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

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 You may submit an unpublished manuscript of short stories, two or more novellas or a combination of novellas and short stories.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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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: Submission information is available on the award website

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

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

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

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 year

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

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

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)

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

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 or details

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

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

The Future Scholar Foundation is a nonprofit organization started and run by high school students in Redmond, WA. Their mission is to empower young students to develop their self-expression skills through monthly short story competitions. Their efforts have been recognized by the Seattle Times and Northwest Asian Weekly, and their short story competitions have received hundreds of submissions from over 15 US states and five countries. Deadline: Monthly on the 28th

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

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: Watch the website for details.

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

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

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

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

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

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. Deadline: April each year

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

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). Deadline: Submission window is usually between December and March

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

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

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.

The Elegant Literature Prize is a $3,000 cash award presented monthly by Elegant Literature, a digital magazine, to a new, unpublished writer. The award is part of the organizer's mission to help new talent launch their writing careers by providing financial support and publication opportunities. This contest invites you to explore Beneath The Words, whatever that means to you. Fantasy, contemporary, romance, crime. All genres are welcome. Minimum 500, maximum 2000 words. Deadline: Watch the website for details.

An international writing and arts prize that celebrates the power of beginnings by inviting creators to submit the very best opening of a work, whether in prose, poetry, graphic narrative, or visual art. Submissions must be original and previously unpublished. For prose entries the limit is 250 words, and for poetry it's 25 words; titles are not included in the word count. Graphic novel or comic submissions should include the first page only (with a maximum of 250 words), and visual art entries should be the first piece in a series or lineup. There is no theme restriction — the competition is about the strength of the opening itself. Deadline: Watch the website for details.

An annual literary prize for a short piece of stand-alone fiction, non-fiction or journalistic writing that embodies the Spirit of Adventure. The prize is open to emerging writers aged 25 and over from anywhere in the world. Entries must be written in English and be 1,500–3,000 words in length. Submissions may be adapted from a longer work, provided they are satisfying to read as a complete, self-contained piece. Deadline: Watch the website for details.

organised by North American Review, the United States' oldest literary magazine, to recognise outstanding creative nonfiction essays across a wide range of styles—from lyric essays and memoir to literary journalism and travel writing. Submissions should demonstrate literary strength and a personal component, though they are not limited to environmental topics. Entrants must submit an original, previously unpublished nonfiction essay written in English, with a word count between 500 and 10,000 words. Submissions are handled through North American Review's online system, and manuscripts must be formatted per the contest guidelines, removing all identifying information for blind judging. The competition is international, open to writers worldwide; translated work is not eligible. Winners, runners-up, and honorable mentions will be offered publication in the North American Review fall issue, and finalists or semifinalists may also be considered for publication on the magazine's platform. Deadline: April each year