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September 2011
One of the "101 Best Websites for Writers"
Writer's Digest, 2005-2011
Welcome to our September newsletter. This is the companion to our online database, The Best Free Poetry Contests. It alerts you to upcoming contests and important contest changes, highlights quality resources for writers, and announces achievements and great poems by our readers.
From our latest Critique Corner by Tracy Koretsky, below: "This month, New York rocker Tim Young nicely demonstrates one of the important differences between poetry and prose: the associations a poem suggests are as significant to interpretation as its specifics. Come see how to make your poems more complex in a good way."
Lost one of our newsletters? Formatting doesn't look right? Not to worry. All our recent newsletters are posted online at http://www.winningwriters.com/news
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FEATURED SPONSOR'S MESSAGE
Thousands of writers use FanStory.com for:
- Helpful Feedback. Get detailed feedback for every poem, short story and book chapter that you write.
- Contests. Over 50 new contests every month. Always free to paid members. Participate for cash prizes.
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Upcoming Contest Deadlines
5-7-5 Poetry
For this contest you are to write a short poem. It should only have three lines. But the structure is that of a Haiku. The first line has 5 syllables. The second line has 7 syllables. The third line has 5 syllables again. Write about anything. This poetry contest has a cash prize.
Deadline: In Two Days - September 17
Haiku Poetry Contest
For this contest you are challenged to write a Haiku poem. Haiku is a form of poetry that only uses three lines. Can you paint a mental image using only three lines? Cash prize for the winner of this poetry contest.
Deadline: September 24
Horror Story Writing Contest
Put your readers on edge or terrorize them for this horror writing contest. Cash prize for the winner.
Deadline: October 1
Faith Poetry Contest
The theme for this poetry contest is "faith". We are looking for poems that in some way pertain to this theme. It doesn't matter if it's spiritual, political, intellectual or emotional as long as faith is clearly represented. Cash prize for the winner of this poetry contest.
Deadline: October 8
Tanka Poetry Contest
For this contest you are challenged to write a Tanka poem. Tanka is a form of poetry with a specific syllable count. See the announcement for an example. $100 prize.
Deadline: October 15
These are only a few of our contests. View our full listing here.
"Without FanStory I simply would not be a writer at all. The feedback and friendships I have made here have changed my entire life. Honest feedback helped prepare me for the real world. The contests have also helped me, and continue to help me. Writing to a topic, and writing to a deadline, is key. There isn't a more valuable skill than to sit down and write about a subject by a specific date. That's the real world."
—Jen Horton (Nominated as the best feature writer in the state of Florida) - See More Testimonials
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CONTESTS HOSTED AT WINNING WRITERS & OPEN NOW
All entries that win cash prizes in these contests will be published on WinningWriters.com (over one million page views per year) and announced in the Winning Writers Newsletter, with over 35,000 subscribers.
Last Call!
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Poetry Contest
Postmark Deadline: September 30
Now in its ninth year, this contest seeks poems in any style, theme or genre. You may submit work that has been published or won prizes elsewhere, as long as you own the online publication rights. Prizes of $3,000, $1,000, $400 and $250 will be awarded, plus six Most Highly Commended Awards of $150 each. The entry fee is $7 for every 25 lines you submit. Submit online or by mail. This contest is sponsored by Tom Howard Books and assisted by Winning Writers. Judges: John H. Reid and Dee C. Konrad. See the complete guidelines and past winners.
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Short Story Contest
Postmark Deadline: March 31, 2012
Now in its 20th year. Prizes of $3,000, $1,000, $400 and $250 will be awarded, plus six Most Highly Commended Awards of $150 each. Submit any type of short story, essay or other work of prose, up to 5,000 words. You may submit work that has been published or won prizes elsewhere, as long as you own the online publication rights. $15 entry fee. Submit online or by mail. Early submission encouraged. This contest is sponsored by Tom Howard Books and assisted by Winning Writers. Judges: John H. Reid and Dee C. Konrad. See the complete guidelines and past winners.
Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest (no fee)
Online Submission Deadline: April 1, 2012
Winning Writers invites you to enter the 11th annual Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest. We'll award $3,600, including a top prize of $1,500. Submit one humor poem online. No length limit. Both published and unpublished poems are welcome. No fee to enter. Final judge: Jendi Reiter. See the complete guidelines and past winners.
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TOM HOWARD/JOHN H. REID SHORT STORY CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Tom Howard Books is pleased to announce the results from its 19th annual Tom Howard/John H. Reid Short Story Contest. Judith Koenig of Harlem, Georgia won first prize and $3,000 for her story "Bailey Is in Heaven". Over 1,000 entries were received from around the world. See the press release announcing the winners.
Folksy and heartwarming, Koenig's tale begins with a friendship between two women: the narrator, and an elderly newcomer to her small Georgia town, whose bond with her dog Bailey results in a series of possibly paranormal events. As each occurrence wears down the narrator's initial skepticism, we are invited to make the same leap of faith that love can outlast death. The judges said, "Here is a moving, heart-tugging account of love and redemption that is most skillfully written... Judith Koenig has crafted an overwhelmingly powerful story that will leave readers wholly convinced the events and characters are real."
Second prize of $1,000 went to Robert B. Robeson of Lincoln, Nebraska for "Remembering August 20, 1969 on Memorial Day". The author was a US Army captain and medevac pilot in Vietnam. In a remarkable coincidence, while browsing an anthology of other veterans' stories, Robeson discovers the fate of the man he saved during a nightmarish firefight three decades earlier. Lucille Bellucci of Oakland, California won third prize and $400 for "Cicadas". Set in 1937 in Shanghai, when the besieged and starving city is about to fall to the Japanese, this tensely atmospheric story follows a family of upper-class British expatriates whose insular, proud worldview has blinded them to the dangers outside their door. Ina L. Jones of Port St. Lucie, Florida won fourth prize and $250 for "One Man's Legacy". As the patriarch of a working-class Irish family lies dying, his oldest child remembers struggling to live up to his high standards. Will he give a sign of his love before he passes?
