asia creative writing contest

highlighting taiwanese america

Now accepting submissions: 2022 betty l. yu and jin c. yu creative writing prizes celebrate taiwanese american student writers.

Written by Stinky Tofu

TaiwaneseAmerican.org is pleased to announce the 2022 Betty L. Yu and Jin C. Yu Creative Writing Prizes. Created in 2021 in collaboration with Taiwanese American author Charles Yu, the Prizes are intended to encourage and recognize creative literary work by Taiwanese American students, and to foster discussion and community around such work. This year, in addition to high school and college categories, applicants currently in 6th-8th grade may apply for the middle school category.

Submissions may be in any literary genre including fiction, poetry, personal essays or other creative non-fiction. Submissions must be sent via Google Form and must be received by April 17, 2022 11:59 PM PT (extended deadline). In order to be eligible, submissions must be from writers of Taiwanese heritage (or writers with other significant connections to Taiwan), or have subject matter otherwise relevant to the Taiwanese or Taiwanese American experience. 

Submissions will be considered in three categories: Middle School (enrolled in 6th-8th grade as of the deadline), High School (enrolled in high school as of the deadline), and College (enrolled in community college or as an undergraduate as of the deadline). Winners and finalists will be announced in May 2022. Cash prizes will be awarded as follows:

Grand Prize Winner: $500 – one selection per age category Finalist: $200 – three selections per age category Honorable Mention: $75 – at judge’s discretion per age category

In addition, each of the winners and finalists will have their submitted work published online by TaiwaneseAmerican.org and considered for publication in a future edition of Chrysanthemum: Voices of the Taiwanese Diaspora , and offered the opportunity to participate in a virtual group session with the judges.

The confirmed judges for the 2022 Prizes are: 

Shawna Yang Ryan is a Taiwanese American novelist, short story writer and creative writing professor, who has published the novels Water Ghosts and Green Island . Green Island won an American Book Award in 2017. She currently directs the Creative Writing Program at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. She will co-judge the high school and college categories. 

Charles Yu is a Taiwanese American writer. He is the author of the novels How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe and Interior Chinatown as well as the short-story collections Third Class Superhero and Sorry Please Thank You . In 2020, he received the National Book Award for Fiction. He will co-judge the high school and college categories.

Alvina Ling is Vice President and Editor-in-Chief at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers where she’s worked since 1999. She edits children’s books for all ages, from picture books to young adult. In 2021 she received the Medal for Editorial Excellence from the Center for Fiction. She will judge the middle school category.

The Prizes are named in honor of Betty Lin Yu and Jin-Chyuan Yu for their service to the Taiwanese American community, including establishment of TACL-LID Youth Camp in Southern California, co-founding of the South Bay Taiwanese-American School, the first school in the United States specifically for the purpose of Taiwanese Language instruction, establishment of North America Taiwanese Engineer’s Association, Southern California Chapter (NATEA-SC) and longtime support for other organizations including Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), North America Taiwanese Women’s Association (NATWA), and Taiwanese Association of America (TAA).

Related posts:

One Response to “Now accepting submissions: 2022 Betty L. Yu and Jin C. Yu Creative Writing Prizes celebrate Taiwanese American student writers”

Leave a reply cancel reply.

• Donate to CLMP
• Support Us/Join Us
• Application Form
• Member Log In

Prizes & Opportunities for BIPOC Writers, Editors & Publishers

With the help of our member magazines and presses, we’ve gathered this growing list of prizes and opportunities for BIPOC writers, editors, and other members of the literary community. Find more magazines and presses that champion writers of color here . To suggest an addition, please contact us at [email protected] .

Book Prizes and Series

Ambroggio Prize Sponsored by the Academy of American Poets , the $1,000 Ambroggio Prize is given for a book-length poetry manuscript originally written in Spanish and with an English translation. The winning manuscript is published by the University of Arizona Press, which is nationally recognized for its commitment to publishing the award-winning works of emerging and established voices in Latinx and Indigenous literature, as well as groundbreaking scholarship in Latinx and Indigenous studies.

The Andrés Montoya Poetry Prize Sponsored by Letras Latinas in collaboration with University of Notre Dame Press, this prize is given to support the publication of a first book by a Latinx poet in the United States. 

Ann Petry Award Sponsored by Red Hen Press and the Peauxdunque Writers Alliance, this $3,000 award, which has no entry fee, is given to support the publication of a prose book by a Black writer.  

Black Caucus of the American Library Association Literary Awards Sponsored by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association , these four $500 awards are given annually for a poetry collection, a first novel, a book of fiction, and a book of nonfiction (including creative nonfiction) by African American writers published in the United States in the previous year. 

Blessing the Boats Selections Sponsored by BOA Editions , this series spotlights poetry collections by women of color, including poets who identify as cis, trans, and non-binary people who are comfortable in a space that centers on women’s experiences, regardless of citizenship and publication history. The series has free open submission periods.  

The CAAPP Book Prize Cosponsored by Autumn House Press and the Center for African American Poetry and Poetics , this $3,000 prize is awarded to a first or second book that is, or intersects with, poetry by a writer of African descent and is open to the full range of writers embodying African and African diasporic experience. 

Cave Canem Northwestern University Press Poetry Prize Sponsored by Cave Canem , this $1,000 prize is given to support the publication by Northwestern University Press of a second book of poetry by a Black poet of African descent. 

Cave Canem Poetry Prize Sponsored by Cave Canem , this $1,000 first-book prize is dedicated to the discovery of exceptional manuscripts by Black poets of African descent. The winning manuscript is published by Graywolf Press.

Cave Canem Toi Derricotte & Cornelius Eady Chapbook Prize Sponsored by Cave Canem , this $500 chapbook prize supports the publication of the winning chapbook by Jai-Alai Books. The winner also receives a weeklong residency at the Writer’s Room at the Betsy Hotel in Miami, Florida, and gives a reading at the O, Miami Poetry Festival. 

Contemporary Voices of Indigenous Peoples Series Sponsored by North Dakota State University Press , this series aims to publish the authentic stories, poetry, and scholarly works of Native Americans, First Nations, Maori, Aborigines, Indians, and more to give voice to contemporary Indigenous peoples.

The Hurston/Wright Legacy Awards Sponsored by the Hurston/Wright Foundation , the Hurston/Wright Legacy Awards are open to Black writers in America and across the globe and honor full-length books of debut fiction, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, as well as collections of short stories, and collections of essays.

The Kundiman Poetry Prize Sponsored by Kundiman , this $1,000 prize is dedicated to publishing exceptional work by Asian American poets at any stage of their career and supports the publication of the winning manuscript by Tupelo Press. (Note: Kundiman will not be offering this prize in 2021.)

Letras Latinas/Red Hen Collaborative Cosponsored by Letras Latinas and Red Hen Press , this collaborative supports the publication of new Latinx titles as part of a curated series and Editor’s Choice Awards. 

The Megaphone Prize Sponsored by Radix Media , this $1,000 prize supports the publication of debut collections from writers of color.

New Voices Award Sponsored by Lee & Low Books , this annual $2,000 prize supports the publication of the winning children’s picture book manuscript by a writer of color or Indigenous/Native writer.

The Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing Sponsored by Restless Books , this prize honors outstanding debut literary works by first-generation immigrants, awarding for fiction and nonfiction in alternating years. The winner receives $10,000 and publication by Restless Books. 

Sillerman First Book Prize Cosponsored by the African Poetry Book Fund and Prairie Schooner , this $1,000 prize is given to support the  publication by University of Nebraska Press of a debut poetry collection by a poet who was born in Africa, is an African national or resident, or whose parents are African. 

Magazine Prizes

James Welch Prize Sponsored by Poetry Northwest , this prize is awarded for two outstanding poems, each written by an Indigenous U.S. poet, and is open to new, emerging, and established poets who are members of tribal nations within the United States and its trust territories (including American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Chamorros, and American Samoans). Only poets who have not published more than one book-length collection are eligible.

Terrain.org Editor’s Prize For this $500 prize, given in the categories of Poetry, Nonfiction, and Fiction, Terrain.org considers all contributions exploring place—particularly in the context of social, environmental, or climate justice—by writers of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, women, and/or other marginalized communities.

Jacobs/Jones African American Literary Prize Sponsored by the North Carolina Writers’ Network , this $1,000 prize is given to a Black writer who lives in North Carolina for a short story or an essay that “conveys the rich and varied existence of Black North Carolinians.” The winning entry is considered for publication in the Carolina Quarterly . 

Fellowships & Mentorship Programs

Black Creatives Fund Sponsored by Penguin Random House, this We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) initiative features a revisions workshop, a mentorship program, and a marketing symposia, all supporting Black writers and illustrators.

Emerging Writer Fellowship Program Sponsored by The Georgia Review , this fellowship will support writers from the diasporic communities that have established themselves in the American Southeast since the late twentieth century. Two fellows—one in prose and one in poetry—will receive publication in The Georgia Review , a reading in Athens, Georgia, and a month-long stay at AIR Serenbe.

Emerging Voices Fellowship Sponsored by PEN America , this fellowship is a five-month immersive mentorship program for early-career writers from communities that are traditionally underrepresented in the publishing world. The program is committed to cultivating the careers of Black writers, and serves writers who identify as Indigenous, persons of color, LGBTQIA+, immigrants, writers with disabilities, and those living outside of urban centers.

The Fresh Voices Fellowship Sponsored by Epiphany , this year-long fellowship supports one emerging Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, or other writer of color who does not have an MFA and is not currently enrolled in a degree-granting creative writing program. The fellow receives a $2000 stipend, paid publication in Epiphany , and mentorship.

The Kundiman Mentorship Lab Sponsored by Kundiman , this mentorship program supports three New York City–based writers in creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry, who will take craft classes and workshops and receive one-on-one mentorship. Mentorship Fellows receive a $1000 stipend.

Kweli Fellowship Program Sponsored by Kweli , this fellowship provides three or more early-stage writers with 11-month writing fellowships. Eligible candidates are based in New York City, are not enrolled in degree-granting programs, and self-identify as POC, Native, and/or Arab American.

Kweli Sing the Truth! Mentorship Program Sponsored by Kweli , this mentorship program for BIPOC writers of children’s books for children and young adults is affiliated with the Kweli Color of Children’s Literature Conference. The mentorship spans the full year this year beyond this annual conference and webinar series, as mentees attend pre-conference events and participate in a reading series.

The Margins Fellowship Sponsored by the Asian American Writers Workshop , this $5,000 fellowship offers mentorship, work space, career guidance, and publishing opportunities to four Asian diasporic creative writers based in NYC for a full year. Fellows also receive special residency space at The Millay Colony for the Arts, a seven-acre artists retreat space at the former house and gardens of poet Edna St. Vincent Millay.

Open City Fellowship Sponsored by the Asian American Writers Workshop , this $2,5000 fellowship offers the opportunity to write narrative nonfiction on the vibrant immigrant communities of New York City, including through skill-building workshops and publishing opportunities in The Margins .

The Shenandoah Fellowship for BIPOC Editors Sponsored by Shenandoah , this $1,000 fellowship offers editors the opportunity to curate a selection of published work in a genre of their choosing for a single issue of Shenandoah , working with the Shenandoah staff to guide the work to publication. 

Writing for Justice Fellowship Sponsored by PEN America , this fellowship commissions writers—emerging or established—to create written works of lasting merit that illuminate critical issues related to mass incarceration and catalyze public debate. The fellowship aims to harness the power of writers and writing in bearing witness to the societal consequences of mass incarceration. 

Emergency Funding

Emergency Fund for Diverse Creatives in Publishing We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) provides emergency grants between $500 and $1,000 each to diverse authors, illustrators, and publishing professions who are experiencing dire financial need.

Conferences & Retreats

The CantoMundo Retreat CantoMundo ’s annual retreat is an opportunity to build community among other Latinx poets and work on poetic craft. All fellows participate in a three-hour generative workshop, attend a keynote lecture, participate in panel discussions, and present their poetry during public readings.

The Cave Canem Retreat Sponsored by Cave Canem , this week-long retreat is held annually at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and offers workshops, readings, craft talks, and more for Black poets of African descent.

The Kundiman Retreat Sponsored by Kundiman , this annual retreat offers master classes, mentorship meetings, readings, writing circles, and informal social gatherings for 36 fellows.

The Roots. Wounds. Words. Writers’ Retreat Sponsored by Roots. Wounds. Words. Inc. , this retreat is a multi-day conference for BIPOC adult (21+) literary artists of all experience levels.

Waived or Discounted Submission Fees for BIPOC Writers

The following magazines and presses offer reduced or waived entry fees to BIPOC writers during all or part of their submissions windows: 

Black Ocean

Black Warrior Review

Lost your password?

MALAYSIA YOUNG AUTHOR AWARD

REGISTER NOW

Caya Academy: Your English Language Partner

MYAA 2024 Registration

Myaa participant information portal.

This button is exclusively for participants who have completed registration and received a confirmation message from us. If you are a registered participant, please click the button below to check your competition information.

Calling all Malaysian Aspiring Writers: Enter the Story Writing Competition and Unleash Your Creative Brilliance in English!

