The Best Non Fiction Writing Contests of 2022
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
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Fire up those pens and get those unpublished stories and poems submitted to WCWF 2nd Annual Writing Contest.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.
$150
Publication in an anthology
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: July 29, 2022
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestMunster 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The competition is open to original, unpublished and unbroadcast short stories in the English language of 3,000 words or fewer.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.
€2,000
Residency at Anam Cara Retreat, Featured reading at the Cork International Short Story Festival, Publication in Southword
💰 Fee: $22
Deadline: July 31, 2022
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestWriters Alliance of Gainesville
We seek unusual perspectives, passionate voices, compelling work. This includes poetry, creative non-fiction, and short stories.
£300
£100 second prize
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: May 23, 2022
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestPeninsula 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.
$250
Cash prizes for 2nd and 3rd place, publication in 8142 Review, and a handmade mug
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: September 15, 2022
Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestDarling 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?"
$560
$200 for second place, $100 for third
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: May 31, 2022
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestIntrepid Times
Write an original, factual, first-person travel story about a time you made a decision or took a risk while traveling that got you lost, landed you somewhere you didn’t intend, or led to a new discovery, realization, or connection. Editors will be looking for originality, voice, and a satisfying story that captures attention and makes use of imagery to pull the reader along at every step.
$150
Runners up: $50 | Publication on Intrepid Times
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: April 30, 2022 (Expired)
Non-fiction, Travel
View contestFanStory.com Inc.
Share a true story about your life. Write about any event that happened in your life that you would like to share. Cash prize to the winner.
$100
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: November 12, 2022
Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestGlobe Soup
We accept: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Each month has a theme. You have just 100 words to write something interesting, unique, and impactful based on the theme. Entry to your first contest is £3, after that you can enter all subsequent contests for free each month. You can get peer feedback on your entry too. The theme this month is: Yellow/Orange.
$133
Publication on our website
💰 Fee: $4
Deadline: March 14, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestSociety of Spanish Researchers in the UK (SRUK)
This competition was created with the aim of promoting scientific outreach in a fun and engaging way, appropriate for primary school children. The ultimate goal of the contest is to promote scientific spirit and inspire the generations that will build our future. We hope to achieve this through the communication of scientific achievements, findings, methods, and anecdotes in the form of short stories.
$267
£150 and £100 runner ups
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: April 24, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story
View contestSunspot Lit
Authors and artists eligible. Sunspot Lit’s Geminga contest honors the power of the small. No restrictions on theme or category. $250 cash, publication for the winner, and publication offered to runners-up and finalists. Enter as many times as you like, but only one piece per submission.
$250
Publication in digital and print
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: March 31, 2022 (Expired)
Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contest4 Horsemen Publications, Inc.
Poetry, Journals, Diaries & Love Letters, we all have them collecting dust on a shelf, in a box under your bed, or hidden away in the attic where no one can find them. That journal, diary, or even composition book full of your teen angst. We want them. In the raw, unedited, all the teen angst you can hit us with. Take a picture of the journal, the page, angsty doodles,love letters and more. We will share them to the world, all backgrounds, all ages and generations (including our own)! This project is co-hosted between 4 Horsemen Publications and Battle Goddess Productions.
Publication in anthology
Access to buy author copies at a discounted rate
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: June 30, 2022
Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestPloughshares
In the spirit of the journal 's founding mission, the Ploughshares Emerging Writer's Contest recognizes work by an emerging writer in each of three genres: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. One winner in each genre per year will receive $2,000 and publication in the literary journal. Authors are considered "emerging" if they haven 't published or self-published a book.
$2,000
Publication in Ploughshares
💰 Fee: $24
Deadline: May 15, 2022 (Expired)
Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestWinston-Salem Writers
Each entry must be original work and previously unpublished. Simultaneous submissions will be accepted, but authors must notify Flying South immediately and withdraw from the contest if their work is accepted elsewhere. Prizes include publication in Flying South 2022, Best in Category, and President's Favorite.
$1,000
Publication in Flying South 2022
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: May 31, 2022
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestLazuli Literary Group
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.
