NILSEN LITERARY PRIZE FOR A FIRST NOVEL http://www6.semo.edu/universitypress/nilsennovel.htm — $25 ENTRY FEE The competition is to identify and publish completed fiction manuscripts of high literary quality by authors who have not previously published a full-length novel or novella. Submit previously unpublished novels, novellas, and collections of closely linked short stories. Does not accept manuscripts that have been self-published....

THE CREATIVE WORK FUND http://www.creativeworkfund.org/ — For artists and organizations in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, and Stanislaus counties in California. Currently accepting letters of inquiry from media artists or performing artists. Just finished a deadline for literary artists and traditional artists. Annually, the Creative...

Short Story Contest: Lit Fest Magazine www.litfestmagazine.com Enter a 3,000 word or less short story or article on a topic or theme of your choice. Our favorite each week will run in our WEEKLY SHORT STORY column. Email your writing to: amanda@litfestmagazine.com. Please paste your writing in the body of your email, (attachments will not be opened). Place WEEKLY SHORT STORY in the subject line and don’t forget to give us your...

ESQUIRE SHORT SHORT FICTION CONTEST http://www.esquire.com/promotions/contestandsweeps/fiction-contest — Deadline October 7, 2011. Top ten finalists will receive reimbursement for up to $500 from Aspen Writer’s Foundation for a roundtrip economy plane ticket to New York City from anywhere in the 50 United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada, reimbursement for up to $500 for two nights lodging in New York City to be...

The 10th Annual FundsforWriters Essay Contest seeks nonfiction submissions. First prize $400. Five additional cash prizes. Zero entry fee and $5 entry fee categories. Theme: Diligence. Limit 750 words. Email submissions only. Receipt deadline: Midnight (Eastern Time), October 31, 2011 Guidelines at www.fundsforwriters.com/annualcontest.htm

TOM HOWARD/JOHN H. REID POETRY CONTEST – LAST CALL! Ninth year. Ten cash prizes totaling $5,550. Top prize $3,000. Submit poems in any style or genre. Both published and unpublished work accepted. All entries that win cash prizes will be published on WinningWriters.com (over one million page views per year) and announced in the Winning Writers Newsletter, with over 35,000 subscribers. Entry fee is $7 for every 25 lines, payable to Winning...

The Sitcom Mission Prizes: £5000 script commission from Hat Trick Productions Entry fees: £10 early bird, £15 final deadline Closing date 24 January 2012 (early bird) 31 January 2012 (final deadline) Brief contest details:  Write a 15-minute sitcom episode Visit the website: http://www.sitcommission.com Contact info: info@sitcommission.com