25 Writing Contests in July - No entry fees

July is a busy month for writing contests. The 25 free contests featured this month include every genre, and prizes span the gamut - from publication to 6-digit awards.

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John Glassco Translation Prize. Sponsored by Literary Translators' Association of Canada.Restrictions: Open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents only. Genre: The work submitted must be the translator's first published book-length translation into English or French. The book must have been published between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015. Prize: $1000. Deadline: July 1, 2015.

Kate Tufts Discovery Award. Sponsored by Claremont Graduate University. Restrictions: Poets must be citizens or legal resident aliens of the United States. Genre: Poetry. Book must be author's first full-length book of poetry, published between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015. Self-published books are accepted. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: July 1, 2015.

Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. Sponsored by Claremont Graduate University. Restrictions: Poets must be citizens or legal resident aliens of the United States. Genre: Poetry. The work submitted must be a first book of poetry published between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015. Manuscripts, CDs, and chapbooks are not accepted. Prize: $100,000. Deadline: July 1, 2015.

Montgomery County Writing Contest. Restrictions: Open to Montgomery County residents only. Genre: Fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Prize: $250 and publication in Montgomery Magazine. Runners-up will receive $100 and have their work published on montgomerymag.com. Deadline: July 1, 2015.

Richard J. Margolis Award. Genre: Journalism. Prize is awarded annually to a promising new journalist or essayist whose work combines warmth, humor, wisdom and concern with social justice. Prize: $5,000 and one month of residency at Blue Mountain Center. Deadline: July 1, 2015.

We Said Go Travel Writing Contest. Theme Independence: A Place that Makes You Feel Free to be Yourself. Prize: 1st Prize – $500 usd cash 2nd Prize – $100 usd cash 3rd Prize – $50 usd cash. Deadline: July 4, 2015.

The Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award. Sponsored by Sisters in Crime. Restrictions: Open to emerging writers of color. An unpublished writer is preferred, although publication of one work of short fiction or academic work will not disqualify an applicant. Prize: $1,500. Deadline: July 5, 2015.

Glamour: "My Real Life Essay" Contest. Restrictions: Open only to legal residents of the 50 U.S./D.C. Genre: Essay. "Every woman has an inspiring true story somewhere inside her. Is it about the time you overcame an obstacle, tested your courage, met the love of your life, or found your passion?" Prize: $5,000 and publication. Deadline: July 15, 2015.

Linda Flowers Literary Award. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. "Submissions should detail examinations of intimate, provocative, and inspiring portraiture of North Carolina, its people and cultures, bringing to light real men and women having to make their way in the face of change, loss, triumph, and disappointments." Prize: $500 and a stipend for a writer’s residency at Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities in Southern Pines, North Carolina. Deadline: July 15, 2015.

The Undergraduate No-Fee Contest. Sponsored by Sandy River Review. Restrictions: Undergraduates enrolled in college or a Spring 2015 graduate. Genres: Fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Prize $100. Deadline: July 15, 2015.

Middle and High School Teacher Creative Non-Fiction Writing Award Competition. Genre: Creative nonfiction. Restrictions: Open to full- and part-time middle and high school teachers. Teachers may submit one piece of writing with a maximum of 20 single-spaced pages. Prize: $5,000 and travel and lodging to attend a special award ceremony in Fall 2015. Deadline: July 16, 2015.

Fenton Aldeburgh First Collection Prize. Restrictions: Book must be published in UK. Genre: Poetry collection. Prize: £2,500, a week of ‘protected’ writing time on the East Suffolk coast, plus a fee-paying invitation to read at the 2016 Aldeburgh Poetry Festival. Any first collection of at least 40 pages with primary publication in the UK and Republic of Ireland between 1 August 2014 and 31 July 2015 is eligible. Deadline: July 24, 2015.

The New Writers Award. Sponsored by the thirteen members of the Great Lakes Colleges Association. Genre: First published volume of poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction. Prize: $500. Deadline: July 25, 2015.

Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction. Restrictions: Books must be English-language, first-edition trade books published by a Canadian press, written by Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. Titles must be published between September 18, 2014 and September 17, 2015. Genre: Literary nonfiction including, among other forms, works of personal or journalistic essays, memoirs, commentary, criticism both social and political, history, and biography. Prize: Winner: $60,000; Finalists: $5,000. Deadline: July 29, 2015.

Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. Restrictions: Books must be English-language, first-edition trade books published by a Canadian press, written by Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. Titles must be published between October 1, 2014 and September 30, 2015. Genre: Novel or short-story collection. Prize: Winner: $25,000; Finalists: $2,500. Deadline: July 29, 2015.

The Asher Literary Award. Restrictions: Open to published female authors from Australia or New Zealand. Genre: Poetry or prose. Work must carry an anti-war theme. Prize: $12,000 AU. Deadline: July 30, 2015.

Bastiat Prize for Journalism. Established in 2002 by the International Policy Network. Genre: Journalism. Articles must have been published in English for the first time June 30, 2014 and July 31, 2015. Prize: The total prize fund is $16,000, divided between first ($10,000), second ($5,000) and third ($1,000) prize winners. Deadline: July 31, 2015.

Eden Mills Teen Poetry Contest. This year’s theme: SECRETS and DREAMS. Restrictions: Open to Canadian teens. Genre: Poetry. Prize: 2 $50 prizes, 2 $25 prizes. Deadline: July 31, 2015.

Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award. Restrictions: Open to young poets age 11 - 17. Genre: Poetry. Prize: Publication. Deadline: July 31, 2015.

Harvill Secker Young Translators’ Prize. Restrictions; Entrants must be between 18 and 34 years of age on the submission deadline. Genre: Translation from Polish to English. Prize: £1000 and a selection of Harvill Secker titles. Deadline: July 31, 2015.

Landfall Essay Competition. Restrictions: Open to New Zealand writers. Genre: Essay about New Zealand. Prize: The winner will receive $3000 and a year’s subscription to Landfall. The winning entry/ies will be published in the November 2015 issue of Landfall. Deadline: July 31, 2015.

The Linda Bruckheimer Series in Kentucky Literature. Restrictions: Contest is open to any writer of English: who is a native of Kentucky, or who has lived in Kentucky for at least two years, or whose manuscript is set in or about Kentucky. Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction. Prize: Publication by Sarabande Press. Deadline: July 31, 2015.

Platt Family Scholarship Prize Essay Contest. Restrictions: Open to students who are FULL TIME, undergraduate students in an AMERICAN COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY during the Spring 2015 semester. Genre: Essay "If Lincoln has lived." Prize: 1st Prize $1500 | 2nd Prize $750 | 3rd Prize $500. Deadline: July 31, 2015.

Stone Canoe. Restrictions: Open to people who live or have lived in Upstate New York (not New York City). Genres: Drama, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art. Prize: $500 and publication. Deadline: July 31, 2015.

SLF Diverse Writers and Diverse Worlds Grants. Restrictions: Open to writers from underrepresented and underprivileged groups, such as writers of color, women, queer writers, disabled writers, working-class writers, etc. -- those whose marginalized identities may present additional obstacles in the writing / publishing process. Genres: Book-length works (novels, collections of short stories) of speculative fiction. Prize: $500. Deadline: July 31, 2015.