Malaysia Young Author Award (MYAA) is a dynamic three-round English Story Writing Competition. It is designed to nurture and showcase young writers in the English language. Participants will have the opportunity to express their creativity through compelling written stories, and then bring those narratives to life through captivating visual and verbal presentations. Winners will have their stories published on our website and will have the opportunity to serve as judges for future MYAA competitions, write for the Young Reader Club, and participate in social responsibility projects with the Catherine Khoo Writing Foundation. The deadline for MYAA 2024 registration is August 18, 2024.

“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.” - Louis L’Amour

“if you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” - stephen king what is the purpose of myaa this unique contest aims to build the next generation of thinkers and writers. our goal is to provide a platform for young talents to enhance their creative writing skills and gain confidence every time they pick up a pen. through a structured, multi-stage competition, participants will develop their abilities in writing, visual storytelling, and live presentations., check out our previous winners, a young author's journey.

Meet some of our young authors!

Jaybriel Cheng Yu Zhe

Sekolah sri tenby, setia eco park.

Salsabella de Anna

Smk taman desa.

Joshua James Cheah

Sjk(c) kuen cheng 2.

Kuen Cheng High School

Malaysia young author award, open to all students in malaysia from 8 to 18 years of age, preliminary round.

Task (1)  Story Writing: Write a story you'd love to read and submit it.  Registration Deadline 18 August 2024 Submission Deadline 25 August 2024 Advancement The top 10% stories will proceed to the semi-finals.

Semi-Final Round

Task (1)  Video Presentation: Create a short video sharing the story you wrote. (2)  Write a Synopsis: Provide a brief summary of your story. Submission Deadline 14 October 2024 Advancement Finalists will be chosen through a combination of online voting and decisions by the organizing committee.

Final Round

Task (1)  Live Presentation: Present your story live. Presentation Date 9 or 10 November 2024 Mode Online via Zoom

More of a visual person? Watch our video to better understand MYAA!

MYAA 2024 Regulations (Please Read)

(1) competition rounds.

The competition comprises 3 rounds: Preliminary Round, Semi-Final Round and Final Round. PRELIMINARY ROUND (August 2024) • Participants submit their written stories of 800 to 1,500 words (refer to column (5) Story Word Count  for the word limit) by 25 August 2024. • Each story will receive comment from our panel of judges. • The top 10% stories will be invited to join the semi-finals in October 2024. SEMI-FINAL ROUND (October 2024) • Semi-finalists create a short video (30 to 90 seconds) sharing their submitted stories and write a synopsis. The more creative, the better. Submit by 14 October 2024. • The videos will be posted on our Instagram/Facebook accounts with the story synopsis as the caption. The goal is to promote your story and gain attention from the audience. • The 20 finalists of each category will be chosen through a combination of online voting (most likes) and organizing committee decisions. FINAL ROUND (November 2024) • Finalists will present their stories live to our judging panel on 9 or 10 November 2024 via Zoom. Winners will be chosen based on their performance in the preliminary round, semi-final round, and final round.  The number of finalists may vary depending on the total number of participants.

(2) Registration Procedure & Deadline

Individual Registration If you're student, parent or teacher seeking to register individually without using the school registration form, kindly click: MYAA Registration . You will be directed to our registration form, select "Individual Registration (I'd like to register myself, my child, or my students individually)" and fill in the rest of the form to secure your place in the story writing competition.  Group Registration If you're a teacher and would like to register a group of students from your school or learning center, please click: MYAA Registration . You will be directed to our registration form, select "Group Registration (I'm a teacher; please send me the bulk registration form)" in the registration form to request. We will contact you soon. [Registration Deadline] Please note that the registration deadline is on 18 August 2024 . Registration might close early if the number of registered participants exceeds our capacity. Participants will receive a confirmation message and story submission details within 5 working days of successful registration.

(3) Participation Fee & MYAA Community

The participation fee is RM60 per student to cover judging and administrative costs. There are no additional fees if you qualify for the Semi-Final or Final rounds. Each participant will be invited to the MYAA 2024 Community , a dedicated space for participants of the Malaysia Young Author Award (MYAA) competition. This community serves as a virtual hub for interaction, idea sharing, and discussion related to story writing. While organizers may host writing challenges and activities, it's important to note that the community does not provide individual writing guidance or feedback to participants.

(4) MYAA Categories

Students should enroll according to their year of birth. There are three MYAA categories: Junior Category • For ages 12 and below (born 2012 or later) Intermediate Category • For ages 13 to 15 (born 2009 to 2011) Senior Category • For ages 16 to 18 (born from 2006 to 2008)

(5) Story Word Count

Candidates should adhere to the following word count based on their category when writing their stories. The organizer reserves the right to disqualify any stories that do not adhere to the word count limit. Junior Category • 800-word (minimum) to 1,100-word (maximum) Intermediate Category • 1,000-word (minimum) to 1,300-word (maximum) Senior Category • 1,200-word (minimum) to 1,500-word (maximum)

(6) Story Genres

While there’s no specific theme you need to follow, please ensure your stories fit into one of the following genres: • Aliens & Angels • Animal Tales • Asian Tales • Ghosts & Ghouls • Heart Warmers • Magic & Fantasy • Mystery & Adventure

(7) Competition Prizes & Certificates

Certificate of Participation All candidates in the preliminary round, semi-final round and final round will receive a certificate of participation after the competition. Final Round Prizes: Winners from Junior, Intermediate and Senior categories will each receive: ✧ 1st Prize (X1 Winner) : RM1,200 cash prize, certificate of achievement, and publication on our website. ✧ 2nd Prize (X1 Winner) : RM800 cash prize, certificate of achievement, and publication on our website. ✧ 3rd Prize (X1 Winner) : RM500 cash prize, certificate of achievement, and publication on our website. ✧ Merit (X1 Winner) : RM300 cash prize, certificate of achievement, and publication on our website. ✧ Consolation (X6 Winners) : RM50 each, certificate of achievement, and publication on our website. In addition to cash prizes and certificates, winners will have their stories published on our website. They will also receive opportunities to serve as judges for future MYAA competitions, contribute to the Young Reader Club, and participate in social responsibility projects with the Catherine Khoo Writing Foundation.

(8) Judging Panel & Criteria

Published Young Authors: Our judging panel includes published young authors who have not only been recognized for their outstanding writing in previous Asia Young Author Awards but have also served as judges for past MYAAs. Their firsthand experience ensures a thoughtful and insightful assessment of participants' submissions. Ms. Catherine Khoo: We are privileged to have Ms. Catherine Khoo, founder of the Unique English Classroom and creator of the Young Author Award from Singapore will also be part of the judging panel. Catherine is an author, editor, lecturer, and moviemaker with more than 30 years of experience in media. She was the Editor-in-Chief of Japan Close-Up Magazine and Asia 21 Magazine. She has published two bestselling books and is the founder of Singapore’s first boutique publisher of imprints for under-18s. What are the judges looking for in your story? • Creativity and imagination • Ability to draw readers attention • Originality • Maintenance of interest • Continuity and climax

(9) Privacy

By registering for the competition through our online form, WhatsApp, direct contact, or schools, you agree to allow us to use your personal data, including your full name, phone number, and email, to send you communications such as welcome letters, payment reminders, updates, announcements, and materials related to future competitions and classes from Caya Academy Sdn Bhd.

Participation Fee

RM60 per participant.

Payment Method

Kindly online transfer to the following account: Name: Caya Academy Sdn Bhd Bank: Maybank Account Number: 512884095226 Ensure you include the participant's name in the payment details. We will cross-check your payment with the registration form for accuracy. Additionally, please attach the payment receipt when submitting the registration from! You can also WhatsApp your payment receipt, and state the participant name to 011-6550 5400

Refund Policy

There is no refund of the participation fee.

For additional information about MYAA, feel free to contact us via WhatsApp at 011-65505400 .

Have a question? Drop us a message.

• Caya Academy Sdn Bhd (1240452-H)
• Block H1-01, Setiawalk, Persiaran Wawasan, Pusat Bandar Puchong, 47160 Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia.
• View on Google Map
• Tel: +603-8603 4277
• Mobile: +6012-383 3218
• Email: [email protected]
• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Subscribe to our Channel

© Copyright 2023 Caya Academy - All Rights Reserved

applications - submit entry sijo competition - how to write sijo - sijo samples - sijo references - more resources essay competition - read adult story - read senior story - folktales index teaching sijo sijo and music

past competitions

2024 - essay winners - sijo winners - judges - entries 2023 - essay winners - sijo winners - judges - entries 2022 - essay winners - sijo winners - judges - entries 2021 - essay winners - sijo winners - judges - entries 2020 - essay winners - sijo winners - judges - entries 2019 - essay winners - sijo winners - judges - entries 2018 - essay winners - sijo winners - judges - entries 2017 - essay winners - sijo winners - judges - entries 2016 - essay winners - sijo winners - judges - entries 2015 - essay winners - sijo winners - judges - entries 2014 - essay winners - sijo winners - judges - entries 2013 - essay winners - sijo winners - judges - entries 2012 - essay winners - sijo winners - judges - entries 2011 - essay winners - sijo winners - judges - entries 2010 - essay winners - sijo winners - judges - entries 2009 - essay winners - sijo winners - judges - entries 2008 - essay winners - sijo winners - judges - entries 2007 - essay winners - judges - essays 2006 - essay winners - judges - essays

int'l sijo competition

wisijo competition

The 2024 Writing Competition - CLOSED

Deadline: february 29, 2024 (11:59pm cdt), sijo competition | essay competition, 2024 competition result sijo winners | essay winners | winners entries | judges, essay category.

Focusing on introducing students and young adults to Korean culture and history through literature, our essay category utilizes folk tales and contemporary literature to explore Korean culture, past and present.

Adult division (age 19-30 years): Contestants are to read Kim Bo-young's short story “ I'm Waiting for You, ” and write an essay in response to the provided adult division prompt . Senior division (grade 9th - 12th): Contestants are to read Kim Bo-young's short story “ I'm Waiting for You, ” and write an essay in response to the provided senior division prompt . Junior division (grade 8th and younger): Contestants are to write an essay in response to one of two provided prompts regarding a folktale of the contestant's choice. Contestants must choose one of the stories listed on our folktales page . Detail information on "2024 Essay Competition Rules and Information"

Sijo category

Adult division (age 19 & older) Pre-college division (age 18 & younger) Detail information on "2024 Sijo Competition Rules and Information"

The sijo is a traditional three-line Korean poetic form organized technically and thematically by line and syllable count. Using the sijo form, write one poem in English on a topic of your choice. For examples of sijo, more information, and teaching materials – including teaching guides for sijo, please visit our website .

The goal of our sijo category is to introduce students to a lesser-known style of poetry, the traditional Korean sijo. Read about how to write sijo , or see last year's winning entries .

Registration and applications

Regarding the application , we would like to remind students that they may edit their entries and applications until the competition deadline.

We would like to stress that all personal information is kept strictly confidential and no information is shared with parties outside of the Sejong Cultural Society. Please email any questions or concerns to [email protected] . We welcome and appreciate feedback of any kind.

The goals of the Sejong Writing Competition are to discover children and young adults talented in writing and to encourage them to learn and write about Korean and its culture. Through this writing competition we hope to increase the awareness and understanding of Korea’s cultural heritage amongst the younger generations growing up in the United States.

Eligibility

This competition is open to all residents of the US and Canada regardless of ethnic background.

The Sejong Writing Competition is supported in part by grants from the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea).

Supporters:

DB Kim Jun Ki Cultural Foundation, Bisco Charitable Foundation, Friends of Pacific Rim Foundation

© Copyright the Sejong Cultural Society . All rights reserved.

Golden Point Award 2023

The Golden Point Award is Singapore’s premier creative writing competition in the nation’s four official languages: English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. Established by the National Arts Council in 1993, the national literary writing competition is a significant platform for discovering new writers whose works exhibit literary merit and encourage literary expression in Singapore.

English Poetry

Chinese Poetry

Malay Poetry

Tamil Poetry

English Short Story

Chinese Short Story

Malay Short Story

Tamil Short Story

Translation: Short Story (English)

SBC Academy

Get involved.

• Asian Festival of Children's Content (AFCC)
• Singapore Translation Symposium
• Singapore Writers Festival
• Upcoming Programmes
• Beyond Words
• Corporate Programmes
• Singapore Bookstores
• Literary Arts Resources
• International Literary Festivals and Awards
• Young Writers Lab
• SBC Read-Along Books
• Competitions
• Golden Point Award
• Singapore Literature Prize 2024
• Anugerah Persuratan
• S.E.A. Write Award
• Hedwig Anuar Children's Book Award (HABA)
• Scholastic Asian Book Award (SABA)
• Scholastic Picture Book Award (SPBA)
• Our History and Story
• Media Centre
• Annual and Financial Reports
• Information

East, South & Southeast Asia

East, South & Southeast Asia Region

Global finalists.

China, Hong Kong, Japan, North Korea, Macau, Mongolia, South Korea, Bangladesh, Brunei, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Nepal , Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor Leste, Maldives, Vietnam.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HCGEC 2021

East, south & southeast asia global finalists.

