Below are the details for five free poetry contests in the order of the upcoming deadlines in December and January. Also listed are links to other sites who list creative writing contests on a regular basis.
Amazon's Little A Poetry Contest
DEADLINE: December 20, 2015
ELIGIBILITY: Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia
NOTES: "We accept manuscripts from poets who have published no more than one full-length book of poetry (not including chapbooks)."
FORMS: full-length poetry collections (60-100 pages in length)
PRIZE: "One Grand Prize winner will receive a Grand Prize package, which has a total approximate retail value ("ARV") of $7,000.00 USD and includes: $5,000 cash prize; and a publishing contract with Amazon Publishing, including a $2,000 cash advance."
The Society of Classical Poets - 2016 Poetry Competition
DEADLINE: December 31, 2015
ELIGIBILITY: Anyone can enter, poetry must be in English
NOTES: "The poems must be within the four themes used by the Society (at least one poem must be in the Falun Dafa theme or about the plight of the Chinese people under communism in general). Metered and rhymed poetry is preferred but not required. We usually do not publish love poems, free verse, or overly dark poems that don’t teach a positive lesson.”
FORMS: poetry
PRIZE: First place $500, Orange County/New York Poetry Prize $100, copy of journal
The Push [START] to Begin Chapbook Contest
DEADLINE: December 31, 2015
ELIGIBILITY: No restrictions listed, assume poetry must be in English
NOTES: Submissions must be "inspired by video games"
FORMS: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and hybrid work
PRIZE: "The winner will receive publication in the form of a digital chapbook (see our previous chapbooks as examples) and a cash prize of $150, along with 100% of the donations given by readers."
The Stephen A DiBiase Poetry Prize
DEADLINE: January 29, 2016
ELIGIBILITY: No restrictions listed, assume poetry must be in English
NOTES: Postal entries only
FORMS: poetry
PRIZE: "There is $1,000 in total awards (with at least $500 to the top entry) on the line."
NFSPS 2016 College Undergraduate Poetry Competition
DEADLINE: Submit between December 1, 2015 and January 31, 2016
ELIGIBILITY: "Undergraduates working toward a degree in an accredited U.S. college or university during the contest submission period are eligible to enter the CUP Competition."
FORMS: 10 previously unpublished poems
PRIZE: $500, chapbook publication, 75 printed chapbooks, $300 traveling stipend
Other Contest List Links
Freelance Writing Creative Writing Contests with NO Fees
27 Free Writing Contests: Legitimate Competitions With Cash Prizes