November/December Deadlines for Writing Prizes and Fellowships

Fiction Contests

Quill Prose Award
$1,000
Book publication by Red Hen Press
Judge: Andrew Lam
Submissions Open: June 1, 2025
Submissions Close: November 30, 2025

Note: Entry Fee is $10. Name on cover sheet only; 25,000-word minimum (approximately 150 pages, double-spaced, Times New Roman 12pt font); prose (fiction or nonfiction) by a queer writer only.

C. Michael Curtis Short Story Book Prize
Eligibility: Emerging writers w/no more than 1 published book of fiction in thirteen Southern states.
Prize: $5,000 + book publication
Entry fee: $25
Deadline: December 31, 2025
Nonfiction Contests

J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Award
Eligibility: Writers with a contract with a U.S.-based publisher to write a nonfiction book
Prize: $25,000
Deadline: December 4, 2025

Danahy Fiction Prize
Eligibility: All writers
Prize: $1,000 + publication
Entry fee: $20
Deadline: December 31, 2025
Poetry Contests

Robert H. Winner Memorial Award
Eligibility: Poets 40+ years old who have published no more than one full-length collection of poetry.
Prize: $2,500
Entry fee: free for Poetry Society members; $15 for non-members
Deadline: December 15, 2025

Richard Mathews Prize for Poetry
Eligibility: All poets
Prize: $2,000 + publication
Entry fee: $25
Deadline: December 31, 2025
Writing Fellowships & Residencies

Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown Writing Fellowship
Eligibility: Writers and poets who have not published a full-length book of creative work
Prize: 7-month residency + monthly stipend of $1,250 + $1,000 exit stipend
Entry fee: $55-65
Deadline: December 15, 2025