Follow us on social media

ASEF Culture360 | Connecting Asia and Europe through arts and culture

Opportunities > Fresh Take 2024 Writing Contest on the Southeast Asian art scene

08 Aug 2024

Fresh Take 2024 Writing Contest on the Southeast Asian art scene

A&M’s ‘Fresh Take’ writing contest is calling for applications from early-career writers to write critically and/or creatively in response to the Southeast Asian art scene.

A&M welcome traditional art writing such as previews, reviews, analytical and observational essays , as well as text formats that are more unconventional for the genre, such as short stories, poems and conversations .

Applicants submit a written response to an exhibition, event, activity or trend relating to Southeast Asian art up to a maximum of 1,000 words . The competition welcomes entries that are (significantly) shorter, so long as a distinct point of view is put across.

As far as possible, contestants are to observe the writing style of articles published on artandmarket.net.

Eligibility

• The entries must not have been published before.
• There are no age or geographical restrictions. 

The winning entries, determined at the sole discretion of the A&M editorial team, will be published, and the winners will have the opportunity to continue contributing to A&M , with mentorship from the editor. In addition, A&M offers the following prizes:

• 1st Prize: 150 SGD
• 2nd Prize: 100 SGD
• 3rd Prize: 50 SGD

There will also be two special book prizes, where each winner will receive a copy of CHECK-IN 2024, A&M’s annual publication.

Fresh Take 2024 application guidelines 

Deadline: 8 August 2024

Similar content

31 Dec 2024

Art & Market call for freelance writers on Southeast Asian art

Brunei Darussalam Cambodia Indonesia Lao PDR Malaysia Myanmar Philippines Singapore Thailand Viet Nam

01 Jul 2013

Lightship International Literary Prizes | various categories

International United Kingdom

20 Jul 2012

Frieze Magazine | Frieze Writer's Prize 2012

30 Jun 2014

IIAS Photo Contest | Picturing Asia

Asia International Netherlands

15 Dec 2015

Close Approximations | Asymptote international literary translation contest

International Singapore

03 Aug 2013

Long Way Home | Asia-Europe Short Story Contest

Asia Europe Indonesia

Privacy Settings

We use cookies to optimize our website and our service.

Writing Contest

In honor of Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA)  Heritage Month, Asian Focus announces its first ever essay contest. 

Asian Americans are the fastest growing ethnic group in America and in North Carolina. There are currently more than 370,000 North Carolinians of Asian descent representing more than 3% of the state. In 2010, there were 212,000. In 1990, there were 52,000. The Triangle accounts for much of that growth which means that thousands of stories about the richness and extraordinary diversity of the Asian-American experience in North Carolina have yet to be shared.

Eligibility

Open Division :  Any current resident of North Carolina or current student (as of 2024) at a North Carolina school or college.

Junior Division:  Any current resident of North Carolina or student in a North Carolina school who is 18 years old or younger.

Entrants can be any race or ethnicity. We also take a broad view of what Asian-American means. It includes mixed-ethnicities, Pacific Islanders, South Asians, and the Asian side of Russia. If you have questions about whether a topic qualifies, please feel free to contact us via e-mail.

Open Division $300.00.   For first place $200.00    For second $100.00    For third

Junior Division $300.00   For best entry by a high school or middle school student $200.00   For second $100.00   For third

Winners and some others will be published on the Asian Focus Website in 2024. In addition, winners will be featured at Asia Fest in September 2024 at the Koka Booth Amphitheater in Cary. Winners will be notified prior to Asia Fest 2024.

Asian Focus reserves the right to reduce the number of prizes if there are fewer than 10 total entries in each division.  

500 to 3,000 words for the open division 350 to 3,000 for the junior division.  Entries must be in English. Perfect grammar is not necessary, especially for entrants for whom English is not their first language. We’re more interested in compelling stories/material. No AI generated  writing.

We are looking for any stories of the Asian-American experience that have something to do with North Carolina. While we welcome traditional essays, we encourage the inclusion of photos (family owned or public domain), videos, audio, and any media that can enhance a web page.

Topics may include:

Profiles or interviews of individuals or groups of individuals. We would stress that they don’t have to be famous or prominent. Sometimes seemingly ordinary individuals including your own family have fascinating stories to tell about how they came here, how they’ve made their lives here, and how they spend their time.

Articles about places or events–historical or recent–relevant to the Asian-American experience in North Carolina.

Stories of businesses, community groups, spiritual groups, research with significant Asian connections in North Carolina.

Personal stories 

Advocacy essays about issues of concern for the North Carolina Asian Community  

Judging Criteria

We will be looking at a  combination of the interest level of the content, the quality of the writing, and quality of overall presentation (photos, videos, etc.). 

Send your entries in PDF format to [email protected] by midnight Eastern Daylight Time  Monday, September 16, 2024.

Please include “Asian Focus Essay Contest in your subject header”

Your name, contact information other than your e-mail address, and your town or city in North Carolina.

If you wish to be considered for the junior division, state your age and where you are enrolled in school.  

WHERE WORDS MEET MAGIC​​

Unleash your writing skills and let your words make an impact.​, registered participants.

I have already registered and want to submit.

CALL FOR ENTRIES

Submissions are open.

WHY choose IWP?

Cash rewards.

GRAND WINNER

• Publication in National Media
• Feature on IWP's Website
• Feature on Social Media Handles
• Winner Certificate

1st RUNNERS UP

2nd RUNNERS UP

• For verses that resonate and linger.

BEST FICTION

• Celebrating imaginative worlds and compelling narratives.

BEST NON-FICTION​

• Honoring truth, well-told.

BEST ARTICLE/ESSAY

• For thought-provoking insights and perspectives.

BEST PERSONAL EXPRESSION

• Recognizing the power of introspection and personal storytelling.

10 EDITOR'S CHOICE AWARDS

• These awards will spotlight submissions that stand out for their unique voice and creative approach.
• Feature on Instagram

What's in it for you?

Hone Your Craft

IWP provides an ideal environment for you to refine your writing skills. By offering feedback from esteemed judges, writing prompts, and exposure to diverse writing styles, we'll guide you on your path to becoming a better wordsmith.

Spotlight on Talent

This is your stage! IWP's creative writing quest is a golden opportunity to showcase your creativity to an extensive audience, elevating your work from your desk to the limelight. Who knows? Literary agents or publishers could be your next fans!

Prize-Winning Words

Here at the India Writing Project, we honor your talent with an array of rewards including enticing cash prizes, invaluable feedback, and publishing opportunities. It’s not just a competition; it's an investment in your literary journey.

Craft Your Portfolio

This isn't a fleeting event; it's a stepping stone towards building an impressive portfolio. It's a chance to create new literary masterpieces and gather the confidence to seize other writing opportunities that come your way.

Forge Literary Bonds

Connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for the written word. Engage in thoughtful exchanges, gather inspiration, and create a nurturing writer's community that fuels your creativity.

Dare to Excel

IWP is more than a competition; it's a personal challenge. Dare to stretch your creative muscles, delve into unknown genres, and pit your skills against other gifted writers. This quest will nurture your distinctive voice and style, aiding your growth in the literary world.

What our participants say

HAVE QUESTIONS?

Maybe this will help.

The writer can submit essays, poems, articles, or short stories written on ANY topic or subject as preferred by them. There is no restriction on the same. Submissions can be written in any style and from any genre as preferred by the writer

It is a limited-slot program, and registrations will close once the slots have been filled. Thereby, there will be no last date to register.

The  last day to submit is September 15, 2024 (only for registered participants); the results will be announced on October 15, 2024.

There is no age restriction to entering the competition. Talent doesn’t distinguish between ages, so why should we?

If you’d like to submit more than the prescribed piece limit, you would be required to register again. You cannot submit multiple pieces within the same entry or submit more than one entry/two entries (chosen while registering) with the same registration number.

You can register under the same name multiple times.

However, the contest has limited slots that will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

• First Entry: The fee for registering your initial submission is Rs. 999.
• Subsequent Entries: Once your first entry is approved, any additional submissions can be made at a cost of Rs. 699 per entry.

Have Doubts? Get In Touch

• +91 - 7669991724
• [email protected]

We are one of India’s leading platforms for online poetry and creative writing programmes. We award you cash prizes, certificates, and magazine publications.

Useful Links

© 2020-2024 Athenas Eduverse Private Limited. All rights reserved.

New Asian Writing Short Story Competition 2022: Call for Submissions

The New Asian Writing Short Story Competition 2022 is now closed.

Writers from any country can participate. There is no participation fee (its completely free to enter).

New Asian Writing invites short stories that are original (never published in any medium and this includes both print and online media), in English (unfortunately, we cannot accept translations currently), and between 2500- 4500 words (this is the maximum lower and upper word limit including the title).

New Asian Writing will accept all stories that have some “Asian element”. It could be the setting of the story, the characters or even culture. Only the theme should have some Asian element. The writer’s nationality does not matter. We will accept your work even if you’re from Mars. It is unto you to determine how much or how little of Asian element you wish to include.

We are open for entries to writers, published or unpublished from anywhere in the world.  Please only submit one piece.

The 3 (first prize and two consolation prizes) selected stories will be published on the New Asian Writing site. the copyright will return to the author once the story goes live on New Asian Writing. However, the New Asian Writing site reserves the right to use these stories in future as part of an anthology.

Please submit the short story along with an author’s bio (third person and one para maximum) and author’s picture (passport size). Email entries to [email protected]. Subject line should be title and name of author and word count.

1st Prize : US$ 1000

Two consolation prizes: US$ 50 each worth of books (or cash equivalent)

Terms and conditions for the New Asian Writing  Short Story Competition 2022

1. The New Asian Writing Short Story Competition 2022 is open to all nationalities. Minimum age to enter is 18 years. We established this award to provide a voice for writers especially from the South Asian region.

2. The entry must not have been submitted elsewhere including other competitions. simultaneous submissions are welcome but you must inform us and withdraw form the New Asian Writing Short Story Competition 2022 immediately if the entry is accepted as part of another competition while it is being judges by NAW.

3. Entries cannot be extracts from longer works or unfinished at the time of entry. We will not allow entries to be amended at a later date so please submit completed stories only.

4. One entry per writer only.

5. Winners will be notified at the email address stated in their entry. You can follow updates on our website and ask your queries on  Twitter (@NewAsianWriting). The participant must possess a PayPal account and a bank account to receive the prize money. One of the editors will get in touch and decide upon the best route for transfer. Do not apply if you do not posses a bank account or PayPal address.

6. Please include your email address and other contact details in the body of the email. Please ensure your entry is sent in a word doc. format file. No other formats including pdf will be accepted. Only word files please.

7. Your entry must be submitted  before midnight on 10th September 2022 . Entries will not be accepted after this date. Please don’t leave it til midnight to submit your entry.

8. By submitting, the entrant grants New Asian Writing the right to publish their entry on  The New Asian Writing site and/or in a published collection  in the event of their work being shortlisted and/or winning the competition. The copyright of the works will return to the individual authors once the winning entry is published on our site.

9. New Asian Writing reserves the right to change the rules of this competition without notice.

10. The winner of the competition will be notified within four weeks of the closing date.

11. Any prizes offered must be accepted within 15 days, else it will be offered to the next writer.

12. The decision of the competition judges will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Do not send queries in the comments box on our site as these will be unanswered. All queries will be addressed via Twitter.

Share this:

Looking to publish? Meet your dream editor, designer and marketer on Reedsy.

Find the perfect editor for your next book

1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them.

Best Writing Contests in 2024

Showing 423 contests that match your search.

The Reedsy Prompts Contest

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

Every Friday, Reedsy sends out five writing prompts. Enter your response within a week for a chance at $250. Winners may also be included in a future issue of Reedsy’s literary magazine, Prompted.

Additional prizes:

$25 credit toward Reedsy editorial services

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: December 31, 2024

WOW! Women on Writing Summer 2024 Flash Fiction Contest

WOW! Women On Writing

Genres: Flash Fiction, Fiction, and Short Story

Seeking short fiction of any genre between 250 - 750 words. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity and great writing and provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants. Guest Judge: Tom Bromley, Head of Learning at Reedsy

$600 cash, Reedsy's How to Write a Novel class ($1249 value), $25 Amazon Gift Card

2nd: $300 | 3rd: $200 | 7 runner-ups: $25 Amazon Gift Cards

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: August 31, 2024

UNO Press Publishing Lab

University of New Orleans Press

Genres: Novel

The Publishing Laboratory at the University of New Orleans seeks to bring innovative publicity and broad distribution to authors. Full length works of fiction (novels and short story collections) only. The work does not have to be regionally focused. There is no word limit. There is no limit on subjects covered. Multiple and simultaneous submissions allowed. The contest is open to all authors from any country, regardless of publishing history.

💰 Entry fee: $28

Craft your masterpiece in Reedsy Studio

Plan, write, edit, and format your book in our free app made for authors.

Learn more about Reedsy Studio .

New Writers 1000-Word Short Story Competition 2024

New Writers

Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, and Short Story

Open to writers from around the world, we’re offering a top prize of £1,000, a second prize of £300 and a third prize of £200. Any themes/genres are welcome but stories must be 1,000 words or fewer. The deadline is midnight (UK time) on Tuesday 30th April 2024 and £1.00 from each entry will be donated to the creative writing charity, First Story.

