Due Diligence – Do your own research to check that the contests and competitions are legitimate. Check deadlines and entry criteria carefully.
Selection – This list is not comprehensive; there are contests worldwide, but only US competitions are listed.
Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP)
https://www.awpwriter.org/contests/overview
Florida Writers Association Royal Palm Literary Awards – Deadline April 30
https://floridawriters.net/competitions-awards/royal-palm-literary-award/
Johns Hopkins University
https://cty.jhu.edu/imagine/resources/competitions/art_writing.html
New Pages
https://www.newpages.com/classifieds/writing-contests
The Write Life
https://thewritelife.com/writing-contests/
The Writer Magazine
https://www.writermag.com/writing-resources/contests/
Writer’s Digest
http://www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-competitions
Writer’s Digest Self-published Book Awards; Deadline April 2
http://www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-competitions/self-published-book-awards
Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition; Deadline May 4
http:/www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-competitions/annual-writing-competition
Playwriting Competitions
AACT
https://www.aact.org/play-contests-other-opportunities-0
Austin Film Festival
https://austinfilmfestival.com/submit/play/
Yale Drama Series
http://dchornfoundation.org/competition-rules
Short Story Competitions
Aerogramme Writer’s Studio
https://www.aerogrammestudio.com/2018/01/02/short-story-contests-2018/
Writers Weekly – quarterly contest; next deadline is April 21
http://24hourshortstorycontest.com/
Screenwriters Competitions
Academy Nicholl Fellowships
Huffington Post
Page Awards – LA, CA
https://pageawards.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyYO046zF2QIVFI9-Ch0Vwgm9EAAYAiAAEgJcjvD_BwE
Screencraft – Bev Hills, CA
https://screencraft.org/2017/12/20/best-screenwriting-contests-fellowships-enter-2018/
Taliesin Nexus – LA, CA
https://talnexus.com/contact-us/
Stage Play Competitions:
http://www.americanplaywritingfoundation.org/index.html
American Association of Community Theater
https://www.aact.org/play-contests-other-opportunities-0
Playwrights Foundation – San Francisco, CA
http://playwrightsfoundation.org/submit-a-play/
Playwrights’ Round Table – Orlando
Songwriting Competitions:
ASCAP
https://www.ascap.com/help/music-business-101/songwriting-competitions
Nashville
NSAI – Nashville
https://www.nashvillesongwriters.com/nsai-events
Essay Competitions:
JFK Library – For Students
https://www.jfklibrary.org/Education/Profile-in-Courage-Essay-Contest
Poetry Competitions:
Many Colleges & Univ.
https://www.poets.org/academy-american-poets/prizes/university-college-poetry-prizes
Passaic County (NJ) CC
http://www.poetrycenterpccc.com/awards/
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* List compiled by Roz Miller, April, 2018.