Nelson Algren Awards for Short Fiction.  Submit no more than two unpublished short stories, 2,500 – 10,000 words. Open to American writers only. Submission Period: Nov. 1 – March 17.  Prizes: First Prize, $5,000. Contact: Chicago Tribune Literary Prizes, 435 N. Michigan Ave., LL2, Chicago, IL 60611.  Web: http://www.about.chicagotribune.com/community

/literaryawards.htm.

 

American Zoetrope Screenplay Contest.  The Grand Prize winner, along with the top 10 finalists, will be considered for film option and development by American Zoetrope, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Sony Pictures Classics, etc. Deadline: Aug. 1 (early), Sept. 1 (final). Prizes: $5,000. Contact: American Zoetrope, 916 Kearney St., San Francisco, CA 94133. Web: http://www.zoetrope.com/contests/ - top.

 

Binghampton University John Gardner Fiction Book Award. Identifies outstanding books of fiction. Categories include novels and short-story collections. Include application for from Web site. Deadline: March 1, 2008. Entry Fee: None. Prizes: $1,000. Contact: Binghampton Center for Writers, State University of New York, PO Box 6000, Binghampton, NY 13902. Web: http://www.english.binghampton.edu/cwpro.

 

T.S. Eliot Prize for Poetry.  Submit an unpublished book-length collection (60 – 100 pages) of poetry in English. Deadline: Oct. 31. Entry Fee: $25. Prizes: $2,000 and publication. Contact: T.S. Eliot Prize, Truman State University Press, 100 E. Normal St., Kirksville, MO 63501. Web:  http://www.tsup.truman.edu/.

Kurt Vonnegut Fiction Prize.  Open to unpublished short stories. No simultaneous submissions. Deadline: Dec. 31. Entry Fee: $18 (includes 1-year subscription). Prizes: $1,000, $100, $50; plus publication. Contact: The North American Review University of Northern Iowa, 1222 W. 27^th St., Cedar Falls, IA 50614. Web: http://www.webdelsol.com/NorthAmReview/NAR.

 

The Writer Short Story Contest.  Submit stories on any topic, to 2,000 words. All entries must be original and previously unpublished. Must use official entry form. Deadline: June 30. Entry Fee: $10. Prizes: $1,000, $300, $200. Contact: The Writer, 21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53187. Web: http://www.ritermag.com/wrt/default.aspx?c=a&id=3323.

 

Kate Tufts Discovery Award. Awarded annually to an emerging poet whose work shows extraordinary promise. Submissions must be a first book of poetry. Send five copies of the book. Deadline: Sept. 15. Prize: $10,000. Contact: Poetic Gallery for the Tufts Poetry Awards. Claremont Graduate University, 160 E. 10^th St., Harper East B7, Claremont, CA 91711. Web: http://www.cgu.edu/tufts.

 

Short-Story Award for New Writers.   Original, unpublished stories, to 12,000 words must be submitted on line. Eligible contestants are those whose fiction has not appeared in any publication with a circulation of more than 5,000. Submission Period: Aug. 1 – Sept. 30. Entry Fee: $12. Prizes: $1,200 and publication, $500, $300.  Contact: Glimmer Train Press, Inc. 1211 NW Glisan St., Suite 207, Protland, OR 97209. Web: http://www.glimmertrain.com/.