The Best Fiction 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 238 contests
The Reedsy Prompts Contest
Reedsy
Respond to one of Reedsy's weekly writing prompt newsletters with a short story for the chance to win $250 and be featured on the Reedsy Blog!
Top prize
$250
Additional prizes
Publication on Reedsy Blog
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: December 31, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestCaledonia Novel Award
Caledonia Novel Award
Now in our ninth year of competition, we are an Edinburgh-based, international award for unpublished and self-published novelists in all genres for adults and YA. This year's judge is Charlotte Seymour, literary agent at Johnson & Alcock. On top of the £1,500 top prize, the best entry from the UK and Ireland will receive a place on a writing course at Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre.
Top prize
£1, 500
Additional prizes
Free place on a writing course at Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $30
Deadline: November 01, 2022
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novel, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult, Romance, Suspense
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 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestRuth Rendell Short Story Competition 2020
InterAct Stroke Support
InterAct Stroke Support is a UK charity dedicated to supporting stroke recovery by using professional actors to deliver hospital readings and community projects. InterAct's competition asks writers to write a piece in any genre in no more than 1000 words. Stories must be suitable to be read in the sensitive environment of a hospital setting.
Top prize
$1,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: December 02, 2019 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contest2nd Annual WCWF Writing Contest
Wine Country Writers' Festival
Fire up those pens and get those unpublished stories and poems submitted to WCWF 2nd Annual Writing Contest. Three winners in each category, publication in Anthology, and your own copy. Entries: $15 or two for $25. See the contest rules and enter now. Blind Judging.
Top prize
$150
Additional prizes
Publication in an anthology
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: July 29, 2022
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contest7 Day Story Writing Challenge
Globe Soup
Register now for our next 7-day story writing challenge. A secret theme, a randomly assigned genre and just 7 days to write a story of no more than 2,000 words. Our 7 day story writing challenges take place throughout the year. The challenges are free and you can even get feedback on your story. Take part in one challenge or take part in all of them!
Top prize
£500
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: June 01, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestLiterary Taxidermy Short Story Competition
Literary Taxidermy Short Story Competition
The Literary Taxidermy Writing Competition invites writers to create original stories and poems using the opening and closing lines of classic works of literature. In previous years, participants have tackled works by Lewis Carroll, Dorothy Parker, and Dashiell Hammett, crafting stories and poems in every genre, from science fiction to meta-fiction, and from sonnets to free verse. For its fifth year, in addition to monetary prizes and publication, the competition offers personal feedback for all honorable mentions. The competition is also a fundraiser for Ukraine. Sarah Waits, one of the competition editors, says, "We're a small organization, but we believe we can make a difference in the world.” Learn more about the 2022 Literary Taxidermy Writing Competition on our website: www.literarytaxidermy.com. Take the creative challenge—and join the fun! The competition begins on May 1st. We can’t wait to see what you stitch together!
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication in 2019 Anthology of Literary Taxidermy
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: July 11, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestAs Bright as the Moon
Tales
Can’t decide between the headstrong alpha or the hunky omega? Us either. We’re seeking stories featuring steamy werewolf romance, perfect for reading under a full moon. Whether you’re Team Jacob Black or Team Alcide Herveaux…we’re all Team Awoooo. Works up to 3,000 words will be considered.
Top prize
$600
Additional prizes
2nd place: $300; 3rd place: $100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: May 31, 2022
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Short Story, Thriller
View contestElegantLiterature's Fiction Contest
ElegantLiterature.com
We help new talent go pro, award life-changing prize money, and promote fiction writers worldwide. Each month we hold a contest based on a short fiction prompt. You write a wonderful story and enter the contest. We choose the winner who receives the grand prize. We also choose the best stories, pay the authors above-professional rates, and publish them in our magazine. Anyone can submit work to the magazine for free, but you must be an Elegant+ Member to enter the contests and win prizes. Membership is $10/month.
Top prize
$3000 USD + $0.10/word for publication
Additional prizes
Publication in online monthly magazine
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: May 31, 2022
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestDrue Heinz Literature Prize
University of Pittsburgh Press
The Drue Heinz Literature Prize recognizes and supports writers of short fiction and makes their work available to readers around the world. The award is open to authors who have published a book-length collection of fiction or at least three short stories or novellas in commercial magazines or literary journals.
