DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: MARCH 15, 2026
Since 1994, the Wisconsin Academy has sponsored the premier annual fiction and poetry contests for Wisconsin writers. The contests are open to all Wisconsin residents and students age 18 and older. The submission window opens on January 15, 2026. We invite emerging and established writers to send in their best works by March 15, 2026 for consideration 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
WIN GREAT 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!
Get to know past contest winners and read their work using the links in the sidebar on the right →
Congratulations to the 2025 Fiction Winners!
First Prize:
“Counting Crows” by Elizabeth Hendricks (New Berlin)
Second Prize:
“Full House” by John Mulvihill (New Glarus)
Third Prize:
“Waiting” by Hannah Greendale (Waunakee)
Congratulations to the 2025 Poetry Winners!
First Prize:
“Julia” by Alison Thumel (Madison)
Second Prize:
“First draft of a letter of support, ghost-written by the patient” by Lex Williams Page (Madison)
Third Prize:
“I realize too late this was a test” by Breanna Grow (Madison)
Honorable Mention in Poetry:
“Field Notes” by Rodlyn-mae Banting (Madison)
“After" by Pamela Gates (Madison)
“Little Lake Butte des Morts" by Lora Keller (Milwaukee)
“Breaking the Ice” by Catherine Young (Blue River)
2025 WP&I Fiction Finalists
Tom Alesia; Ruthie Brenner; Caitlyn de Araujo; Elise Gregory; Jim Landwehr; Ryan Mulrooney; Lawrence Simmons
2025 WP&I Poetry Finalists
Paul Creswell; Susan Foley; Dana Maya; Noreen McAuliffe; Karen Redfield; Valeria Rodrigo Rojas; Jo Scheder; Kathleen Serley; Katrina Serwe