Most Highly Commended awards of $150 went to William (Bing) Bingham, Mark Carlson, Liz Davies, Cyndee Hollamon-Cook, Judy Willman, and Carla M. Zwahlen.
Read the top winning stories on our website, plus the judges' comments and the complete list of winners and commended entries. Thanks to all of you who participated. The 20th annual Tom Howard/John H. Reid Short Story Contest is currently open for entries here through March 31.
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RECENT HONORS FOR OUR NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS
Congratulations to Dr. Fathima Riaz. She won first prize in the 2011 Vocabula Well-Written Writing Contest for her essay "The Ire of Gnarled Things". This contest from The Vocabula Review, a monthly journal devoted to improving English usage, offers prizes up to $250 for "200-500 words of readable, well-written, even beautiful writing" (fiction or nonfiction). Entries are accepted year-round, with a rolling deadline of May 31.
Congratulations to Christina Wos' Donnelly. Her poem "Making the Dresses Move" won a third prize in the 2011 Dancing Poetry Contest. This award from Artists Embassy International offers prizes up to $100 plus the opportunity to have your poem presented as an interpretive dance at a festival in San Francisco. The most recent deadline was May 15.
Congratulations to Annie Daylon. She won the April and June 2011 rounds of the Wyn Lit 24 Hour Short Story Writing Contest. This monthly contest from Canadian small press Wynterblue Publishing seeks short stories based on prompts from their website. Winners are published in the annual anthology.
Congratulations to Sally Bellerose. Her novel The Girls Club was recently released by Bywater Books, an independent publisher of lesbian fiction. The Girls Club is the coming-of-age story of a young, white, working-class woman. Set in the 1970s, the story revolves around Cora Rose as she copes with her emerging sexuality, an illness her sisters refer to as "the dreaded bowel disease", and the conflicts created by the growing disparity between her desires and her Catholic upbringing. This book won the 2010 Bywater Prize for an unpublished novel for and about lesbians, in the genres of mystery, romance, or general fiction. The next deadline for this $1,000 award is October 31. Read an interview with Sally on the Lambda Literary Foundation website.
Congratulations to James Fox. His story "The Hidden Trail" recently placed third in the Phyllis Scott Publishing Contest and is available in both Kindle and paperback editions in the newly released anthology Regrets and Other Short Stories. This free contest accepts short story and novella submissions year-round, with prizes up to $50.
Congratulations to Francine Witte. Her chapbook Only, Not Only was accepted for publication by Finishing Line Press. She kindly shares a sample poem below.
RECENT HONORS FOR POETRY CONTEST INSIDER SUBSCRIBERS
Congratulations to Carmine Dandrea. His poetry collection Trying on America: A Mythos of Immigrant Life was released this summer by FootHills Press. Visit their website for sample poems and ordering information.
Congratulations to Martin Steele. He won a second prize in the 2011 Dancing Poetry Contest for his poem "In East Africa – The Girls in the Acacia Tree". Read this poem here.
Congratulations to Ruth Hill. She won a third prize in the 2011 Dancing Poetry Contest for her poem "Exchamsiks Woman". In other news, her poem "Oh, Brother!" won second place in Lucidity Journal's Cash Awards Selections for their Summer 2011 issue. "My Kitty Has Six Legs", a poem written for her grandchildren, will be published in Animal Antics by Forward Press Remus House, and distributed to all libraries and schools in England.
RECENT PUBLICATION CREDITS FOR OUR SUBSCRIBERS
Arthur G. Powers' short story "Thorn" was recently published in Prime Number, the online magazine of Press 53. His story "Come Into My House and Stay" appeared in Dappled Things, a Catholic journal of the arts and culture. Arthur writes, "Always good to receive the Winning Writers newsletter. It continues to be my single most valuable resource."
Katherine K. Walker's second poetry collection, Copper Psalms and Dusty Rainbows – Poetry for Your Soul, is now available on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. Her first collection, Songs of the Feathered Wind, can be found here.
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TRY POETRY CONTEST INSIDER - NOW PROFILING OVER 1,250 LITERARY CONTESTS
If you enjoy using The Best Free Poetry Contests, consider upgrading to Poetry Contest Insider. The Best Free Poetry Contests profiles the 150 or so poetry contests that are free to enter. With your Poetry Contest Insider subscription, you'll get access to all of our 1,250+ active poetry and prose contest profiles. Search and sort contests by deadline, prize, fee, recommendation level and more. We don't just list contests, we point you to the ones that will gain the most attention for your work, whether you are just starting out or are well-established. Exclusive interviews with contest judges and editors help you understand how your submissions are evaluated.
We update Poetry Contest Insider nearly every day. Be among the first to learn about new contests and late deadline changes. Access to Poetry Contest Insider is just $9.95 per quarter, with a free 10-day trial at the start. Cancel at any time.
Most contests charge entry fees. You can easily spend hundreds of dollars and many hours entering these contests each year. Don't waste your time or money. Out of hundreds of contests, there might only be two or three dozen that are especially appropriate for your work. We help you find them fast. Learn more about Poetry Contest Insider.
"Just recently, after following one of your newsletter leads, I found that I was lucky enough to win The Tennessee Williams 25th Literary Prize for Poetry. The award included $1,000 and publication of four of my poems in Louisiana Cultural Vistas! In addition, after following another lead, I just received word that I am a finalist in the 2011 Pablo Neruda Poetry Contest sponsored by Nimrod magazine... I thank you and your staff for helping to make such good news possible for me and other poets by sorting through the plethora of sources and updating deadlines. (A truly dizzying task.)"
