These are prizes for writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and for journalists. The prizes range up to approximately $66,000. They are, very loosely, categorized by geography.
– S. Kalekar
PRIZES OPEN FOR INTERNATIONAL SUBMISSIONS
(Also see the Europe and Commonwealth category)
Ginsoko Literary Journal Flash Fiction Prize
They want fiction, of up to 1,000 words, on ‘The Sacred’ theme, for the contest. Non-contest/general submissions are also open; the journal publishes short fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, social justice, and literary insights.
Value: $500
Deadline: 1 October 2022
Open for: All writers
Details here.
The Camargo Core Program
This residency at Cassis, France is for artists (including writers, playwrights and translators) and scholars/thinkers, to think, create and connect. Applicants should have a publication and/or grant track record. They welcome spouses/partners and dependent minor children. Fellowships span 6 to 11 weeks.
Value: $250 per week, basic coach class travel (see guidelines)
Deadline: 1 October 2022
Open for: All writers
Details here.
The Furious Gazelle’s 2022 Halloween Writing Contest
The Furious Gazelle literary magazine wants submissions of Halloween-themed poetry, fiction, short plays, and creative non-fiction. Each writer can submit either one short story (max 4,000 words) or up to three shorter pieces (any combination of flash pieces / poems is ok as long as they don’t exceed 3 submissions). Poems shouldn’t exceed one page; flash pieces should be capped at 1,500 words each.
Value: $50; $5
Deadline: 1 October 2022
Open for: All writers
Details here.
The Perito Prize
They want fiction of 1,000-2,000 words, centred around the theme of accessibility, inclusion, diversity & inclusive environments. Apart from the cash prize, the winner will also receive mentoring, as will the runners-up. Commended stories will be included in an anthology. Submission is via the Zealous platform.
Value: £500
Deadline: 1 October 2022
Open for: All writers
Details here.
Quarterly West Poetry & Prose Contests
This is a prose and poetry contest. “To enter, please submit up to three poems or a prose piece (i.e., fiction, non-fiction, or any hybridization therein) through our Submittable. The first weekend of the contest (October 1st and 2nd), there will be no fee to submit. After that point, submissions for BIPOC writers will remain free, and there will be a $5 submission fee for all other writers.” The journal is associated with the University of Utah. They have a submissions cap for prose, and will close submissions earlier than the deadline if the cap is reached.
Value: $500; $200
Reading period: Fee-free for all writers 1st-2nd October; fee-free for BIPOC writers through October; prose submissions will close early if a cap is reached before 31 October; poetry submissions will stay open until 31 October 2022
Open for: All writers
Details here.
Getty Scholar Grants
These are for researchers of all nationalities who are working in the arts, humanities, or social sciences, for established scholars and writers who have achieved distinction in their fields. Recipients can pursue their own projects free from academic obligations and make use of Getty collections. There are three-, six-, and nine-month residencies. There are Getty Research Institute residential scholar grants at the Getty Center (deadline 3 October), and residential scholar grants for the Getty Villa Scholars Program (deadline 1 November 2022).
Value: $21,500-65,000, residency
Deadlines: See above
Open for: Established scholars and writers
Details here.
American Antiquarian Society: Fellowships for Creative and Performing Artists and Writers
These are fellowships for historical research by the American Antiquarian Society by those who wish to produce “imaginative, non-formulaic works dealing with pre-twentieth-century American history.” Room fee will be charged if staying in the Society’s scholars’ housing. Fellowship projects may include (but are not limited to) historical novels, documentary films, TV programs, radio broadcasts, plays, screenplays, illustration and other graphic arts, magazine or newspaper articles, and non-fiction works of history for a general audience, either for adults or for children.
Value: $2,000 (less room fee in some cases – see above), residency
Deadline: 5 October 2022
Open for: All writers
Details here.
Embracing Our Differences Quotation Contest
Embracing Our Differences is a not-for-profit organization based in Florida that uses art and education to expand consciousness and celebrate human diversity. They want original quotes, of 20 words or fewer, for their 2023 exhibit. Their guidelines say, “A critical part of the impact of the exhibit is the selected quotations from the general public that accompany each piece of artwork.” The theme is ‘enriching lives through diversity and inclusion.’ They have several ideas on their website to help stimulate your thoughts, including: What does embracing our differences mean to you? What does diversity and inclusion mean to you? Writers can send as many quotations as they like, but they ask that writers submit only up to five quotations at a time. Teachers may complete submissions on behalf of their students and, at their option, substitute their personal or school contact information for that of their students.
