The Best Fantasy Writing Contests of 2023
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Manage a competition? Submit it here
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.
$500
Gold contest badge.
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: May 14, 2022 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Novel, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestHAVOK 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.
$100
Publication in an anthology. Potential for larger gift card wins.
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: January 31, 2022 (Expired)
Fantasy, Flash Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller
View contestBook 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 Through two submission platforms—Unpublished and Adaptation—the company seeks both new and established authors.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.
$15,000
💰 Fee: $45
Deadline: May 25, 2022 (Expired)
Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Young Adult
View contestUncharted 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.
$3,000
Publication in Uncharted Magazine
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: September 30, 2021 (Expired)
Fantasy, Science Fiction, Short Story
View contestTangent 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Welcome to the Bristol Short Story Prize – an annual international writing competition open to all published and unpublished, UK and non-UK based writers.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..) .
£1,000
£500, £250, £100
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: May 04, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction, Young Adult
View contestRubery 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.
£2000
£200, a write-up
💰 Fee: $60
Deadline: March 31, 2022 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult, Romance
View contest