United States

The United States hosts by far the largest number of literary contests in the English-speaking world, spanning every genre and format from short fiction and poetry chapbooks to full-length novel manuscripts. Prize money and prestige vary widely, from small literary magazine contests to major awards that can meaningfully jump-start a writing career.

Always read a contest's entry rules carefully before submitting, including rights clauses and entry fees, since terms vary widely and some competitions claim more rights over a winning entry than authors expect.