers and schools. The story’s protagonist or narrator must be a K-12 teacher. Sentimentality is discouraged and education jargon is forbidden. The stories will be published in the print edition of A Public Space.
Value: $1,000
Deadline: 1 September 2020
Open for: All writers
Details here and here.
The Helen Schaible International Sonnet Contest
For this contest, they have two categories: a traditional sonnet, which can be Shakespearean or Petrarchan, and a modern sonnet. Poets can enter work in one or both categories.
Value: $50, $35, $15
Deadline: 1 September 2020
Open for: All poets
Details here.
National Centre for Writing Emerging Translator Mentorship
This is an international mentorship program for emerging translators (there are no residency requirements, barring the one supported by their Visible Communities programme). The programme aims to develop successive new cohorts of literary translators into English, particularly for languages whose literature is currently under-represented in English translation. The scheme matches up experienced translators with emerging translators for a six-month period during which they work together on practical translation projects. The confirmed languages for the 2020 NCW Emerging Translator Mentorship programme are: Danish, Japanese, Italian, Korean, Polish, Norwegian, Russian, and Swiss French. One mentorship is for aUK-based BAME literary translator and/or UK-based literary translator from the diaspora, heritage or community languages of the UK, supported by their Visible Communities Programme. The mentorship will include a residential weekend as well as access to various (UK) industry events such as International Translation Day and London Book Fair. Samples of mentees’ work will also be published in an anthology. The application includes a sample translation of up to 2,000 words of prose or up to 100 lines poetry or dramatic text along with the corresponding source text.
Value: £500 bursary and reasonable travel expenses associated with the mentorship (see guidelines)
Deadline: 1 September 2020
Open for: Emerging translators
Details here
American-Scandinavian Foundation Translation Awards
The American-Scandinavian Foundation annually awards translation prizes for outstanding translations of poetry, fiction, drama, or literary prose written by a Scandinavian author born after 1900. The Leif and Inger Sjöberg Award is for those whose translations from a Nordic language have not been previously published. There is also the Nadia Christensen Prize, and the Wigeland Prize (this is for the best translation by a Norwegian). The application includes 50 pages of prose or 25 pages of poetry.
Value: $2,500 (Nadia Christensen Prize); $2,000 (Leif and Inger Sjöberg Award); $2,000 (Wigeland Prize)
Deadline: 1 September 2020 (extended)
Open for: Unspecified
Details here.
Two Dollar Radio: The Sator New Works Award
The Sator New Works Award will be given to a debut book-length work of fiction or non-fiction by an author who identifies as trans or nonbinary. The selected work will be published by Two Dollar Radio, an indie publisher and micro-budget film producer, in 2021 or 2022, and will receive an advance.
Value: $2,500 advance
Deadline: 1 September 2020
Open for: Trans or nonbinary authors
Details here and here.
The Authors’ Foundation Grants
These grants are by The Society of Authors for writers whose works of fiction, non-fiction or poetry have been commissioned by a British publisher, or those who have had at least one book published by a British publisher and there is a strong likelihood that the next work will be published in Britain. The grants are for works in progress. All applicants will also be considered automatically for specific grants offering funding for writing in diverse fields, which include biography about women, the environment and natural history, travel writing, philanthropy, poetry, racial understanding, Japan, science fiction, fantasy, spy thrillers and crime.
Value: Up to £6,000
Deadline: 1 September 2020
Open for: Writers having work commissioned by, or publication history with, a British publisher
Details here.
On the Premises: Ooh, that smell
Their guidelines say, “There are few things as evocative as scent. For this contest, write a creative, compelling, well-crafted story between 1,000 and 5,000 words long in which either a specific scent, or the sense of smell in general, is important to the story.” They do not want children’s fiction, exploitative sex, over-the-top grossout horror, or stories that are obvious parodies of existing fictional worlds/characters created by other authors.
Value: $220, $160, $120, $60
Deadline: 4 September 2020
Open for: All writers
Details here and here.
Shoreline of Infinity Flash Fiction Competition
They want a funny science fiction story, of up to 1,000 words. Writers can submit up to two stories.
