Looking for creative ways to make money while having fun? Look at these writing contests in May 2023, where you can win $2,000 cash prizes for your stories!
1. Raymond Carver Writing Contest: A Chance to Showcase Your Writing Skills
If you are an aspiring writer, then you really should consider the Raymond Carver Writing Contest. The contest is an excellent opportunity for both emerging and established writers to showcase their writing skills and win cash prizes.
The Raymond Carver Writing Contest is an annual event that takes place every year in May. The top prize is $2,000 followed by $500 for 2nd, $250 for 3rd, and two $125 Editors’s Choice awards. The contest requires participants to submit their original, unpublished works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Winners are announced August 1.
The contest is named after Raymond Carver, an acclaimed American writer who is known for his minimalist writing style. Carver’s short stories and poems have won numerous awards and have inspired many writers around the world. To enter the contest, participants must submit their work through the contest website.
The submission deadline this year is May 17, 2023. The contest charges a submission fee of $18, which is relatively low compared to other writing contests.
Guidelines:
- Entry Fee: $18 via Submittable. Online submission only.
- One short story per entry. No limit to the number of entries.
- Story must be previously unpublished (including online).
- 10,000 maximum word count.
- No cover page or author info in document. All readings are anonymous.
- Entries from anywhere in the world, but the story must be English-language.
- No genre fiction (romance, horror, sci-fi); literary fiction only.
The contest judges include renowned writers and literary critics who evaluate the submissions based on originality, creativity, and technical proficiency. Winners are announced in August, and cash prizes are awarded to the top three submissions in each category.
If you’re looking to participate in the Raymond Carver Writing Contest, here are some tips to help you craft an award-winning submission:
- Start with a compelling opening: Begin your submission with a line or a paragraph that grabs the reader’s attention and makes them want to read more.
- Focus on character development: Whether you’re writing a short story or a poem, focus on developing your characters and their motivations. Remember, even in poetry, characters are essential, and they can be developed through personality and voice.
- Edit and revise: Don’t rush your submission. Take the time to edit and revise your work. Make sure your work is free of grammar errors, misspellings, and typos. You don’t want to lose points because of small mistakes.
The Raymond Carver Writing Contest is an excellent opportunity for writers to showcase their skills and win cash prizes. If you’re passionate about writing, then don’t miss this chance to participate in 2023 contest. The clock is ticking, so get your story in now. Good luck!
Submit your story here:
2. Emerson College Ploughshares Emerging Writer’s Contest: A Chance for Emerging Writers to Shine
If you’re an up-and-coming writer looking to break into the literary scene, the Emerson College Ploughshares Emerging Writer’s Contest is an excellent opportunity to showcase your talent and win great prizes.
Emerson College and Ploughshares literary magazine have partnered to host an annual Emerging Writer’s Contest since 1971. The contest is open to writers who have not yet published a book-length work in the genre they are submitting. Each year, Ploughshares receives thousands of submissions from emerging writers from all over the world.
The contest is held in the genres of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, with first prize in each category receiving a cash prize of $2,000. Winners are also published in the literary magazine, giving them invaluable exposure and recognition in the literary community.
Submissions are accepted between March 1 and May 15 at noon each year, with a submission charge of $24. All entrants receive a one-year subscription to Ploughshares, which is an invaluable resource for any emerging writer.
The judges for the Emerging Writer’s Contest are respected writers in each genre, all with extensive experience in writing, publishing, and mentoring emerging writers. Previous judges include Roxane Gay, Terrance Hayes, and Jhumpa Lahiri. They select the winners based on the quality of the writing and the strength of the voice and character.
The 2023 contest judges are Gish Jen (Fiction), Sandra Cisneros (Poetry), and Meghan O’Rourke (Nonfiction).
Guidelines:
- Entry Fee: $24. Online submission only through Submission Manager.
- Only one submission per author for the duration of the contest,
- Story must be previously unpublished (including online).
- Fiction/NonFiction: 6,000 maximum word count. Poetry: 3-5 pages.
- No cover page or author info in document. All readings are anonymous.
- Entries from anywhere in the world, but the story must be English-language.
- Must not have yet published a book (including eBooks, translations, books in other languages/countries, self-published works, and poetry chapbooks with a print run of more than 300).
Here are some tips for emerging writers looking to submit to the Emerson College Ploughshares Emerging Writer’s Contest:
- Read previous winners: Reading previous winners of the contest can give you an idea of the quality of writing that the judges are looking for and how you can stand out.
- Edit your work: Take the time to edit your work and make sure it’s the best it can be before submitting. You want to make a good impression with the judges.
- Follow submission guidelines: Make sure you follow the submission guidelines carefully, including the maximum word count and formatting requirements.
The Emerson College Ploughshares Emerging Writer’s Contest is a fantastic opportunity for emerging writers to showcase their talent and potentially launch their writing careers. It’s a chance to receive recognition and guidance from some of the most respected writers in the literary world. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to take the next step in your writing career.
Submit your story here:
