Travel Writing Contests – Time to Pack your Notebook

by Grace Tierney

‘I find the contest, you write the entry.’

Our theme this month is Thanksgiving. Well, despite living in a country where we don’t celebrate that holiday the concept has been high in my mind this week. I’m lucky enough to be mother to a nine-week old little girl (as well as a busy two year old boy) and this week I’ve been swamped with the cutest little smiles from my wee girl and for that I am thankful.

The smiles, the boyish games, and a very angry tooth of mine have combined to take me away from my writing this week but you know what? I am still grateful because my children (and my lovely new dentist) gave me the joy that makes writing worthwhile. I have also discovered that their time demands have forced me to use contests as a writing inspiration this week because I write quicker and better when I have a contest deadline to meet – does that work for you too? I hope so.

So while those of you in North America are celebrating Thanksgiving, I’m busy teaching my son to say ‘Help the Halloween Party’ (tricking and treating wasn’t the slogan when I was growing up) – perhaps there’s a travel story in the worldwide Autumn festivals of thanksgiving, ghosts, and death? If so, then we’ve got a contest listed below for you to send it to.

Suggested Travel Reading

‘Around the World in 80 Days’ by Michael Palin (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-
/0912333391/ref=pd_bbs_null_6/103-6059227-3695850?v=glance&s=books)

‘A Walk in the Woods’ by Bill Bryson (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/
0767902513/qid=1130584294/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/
103-6059227-3695850?v=glance&s=books )

‘The Old Patagonian Express’ by Paul Theroux (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/
039552105X/ref=pd_bbs_null_5/103-6059227-3695850?
v=glance&s=books )

‘Dickens on America and the Americans’ by Charles Dickens

(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/
029271517X/qid=1130584493/sr=1-8/ref=sr_1_8/
103-6059227-3695850?v=glance&s=books )

Don’t forget to scroll down for my regular contest round-up for the coming month – we’ve got a bumper harvest of 33

Happy Writing and enjoy your journeys this month!

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Unless otherwise noted, contests are annual and open to all writers.

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Travel Post Hotel Review Contest
http://www.travelpost.com/
weekly

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Transitions Abroad
http://www.transitionsabroad.com/information/
writers/travel_writing_contest.shtml
November 15

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Writers’ Journal Travel Writing Contest
http://www.writersjournal.com/TravelContest.htm
November 30

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Hocking Hills
http://www.1800hocking.com/press/48
December 1

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Speculative Literature Travel Grant
http://www.speculativeliterature.org/Awards/SLFTravelGrant.php
September 30

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Preservation Foundation Contests
http://www.storyhouse.org/
September 30

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Coming Soon to the Writing Contest Department

Forthcoming features will focus on writing for children, speculative fiction, contests with unusual prizes, mystery writing contests, and romantic writing contests.

I’m always looking for new contest types to research so if you’re looking for a particular type of contest for your writing, just drop me a line. I’d also love to hear from you if you win a contest you read about here or if you have a contest to suggest for inclusion. Please note that I will only include contests which are open to writers anywhere in the world as our readers are geographically dispersed.

Contest Deadlines from December 1 to 31

December 1
Doris Bakwin Award for Gutsy & Talented Women Writers
novel, short fiction collection, or memoir
 www.carolinawrenpress.org

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December 1
Scr(i)pt Magazine Contest
Screenplay
http://www.scriptmag.com

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December 1
The Phoebe Winter Fiction Contest
short fiction
http://www.gmu.edu/pubs/phoebe/main.html

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December 1
Dorset Prize
poetry collection
https://www.tupelopress.org/indexssl.shtml

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December 1
Muse Poetry Contest
Poetry
http://www.poetrywest.org/muse.htm

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December 1
The Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition
flash fiction
https://www.writersdigest.com/contests/shortshort/

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December 1
Flume Press Chapbook Competition
short fiction and/or a collection of flash fiction
http://www.csuchico.edu/engl/flumepress/#contest

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December 1
Deathlings Short Fiction Contest
dark short fiction on the theme of Impairment
http://www.deathlings.com/contests.html

