February 2018 Contest Roundup

With the month of love upon us it seems that a number of new pitch opportunities have been inspired, so you romance writers are in luck! Writing in other genres? You’ll find some love here in the February Contest Roundup as well. There’s opportunities for nonfiction, children’s through adult fiction, illustrators, first generation residents, short stories, and even a query +5 page critique. I love all the different opportunities I found for Sub It Clubbers this month!

As always, the listings are in closing date order. Here’s the Roundup:

January –

1/31: Graywolf Press Nonfiction Prize – Open to any writer who is not yet established in the genre and resides in the United States. “A $12,000 advance and publication by Graywolf will be awarded to the most promising and innovative literary nonfiction project by a writer not yet established in the genre. The prize will be awarded to a manuscript in progress.”

February –

2/7 – Nelson Algren Literary Award – Open to short fiction up to 8,000 words.  One grand prize winner to receive $3,500, four finalists to receive $1,000 and five runners-up to receive $500. All stories will be considered for publication in Printers Row, the Chicago Tribune’s digital literary journal. Entry via Submittable.

2/14: Sweetheart Pitchfest – It looks like the participating agents cover children’s through adult fiction. Pitch your work on the Savvy Authors blog. Read pitch guidelines here.

2/14: #KissPitch – Open to romance. Pitch you manuscript via Twitter using the #KissPitch hashtag between 9am and 9pm EST. See post for suggested additional hashtags. A pitch in the #kisspitch Twitter thread says there are 35 industry professionals lined up to participate.

2/14: Harlequin Romance Blitz – Open to Romance. See series guidelines. Submit a cover letter, first chapter, and a complete synopsis. All entries will receive editorial feedback by February 21st.

2/15: Bala Kids & The Khyentse Foundation Children’s Book Prize – Open to fiction and nonfiction picture book for children ages 0-8 that express Buddhist values. Submit a cover letter that includes a short author biography, book summary, and the intended message of the book along with illustrations if available. Winning submission to receive a prize of $5,000 and a publishing contract from Bala Kids.

2/15: Query + 1st 5 pages critique from Amélie Wen Zhao – Via Twitter @amillipages

Thank you for all the love on my debut news; my heart is so full. I wouldn’t be where I am today w/o others’ help, so I’d like to give back.

✨GIVEAWAY✨ Critique on QUERY or FIRST 5 PAGES. RT + ❤️ + COMMENT w/ your choice and a fun fact/pic on your WIP by Feb 15! 10 winners. https://t.co/32P1Z77qSb

— Amélie Wen Zhao (@amillipages) January 30, 2018

2/15: Susan P. Bloom Children’s Book Discovery Award – Open to unpublished residents of New England only. Open to picture books, novels, poetry, and nonfiction. See listing for submission details. Winners present their work to the public at Discovery Evening in May and editors at major publishing houses will read the winning manuscripts.

2/22: #PBPitch – Open to picture books. Pitch your manuscript via Twitter using the #PBPitch hashtag between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST.

2/22: HUG #epic18 Giveaway – Open to picture books. Enter via Rafflecopter to win one of 20 picture book critiques from debut authors.

2/28: The Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing – Open to novel length fiction and nonfiction by first generation residents of their country. Winner to receive a $10,000 advance and publication by Restless Books. Enter via Submittable.

2/28: #FaithPitch – Open to all categories of Christian fiction. Pitch your completed manuscript between 8am and 8pm CST via Twitter using the #FaithPitch hashtag. See link for category and genre hashtags.

2/28: Creative Capital – Open to art and literature. $10,000 awards to help you realize your vision and create sustainable practices. Direct funding and career development with additional opportunities for chosen projects.

March –

3/8: #Pitmad Twitter Pitch Party – Open to all genres. Pitch your manuscript via Twitter using the #Pitmad hashtag between 8am and 8pm EDT.

Upcoming –

4/1: Wergle Flump Humor Poetry Contest – Enter one humor poem, up to 250 lines. First prize of $1,000, second prize of $250 & ten Honorable Mentions will of $100 each. Submit via Submittable.

5/18: LB Emerging Artist Award – Open to unpublished, unagented illustrators, author/illustrators.  Enter your original story idea, original take on a classic story, or nonfiction incorporating the award’s mission statement along with a mock-up of no more than 32 pages of text (no more than 1200 words), sketches, and at least 6 pages of finished art. Award includes a day at Little Brown Young Readers offices in New York to meet with an editor, art director, and artist mentor and much more! Contest entries open January 15th.

Need help with your pitches, post them in our Sub It Club Submission Support Group. There are lots of writers in the group who offer great thoughts and help.

Of course, if you know of a good contest that I missed please link us up in the comments!