Value: £50; runners-up get a digital subscription to the magazine
Deadline: 12 September 2020
Open for: All writers
Details here
Green Stories Writing Competition: Stories for children
They want writing for children, and there are two categories with corresponding suggested length: preschool/ illustrated books (for 2-6 year olds) up to 1,000 words; for young readers category (ages 7-11), up to 2,500 words. All submissions must be in English and conform to the green stories criteria of showing a positive vision of what a sustainable society might look like or in some way smuggling in green solutions/policies/characters in the context of an otherwise mainstream story. Apart from the cash prizes, they have agreement from a literary agent from Curtis Brown to read the top entries and consider any writers they think suitable for representation.
Value: £200 for best pre-school/illustrated book (aimed at age 2-6) and £200 for best novel in young reader’s category
Deadline: 14 September 2020
Open for: All writers
Details here.
Gulf Coast: The Toni Beauchamp Prize in Critical Art Writing
This is a prize for critical art writing of up to 1,500 words. The writing can be unpublished, or published in the last one year. They will accept a variety of creative approaches and formats to writing on the visual arts, including exhibition reviews, thematic essays, and scholarly essays. They also have other contests open now, which charge a fee.
Value: $3,000; two prizes of $1,000 each
Deadline: 15 September 2020
Open for: Unspecified
Details here.
The QueryLetter.com Writing Contest
They want a book blurb for an imaginary book, of 100 words or fewer. Their guidelines say, “Write and submit a back cover blurb of 100 words or fewer that sets the stage for a novel, establishes the characters, and raises the stakes in a way that makes readers want to find out more.” Writers can send more than one entry.
Value: $500
Deadline: 15 September 2020
Open for: All writers
Details here.
Penguin Random House UK: Harvill Secker Young Translators’ Prize
This is for translators aged 18-34 years, who have had no more than one full-length translation published. This year the focus language is Japanese and entrants will translate the short story ‘Yakyoku’ by Yusho Takiguchi into English. Submissions have to be sent via post.
Value: £1,000, mentorship
Deadline: 16 September 2020
Open for: Translators of Japanese
Details here.
Casa Africa Essay Prize: Climate Change in Africa
They want an essay of 15,000-20,000 words on the theme, ‘Climate change in Africa’. The prize is open to all writers, and is now in its 12th year.
Value: €2,000
Deadline: 17 September 2020
Open for: All writers
Details here.
Ayn Rand Institute: Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest
This is an international essay contest for students. It is for 12th graders, college undergraduates and graduate students. Write an essay of 800-1,600 words on one of three specific topics centred around Ayn Rand’s novel, Atlas Shrugged (click on ‘Topics’ under the ‘Atlas Shrugged’ tab). The guidelines also say, “All entries become the property of the Ayn Rand Institute and will not be returned. Essays may be reproduced on our website and/or shared with third parties for purposes of marketing the contest.” Their previous two student contests were centered around Anthem and The Fountainhead.
Value: $25,000, $2,500, $500, $100
Deadline: 21 September 2020
Open for: All 12th graders, college undergraduates and graduate students
Details here.
The Bodley Head/FT Essay Prize
This is an essay contest for young writers, run by the Financial Times and The Bodley Head (an imprint of Random House, UK). Writers should submit an essay, of up to 3,500 words, on any topic. Apart from cash prizes, winners will also receive mentoring and publication.
Value: £1,000; mentoring, publication
Deadline: 24 September 2020
Open for: Writers aged 18-35 years
Details here.
Bracken Bower Prize
The Financial Times and McKinsey & Company are open for the Bracken Bower Prize. This is an international award for young writers, for the proposal of a business book. There are no restrictions on gender and nationality but authors must be below 35 years of age. The proposal should take the form of an essay or article, of up to 5,000 words, that conveys the argument, scope, and style of a proposed full-length business book and includes the description of the structure of the proposed work. The work should tackle emerging business themes, identify and analyse the trends of the future in business, economics, finance or management, and examine pressing business challenges in unique ways. The award is intended to fuel further research leading to publication of a full-length work. Co-authored submissions are also welcome.
Value: £15,000
Deadline: 30 September 2020
Open for: All writers under 35
Details here and here
The Writers College: My Writing Journey Competition
They want a 600-word piece on ‘The best writing tip I’ve ever received’. The contest is open to writers all over the world.
Value: AUD200/£100
Deadline: 30 September 2020
Open for: All writers
Details here.