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December 1
The Mona Schreiber Prize for Humorous Fiction and Non-Fiction
humor, comedic essays, articles, short stories, poetry, shopping lists and other forms
http://www.brashcyber.com/mona.html

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December 1
Felix Morley Journalism Competition
journalism by younger writers
http://www.theihs.org/subcategory.php/41.html

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December 1
The John Steinbeck Award for The Short Story
short fiction
http://www2.sjsu.edu/reed/

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December 1
Wrekin Writers Limerick Competition
poetry - in the form of a single verse Limerick
http://uk.geocities.com/swhaley@btinternet.com/2005limerickcomp.htm

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December 1
Baltimore Review Short Fiction Contest
short fiction
http://www.baltimorereview.org/contest.html

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December 2
Inner City Life Literacy Competition
Short fiction, poetry
http://www.nswwriterscentre.org.au/

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December 10
Ruth Stone Prize in Poetry
Poetry
http://www.tui.edu/hungermtn/poetry.asp

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December 15
Allegheny Review Contest For poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and art
poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and art written by young undergraduate writers
http://review.allegheny.edu/details.html

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December 15
WaterStone Review Brenda Ueland Prose Prize
short fiction and creative non-fiction
http://www.waterstonereview.com/

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December 16
CrazyHorse Fiction Prize and Lynda Hull Memorial Poetry Prize
short fiction and poetry
http://crazyhorse.cofc.edu/

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December 17
Foster City International Writer's Contest
short fiction, children's story, humorous piece or essay, and poetry
http://www.geocities.com/fostercity_writers/categoriesinfo.html

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December 21
Dead of Winter Writing Contest
short fiction
http://www.toasted-cheese.com/contest.htm

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December 23
Robert H. Winner Memorial Award
poetry by older poets
http://www.poetrysociety.org/psa-awards_gdln.html

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December 31
Griffin Poetry Prize
poetry chapbook
www.griffinpoetryprize.com

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December 31
The Tampa Review Contest for Poetry
poetry chapbook
http://tampareview.ut.edu/tr_prize.html

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December 31
Lantern Books Essay Competition
essays on the animal advocacy, vegetarian, or environmental movements
http://lanternbooks.com/essay.php

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December 31
Euphoria's Poetry Contest
poetry of any genre
http://www.jlabriola.com/id4.html

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December 31
Thoroughbred Times Fiction Contest
short fiction about a facet of the thoroughbred horse industry
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/fiction/default.asp

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December 31
Accenti Magazine's Essay contest
Short fiction / essay
http://www.accenti.ca/_bin/contests/fiction.cfm

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December 31
JBWB Seasonal Contest
Short fiction contest with six categories. You can write your story inspired by the three pictures she provides on the Web site.
http://www.jbwb.co.uk/competition.html

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December 31
SPS Studios Biannual Poetry Card Contest
greeting card poetry
http://www.sps.com/k/poetry/contest.htm

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December 31
Firebrand Fiction / SF Reader Fiction contest
short fiction in horror, slipstream, fantasy, science fiction, steampunk, or alternate history or any other sub-genre
http://www.sfreader.com/story_contest.asp

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December 31
Thomas Merton Poetry Of The Sacred Contest
Poetry
http://www.mertonfoundation.org

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December 31
Words Magazine's Short Story Competition
short fiction on Theme: "Author's Choice.
http://www.wordsmag.com/compcal.htm

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December 31
Dangerous Alice Contest
Write a masterpiece based upon either (or both) of the paintings on the website - The entry can be a flash story, poem, or whatnot
http://www.madhattersreview.com/contest.shtml

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December 31
American Accolades Screenwriting Competition
screenplay in one of five genres; drama, thriller/horror, comedy, sci-fi/action/adventure, and other
http://americanaccolades.com/contest_rules.htm

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Grace Tierney is a freelance writer who lives in Ireland. When she’s not researching writing contests, she enjoys gluttony, reading, gardening, and travel. Her short stories have been published internationally in magazines, books, and online media. Her non-fiction has been published in Ireland, the UK, America, and Australia. She is a staff writer with Writer Online, and Netsurfer Digest. Contact Grace via www.gracetierney.com