Below is a list of nonfiction, essay, memoir and life writing contests from USA and Canada and mostly open to American and/or Canadian writers — although some are open to writers elsewhere.
For a list of contests from UK and Europe, some of which are open to writers outside Europe, click here.
We aim to avoid listing competitions whose terms and conditions request copyright in entries submitted — or make other unreasonable demands. T&Cs are usually checked, but some may slip through. Please check carefully before participating.
Note that some entry fees may seem expensive, but often offer additional benefits, such as an annual magazine subscription.
FEBRUARY DEADLINES
1st February
Montana Prize in Creative Nonfiction
$20 entry fee. $500 prize.
19th February
Writers Union of Canada Short Prose Competition
“A C$2,500 prize is awarded to a Canadian writer for the best piece of unpublished prose of up to 2,500 words” (Fiction or nonfiction). C$29 entry fee.
26th February
Write the World Op-Ed Competition
Open to young writers “13–19.5”. 500–1,000 words.
28th February
St Gallen Symposium Global Essay Competition
Topic question: Striving for more or thriving with less – What pressing scarcity do you see, and how do you suggest to tackle it? 2,100 words max. CHF20,000 prize fund (three winners). Open to university graduates or postgraduates.
AWP Prize for Creative Nonfiction
“An annual competition for the publication of excellent new book-length works … open to all authors writing in English regardless of nationality or residence and is available to published and unpublished authors alike.” Opens 1st January.
29th February
Creative Nonfiction Collective Writing Contest
C$20 entry. Prizes: C$1,000 / 300 / 200.
MARCH DEADLINES
1st March
CBC Nonfiction Prize
Open to Canadians and permanent residents. 2,000 words max. C$25 entry. C$6,000 top prize. 4 x C$1,000 finalists.
4th March
SPJ’s New America Award
For “public service journalism that explores and exposes issues of importance to immigrant or ethnic communities in the United States”.
24th March
Lazuli Literary Group Writing Contest
For “work that is linguistically, intellectually, and emotionally demanding of the reader”. $15 entry. $500 for winner(s).
28th March
The Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest
Open to Canadian writers or residents. For “essays in which the writer’s personal engagement with the subject provides the frame or through-line.” C$1,000 prize. C$40 entry.
APRIL DEADLINES
2nd April
Terry Tempest Williams Creative Nonfiction Prize
500–10,000 words of “the finest essay writing”. $29 entry fee. $1,000 prize.
30th April
Tadpole Press 100-Word Writing Contest
On the theme of Creativity. $15 entry. $2,000 top prize.
Storyhouse Nonfiction Animal Stories Competition
For a real-life encounter with a wild animal(s). All animals, but not pets. $200 winner / $100 runner-up. No entry fee.
MAY DEADLINES
1st May
Tom Howard / John H Reid Fiction & Essay Prize
6,000 words max. $22 entry. $3,500 top prize.
FUTURE DEADLINES
NB: Most of the following are included on the basis of having run in the previous year, but may be provisional or as yet unconfirmed for the upcoming month specified.
April 2024
The Gulf Coast Prize for Nonfiction
F(r)fiction Creative Nonfiction Contest
May 2024
Ploughshares Emerging Writers Contest
The Writer 500 Word Contest
Write the World Food Writing Competition
Storyhouse General Nonfiction Contest
Sundress Publications E-Chapbook Contest
June 2024
The Fiddlehead’s Annual Creative Nonfiction Contest
Writers Digest Annual Writing Competition
Living Spring Publishers Baby Boomers Plus Contest
North Street Book Prize
Preservation Foundation Storyhouse General Nonfiction Contest
Narrative Prize
July 2024
Exisle Publishing Your Big Break Book Pitch Competition
Room Magazine Creative Nonfiction Contest
WOW! Women on Writing Quarterly Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest
CAPTRS Universe of Threats Essay Contest
Narrative Spring 2023 Story Contest
August 2024
AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards
Constance Rooke Creative Non-Fiction Prize / Malahat Review
56th New Millennium Writing Awards
Tulip Tree Publishing’s Stories That Need to Be Told Contest
Preservation Foundation Storyhouse Biographical Nonfiction Contest
Letter Review Prize for Nonfiction
September 2024
The Hal Prize
Fairfield Scribes’ The Scribes Prize
Black Warrior Review 2023 Contests
Writers Digest Personal Essay Awards
Puerto del Sol Prose Competition
Terrain.org 14th Annual Contest
Gold Line Press Chapbook Contest
October 2024
Sowell Emerging Writers Prize
Dreamers Creative Writing Flash Fiction/Nonfiction Contest
American Literary Review Prizes
Jeffrey E Smith Editors’ Prize
The Travelers’ Tales Solas Awards for Best Travel Writing
The Lascaux Prize in Creative Nonfiction
Event Magazine’s Non Fiction Contest
Preservation Foundation Storyhouse Travel Nonfiction Contest
Tuscon Festival of Books Literary Awards
Helena Whitehill Book Award
November 2024
The Malahat Review Open Season Awards
Brooklyn Non-fiction Prize
Briarpatch’s Writing in the Margins Awards
Prairie Fire Creative Nonfiction Contest
ServiceScape Short Story Award
Red Hen Press Quill Prose Award
Narratively Memoir Prize
December 2024
Ned Stuckey-French Nonfiction Contest
The Eunice Williams Nonfiction Prize
January 2025
Mississippi Review Prize
Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia – Nova Writes (HR Percy Short Creative Nonfiction Prize)
The DISQUIET Prize
North Carolina Writers’ Network’s Rose Post Creative Nonfiction Contest
John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest
WOW! Women on Writing Quarterly Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest
GritLIT Short Story Contest
March 2025
Restless Books Immigrant Writing Prize in Nonfiction