For many writers, nothing spurs creativity like deadlines. Like we always say, we are all temporarily superhuman in the face of deadlines. Include a reward for beating the deadlines, and you have just created the biggest motivation for any writer. Here are some contests and opportunities to enter your work. Each of these opportunities for writers is free to enter, and most of them have financial rewards. So, take advantage!

Food Poetry Contest|Poets in Nigeria

Deadline: 13th November

All over the world, the question “What shall we eat, what shall we drink?” has always bothered us. Concerns for food remain the primary need of man from time immemorial. In this edition of PIN Food Poetry Contest, we are interested in hearing your thoughts about food, using the medium of poetry. Use your lines to address the issues of hunger, food production and availability. How do you ask the question “What Shall We Eat… What Shall We Drink?” and how do you provide answers not just to the question as it is, but to the needs of the stomach?

Remember that poetry is the expression of feelings and thoughts. For the purpose of this contest, your ability to deploy poetic devices and beautiful language in the exploration of the theme is key.

GUIDELINES

-Open to all poets irrespective of location.

-Submissions must be in line with the theme.

-Entries should make adequate use of imagery appealing to the senses.

-Entries must be previously unpublished in any form.

-An entrant can submit only one poem, with limitless word count.

-Entries must be original, intellectual property of the entrants.

-Entering for the contest gives PIN automatic right to make use of your works as deemed appropriate.

-All submissions must be written in English. Include a glossary section for native terms.

-Submissions should be accompanied by biography, photograph and contact information (name, email address and phone number).

-All Sumissions should be sent as body of the mail to pinfoodpoetry@gmail.com

-The total cash prize for this edition of the contest is N30,000 to be shared as 15, 000, N10, 000 and N5,000 among the top three winners.

LIBRETTO Magazine

Deadline: 15th November

“The Libretto Magazine of Arts and Publishing. We publish two issues a year — June and December.

For the issue 04, themed; Transcendence, Libretto Magazine is pleased to announce its call for submissions. Libretto Magazine is looking for unique works with strong sense of imagery, emotion, with interesting and surprising use of language, words that resonate, bold and elegant, styles that push boundaries.

Send in your euphorias and fears, your faiths and doubts, your silences and interests. We want voice. We want craft.

Show us only your best thoughts. We will be extremely selective.”

Read complete guidelines here

END SARS Poetry Competition

Deadline: 15th November

Samson Abanni Foundation presents the ENDSARS Poetry Competition. Entrants are expected to submit a single 25 line poem on police brutality. Post the flyer on your facebook page and send entries to samsonabanni@gmail.com on or before the deadline.

Rougarou  Submissions

Deadline: 21st November

“Please refer to specific genre parameters on our Submittable page, as all of our submission go through Submittable. We ask that writers submit only once every 4 months. We hope to respond to all submissions within 6 months. If you do not receive a response within six months, please check on the status of your submission in Submittable; if you encounter any problems, email us at rougaroueditors@gmail.com. Include your email address in your submission and a brief, third person bio in the “Cover Letter” box that we may use should we choose to publish your work. We do not accept previously published work. Simultaneous submissions are welcomed, but please notify us via Submittable if your work is accepted elsewhere.

Details, here

Agbowo

Deadline: 30th November

The editorial team of Agbowo is pleased to announce a new schedule for reading and responding to your submissions. The new schedule will see each year divided into four quarters; Q1 (January – March), Q2 (April – June), Q3 (July – September), and Q4 (October to December).

The submission window is open to read poems, essays, fiction, interviews, plays, for Q1. The renumeration is fair and there is no reading fee.

Details, here

Lunaris Review Submissions

Deadline: 30th November

“Lunaris Review accepts submissions in all fiction, non-fiction, art/photography and poetry categories except erotica and chic lit. Because of the new biannual schedule of publication, we have a structured submission window.

We accept only electronic submissions. All submissions should be sent to submit@lunaris.com.ng.

