Each month we curate a list of contests, fellowships, and other writing opportunities with approaching deadlines. Opportunities will be posted in the month prior to their deadlines, so that you have ample time to submit your work or applications.

Fiction Contests

Jim Duggins Outstanding Mid-Career Novelists’ Prize
Eligibility: LGBTQ writers w/at least 3 novels or 2 novels + substantial additional literary work
Prize: $5,000
Deadline: February 17, 2020

AWP Prize for the Novel
Eligibility: All authors writing in English regardless of nationality or residence
Prize: $2,500 + publication by the New Issues Press
Entry Fee: $30 (nonmembers); $20 (members)
Deadline: February 29, 2020

Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction
Eligibility: All authors writing in English regardless of nationality or residence
Prize: $5,500 + publication by University of Massachusetts Press
Entry Fee: $30 (nonmembers); $20 (members)
Deadline: February 29, 2020

Nonfiction Contests

Molly National Journalism Prize
Eligibility: Journalists with a piece published in a U.S. based pub in 2019
Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $50
Deadline: February 1, 2020

Fund for Investigative Journalism Grant
Eligibility: Journalists with a letter of commitment from a publication for a specific story
Prize: up to $10,000
Deadline: February 3, 2020

Jeanne Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction
Eligibility: lesbian/queer or trans/gender non-conforming writers w/at least one book
Prize: $2,500
Deadline: February 17, 2020

Matthew Power Literary Reporting Award
Eligibility: Early-career, creative nonfiction writers
Prize: $12,500
Deadline: February 19, 2020

AWP Prize for Creative Nonfiction
Eligibility: All authors writing in English regardless of nationality or residence
Prize: $2,500 + publication by the University of Georgia Press.
Entry Fee: $30 (nonmembers); $20 (members)
Deadline: February 29, 2020

Poetry Contests

Michael Waters Poetry Prize
Eligibility: All poets, except affiliates
Prize: $4,000 and publication by Southern Indiana Review Press
Entry Fee: $35
Deadline: February 3, 2020

Omnidawn First/Second Book Poetry Contest
Eligibility: Writers who have never published a full-length book of poetry or have only published one full-length book of poetry
Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $27
Deadline: February 18, 2020

Donald Hall Prize for Poetry
Eligibility: All authors writing in English regardless of nationality or residence
Prize: $5,500 + publication by University of Pittsburgh Press
Entry Fee: $30 (nonmembers); $20 (members)
Deadline: February 29, 2020

Translation Contests

Raiziss/de Palchi Book Prize
Eligibility: Translators with an English translation of Italian poetry published in the U.S.
Prize: $10,000
Deadline: February 15, 2020

Multi-Genre Contests

Writers' Union of Canada Short Prose Competition for Emerging Writers
Eligibility: Canadian citizens & permanent residents with no more than 1 book published
Prize: $2,500
Entry fee: $29
Deadline: February 14, 2020

Judith A. Markowitz Award
Eligibility: LGBTQ writers w/1-2 books of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry
Prize: $1,000
Deadline: February 17, 2020

Writing Fellowships & Residencies

Philip Roth Residence in Creative Writing
Eligibility: Writers working on a first or second book of fiction or creative nonfiction
Prize: 4-month residency at Bucknell's “Poets’ Cottage” and a stipend of $5,000.
Deadline: February 1, 2020

Olive B. O’Connor Fellowship in Creative Writing
Eligibility: Writers working on their first books of poetry or nonfiction
Prize: $42,745 + travel and health insurance
Deadline: February 15, 2020

Grub Street Emerging Writer Fellowship
Eligibility: writers 18+ yrs
Prize: writing classes and seminars
Deadline: February 10, 2020

Dora Maar Fellowship
Eligibility: Midcareer professionals in the arts and humanities
Prize: 1-3 month residency
Entry Fee: $20
Deadline: February 15, 2020

American Library in Paris Visiting Fellowship
Eligibility: All writers
Prize: $5,000 + opportunity to pursue a creative project in Paris for a month while participating in the life of the American Library
Entry Fee: $35
Deadline: February 15, 2020

Sustainable Arts Foundation Award
Eligibility: Writers with at least one child under the age of 18.
Prize: $5,000
Entry fee: $20
Deadline: February 28, 2020

Writers Workshops & Retreats

(Please note these may be non-paying opportunities with additional fees such as tuition, room & board, etc.)

Lambda Literary Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices
Eligibility: Writers in the LGBTQ community
Prize: a one-week intensive workshop immersion in fiction, genre fiction, nonfiction, playwriting or poetry
Application fee: $25
Other fees: $1,725; scholarships are available
Deadline: February 2, 2020

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