To submit the names of contests and awards for the month that I may have missed, please email me at fictionwriting.guide@about.com. You may also investigate writing contests for other months, or read about our criteria for judging whether it's a legitimate contest or a writing scam.
- Thurber Prize for American Fiction -- April 1
The Thurber Prize is conferred upon the author and publisher of the outstanding book of humor writing published in the United States during the previous year. Qualifying books should be submitted to Thurber Prize for Fiction, Thurber House, 77 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215. $65 entry fee. - Washington State Book Awards -- April 1
The Washington State Book Awards (formerly the Governor's Writers Awards) are given annually for 10 outstanding books published by Washington authors the previous year. Entry forms and submission guidelines are available for download on their site or by calling the Washington Center for the Book at 206-386-4098. No entry fee. - Rusty Axe Games Pump Up the Purse Writing Contest -- April 15
Submit stories of 5,000-15,000 words in any genre to story@rustyaxe.com. $100 first prize + $2/story entered (up to $200) and prize packages for second and third place winners. See site for details. $2/story entry fee. - Crab Orchard Review's Annual Literary Contests -- April 30
$1,500 prize for an original story of 6,000 words maximum. Mail entries to: Crab Orchard Review Literary Contests, Dept. of English, Mail Code 4503, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 1000 Faner Drive, Carbondale, IL 62901. Indicate on the outside of the envelope if an entry is "Poetry," "Fiction," or "Literary Nonfiction." $10 entry fee. - Dylan Thomas Centre
Dylan Thomas Prize -- April 30
A prize of £60,000 awarded biennially for a book of fiction that "best displays creative, imaginative, and innovative use of the English language" by a writer under 30. Publishers submit three copies of a book with a £100 entry fee to: The Dylan Thomas Prize Ltd, The Dylan Thomas Centre, Somerset Place, Swansea, SA1 1RR. Entries must arrive by April 30. - The Nimrod/Hardman Writing Awards -- April 30
Prizes of $2,000 and $1,000 (with publication) for stories of no more than 7,500 words. Send to: NIMROD Literary Contest -- Fiction or Poetry, The University of Tulsa, 800 S. Tucker Dr., Tulsa, OK 74104. $20 entry fee includes subscription. - Tennessee Book Award Peter Taylor Prize for the Novel -- April 30
GUIDELINES CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE. Includes a $1000 cash award, publication of the novel by the University of Tennessee Press, and a standard royalty contract. Send entries to: Knoxville Writers' Guild, Tennessee Book Awards -- The Peter Taylor Prize, P.O Box 2565, Knoxville, TN 37901. $25 entry fee. - Writecorner Press
E.M. Koeppel Short Fiction Award -- April 30
Prizes of $1,100 and $100 for stories of no more than 3,000 words. Send to: Koeppel Contest, P.O. Box 140310 Gainesville, FL 32614. $15 entry fee.