2nd: £300 | 3rd: £200

💰 Entry fee: $13

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024 (Expired)

Ghost Novellas for the "Presence" Collection

Kinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc

Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, Novella, and Thriller

Ghost novellas wanted from (but not limited to) underrepresented authors by April 31, 2024. Entries must be between 15,000-25,000 words, incorporating BIPOC cultures, traditions, and histories. Selected submissions receive $1000 USD and publication within Kinsman Quarterly’s journal and the “Presence” collection. $25 submission fee required.

Publication in the Kinsman Quarterly and the "Presence" collection

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2024 (Expired)

The Berkeley Fiction Review Sudden Fiction Contest

Berkeley Fiction Review

Genres: Flash Fiction

The Berkeley Fiction Review is a UC Berkeley undergraduate, student-run publication. We look for innovative short fiction that plays with form and content, as well as traditionally constructed stories with fresh voices and original ideas. Currently seeking flash fiction submissions of 1000 words or fewer.

2nd: $100 | 3rd: $50 | Honorable mentions: $25 | Publication

📅 Deadline: April 01, 2024 (Expired)

Snowbound Chapbook Award

Tupelo Press

Genres: Poetry

The Snowbound Chapbook Award includes a cash award of $1,000 in addition to publication by Tupelo Press, 25 copies of the winning title, a book launch, and national distribution with energetic publicity and promotion. Manuscripts are judged anonymously and all finalists will be considered for publication.

Publication by Tupelo Press

Dream Quest One Poetry

Dream Quest One

Write a poem, 30 lines or fewer on any subject, style, or form, typed or neatly hand printed.

2nd: $125 | 3rd: $50

📅 Deadline: September 30, 2024

2024 International Literary Prize

Hammond House Publishing

Genres: Poetry, Script Writing, and Short Story

Our Annual Literary Prize is back again for 2024, with bigger cash prizes, publication for all shortlisted entries in our annual anthologies, a televised award ceremony, and an inspiring new theme.

Worldwide publication for all shortlisted entries

Memo'd AI-assisted Writing Contest

Genres: Non-fiction

Memo'd is a platform where wisdom is distilled into 10-point “Memos”. It aims to be the world’s most inspiring (and free-to-use!) repository of short-form knowledge – and AI will play a pivotal role in this. So what do you have to do to win? Publish an AI-assisted Memo (or Memos) that helps readers gain valuable knowledge in a specific area. Think Twitter threads that are worth remembering. Multiple submissions are welcome and there are no fees - and no catch!

Second Prize for second most unique views: $250 | Best AI Prompt Prize for most creative and useful prompt: $250

📅 Deadline: February 28, 2024 (Expired)

Write By The Sea Literary Festival 2024

Write By the Sea

Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, and Poetry

Write By The Sea is a dynamic boutique literary festival set in the beautiful fishing village of Kilmore Quay, County Wexford. The independent panel of judges will select the winners of each category and winners will be invited to read their work as part of the Festival.

2nd: €300 | 3rd: €200 | Publication

📅 Deadline: June 21, 2024 (Expired)

WOW! Women On Writing Quarterly Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest

Genres: Non-fiction and Essay

Seeking creative nonfiction essays on any topic (1000 words or less) and in any style--from personal essay and memoir to lyric essay and hybrid, and more! The mission of this contest is to reward bravery in real-life storytelling and create an understanding of our world through thoughtful, engaging narratives. Electronic submissions via e-mail only; reprints/previously published okay; simultaneous submissions okay; multiple submissions are okay as long as they are submitted in their own individual e-mail. Open internationally.

💰 Entry fee: $12

The Lascaux Prize in Short Fiction

The Lascaux Review

Stories may be previously published or unpublished, and simultaneous submissions are accepted. Winner receives $1,000 and a bronze medallion. Finalists receive $100. Winner and finalists are published in both the online and annual print editions of The Lascaux Review.

Publication in The Lascaux Review

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: December 31, 2021 (Expired)

Flying South

Genres: Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

All entries will be considered for publication. Winning submissions in each of the three categories (Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Poetry) will be awarded prizes of $400 for First Place, $200 for Second Place, and $100 for a total of $2,100 in prizes. All finalists will be accepted for publication and will receive one copy of the current issue of Flying South.

📅 Deadline: May 31, 2024 (Expired)

James Laughlin Award

Academy of American Poets

Offered since 1954, the James Laughlin Award is given to recognize and support a second book of poetry forthcoming in the next calendar year. Along with $5,000, the winner receives an all-expenses-paid weeklong residency in Miami Beach, Florida, and distribution of the winning book to approximately one thousand Academy of American Poets members. Submissions are accepted January 1 through May 15 each year.

Distribution of book to Academy of American Poets members

📅 Deadline: May 15, 2024 (Expired)

Science Fiction & Fantasy Writing 2023

Write the World

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, and Short Story

Fantasy and sci-fi stir our imaginations, inviting us to think outside the limits of the life we know. This month, you have the extraordinary and exciting task of reimagining the world. In a fantasy or sci-fi short story, take your readers on a journey into a world of your imagination.

Runner up: $50 | Best peer review: $50

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: October 23, 2023 (Expired)

National Poetry Series

The National Poetry Series seeks book-length manuscripts of poetry written by American residents or American citizens living abroad.

Publication

💰 Entry fee: $35

📅 Deadline: March 15, 2024 (Expired)

The Daphne du Maurier Award For Excellence in Mystery/Suspense (Published Division)

RWA Kiss of Death Chapter

Genres: Mystery, Suspense, Romance, and Thriller

The Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense is named for Daphne du Maurier, the author of Rebecca, a suspense novel with romantic and gothic overtones and a precursor to today’s romantic suspense. The writing contest is for published authors of mystery, suspense, and thrillers with or without romantic subplots.

💰 Entry fee: $30

Horror Writing Contest

FanStory.com Inc.

Genres: Fiction, Horror, and Short Story

Share a horror or thriller story to enter this writing contest. Write about anything but the object is to terrorize or thrill your reader. Cash prize!

📅 Deadline: November 12, 2024

Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowships

The Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowships are $50,000 awards given to honor poets of literary merit appointed to serve in civic positions and to support them in creating new work, as well as to enable them to undertake meaningful, impactful, and innovative projects that enrich the lives of their neighbors, including youth, through responsive and interactive poetry activities.

📅 Deadline: April 08, 2024 (Expired)

Spring Microfiction Battle

Writing Battle

Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult

Two days to write a 500 word short story. The peer-powered quarterly writing contest where every story receives oodles of feedback. Write one. Read ten. Win thousands.

Genre Winner (x4): $1,500

Genre Runner-up (x4): $375 | Feedback by industry professionals

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: May 03, 2024 (Expired)

Passager Poetry Contest

We publish: two issues of Passager Journal each year; books of poetry, short stories, and memoir; and a biennial book prize for a new poet over 70. Writers must be age 50 or older by September 1, 2024 to submit.

Sonnet Poetry Contest

FanStory.com Inc

A sonnet is a poem with a specific structure. It has 14 lines and a specific rhyme scheme. The topic is open! Write about anything for this poetry contest. Just follow the rules on how to write a sonnet. To read the rules and for an example view the contest announcement. Cash prize for the winner of this contest.

📅 Deadline: November 06, 2022 (Expired)

Western Writing Contest

Share your Western story for this writing contest. Share your story that has a clear western theme. Your old west story can earn you a cash prize.

Winning stories will be features on the FanStory.com welcome page.

📅 Deadline: December 21, 2024

Season Themes

HAVOK Publishing

Genres: Fantasy, Flash Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Short Story, and Thriller

HAVOK is a constant flash fiction contest, with rolling deadlines. Each season is split into monthly competitions with thematically connected prompts in a range of genres.

Publication in an anthology. Potential for larger gift card wins.

📅 Deadline: August 30, 2024

Climate Change Writing Competition

Genres: Essay, Memoir, and Non-fiction

This month, dear writers, ahead of COP27, help us raise the voices of young people in this urgent fight. In a piece of personal narrative, tell the world’s leaders gathering in how climate change impacts you. How has this crisis changed your environment, your community, your sense of the future? Storytelling, after all, plays a critical role in helping us grasp the emergency through which we are all living, igniting empathy in readers and listeners—itself a precursor to action.

Runner-up: $50

📅 Deadline: October 18, 2022 (Expired)

Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize

Desperate Literature

The aim of the Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize is both to celebrate the best of new, boundary-pushing short fiction and to give winners the most visibility possible for their writing. That’s why we’ve teamed up with fourteen different literary and artistic institutions to not only offer cash prizes and writing retreats but also to ensure that all our shortlisters have the opportunity to be published in multiple print and online journals, have their work put in front of literary agents, and present their stories in multiple countries.

€2,000 + week's stay at the Civitella Ranieri Foundation artists' residency

2nd + 3rd: €1000 | All shortlisters: publication in our print collection Eleven Stories | All longlisters: One-year subscription to The Literary Consultancy's "Being a Writer" platform | One shortlister: two-week residency at Studio Faire, France

💰 Entry fee: $22

📅 Deadline: December 04, 2024

Travel Writing Award

Ottawa Tourism

Genres: Travel

Ottawa Tourism offers an annual $500 CAD prize for outstanding travel writing featuring Canada’s Capital Region. Eligible entries include items in English or in French that have appeared in magazines, newspapers, or online media in 2023 that highlight Ottawa as a travel destination.

📅 Deadline: February 02, 2024 (Expired)

Flash Memoir

📅 Deadline: September 02, 2024

The Lascaux Prize in Creative Nonfiction

Lascuax Review

Genres: Essay and Non-fiction

Creative nonfiction may include memoirs, chronicles, personal essays, humorous perspectives, literary journalism—anything the author has witnessed, experienced, or discovered. Pieces may be previously published or unpublished, and simultaneous submissions are accepted. Winner receives $1,000, a bronze medallion, and publication in The Lascaux Review.

Scriptation

Showcase Script Competition

Genres: Script Writing

The Scriptation Showcase is the screenwriting contest that circulates winners’ scripts to Hollywood directors, showrunners, and producers. 25 scripts get featured for one year in Scriptation, the Emmy® winning app used on film and TV productions.

💰 Entry fee: $54

📅 Deadline: May 12, 2024 (Expired)

Black Voices in Children's Literature

Free Spirit Publishing

Genres: Children's

The Black Voices in Children’s Literature Writing Contest aims to celebrate and elevate black voices in children's literature. It encourages submissions that reflect diverse perspectives and experiences.

📅 Deadline: July 22, 2024 (Expired)

2-4-2 Poetry Contest

Write a 2-4-2 syllable poem. It has three lines. The first line has 2 syllables, the second line has 4 syllables and the last line has 2 syllables again. The subject can be anything. The winner takes away a $100 cash prize. All writers will receive feedback for their submission.

📅 Deadline: December 11, 2024

The Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition

Chicken House Books

Genres: Fiction, Novel, Novella, Science Fiction, Science Writing, and Young Adult

We're looking for original ideas, a fresh voice, a diverse range of entries and stories that children will love! To enter, you must have written a full-length novel suitable for children/young adults aged between 7 and 18 years. We suggest a minimum of 30,000 words and ask that manuscripts do not exceed 80,000 words. The IET 150 Award will be awarded to a manuscript that celebrates Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.

A worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House & royalty advance of £10,000

An offer of representation from a top literary agent

📅 Deadline: June 01, 2024 (Expired)

Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award

Claremont Graduate University

The Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award honors a poet for a single volume of poetry published between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024. It is the world's largest monetary prize for poetry, valued at $100,000. The award aims to support poets in their mid-career, allowing them to focus on their craft without financial burdens.

The Kate Tufts Discovery Award offers $10,000 for a first book of poetry.

📅 Deadline: July 01, 2024 (Expired)

Discover the finest writing contests of 2024 for fiction and non-fiction authors — including short story competitions, essay writing competitions, poetry contests, and many more. Updated weekly, these contests are vetted by Reedsy to weed out the scammers and time-wasters. If you’re looking to stick to free writing contests, simply use our filters as you browse.

Why you should submit to writing contests

Submitting to poetry competitions and free writing contests in 2024 is absolutely worth your while as an aspiring author: just as your qualifications matter when you apply for a new job, a writing portfolio that boasts published works and award-winning pieces is a great way to give your writing career a boost. And not to mention the bonus of cash prizes!

That being said, we understand that taking part in writing contests can be tough for emerging writers. First, there’s the same affliction all writers face: lack of time or inspiration. Entering writing contests is a time commitment, and many people decide to forego this endeavor in order to work on their larger projects instead — like a full-length book. Second, for many writers, the chance of rejection is enough to steer them clear of writing contests. 

But we’re here to tell you that two of the great benefits of entering writing contests happen to be the same as those two reasons to avoid them.

When it comes to the time commitment: yes, you will need to expend time and effort in order to submit a quality piece of writing to competitions. That being said, having a hard deadline to meet is a great motivator for developing a solid writing routine.

