The July 2025 edition of "Get Submitting" is a monthly hand-curated list of the top five contests, grants, scholarships, submission calls, and awards. We try to prioritize opportunities that are at least one of the following: open to all genres, local, free to apply, and/or committed to celebrating and supporting writers from historically marginalized communities. We do the research, so you have more time for what matters: the writing.

Contests & Awards

Gutsy Great Novelist | Page One Prize

Fee: $20; Award: $1,000; Deadline: July 16th

The Gutsy Great Novelist Page One Prize, brought to you by award-winning novelist, Joan Dempsey, is open to all writers internationally over 18 who are working on an as-yet-unpublished novel. This annual prize aims to find the best first page of a novel-in-progress written in the English language. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Editor's Prizes in Poetry and Fiction | The Androit Journal

Fee: $15; Award: $1,000 and publication; Deadline: July 31st

The inaugural Adroit Journal Editor’s Prizes, recognize outstanding work in poetry and short fiction by any writer, regardless of age or stage. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Creative Nonfiction Summer Essay Contest | Prairie Schooner

Fee: $20; Award: $1,000 and publication; Deadline: August 1st

Each year from May 15th to August 1st, the Schooner accepts submissions to the Summer Creative Nonfiction Contest, open to all types of creative nonfiction essays, up to 5,000 words. The guest judge for the 2025 contest is Aimee Nezhukumatathil, author of Bite by Bite and World of Wonders. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

The Coniston Prize | Radar Poetry

Fee: $20; Award: $1,000 and publication; Deadline: August 1st

The Coniston Prize is an annual award that recognizes an exceptional group of poems by a woman writing in English. Any poet who identifies as a woman is eligible. The poet Diane Seuss will judge the 2025 Coniston Prize. Additionally, up to ten finalists will be awarded $175. Visit the website for complete guidlines.

Residencies

Spring Residency | Ucross Foundation

Fee: $40; Award: Artist Residency; Deadline: July 15th

Ucross strives to provide a respectful, comfortable, and productive environment, freeing artists from the pressures and distractions of daily life. Each year, we provide residencies to approximately 115 individuals. Residencies range from two weeks to six weeks in length. At any one time, there are up to ten individuals in residence, typically four writers, four visual artists, and two composers. Visit the website for complete guidelines.