Value: Two awards of $2,000
Deadline: 5 October 2022
Open for: All writers
Details here.
Dream Foundry Short Story Contest
They want a speculative fiction story of up to 10,000 words for this contest. It is for emerging writers of speculative fiction (see guidelines). They also have a contest for emerging artists.
Value: $1,000, $500, $200
Deadline: 8 October 2022
Open for: Emerging writers of speculative fiction
Details here.
Salt Hill: Arthur Flowers Flash Fiction Prize
This is an international contest, they want flash fiction of up to 1,000 words. You are eligible to enter if you Identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or a Person of Color, and have not published or been contracted to write a full-length book at the time of submission. Writers with chapbooks are eligible. The prize is associated with Salt Hill Journal and Syracuse University.
Value: $500, $50
Deadline: 9 October 2022
Open for: Emerging writers of color
Details here.
One Story: Adina Talve-Goodman Fellowship
This fellowship is for an early-career writer of fiction who has not yet published a book and is not currently nor has ever been enrolled in an MFA program. They are seeking writers whose work speaks to issues and experiences related to inhabiting bodies of difference. This means writing that explores being in a body marked by difference, oppression, violence, or exclusion; often through categories of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, religion, illness, disability, trauma, migration, displacement, dispossession, or imprisonment. Apart from the stipend and tuition to attend One Story’s week-long summer writers’ conference, it offers free tuition for all One Story online classes and programming; a full manuscript review & consultation with One Story Executive Editor Hannah Tinti (story collection or novel in progress up to 150 pages/35,000 words). A fiction writing sample of 3,000-5,000 words is part of the submission requirement.
Value: Travel stipend ($2,000) and tuition to attend writers’ conference, other benefits (see above)
Deadline: 12 October 2022
Open for: Early-career fiction writers (see guidelines)
Details here.
(One Story is also accepting entries for the One Teen Story Contest, deadline 27 November, open to teen writers around the world.)
Tales from the Moonlit Path Halloween Challenge
They want a story, up to 2,000 words, around one of the movie quotes they have on the website. “Of course, we don’t want a retelling of the movie the quote is from, we want an original from you, simply use the quote as a guide. You do not have to use the actual quote in your story, but it’s perfectly ok if you do!” Some of the quotes are: Oh yes, there will be blood; It’s just the wind; It’s Halloween, I guess everyone’s entitled to one good scare; Fine, walk home then.
Value: $50
Deadline: 13 October 2022
Open for: All writers
Details here.
Endless Ink Publishing House Short Story Horror Comedy Contest
They want a short story, of 5,000-8,000 words, in the horror comedy genre. Please read the terms carefully, “By accepting the winning prize money the author is selling the rights for this story to Endless Ink Publishing House LLC for publication in futurity.”
Value: $750, $150
Deadline: 21 October 2022
Open for: All writers
Details here.
The Open Notebook/Burroughs Wellcome Fund Early Career Fellowship Program
This is a global opportunity for early-career science journalists. The fellowship is remote and part-time. Fellows will report and write five articles for publication at The Open Notebook with the guidance of a mentor who will help shape story ideas, provide reporting and writing guidance, edit final copy, and offer career-development mentoring. Each fellow will receive a stipend. The fellowship is open to early-career science writers with less than two years of regular professional science journalism experience. (Internships and student work do not count toward this requirement). Graduate students in the sciences who are interested in science writing are eligible.
Value: $5,500
Deadline: 31 October 2022
Open for: Early-career science journalists
Details here.
The LoveReading Very Short Story Award
LoveReading is a UK-based book recommendation website. They are reading submissions of stories, in any genre, of 600-1,000 words for the award. “We are looking for exciting, stimulating, original and beautifully written stories that leave a powerful impression on the reader.” They have two awards, a Judges’ Choice and a People’s Choice award.
Value: £300; £200
Deadline: 31 October 2022
Open for: All writers
Details here.