Think of entering contests as a training session to become a writer who will need to meet deadlines in order to have a successful career. If there’s a contest you have your eye on, and the deadline is in one month, sit down and realistically plan how many words you’ll need to write per day in order to meet that due date — and don’t forget to also factor in the time you’ll need to edit your story!

For tips on setting up a realistic writing plan, check out this free, ten-day course : How to Build a Rock-Solid Writing Routine.

In regards to the fear of rejection, the truth is that any writer aspiring to become a published author needs to develop relatively thick skin. If one of your goals is to have a book traditionally published, you will absolutely need to learn how to deal with rejection, as traditional book deals are notoriously hard to score. If you’re an indie author, you will need to adopt the hardy determination required to slowly build up a readership.

The good news is that there’s a fairly simple trick for learning to deal with rejection: use it as a chance to explore how you might be able to improve your writing.

In an ideal world, each rejection from a publisher or contest would come with a detailed letter, offering construction feedback and pointing out specific tips for improvement. And while this is sometimes the case, it’s the exception and not the rule.

Still, you can use the writing contests you don’t win as a chance to provide yourself with this feedback. Take a look at the winning and shortlisted stories and highlight their strong suits: do they have fully realized characters, a knack for showing instead of telling, a well-developed but subtly conveyed theme, a particularly satisfying denouement?

The idea isn’t to replicate what makes those stories tick in your own writing. But most examples of excellent writing share a number of basic craft principles. Try and see if there are ways for you to translate those stories’ strong points into your own unique writing.

Finally, there are the more obvious benefits of entering writing contests: prize and publication. Not to mention the potential to build up your readership, connect with editors, and gain exposure.

Resources to help you win writing competitions in 2024

Every writing contest has its own set of submission rules. Whether those rules are dense or sparing, ensure that you follow them to a T. Disregarding the guidelines will not sway the judges’ opinion in your favor — and might disqualify you from the contest altogether. 

Aside from ensuring you follow the rules, here are a few resources that will help you perfect your submissions.

Free online courses

On Writing:

• "How to Craft a Killer Short Story" ( Click here )
• "The Non-Sexy Business of Writing Non-Fiction" ( Click here )
• "How to Write a Novel" ( Click here )
• "Understanding Point of View" ( Click here )
• "Developing Characters That Your Readers Will Love" ( Click here )
• "Writing Dialogue That Develops Plot and Character" ( Click here )
• "Stop Procrastinating! Build a Solid Writing Routine" ( Click here )

On Editing:

• "Story Editing for Authors" ( Click here )
• "How to Self-Edit Your Manuscript Like a Pro" ( Click here )
• "Novel Revision: Practical Tips for Rewrites" ( Click here )
• "How to Write a Novel: Steps From a Bestselling Writer" ( Click here )
• "How to Write a Short Story in 9 Simple Steps" ( Click here )
• "100 Literary Devices With Examples: The Ultimate List" ( Click here )
• "20 Writing Tips to Improve Your Craft" ( Click here )
• "How to Write Fabulous Dialogue [9 Tips + Examples]" ( Click here )
• "8 Character Development Exercises to Write 3D Characters" ( Click here )

Bonus resources

• 200+ Short Story Ideas ( Click here )
• 600+ Writing Prompts to Inspire You ( Click here )
• 100+ Creative Writing Exercises for Fiction Authors ( Click here )
• Story Title Generator ( Click here )
• Pen Name Generator ( Click here )
• Character Name Generator ( Click here )

After you submit to a writing competition in 2024

It’s exciting to send a piece of writing off to a contest. However, once the initial excitement wears off, you may be left waiting for a while. Some writing contests will contact all entrants after the judging period — whether or not they’ve won. Other writing competitions will only contact the winners. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind after you submit:

Many writing competitions don’t have time to respond to each entrant with feedback on their story. However, it never hurts to ask! Feel free to politely reach out requesting feedback — but wait until after the selection period is over.

If you’ve submitted the same work to more than one writing competition or literary magazine, remember to withdraw your submission if it ends up winning elsewhere.

After you send a submission, don’t follow it up with a rewritten or revised version. Instead, ensure that your first version is thoroughly proofread and edited. If not, wait until the next edition of the contest or submit the revised version to other writing contests.

Join a community of over 1 million authors

Reedsy is more than just a blog. Become a member today to discover how we can help you publish a beautiful book.

Save your shortlist

Enter your email address to save your shortlist so that you don't lose it!

By continuing, you will also receive Reedsy's weekly publishing tips and access to our free webinars.

We sent over your shortlist. Thank you for using Reedsy's Writing Contest Directory, happy publishing! 🙌

Join our weekly contest

Get 5 new writing prompts every Friday. Write and submit a story for a chance to win $250.

1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them.

Enter your email or get started with a social account:

(+65) 6403 3970

[email protected]

1 Wallich Street #14-01 (Guoco Tower), Singapore 078881

Copyright School Challenge 2023/2024: Creative Writing Competition

The Copyright School Challenge: Creative Writing Competition is back this year with a brand-new theme! CLASS is launching its second edition of the Creative Writing Competition for primary school students with the aim to encourage creativity and promote copyright awareness among students.

About the competition

The Creative Writing Competition is aimed at inspiring primary school students to write as well as empowering them to express their creative thoughts and opinions through poetry or as an essay. Similar to the last edition, the competition has two separate categories: Essay Writing and Poetry Writing.

– The Essay Writing category is open to Primary 3 & Primary 4 students. – The Poetry Writing category is open to Primary 5 & Primary 6 students.

The closing date for submissions is Sunday, 31 March 2024 . The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony during the Asia Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) in May 2024.

The theme for this year’s competition is CURIOSITY .

Please refer to the format requirements for the submissions:

– Essay writing: Maximum of 300 words for Primary 3 students and 400 words for Primary 4 students. Title is not included in the word count. Font must be Arial or Times New Roman, 12pt, black, and double spaced. – Poetry writing: Written in English. Maximum of 20 lines, excluding the title. Font must be Arial or Times New Roman, 12pt, black, and double spaced.

The author’s name should be included in the document or file name. No illustrations should be included as part of the entry. Submit as either a Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or PDF file.

The top 3 winners in each category are as follows:

– 1 st Prize : $500 + Trophy – 2 nd Prize: $300 + Trophy – 3 rd Prize: $200 + Trophy

Registration & Submission

You may register your interest and submit your entries by clicking on the button below.

There will also be a poetry and an essay writing workshop held in conjunction with the competition. These workshops will be reserved for participants who register their interest by 29 February 2024 , are limited to a first-come, first-serve basis and will be held at the NLB. Further information regarding these workshops will be provided by January 2024.

To register for the workshops, please visit the following links in January 2024:

Poetry writing workshop: Registration for workshop is now  CLOSED Essay writing workshop: Registration for workshop is now CLOSED

*Submissions can be made at a later date after registering of interest.

Check out the Top 2 entries from each category from last year’s competition below!

Poetry Writing

Maanav Praseed – Chess, A Work of Art

Me and my chess board, black and white Time for some strategy, fun and fight!

In ebony and ivory, the pieces stand, Each with a purpose and a plan.

The clock ticks down, the tension mounts, A clash of minds, and a battle of thoughts.

Oh! A move I haven’t seen before, But don’t give up! Give him more!

I stare at the board rubbing my chin, Ah! The perfect sequence to secure my win.

The pawns, the bishops, the rooks and knights, With will and valour they all fight.

I realise I blunder a beautiful fork, I sit there thinking I’m a dork.

My queen comes out to avenge my rook, And my plan worked… I made him look!

Time passes by and the attack brews, His hand stretches out to say I lose!

I love my chessboard, a work of art, A game well-played, fills my heart.

Runner-Up Hailey Chua Yixin – Play

My fingers poise on the scintillating keys, The obsidian and ivory beckoning to me. With my right hand, I press down the first note of the song, Launching the charming canon. My body bobs along.

The tune starts off gleeful, airy and sweet. It billows in the air, in light, cheerful beats. Mezzo piano, whispered. Diminuendos, gentle. Digits trickle o’er the piano, a skipping instrumental.

Then my left hand comes in, and the phrase becomes a story, Told by two alluring sirens, crooning in harmony. It deepens like marionettes waltzing to my nails, Which cascade in a glissando. I sway, ridden of travail.

The crescendos build in suspense; my tension unravels… My enthusiasm builds with the keys pounding like gavels. Eventually, the tempo slows, and the melody softens. My eyes close, the piano shuts. Click. An elegy to a coffin.

Music is the wax that binds us to our souls, And unleashes our pressure with the ring of a doh. Till death, this wonderful piano I shall forever play. This is my lighthearted, lyrical way of… play

Essay Writing Writing

I sit on a bed, my mottled legs dangling lifelessly. My glazed eyes stare blankly at the far wall. They fall on a picture of a young boy, his hand tightly grasping the sleeve of a smiling, grey-haired woman. He has a penetrating stare, his jet-black hair jutting out at odd angles. I frown. Who are they? I cannot seem to remember. A tear trickles down my face.

A young boy runs in, with a grin on his face. He flings his arms around me. Who is he? Why is he hugging me? My eyes tilt involuntarily towards the picture on the wall. I look back in front of me. He is just like that boy, but older. He takes out an oddly familiar object. What is that?

“Do you remember we played four-in-a-row last week? You won all seven times!”

But I don’t remember. Is my mind playing tricks on me? Is he playing with me? At the back of my mind, I know that he is not.

A flicker of connection sparks in my mind as I pick up the rounded disc, hesitantly slotting it into a hole. I remember how to play. Not just to play the game, but play itself.

He puts another piece in, blocking my path. I frown. Then I remember how to smile as I continue playing.

A familiar smell wafts into the room. Chicken rice. That is my favourite food. I keep silent for a moment.

“Come on, let’s go on playing!” He urged as a slightly worried look crossed his face. A moment later, it was gone.

Are my eyes playing tricks on me?

“The doctor said play is good for you,” He says as he blocks me once again.

I remember how to laugh as I put in another piece.

As I look around me, I know I am at home, on my bed. My home. My bed. I sit there and cry. Tears after tears bucketing down. I remember I played with him last week, and the week before. Through the tears, I smile once again.

“Are you alright?” The boy asks, the creases of worries plain on his face.

“I remember,” I say, as I slot my next disc in.

“Grandma, do you know who I am?”

I reply, “I don’t know who you are, but I know I love you.”

Aidan Weckx

“Where is Aidan? Is he off to play with his mates again?” muttered my mom in exasperation, as she picks up our sweaty ski gear in the restaurant. “Yes mom,” sighed Dylan, my 6-year old brother. “You know where he always is whenever we are here.”

Every year, my family heads off to our “happy place” – Club Med Valmorel in the French Alps, several hours from Paris. We spend our week skiing in the breathtaking snow-capped mountains, enjoying the fresh air of the Alps. Ski class starts at 9:00 am, we break for lunch, and then we are back on the slopes for the afternoon class. But my real “play time” starts way before ski class, and continues during our breaks, and “apres-ski.”

I love to play ping-pong and whenever I have time to spare between ski classes, I can be found in the basement kids club with about 15 boys, from ages 6 to 20. At first, with all the French chatter, I did not feel I belonged to the eclectic group. But after I played ping-pong with the boys, some of whom were serious experts, I felt a real sense of belonging, like I was in special club with like-minded friends bonded by a common passion.

Whenever I pick up my paddle, I feel my adrenaline rush through my veins. A good player has to have the speed of a cheetah, the grace of a gazelle, the precision of an eagle and the power of a lion. I was inspired by the older teenager boys, who played so skillfully and artfully, with such finesse and grace. And every single day, I would be at the basement, playing my heart out.

All good things come to an end and it was time to return home. I had found my passion, and that was ping-pong. My dad even bought me a mini ping-pong table so I can play in the living room anytime, and my mom signed me up for a professional ping-pong holiday camp. Play time was no longer in front of my computer or TV – it was always at the ping-pong table, where I felt the most at ease.

Just eight more months and I will be back in Club Med Valmorel again, playing with speed, grace, precision and power – where I am back in the game, and back in the happiest playground on earth.

Terms and Conditions

All registration and entries must be filled and submitted by the parents, teachers, or guardians of the participants (student or child). Each participant can submit only one entry, and manuscripts must be in Microsoft Word or pdf.

Participants (students) must submit their entries by Sunday, 31 March 2024 . All submissions must be made via the online form through the student’s teacher or parent/guardian.

Only entries that are duly received by us by the aforementioned closing date will be eligible for the competition. We will not accept responsibility for any entries that are lost, delayed, or damaged and we do not consider proof of submitting an online entry as proof that we have received it.

All entries must be an original piece and developed by the student or child. The entries must not have been published on any other forms of media (including the internet, social media, newspapers, and school publications). Entries must not have been submitted for any other contests before.

The poetry writing and essay writing workshops are free of charge for registered participants of the competition.

Any entries containing excerpts, translations, or plagiarism, infringing on others’ copyrights, will be disqualified, and rendered invalid. Revocation of any award and return of prizes will be required.

All personal information including contact details must be provided and accurate. The registrants will be contactable via email and/ or phone for the purpose of the competition only.

Prize-winning entries are subject to publication, distribution, and promotion by the Organiser without prior notification.

