Happy fall, Plumesters! As I tend to tell every person I encounter in the world, I adore this season. Cooler weather; cardigans, scarves, and boots; crunchy leaves; warm drinks (I’m currently drinking a hot apple toddy); the pumpkin patch; hot air balloons (in Albuquerque, anyway); Halloween; my birthday–what’s not to love?
Another perk of autumn? So many literary journals are not only reopened for submissions after a summer hiatus, but they are holding their annual fall contests. I’ve rounded up a few here that you, powerhouse creative writer, should definitely consider entering!
San Diego Poetry Annual
Steve Kowit Poetry Prize
Deadline: October 15, 2019
Entry Fee: $15
Prize: $1,000
A prize of $1,000 and publication in San Diego Poetry Annualis given annually for a poem. The winner will also receive an invitation to read at an award ceremony in March 2020. Using only the online submission system, submit a poem of any length with a $15 entry fee by October 15. Visit http://www.sdeag.org for further guidelines.
River Teeth
Literary Nonfiction Prize
Deadline: October 31, 2019
Entry Fee: $27
Prize: $1,000
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of New Mexico Press is given annually for a book of creative nonfiction. Bret Lott will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 150 to 400 pages with a $27 entry fee, which includes a subscription to River Teeth, by October 31. Visit http://www.riverteethjournal.com/contests for further guidelines.
Sustainable Arts Foundation
Writing Awards
Deadline: February 28, 2020*
Entry Fee: $20
Prize: $5,000
Website:
Up to twenty awards of $5,000 each are given annually to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers with children. Writers with at least one child under the age of 18 are eligible. Using the online submission system, submit up to 10 poems totaling no more than 15 pages or up to 15 pages of prose with a biography, an artist statement, a project statement, and a $20 entry fee by February 28. Visit http://www.sustainableartsfoundation.org for further guidelines.
*Okay, this isn’t a fall contest, but the application takes some time and I think it’s worthwhile to look into.
Literary Awards Writing Competition
Tucson Festival of Books
Deadline: 10/31/19
Entry Fee: $2
Prize: $1000
Fiction, non-fiction and poetry entries are now being accepted for the sixth annual writing competition, which offers more than $5,000 in prize money. Submit five poems of any length, a short story or novel chapter, or a nonfiction piece or book chapter per submission. Maximum length for prose is 5,000 words per submission. Visit http://tucsonfestivalofbooks.org/?id=436 for further guidelines.
The Black River Chapbook Competition
Black Lawrence Press
Deadline: 10/31/19
Entry Fee: $15
Prize: $500
Twice each year Black Lawrence Press will run the Black River Chapbook Competition for an unpublished chapbook of poems or short fiction between 16-36 pages in length. The contest is open to new, emerging, and established writers. Visit https://www.blacklawrence.com/submissions-and-contests/the-black-river-chapbook-competition/ for further guidelines.
Of course, almost all contests have an entry fee. But the good news is that many of them include a subscription to the magazine as part of that fee. (And I even found one that’s cheaper than most regular submissions these days! Plus, I try to think of it as sending a little good energy out into the writing community.
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