The Society of Authors: McKitterick Prize
This prize is for an author over the age of 40 for a fiction novel, published or self-published in the UK, or unpublished. The author must not have had a novel published before, barring works for children. For unpublished manuscripts, submit the first 30 pages.
Value: £4,000, £2,000, £1,000
Deadline: 31 October 2022
Open for: Debut novelists over 40
Details here.
Preservation Foundation Essay Contest: Travel Nonfiction
They want essays, 1,000-5,000 words, by unpublished writers (see guidelines). They are currently reading for the Travel Nonfiction category – “Stories should be factual and true accounts of a trip taken by the author or a person or persons known by the author.” Please read the guidelines carefully; “contest runners-up and winners are expected to remain on the site for as long as the Preservation Foundation exists.”
Value: $200; $100
Deadline: 31 October 2022
Open for: All unpublished writers (see guidelines)
Details here.
Defenestrationism: 2022 Flash Suite Contest
This is a contest for at least three flash fiction pieces (up to 1,000 words each) that co-relate in some way. A single piece of the suite may have been published before, otherwise, no previously published material. Finalists will be published daily on the site, followed by at least two weeks of Fan Voting – winners will be selected by a judging panel, with Fan Voting counting as an additional judge vote.
Value: $75, $60
Deadline: 1 November 2022
Open for: All writers
Details here.
The William F. Deeck-Malice Domestic Grant for Unpublished Writers
This is given to an unpublished writer (see guidelines) in the Malice Domestic genre at each year’s Malice Domestic convention. The grant may be used to offset registration, travel, or other expenses related to attendance at a writers’ conference or workshop within a year of the date of the award. The Malice Domestic genre is loosely described as mystery stories of the Agatha Christie type—i.e. “traditional mysteries.” These works usually feature no excessive gore, gratuitous violence, or explicit sex. See guidelines for additional details and submission requirements. Apart from the cash award, the prize covers a comprehensive registration for the upcoming convention and two nights’ lodging at the convention hotel, but does not include travel to the convention or meals.
Value: $2,500, and other expenses – see above
Deadline: 1 November 2022
Open for: Unpublished writers in the Malice Domestic genre
Details here.
PEN/Robert J Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers
This is an award for 12 emerging fiction writers for their debut short story published during a given calendar year in a literary magazine or cultural website.
Value: $2,000 each
Deadline: 1 November 2022
Open for: Debut published short stories
Details here.
Black Mountain Institute: Shearing Fellowship
This is a residential fellowship for emerging and distinguished writers who have published at least one book with a trade or literary press. Apart from the cash stipend, this fellowship includes: a semester-long letter of appointment; eligibility for health coverage; office space in the BMI offices on the campus of UNLV; free housing (fellows cover some utilities) in a unique and vibrant arts complex in the bustling district of downtown Las Vegas. While there are no formal teaching requirements, this is a “working fellowship” (see guidelines).
Value: $20,000 over 4 months, residency
Deadline: 1 November 2022
Open for: Unspecified
Details here.
A couple of contests with later deadlines are:
— The One Teen Short Story Contest, which is open for short fiction of 2,000-4,500 words by writers around the world ages 13-19 – the winners get $500 and copies of the magazine, and the deadline is 27 November 2022;
— St. Martin’s Minotaur/ Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition, an international contest for crime novel manuscripts of approximately 60,000 words, for writers who have never been the author of any published novel in any genre; the prize is an advance of $10,000 against royalties, and the deadline is 17 December 2022.
— 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. The prize is AUD200/£100, the deadline is 31 December 2022, and it is open for all writers.
CONTESTS OPEN TO WRITERS IN THE US AND CANADA
(Also see Commonwealth category for Canadian writers)
PEN America: US Writers Aid Initiative
This is intended to assist fiction and non-fiction authors, poets, playwrights, screenwriters, translators, and journalists. To be eligible, applicants must be based in the United States, be professional writers, and be able to demonstrate that this one-time grant will be meaningful in helping them to address an emergency situation. Various deadlines are listed for 2022, and the next one is 1st August. Other deadlines are in October and December. Writers do not have to be PEN members to apply.
Value: Unspecified
Deadline: 1 October 2022
Open for: US writers
Details here.
(PEN America has other opportunities listed, too.)