$500
Publication in "AZURE: A Journal of Literary Thought"
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: May 22, 2022
Essay, Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Novella, Script Writing
View contestTadpole Press
100 words per entry. Submit as many entries as you’d like. All ages. All genders. All nationalities. All writers welcome. This year's theme is the power of words. The words we write, the words we say, the words we keep to ourselves. They make a difference in the lives of those around us. How can you use your words to instill a sense of calm, of hope, of community? To remind one another of the beauty of diversity. To encourage us to support, love, and inspire one another.
$1,000
2nd: writing coach package 3rd: developmental or diversity editing package.
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: April 30, 2022 (Expired)
Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestFountain Magazine
We want to hear your COVID-19 story. What has the virus taught you about life? If you were not infected, what has your experience been like as an “outsider?” We encourage our contestants to explore this issue in a way that is most meaningful to them, and to do so while making sure to avoid speculative narratives and political polarization.
$1,000
$500, $300, $150
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: April 01, 2022 (Expired)
Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction
View contestWriterwerx University
Submit the first 1,000 words of your published book.
$2,000
2nd Place: $1,000 cash/prizes, 3rd Place $100 cash/prizes
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: February 28, 2022 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestWinning Writers
One grand prize winner will receive $5,000, a marketing analysis and one-hour phone consultation with Carolyn Howard-Johnson, a $300 credit at BookBaby, and 3 free ads in the Winning Writers newsletter (a $525 value). Please submit between February 15 and June 30, 2021.
$8,000
💰 Fee: $70
Deadline: June 30, 2022
Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestWOW! Women On Writing
WOW! is proud to introduce our newest essay contest! The contest is open globally. Your story must be true, but the way you tell it is your chance to get creative. We are open to all styles of essay—from personal essay to lyric essay to hybrid essay, and beyond!
$500
Publication, interview, and gift card good for one item from CreateWriteNow's Store
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: April 30, 2022 (Expired)
Non-fiction
View contestRed Hen Press
Established in 2015, the Red Hen Nonfiction Award seeks to recognize the art of true story-telling through literary craft. The awarded fiction manuscript is selected through an annual submission process which is open to all authors.
$1,000
Publication by Red Hen Press
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: March 31, 2021 (Expired)
Non-fiction
View contestRed Hen Press
Established in 2018, the Women’s Prose Prize is for previously unpublished, original work of prose. Novels, short story collections, memoirs, essay collections, and all other forms of prose writing are eligible for consideration. The awarded manuscript is selected through a biennial competition, held in even-numbered years, that is open to all writers who identify as women.
$1,000
Publication by Red Hen Press
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: February 28, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, Essay, Memoir, Novel
View contestLeague of Utah Writers
The Typewriter Awards are open to members of the League of Utah Writers for shorter creative writing work published in 2021 or 2022 before the contest deadline.
Trophy
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: May 13, 2022 (Expired)
Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestLeague of Utah Writers
The Quills Awards are open to League of Utah Writers members who have published a book in the past year.
Trophy
💰 Fee: $35
Deadline: May 13, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella
View contestLeague of Utah Writers
The Olive Woolley Burt Awards are open to the general public for previously unpublished work. Discounts for entry given to members of the League of Utah Writers.
$150
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: May 13, 2022 (Expired)
Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Science Writing, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestDandy Writers
Submit a story of no more than 200 words. Your submission must be in line with the theme of the month. A writer is only permitted to submit one application per month. No more than one application. No plagiarism, even if it’s your work already published. Your work must be yours. Your data entered must be accurate. You must pay the entry fee. Note: Failure to comply with these rules will result to your application cancelled. And your entry fee will not be refunded. Thanks as you obey these rules.
$300
Writing Job
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: May 30, 2023
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Short Story
View contestFanStory.com Inc.
We are looking for personal essays, memoirs, and works of literary non-fiction on any topic. It doesn't matter if it's spiritual, political, intellectual, emotional, funny, serious, or an essay about your DVD player.
$100
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: May 08, 2022 (Expired)
Non-fiction
View contestFanStory.com Inc.
Share your flash fiction story. But for this contest we aren't looking for fiction. Rather share your true story with only 100 words. Cash prize!