The decision of the judges is final, and no discussion will be entertained in relation to their decision.

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony during the Asia Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) in May 2024, with the date to be confirmed. Parents/guardians and teachers including the entrant must be present for the ceremony to receive the prize.

For any enquiries, do send us an email at [email protected]

COACHING + PUBLISHING

FORMATTING + DESIGN

FREELANCE COMMUNITY

40 Free Writing Contests: Competitions With Cash Prizes

by Kelly Gurnett | Aug 29, 2023

Have you ever Googled “writing contests”? Many require reading fees or prizes—like seeing your work in print—that you can only receive if you pay for it.

Some legitimate contests charge small entry fees, but often a fee can be a red flag for a scam, so those might be the ones you want to stay away from. 

Besides, there are plenty of free writing contests that encourage and inspire boundless creativity with real cash prizes and career-advancing opportunities! Since it can be hard for a writer to know where to find them, we did the legwork for you.

We found 40 reputable, well-reviewed, free writing contests for poets, fiction writers, essayists and more.

With thousands of dollars in cash prizes and numerous opportunities to secure a publishing contract, you’re sure to find the right free writing contest for your work.

If you don’t mind paying a little money to enter, our friends over at Smart Blogger have rounded up some great writing contests that have small entry fees. And if you’re still hungry for more opportunities, we also have posts on writers grants and writing fellowships .

Table of Contents

Fiction and nonfiction writing contests this year.

Ready to share your novel or personal essay with the world? Whether you’re a newbie or more established writer, you’re likely eligible for a few of these contests.

Here are some fiction and nonfiction writing contests worth considering .

1. L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest

Whatever your feelings about L. Ron Hubbard’s work and philosophy, the prizes for this regular contest are nothing to sneeze at. Every three months, winners earn $1,000, $750 and $500, plus an additional annual grand prize of $5,000.

Submissions must be short stories or novelettes (up to 17,000 words) in the genre of science fiction or fantasy, and new and amateur writers are welcome to apply.

Deadlines: Quarterly on March 31, June 30 and September 30

Website: Writers of the Future

This boutique publishing firm offers cash prizes and promotional packages to winning authors. Submit a novel of 10,000 words or more in any fiction genre (no fanfic or poetry).

Inkitt’s writing contest runs monthly and gives authors the chance to win cash prizes up to $300, exclusive book badges and promotional packages while showcasing their books to Inkitt’s audience of more than 3 million users. Winners are determined by Inkitt’s unique algorithm based on overall reader engagement.

Deadline: See individual contest pages

Website: Inkitt

Disclosure: Inkitt is an advertising partner of The Write Life. We hold our advertisers to high standards and vetted this contest just like others on this list. 

3. Drue Heinz Literature Prize

You can win $15,000 and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press with this prize, awarded for a collection of short fiction.

You may submit an unpublished manuscript of short stories , two or more novellas or a combination of novellas and short stories. Your total word count should be between 150 and 300 typed pages. You must also have already published a novel or book-length work of fiction “with a reputable publisher,” or no fewer than three short stories or novellas in nationally-recognized journals.

Deadline: Annual submissions must be postmarked between May 1 through June 30

Website: University of Pittsburgh Press

4 . Young Lions Fiction Award

This $10,000 award recognizes “young authors,” which the rules define as any author aged 35 or younger. Submit any novel or collection of short stories published or scheduled to be published in the calendar year. Works must be written for adults; children’s or YA pieces are ineligible.

Deadline: Submissions for this year are open through September 8 at 5pm Eastern Time

Website: New York Public Library

5 . Graywolf Press Nonfiction Prizes

One of the best-loved small presses in the creative writing world, Graywolf Press hosts a variety of contests for both established and up-and-coming writers. Graywolf also offers smaller fiction and nonfiction prizes, with genres rotating by year; 2020 was a nonfiction year, so fiction was up in 2021, then back to nonfiction in 2022, and so on. These awards include a sizable advance— $12,000 in previous years—as well as publication with Graywolf.

Deadline: Contest is held annually with rotating genres. The contest next opens for submissions in February 2024

Website: Graywolf Press

6 . The Jeff Sharlet Memorial Award for Veterans

Hosted by the prestigious Iowa Review, the Jeff Sharlet Memorial Award is offered to U.S. military veterans and active-duty members writing in any genre about any subject. Manuscripts of up to 20 pages will be accepted, and the first-prize winner will receive $1,000 and publication in the Review. A second place prize of $750 is also available, as well as three runner-up prizes of $500 each.

Deadline: Biennially. The next contest will be held in May 2024

Website: The Iowa Review

7 . Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence

For 15 years, this contest has provided visibility for emerging African American fiction writers and enables them to focus on their writing by awarding a $15,000 cash prize. Eligible authors should submit a work of fiction, such as a novel or short story collection, published in the calendar year. (Galleys for publication within the year are also accepted.)

Deadline: Annually. The entry window closes on December 31

Website: The Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence

8. PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction

Honoring the best work of fiction published by an American author in a single calendar year, this award has been given to the likes of John Updike, Philip Roth and Ann Patchett. Novels, novellas and collections of short stories are all eligible.

The winner receives a hefty cash prize—up to $15,000 in the past—and an invitation to read at the award ceremony in Washington, D.C. Plus, there are no submission fees or application forms to deal with; just send a PDF of each book (as many as you’d like) to [email protected] .

Deadline: S ubmissions will be accepted from July 1 to September 30

Website: Pen/Faulkner

9 . PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers

This contest requires you to have already published a short story in a literary magazine or journal or cultural website. But if you’ve made your debut (but gone no further), you may be eligible for the generous cash prize of $2,000, which is annually awarded to 12 emerging writers, whose works are then published together in an anthology.

Short stories of up to 12,000 words are eligible and must be published in the calendar year preceding the year in which the award is given. Additionally, keep this in mind: Submissions are only eligible if submitted by an editor. Authors may not submit their own work.

Deadline: Submissions close November 1

Website: PEN America

10. Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards

Fiction and nonfiction writers who have recently published a book that “contribute[s] to our understanding of racism and our appreciation of cultural diversity” are eligible for this award, which offers $10,000 cash as well as media and publicity opportunities. Plus, winners receive their prize at a ceremony in Cleveland.

Submissions must be published in the prior year (so books published last year are eligible for the award this year).

Deadline: Annual submission window is September 1 through December 31

Website: Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards

Freelance Writer’s Pitch Checklist Grab it for free 👇

Convince more editors to say YES to your pitches!

We’ll also send you our weekly newsletter, which offers helpful advice for freelancing and publishing. You can unsubscribe at any time.

11. Marfield Prize (aka National Award for Arts Writing)

Presented by the Arts Club of Washington, this award seeks to honor nonfiction books that deal with the “visual, literary, media, or performing arts.” The prize is $10,000 and may be awarded to works of criticism, art history, memoirs and biographies, and essays.

Deadline: Annually in the last quarter of the year. The submission window in 2023 is October 15

Website: The Marfield Prize

1 2 . W.Y. Boyd Literary Award for Excellence in Military Fiction

If you’re a war buff, this competition is for you. It awards $5,000—and a 24-karat-gold-framed citation of achievement—to the best piece of fiction set during a period when the U.S. was at war (war may either be the main plot of the piece or simply provide the setting). Submissions may be adult or YA novels.

Deadline: Annually on December 31

Website: American Library Association

13. Friends of American Writers Chicago Awards

FAW presents two annual awards: an Adult Literature Award for literary fiction or nonfiction, and a  Young People’s Literature Award for a children’s/YA book.

Authors must reside in the state of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota or Wisconsin—or they must set their book in one of those locations. Prize amounts vary from year to year, but you don’t have to bother with an application and all winners are celebrated at the organization’s May luncheon.

Deadline: Annually in December

Website: Friends of American Writers Chicago

14. Hektoen Grand Prix Essay Contest

Hektoen International, an online journal dedicated to medical humanities, offers two prizes annually for essays of no more than 1,500 words: $5,000 is awarded to the winner and $2,500 to the first runner-up. Eligible topics are broad so long as they have a relation to medicine, and many include art, history, literature, education and more.

Deadline: Annually; September 15 is usually the deadline

Website: Hektoen International

15. Biopage Storytelling Writing Contest

There’s no denying it: social media is a huge part of our modern-day lives. It’s easy to get used to limiting our communications to 280-character and emoji-strewn snippets, which is why this marketing firm is hosting an essay writing contest to “remind people of the benefits of writing.”

Essays of up to 5,000 characters (roughly 1,000 words) will be accepted, and right now they’re looking for stories of COVID-19 quarantine life. The grand prize winner will receive $300, and five runners-up will be awarded $100 each.

The contest is free to enter, but you’ll need to register for a Biopage account to be eligible.

Deadline: The current contest ends January 31, 2024

Website: Biopage

16. St. Martin’s Minotaur / Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition

Writers 18 and older who have never had a novel published (in any genre) are eligible for this prize, awarded to an original book-length manuscript where “murder or another serious crime or crimes is at the heart of the story.” The winner receives a publication contract with Minotaur Books and an advance of $10,000 against future royalties.

Deadline: December 17 each yea r 

Website: Edgar Awards

17. ServiceScape Short Story Award

ServiceScape, a platform matching freelance writers, editors and graphic designers with clients (i.e. a great place to look for paid writing work !) offers a yearly Short Story Award of $1,000 to a winning fiction or nonfiction work of 5,000 words or fewer. The winner will also have their story featured on the ServiceScape blog, which sees thousands of readers each month.

Deadline: November 29 each year

Website: ServiceScape

18 . Stowe Prize

This biennial prize of $10,000 honors an American author whose adult fiction or nonfiction work has had an impact on a critical social justice issue (as did Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin ). The book must be written by a U.S. author and have been published in the United States during the previous three calendar years.

Deadline: Contact the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center for this year’s deadline .

Website: Harriet Beecher Stowe Center

19 . The Diana Woods Memorial Award in Creative Nonfiction

Creative nonfiction essays of no more than 5,000 words on any subject are eligible for consideration for this award, whose winner receives $250 and publication in Lunch Ticket , the literary and art journal produced by the MFA community of Antioch University Los Angeles.

Works must not have been published elsewhere. Award winners are required to submit a 100-word biography, recent photo and a short note thanking the Woods family for their generosity and support.

Deadlines: Biannual reading periods are in February for the Summer/Fall issue and in August for the Winter/Spring issue

Website: Lunch Ticket

20 . The 2023 Brandon Langhjelm Memorial Essay Contest

Each year, this Canadian organization offers three prizes, ranging from $500 to $1,500, to the essay with the most thoughtful, well-reasoned arguments around a specific human-rights theme. (For example, 2022’s prompt was, “ Canadian governments are making Digital ID technologies a precondition of access to essential services and goods. What can Canadians do to protect their Charter rights and freedoms against the dangers of these technologies? ”

The contest is open to Canadian college and university students, and essays should be 2,500 words or less in length.

Deadline: November 5

Website: Justice Center for Constitutional Freedoms

21. Write the World

For young writers ages 13-18, these cool contests also serve as mini workshops. Recognizing that “a first draft is never perfect,” submissions actually receive peer review by authors, writing teachers and other experts and writers are given the chance to revise their pieces based on this feedback before submitting them for final prize consideration.

Contests vary each month, but there’s a $100 prize for the winner and $50 for the runner-up (plus $50 for the best peer-reviewer). All three are featured on Write the World’s blog alongside comments from a guest judge. And since each month’s prompt is from a different genre, developing writers get a chance to test out different styles.

Deadline: Monthly

Website: Write the World

Stuck with writer’s block and looking for a way to jumpstart your escape? Prose offers weekly challenges meant to spark your creativity; many are just for fun, but look for the weekly numbered challenges posted by Prose (rather than community members or sponsors) for a chance to win money.

Prizes are typically between $100 to $200 and word counts are low—some as low as under 150, some as high as 500. So even if all you get from the prompt is a chance to flex your brain, it’s not a bad deal.

Deadline: Weekly and monthly

Website: Prose.

23. The Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing

First-generation immigrants have a chance to win $10,000 and publication by Restless Books for telling their stories (real or imagined). The contest alternates annually between fiction (novel or short story collection) and nonfiction (memoir, essay collection, narrative nonfiction). In 2021, it went to a work of nonfiction of at least 25,000 words; 2022 will be fiction.

Deadline: Submission window is usually between December and March

Website: Restless Books

24. AFSA National High School Essay Contest

The U.S. Institute of Peace and the American Foreign Service Association sponsor this annual high school essay contest, where the winner receives a $2,500 cash prize, an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., and a full-tuition paid voyage with Semester at Sea upon the student’s enrollment at an accredited university. Essays should be between 1,000 and 1,250 words and have to answer all aspects of the prompt as well as demonstrate an understanding of the Foreign Service.

Runners-up get a pretty sweet deal too, a $1,250 cash prize and a full scholarship to participate in the International Diplomacy Program of the National Student Leadership Conference.