—Patricia (Pat) Hawley, Washington
See more testimonials here, plus coverage of Winning Writers in Writer's Digest and The Writer, or start your trial now. |
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Deadlines: September 16-October 31
Here is a summary of upcoming free poetry contests. Click the contest names to be taken directly to their profiles (you may be asked to login on your first click of the day). You may also view the profiles by logging in to The Best Free Poetry Contests here and clicking the Find Free Contests link to search for contests by name.
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Please go to http://www.winningwriters.com/forgot_password.php
We will email your password to you within minutes.
Winning Writers gathers contest information from a wide variety of sources including publishers' press releases, online link directories, Poets & Writers Magazine, and e-newsletters such as TOTAL FundsforWriters, The Practicing Writer, and CRWROPPS. We encourage readers to explore these useful resources, and let us know about worthwhile contests we may have missed.
9/23: United Planet Writing & Photography/Video Contest +
Entries must be received by this date; formerly September 17
Neutral free contest seeks written work (poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction) along with photos and videos that demonstrate the promotion of cross-cultural understanding, friendship, and supporting one another in one's own community or abroad. Winners receive choice of $300 cash award or a free volunteer Quest (airfare not included) for up to two weeks to any of United Planet's short-term locations around the world in order to advance the winner's own personal intercultural interaction and promote social and economic prosperity worldwide. Written entries not to exceed 2,500 words; see website for photo and video formatting rules. Enter online only.
9/30: Lee & Low New Voices Award ++
Recommended free contest offers top prize of $1,000 and publication for a picture book story (1,500 words maximum) by a US writer of color who has no prior published books in this genre. No simultaneous submissions. Entries may be poetry, fiction, or nonfiction. No folklore or animal stories.
10/1: Consequence Prize in Poetry ++
Entries must be received by this date; formerly September 30
Recommended free contest offers $200 for the best poem addressing the culture and consequences of war and social injustice. Send 1-3 unpublished poems, maximum 6 single-spaced pages total. Enter by mail or email.
10/15: Amy Lowell Poetry Travelling Scholarship +++
Entries must be received by this date
Highly recommended free contest offers a fellowship of about $50,000 for US poets, to fund a year of travel outside North America. Entrants must be US citizens by virtue of birth in the US, or birth outside the US to an American citizen parent. While contest is open to all, poets with significant publishing credits have the best chance. Application should include 40 pages of poetry, or copy of published book and 20 pages of additional poetry. See website for other materials required.
10/15: Fernando Rielo World Prize for Mystical Poetry +
Neutral free contest offers 7,000 euros for unpublished "poetry expressing the spiritual values of humanity in their profound religious significance", written in Spanish or English or translated into one of these languages. Open to all nationalities, but most winners have been from Spain and South America. Entries should be 600-1,300 lines. No simultaneous submissions. We rate this contest Neutral, despite the large prize, because English-language entries rarely win.
10/26: Daily News Prize +
Formerly November 30
Neutral free contest offers $300 for the best poem accepted by The Caribbean Writer during this year. All eligible submissions to the magazine are also considered for the David Hough Literary Prize for an author residing in the Caribbean ($500), the Marguerite Cobb McKay Prize for a Virgin Islands author ($200), and the Charlotte & Isidor Paiewonsky Prize for first-time publication ($200). Send 1-5 unpublished poems, double-spaced. The Caribbean should be central to the work, or the work should reflect a Caribbean heritage, experience or perspective. Email entries accepted. Also, as the 2012 issue is on the theme of the environment, nature, and ecology, submissions should address that theme.
10/31: Eric Gregory Awards +++
Entries must be received by this date
Highly recommended free contest offers prizes totaling 24,000 pounds for a collection of up to 30 poems, drama-poems, or belles-lettres, by a writer who will be under age 30 as of March 31 of the following year. The author must be a British subject by birth but not a national of Eire or any of the British Dominions or Colonies, and must ordinarily be resident in the United Kingdom or Northern Ireland. Previously published work accepted.
10/31: Lucidity Poetry Journal Clarity Awards +
Twice-yearly neutral free contest offers top prize of $100 for poems about the human experience. Authors must be 18+. Editor Ted Badger says: "Seeking poetry that deals with people, relationships, life issues and events, written in clear and concise English. Form of the poem is open but it must have something to say without resorting to vulgarity. Clarity is crucial. We publish poetry that everyday people can relate to, understand and enjoy." Submit 1-5 poems, maximum 38 lines each (including stanza breaks).
10/31: New Voices Young Writers Competition +
Entries must be received by this date; formerly November 20
Neutral free contest offers two grand prizes of $100 for poetry, fiction, and essays by middle school and high school students (all genres compete together for the grand prizes). First-prize winners in each genre receive prizes such as an e-book reader or PDA, gift certificates, or a check/money order. Winners will also be invited to the EPIC annual conference. EPIC, the Electronically Published Internet Connection, is a professional organization for published and contracted e-book and print authors. Entrants may submit one piece in each genre in their age category, for a total of three entries. Poetry should be 20 lines maximum for middle-schoolers, 30 lines for high-schoolers; prose, 750 words or 1,000 words, respectively. Enter online only.
10/31: Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award +++
Entries must be received by this date
Highly recommended contest from UK-based Society of Authors offers 5,000 pounds for the best book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction by a UK author who will be under 35 as of December 31. Entries in all genres compete for one prize. The author must be a British citizen ordinarily resident in Britain. The work submitted must have been first published in Britain in the year in which the deadline falls.