All submissions should be emailed as attachments, accompanied by a cover, and all files/documents attached should be saved as a word document, titled the name of the contributor, and should include a short bio of not more than 100 words.

Details, here

The Sillerman First Book Prize

Deadline:1st December

The Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry is awarded annually to an African poet who has not yet published a collection of poetry. The winner receives USD $1000 and book publication through the University of Nebraska Press and Amalion Press in Senegal.

The Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poets will only accept “first book” submissions from African writers who have not published a book-length poetry collection. This includes self-published books if they were sold online, in stores, or at readings. Writers who have edited and published an anthology or a similar collection of other writers’ work remain eligible.

An “African writer” is taken to mean someone who was born in Africa, who is a national or resident of an African country, or whose parents are African.

Only poetry submissions in English can be considered. Work translated from another language to English is accepted, but a percentage of the prize will be awarded to the translator.

See full details here

Brunel Poetry Prize, 2021

Deadline: 2nd December

1. The prize is open to African poets, defined as those who were born in Africa, or who are nationals of an African country, or whose parents are African.

2. The prize is open to African poets who have not yet had a full-length poetry book published. Self-published poetry books, chapbooks and pamphlets are exempt from this stipulation.

3. Only poems written in English are accepted. Poems translated into English are also accepted with a percentage of the prize going to the translator.

4. The prize opens for submissions from October 1st 2017 to December 1st 2017. Each entrant must submit 10 poems to be eligible, no more and no less. There is no stipulation as to the content of submitted poems.

6. The poems may have been previously published or won previous awards.

7. All entries must be submitted via email only to BUAPP@brunel.ac.uk.

An acknowledgement will be sent. (Please note that email enquiries about the rules will not be answered.)

8. Under no circumstances can alterations be made to poems once entered.

Details, here

Read also: Reasons Why You Should Submit Your Work To Eboquills

Afritondo Short Story Prize

Deadline: 9th December

“Afritondo is calling for submissions for the second edition of the Afritondo Short Story Prize. The prize is for an unpublished work of fiction between 3000 and 5000 words.”

“Recent global events such as the Black Lives Matter protests have again brought issues of race and prejudice to the fore. In this vein, we invite you to submit stories on the theme of “identity”. As always, we want to be surprised and thoroughly entertained, so feel free to play around with the theme. A good story for this prize will offer novel insight into the theme, explore characters in refreshing and imaginative ways, and challenge the art of storytelling.”

The prize value sums up to $1,400

Details, here

Festival Poetry Calabar, 2020

Date: 16-19th December

As a part of the events to usher in the 2020 edition of Festival Poetry Calabar, there will be a virtual poetry slam to hold on Instagram. One-minute video in pidgin or English to win N30,000 in each category (For details, see flyer)

Festival Poetry Calabar will be held virtually and physically. The ever-lively local organizing team is promising to up their game. The regular Walk for Poetry will feature to make a case against depression. There will also be room for performances of poetry and lots of interesting items on the agenda.

To be a part of this, register here

The PAN African Writers Association (PAWA)

Deadline: 20th December

“The Pan African Association (PAWA), and the Centre for Intellectual Renewal (CIR) in Accra, Ghana are jointly calling for submission for publication in an anthology of contemporary stories from Africa and the Diaspora. The theme is “Voices that Sing Behind the Veil.” Writers must be African, born in an African country, or in Diaspora.”

Details, here

San Antonio Review

“We encourage writers and artists to submit their work for online and print publication by San Antonio Review. San Antonio Review does not charge for submission, review or publication. Failure to read and follow submission guidelines can postpone or prevent publication, however. Be sure to complete the datasheet midway through this page so we can contact you, too.

Genres include but are not limited to Poetry, Visual Art, Fiction, Excerpts, Reviews, Critical Theory, Essays, Music, Spoken Word (Audio)…”

Details, here

Best wishes!