Here are poetry, story, and essay contests for you to consider. Dates given are generally due dates, so send them in BEFORE that date. For the most part, I only list contests that are free for you.
- Aug. 4: Santa Cruz County Fair Poetry Contest (go to the Fair Website for the updated entry form in June or July)
- Sept. 1: Helen Shaible Sonnet Contest
- Sept. 9: Princemere Poetry Prize
- Sept. 15: Science Fiction Poetry Association Poetry Contest
- Oct. 14: Story: Book Shop Santa Cruz
- Nov. 1: Bennington College Young Writers Awards
- Opening Nov. 29: American Foreign Service Essay Contest
- Nov. 20: Greek Mythology Themed Poetry!: Tapestry of Bronze
- Dec. 1: Any Genre: Sierra Nevada College (juniors and seniors only)
- Jan. 7: Profiles in Courage: John F. Kennedy Presidential Essay Contest
- Jan 31.: Coastal Commission Poetry Contest!
- Feb. 26: California Agriculture Poetry Contest
- March 1: NEA: Book Length: Any Genre: $25,000: Contest
- March 15: Poetry Santa Cruz (any subject)
- May 15: Jane Austen Essay Contest
- April 1: Sci-Fi Poetry
- April 1: Mock the Vanity Contests!: Wergle Flomp
- July 20: NCTE Norman Mailer Writing Award (longer prose work); $10,000
- July 31: Young Poet Prize (British competition, but Americans may enter): Foyle Young Poets of the Year
More Contests (Many with Fees, Though)
More for Fun (but not for our assignment)
More for Fun (but not for our assignment)
- March 20: Haiku Poetry
- April 15: Short Poetry: Binnacle