Deadline : April each year

Website: American Foreign Service Association

25. Science-me a Story

Born in 2018, the Society of Spanish Researchers invites talented and original writers to write a 100-word blurb for a hypothetical novel. This might sound really easy, but your blurb has to quickly hook readers and make them want to read more. Open to anyone over 18 anywhere in the world, your real or fictional short story for this competition must be either in English or Spanish and “conceived from the objective of scientific dissemination to primary school” to qualify for the cash prizes: £150, £100 and £50. 

Website: Society of Spanish Researchers in the United Kingdom

26. VCU Cabell First Novelist Award

Virginia Commonwealth University sponsors this award that honors an outstanding debut novel published in the preceding calendar year. While you may have published previous books in a different form, the submission must be your first published book marketed as a novel.

The award is a $5,000 cash prize, and the winning author must agree to attend the award event, usually scheduled for November.

Deadline : Annually; the submission window runs from July 1 through December 30

Website: Virginia Commonwealth University

27. Daisy Utemorrah Award

The Daisy Utemorrah Award is for an unpublished manuscript of junior or YA fiction written by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples currently living in Australia. Generously supported by the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund and the State Government of Western Australia, the winner of the award receives $15,000 and a publishing contract with Magabala Books.

Deadline : Submission window usually opens at the beginning of each year

Website: Magabala Books

28 . Short Fiction Prize

If you’re an undergrad at a college in the U.S. or Canada, this writing competition is for you. (Traditionally, this contest has encouraged applicants with an Asian background, but anyone is invited to apply.) Submissions should be no more than 7,500 words.

One winner will get a $1,000 prize as well as a scholarship to the next Southampton Writers Conference .

Deadline : Submission window is usually between March 1- July 14

Website: Stony Brook University | Lichtenstein Center

29. Bacopa Literary Review Contest

The Bacopa Literary Review is an international journal published by the Writers Alliance of Gainesville. Each year, it opens submissions for pieces in four genres: fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry and prose poetry. Find detailed guidelines for each genre on its website. First place gets $300, and the second prize in each of the four genres gets $100.

Deadline: May 30 each year

Website: Writers Alliance of Gainesville

30. Insecure Writer’s Support Group Annual Anthology Contest

As long as you stick to the guidelines, The Insecure Writer’s Support Group’s annual contest welcomes your 5,000- to 6,000-word (previously unpublished) creative story. But before you send it off, make sure your story is polished and formatted! Plus, the prizes aren’t too shabby—winning stories will be edited and published, authors will receive royalties, and the top story will even get to give the anthology its title. 

Deadlines: September 1 each year

Website: Insecure Writer’s Support Group

31. Ultimate Meal Plans Nutrition Scholarship

College students studying nutrition, kinesiology or exercise-science fields: you’re going to be all over this one. Twice per year, the Ultimate Paleo Guide (aka the best paleo resource on the internet) awards $500 scholarships to two deserving students who meet all eligibility requirements—as well as write an 800-word essay about why you chose your field, an impact you’d like to make in your career, a challenge you’ve faced and more.

Deadlines: January 30 (awards in March) and July 31 (awards in September)

Website: Ultimate Meal Plans

32. New Voices Award

Presented by Lee & Low Books, an award-winning children’s book publisher, this award is given for a previously unpublished children’s picture book manuscript of no more than 1,500 words written by a writer of color or Indigenous/Native writers who’s a resident of the U.S.

The winner receives $2,000 cash and a standard publication contract, and an additional Honor Award winner will receive a cash prize of $1,000. You may submit up to two manuscripts.

Deadline: The contest is on hiatus for 2023, check the website for a follow-up announcement in 2024. 

Website: Lee & Low Books

33. St. Francis College Literary Prize

Since 2009, this biennial literary award has honored mid-career writers who have recently published their third, fourth or fifth work of fiction. The winner receives $50,000 and may be invited to the St. Francis College campus in Brooklyn, New York, to deliver a talk about their work or teach a mini fiction workshop to St. Francis students.

Deadline: Biennially. The contest was not offered the last three years due to the pandemic and limited campus access

Website: St. Francis College

Poetry contests this year

Curious about opportunities for poets? Your stanzas—rhyming or not—could be worth a fair amount of money in these poetry competitions.

Check out these poetry writing contests.

34. Black Voices in Children’s Literature Writing Contest

This contest is open to Black writers who are over the age of 18 and residents of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota or Wisconsin.  It’s hosted by Strive Publishing and Free Spirit Publishing and seeks to fill the need for Black representation in children’s and young adult books. Original board and picture books for children aged 0-4 and picture books for ages 4-8 are eligible, provided they feature contemporary, realistic Black characters and culture and focus on character development, self esteem, community and other aspects of positive childhood development.

Three prizes, ranging from $250 to $1,000, will be awarded, and the first-place winner will be “seriously considered” for publication, though it’s not guaranteed.

Deadline: Usually late July, each year

Website: Free Spirit Publishing  

35. James Laughlin Award

If you’re already a published poet, this is the award for you; it’s given for a second book of poetry due to come out in the forthcoming year. The winner receives $5,000 and an all-expenses-paid week-long residency at The Betsy Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida. In addition, copies of the winning book are distributed to 1,000 members of the Academy of American Poets.

Deadline: Annual submission window is January 1 through May 15

Website: Academy of American Poets

36. African Poetry Book Fund Prizes

The APBF awards three prizes annually for African Poetry. The Luschei Prize for African Poetry gives $1,000 for a book of original African poetry published in the prior year.

The Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poets gives $1,000 and a publication contract for a book-length collection of poetry by an as-yet-unpublished African author.

The Brunel International African Poetry Prize is a new prize that grants £3,000 to a poet who was born in Africa, or has African parents, who has not yet had a full-length book of poetry published. (U.S. citizens qualify.) To submit, you’ll need 10 poems.

Deadlines: See individual prize pages

Website: African Poetry Book Fund

37. Tufts Poetry Awards

Claremont Graduate University presents two awards each year to poets they deem to be “outstanding.” The Kate Tufts Poetry Award grants $10,000 for a published first book of poetry that shows promise.

The Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award grants a mammoth $100,000 for a published book of poetry by an established or mid-career poet.

Deadline: Submission window is July 1 to June 30 each year

Website: Claremont Graduate University

38. Graywolf Press Walt Whitman Award 

The Walt Whitman Award is a $5,000 prize awarded, along with publication, to an American poet with a winning first book manuscript. He or she also receives an all-expenses-paid six-week residency at the Civitella Ranieri Center in Umbria, Italy.

Graywolf Press is also one of the publishers of the Cave Canem Poetry Prize , “a first book award dedicated to the discovery of exceptional manuscripts by Black poets.” Winners receive $1,000 and Graywolf publishes every third winner of the prize.

Deadline : July 1 to September 1 each year

Website: Poets

39. Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest

Now in its 23rd year, this humor contest wants your best published or unpublished work for a grand prize of $2,000; runners-up are awarded $500 and 10 honorable mentions will receive $100 each. Writers of all ages from eligible countries can submit an original, humorous poem with 250 lines or less, and it must be in English.

Deadline : April 1, each year (and no, this isn’t an April Fools joke)

Website: Winning Writers

40. The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize

This writing competition is looking for the best piece of unpublished, themed writing. For example, one year, the theme was “Untamed: On Wilderness and Civilization.” Submissions may be prose, poetry or non-academic essays. Maximum word count is 2,500, and this is open to all nationalities and to anyone 18 or older. The winner gets a £10,000 cash prize, second place gets £3,000 and third place gets £2,000.

Deadline : Applications open at the beginning of each year. Follow the Alpine Fellowship on Instagram for updates

Website: The Alpine Fellowship

Where to find more legitimate, free writing contests

Looking for more opportunities to submit your work? Here are a few great sites to keep an eye on for writing contests.

Winning Writers

A number of the contests found on our list came highly recommended by this site, which compiles some of the best free literary contests out there. Along with a wide range of recommended contests for writers of all stripes, Winning Writers also lists some contests and services to avoid , which is just as useful!

They also offer a handful of contests themselves , including the North Street Book Prize.

Poets & Writers

Another fantastic source for legitimate writing contests we consulted when compiling this list, Poets & Writers vets competitions, contests, awards and grants to make sure they’re following legitimate practices and policies. It’s worth checking out regularly as it features both annual and one-time contests.

This listing contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase through our links, you’re supporting The Write Life—and we thank you for that!

The original version of this story was written by Kelly Gurnett . We updated the post so it’s more useful for our readers. 

Photo via Viktoriia Hnatiuk / Shutterstock

Jump to navigation Skip to content

Search form

• P&W on Facebook
• P&W on Twitter
• P&W on Instagram

Find details about every creative writing competition—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators, and more—that we’ve published in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it in the Writing Contests database, the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.

Find a home for your poems, stories, essays, and reviews by researching the publications vetted by our editorial staff. In the Literary Magazines database you’ll find editorial policies, submission guidelines, contact information—everything you need to know before submitting your work to the publications that share your vision for your work.

Whether you’re pursuing the publication of your first book or your fifth, use the Small Presses database to research potential publishers, including submission guidelines, tips from the editors, contact information, and more.

Research more than one hundred agents who represent poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers, plus details about the kinds of books they’re interested in representing, their clients, and the best way to contact them.

Every week a new publishing professional shares advice, anecdotes, insights, and new ways of thinking about writing and the business of books.

Find publishers ready to read your work now with our Open Reading Periods page, a continually updated resource listing all the literary magazines and small presses currently open for submissions.

Since our founding in 1970, Poets & Writers has served as an information clearinghouse of all matters related to writing. While the range of inquiries has been broad, common themes have emerged over time. Our Top Topics for Writers addresses the most popular and pressing issues, including literary agents, copyright, MFA programs, and self-publishing.

Our series of subject-based handbooks (PDF format; $4.99 each) provide information and advice from authors, literary agents, editors, and publishers. Now available: The Poets & Writers Guide to Publicity and Promotion, The Poets & Writers Guide to the Book Deal, The Poets & Writers Guide to Literary Agents, The Poets & Writers Guide to MFA Programs, and The Poets & Writers Guide to Writing Contests.

Find a home for your work by consulting our searchable databases of writing contests, literary magazines, small presses, literary agents, and more.

Poets & Writers lists readings, workshops, and other literary events held in cities across the country. Whether you are an author on book tour or the curator of a reading series, the Literary Events Calendar can help you find your audience.

Get the Word Out is a new publicity incubator for debut fiction writers and poets.

Research newspapers, magazines, websites, and other publications that consistently publish book reviews using the Review Outlets database, which includes information about publishing schedules, submission guidelines, fees, and more.

Well over ten thousand poets and writers maintain listings in this essential resource for writers interested in connecting with their peers, as well as editors, agents, and reading series coordinators looking for authors. Apply today to join the growing community of writers who stay in touch and informed using the Poets & Writers Directory.

Let the world know about your work by posting your events on our literary events calendar, apply to be included in our directory of writers, and more.

Find a writers group to join or create your own with Poets & Writers Groups. Everything you need to connect, communicate, and collaborate with other poets and writers—all in one place.

Find information about more than two hundred full- and low-residency programs in creative writing in our MFA Programs database, which includes details about deadlines, funding, class size, core faculty, and more. Also included is information about more than fifty MA and PhD programs.

Whether you are looking to meet up with fellow writers, agents, and editors, or trying to find the perfect environment to fuel your writing practice, the Conferences & Residencies is the essential resource for information about well over three hundred writing conferences, writers residencies, and literary festivals around the world.

Discover historical sites, independent bookstores, literary archives, writing centers, and writers spaces in cities across the country using the Literary Places database—the best starting point for any literary journey, whether it’s for research or inspiration.

Search for jobs in education, publishing, the arts, and more within our free, frequently updated job listings for writers and poets.

Establish new connections and enjoy the company of your peers using our searchable databases of MFA programs and writers retreats, apply to be included in our directory of writers, and more.

• Register for Classes

Each year the Readings & Workshops program provides support to hundreds of writers participating in literary readings and conducting writing workshops. Learn more about this program, our special events, projects, and supporters, and how to contact us.

The Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award introduces emerging writers to the New York City literary community, providing them with a network for professional advancement.

Find information about how Poets & Writers provides support to hundreds of writers participating in literary readings and conducting writing workshops.

Bring the literary world to your door—at half the newsstand price. Available in print and digital editions, Poets & Writers Magazine is a must-have for writers who are serious about their craft.

View the contents and read select essays, articles, interviews, and profiles from the current issue of the award-winning Poets & Writers Magazine .

Read essays, articles, interviews, profiles, and other select content from Poets & Writers Magazine as well as Online Exclusives.

View the covers and contents of every issue of Poets & Writers Magazine , from the current edition all the way back to the first black-and-white issue in 1987.

Every day the editors of Poets & Writers Magazine scan the headlines—publishing reports, literary dispatches, academic announcements, and more—for all the news that creative writers need to know.

In our weekly series of craft essays, some of the best and brightest minds in contemporary literature explore their craft in compact form, articulating their thoughts about creative obsessions and curiosities in a working notebook of lessons about the art of writing.

The Time Is Now offers weekly writing prompts in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction to help you stay committed to your writing practice throughout the year. Sign up to get The Time Is Now, as well as a weekly book recommendation for guidance and inspiration, delivered to your inbox.

