The Best Essay Writing Contests of 2023
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Ploughshares
In the spirit of the journal 's founding mission, the Ploughshares Emerging Writer's Contest recognizes work by an emerging writer in each of three genres: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. One winner in each genre per year will receive $2,000 and publication in the literary journal. Authors are considered "emerging" if they haven 't published or self-published a book.
$2,000
Publication in Ploughshares
💰 Fee: $24
Deadline: May 15, 2022 (Expired)
Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestUnleash Press
Writers are invited to submit novels, short story collections and creative nonfiction manuscripts. The Editors' Prize winner receives a publication contract with Unleash Press and $1000 prize, along with 10 printed copies of the final book. We may also offer publication contracts to additional outstanding manuscripts.
$1,000
Publishing contract
💰 Fee: $35
Deadline: December 31, 2023
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Novel, Short Story
View contestFountain Magazine
We want to hear your COVID-19 story. What has the virus taught you about life? If you were not infected, what has your experience been like as an “outsider?” We encourage our contestants to explore this issue in a way that is most meaningful to them, and to do so while making sure to avoid speculative narratives and political polarization.
$1,000
$500, $300, $150
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: April 01, 2022 (Expired)
Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction
View contestLucas Aykroyd
The Irene Adler Prize offers a $1,000 US scholarship to a woman pursuing a degree in journalism, creative writing, or literature at a recognized post-secondary institution in the U.S. or Canada, based on an essay competition.
$1,000
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: May 30, 2022 (Expired)
Essay
View contestRed Hen Press
Established in 2018, the Women’s Prose Prize is for previously unpublished, original work of prose. Novels, short story collections, memoirs, essay collections, and all other forms of prose writing are eligible for consideration. The awarded manuscript is selected through a biennial competition, held in even-numbered years, that is open to all writers who identify as women.
$1,000
Publication by Red Hen Press
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: February 28, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, Essay, Memoir, Novel
View contestLeague of Utah Writers
The Olive Woolley Burt Awards are open to the general public for previously unpublished work. Discounts for entry given to members of the League of Utah Writers.
$150
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: May 13, 2022 (Expired)
Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Science Writing, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestDandy Writers
Submit a story of no more than 200 words. Your submission must be in line with the theme of the month. A writer is only permitted to submit one application per month. No more than one application. No plagiarism, even if it’s your work already published. Your work must be yours. Your data entered must be accurate. You must pay the entry fee. Note: Failure to comply with these rules will result to your application cancelled. And your entry fee will not be refunded. Thanks as you obey these rules.
$300
Writing Job
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: May 30, 2023
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Short Story
View contestFanStory.com Inc.
Write about an event in your life. Everyone has a memoir. Not an autobiography. Too much concern about fact and convention. A memoir gives us the ability to write about our life with the option to create and fabricate and to make sense of a life, or part of that life.
$100
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: September 15, 2022 (Expired)
Essay, Memoir
View contestGlobe Soup
We’re looking for the best Short Memoir of no more than 3,000 words. A short memoir is a piece of creative nonfiction in which the writer explores a single episode of their life or a small selection of vignettes, connected by a common theme. The theme for this year’s competition is 'Places that have made me, changed me, or inspired me'. All participants can get extensive feedback on their entry and take part in our free Monthly Micro Writing Contests.
$1,000
💰 Fee: $16
Deadline: May 17, 2022 (Expired)
Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction
View contestArts Lounge NYC
In most West African countries, queer people live in constant fear, abused by both public and private agencies that refuse to acknowledge their rights to live and love freely. This contest and anthology celebrates their tenacity and their refusal to be silenced. Honorarium will be given to the top three best selected entries to acknowledge the excellency of their craft and to encourage visibility through writing. All shortlisted submissions will be published.
$1,000
$750 for second place, $500 for third
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: September 15, 2021 (Expired)
Essay, LGBTQ, Non-fiction
View contestJane Austen Society of North America
JASNA conducts an annual student Essay Contest to foster the study and appreciation of Jane Austen's works in new generations of readers. Students world-wide are invited to compete for scholarship awards in three divisions: high school, college, and graduate school.
