The Best Fantasy Writing Contests of 2022
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
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Join our short story competition
Submit a short story based on 1 of 5 weekly prompts. Winners get $250.
Showing 20 contests
The 2022 First Chapter Book Contest
TheNextBigWriter, LLC
Have a book or a novel idea you've been noodling? Enter your first chapter into the Booksie First Chapter Contest and see how it does. You don't need to have finished the book. You don't even need more than the first chapter. We're looking for a start that will grab our attention, that is original, that is well written, and that makes us want to beg you to see what comes next. And for those we find, we'll provide some awards to inspire you to finish writing the book or, if finished, to help get it published.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
Gold contest badge.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: May 14, 2022
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Novel, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contest100 Word Writing Contest
Tadpole Press
100 words per entry. Submit as many entries as you’d like. All ages. All genders. All nationalities. All writers welcome. You can write in any genre, but the theme is abundance. Give us a glimpse of something that reveals the abundance of this big, beautiful, unexpected life that we’ve got. Make us “see a World in a Grain of Sand.”
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
2nd: writing coaching package. 3rd: developmental or diversity editing package.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: April 30, 2022
Genres
Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestParsec Short Story Contest
Triangulation
The theme for the 2021 contest is: Still Waters, Deep Thoughts. This can be conveyed in the setting, plot, characters, dialogue…the only limit is your imagination. The theme must be integral to the story in some way and not just mentioned in passing. All stories must be of the Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Horror genres and no more than 3,500 words.
Top prize
$200
Additional prizes
Publication in the 2020 Confluence program book
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: May 01, 2022
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction, Short Story
View contestWriter's Digest Self-Published Book Awards
Writer's Digest
Whether you’re a professional writer, a part-time freelancer or a self-starting student, here’s your chance to enter the premier self-published competition exclusively for self-published books. This self-published competition spotlights today’s self-published works and honors self-published authors.
Top prize
$8,000
Additional prizes
A feature in Writer's Digest
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $125
Deadline: May 02, 2022
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult, Novel
View contestHenshaw Short Story Competition
Henshaw Press
We are a small group of writers, editors, lecturers and of course readers who wish to actively support creative writing. We run quarterly competitions throughout the year with closing dates at the end of March, June, September and December. Our aim is to encourage as wide a range of writing as possible and competitions are open for any subject and any style.
Top prize
$260
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $8
Deadline: March 31, 2022
Genres
Christian, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, LGBTQ, Mystery, Suspense, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Travel
View contestSadie Tells Stories
Sadie Tells Stories
Are you an author who loves magic? Do you have an idea for a super short story that needs to be shared with the world? If you answered yes to both of those questions this contest is for you! The story can be about anything magical. Maybe it’s something that you’ve experienced in real life or it’s something you’ve created. Maybe it’s the start of a great idea. Maybe it’ll be the thing that inspires you to finally publish your book.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication on website and in newsletter
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: March 31, 2022
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Short Story
View contestSeason Themes
HAVOK Publishing
HAVOK is a constant flash fiction contest, with rolling deadlines. Each season is split into monthly competitions with thematically connected prompts in a range of genres.
Top prize
$100
Additional prizes
Publication in an anthology. Potential for larger gift card wins.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: January 31, 2022
Genres
Fantasy, Flash Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller
View contestBook Pipeline Unpublished Contest
Book Pipeline
Launched in 2014, Book Pipeline connects writers worldwide with publishers, editors, agents, and the film industry. Through two submission platforms—Unpublished and Adaptation—the company seeks both new and established authors. For over 22 years, Pipeline has bridged the gap between up-and-coming writers and the industry through a unique, long-term, hands-on facilitation process. The result thus far has been $8 million in scripts sold to studios and networks since 1999.
Top prize
$15,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $45
Deadline: May 25, 2022
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Young Adult
View contestClaymore Award
Killer Nashville
Created in 2009, the Killer Nashville Claymore Award assists new and rebranding English-language fiction authors to get published, including possible agent representation, book advances, editor deals, and movie and television sales. The contest is limited to only the first 50 double-spaced pages of unpublished English-language manuscripts containing elements of thriller, mystery, crime, or suspense NOT currently under contract.
Top prize
Possible contract with Mystery Writers of America
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $40
Deadline: April 01, 2022
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Novel, Science Fiction, Thriller
View contestOxford Flash Fiction Prize
Oxford Flash Fiction
Write yourself into history and become one of the greats with the Oxford Flash Fiction Prize. For centuries, the greats have come to Oxford to ink masterpieces. Now, in one of the oldest towns, where the history of the English language can be traced back to its ancient streets, we want to celebrate one of the newest forms in literature – flash fiction.
Top prize
$1,300
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $8
Deadline: January 31, 2022
Genres
Christian, Crime, Fantasy, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, LGBTQ, Mystery, Suspense, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Travel
View contestUncharted Magazine Sci-Fi/Fantasy Short Story Award
Uncharted Magazine
We invite writers to submit to the Uncharted Magazine Science Fiction and Fantasy Prize from August 1 to September 30, 2021. We’re excited to offer the winner of this prize $3000 and publication, while the 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive publication and $300 and $200, respectively along with publication.
Top prize
$3,000
Additional prizes
Publication in Uncharted Magazine
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: September 30, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Fantasy, Science Fiction, Short Story
View contestFirst 5 Pages Prize
Stockholm Writers Festival
SWF is proud to launch the First 5 Pages Prize to mark our 5th anniversary. Dazzle us with your brilliance. Delight us with your wit. Deceive us with your dastardly plot-twists. There will be one Grand Prize winner chosen from all entries. The winner will receive: $1000 cash, a ticket to SWF22, a pitch meeting with an agent conducted over Zoom, two night’s accommodation at a boutique hotel, and a full developmental edit donated by Reedsy, the industry’s leading platform for writing services.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
A full developmental edit donated by Reedsy & pitch meeting with an agent
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: January 31, 2022
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestBristol Short Story Prize
Tangent Books
Welcome to the Bristol Short Story Prize – an annual international writing competition open to all published and unpublished, UK and non-UK based writers. Stories can be on any theme or subject and are welcome in any style including graphic, verse or genre-based (Crime, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Historical, Horror, Romance, Children’s etc..) .
Top prize
£1,000
Additional prizes
£500, £250, £100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: May 04, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction, Young Adult
View contestKiller Nashville Silver Falchion Award
Killer Nashville
The Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award is committed to discovering new writers, as well as superlative books by established authors and, upon discovery, sharing those writers and their works with new readers. There are a large number of both fiction and non-fiction categories you can enter.
Top prize
$250
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $79
Deadline: June 15, 2022
Genres
Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Science Fiction, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller
View contestWriters of the Future
L. Ron Hubbard
L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest is an opportunity for new writers of science fiction and fantasy to have their work judged by some of the masters in the field and discovered by a wide audience. Prizes of $1000, $750 and $500 are awarded every three months. From the four 1st Place winners each year, one story is selected as the grand prize winner and the author receives an additional $5000 cash prize.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
$750 for 2nd place, $500 for 3rd, £5000 annual grand prize
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: December 31, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story, Fantasy, Science Fiction
View contestEtched Onyx and the Story Discovery Podcast
Onyx Publications
Submitted works must be previously unpublished fiction, nonfiction, poetry or flash fiction. We are open to all styles, genres, and types of writing. We suggest you checkout our free archived editions to get a sense of what we publish. All stories published in the magazine also include a narration of the story and an author interview on our podcast. **Early Bird deadline 8th October, reduced fee of $7.50**
Top prize
$350
Additional prizes
Publication in Etched Onyx On-line magazine
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $11
Deadline: November 26, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller
View contestFlash Fiction Competition
Globe Soup
Globe Soup are looking for the best flash fiction of no more than 800 words. The competition features a secret location in which all participants must set their story. Participants can get extensive feedback on their entry by joining Globe Soup's writing group and free entry to their monthly micro fiction contests and other opportunities to win cash prizes!
Top prize
£1000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $16
Deadline: December 31, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestCaledonia Novel Award
Caledonia Novel Award
We are an Edinburgh-based, international award for unpublished and self-published novelists in all genres for adults and YA.
Top prize
£1, 500
Additional prizes
Free place on a writing course at Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $35
Deadline: November 01, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novel, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestThe Rubery Prize
Rubery Book Awards
The Rubery Prize is a prestigious international book award seeking the best books by indie writers, self published authors and books published by independent presses, judged by reputable judges. Through our reputation of finding quality and outstanding books we aim to bring recognition to the works that win and heighten an author's profile.
Top prize
£2000
Additional prizes
£200, a write-up
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $60
Deadline: March 31, 2022
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult, Romance
View contestMichael McLaverty Short Story Award
Linen Hall Library
The Linen Hall Library in Belfast has announced the 2020 Michael McLaverty Short Story Award. Entrants must have been born in, or are citizens of, or resident in Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland. Maximum word count 3000. Adjudicators are multi-award-winning writer Donal Ryan and Patsy Horton, Managing Editor of Blackstaff Press.
Top prize
$2,600
Additional prizes
$300 each for the two runner-ups
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: January 31, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Mystery, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contest
