To submit the names of contests and awards for the month that I may have missed, please email me at fictionwriting.guide@about.com. To check out contests for other months, click here.
- Michigan Literary Fiction Awards -- July 1
THE MICHIGAN LITERARY FICTION AWARDS HAVE BEEN TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED. Publication and $1,000 awards to one unpublished novel. The award is meant to help writers of literary fiction who have been dropped by presses when their first book underperforms; for this reason, contestants must have previously published at least one literary novel or story collection in English. Their website states, "We expect and desire to attract the work of writers of literary fiction looking for, and deserving, another chance." Send submissions to: Michigan Literary Fiction Awards, University of Michigan Press, 839 Greene St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3209. No entry fee. - The Richard J. Margolis Award of Blue Mountain Center -- July 1
A $5,000 prize and a one-month residency at the Blue Mountain Center is given annually to a promising new journalist or essayist whose work combines warmth, humor, wisdom and concern with social justice. Submit at least two examples of your work (published or unpublished, 30 pages maximum) and a short biographical note to: Richard J. Margolis Award of Blue Mountain Center, c/o Margolis & Bloom, 535 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116. No entrance fee. - St. Francis College Literary Prize -- July 1
A prize of $50,000 is awarded biennially to honor a fourth book of fiction. Submit six copies of a short story collection to Ian S. Maloney, Academic Dean's Office, St. Francis College, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Ian Maloney, Contact. See site for details or email imaloney@stfranciscollege.edu - Wordstock Short Fiction Competition -- July 1
Awards of $1,000 and publication in Portland Monthly for a story 1,500 to 4,000 words. Submit your entry by mail to Wordstock Short Fiction Competition, c/o Franklin, Beedle & Assoc., 8536 SW St Helens Dr., Suite D, Wilsonville, OR 97070. Judge: Barry Lopez. $25 entry fee. - The Bard Fiction Prize -- July 15
The Bard Fiction Prize is awarded annually to an emerging American writer 39 years old or younger at the time of application. In addition to the monetary award, the winner receives an appointment as writer-in-residence at Bard College for one semester. To apply, candidates should write a cover letter explaining the project they plan to work on and submit a C.V., along with three copies of a published book to Bard College, PO Box 5000, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504-5000. No entrance fee. - The Story Prize -- July 15
The Story Prize is an annual book award honoring the author of an outstanding collection of short fiction with a $20,000 cash award. Each of two runners-up will receive $5,000. Eligible books must be written in English and first published in the United States during that calendar year. See site for details. $75.00 entry fee. - New Jersey State Council on the Arts Individual Artist Fellowship -- July 15
Fellowships starting at $7,000 are awarded to practicing professional New Jersey artists to enable them to pursue their artistic goals. Apply online. Workshops on how to apply are available throughout New Jersey. No entry fee. - FenCon Short Story Contest -- July 20
FenCon and the Dallas Future Society will award a first place prize of $50, a certificate, a FenCon membership, and publication of the winning short story in the FenCon program book, and two runners-up prizes of $25, a certificate, a FenCon membership, and publication. Submit a science fiction or fantasy story on any topic to FenCon Short Story Contest, PO Box 701448, Dallas, TX 75370-1448. (Note that entries must be received by July 20; this isn't a postmark date.) Free for members; $10 for non-members. - Great Lakes Colleges Association's New Writers Award -- July 25
Award for first publication in fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry. Writer must be nominated by publisher or can submit if self published. Prize: Winners are invited to tour the GLCA colleges. An honorarium of $500 will be guaranteed the author by each GLCA member college they visit. Judged by professors from member colleges. Submit 4 copies of the book to Gregory R. Wegner, Director of Program Development, New Writers Award, GLCA, 535 W. William, Ste. 301, Ann Arbor, MI 48103. No entry fee. - Booktrust 2009 Teenage Judges Competition -- July 27
Submit a short story about what you would do if you were president or prime minister for a day to become a judge of the Booktrust Teenage Prize. See site for details. - Glimmer Train Very Short Fiction Award -- July 31
Awards of $1200, $500, and $300 for stories up to 3,000 words. Enter online. $15 entry fee. - Opium Magazine's 250-Word Bookmark Contest -- July 31
$1000 and publication in Opium9 for a short story or prose poem of 250 words or less. Submit stories online. $10 entry fee. - The Robert & Adele Schiff Prose and Poetry Prizes -- July 31
The Cincinnati Review will award a single poem and a prose piece (fiction or creative nonfiction) with publication and a prize of $300 each. Writers may submit up to 8 pages of poetry or 6,000 words of prose, per entry. Send entries to Schiff [Poetry or Prose] Prize, The Cincinnati Review, P.O. Box 210069, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0069. See site for complete guidelines. $15 entry fee includes copy of prize issue. - The Sean O’Faolain Short Story Competition -- July 31
Prizes of €1,500, €500, €100, and publication in Southword for original stories in English of 3,000 words or less. Submit stories to: The Munster Literature Centre, Frank O'Connor House, 84 Douglas Street, Cork, Ireland, or apply via email (see site for details). Entry fee: €15, £15, or US$20.
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