Discover Poetry Contests Without Entry Fees

Poetry enthusiasts looking for opportunities to showcase their works often face the challenge of entry fees. While fee-based contests do exist, there are several legitimate and free poetry contests that poets can participate in. In this article, we will explore some of these contests, providing detailed information on their requirements, deadlines, and prizes.

Free Poetry Contests

While most literary contests require an entry fee, there are some that offer poets a chance to compete without financial obligations. Here are a few noteworthy contests:

NY Literary Magazine Poetry Contests

The NY Literary Magazine runs monthly poetry contests that are free to enter. However, it is essential to be wary of potential scams. While these contests are legitimate, some may require payment for publication. Always do thorough research before submitting.

Binghamton University Book Awards

Sponsored by the Binghamton Center for Writers at State University of New York, the Binghamton University Book Awards offer a $1,000 prize for work published in the previous year in two separate categories: the John Gardner Fiction Book Award and the Milt Kessler Poetry Book Award.

John Gardner Fiction Book Award: Best novel or collection of fiction. Milt Kessler Poetry Book Award: Best book of poems.

The deadline for the Binghamton University Book Awards is annually on March 1.

Spark: A Creative Anthology

This quarterly competition awards prizes to poets across three categories: prose poetry, new artwork, and fiction or creative nonfiction. The grand prize is $500, with second and third places earning $100 and $20, respectively. Winners also receive valuable subscriptions and memberships. Prose submissions must be no more than 12,000 words, and poetry submissions must not exceed 150 lines.

Spark: A Creative Anthology has quarterly deadlines in December/January, April, June, and September/October.

Tufts Poetry Awards

Presented by Claremont Graduate University, the Tufts Poetry Awards aim to recognize outstanding poetries. The Kate Tufts Poetry Award offers $10,000 for a published first book of poetry, while the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award grants $100,000 for a published book of poetry by an established or mid-career poet. Submissions are open to poets whose books were published between September 1 and June 30 each year.

African Poetry Book Fund Prizes

The African Poetry Book Fund (APBF) awards three annual prizes for African poetry. The APBF has three distinct awards:

Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry: $5,000 for a book of original African poetry published in the prior year. Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poets: $1,000 and a publication contract for an unpublished book-length collection of poetry by an African author. Brunel University African Poetry Prize: ￡3,000 to a poet born in Africa, a national of an African country, or with African parents. This prize requires submission of 10 poems.

Deadlines for each prize can be found on their respective pages.

James Laughlin Award

For published poets, the James Laughlin Award offers $5,000 and an all-expenses-paid week-long residency. Copies of the winning book will be distributed to 1,000 members of the Academy of American Poets. Submissions must be for a second book of poetry due to come out in the forthcoming year. The deadline is January 1 through May 15 annually.

Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award

Open to African American poets, the Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award provides a $500 prize and publication by Boardside Lotus Press for the best book-length collection of poems, approximately 60 to 90 pages. This award is open to previously published and unpublished poets.

Additional Resources for Free Writing Contests

For more opportunities to submit your work to free writing contests, here are some additional resources:

Winning Writers: Winning Writers compiles highly recommended free literary contests, offering detailed information on requirements and entry levels. They also host several of their own contests, such as the Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest. Poets Writers: This site vets contests, awards, and grants to ensure legitimacy. Regularly checking it is advisable as they feature both annual and one-time contests. Cathy’s Comps and Calls: Created by Cathy Bryant, this site sources legitimate free-to-enter writing contests and calls for submissions. New lists are released monthly, so checking back regularly is important.

Always do thorough research before submitting to any contest to ensure it is legitimate and aligns with your work's quality and goals.