10/31: Wick Student Poetry Competition +++
Formerly October 30
Highly recommended free contest for poets enrolled in Ohio colleges and universities offers chapbook publication by a prestigious university press. Sponsored by the Wick Poetry Center at Kent State University. Manuscripts should be 15-25 pages of poetry.
Login to The Best Free Poetry Contests now to view these and all our profiles of free contests. You can browse contests by deadline date, name, recommendation level, and more.
Key to Ratings
Highly Recommended: +++
Recommended: ++
Neutral: +
All deadlines are postmark deadlines unless otherwise specified.
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SPONSORS' MESSAGES
Closing Next Month
10TH ANNUAL FUNDSFORWRITERS ESSAY CONTEST
Entries must be received via email by October 31
Our 10th annual contest seeks nonfiction submissions. First prize $400. Five additional cash prizes. Zero entry fee and $5 entry fee categories. Theme: "Diligence". Limit 750 words. Guidelines at www.fundsforwriters.com/annualcontest.htm. Chosen by Writer's Digest for its 101 Best Websites for Writers designation for 2001-2011.
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Our detailed database of literary agents and editors includes many who are actively reading during the fall and winter months. Our clients include writers of all levels—from major literary award winners/nominees to new writers with strong voices. To learn more about our clientele, visit our website.
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Writer's Digest is
proud to announce 6 new short story genre competitions!
Science
Fiction/Fantasy | Thriller | Crime
| Young Adult | Romance | Horror
It's as simple as this: choose your
genre. Start writing.
No prompts, no pressure, no limits. Enter your most imaginative work in
4,000 words or less. Each and every one of the 6 new competitions offers the
chance to win $1,000!
Concoct a thriller. Tingle spines with horror. Melt cold hearts with a tender romance. Whatever genre you prefer,
whatever story you want to tell — we have the competition for you.
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Last Call!
Connecticut River Review Poetry Contest
Postmark Deadline: September 30
The Connecticut Poetry Society is pleased to announce that the Connecticut River Review Poetry Contest is accepting submissions. Please note that the deadline for submissions is now September 30. The judge is Edwina Trentham. All poets are welcome. You do not need to reside in Connecticut or belong to the Connecticut Poetry Society.
We offer prizes of $400, $200, and $100. Winning poems will be published in the Connecticut River Review. Honorable Mentions may also receive publication. For your $15 entry fee (make check out to CPS) you may enter three unpublished poems, up to 80 lines each. Multiple and simultaneous submissions are acceptable if you notify us immediately upon acceptance elsewhere. Last year's winners are not eligible for this year's contest.
Please submit two copies of each poem, one with contact info and one completely anonymous. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) for contest results. No poems will be returned—please keep a copy. Mail your work to CRR Contest, CPS, P.O. Box 270554, West Hartford, CT 06127.
The Connecticut Poetry Society is a state-wide community of poets dedicated to the promotion and enjoyment of poetry. CPS has a 35-year tradition of excellence in publishing work of national and Connecticut poets. Our mission is to support poetry with chapter meetings, contests, and events for CPS members throughout the state. More information on this contest and on our organization can be found at www.ct-poetry-society.org.
Last Call!
CUTTHROAT, A JOURNAL OF THE ARTS, announces the 2011 Joy Harjo Poetry Prize and the Rick Demarinis Short Story Prize
Postmark Deadline: October 1
$1,250 FIRST PRIZE/$250 SECOND PRIZE plus Publication
Honorable Mentions are also published
JUDGES: ALISON HAWTHORNE DEMING, POETRY
LUIS ALBERTO URREA, SHORT FICTION
GUIDELINES:
For those who enter by regular mail: SASE REQUIRED! Enter as often as you wish. For each submission, send up to three poems (100-line limit/one poem per page) or one short story (5,000-word limit/double spaced) in 12-point font, a cover sheet with name, address, phone & email, title(s) of submission, SASE for announcement of winners (we recycle all manuscripts) and a $15 entry fee per submission made to CUTTHROAT, A JOURNAL OF THE ARTS, P.O. Box 2414, Durango, CO 81302.
For those who enter online: Click the link at the bottom of the Contest page on our website: www.cutthroatmag.com. Fill out our online form. There are separate forms for each genre. You will be charged $17 for each submission. A submission consists of three poems (100-line limit/one poem per page) or one short story (5,000-word limit/double spaced) in 12-point font. Contest deadline is Midnight, October 1.
For all entries: UNPUBLISHED WORK ONLY! No author name may appear anywhere on the manuscript. Multiple submissions are OK, but we must be informed immediately of acceptances elsewhere. All finalists are considered for publication. All winners published in CUTTHROAT and announced on our website, in POETS & WRITERS and AWP WRITER'S CHRONICLE. No relative, student or staff member of CUTTHROAT is eligible to enter our contests.
Congratulations to our 2010 winners:
1st Place Joy Harjo Poetry Prize: Christopher Burawa from Clarksville, TN for "AGRIMENSURA OF THE MIRE: ARNESSYSLA"
2nd Place Joy Harjo Poetry Prize: Curtis Bauer of Lubbock, TX for "Whiteout"
Honorable Mentions: Amanda Auchter of Houston, TX for "Night Feeding with Kangaroo Pump, 1985" and John Blair of San Marcos, TX for "Sutra for the Passing of Mary, Beloved"
1st Place Rick DeMarinis Short Fiction Prize: Steve Fayer of Boston, MA for "Matt Cahill Tells All"
2nd Place Rick DeMarinis Short Fiction Prize: Cynthia Walker of Santa Barbara, CA for "An Interested Party"
Honorable Mention: Dwight Holing of Orinda, CA for "Matterhorn"
Last Call!
