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7 February Writing Contests - No Entry Fees

Originally posted in Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity.

February is a short month, but it does not lack for writing contests. There is a little bit of everything this month: travel writing, poetry, short fiction, journalism, and - one of my favorites - the impoverished author contest. (Most of us fit into that category.)

Even if there is nothing that is quite up your alley this month, there may be in March. So, don't stop submitting.

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Emerging Environmental Writers Contest. Sage Magazine invites writers to submit nonfiction prose that enhances our understanding of the world, each other, and ourselves. Genre: Nonfiction, environmental topics. Prize: 1st $1000, 2nd $300, 3rd $200, and publication in Sage. Deadline: February 1, 2015. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

The Levis Reading Prize is sponsored by the Department of English and its MFA in Creative Writing program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Restrictions: The prize is given annually for the best first or second book of poetry published in the previous calendar year. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $2000 . Deadline: February 1, 2015. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

$1000 for 1000 Words Creative Writing Contest is sponsored by the Leyla Beban Young Authors Foundation. Restrictions: Students enrolled in grades 6-12. Genre: Short fiction of exactly 1000 words. Prize: Two $1,000 scholarship prizes will be awarded, one for grades 6-8 and one for grades 9-12. Seven $100 cash prizes will also be awarded for winning entries, one per grade level. Deadline: February 1, 2015. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Inspiration Travel Writing Contest #7 is sponsored by We Said Go Travel, an organization that promotes world travel. Genre: A nonfiction travel article about a place that inspires you to be brave and save the day. Prizes: 1st Prize $500, 2nd Prize $100, 3rd Prize $50, and promotion on website. Deadline: February 14, 2015. How to Enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

The Matthew Power Literary Reporting Award supports the work of a promising early-career nonfiction writer on a story that uncovers truths about the human condition. Genres: Nonfiction journalism works in progress with “strong, character-driven narratives with detailed scene writing and lyrical description.” Restrictions: The award will not fund proposals to report on armed conflicts where journalists are already imperiled, nor projects that are mainly investigatory. Prize: $12,500 grant and use of the NYU library. Deadline: February 16, 2015. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

Central PA Magazine Writing Contest is sponsored by WITF and funded by York College of Pennsylvania. Genres: Original, unpublished fiction short stories not exceeding 1,500 words. Restrictions: The contest is only open to legal residents of Pennsylvania who are at least 18 years old as of the date of entry. Prize: $500, runner-up $200. Deadline: February 27, 2015. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.

SLF Working Class/Impoverished Writers Grant is sponsored by the Speculative Literature Foundation. Genres: Speculative fiction, magical realism. Restrictions: Applicants must be working class (see guidelines page for definition) and demonstrate financial hardship. Available to international writers. Prize: $750. Deadline: February 28, 2015. How to enter: Read submission guidelines HERE.