FREE WRITING CONTESTS

YOUR STRESS-FREE GUIDE TO 75 CONTESTS WIT H NO ENTRY FEES

FOR those looking to dip a toe into the deep waters of writing contests, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Every year we list hundreds of opportunities in the Grants & Awards section of this magazine, ranging from small local contests offering $500 for a single piece of writing to national book awards bestowing up to $50,000 to an author for a published book. The work of wading through the listings to determine which contest to submit to—and which charge entry fees you can realistically afford—can weigh you down.

So to make things easier, a bit more buoyant— something we all deserve to feel a bit more these days—we have curated a selection of writing contests and grant opportunities that charge no fee for entry or application. Some of the contests are for individual pieces, some are for fellowships, and many are for published books that may require the nomination of your publisher. All of these opportunities originally appeared in the Grants & Awards section of this magazine and have been vetted by our editorial staff as reliable—the kind of opportunity we might recommend to a friend.

We advise writers, as always, to send in your best work, follow the guidelines, and research each contest to ensure it’s an opportunity that you would be proud to win. After all, the contest might cost you nothing—but your writing represents your effort and time and deserves the best chance for its day in the sun.