I'm back—maybe?

I've been inspired. Logging into Vocal yesterday for the first time in months and seeing the onslaught of writing challenges available for this fall ignited something in me that I haven't had for quite a while.

My goal for the rest of the year is as follows: enter every single Vocal writing challenge available, and enter additional writing contests outside the website.

I'll be tracking my progress in this handy-dandy spreadsheet, and I intend to do sporadic journal entries documenting my progress as time goes on.

In my discoveries, I realized finding these opportunities isn't easy, so I thought I'd put together a brief article highlighting them for anyone else who may be interested in entering alongside me.

Of course, you can view all of Vocal's challenges here.

The only entry requirement is becoming a Vocal+ member, which you can sign up for here.

Free Contests

Willie Morris Awards for Southern Writing (Poetry)

Deadline: 9/30

Prize: $3,000 + All expenses paid trip to Oxford, Mississippi

No Entry Fee

This contest stood out to me because the only limitations are that it must be an unpublished poem and evoke the Southern United States. No more than 60 lines is also a reasonable guideline—I find it hard to compete against super long-form poetry, as my style can be more succinct. This allows me to write something meaningful but short, and it feels within my wheelhouse. I will most definitely be entering this competition

Treehouse Climate Action Poem Prize

Deadline: 11/15

First Prize: $1000 + publication in the Poem a Day series.

Second Prize: $750 + publication in the Poem a Day series.

Third Prize: $500 + publication in the Poem a Day series.

No Entry Fee

A free competition on a topic I deeply care about? Yeah, sign me up. The only restriction is that only one poem can be submitted, but I have plenty of time to think about it and write several poems on this theme until I find the right one for entry.

Paid Contests

One Page Poetry

Deadline: 9/30

First Prize: $2,000

Second Prize: $1,000

Third Prize: $500

$25 Fee

This contest stood out to me because there were no real guidelines for what kind of poetry it needed to be. Just that it needed to be a previously unpublished piece of work that fit within one page (8"-11"). Due to the higher price tag to enter, I may not submit to this competition if I don't come up with a poem I feel worthy in the short amount of time I currently have.

The Ghost Story Supernatural Fiction Award

Deadline: 9/30

Prize: $300 in prizes and publication in 21st Century Ghost Stories

$20 Fee

This contest stood out to me because my favorite genre to write short fiction in is magical realism. The flexible word count guidelines of 1,500 - 10,000 are intriguing as well because I don't have to feel pressured to write something too long and lose sight of my original intention. As long as I can come up with a story I like enough in this short amount of time, I will be entering this one.

2025 Vivian Shipley Poetry Award (Connecticut Poetry Society)

Deadline: 9/30

First Prize: $1,000, publication in the Connecticut River Review + a free two-year membership in the Connecticut Poetry Society.

Second Prize: $100, publication in the Connecticut River Review + a free two-year membership in the Connecticut Poetry Society.

Third Prize: $50, publication in the Connecticut River Review + a free two-year membership in the Connecticut Poetry Society.

$15 Entry up to 3 poems per submission

I liked this one because it's an affordable contest, at $5/poem. I also like that there are no other guidelines, providing an opportunity for experimentation. If I do enter this one, I intend on entering three wildly different poems, stretching my writing muscles as far as they'll go.

The 2025 Morton Marcus Memorial Poetry Prize

Deadline: 9/30

Prize: $1,000 + an invitation to read at the 16th Annual Morton Marcus Memorial Reading at UC Santa Cruz

$18 Fee

I may not enter this one because again, it's a really tight deadline, and I'd have to really like the work that I'll be submitting. I do like that it's another contest with no tight guidelines on what type of poetry can be submitted. The only restriction is that the poem has to fit on no more than 2 pages and you may only submit one.

Annual Action, Spectacle Editors’ Poetry & Prose Prize

Deadline: 10/01

Prize: $1000 + Publication in Action, Spectacle

$20 Fee

I will likely enter this one because you can submit any number of poems up to 10 pages. I want to create a thematically cohesive micro-collection that's experimental in form. The deadline is tight, so we'll have to wait and see if I'm up for the challenge, but I'm excited by the possibilities.

Surrealist Poetry Prize (Willow Springs Magazine)

Deadline: 10/15

Prize: $1000 + publication in the Spring issue of Willow Springs

$15 Fee

I love surrealism, and I will most definitely be entering this one. This competition also allows for a more flexible submission with up to 3 poems per entry, making it affordable at $5/poem.

The Steve Kowit Poetry Prize

Deadline: 10/15

First Prize: $1000 + publication in the San Diego Poetry Annual

Second Prize: $250 + publication in the San Diego Poetry Annual

Third Prize: $100 + publication in the San Diego Poetry Annual

Honorable Mentions: Publication in the San Diego Poetry Annual

$15 Fee

While you can only submit one poem to this competition, there are plenty of opportunities to place, and the prize of publication is intriguing to me. If I can write the right poem, I will be entering this contest.

LitMag's Emily Dickinson Award for Poetry

Deadline: 11/15

First Prize: $1,500, publication in LitMag + agency review

Three Finalists: $100 each, possible agency review

$18 Fee

I will absolutely be entering this one, as my stepfather-in-law is a descendant of Emily Dickinson, and $6/poem isn't a bad deal. I also have plenty of time to enter, so I can work over the coming weeks to find the right pieces to select for this contest.

Perugia Press Prize

Deadline: 11/15

Prize: $2,000 + publication

$15 Fee

Only $15 to get an entire book of poetry read? I'll be there. As long as I can meet the 48-page minimum, I'll be entering this contest. My plan is that, while I'm working on these other contests and potentially scrapping ideas, those poems that don't quite fit can be organized into a cohesive book. We'll see how it goes. If I can't make this year's deadline, I will absolutely be trying for next year. I also appreciate that this press aims to uplift women authors.

LitMag’s Virginia Woolf Award for Short Fiction

Deadline: 12/31

First Prize: $2,500, publication in LitMag + agency review

Three Finalists: $100 each + possible agency review

$20 Fee

This contest calls for short stories between 3,000 and 8,000 words. That's a generally comfortable spot for me to work on, and I will absolutely submit as long as I can write the right story. Lucky for me, I've got a few months to work on it.

That's all I've found that I'm interested in entering between now and the end of the year. I'm not going to force myself to submit if I can't write the best pieces, but I'm going to try to attempt every single contest I've highlighted here, including the Vocal challenges.

I'm looking forward to tracking my progress via spreadsheet. I'm not really out to win anything here; I just need a kick in the butt to get back into the swing of things. I'm hopeful that exercising my creative writing muscles this fall and winter will put me in a good place to jump back into my novel and get serious about querying and publication.