$100
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: May 27, 2022
Flash Fiction, Non-fiction
View contestNottingham Writers' Studio
We’ll be taking stories of up to 5,000 words, on the theme of the environment and the ongoing climate crisis. Entrants can write in any genre. There is no fee to take part and we’re offering cash prizes to every successful applicant plus publication in our next anthology. 1st - £250 2nd - £125 3rd - £75 Runner up - £15
£250
Publication in anthology - Earth 2.0
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: February 28, 2022 (Expired)
Crime, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestWriteFluence
Become a published woman author by this International Women’s Day! Announcing our second exclusively-for-women-writers story-writing international contest FemmeFluenza 2.0 ‘Cos life is all about celebrating womanhood and surviving through various challenges it brings along! Theme: Survival stories through various challenges faced by women – be it prejudices, physical or emotional abuse, sexual harassment, corporate biases, denied education, breast cancer, female infanticide, gender discrimination, single-parenthood, divorce, social stigmas and taboos, etc.
Publication
Author features and Merit certificates (digital)
💰 Fee: $2
Deadline: February 15, 2022 (Expired)
Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestHispanic Culture Review
If the past year has taught us anything, it is that circumstances are always changing. Just as the world inevitably changes around us, we, too, go through various cycles of transformation in our lifetimes. Our identities are not static but evolve as we experience life and confront obstacles that come our way. Who we are is not fixed but rather a reflection of ourselves at a certain point in time and the journey it took to get there. As Maya Angelou once stated, “we delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” This year, we invite you to reflect on the following questions: What does the phrase “ever-changing” mean for you or your community with respect to the journey of transformation? What has made you the person you are today? 1 work will be awarded in each category: 1) photography & visual arts, 2) poetry, and 3) narrative/essay/academic investigation. The selected works will be published in our magazine, and winners will receive a monetary prize of $100 dollars and a certificate of recognition, and will be notified through email as well as on our Facebook page (Hispanic Culture Review GMU). Prizes will be issued in the Spring of 2022.
$100
Publication in print and electronic magazine, Certificate of recognition
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: February 06, 2022 (Expired)
Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestStoryshares
The annual Story of the Year Contest is back for the fifth year, and we are searching for fresh, diverse stories that are “easy to read and hard to put down. The 2021 competition will run from November 2, 2021 to February 1, 2022 and will feature 4 distinct categories. Winners will be announced April 5, 2022 to receive $5000 in cash prizes, in addition to publication in both digital and print form. Winning stories and those selected as runners-up will be included in the Storyshares library, which is currently serving tens of thousands of students in all 50 states and over 150 countries. This is an opportunity for writers to not only expose their work to a large, established network of readers, but moreover, for their words to become part of the mission to improve literacy outcomes for teens and young adults across the globe. This is an opportunity to change lives, and make a difference.
$2,000
$1,000 and publication in digital and print
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: February 01, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, Young Adult
View contestShuswap Association of Writers
Whether you’re an established or emerging writer, the Askew’s Word on the Lake Writing Contest has a place for you. Part of the Word on the Lake Writers’ Festival in Salmon Arm, BC, the contest is open to submissions in short fiction (1,200 to 1,500 words), nonfiction (1,200 to 1,500 words), and poetry (up to three one-page poems). Besides the cash prize, winners will receive a registration package for the 2022 Word on the Lake Writers’ Festival, publication in the Word on the Lake anthology, and copies of the anthology in print and ebook.
$120
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: January 31, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestSan Antonio Writers Guild
Preliminary judging by trained SAWG members, final judging by successful professional writers or university-level writing instructors who specialize in the entries’ genres. Every entrant can obtain his/her preliminary and final score sheets. Genre winners (1st, 2nd, 3rd place) may correspond with their final judges. This is SAWG's 29th contest.
1st: $100; 2nd: $50; 3rd: $25 US
Membership, list on website and FB, winner sticker
💰 Fee: $35
Deadline: January 31, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestDarling Axe Editing
A writing contest for querying authors! Our judge, Michelle Barker, will be asking herself one question: "does this query letter convince me that I'm in the hands of an adept novelist with a unique and engaging story to tell?" Optional feedback available.
$700
Publication on the Chopping Blog, plus free entry into one of our online courses
💰 Fee: $4
Deadline: January 31, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel
View contestRestless Books
The Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing was created in 2016 to honor outstanding debut literary works by first-generation immigrants, awarded for fiction and nonfiction in alternating years. The winner receives $10,000 and publication by Restless Books.
$10,000
Publication by Restless Books
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: March 31, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction
View contest