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CWA Margery Allingham Short Story Competition
Crime Writers Association
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
Our mission is to find the best unpublished short mystery — one that fits into legendary crime writer Margery’s definition of what makes a great story: “The Mystery remains box-shaped, at once a prison and a refuge. Its four walls are, roughly, a Crime, a Mystery, an Enquiry and a Conclusion with an Element of Satisfaction in it.”
Top Prize:
£500
Additional prizes:
Two passes to Crimefest & a selection of books
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: February 29, 2024 (Expired)
Maggie Award for Prepublished Writers
Georgia Romance Writers
Genres: Fiction, Novel, and Romance
The purpose of the Prepublished Maggie Award for Excellence is to encourage, recognize, and reward the mastery of romance writing by Prepublished authors of romantic fiction. The Maggie Award is a symbol of achievement given by the Georgia Romance Writers (GRW) to bring special attention to these writers. The Maggie Award, a silver medallion commissioned by GRW, receives national attention.
Top Prize:
Trophy
💰 Entry fee: $40
📅 Deadline: April 21, 2024 (Expired)
Dave Williamson National Short Story Competition
Manitoba Writers' Guild
Genres: Fiction
Open to writers across Canada. Short prose in English, 2,500-5,000 words in any fiction genre. We actively encourage submissions from all writers who are 18 years of age or older.
Top Prize:
$1,000 CAD
Additional prizes:
2nd: $600 CAD | 3rd: $400 CAD
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: February 15, 2024 (Expired)
The Adventure Writers Competition
Adventure Writers
Genres: Fiction, Novel, Thriller, and Mystery
Any novels between 50,000 and 200,000 words that are in the realm of action/adventure/thriller/mystery - and chocked-full of adventure - are welcome. New and previously published books welcome, though you must have sold or given away less than 10,000 books of the title(s) you enter. We do not accept sci-fi, fantasy, horror or young children's books. See our website for info on rules and entering.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Two AWC Finalist Awards: $500
💰 Entry fee: $50
📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024
Literary and Photographic Contest 2023-2024
Hispanic Culture Review
Genres: Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Poetry
As we move forward we carry our culture wherever we go. It keeps us alive. This is why we propose the theme to be “¡Hacia delante!”. A phrase that means to move forward. This year we ask that you think about the following questions: What keeps you moving forward? What do you carry with you going into the future? How do you celebrate your successes, your dreams, and your culture?
Top Prize:
$100
Additional prizes:
Publication in magazine
📅 Deadline: February 07, 2024 (Expired)
The Porter Fleming Literary Competition
The Morris Museum of Art
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Script Writing
Welcome to the 2024 Porter Fleming Literary Competition, now in its twenty-ninth year of recognizing outstanding writing and writers. The competition honors the memory of Porter Fleming, one of Augusta, Georgia’s leading citizens and foremost philanthropists. The competition is administered, with the support of the Porter Fleming Foundation, by the Morris Museum of Art, the first museum in the country to focus on the art and artists of the American South. Writers, ages 18 and older, who reside in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington, D.C are invited to apply.
Top Prize:
1st place in each genre category: $1,000
Additional prizes:
2nd place: $500 & 3rd place: $250 in each of the four genre categories
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: February 16, 2024 (Expired)
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
Winning Writers
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Short Story
Welcome to the 31st annual Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest. Submit published or unpublished work. $9,000 in prizes.
