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Best Lgbtq Writing Contests in 2025

Showing 9 contests that match your search.

Genres: LGBTQ and Novel

The Randall Kenan Prize for Black LGBTQ Fiction honors Black LGBTQ writers of fiction, celebrating works that explore themes of Black LGBTQ life, culture, and history. The prize is awarded to writers who have published at least one book and show promise for future groundbreaking work.

Top Prize:

$3,000

๐Ÿ“… Deadline: February 16, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, LGBTQ, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, and Travel

The Fiction Factory Short Story Competition invites writers to submit stories of up to 3,000 words. The competition is open to all genres excluding Children's and Young Adult Fiction. Winning stories will be published on the website and potentially in an anthology.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

Winning stories will be published and included in an anthology.

๐Ÿ’ฐ Entry fee: $7

๐Ÿ“… Deadline: July 31, 2024 (Expired)

New Deal Writing Competition

Genesee Valley Council on the Arts (GVCA)

Genres: Christian, Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, LGBTQ, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, and Travel

The New Deal Writing Competition invites writers to create a short story inspired by a specific painting. The current painting is 'Playtime' by Fred Ross. This is the ninth annual contest, intended to celebrate creativity and connect art and writing.

Top Prize:

$200

Additional prizes:

Publication in newsletter

๐Ÿ’ฐ Entry fee: $5

๐Ÿ“… Deadline: March 15, 2024 (Expired)

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Genres: LGBTQ

This prize honors emerging LGBTQ writers over the age of 50. It recognizes unpublished LGBTQ writers working in any genre, emphasizing that writers who start later can be just as talented as those who begin earlier.

Top Prize:

$5,000

๐Ÿ“… Deadline: May 16, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, LGBTQ, Non-fiction, and Poetry

So to Speak is a feminist literary journal seeking diverse voices, focusing on intersectional feminism. They publish twice a year, accepting submissions of fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and visual art, with a particular emphasis on marginalized perspectives.

Top Prize:

$100

Additional prizes:

All accepted contributions will receive a $100 prize.

๐Ÿ’ฐ Entry fee: $4

๐Ÿ“… Deadline: November 15, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: LGBTQ and Non-fiction

The Jeanne Cรณrdova Prize honors lesbian/queer-identified women and trans/gender non-conforming nonfiction authors. It seeks to recognize writers who capture the depth and complexity of lesbian/queer life, culture, and history.

Top Prize:

$2,500

๐Ÿ“… Deadline: February 16, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: LGBTQ

The award recognizes LGBTQ-identified writers demonstrating strong potential for promising careers. It includes a cash prize of $1,500 and is awarded annually to two writers.

Top Prize:

$1000 (x2)

๐Ÿ“… Deadline: February 16, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Children's, Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, LGBTQ, Mystery, Romance, Thriller, and Young Adult

This is the second annual short story contest by Dreambridge Publishing, featuring the anthology theme 'In My Element' with elements of alchemy. The chosen writers will work with editors to prepare their stories for publication.

Top Prize:

Winners will be published in the anthology.

๐Ÿ“… Deadline: March 31, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction, LGBTQ, and Novel

This prize honors LGBTQ-identified authors who have published multiple novels, built a strong reputation, and show promise for future work. It is dedicated to Jim Duggins and supported by the James Duggins, PhD Fund.

Top Prize:

$5000 (x2)

๐Ÿ“… Deadline: February 16, 2024 (Expired)

Reedsy | 3 editors | 2025-05

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