$10.00

JACOBS/JONES AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERARY PRIZE

Postmark Deadline: January 2 (annual)
Submissions Accepted: November 1 – January 2

The Jacobs/Jones African-American Literary Prize honors Harriet Jacobs and Thomas Jones, two pioneering African-American writers from North Carolina, and seeks to convey the rich and varied existence of African-American/Black North Carolinians. The contest is administered by the Creative Writing Program at UNC-Chapel Hill. The winner receives $1,000 and possible publication of the winning entry in The Carolina Quarterly.

Eligibility and Guidelines

  • The competition is open to any African-American/Black writer whose primary residence is in North Carolina.
  • Entries may be fiction or creative nonfiction, but must be unpublished, no more than 3,000 words, and concerned with the lives and experiences of African-American/Black North Carolinians. Entries may be excerpts from longer works, but must be self-contained. Entries will be judged on literary merit.
  • An entry fee must accompany each submission: $10 for NCWN members, $20 for nonmembers. You may submit multiple entries, but the correct fee must accompany each one.
  • You may pay the members’ entry fee if you join the NCWN when you submit.
  • Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.
  • The author’s name should not appear on the manuscript.
  • The winner will be announced in February.

For questions, please contact mail@ncwriters.org.

$20.00

JACOBS/JONES AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERARY PRIZE

Postmark Deadline: January 2 (annual) Submissions Accepted: November 1 – January 2

The Jacobs/Jones African-American Literary Prize honors Harriet Jacobs and Thomas Jones, two pioneering African-American writers from North Carolina, and seeks to convey the rich and varied existence of African-American/Black North Carolinians. The contest is administered by the Creative Writing Program at UNC-Chapel Hill. The winner receives $1,000 and possible publication of the winning entry in The Carolina Quarterly.

Eligibility and Guidelines

  • The competition is open to any African-American/Black writer whose primary residence is in North Carolina.
  • Entries may be fiction or creative nonfiction, but must be unpublished, no more than 3,000 words, and concerned with the lives and experiences of African-American/Black North Carolinians. Entries may be excerpts from longer works, but must be self-contained. Entries will be judged on literary merit.
  • An entry fee must accompany each submission: $10 for NCWN members, $20 for nonmembers. You may submit multiple entries, but the correct fee must accompany each one.
  • You may pay the members’ entry fee if you join the NCWN when you submit.
  • Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.
  • The author’s name should not appear on the manuscript.
  • The winner will be announced in February.

For questions, please contact mail@ncwriters.org.

$10.00

The Rose Post Creative Nonfiction Competition, sponsored by the North Carolina Writers' Network, encourages the creation of lasting nonfiction that is outside the realm of conventional journalism and has relevance to North Carolinians. Subjects may include traditional categories such as reviews, travel articles, profiles or interviews, place/history pieces, or culture criticism. The first-, second-, and third-place winners will receive $1,000, $300, and $200 respectively. The winning entry will be considered for publication by Ecotone.

Eligibility and Guidelines

  • The competition is open to any writer who is a legal resident of North Carolina or a member of the North Carolina Writers’ Network.
  • The postmark deadline is January 15.
  • The entry fee is $10 for NCWN members, $12 for nonmembers.
  • Entries can be submitted in one of two ways: Send two printed copies through the U.S. Postal Service (see guidelines and address below), along with a check for the appropriate fee, made payable to the North Carolina Writers' Network.
    Submit an electronic copy online at http://ncwriters.submittable.com, and pay by VISA or MasterCard.
  • Simultaneous submissions ok, but please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.
  • Each entry must be an original and previously unpublished manuscript of no more than 3,500 words, typed in a 12-point standard font (i.e., Times New Roman) and double-spaced.
  • Author's name should not appear on manuscripts. Instead, include a separate cover sheet with name, address, phone number, e-mail address, word count, and manuscript title. (If submitting online, do not include a cover sheet with your document; Submittable will collect and record your name and contact information.)
  • An entry fee must accompany the manuscript. Multiple submissions are accepted, one manuscript per entry fee: $10 for NCWN members, $12 for nonmembers.
  • You may pay the member entry fee if you join NCWN with your submission. Checks should be made payable to the North Carolina Writers’ Network.
  • Entries will not be returned. Winners will be announced in March.


