Winning Writers

09/19/2026

Deadline: Sep 30: engine(idling Drive Award. Submit an unpublished poem on any theme and of any length to win $205.58. No fee | https://www.engineidling.net/drive

09/19/2026

Deadline: Sep 30: Morton Marcus Prize 2026 sponsored by The Hive: Poetry Collective on KSQD Radio. Submit a poem up to two pages in length to win $1,000 and publication. Fee: $18 |
https://hivepoetry.org/morton-marcus-prize/

09/19/2026

“Ithaka", a poem by C. P. Cavafy
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/51296/ithaka-56d22eef917ec

Read by Amanda Holmes for The American Scholar
https://theamericanscholar.org/ithaka-by-c-p-cavafy/

09/18/2026

Deadline: Apr 30: The Moriarty Award sponsored by Bell Cow Productions. Submit fiction published in 2026 featuring a literary villain or antagonist who slinks off the page and into our psyches to win $1,000 and additional prizes. More details on website. Fee: $50 | https://www.bellcowproductions.com/award

09/18/2026

Deadline: Oct 8: Autumn's Many Colorful Moons Poetry Contest sponsored by PoetrySoup. Submit a poem up to 60 lines exploring the Autumn seen through a cultural lens to win publication. No fee | https://www.poetrysoup.com/poetry/contests/autumns_many_colorful_moons_24180

09/17/2026

Deadline: Jan 15: Book Prize sponsored by Longleaf Press. Submit an original manuscript of at least 50 pages to win a $1,200 prize, 25 copies, and a virtual reading. More details on website. Fee: $27 |
https://longleafpress.org/longleaf-press-poetry-book-contest/

09/17/2026

Opinion: You Have More Agency Than You Think: Creative Writing and Publishing in the Age of AI

This is an informed opinion piece by Nigel George, an indie author, ALLi Author Member, and the founder of GNW Independent Publishing (indiepublishing.au). He helps writers skip the snake-oil internet gurus and build sustainable careers based on authentic relationships with…

09/17/2026

Our $12,000 Poetry Contest Closes on October 1
24th annual Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest. Submit published or unpublished work. Fee: $25 for 1-3 poems.
https://createsend.com/t/d-F3628A78F34526E72540EF23F30FEDED

09/17/2026

Our September newsletter features "Mushrooms" by Sylvia Plath, from Julian Peters' Nature Poems to See By.
https://createsend.com/t/d-4C3B556382E57FC42540EF23F30FEDED
Julian Peters Comics

09/16/2026

Deadline: Oct 31: Vern Rutsala Book Prize sponsored by Cloudbank Books. Submit a full-length manuscript of poetry, flash fiction, or combination of the two to win a $1,000 prize and publication. Fee: $25 | https://cloudbankbooks.com/vern-rutsala-book-contest/