$1,000 scholarship
Two nights’ lodging for JASNA’s Annual General Meeting
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: June 02, 2022 (Expired)
Children's, Essay
View contestBill of Rights Institute
The Bill of Rights Institute engages, educates, and empowers individuals with a passion for the freedom and opportunity that exist in a free society. Students in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Armed Forces schools abroad, and students in United States territories are eligible to participate in its contest.
$7,500
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: April 15, 2021 (Expired)
Children's, Essay
View contestNowhere Magazine
We are looking for young, old, novice and veteran writers to send us stories that possess a powerful sense of place. Stories can be fiction, nonfiction, poetry or essay.
$1,000
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: December 15, 2021 (Expired)
Essay, Non-fiction, Poetry, Fiction
View contestJustice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms
The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms asks Canadian students to answer (in 1000-2500 words) the following question: Should citizens who refuse to get vaccinated have the same rights and freedoms as those who do get vaccinated? This contest is open to all Canadian youth who will be between the age of 15–24 on the date they submit their essay.
$2,000
$1000 for 2nd, $500 for 3rd
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: October 31, 2021 (Expired)
Essay, Non-fiction
View contestHidden River Arts
Hidden River Arts offers an award of $1,000 and publication by Hidden River Press, an imprint of Hidden River Publishing, for an original collection of essays. Previous publication of individual essays is acceptable, as long as you include the list of the published essays, the journals and magazines where they appeared, and authorize that the publication rights have reverted to you, as author.
$1,000
Publication by Hidden River Arts
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: October 31, 2021 (Expired)
Essay, Non-fiction
View contestCreatd
Enter themed storytelling contests to put your creativity to the test and be in with a chance of winning cash prizes and more. To submit, you'll need to sign up for a monthly fee of $9.99, or $4.99/month for 3 months.
$1,000 — $5,000
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: December 31, 2021 (Expired)
Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestThe Vancouver Writers Fest
The Vancouver Writers Fest's annual youth writing contest is open to all students enrolled in grades 8-12 in British Columbia. Entries will be accepted for previously unpublished short stories (fiction or non-fiction) and personal essays: 1,500 word limit. The first-prize winner will receive a $200 cash prize and the second-prize winner, a $100 cash prize.
$200
$100
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: May 31, 2021 (Expired)
Short Story, Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction
View contestNowhere Magazine
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Nowhere Magazine is given twice yearly for a travel-specific short story, long-form creative nonfiction piece, poem or essay that possesses a powerful sense of place, character or time. Unpublished and published pieces that have not previously been chosen as a contest winner are eligible. Submit your 800- to 5,000-word piece with a $20 entry fee by June 30, 2021.
$1,000
Publication in Nowhere magazine
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: June 30, 2021 (Expired)
Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestNowhere Magazine
We are looking for never-been-published travel writers from anywhere in the world to send us stories—fiction, nonfiction, essay or poetry—that possess a powerful sense of place, people and time.
$500
Publication in Nowhere Magazine
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: March 31, 2021 (Expired)
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestUniversity of Massachusetts Press
The Juniper Prizes for Poetry, Fiction, and Creative Nonfiction are awarded annually to original manuscripts: two books of poetry, one work of creative nonfiction, one short story collection, and one novel. The University of Massachusetts Press publishes the winning manuscripts and the authors receive a $1,000 award upon publication. Submissions are accepted between August 1 and September 30.
$1,000
Publication by University of Massachusetts Press
💰 Fee: $30
Deadline: September 30, 2021 (Expired)
Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Short Story
View contestThe Lascaux Review
The Lascaux Prize in Creative Nonfiction opens 1 April. Creative nonfiction may include memoirs, chronicles, personal essays, humorous perspectives, literary journalism—anything the author has witnessed, experienced, learned, or discovered. Pieces may be previously published or unpublished, and simultaneous submissions are accepted. Winner receives $1,000 and a bronze medallion. Finalists receive $100. Winner and finalists are published in both the online and annual print editions of The Lascaux Review.
$1,000
Publication in the Lascaux Review
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: September 30, 2021 (Expired)
Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction
View contest