My Top 10 Upcoming Creative Writing Opportunities

We are exiting summer and now is the time to get your submissions in before the school year starts, fall activities ramp up, and we inevitably start talking about horror and Halloween.

Many of these are Poetry contests also published on Poetry Bulletin, but they also include short fiction, flash fiction, novella and more. Still, as a poet by trade and the founder of JustMyTypewriter Poetry, I keep a close eye out for Poetry competitions.

These are arranged by deadline, so if you are interested in something long-term, scroll to the bottom.

And, as usual, either follow JustMyTypewriter Poetry on Instagram and Follow me on X!

1. Cantine Press

Deadline: Aug. 15

Fee: FREE!

Award: Advance & Royalties

Cantine Press is now accepting novellas (≤35k words), essay or short story collections (≤40k words), and poetry collections (40–80 poems/50–100 pages) in English, French, or Spanish. Email [email protected] starting with “Submission” + type (novella, essays, short stories, poetry), include a brief bio, and attach your excerpt per guidelines. They welcome voices from anywhere, aiming to publish moving, inspiring work that challenges and reshapes today’s conversations.

2. Futurepoem Other Futures Award

Deadline: August 15

Fees: $9, $18, $28

Award: $1,000

Futurepoem’s Other Futures Award seeks unpublished, innovative full-length prose, poetry, or multi-genre manuscripts (50–150 pages) that challenge genre, language, and form. Open worldwide to writers at any career stage. Winner receives $1,000, publication in 2027, royalties, and 25 copies. Submit anonymously via Submittable July 15–Aug 15, 2025 with a $28 fee (reduced/waived fees available). Simultaneous and multiple submissions welcome. Decision announced late 2025; winner may revise before publication.

3. Omnidawn Poetry Open-Book Contest

Deadline: Aug. 16

Fee: $30

Award: $3,000

Submit via Submittable with a $30 fee for a chance to win $3,000, publication, and 20 copies. The judge is Jose-Luis Moctezuma. Manuscripts should be approximately 40–90 pages (8.5×11) or 60–110 pages (6×9). All entrants get 25% off Omnidawn books and classes. Fees support Omnidawn’s nonprofit mission to publish works of literary and cultural vitality. Winners will be announced 6–9 months after close.

4. Inverted Syntax #1: SubLingua (For BIPOC Poets)

Deadline: Aug. 16

Fee: $20 (Fee waiver available)

Award: $500

The Sublingua Prize for Poetry seeks an exceptional debut poetry collection (48–80 pages) by a female-identifying writer of any citizenship residing in the U.S. who has not published a full-length book or chapbook over 30 pages. Hybrid, experimental, speculative, and multilingual works (primarily in English) are encouraged. Winner receives $500, publication with Inverted Syntax, 25 copies, royalties, a weeklong writing retreat in Leadville, CO, and launch events. Runner-up and other selected manuscripts may also be published. Submit June 6–Aug 15 with a $20 fee (reduced fee available). Simultaneous and multiple submissions accepted. Absolutely no discriminatory or abusive content permitted.

5. Inverted Syntax #2: Aggrey Tabbikha Prize for Poetry (Black or S.W.A.N.A. of Any Citizenship)

Deadline: Aug. 16

Fee: $20 (fee waiver available)

Award: $500

The Aggrey Tabbikha Prize for Poetry honors outstanding first or second poetry collections by Black or S.W.A.N.A diaspora writers residing in the U.S., regardless of citizenship. Hybrid, experimental, speculative, and multilingual (mostly English) works are encouraged, with themes exploring intersectionality, identity, heritage, and social justice. Winner receives $500, publication with Inverted Syntax, 25 copies, royalties, a weeklong Colorado retreat, and launch events. Runner-up and additional manuscripts may also be published. Submit 48–80 pages anonymously June 6–Aug 15 with a $20 fee (reduced fee available). Multiple and simultaneous submissions welcome. No discriminatory or abusive content accepted.

