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.
- Fugue Prose and Poetry Contest -- May 1
First place winner receives $1000 and publication in the University of Idaho's Fugue. Second and third prize winners receive publication. Send a short story of no more than 10,000 words to Fugue Fiction Contest, 200 Brink Hall, English Department, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-1102. $20 entry fee. - The The Journal Short Story Contest -- May 1
The Journal Short Story Contest offers $1,000 and publication of the winning story in the Autumn/Winter issue. All styles, subject matter, and forms are welcome. Please submit only previously unpublished fiction up to 7500 words to Short Story Contest, The Journal, Department of English, The Ohio State University, 164 West 17th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210. $10 reading fee. - Novello Literary Award -- May 1
The Novello Literary Award gives Carolina writers an opportunity to have their work published and distributed nationally. The winning author receives a book contract with Novello Festival Press, which includes publication of the work and a $1,000 advance against royalties. Send 200–400-page manuscripts to Novello Literary Award, PLCMC, 310 N. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28202. $10 entry fee. - Southern Illinois Writers Guild Contests -- May 1
Three prizes will be awarded by SIWG: 1st Place $100, 2nd Place $50, and 3rd Place $25. Winners will also be published in the Writers Voice, SWIG anthology. Send entries to: John A. Logan College, Attn: Student Activities C109, SIWG Contest Entry, 700 Logan College Rd., Carterville, IL 62918. $5 fee/entry. - Southwest Review David Nathan Meyerson Prize for Fiction -- May 1
Prize consists of $1,000 and publication in Southwest Review. Writers who have not yet published a book should send submissions of no more than 8,000 words to the David N. Meyerson Fiction Prize, Southwest Review, P.O. Box 750374, Dallas, TX 75275-0374. $25 entry fee. - Woodlands Writers Guild Contest -- May 1
Awards of $100, $50, and $25 for stories in any genre of narrative prose fiction of 5,000 words or less. Stories must not have not been read or critiqued by the Woodlands Writers Guild or been previously published on paper or online. Open to all writers. Mail to Woodlands Writers Guild Contest, P. O. Box 132221, The Woodlands, TX 77393-2221. See site for full details. $10 entry fee. - Booktrust
Early Years Awards -- May 11
Supported by Bookstart and the Unwin Foundation, the Awards celebrate, publicise and reward the exciting range of books being published today for babies, toddlers and pre-school children. The winners of each category will receive a cheque for £2,000. In addition, the best emerging illustrator will receive a specially commissioned award by a leading illustrator. See site for details. - The Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture Hiett Prize in the Humanities -- May 15
A cash award of $50,000 is awarded to "a person who has not yet reached his or her full potential, but whose work in the humanities shows extraordinary promise." Creative writers are eligible; authors must be nominated by someone already established in the humanities. Contact Dr. Claudia Allums at callums@dallasinstitute.org for more information. - Minnesota Monthly’s Tamarack Award -- May 15
$10,000 for an original, unpublished work of short fiction. Maximum length: 4,000 words. The winning story will be published in Minnesota Monthly in November. Open to residents of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Mail your entry to: 2008 Tamarack Award, Minnesota Monthly, 600 U.S. Trust Building, 730 S. Second Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55402. No entry fee. - Ramble Underground Short Fiction Contest -- May 15
Every spring the online zine Ramble Underground offers a first prize of at least $100 and a second prize of at least $50 (amount varies with number of entries) to two stories. To enter, email stories of no more than 2500 words to fictioncontest@rambleunderground.org. $6 entry fee. - Spokane Prize for Short Fiction (Eastern Washington University Press) -- May 15
Winner will receive publication plus a $1500 cash prize. Finalists will each receive $50 worth of EWU Press books. To enter, submit a book-length manuscript (no less than 98 pages) of at least three short stories to Eastern Washington University Press, 534 E. Spokane Falls Blvd., Suite 203, Spokane, WA 99202. $25 entry fee. - Writer's Digest Annual Writing Competition -- May 15
$3,000 cash and an all-expenses paid trip to New York City to meet with editors or agents. Applications are accepted in ten categories. For fiction, apply online or send ms and fee to: Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition, 700 E. State Street, Iola, WI 54990. $15 entry fee. - New Letters Awards for Writers -- May 18
$1500 for an original short story not to exceed 8,000 words. Mail entries to: New Letters Awards for Writers, UMKC University House, 5101 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110-2499, or electronically. $15 entry fee includes subscription.