Top prize
$15,000
Additional prizes
Publication in University of Pittsburgh Press
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: June 30, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestFrancine Ringold Awards for New Writers
Nimrod
The Francine Ringold Awards for New Writers honor the work of writers at the beginning of their careers. Open only to writers whose work has not appeared or is not scheduled to appear in more than 2 publications in the genre in which they are submitting.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication in the Spring issue of Nimrod
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: July 15, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestSeán O'Faoláin International Short Story Competition
Munster Literature Centre
The competition is open to original, unpublished and unbroadcast short stories in the English language of 3,000 words or fewer. The story can be on any subject, in any style, by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world.
Top prize
€2,000
Additional prizes
Residency at Anam Cara Retreat, Featured reading at the Cork International Short Story Festival, Publication in Southword
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $22
Deadline: July 31, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestGeorge Dila Memorial Flash Fiction Contest
Third Wednesday
The editors of Third Wednesday wish to honor the memory of George Dila, friend of Third Wednesday and the editor who originally brought fiction to 3W. To this end, we proudly announce the opening of The George Dila Memorial Flash Fiction Contest. We accept entries of previously unpublished stories of under 1000 words in length (including title).
Top prize
$100
Additional prizes
Publication in Third Wednesday magazine
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $6
Deadline: August 15, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction
View contestThe Writer's Games
The Writer's Workout
The Writer's Games is a two-month competition where writers receive an Event (prompt) each Friday and have 72 hours to write a short story that fits the prompt. A group of judges read and give feedback to each entry. The top 5 winners of each Event are published in our Games anthology. There are also prizes for the top 3. One of the prizes is an interview that's posted on the Writer's Workout blog. Registration for the Games starts in June and the Games begin in July.
Top prize
Publication in the Games anthology
Additional prizes
An interview on the Writer's Workout blog
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: May 31, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestTWFest Fiction Contest
Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival
A submission is one original short story, written in English, up to 7,000 words. This contest is open only to writers who have not yet published a book of fiction. Published books include self-published books with ISBN numbers. Those who have published books in other genres besides fiction remain eligible.
Top prize
$1,500
Additional prizes
Airfare, accommodation, and all-access pass to the next Festival, where you will give a public reading.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: October 15, 2022
Genres
Fiction
View contestTWFest Very Short Fiction Contest
Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival
A submission is one original short story, written in English, up to 1,000 words. This contest is open only to emerging writers who have not yet published a book of short fiction with an ISBN.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
VIP all-access pass to the next festival, where you will give a public reading.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: October 15, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestQuill Prose Award 2020
Red Hen Press
Queer literature is often found in the side stacks, in the back of the bookstore, under “Gay and Lesbian.” These authors are put into a genre that barely fits them, excluded from mainstream funding, and more. Red Hen Press seeks to work against the politics of labeling while honoring and empowering authors who identify as queer through this contest.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication by Red Hen Press
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: November 30, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Novel
View contest2022 Character Anthology & Contest: A Novel Idea
Bardsy
Prompt: write a short story featuring a character that will inspire a novel. Focus on the protagonist of your next novel. For example, create a compelling narrative from a defining moment in their backstory, an out-of-character action that foreshadows a key conflict, or an important or problematic relationship that constrains or empowers them.
Top prize
$299
Additional prizes
Publication in anthology, Bardsy Elite membership
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: June 26, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestPage Turner's Short Story Contest
Clumsy Spider Publishing
Page Turner is looking for your short story that teens will read in one sitting because they can't stop!
Top prize
$50
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: July 30, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story, Young Adult
View contestRaymond Carver Short Story Contest
Carve Magazine
The Raymond Carver Short Story Contest is one of the most renowned fiction contests in the world. Featuring prominent guest judges and offering $3000 across five prizes, the contest delivers exciting new fiction from writers all over the world. The contest opens each year April 1 - May 15 and prizewinners are published in our annual fall issue in October.
Top prize
$2,000
Additional prizes
Publication in Carve Magazine
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $17
Deadline: May 16, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestBacopa Literary Review
Writers Alliance of Gainesville
We seek unusual perspectives, passionate voices, compelling work. This includes poetry, creative non-fiction, and short stories.
Top prize
£300
Additional prizes
£100 second prize
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: May 23, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestCranked Anvil Short Story Competition
Cranked Anvil Press
Our quarterly short story competition is open for entries all year round. The competition is open to any theme or genre, but your story must be a maximum of 1,500 words (not including the title). You can enter up to three stories in each quarterly competition.
Top prize
£150
Additional prizes
£75 for 2nd, £30 for 3rd
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $7
Deadline: July 31, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestUNO Press Publishing Lab
UNO Press
We are looking to publish the best novel/short story collection written this year. The selected author will receive a ten thousand dollar ($10,000) advance on royalties and a contract to publish with UNO Press.
