March 2018 Contest Roundup

Are you ready to enter some pitch contests? But what if you’re not sure how? It seems like a good time for a reminder that we have some helpful posts right here on the blog:

• How to Pitmad
• Have Yourself a Merry Little Pitmad
• Didn’t Get a Pitmad Request? That’s Okay!
• Twitter Pitch Tips from Author Dan Koboldt
• Anatomy of a Graphic Novel Pitch
• Pitching Graphic Novels for Twitter Pitch Parties
• A Contest or Pitch Request? Do Your Research
• How to Find a Book Deal
• How MJ Greenway Got Her First Contract

Those links are what I found with a quick search. I have a feeling I may be missing some. Try our search button at the top right of the blog if you’re looking for something specific and if you need more help just ask in our Sub It Club Submission Support Group. There are so many amazing people in there willing to lend a hand!

Now for the upcoming contests in this month’s Roundup! As always the contests are listed by closing date. Good luck my friends!

February –

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 –

3/2: #50PreciousWords Writing Challenge – Open to children’s writing. Create a story for children of 50 words or less. Goes live on March 2nd and there will be a prize of a critique by agent, Essie White.

3/6: #DVPit Giveaways – Open marginalized creators. Children’s: picture books, chapter books, & middle grade. Retweet and reply to the giveaway tweet on Twitter. Winners to receive a critique from one of the donating agents, editors, or writers.

3/7: #DVPit Giveaways – Open marginalized creators. Young Adult. Retweet and reply to the giveaway tweet on Twitter. Winners to receive a critique from one of the donating agents, editors, or writers.

3/8: #DVPit Giveaways – Open marginalized creators. Adult Fiction and Nonfiction. Retweet and reply to the giveaway tweet on Twitter. Winners to receive a critique from one of the donating agents, editors, or writers.

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

3/12: Pass or Pages – Open to Young Adult Science Fiction & Fantasy. Enter your query + first 250 words via form on the blog in the post on 3/12. 5 random entries will be chosen for the participating agent for feedback which will be posted on the blog. See Contest Rules for more details.

3/20: Templar Illustration Prize – Open to illustrations created for the theme: dragons.  “Submit finished artwork and design for a cover and one spread and a storyboard for the full book.” First Place to receive £750 and the work will be considered by the Templar team for publication. Second Place: £500, Third Place: £250.

3/27: Picture Book Party – Open to complete and polished picture book manuscripts. Enter your name, twitter handle, title, genre, word count, query, and first 50 words via email. Submission window for 1 hour starting at 4pm EST. Top 20 will be chosen to move onto an agent round.

April –

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.

4/21: #RevPit – Open to the genres the freelance editors work with. See bios. Editors wil work with writers to revise their manuscript for a live showcase.

4/25: #DVPit – Open to Children’s and Teen Fiction and Nonfiction “from marginalized voices that have been historically underrepresented in publishing.” Pitch your work using the #DVPit hashtag between 8am & 8pm ET.

4/26: #DVPit – Open to Adult Fiction and Nonfiction “from marginalized voices that have been historically underrepresented in publishing.” Pitch your work using the #DVPit hashtag between 8am & 8pm ET.

May – 

5/15: 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!

If you know of a good contest that I missed please link us up in the comments!