Jerry Jazz Musician Short Fiction Contest
They want a short story on any theme. Stories should ideally be up to 3,000 words, though those up to 5,000 words are accepted. Readers of the magazine are interested in music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theater, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America. Their newsletter subscribers include publishers, artists, musicians, and fellow writers. Their guidelines say, “While your writing should appeal to a reader with these interests and in these creative professions, all story themes are considered.”
Value: $100
Deadline: 30 September 2020
Open for: All writers
Details here.
Dzanc Books Diverse Voices Prize
They want book-length manuscripts of fiction or nonfiction by writers from minority, underrepresented, or marginalized communities. Novels, short story collections, memoir, essay collections, and cross-genre works are all welcome. This contest is open to new, upcoming, and established writers alike. Agented submissions are also eligible. They have other contests for writers also, but those have entry fees.
Value: $3,000 advance
Deadline: 30 September 2020
Open for: Writers from minority, underrepresented, or marginalized communities
Details here and here.
The Philosophy Essay Prize: Knowledge, Truth and Power in an Online World
Each year the Royal Institute holds an essay prize competition. The winner will receive a cash prize and their essay will be published in Philosophy, which publishes articles on all areas of philosophy. This year’s topic is ‘Knowledge, Truth and Power in an Online World’ – see guidelines for details on the theme. All entries will be deemed to be submissions to Philosophy and more than one may be published. In exceptional circumstances the prize may be awarded jointly, in which case the financial component will be divided.
Value: £2,500
Deadline: 1 October 2020
Open for: Unspecified
Details here and here.
The Bergen International Essay Competition: My generation
This is an international essay contest for writers under 30 years. The Bergen International Literary Festival for Non-Fiction and Fiction is held in February every year in the Norwegian city of Bergen. Essays should be on the theme of ‘My generation’, and up to 2,000 words. The essay can be written in any language, but a translation into English must be provided with the original text.
Value: €2,500; €500 for three runners-up
Deadline: 1 October 2020
Open for: Writers under 30
Details here.
Bonus: The Iowa Short Fiction Award & John Simmons Short Fiction Award
The awards offer publication for a collection of short stories. Manuscripts must be at least 150 pages. They offer a standard publishing contract. Submissions must be sent by mail.
Value: Manuscript publishing under a standard University of Iowa Press contract
Deadline: 30 September 2020 (postmarked)
Open for: All writers who have not published prose fiction (see guidelines)
Details here.
WRITERS IN THE US
The Bethune & Son Annual Texas Short Story Contest
They want a short story (up to 5,000 words) on the theme ‘Life & Stories from the Texas Gulf Coast.” All stories must reference Texas and the Gulf Coast in some meaningful way, shape or form. Authors can send up to two stories.
Value: $,1,000; store credit for second and third prize winners
Deadline: 2 October 2020
Open for: US writers
Details here.
WRITERS IN THE UK (AND EU)
Hubert Butler Essay Prize: Communal solidarity and individual freedom: antagonists or allies?
This is an essay prize for citizens of the United Kingdom or European Union. Write an essay of up to 3,000 words on the topic, ‘Communal solidarity and individual freedom: antagonists or allies?’ The prize is intended to encourage the art of essay-writing with a European dimension and to expand interest in Hubert Butler’s work. Entries have to be mailed.
Value: £1,000; two second prizes of £500 each
Deadline: 4 September 2020
Open for: UK or EU citizens
Details here.
K. Bludell Trust Award
These are grants by the Society of Authors for British writers under the age of 40 whose work aims to increase social awareness. The project can be fiction or non-fiction and the grant can be used for research, travel, or other expenditure.
Value: Up to £6,000
Deadline: 1 September 2020
Open for: British writers under 40
Details here (scroll down).
WRITERS IN THE CARIBBEAN
The Johnson and Amoy Achong Caribbean Writers Prize
The prize is for a debut work of creative writing and for this cycle, they are accepting poetry work in progress. The book should be by a Caribbean writer living and working in the Anglophone Caribbean. Writers need to send 3-5 poems (see guidelines) as part of the application. Travel to the UK and stay expenses are covered.
Value: $3,000, mentoring and workshop in the UK, potential literary representation
Deadline: 30 September 2020
Open for: Caribbean writers (see guidelines)
Details here and here.
Author Bio: S. Kalekar is the pseudonym of a regular contributor to this magazine. She is the author of 182 Short Fiction Publishers. She can be reached here.