Canada Council for the Arts’ Explore and Create Grants
These are for Canadian artists, curators and writers. Grants provide support for creative research, creation and project development. Individuals who are Deaf or who have disabilities, including those living with mental illness, and require accommodation at any stage of the application process may be eligible for additional assistance. They also have other types of grants listed.
Value: Up to CAD25,000
Deadline: 5 October 2022
Open for: Canadian writers
Details here and here.
Amy Lowell Poetry Travelling Scholarship
This is for a poet born in the US, who is willing to spend a year outside the continent of North America. While many recent winners have been published poets, there is no requirement that applicants have previously published their work. Applications have to be mailed.
Value: Approximately $66,500, adjusted for inflation
Deadline: 15 October 2022
Open for: American-born poets
Details here (application instructions), here (FAQ – includes link to application form), and here (home page).
Neal Peirce Foundation Journalism Travel Grants
These grants are for freelance and fully employed journalists to cover under-told stories about ways to make cities and their metro regions work better for all their people. The grants enable journalists to travel to cities within the U.S. to produce one or more stories for publication.
Value: Up to $1,500; will issue up to 7 grants
Deadline: 15 October 2022
Open for: Freelance and fully employed journalists
Details here.
The Haven Foundation Grants
These grants were instituted by Stephen King after he suffered a debilitating accident. They give financial assistance to help freelance artists and writers who have suffered disabilities or a career-threatening illness, accident, natural disaster or personal catastrophe.
Value: Varying
Deadline: 4 November 2022
Open for: Legal US residents
Details here.
CONTESTS OPEN TO WRITERS IN THE UK & IRELAND, EUROPE, AND THE COMMONWEALTH
The Bread & Roses Theatre Playwriting Award
This is a competition for full length theatre plays that have not previously been produced or published and feature at least half of female, non-binary or gender neutral roles by UK and Europe based writers. The winning play will receive professional production at The Bread & Roses Theatre, 10% of box office income (in 2023/24), publication by The Bread & Roses Theatre, and royalty from all sales.
Value: Part of box office income, royalties
Deadline: 14 October 2022
Open for: UK and Europe based writers
Details here.
The JKP Writing Prize
This is a non-fiction competition for Black, Asian, Mixed heritage and ethnic minority groups writers in the UK. Send non-fiction pieces of up to 3,000 words on the ‘Stories of Resistance’ theme. The JKP Prize is partnering with Hachette’s Future Bookshelf scheme, which offers support to aspiring writers from under-represented backgrounds. Winners will be published in an anthology and get a cash prize.
Value: £150
Deadline: 21 October 2022
Open for: Minority writers in the UK (see above)
Details here.
The Society of Authors: The Eric Gregory Awards
These are for young UK poets, for a collection of poems – send up to 30 poems to be considered, published or unpublished. The prize purse for these awards is unspecified.
Value: Unspecified
Deadline: 31 October 2022
Open for: Poets who are British nationals or living in the UK/North Ireland aged 30 or under
Details here.
The Young Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction
This is a prize for young UK writers for two categories, ages 11-15 and 16-19. They want historical fiction of 800-2,000 words. The fiction can be in any form – a story or an extract from a longer work, a poem or drama script, a fictional diary, letters, or reportage. The story can be set at any time in history, as long as it is an identifiable period before the author was born, in a world recognisably different from the present. They want mailed entries only.
Value: £500 travel and research grant for two category winners
Deadline: 31 October 2022
Open for: UK residents aged 11-19
Details here.
The Society of Authors: The ALCS Tom-Gallon Trust Awards
This award is for a short story of up to 5,000 words, published or unpublished. Applicants must have had at least one short story published or accepted for publication.
Value: £2,000, £1,000, £500
Deadline: 31 October 2022
Open for: UK, Ireland, or Commonwealth based authors
Details here.
The Commonwealth Short Story Prize
This is a contest for writers who are citizens of any Commonwealth country of Africa, Asia, Canada and Europe, Caribbean, and Pacific (see guidelines for the list of countries) – send a piece of short fiction of 2,000-5,000 words. They take entries in several languages apart from English (see guidelines). Translated stories are also eligible.
Value: £5,000; £2,500 for regional winners
Deadline: 1 November 2022
Open for: Writers in the Commonwealth
Details here
Bio: S. Kalekar is the pseudonym of a regular contributor to this magazine. She can be reached here.