The Missouri Review's Editors' Prize: Over $15,000 in Prizes
Postmark Deadline: October 1
Submit your best poetry, fiction, and essays. Winners in each genre receive $5,000, a featured publication in our spring issue, and a trip to Columbia, MO for a gala reading and reception. Three finalists in each genre receive cash prizes and will also be considered for publication. $20 contest fee includes a one-year subscription to The Missouri Review.
Entries must be previously unpublished and will not be returned. Please include no more than 25 typed,
double-spaced pages for fiction and nonfiction. Poetry entries can include any number of poems up to
10 pages in total. Each story, essay, or group of poems constitutes one entry. Submit online or by mail. Click for the complete guidelines.
Please enjoy this excerpt from "Helpline" by John Hales, the winning entry in our 2010 essay competition.
Although we weren't exactly drug-dependent, at least in terms of how drug dependency had been defined in the mimeographed packet we'd been handed while undergoing volunteer Helpline training, and we weren't stoners compared with some of our friends who toked even more than we did, most of us who worked shifts at the university's telephone crisis line smoked a lot of marijuana. We joked that it was an occupational hazard. All that stress. All those panicked calls from people not right at that moment enjoying the effects of their own drugs of choice, or telling us at great length the ways their lives truly and deeply sucked. We lit up the second our shifts were over, often on the way to our cars in the union building parking lot, sharing a joint and, if someone had thought ahead, a bottle of something, anything, alcoholic. And then, weather permitting, adjournment to a nearby city park to smoke and drink some more. All that drug talk on the phone; all that human misery we couldn't avoid ingesting a fair amount of as it cascaded over the phone: fears of where bad trips were heading, thoughts of suicide, more mundane yet really depressing narratives of loneliness—I'm so ugly, I'm so alone, I'm so pathetic I'm calling you.
Adding to the stress was our twenty-four-hour stretch of professional sobriety, begun (like airline pilots) no later than midnight the night before, a Helpline rule we took seriously. Even though most of us didn't spend the week stoned anyway—our drug abuse mostly began the moment we were off the phones for the night and for those of us with Friday shifts continued only through the weekend—we understood that we needed to arrive for work straight and sober because in contrast to our relatively inconsequential daily lives, our work here had real consequences, and we didn't want to fuck up. I was only twenty; I needed all the focus I could muster.
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The Little Red Tree International Poetry Prize
Postmark Deadline: October 15 - closing next month
The International Poetry Prize, sponsored by Little Red Tree Publishing, includes a first prize of $1,000. The runner-up will receive $250 and five finalists will receive $50 each.
This prize is offered in response to demand for an opportunity to be associated with Little Red Tree by poets who have yet to develop a full collection. It is also an opportunity for Little Red Tree to extend its search and engage with quality poets from around the world who wish to be published.
The prizewinner, runner-up and other honorees will feature prominently, with full biographies, in a special collection called Little Red Tree International Poetry Prize 2011 - Anthology. The book will also include a wide selection of poetry from those submitted that did not make the final selection but were considered worthy of publication. We anticipate the book will contain as many as 80 poems, with a free copy to each poet published, and be published in early 2012 with a book launch in New London, CT.
All winners and published poets will be invited to read their poems. Download our complete guidelines (PDF), then send your poem(s) with a reading fee of $5 each to: Little Red Tree Publishing, LLC, Attn: The International Poetry Prize, 635 Ocean Avenue, New London, CT 06320. Congratulations to our 2010 winners Ed Frankel, Simon Peter Eggertsen, John Laue, William F. Lantry, Kaimana Wolff, Janet Ireland Trail, and Ellen LaFleche.
The Vernice Quebodeaux "Pathways" International Poetry Prize
Postmark Deadline: December 15
The Vernice Quebodeaux Prize, sponsored by Little Red Tree Publishing, includes a $1,000 cash award, publication of a full-length collection of poetry, and a generous royalty contract. All forms and styles are welcome.
The late Vernice Quebodeaux, born in Egan, LA (on the banks of the Bayou Plaquemine Brűlé), was a poet who spent a lifetime struggling with the demands of raising children, family feuds, bigotry, apathy, and indifference to her writing aspirations. On her death the beginnings of a book of poetry called Pathways was found by her daughter, Tamara Martin, and incorporated into a book, Sunday's in the South. We are honoring her life and cherished goals by creating this competition to recognize the specific unique voices of women poets.
All finalists will be considered for publication, with one selected as the prizewinner with a book published in 2012. Download our complete guidelines (PDF), then send your 80-100 page manuscript with a $20 reading fee to: Little Red Tree Publishing, LLC, Attn: The Vernice Quebodeaux International Poetry Prize, 635 Ocean Avenue, New London, CT 06320. Congratulations to our 2010 winner, Diana Woodcock.
Little Red Tree Publishing
Little Red Tree Publishing was established in 2006 and is based in New London, CT. Our mantra is simply to produce books that: Delight, entertain and educate.
We aim to publish about 12 books each year. This includes a full book of poetry from the Vernice Quebodeaux "Pathways" International Poetry Prize and an anthology from the Little Red Tree International Poetry Prize.
From humble beginnings, Little Red Tree has always seen its role, consistent with the finest traditions of small independent publishing, as preserving and expanding the dwindling opportunities for previously unpublished poets and established poets to publish a full collection of poetry. It is our aim that each book attains the highest standards both aesthetically and artistically. Our aesthetic stance is one of quality in all aspects of the content and the physical appearance of our books. We feel passionately that well-crafted and accessible poetry should be celebrated and presented as such with conviction and confidence. Therefore, all our books are coffee-table size, 7" by 10"—an emphatic statement of intent and a celebration of the poetry.
Our commitment to the individual poet and their work is undivided, and they are involved in every decision until their collection is complete, the book is finished and ready for printing.
We look forward to reading your wonderful poetry.
Closing Next Month
Open City's 2011 RRofihe Trophy Short Story Contest
Postmark Deadline: October 15
8th year! The RRofihe Trophy for an unpublished short story! Limit: 5,000 words. Winner receives: $500, trophy, an announcement on the Open City website, followed by publication on the anderbo.com website. Judge: Rick Rofihe, assisted by Carolyn Wilsey.
Guidelines:
- Stories should be typed, double-spaced, on 8 1/2" x 11" paper with the author's name and contact information on the first page and name and story title on the upper right corner of the remaining pages
- Limit one submission per author
- Author must not have been previously published in Open City or on Anderbo.com
- Mail submissions to:
RRofihe
270 Lafayette Street, Suite 705
New York, NY 10012
- Enclose a self-addressed stamped business envelope (SASE) to receive names of winner and honorable mentions
- All manuscripts are non-returnable and will be recycled
- Reading fee is $10. Check or money order payable to RRofihe
- See the complete guidelines at http://opencity.org/the-rrofihe-trophy
Rick Rofihe is the author of FATHER MUST, a collection of short stories published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux. His fiction has appeared in The New Yorker, Grand Street, Open City, Swink, Unsaid, and on epiphanyzine, slushpilemag and fictionaut. His nonfiction has appeared in The New York Times, The Village Voice, SPY, and The East Hampton Star, and on mrbellersneighborhood. A recipient of the Whiting Writers' Award, he has taught MFA writing at Columbia University. He currently teaches privately in New York City, and is an advisor to The Vilcek Foundation for their 2011 prizes in the field of literature. Rick is the editor of the new online literary journal, anderbo.com.
Now Open
upstreet
Submission period: September 1-March 1
upstreet, an award-winning literary annual, seeks quality submissions—with an edge—of short fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry, for its eighth issue. The first seven issues feature interviews with Jim Shepard, Lydia Davis, Wally Lamb, Michael Martone, Robin Hemley, Sue William Silverman, and Dani Shapiro. Payment: author copy. Distribution: Ingram, Source Interlink, Ubiquity, and Disticor (Canada). For sample content and to submit, see www.upstreet-mag.org. For news about upstreet and its authors, visit www.upstreetfanclub.blogspot.com.
From upstreet number seven:
Faux Finish
by Elizabeth Oness
Each home a compromise between
economics and aesthetics.
Each prospect was split-level, suburban
or asbestos-filled Victorian.
We bought the bungalow because we'd been
too long without a home.
It's temporary, we said. One year,
we said three years ago.
The bedroom blue, like cheap eye-shadow
on a girl with hair-sprayed bangs.
And worse: blue paint over wallpaper,
over yellow vinyl, over
paneling beneath. I buy white paint,
a misshapen sponge.
I go about the business
of making clouds.
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These free prose contests with deadlines between September 16 and October 31 are included as a bonus in The Best Free Poetry Contests.
Click the contest names below to go straight to their profiles, or login to The Best Free Poetry Contests here. After you login, please click the Find Free Contests link, then search by Prose Contest Type to find prose contests.
9/17: Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest for College Students +++
Highly recommended free contest for high school seniors and full-time college and graduate students offers $10,000 top prize, other large prizes, for essays on Ayn Rand's novel Atlas Shrugged. Essays should be based on one of the three questions on the website, and be 800-1,600 words long. Enter by mail or online. Contest is looking for entries that are sympathetic to Rand's rationalist, libertarian philosophy. See website for other student contests.
9/21: Anderbo Seeks Novelist Contest +
Entries must be received by this date; formerly September 1
Neutral free contest offers $500 and web publication in the well-regarded online literary journal Anderbo for an unpublished novel excerpt. Entries should be the first 36 pages of the manuscript, up to 9,000 words. Enter by email. Not open to anyone previously published in Anderbo.
9/21: Glass Woman Prize ++
Entries must be received by this date; late submissions held for the next contest
Recommended twice-yearly free contest offers prizes up to $500 and online publication for the best short fiction or creative nonfiction by women. Both published and unpublished work welcome. Entries should be 50-5,000 words. Contest sponsor Beate Sigriddaughter says, "Subject is open, but must be of significance to women. My criterion is passion, excellence, and authenticity in the woman's writing voice." Enter by email (no attachments).
9/30: Eric Hoffer Award for Short Prose +
Entries must be received by this date
Neutral free contest from Hopewell Publications offers $500 and anthology publication for short fiction or essays (both genres compete together) up to 10,000 words. Enter online only. No simultaneous submissions. Deadlines are quarterly, but there is only one annual prize. You can enter one story per quarter. Enter by email only.
9/30: Iowa Short Fiction and John Simmons Short Fiction Awards ++
Recommended free contest from the prestigious Iowa Writers' Workshop seeks manuscripts of short fiction (each 150 double-spaced pages minimum) by authors who have not previously published a book of prose fiction in English. (Books in other genres or languages, and self-published books, do not disqualify you.) Two winners will receive publication under a standard royalty contract.
9/30: Jerry Jazz Musician Fiction Contest +
Entries must be received by this date
Thrice-yearly free neutral contest offers $100 and web publication for short fiction. The Jerry Jazz Musician reader has interests in music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theatre, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-20th century America. Entries should appeal to a reader with these characteristics. Submit stories of 1,000-5,000 words by email to jm@jerryjazz.com as an MS Word or Adobe Acrobat attachment. Please be sure to include your name, address and phone number with your submission. Please include "Short Fiction Contest Submission" in the subject heading of the email.
9/30: L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest +++
Highly recommended free contest for emerging writers of short science fiction, fantasy and horror offers quarterly prizes of $1,000 plus an annual $5,000 grand prize for one of the four winners. Send only one story per quarter, maximum 17,000 words. See website for eligibility rules. Entrants may not have professionally published a novel or short novel, or more than one novelette, or more than three short stories, in any medium.
