September's Writing Contests & Opportunities
Your Monthly Submission Shortlist
Below is a carefully curated selection a few great vetted opportunities to keep you writing and submitting without analysis paralysis. Every month, I post 1-2 top-tier opportunities in the following categories that are worth your time and $ to submit.
Poetry
Fiction
Nonfiction/Essay
Grants, Fellowships, or Residencies.
Workshops (online) & Retreats (in-person) or Conferences.
These Monthly Roundups are to help you submit your work without information overload. Let’s keep progressing your story.
POETRY
1. 2025 Gold Line Press Poetry Chapbook Competition
Hosted by: Gold Line Press (University of Southern California)
Gold Line Press seeks innovative, powerful poetry chapbooks for its 2025 competition. The winning collection will receive publication, author copies, and a cash prize, plus exposure through USC and Gold Line’s literary channels.
Prize Details
Winner receives:
$1,000 honorarium
Publication + 25 author copies
Distribution via University of Southern California Press channels
Finalists and semi-finalists may be considered for publication
Submission Guidelines
Genre: Poetry
Length: 16–30 pages
Deadline: September 30, 2025
Entry Fee: $20
Simultaneous submissions allowed (withdraw promptly if accepted elsewhere)
No identifying info on manuscript pages
Include acknowledgments and brief bio in separate file
2. Richard-Gabriel Rummonds Poetry Prize
Hosted by: Ex Ophidia Press (Omaha, Nebraska)
Established in 2016 and renamed in honor of founder Richard-Gabriel Rummonds, this annual prize awards publication and a cash prize for a full-length poetry manuscript.
Award Details
Prize: $2,000, publication by Ex Ophidia Press, and 10 author copies
Format: Poetry collection (50–100 pages)
Reading Window: May 1 – September 15, 2025; 11:59 PM CST
Judge: Felicia Zamora
Eligibility
Writers must reside in the United States and be at least 18 years old
Open to poets at any career stage (debuts through mid-career writers welcome)
Manuscripts must be original (collections may include previously published poems), in English, and unpublished as a whole
Excludes translations, collaborative works, and AI-generated content
Submission Guidelines
Manuscripts must include a title page and table of contents, with each poem starting on a new numbered page (50–100 pages total)
Format: Standard 12-point font, single- or 1.5-spaced, paginated, and uploaded as .doc or .docx
No author identifying information in manuscript; submit bio and acknowledgments separately through Submittable
One manuscript per entrant; simultaneous submissions allowed (notify if accepted elsewhere)
3. National Poetry Competition 2025
Hosted by: The Poetry Society (UK)
One of the most prestigious international contests for a single unpublished poem, open to all writers aged 18 and over. This competition has launched the careers of celebrated poets such as Carol Ann Duffy, Ruth Padel, Jo Shapcott, and Tony Harrison. In 2024, the first-prize winner, Fiona Larkin, was praised by judges for her “impressive, ingenious and affecting” winning poem.
Award Details
Prizes:
1st Prize: £5,000
2nd Prize: £3,000
3rd Prize: £2,000
Commended: £500 each
Judges: Denise Saul, Ian Duhig, and Susannah Dickey
Deadline: 11:59 PM GMT, 31 October
Eligibility & Guidelines
Open to writers aged 18+, internationally
Poems must be unpublished, under 40 lines (excluding title, dedications, or epigraphs.
All entries are judged anonymously—do not include your name on the poem.
Multiple entries allowed; no limit to number of submissions.
Simultaneous submissions accepted, but withdraw immediately if accepted elsewhere.
AI-generated poems are prohibited
Low-income fee waivers are available.
Entry Fees
£8 for the first poem
£6 for each additional poem in the same session
Poetry Society members receive a free second poem when entering.
FICTION
1. Mslexia 2025 Women’s Writing Competitions
Hosted by: Mslexia (UK)
Mslexia is offering three prestigious competitions across genres, open to women writers of all levels. Winners enjoy significant cash prizes, publication, and expanded exposure through ebook anthologies and editorial support.
1. Women’s Fiction Competition – Short Story
First Prize: £3,000
Three runners-up: £100 each
All four stories published in Mslexia Issue 108 plus ebook anthology Best Women's Short Fiction 2025
Entry Fee: £12
2. Women’s Fiction Competition – Flash Fiction
First Prize: £500
Three runners-up: £50 each
Four flash stories published in Mslexia Issue 108 plus same ebook anthology
Entry Fee: £6
3. Women’s Fiction Competition – Adult Novel
First Prize: £5,000
Finalists receive manuscript feedback from The Literary Consultancy and agent introductions (via New Writing North)
Submit first 5,000 words initially; longlisted authors invited to submit full manuscript + synopsis later
Entry Fee: £26
Submission Guidelines
Open to women writers (cis, trans, and nonbinary under women's writing umbrella as per Mslexia)
Work must be original and unpublished
Simultaneous submissions accepted (withdraw promptly if accepted elsewhere)
Deadline: Sept. 22nd, 2025
2. 2025 Summer Short Story Award
Hosted by: The Masters Review
Judged by: Jennine Capó Crucet
An esteemed contest for emerging fiction writers. This award offers publication, a cash prize, and access to a literary agent consultation—perfect for writers looking to break through.