Top Prize:
$3,000
Additional prizes:
Two-year gift certificate from Duotrope; 10 Honorable Mentions will receive $300 each
💰 Entry fee: $22
📅 Deadline: May 01, 2024
The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize
Alpine Fellowship
Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, and Short Story
Awarded for the best piece of writing on the theme of the Alpine Fellowship 2023 - Flourishing. The winner of the Writing Prize will receive a cash prize, and the runners up will receive travel expense support that must be used to attend our 2023 symposium which will be held from 10th-13th August 2023 in Fjällnäs, Sweden
Top Prize:
£3,000 cash grant
Additional prizes:
2nd: £1,000 travel expense | 3rd: £1,000 travel expense
💰 Entry fee: $0
📅 Deadline: March 01, 2024 (Expired)
The Letter Review Prize for Unpublished Books
The Letter Review
Genres: Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult
Free to enter. Seeking 0-5000 word (poetry: 15 pgs) excerpts of unpublished books (Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction), including most self-published and indie-published works. 2-4 Winners (publication of extract is optional). We Shortlist 10-20 writers. Open to writers from anywhere in the world, with no theme or genre restrictions. Judged blind.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
Optional Publication of Excerpt, Letter of Recommendation
📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024
Lazuli Literary Group Writing Contest
Lazuli Literary Group
Genres: Essay, Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Novella, and Script Writing
We are not concerned with genre distinctions. Send us the best you have; we want only for it to be thoughtful, intelligent, and beautiful. We want art that grows in complexity upon each visitation; we enjoy ornate, cerebral, and voluptuous phrases executed with thematic intent.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
Publication in "AZURE: A Journal of Literary Thought"
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: March 24, 2024 (Expired)
100 Word Writing Contest
Tadpole Press
Genres: Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult, Children's, Poetry, Romance, Short Story, Suspense, and Travel
Can you write a story using 100 words or less? Pieces will be judged on creativity, uniqueness, and how the story captures a new angle, breaks through stereotypes, and expands our beliefs about what's possible or unexpectedly delights us. In addition, we are looking for writing that is clever or unique, inspires us, and crafts a compelling and complete story. The first-place prize has doubled to $2,000 USD.
Top Prize:
$2,000
Additional prizes:
2nd: writing coach package
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024
Fabula Press Short Story Contest
Fabula Press
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
Fabula Press’ annual short story competition has two segments – a free section, and a paid section. At least 3 submissions from the free section will be selected for publication in the Fabula Press Anthology and on the Fabula Press website; for paid submissions, at least twelve entries will be included in the anthology on the website. There is no theme for our contests; also, barring a few exceptions, we are flexible about genre
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
2nd: $250 | 3rd: $100 | Stories selected for publication: $75
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: June 07, 2024
Annual Novel Opening Competition
Flash 500
Genres: Fiction and Novel
We are looking for an opening chapter up to 3,000 words, plus a one page synopsis outlining the balance of your story of any genre, so long as it's unpublished.
Top Prize:
£500
Additional prizes:
2nd Place: £200
💰 Entry fee: $13
📅 Deadline: October 31, 2024
Best Indie Book Award
Best Indie Book Award
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult
The annual Best Indie Book Award® (or BIBA®) is an international literary awards contest recognizing self-published and independently published authors from all over the world. Entries are limited to independently (indie) published books, including those from small presses, e-book publishers, and self-published authors.
Top Prize:
Trophy
💰 Entry fee: $65
📅 Deadline: August 15, 2024
Flash Fiction Award
Bath Flash Fiction Award
Genres: Fiction and Flash Fiction
In addition to winning cash prizes, entrants have the opportunity to appear in our print and digital anthology collections. Our books are published by the award-winning small press Ad Hoc Fiction, and are available to buy from their own independent bookshop as well as worldwide from Amazon. 300 word limit.
Top Prize:
£1000
Additional prizes:
£300 for 2nd, £100 for 3rd
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: June 02, 2024
Annual Contest Submissions
So To Speak
Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, LGBTQ, Non-fiction, and Poetry
So To Speak is seeking submissions for poetry, fiction, and non-fiction with an intersectional feminist lens! It is no secret that the literary canon and literary journals are largely comprised of heteronormative, patriarchal, cisgender, able-bodied white men. So to Speak seeks work by writers, poets, and artists who want to challenge and change the identity of the “canonical” writer.
Top Prize:
$100
Additional prizes:
Publication
💰 Entry fee: $4
📅 Deadline: March 15, 2024 (Expired)
To Hull and Back Humorous Short Story Contest
Christopher Fielden
Genres: Fiction, Humor, Non-fiction, and Short Story
July 2022 saw the launch of the 8th To Hull And Back Short Story Competition, a biennial short story contest with a humorous twist that celebrates the most imaginative and amazing short stories from writers all over the world.