$12.00

The Rose Post Creative Nonfiction Competition, sponsored by the North Carolina Writers' Network, encourages the creation of lasting nonfiction that is outside the realm of conventional journalism and has relevance to North Carolinians. Subjects may include traditional categories such as reviews, travel articles, profiles or interviews, place/history pieces, or culture criticism. The first-, second-, and third-place winners will receive $1,000, $300, and $200 respectively. The winning entry will be considered for publication by Ecotone.

Eligibility and Guidelines

  • The competition is open to any writer who is a legal resident of North Carolina or a member of the North Carolina Writers’ Network.
  • The postmark deadline is January 15.
  • The entry fee is $10 for NCWN members, $12 for nonmembers.
  • Entries can be submitted in one of two ways: Send two printed copies through the U.S. Postal Service (see guidelines and address below), along with a check for the appropriate fee, made payable to the North Carolina Writers' Network.
    Submit an electronic copy online at http://ncwriters.submittable.com, and pay by VISA or MasterCard.
  • Simultaneous submissions ok, but please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.
  • Each entry must be an original and previously unpublished manuscript of no more than 3.500 words, typed in a 12-point standard font (i.e., Times New Roman) and double-spaced.
  • Author's name should not appear on manuscripts. Instead, include a separate cover sheet with name, address, phone number, e-mail address, word count, and manuscript title. (If submitting online, do not include a cover sheet with your document; Submittable will collect and record your name and contact information.)
  • An entry fee must accompany the manuscript. Multiple submissions are accepted, one manuscript per entry fee: $10 for NCWN members, $12 for nonmembers.
  • You may pay the member entry fee if you join NCWN with your submission. Checks should be made payable to the North Carolina Writers’ Network.
  • Entries will not be returned. Winners will be announced in March.


$15.00

Postmark deadline: January 30 (annual)
Submissions accepted: December 1 – January 30


The Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize honors
internationally celebrated North Carolina novelist Thomas Wolfe. The
winner receives $1,000 and possible publication in The Thomas Wolfe Review.

Eligibility and Guidelines


  • The competition is open to all writers regardless of
    geographical location or prior publication.
  • Submit an unpublished fiction manuscript
    - short story or self-contained novel excerpt - not to exceed 3,000 words, double-spaced, 1" margins, 12-pt. Times New Roman font.
  • Do not include a cover sheet with your document; Submittable will collect
    and record your name and contact information.
  • An entry fee must accompany the manuscript: $15 for
    NCWN members, $25 for nonmembers
    .
  • The entry fee is per submission. You may submit
    multiple entries.
  • You may pay the member entry fee if you join the NCWN when you submit.
  • The winner is announced each April.
  • Simultaneous submissions ok, but please notify us
    immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.

$25.00

Postmark deadline: January 30 (annual)
Submissions accepted: December 1 – January 30


The Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize honors
internationally celebrated North Carolina novelist Thomas Wolfe. The
winner receives $1,000 and possible publication in The Thomas Wolfe Review.


Eligibility and Guidelines




  • The competition is open to all writers regardless of
    geographical location or prior publication.
  • Submit an unpublished fiction manuscript
    - short story or self-contained novel excerpt - not to exceed 3,000 words, double-spaced, 1" margins, 12-pt. Times New Roman font.
  • Do not include a cover sheet with your document; Submittable will collect
    and record your name and contact information.
  • An entry fee must accompany the manuscript: $15 for
    NCWN members, $25 for nonmembers
    .
  • The entry fee is per submission. You may submit
    multiple entries.
  • You may pay the member entry fee if you join the NCWN when you submit.
  • The winner is announced each April.
  • Simultaneous submissions ok, but please notify us
    immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.





North Carolina Writers' Network