On February 17, the Institute hosted a Writers’ Lunch discussion about Writing for Contests. One of the main topics was how to find legitimate contests worth one’s time. This brought to our attention the wonderful database of writing contests, grants, and awards maintained by Poets and Writers Magazine. The database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that have been published in the magazine during the past year. These opportunities have been vetted for legitimacy, fair policy, and procedure.
Reading the companion blog will keep you apprised of upcoming deadlines, recent contest winners, and the prize$ awarded. That is not all the wonders that Poets and Writers offers! It’s rich website (pw.org) includes the Directory of Poets & Writers, which provides contact information, publication credits, and biographical information for more than 9,300 authors, databases of literary magazines and journals, small and independent presses, literary agents, MFA programs, writing contests, literary places, and a national literary events calendar, along with select content from Poets & Writers Magazine.
All in all, Poets and Writers Magazine is impressive as an essential part of one’s literary life. You can subscribe to the bi-monthly magazine in print (very reasonably priced) or you can enjoy it electronically via your Mechanics’ Institute membership. Connect to it here in electronic format using your favorite reading device. You can also find other e-magazines in our collection here.
So go ahead, enter a contest and start your literary career with a win!
Don’t forget to attend the next Writers’ Lunch on March 17 @ Noon. The topic for March is Starting and Managing a Writers’ Critique Group.
Photo credit (typewriter) Image by Valerio Errani from Pixabay