Every week a new author shares books, art, music, writing prompts, films—anything and everything—that has inspired and shaped the creative process.

Listen to original audio recordings of authors featured in Poets & Writers Magazine . Browse the archive of more than 400 author readings.

Ads in Poets & Writers Magazine and on pw.org are the best ways to reach a readership of serious poets and literary prose writers. Our audience trusts our editorial content and looks to it, and to relevant advertising, for information and guidance.

Start, renew, or give a subscription to Poets & Writers Magazine ; change your address; check your account; pay your bill; report a missed issue; contact us.

Peruse paid listings of writing contests, conferences, workshops, editing services, calls for submissions, and more.

Poets & Writers is pleased to provide free subscriptions to Poets & Writers Magazine to award-winning young writers and to high school creative writing teachers for use in their classrooms.

Read select articles from the award-winning magazine and consult the most comprehensive listing of literary grants and awards, deadlines, and prizewinners available in print.

• Subscribe Now

Writing Contests, Grants & Awards

• See Recent Winners
• View the Submission Calendar

The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we’ve published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it. Ours is the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.

Masters Review

Summer short story award for new writers.

A prize of $3,000 and publication in Masters Review is given annually for a short story by an emerging writer. Writers who have not published a book, self-published...

Jennifer Weiner Fellowships

Six fellowships of $5,000, professional mentoring from fiction and nonfiction writer Jennifer Weiner, and access to creative writing workshops at the Philadelphia-based...

Black Lawrence Press

St. lawrence book award.

A prize of $1,000, publication by Black Lawrence Press, and 10 author copies is given annually for a debut collection of poems, short stories, or essays. The editors and a...

Off the Grid Poetry Prize

A prize of $1,000 and publication in print and audio formats by Grid Books is given annually for a poetry collection by a writer over the age of 60. Gregory Orr will judge....

Louisville Review

National poetry book contest.

A prize of $1,000, publication by Fleur-de-Lis Press, and 25 author copies will be given triennially for a debut poetry collection. Jeanie Thompson will judge. Using only the...

Creative Writing Award

Two prizes of £2,500 (approximately $3,171) each and publication in Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual are given annually for a poem and a short story. In addition, the...

Utica University

Eugene paul nassar poetry prize.

A prize of $2,000 is given annually for a poetry collection published during the current year by a resident of upstate New York. The winner will also give a reading and teach a...

Ex Ophidia Press

Richard-gabriel rummonds poetry prize.

A prize of $2,000, publication by Ex Ophidia Press, and 10 author copies will be given annually for a poetry collection. Rebecca Lindenberg will judge. Using only the online...

Gemini Magazine

Flash fiction contest.

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Gemini Magazine is given annually for a work of flash fiction. The editors will judge. Submit a story of up to 1,000 words with an $...

Howling Bird Press

A prize of $2,500 and publication by Howling Bird Press is given in alternating years for a book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. The 2025 prize will be awarded in...

Prize in Translation

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Gulf Coast is given in alternating years for a group of poems or a prose excerpt translated from any language into English. The 2024...

Oxford Poetry

Oxford poetry prize.

A prize of £1,000 (approximately $1,268) and publication in Oxford Poetry will be given annually for a single poem. Submit a poem of up to 50 lines with a £10 (...

Talking Gourds

Fischer prize.

A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a single poem. Juan J. Morales will judge. Submit a poem of up to three pages with a $10 entry fee ($25 for three poems) by August 31....

Journal of Experimental Fiction

Kenneth patchen award.

A prize of $1,000 and publication by JEF Books is given annually for an innovative novel. Amy Kurman will judge. Submit a manuscript of any length with a $25 entry fee by...

Cantor Prize

A prize of $1,000 will be given annually for a single poem about the state of Colorado or written by a poet residing in Colorado. Juan J. Morales will judge. Submit a poem of...

Barthelme Prize for Short Prose

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Gulf Coast is given annually for a short work of prose. Submit up to three prose poems, works of flash fiction, or micro essays (or...

University of New Orleans Press

A prize of $10,000 and publication by University of New Orleans Press is given annually for a short story collection or novel. Using only the online submission system, submit a...

Banyan Review

Banyan poetry prize.

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Banyan Review will be given for a single poem. Natasha Kane will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit up to five...

Academy of American Poets

First book award.

A prize of $5,000 and publication by Graywolf Press is given annually for a poetry collection by a poet who has not published a book of poetry in a standard edition. The...

American-Scandinavian Foundation

Translation awards.

A prize of $2,500 and publication of an excerpt in Scandinavian Review is given annually for an English translation of a work of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction...

Academy for Teachers

“stories out of school” flash fiction contest.

A prize of $1,000 and publication in A Public Space is given annually for a work of flash fiction about teachers and school, in which the protagonist or narrator is a K–...

Literary Awards

Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Dogwood are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay. Using only the online submission system, submit up to...

Literary Arts

Oregon book awards.

Four prizes of $1,000 each are given annually for books of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and general nonfiction published in the current year by writers living in...

Harvard University

Radcliffe institute fellowships.

Fellowships of $78,000 each, office space at the Radcliffe Institute, and access to the libraries at Harvard University are given annually to poets, fiction writers, and...

Lightscatter Press

Poetry prize.

A prize of $1,000, multimodal publication by Lightscatter Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection or hybrid work written by an emerging writer....

• Asian Area Studies
• Asian Language & Culture
• Asian Language Options
• Placement Tests
• Department Waitlists
• Research Course Guidelines
• Opportunities
• Master’s Program
• PhD Program
• Graduate Courses 2024-2025
• Advising / Information for Current Students
• Graduate Student Forms
• Annual Events
• Publications
• Departmental Initiatives
• Sustainability Resources
• Asian Studies Climate Action Plan
• Asian Studies Climate Emergency Declaration
• Sustainability Committee Members
• Anti-Racism Resources
• Job Opportunities
• Merchandise

Creative expression and language nuances in writing: 2022 Japanese Language Program Writing Contest

February 28, 2023

Student winners at the awards ceremony with Ms. Kitayama Yen (in the middle of the front row)

The UBC Japanese Language Program held the first essay and short fiction contest last year for all students who are enrolled in 2022 Winter Term 1. A total of 29 creative short stories and essays were submitted from the beginner to advanced level. Among all entries, six winners were selected by a panel of judges composed of Ms. Tomoko Kitayama Yen (Japanese Studies Librarian), Dr. Rebecca Chau (Director of the Japanese Language Program), and the essay contest committee. An awards ceremony was held on January 23, 2023 and each winner received a certificate and prize from Ms. Kitayama Yen.

The winners were determined as follows.

Junior Category First Place: “紅葉の話” by Davis Song

Davis Song (on the right) and Ms. Kitayama Yen (on the left)

“What wonderful storytelling! I really enjoyed reading this poignant fable about how autumn leaves came to be a vivid red colour. The author skillfully demonstrates a deep understanding of the folktale format, and the story mesmerized me. I can envision this story as an illustrated picture book. Great creativity and persuasive writing make for a deeply satisfying read,” commented Ms. Yen.

Dr. Chau added, “(it is) an engaging and touching story with fascinating characters and a well-developed plot. The contrast of the two characters, and their encounter and experiences together were depicted vividly in beautiful and precise language. Introducing the “rain” as a twist to the plot was brilliant. The concluding lines were unexpected yet beautiful, making the story a memorable one.”

Junior Category Second Place: “空の涙” by Oi In Lin

“This is an emotionally complex, compelling story about a young person struggling with deep sadness and despair. The author’s storytelling skills are considerable, letting the reader experience the protagonist’s feelings powerfully through creative use of metaphors. In the last redeeming paragraph, the reader will breathe a sigh of relief, learning that the protagonist chooses life and hope! I commend the author for tackling such a challenging topic,” pointed out Ms. Kitayama Yen.

Dr. Chau mentioned that the piece was a distinguished essay that presents a heart-wrenching examination of one’s existence and newly gained hope using rain as the central theme and background. The writing style is consistent throughout where each paragraph has a clear central statement leading to the introduction of a change of perspective, from negative to positive, which is easy for the reader to follow. The ending strikes on a positive chord and leaves the reader with warm feelings.

Junior Category Third Place: “雨” by Ryan Yeung

Dr. Chau commented that “this is an excellent work that demonstrates how a writer can use simple yet fluid language to convey deep inner emotions. The central theme of “rain” is well followed through and presented in a unique chronological timeline where each setting is juxtaposed with a state of mind and emotion that keeps on building up unforcefully. The writer brilliantly ends the work by repeating the same emotional state at the beginning (“ame ga kirai desu”) even though his perspective has completely changed.”

Senior Category First Place: “雨を待っている” by Vandhana Kammampati

Vandhana Kammampati (on the right) and Ms. Kitayama Yen (on the left)

Ms. Yen shared that “the story reads like a Shinichi Hoshi short story, and very well done! It has an excellent time structure and great originality of thought. What an amazing feat of creativity and imagination! The author’s storytelling skills are such that I readily abandoned my belief that human beings cannot walk on Neptune! The author effectively contrasts the sharp, painful rain of diamonds on Neptune with the protagonist’s first experience of the soft, refreshing rain on Earth. As a result, the story was not only enjoyable as science fiction but also became an evocative homage to the beautiful life-giving nature of rain.”

“An interesting and creative story where the writer employs good storytelling technique to introduce an element of uncertainty—the central theme, rain—at the beginning and successfully keeps the reader curious and engaged until the end. The writer skillfully flashes back from one time and space to another one, with vivid, sensual and fascinating description of the two entirely different worlds and emotions that are evoked by the rain that falls in each one of the worlds,” pointed out Dr. Chau.

Senior Category Second Place: “雨の世間話” by Joon Woo Park

“This is a skillfully written, well-structured essay about the human tendency to be fickle. The author’s discussion on small talk about Vancouver rain reads very convincingly, and they offer the thoughtful suggestion that we use Vancouver rain and climate change as an opportunity to reconsider how we form our casual opinions and beliefs. It would not look out of place as a column in a Japanese newspaper,” said Ms. Yen.

Dr. Chau expressed that Joon Woo’s piece was a distinguished essay, superbly and logically organized. The flow of thoughts is unique and complex yet it was easy for readers to follow. Starting with an apparently common theme, the writer brilliantly developed the theme further into several layers of new perspectives and deeper thoughts about how people perceive rain and human relations depending on the situations, all presented in persuasive language with concrete examples provided, and with a meaningful message for the reader to reflect on.

Senior Category Third Place: “雨音の森” by Shirley Yang

“This is a heartbreakingly beautiful story about the protagonist’s relationship with their father, who is beginning to show the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. I was very moved to read about the father and the adult child’s love for each other. The plot is very effective in its simplicity, and the intimate tone of the writing brings the story to life. The emotional impact of the last two sentences is devastating,” noted Ms. Kitayama Yen.

Dr. Chau shared that Shirley’s piece was a touching and powerful depiction of the deep and genuine love between father and daughter through two beautifully described scenes in the same forest thirty years apart. Their love for each other is unchanged but the contrast of the change in roles is brilliantly and powerfully portrayed in simple, yet beautiful language with the rain in the background. Past and present, the forest and the sound of rain fold together to paint a beautiful and poetic picture imbued with deep emotions emitted from both father and daughter.

Thanks to many motivated students and their creative work, the first essay contest was a great success. The Japanese Language Program would like to thank all the students who participated and Kitayama-sensei for serving on the judge panel.

We hope you all enjoy your Japanese studying journey and we look forward to seeing your entries in the next contest!

Recent News

Building a toolbox of technical and soft skills: cantonese teaching workshops recap.

Wildfires in Jasper: UBC addresses various initiatives

Learning Cantonese Language and Culture: Class Visits by Guests and Professionals

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Our 2024-25 Student Contest Calendar

Ten challenges that invite teenagers to engage, experiment, reflect and create — via writing, photography, audio, video and more.

By The Learning Network

Our annual Contest Calendar is probably the single most powerful thing we publish all year. Teachers tell us they plan their classes around our challenges, and tens of thousands of teenagers around the globe participate by creating narratives, reviews, videos, opinion pieces, podcasts, illustrations, photo essays and more.

For us, these contests are an honor and a joy to host. We love learning from young people — about what moves them and makes them mad, what intrigues and confuses and delights and defines them.

This year, we are bringing back some recent and longtime favorites, as well as introducing a few new challenges.

To begin, we have two options this fall in response to the U.S. election, though students around the globe are welcome. In September, we open with a series of special forums that invite teenagers to have thoughtful conversations about their civic and political identities, values and beliefs. Then, if they choose, they can work alone or with others to make something in response — whether in writing, video, audio or visual art. (Students can participate in one or both challenges, and we have a related invitation for educators .)

In the spring, we’re offering “My List,” a twist on our long-running review contest. This time, students can choose any collection of three to five works of art or culture to group in some way and then tell us why we should — or shouldn’t — check them out.

We’ll be posting the full rules and guidelines for each contest here when it opens. but for now you can look at the related resources we’ve provided, as well as last year’s rules, which will largely remain the same for our returning contests. And don’t forget we have a full yearlong writing curriculum to help support this work.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .