Are you a Creative Writer? Do you want to get Exposure and possibly Win Money? Then stay tuned!
As English Majors, writing is our bread and butter. Many of us not only write academically, but write for pleasure as well. Whether it be fiction, poetry, or memoir it always feels good to have your work appreciated by peers and professionals in your particular field. Unfortunately though, not everyone has someone they can turn to to share their work with, despite wanting feedback. But just what can you do to share your work while you’re still a student? Below, I am going to list and describe a few of the many creative writing competitions you have access to in this area and online as well as link the websites where you can access them.
I will not be including competitions that include submission fees but at the end I will link competitions that may have those fees. Read thoroughly before committing yourself to write for any competition.
Crucible: Poetry and Fiction Competition
“The Crucible poetry and fiction competition is open to all writers. All entries must be completely original, must never have been published, must be in manuscript form, and must not be involved in other competitions. The author’s name should not appear on the manuscript copy. Writers should send with their entries and a short biographical sketch. Permission to publish the material is implied by submission. Entries submitted without the above information will not be considered. Manuscripts will be accepted only through May 1 of each year. Winners will be notified by October of the same year. Crucible will receive first publication rights to winning entries, after which rights will revert back to the author. Winning entries will be published in the fall issue of Crucible published by the Barton College Department of English. Fiction must be limited to 8,000 words or less. Poetry must be limited to five poems. No prizes will be given in other categories.
The Sam Ragan Poetry Prize is open to all poets. The rules stated above apply also to competition for this prize. One prize of $150 will be awarded.”
The Gabo Prize for Literature in Translation & Multilingual Texts
Translators and authors of multilingual texts are encouraged to submit their work for The Gabo Prize. The winner, selected by a guest judge, will receive $200, and the winning piece will be published alongside two semi-finalists in the upcoming issue of Lunch Ticket. The Gabo Prize is awarded twice each year. To submit, please click on the button called “Submit to Lunch Ticket” above, and choose the category called “The Gabo Prize for Literature in Translation & Multilingual Texts.” Please indicate whether your translation falls under poetry or prose, and refer to standard Lunch Ticket guidelines for work submitted blind and in our preferred format. Please include the original work along with your translation. Original, bilingual work qualifies for the Gabo Prize: however if this describes your work, please indicate this clearly in your cover letter. The reading period for the prize is the month of February for the issue that publishes in June, and the month of August for the issue that publishes in December. Please note that previously published work will not be accepted. All submissions for the award will be considered for publication in other sections of Lunch Ticket.
Enoch Pratt Free Library: Poetry Contest
“Entrants must be Maryland residents, 18 or older. Paid or volunteer staff of Little Patuxent Reviewand their immediate families are not eligible, nor are previous Pratt Library Poetry Contest first-place winners. Please send only one original poem, on any theme and in any form, for consideration. Your entry must be unpublished, either n print or on the Web, including personal blogs, Facebook, or Twitter. It cannot be currently under review for possible publication. Your entry must not exceed 100 lines. Submit your typed entry as a Microsoft Word attachment by e-mail to or by mail to:
Poetry Contest, Fiction Department
Pratt Library, 400 Cathedral St.
Baltimore, MD 21201-4484
The winning poem will be published in Little Patuxent Review, honored at a public reading at the Library, and celebrated at the Baltimore’s CityLit Festival.”
If you love to write and want to put your work out there for the word Creative Writing Competitions are a great way to get your foot in the door. Even if you don’t win you get the chance to test out your work and begin to figure out what works and what doesn’t. Always be sure you read the conditions and expectations of any contest you pursue. Happy Writing!
Crucible: https://www.barton.edu/crucible/
Gabo: https://lunchticket.org/contests/gabo-prize-literature-translation-multi-lingual-texts/
Competition lists:
https://www.editionguard.com/blog/best-writing-contests/
https://jerryjenkins.com/writing-contests/
https://www.submittable.com
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/entropy