2025 Seven Hills Literary Contest and Penumbra Poetry and Haiku Contest

The Seven Hills Literary Contest/Penumbra Poetry and Haiku Contest is open for entries! Sponsored annually by the Tallahassee Writers Association, the contest is open to English-language entries from around the world.

The contestincludes Poetry and Haiku, and spotlights different prose categories each year. This year, the organizer’s are doing something a little different: The Poetry category will be two categories–one for shorter poems (maximum 100 lines) and one for prose poetry (maximum 500 words). There will be a change in the Haiku category, too. This year, the 5-7-5 structure is a guideline rather than a strict requirement. Haiku entries should evoke the sense of the traditional Japanese haiku.

In addition, there are two prose categories, Florida Fiction and Fantasy/Science Fiction. Both require the first 7,500 words of a full-length novel plus a synopsis (300-500 words).

Winning entries (first, second, and third place in each category) receive cash prizes and an electronic certificate and are published in the 2026 Seven Hills Review, along with a short author bio. Additionally, first-place winners in each category will receive a complimentary copy of the 2026 Seven Hills Review.

Is this competition legit?YES! – Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any event, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work.

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If you are curious how writing competitions work, or it’s your first time entering one, we recommend reading our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page first.

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