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

K. Margaret Grossman Fiction Award
Eligibility: All writers
Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $10 for 1 story; $15 for 2 stories
Deadline: January 15, 2020

The Masters Review Short Story Award for New Writers
Eligibility: Emerging writers only
Prize: $3,000 + publication + agency review
Entry Fee: $20
Deadline: January 31, 2020

Nonfiction Contests

Ellen Meloy Fund for Desert Writers
Eligibility: Emerging, mid-career or established writers are all welcome to apply
Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $15
Deadline: January 15, 2020

Poetry Contests

92Y Discovery/Boston Review Poetry Contest
Eligibility: Poets who have not published a full-length poetry collection
Prize: $500 + publication + reading + 2 night residency
Entry Fee: $15
Deadline: January 10, 2020

Colorado Prize for Poetry
Eligibility: All poets (except affiliates)
Prize: $2,000 + publication
Entry Fee: $28 online; $25 by mail
Deadline: January 14, 2020

Translation Contests

French-American Foundation Translation Prize
Eligibility: Translations published for the first time in the U.S. between January 1 and December 31, 2019
Prize: $10,000
Deadline: January 15, 2020

National Endowment for the Arts Translation Fellowships
Eligibility: Published translators
Prize: $12,500 or $25,000
Deadline: January 15, 2020

Multi-Genre Contests

Mississippi Review Prize
Eligibility: All writers
Prize: $1,000 + publication
Entry Fee: $16 online; $15 by mail
Deadline: January 1, 2020

Texas Institute of Letters Literary Awards
Eligibility: Authors must be born in Texas or have lived in Texas for at least five consecutive years
Prize: $1,000 – $6,000
Entry Fee: $20 for book awards; $10 for short fiction or short nonfiction awards
Deadline: January 4, 2020

Society of Midland Authors Literary Awards
Eligibility: Authors born in, residing in, or with strong ties to one of the 12 Midland states, with a book published in 2019
Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $25
Deadline: January 5, 2020

Iowa Review Awards
Eligibility: All writers and poets
Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $20
Deadline: January 31, 2020

Hurston/Wright Award for College Writers
Eligibility: Black writers who are full-time students in undergraduate and graduate programs in U.S.
Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Deadline: January 31, 2020

Writing Fellowships & Residencies

Steinbeck Fellowship in Creative Writing
Eligibility: New writers of any age and background
Prize: $15,000. Residency in the San José area is expected during the academic year.
Deadline: January 2, 2020

Yaddo
Eligibility: Any artist, except those enrolled in full time undergrad or graduate programs
Prize: 2-week to 2-month residencies
Application Fee: $35
Deadline: January 5, 2020

Dartmouth Poet in Residence
Eligibility: Poets with at least one full-length collection of poetry
Prize: $2,000 + 6 – 8 week residency at the Frost Place
Entry Fee: $28
Deadline: January 5, 2020

Image credit: Takemaru Hirai on Unsplash