Top Prize:
£1,200
Additional prizes:
2nd Prize: £600 | 3rd Prize: £300 | 3 x Highly Commended: £150 | 14 x Shortlisted: £75
💰 Entry fee: $16
📅 Deadline: June 30, 2025
National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award
First Coast Romance Writers
Genres: Fiction and Romance
The National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award celebrates published romance novels and novellas and is judged by romance readers. All entries must have an original copyright date of 2021 and must have been available for purchase in the United States beginning in 2021.
Top Prize:
NERFA Winner web logo and trophy
💰 Entry fee: $40
📅 Deadline: March 31, 2024 (Expired)
WOW! Women on Writing Spring 2024 Flash Fiction Contest
WOW! Women On Writing
Genres: Flash Fiction, Fiction, and Short Story
Seeking short fiction of any genre between 250 - 750 words. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, great writing, and provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants.
Top Prize:
$400
Additional prizes:
2nd: $300 | 3rd: $200 | 7 runner-ups: $25 Amazon Gift Cards
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: May 31, 2024
The Hudson Prize
Black Lawrence Press
Genres: Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
Each year Black Lawrence Press will award The Hudson Prize for an unpublished collection of poems or prose. The prize is open to new, emerging, and established writers.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication
💰 Entry fee: $28
📅 Deadline: March 31, 2024 (Expired)
The Bath Children's Novel Award
The Bath Novel Awards
Genres: Children's, Fiction, and Young Adult
The Bath Children's Novel Award is a £5,000 international prize for emerging writers of children's fiction. Submit the first 5,000 words plus a one page synopsis of your chapter book or novel for children or young adults, or up to three picture book texts with summaries. Shortlistees receive feedback on their full manuscript from young judges and all listees receive editorial director feedback on their extract and synopsis.
Top Prize:
£5,000
Additional prizes:
£1,800 course for one longlistee
💰 Entry fee: $38
📅 Deadline: November 30, 2024
Francine Ringold Awards for New Writers
University of Tulsa
Genres: Fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
The Francine Ringold Awards for New Writers honor the work of writers at the beginning of their careers. $500 prizes will be awarded in both the fiction and poetry categories, and the winning manuscripts will appear in the spring issue of Nimrod. Winners will have the chance to work with the Nimrod board of editors to refine and edit their manuscripts before publication.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
Publication
💰 Entry fee: $12
📅 Deadline: July 15, 2024
HG Wells Short Story Competition
HG Wells Competition
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, and Short Story
There are two different competitions in 2024: one for those 21 and under, and one for those over 21. The competition for those 21 and under is free to enter and has a prize of £1,000 for the winning entry. All shortlisted entries will also be published in a quality, professionally published paperback anthology.
Top Prize:
Under 21: £1,000 | Over 21: £500
💰 Entry fee: $12
📅 Deadline: July 08, 2024
Letter Review Prize for Short Stories
Letter Review
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
The Letter Review Prize for Short Stories (1000-3000 words) is open to writers from anywhere in the world and has no theme or genre restrictions. Winners are published and every entry is considered for publication. 20 entries are Longlisted.
Top Prize:
$1000 prize pool
Additional prizes:
2nd: $250 | 3rd: $150
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024
Kurt Vonnegut Speculative Fiction Prize
North American Review
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction, and Suspense
The Vonnegut Prize is an annual fiction competition intended to recognize the finest speculative fiction, which can include, but is not limited to, work influenced by the postmodern science-fiction of Kurt Vonnegut. We love Vonnegut’s dark humor, but please avoid mere imitation. We are enthusiastic about all work painted with speculative fiction’s broad brush: fairy tale, magical realism, fabulism, the fantastic, horror, Afro-futurism, science fiction hard and soft, and everything in between. The winning entry will appear in the North American Review's annual summer issue, and all finalists will be considered for publication.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication
💰 Entry fee: $23
📅 Deadline: November 02, 2024
The Iowa Review Awards
The Iowa Review
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
Each January since 2003, The Iowa Review has invited submissions to The Iowa Review Awards, a writing contest in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Winners receive $1,500; first runners-up receive $750. Winners and runners-up are published in each December issue.
Top Prize:
$1,500
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: January 31, 2024 (Expired)
SFWP Literary Awards
SFWP
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Novel, and Novella
We are seeking fiction and creative nonfiction of every genre. The contest is open to authors who have not been published by a major press. We publish in English, but the contest is open to writers from anywhere in the world. The early-bird entry fee (December 15th-February 15th) will be $25.
