Fiction Writing

December Short Story Contests and Awards

The L. L. Winship/PEN New England Award -- December 21
Each year, PEN New England awards one cash prize each for an outstanding work of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry with a primarily New England setting and/or by an author principally residing in New England. Mail three copies of the book and an application form to: L.L. Winship/PEN New England Award, PEN New England, Lesley University, 29 Everett Street, Cambridge, MA 02138. $35.00 entry fee.

PEN New England Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award -- December 21
PEN New England awards an $8,000 cash prize for a novel or book of short stories by an American author who has not previously published a book of fiction. Mail four copies and the enclosed application form to: Hemingway Foundation / PEN Award, PEN New England, Lesley University, 29 Everett Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 $40.00 entry fee.

Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards -- December 31
Two prizes of $10,000 each are awarded annually to honor books that have made "important contributions to our understanding of racism or our appreciation of the rich diversity of human cultures." Books written in English published in the previous year are eligible. Submit five copies with an entry form to: Laura S. Scharf, c/o Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards, 700 West St. Clair Avenue #414, Cleveland, OH 44113. No entry fee.

Before Columbus Foundation American Book Awards -- December 31
The Before Columbus Foundation views American culture as inclusive and has always considered the term "multicultural" to be not a description of various categories, groups, or "special interests," but rather as the definition of all of American literature. Each year it honors books published in the U.S. during the preceding year that make outstanding contributions to American literature. Submit two copies of your book to: Before Columbus Foundation, American Book Awards, The Raymond House, 655 13th Street, Suite 302, Oakland, CA 94612. (510) 268-9775. Judged by a panel of writers, editors, and publishers. No entry fee.

Birmingham-Southern College Hackney Short Story Award -- December 31
A prize of $5,000 for the best short story of 5,000 words or less. Mail entries to: Hackney Literary Awards, Birmingham-Southern College, Box 549003, Birmingham, AL 35254. Entry fee: $10.

Boulevard Short Fiction Contest for Emerging Writers -- December 31
A prize of $1,500 and publication in Boulevard for a short story by a writer who has not published a book with a nationally distributed press. Boulevard Emerging Writers Contest, PMB 325, 6614 Clayton Road, Richmond Heights, MO 63117. (314) 862-2643. $15.00 reading fee includes subscription.

Curbstone Press Miguel Mármol Prize -- December 31
A $1,000 advance and publication by Curbstone Press for a first work of fiction in English by a Latina/o writer that reflects a respect for intercultural understanding and fosters an appreciation for human rights and civil liberties. Send a typed, double-spaced manuscript to Mármol Prize, Curbstone Press, 321 Jackson Street, Willimantic, CT 06226. $15.00 entry fee includes copy of winning book.

Delacorte Press Contest for a First Young Adult Novel -- December 31
A book contract with $1,500 in cash and $7,500 advance against royalties is awarded each year to encourage the writing of contemporary YA fiction. See site for details and send mss to Delacorte Press Contest, Random House, Inc., 1745 Broadway, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10019.

Del Sol Press Robert Olen Butler Fiction Prize -- December 31
$1,200 and publication for the best short story, either published (in a periodical) or unpublished, 2,000-8,000 words; open to submissions from both emerging and established writers. Top ten finalist stories will be published in book form in the spring. Finalists invited to submit book-length manuscripts for consideration by Del Sol Press. Send to: Katie Jean Shinkle, Contest Coordinator, Robert Olen Butler Short Fiction Prize 2009, 1 1/2 Oakwood Court, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 $16.00 entry fee.