Top prize
$10,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $28
Deadline: August 31, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Novel, Short Story
View contestThe Hal Prize
Peninsula Publishing & Distribution
The Hal Prize offers publication to a readership of more than 25,000 and cash awards for winners. The contest is open to writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and to photographers throughout the United States. Prose should be no more than 4,000 words and poetry no longer than a page. The annual literary and photography contest is presented by the Peninsula Pulse and Write On, Door County.
Top prize
$250
Additional prizes
Cash prizes for 2nd and 3rd place, publication in 8142 Review, and a handmade mug
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: September 15, 2022
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestSurrey International Writers ' Conference Writing Contest
Surrey International Writers ' Conference
The contest will be judged by Diana Gabaldon and Jack Whyte. Story length: 2,500 — 4000 words.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: September 15, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestDream Quest One Writing Contest
Dream Quest One
The mission of this contest is to inspire, motivate and encourage anyone having the desire or love of poetry and writing, to continue doing so without fear of failure or success! Remember, in whatever you do, "it's okay to dream," for dreams do come true...
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
$250 for 2nd place, $100 for 3rd place
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: August 31, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestWriters of the Future
Writer's of the Future
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: June 30, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story, Fantasy, Science Fiction
View contestHammond House Short Story Competition
Hammond House
The theme for the 2021 competition - STARDUST - is intended to be inspirational, not restrictive, so please feel free to interpret it in any way you choose. Be creative, be unpredictable, be different; the judges are looking for intriguing ideas and addictive prose. Top prize of £1000.
Top prize
£1000
Additional prizes
Publication by Hammond House
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: September 30, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestDzanc Books Prize for Fiction
Dzanc Books
The Dzanc Books Prize for Fiction recognizes daring, original, and innovative writing in novel form.
Top prize
$5,000
Additional prizes
Publication by Dzanc Books
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: September 30, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Novel
View contestDzanc Books Short Story Collection Competition
Dzanc Books
The Dzanc Books Short Story Collection Prize celebrates imaginative and inventive writing in the short form. The winning submission will be awarded a $2,500 advance and publication by Dzanc Books.
Top prize
$2,500
Additional prizes
Publication by Dzanc Books
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: September 30, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestAnnual Flash Fiction Competition
Flash 500
This quarterly open-themed competition has closing dates of 31st March, 30th June, 30th September and 31st December. The results will be announced about six weeks after each closing date and the three winning entries each quarter will be published on the website.
Top prize
£300
Additional prizes
£200, £100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $7
Deadline: May 30, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestBlack River Chapbook Competition
Black Lawrence Press
Twice each year Black Lawrence Press run the Black River Chapbook Competition for an unpublished chapbook of poems or prose between 16-36 pages in length. The contest is open to new, emerging, and established writers.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication by Black Lawrence Press
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $17
Deadline: May 31, 2022
Genres
Poetry, Short Story, Fiction
View contestAnnual Short Story Contest
Rotary Club of Stratford
English language submissions of original, unpublished works of up to 2,500 words will be accepted until October 31. Submissions are processed by a two-tiered system of readers and judges. Winners will be announced on December 10, 2021.
Top prize
$500 (CAD)
Additional prizes
2nd prize $250, 3rd prize $100.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: June 30, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestGrindstone International Novel Prize
Grindstone Literary
The 2022 Grindstone International Novel Prize is open to authors from all around the world, and is aimed at discovering and elevating new and unsung authors. Authors may submit finished or part-finished manuscripts providing they are not currently represented by an agent. We forward all longlisted works to some of the best agencies in the UK such as Curtis Brown Books, Conville and Walsh, Janklow & Nesbitt, the Paper Literary Agency, the Good Literary Agency, and so many more. A full list can be found on our Affiliated Agents Page.
Top prize
$1,300
Additional prizes
Cash prizes and manuscripts forwarded to UK agencies
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $26
Deadline: October 01, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Novel
View contestThe Synopsis Skirmish—a contest for querying authors
Darling Axe Editing
Summarize your novel in 500 words for a chance at a $1000 CAD prize pool! Our judge, Michelle Barker, will be asking herself one question: "Does this synopsis convince me that I'm in the hands of an adept novelist with a unique and engaging story to tell?"
Top prize
$560
Additional prizes
$200 for second place, $100 for third
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: May 31, 2022
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contest