Top Prize:
$1,500
Additional prizes:
Two runner ups will be selected, each receiving $700.
💰 Entry fee: $30
📅 Deadline: July 15, 2022 (Expired)
Ethos Literacy Annual Short Short Story Contest
Ethos Literacy
Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, and Short Story
The challenge: write a story using 100 words on one of four topics. Open to all ages with a special prize for authors 14 years or younger. The contest supports nonprofit literacy programs.
Top Prize:
$200
Additional prizes:
6 cash prizes of $100 each; publication in digital magazine, inclusion in webcast
💰 Entry fee: $12
📅 Deadline: February 01, 2024 (Expired)
Western Writing Contest
FanStory.com Inc.
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
Share your Western story for this writing contest. Share your story that has a clear western theme. Your old west story can earn you a cash prize.
Top Prize:
$100
Additional prizes:
Winning stories will be features on the FanStory.com welcome page.
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: December 21, 2024
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the BBC YWA, an award created to inspire and encourage the next generation of short story writers, open to 14 – 18-year-olds. BBC Radio 1 Presenter Katie Thistleton returns as Chair of Judges for the YWA for the seventh time.
Top Prize:
£15,000
Additional prizes:
4x shortlisted stories: £600
📅 Deadline: March 18, 2024 (Expired)
Inception 2024: $500 for Best Opening
Sunspot Literary Journal
Genres: Fiction and Poetry
For Sunspot Lit’s Inception contest, send your best opening (novel, CNF, art collection, photo series, etc.). No restrictions on theme or category. Submit via Submittable or Duotrope.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
Publication
💰 Entry fee: $12
📅 Deadline: March 31, 2024 (Expired)
The Pinch Literary Awards & Page Prize
The Pinch Literary Journal
Genres: Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, and Non-fiction
The 2023 Pinch Literary Awards accepts poetry and fiction. The 2023 Page Prize accepts non-fiction.
Top Prize:
$2000 for poetry & fiction winners
Additional prizes:
$1000 for Page Prize winner
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: February 29, 2024 (Expired)
HNS 2024 First Chapters Competition
Historical Novel Society
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Novel, Romance, Thriller, and Young Adult
The HNS UK 2024 First Chapters Competition is for the first three chapters of a full-length historical novel that has not been previously published in any form. We are looking to recognize and promote excellence in storytelling and the craft of historical fiction and its subgenres. The competition coincides with the HNS UK 2024 conference and the overall winner will be announced at the conference.
Top Prize:
£1,000
Additional prizes:
Category winners: £500 and HNS UK 2024 conference ticket
💰 Entry fee: $50
📅 Deadline: February 15, 2024 (Expired)
Hayden's Ferry Review Poetry & Fiction Contest
Hayden's Ferry Review
Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, and Poetry
HFR will accept contest submissions in poetry and fiction between Feb 1-29, 2024. This year’s poetry judge is Diana Khoi Nguyen, author of Ghost Of and Root Fractures. This year’s fiction judge is Venita Blackburn, author of How to Wrestle a Girl and Dead in Long Beach, California. There will be two prizes of $1,500 each and publication in Hayden’s Ferry Review (online in summer 2024 and in the fall/winter 2024 print issue) for a poem or a group of poems and a work of fiction. A runner-up in each category will receive $250 and publication. All entries are considered for publication.
Top Prize:
$1,500
Additional prizes:
Runners-up: $250
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: February 29, 2024 (Expired)
Stories Through The Ages - Baby Boomer Plus
Stories Through The Ages
Genres: Short Story, Fiction, Flash Fiction, and Non-fiction
Stories Through The Ages - Baby Boomers Plus 2023 is open to people born 1966 or earlier. The deadline for entries is June 15, 2023. There is no prompt for the contest. Authors may write about any topic. The entry fee is $20 ($15 if submitting more than one story). The word count for this contest is 900 - 5000 words. Cash prizes of $500, $200 and $100 will be awarded. There will be a minimum of 15 finalists whose story will appear in the book.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
2nd: $200 | 3rd: $100
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: June 15, 2024