Prize Details
1st Prize: $3,000 + publication + agent consultation
2nd Prize: $300 + publication
3rd Prize: $200 + publication
Submission Guidelines
Genre: Short Fiction (no nonfiction or poetry)
Word Count: Up to 6,000 words
Eligibility: Open to emerging writers who have not published a novel or short story collection with a major press
Simultaneous submissions: Accepted
Previously published work: Not accepted
Entry Fee: $20
Deadline: Sept 8th, 2025
NON-FICTION / ESSAY
1. Bridport Prize: Memoir Award 2025
Hosted by: Bridport Prize (UK)
A prestigious international contest for memoir excerpts and work-in-progress writers—with opportunities to advance through multiple stages.
Award Details
Prizes:
First: £1,500
Runner-up: £750
Three highly commended: £150 each
Format: Initial entry of 5,000–8,000 words plus a 300-word overview
Longlisted candidates submit 15,000 words total
Shortlisted candidates submit 30,000 words total
Eligibility & Guidelines
Open internationally to writers aged 16 and above, writing in English
Only personal memoirs allowed; fictional or memoirs about others are not eligible
Previously published books allowed (if not by major/traditional publisher or agented)
Work in progress is accepted and encouraged
Fee: £26 per entry
Deadline: September 30, 2025
2. Terrain.org 2025 Nonfiction Contest
Hosted by: Terrain.org: A Journal of the Built + Natural Environments
Judge: Pam Houston (for 2025)
This annual contest seeks creative nonfiction that explores the intersection of place, nature, and humanity. Terrain.org welcomes a wide spectrum of voices and forms, including memoir, braided essays, lyric nonfiction, and experimental work.
Award Details
Winner: $1,000 + publication
Finalists: Considered for publication
Judge for 2025: Pam Houston
Submission Guidelines
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
Length: Up to 6,000 words
Deadline: September 2, 2025
Entry Fee: $20
Simultaneous Submissions: Allowed (notify if accepted elsewhere)
Previously published work: Not accepted
Blind Submission: Remove identifying info from manuscript
GRANT / FELLOWSHIP / RESIDENCY
100 West – Corsicana Artist & Writer Residency (Funded Residency 2026)
Hosted by: Corsicana Artist and Writer Residency (Corsicana, Texas)
Listed via: Artist Communities Alliance (ACA)
Overview
Nestled in historic downtown Corsicana—just 50 miles south of Dallas—this fully funded residency offers immersive creative time amid preserved architectural charm, rich history, and enduring light and space. It's designed for artists and writers seeking deep engagement with both place and process.
Residency Details
Duration: Typical format sees artists in residence for 2 months
Included Amenities:
Housing in a historic setting (original Odd Fellows Lodge, 100 West)
Dedicated studio/work space
Immersive, supportive environment to focus on new work
Goal: Foster community engagement, creative production, and site-responsive work.
Deadline: September 1, 2025
Eligibility & Focus
Open to international artists and writers
Welcomes emerging and mid-career creators, with an emphasis on studio-based, community-connected creative practices
Ideal for projects exploring place, architecture, site histories, or creative reuse
CONFERENCE / WORKSHOP / RETREAT
Hambidge Retreat – Spring Session (Feb–May 2026)
Hosted by: Hambidge Center for Creative Arts and Sciences (Blue Ridge Mountains, Georgia)
This multidisciplinary residency offers artists and writers a supportive retreat in a stunning, wooded setting. The Spring Session runs from February to May and provides the time, space, and community needed to cultivate powerful creative work.
Residency Details
Duration: 2 to 8 weeks (you choose within the Feb–May window)
Participants: Up to 9 artists in various disciplines—writing, visual arts, music, environmental arts, culinary, and more
Includes:
Private accommodations and studio space
Communal dinners prepared by the Hambidge chef
Family-friendly environment; children are welcome
Eligibility & Cost
Open to emerging, mid-career, and established creatives from around the globe
Fee: $250 per week (but generous subsidization brings the actual value closer to $2,250/week)
Financial assistance available:
Distinguished Fellowships waive the fee and include a $700 stipend for two-week residencies
Scholarships (prioritized for BIPOC applicants)
Application Fee: $30
Deadline: September 15, 2025
CONFERENCE / WORKSHOP / RETREAT
Novel Studio – PocketMFA (Fall 2025 Cohort)
Hosted by: PocketMFA
An immersive six-month program designed to help writers draft or revise a 78,000+ word novel—with comprehensive mentorship and publishing preparation built in.
Program Essentials
Duration: 6 months
Application Deadline: August 31, 2025 (Start Date: September 1st!)
What You’ll Get
A complete novel draft with clear monthly goals
1-on-1 mentoring: Zoom sessions and personalized feedback on ~20 pages each month
18 live seminars led by publishing professionals covering craft, querying, marketing, and more
Structured support: private cohort of ~8 writers, writing sprints, peer check-ins, and community chat
Final module focused on drafting a polished submission package: query letter, synopsis, comps, logline, sample pages
Pitching opportunities.
Commitment & Tuition
Weekly Time Investment: 12–15 hours (reading, writing, seminars, and check-ins)
Tuition: $5,497—payment plans, scholarships, and alumni discounts available. Preference given to PocketMFA alumni.
Application is Free.
I know we can get lost in long lists, so hopefully these quality monthly sub-samplers will be helpful. If you apply, let me know in the comments—I’d love to cheer you on and post your success in the newsletter.
Happy Submitting!
♥ NJ
POEtic Threads: Apparel for Writers.
For those of us who live in words, edit with caffeine, and revise until our eyelids stick to our scleras. POEtic Threads focuses on comfortable, wearable pieces, that nod to the writing life: for when you’re deep in the draft trenches, heading to a reading/book club, or just want to be cozy.
I appreciate you composing these NJ, it's so thoughtful and encouraging.