9/30: USNI General Prize Essay Contest +++
Highly recommended free contest from the US Naval Institute offers top prize of $10,000 for essays on any subject relating to the goal of the Naval Institute: "to provide an open forum for those who dare to read, think, speak, and write in order to advance professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to national defense." Winners are chosen from articles published in the Proceedings magazine within the September through September entry period; these is no separate submission process for the contest. Maximum 3,000 words. Authors must be USNI members or eligible for membership. Enter by mail or email (preferred).
10/3: Jerwood Awards for Non-Fiction +++
Entries must be received by this date; formerly October 4
Highly recommended free contest offers top prize of 10,000 pounds to UK or Irish citizens, or residents of the UK for at least 3 years, who are working on their first major commissioned works of nonfiction. Applications should include a completed entry form, a cover letter with a project synopsis and description, a copy of the publishing contract, and a supporting letter from the editor.
10/14: The Observer/Jonathan Cape/Comica Graphic Short Story Prize ++
Entries must be received by this date; formerly October 6
Recommended free contest offers top prize of 1,000 pounds and publication in The Observer Review for a 4-page graphic short story (a narrative conveyed to the reader using sequential artwork, typically in the manner of a comic book). Open to residents of the UK and Ireland, aged 16+. See entry form for formatting details.
10/15: Benjamin Franklin House Literary Prize ++
Entries must be received by this date
Recommended free contest for writers aged 18-25 offers prizes up to 750 pounds for short fiction or essays of 1,000-1,500 words on a question exploring Franklin's relevance in our time. 2011 theme is the Benjamin Franklin quote: "Light often arises from a collision of opinions, as fire from flint and steel." Entrants should interpret this quote for its significance today. Enter by email.
10/26: Canute A. Brodhurst Prize for Short Fiction +
Formerly November 30
Neutral free contest offers $400 for the best story accepted by The Caribbean Writer during this year. All eligible submissions to the magazine are also considered for the David Hough Literary Prize for an author residing in the Caribbean ($500), the Marguerite Cobb McKay Prize for a Virgin Islands author ($200), and the Charlotte & Isidor Paiewonsky Prize for first-time publication ($200). Send 1-2 stories, maximum 15 double-spaced pages each. The Caribbean should be central to the work, or the work should reflect a Caribbean heritage, experience or perspective. Email entries accepted. Also, the 2012 issue will be dedicated to the environment, nature, and ecology, so 2011 submissions should reflect this theme.
10/31: FundsforWriters Essay Contest +
Entries must be received by this date
Neutral free contest for short essays (750 words maximum) on topics of interest to the professional writer offers top prize of $400 in fee-charging category, $50 in free category. FFW is an excellent resource for both literary and commercial freelance writers, offering useful e-books and newsletters that list paying markets for different types of writing. Fee is $5 per essay. Themes change annually. 2011 theme is "Diligence". Enter by email (no attachments).
10/31: McKitterick Prize +++
Entries must be received by this date
Highly recommended free contest offers 4,000 pounds for a first novel by an author over age 40 as of deadline date. The work must either have been first published in the UK in the year in which the deadline falls (and not first published abroad), or be unpublished. Send 4 copies of the published book, or one copy of the first 30 pages of the manuscript.
10/31: PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction +++
Entries must be received by this date
Highly recommended free contest for books of fiction by US citizens published in the current year offers top prize of $15,000, four runners-up of $5,000. Send 4 copies of book to the Foundation office. Recent winners have been well-established writers such as Philip Roth, Sherman Alexie, and John Updike.
Login to The Best Free Poetry Contests now to view these and all our profiles of free contests.
Key to Ratings
Highly Recommended: +++
Recommended: ++
Neutral: +
All deadlines are postmark deadlines unless otherwise specified.
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FutureCycle Press "What Poets See" Anthology
Rolling Deadline
FutureCycle Press is accepting submissions for a new anthology of social and political poems entitled American Society: What Poets See. Accepted poems will also appear on their website. Previously published work accepted if you own the rights; simultaneous submissions discouraged but allowed. Online entries preferred. Editors say, "We want highly crafted poetry, not a soapbox of prose shaped like poetry. We do not require a political stance for or against any school of thought. You may take any position you like as long as the poem is not overtly didactic....We are interested in creating greater social and political awareness and a better understanding of what makes the American society tick, or not tick in some cases. America has fallen on hard times, so show us why; show us what to do and not to do. Show us with history, with prognostication or prophecy (science fiction ok), with idealism or common sense, with pessimism or with great hope for the future. Nostalgia is also welcome as it portrays a way of life gone by that we should remember and cherish."
Chelsea Station
Entries must be received by October 1
Chelsea Station, a new magazine of gay writing, will be published four to six times a year by Chelsea Station Editions. They invite submissions of unpublished fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essays, memoir, humor, narrative travelogue, interviews, and reviews (books, theater, television, and film) relating to gay literature and gay men. Send up to 4 poems or one prose piece by email. Editors say, "If you would like to know more about what sort of writing we will consider, our inspirational model for Chelsea Station magazine is the former Christopher Street magazine (1976-1995). While we are open to all sorts of experimental forms, we tend to gravitate to more traditional literary writing."
Vulture Poetry Contest for Kids
Entries must be received by October 10
Vultures Rock, a website dedicated to education about the rapidly declining vulture populations around the world, is holding a vulture-themed poetry contest for children aged 8-12. Write a poem on a topic related to vultures, such as: why vultures are important to our world, what vultures look like, why vultures are beautiful, what's happening to the world's vultures, or something spooky about vultures and Halloween, or choose a topic of your own that describes how you think vultures rock. Each winner will receive an iPod Shuffle. Winning poems will be published on the Vultures Rock website. Students will be identified by first name only. Submit up to 2 poems via their online form.
Win a Free Novel Critique from Cornerstones Literary Consultancy
Entries must be received by November 5
British literary magazine Words With Jam sponsors this contest, which offers a free critique of a novel up to 100,000 words (valued at 500 pounds) from Cornerstones Literary Consultancy. Submit the first 100 words of your manuscript online. Novels may be for children or adults, in any fiction genre. No poetry or nonfiction.
Vestal Review "Fairy Tales" Issue
Entries must be received by November 30
Vestal Review, a journal of flash fiction, seeks submissions that put a new twist on classic fairy tales. Submit 1-2 stories, maximum 500 words each, about the yet unheard adventures of Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White, or any other well-known fairy tale character. Interpret the theme broadly and imaginatively, but incline toward a literary story. Please state the source tale's name before the title. This is a paying market. Entries should be sent through the online submission manager.
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Not Only
by Francine Witte
was the sun a tired eye
that day, but the birds
were starting to fidget
the wind. Somewhere, a woman
was up to here with her man
and his constant disappearings.
I deserve better, she said,
as she billowed a blanket
above the bed that was only
half-slept in. Third time
this week. Love graveyard,
she thought, and that's when
she heard the birds, all of them gone
vulture now. Tapping their beaks
at the window pane, hungry to gnaw
on the corpse. And rather
than hiding this one time,
she flipped out the shutters
and let in a sickness of birds,
while she, sorry angel, stepped
out on the porch, looking up
at the bloody sun which, we can
only imagine, was trying
its hardest not to stare.
Copyright 2011 by Francine Witte
This poem is reprinted from her chapbook Only, Not Only, forthcoming from Finishing Line Press. It first appeared in Harpur Palate, Vol. 10, Issue 2 (Winter 2011).
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Advertise to 35,000 Poets and Writers
Promote your contests, websites, events, and publications in this newsletter. Reach over 35,000 poets and writers for $100. Ads may contain up to 250 words, a headline, and a graphic image. Find out more and make your reservation here:
http://www.winningwriters.com/advertisers.php
"The results were great for the money—a good value."
David Dodd Lee, judge of the Lester M. Wolfson Poetry Award sponsored by 42 Miles Press
See more testimonials
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PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Basic Facts about Literacy
- Literacy is the ability to read, write, compute, and use technology at a level that enables an individual to reach his or her full potential as a parent, employee, and community member.
- There are 774 million adults around the world who are illiterate in their native languages.
- Two-thirds of the world's illiterate adults are women.
- In the U.S., 30 million people over age 16—14 percent of the country's adult population—don't read well enough to understand a newspaper story written at the eighth-grade level or fill out a job application.
- The United States ranks fifth on adult literacy skills when compared to other industrialized nations.
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This month, Critique Corner is pleased to present "Three Poems" by Tim Young.
If you would like a chance to be critiqued, please email your poem to critique@winningwriters.com.
Send the poem in the body of your email message (no attachments) and put "poetry critique" in the subject line. One submission per poet per month. Thanks!
Three Poems
by Tim Young
# 1
if i put the pen in the flame
the damn thing will melt
dropping black ink
into the yellow heat
so small but so hot
capable of major injury and harm
but will i be careless
I don't think I choose that kind of pain
written in my blood
with spilt black ink
bubbling and cooking my flesh
damn pen
# 2
time to clean out the closet
the dust and unused books of directions
the funny photographs with the finger
in front of the lens
the lost pasta box with one strand
of thin spaghetti remaining
the birthday hat
converted to new year's eve
in two thousand and five
i sneeze and curse the dirt
my fingertips begin their
transformation to grey
i cough and wipe my nose
on my dusty sleeve
memories spill to the floor
winding up in the tall green trash
making room for more
to touch and discard
time to clean out the closet
# 3
a positive note
sprayed the air
printed in the smallest type
but the message is clear
brightly fortissimo
shattering the gloom like glasses
plastered over the hillsides
lowsides and inbetween
bringing that unmistakable something
so usually unseen
not hiding but waiting
Copyright 2010 by Tim Young
Critique by Tracy Koretsky
Last month in Critique Corner, we considered a technique for adding complexity to a poem, not to obscure it, but rather to open it to multiple interpretations and invite the reader's participation. This month, I'd like to take the discussion farther with an already quite complex piece: "Three Poems" from New York rocker Tim Young.
Notice that the diction and grammar of "Three Poems" is spare and plain. Nothing is incomprehensible or evasive. Indeed, the first abstract concept does not occur until more than halfway through, with the phrase "memories spill to the floor". Moreover, this is not a poem that expounds upon grand concepts. It is not about Justice, Eternal Love, or the Glory of God. Rather, "Three Poems" focuses on accessible—mundane, actually—objects and circumstances.
So, one might ask, why might this poem be considered complex? It has to do with the relationship of the narrator to the objects, as well as the relationship of the objects to one another. It has to do with the tone of each individual section, or "canto", particularly in its shifts from canto to canto. Above all, it has to do with the fact that these relationships are neither explicit nor justified. Young leaves it to the reader to make of these lines what he or she will.
Why is he telling me about a pen and what does the pen have to do with the closet? How do either relate to the final canto, whatever it is about? The key, as I suggested above, is to attend to their tone...
Click to continue reading this critique
This poem, our critique and contest suggestions for poems in this style appear in full at:
http://www.winningwriters.com/resources/critiques/2011/urc_1109young.php
See
all of our poetry critiques.
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COMING IN OUR OCTOBER 15 NEWSLETTER
The Best Free Poetry Contests for October 16-November 30
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