2026 SUBMISSIONS CLOSED
Since 1994, the Wisconsin Academy has sponsored the premier annual fiction and poetry contests for Wisconsin writers. The contest submissions are currently under review by our lead judges, best-selling novelist Nick Butler (fiction judge) and Wisconsin Poet Laureate Brenda Cárdenas (poetry judge).
Learn more about this year's contests:
Take me to the Poetry Contest page | Take me to the 2026 Fiction Contest page
PRIZES
- Residency: 1st-place winners receive a five-day artist residency at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts in Mineral Point.
- Cash prizes: $500 for 1st place, $250 for 2nd place, and $100 for 3rd place.
- Public Reading: Winners are invited to read at the Wisconsin Book Festival in October in downtown Madison.
- Publication: Winning writing selections are published in print and online issues of Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine.
All contest judging is done blindly and the winning submissions are selected through criteria established by the individual judges. The writing contests are administered by Matt Rezin, Operations Manager. Thanks also to the Wisconsin Academy donors, members, and our contest sponsors for their support of Wisconsin writers!
Thank you to our sponsors!