6. Wildsound Writing Festival: One-Page Western Story

Fee: $25

Award: Guaranteed Performance

The Story Pitches Festival invites you to submit a one-page short story (max 400 words) for just $25. Most stories with a clear beginning, middle, and end, and sound grammar, will be accepted and performed by a professional actor at the festival. Winners’ stories will also be made into videos viewed by thousands. It’s a unique chance to get your work seen, heard, and possibly attract literary agents. For questions or submissions, email [email protected] or text 416-568-9046. Visit www.storypitches.org for more info.

7. Gunpowder Press (For Current and Retired K-12 Teachers)

Deadline: Aug. 30

Fee: $20

Award: $500

The Dryden-Vreeland Book Prize invites poet-educators—teachers, tutors, custodians, administrators, and all school employees—to submit a full-length poetry manuscript (48–100 pages). Poems do not need to focus on schools or teaching. Presented by Gunpowder Press editors David Starkey and Chryss Yost, the prize honors two influential high school teachers: Michael Dryden of Foothill High School (Sacramento) and Susan Vreeland of University City High (San Diego), later a best-selling author. This award celebrates the creative contributions of those working in education.

8. Sundress Publications: Open Reading

Deadline: Aug. 31

Fee: $15, Fee Waivers Available

Award: 25 copies + Royalties

Sundress Publications seeks full-length poetry manuscripts (48–80 single-spaced pages, excluding front matter) for publication. Open to all writers June 1–Aug 31, 2025, with a focus on marginalized and underrepresented voices. Collaborative manuscripts welcome; translations not accepted. First submissions are free June 1–14, then $15 per manuscript (fee waived with a Sundress purchase or for all BIPOC writers). Multiple and simultaneous submissions allowed. At least two manuscripts will be chosen, each receiving a standard publication contract and 25 copies. Sundress invites hybrid, unconventional, and hard-to-place work of any aesthetic.

9. Superlative: Short Fiction

Deadline: Aug. 31

Fee: $5

Award: $50

Superlative, The Literary Journal, edited by Ross Turner, Gemma Mainwaring, Rachel Fennell, Daniel Chesmore, and Holly Joyce, publishes innovative short stories and poetry by emerging writers worldwide. Illustrated by Orlaith Stratford and marketed by Hannah Darby, it nurtures new talent and promotes literary art with a focus on supporting authors. The online journal is free to read. Submissions are open January 1–August 31 with judging from September and winners announced in December. The 2026 competition theme is GROWTH, and all genres, voices, and styles are welcome.

10. Academy of American Poets First Book Award

Deadline: Sept. 1

Fee: $35

Award: $5,000

The Academy of American Poets First Book Award offers a $5,000 prize and publication by Graywolf Press for an outstanding debut poetry manuscript. The winner, chosen by judge Brenda Hillman, also receives a six-week, all-expenses-paid residency at Italy’s Civitella Ranieri Center, joining a community of international artists. The winning book gains wide distribution to thousands of Academy members and is featured in American Poets magazine and Poets.org. Submissions for 2026 open July 1–September 1, 2025. Established in 1975, the award supports emerging poets’ first books.

Encore! Ongoing Submissions

Nine Mile Books & Literary Magazine:

Deadline: TBD, Reading Period Opening in September

Fee: Free!

Nine Mile Magazine publishes online twice a year, featuring diverse, vibrant poetry from writers whose work is “deeply imbued with life.” Inspired by Central New York’s Nine Mile Creek, the magazine embraces all styles and forms, with special attention to Central New York voices as well as poets of color, writers with disabilities, marginalized genders and sexual orientations, and varied cultural and religious backgrounds. Through its Propel Poetry initiative, Nine Mile also publishes books by outstanding poets with disabilities, affirming its belief that poetry belongs to everyone.

Deep Vellum

Deadline: Ongoing

Fee: Free!

Deep Vellum is a Dallas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit literary arts organization founded in 2013 by Will Evans to connect the world through literature. Originally focused on publishing translated works and hosting literary events, it has grown to include five imprints featuring fiction, poetry, nonfiction, photography, and Dallas-focused writing. About half its books are translations; the rest are English originals, many by local authors. Deep Vellum publishes for artistic and social value, fostering cross-cultural dialogue and empathy, and continues to host events that unite readers locally and nationally. Its name blends “Deep Ellum” and “vellum.”