Lake: A Journal of Arts and Environment invites creative non-fiction submissions on the topic “Places That Shape Us.” Lake publishes essays, creative writing and visual art related to the environment. The winner will receive $250 and publication in issue #8 of Lake. Non-fiction may include personal essay, lyric essay, narrative essay, and memoir. The $20 entrance fee includes a one-year subscription to Lake, starting with issue #7. Entries...

Enter to win BookBaby’s ultimate book publishing sweepstakes Join the thousands of authors who have turned to BookBaby to help realize their dream of publishing their book. BookBaby offers an affordable way for authors to publish eBooks, distribute them to the world’s biggest online bookstores, and get custom, premium quality printed books in the format that best fits their genre – and now you have a chance to win all of this and more! You can...

Enter the 2012 LitPOP Awards Matrix Magazine and POP Montreal are searching for poetry and short fiction submissions to the 2012 LitPOP Awards. Prize includes airfare, accommodation and a VIP pass to the POP Montreal Festival plus publication in Matrix Magazine. Entry fee $25. Visit: www.matrixmagazine.org/litpop and www.popmontreal.com for more information. Deadline: July 1, 2012. Incredible prizes for incredible writing: The POP Montreal...

Benjamin Saltman Poetry Award For a full manuscript of poetry. 48 page minimum. Judge: Katharine Coles Award: $3,000 and publication of the collection with Red Hen Press. Entry: $25 Deadline: August 31, 2012  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Short Story Award Up to two stories can be submitted, maximum 25 pages each. Judge: Mary Guterson Award: $1,000 and publication in The Los Angeles Review. Entry: $20 Deadline: June 30, 2012  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ruskin...

Salamander 2012 Fiction Prize $1,500 Honorarium and Publication Final Judge: Carolyn Cooke Submit May 15 through June 15, 2012 Reading Fee: $15 Carolyn Cooke’s short fiction has appeared in AGNI, The Paris Review, Ploughshares, and several volumes of Best American Short Stories and Prize Stories: The O. Henry Awards. Her short-story collection, The Bostons, was a winner of the PEN/Bingham Award and named one of the best books of the year...

Enter the Fifth Annual Real Simple Life Lessons Contest (http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/life-strategies/inspiration-motivation/second-annual-life-lessons-essay-contest-00000000013682/)  and You Could Win $3000. Tell us:  If you could change one decision that you made in the past, what would it be? ONE WINNER WILL RECEIVE:  •  $3,000  •  Round-trip tickets for two to New York City, hotel accommodations for two nights, tickets to a Broadway...

Does the World Inspire You? Summer Contest Reading Period May 30 to July 30, 2012 Do you have an essay or poems inspired by your observations of the world around you? It could be a scene or event in nature or even the world outside your window. Perhaps we can challenge you to write one especially for this contest. Like some of our past contests, this one includes the opportunity for revision because Sheila believes in second chances. She will...