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Letter Review
We're seeking Stories, Poems, and works of Nonfiction which have been previously published, and are not currently available to read online. Far too often excellent writing experiences a brief moment in the sun, and disappears for good (either out of print, behind a paywall, or to sit on a dusty shelf). As part of The Letter Review's committment to open access, we are here to celebrate these works, and give them a second chance by republishing them online, hopefully assisting them to shine forever.
$1000 (shared by 3 winners)
Publication
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: December 31, 2023
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestLetter Review
The Letter Review Prize for Nonfiction (0 - 5000 words) is open to writers from anywhere in the world. Accepting most forms of Nonfiction. Three winners are published and every entry is considered for publication. 20 entries are longlisted.
$1000 (shared by 3 winners)
Publication
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: December 31, 2023
Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction, Humor
View contestGeorgia Writers Association
The LGBTQIA+ Literary Success Grant will be awarded annually in the categories of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and screenwriting. The purpose of the grants is to elevate, encourage, and inspire the voices of young queer writers in Georgia.
$500
Scholarship to the annual Red Clay Writers Conference
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: January 12, 2024
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Script Writing
View contestThe Pinch Literary Journal
The 2023 Pinch Literary Awards accepts poetry and fiction. The 2023 Page Prize accepts non-fiction.
$2000 for poetry & fiction winners
$1000 for Page Prize winner
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: March 31, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, Non-fiction
View contestNorthwestern Ontario Writers Workshop (NOWW)
A Canadian contest with an international flair. As part of our 25th anniversary celebration, we have increased the prize total to $1800 over six major categories: poetry, short fiction, creative non-fiction, crime fiction, literary critical writing, and The Bill MacDonald prize for prose (A Northwestern Ontario setting must be central to the work).
$150 CAD
Publication in NOWW magazine
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: February 28, 2023 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestHispanic Culture Review
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?
$100
Publication in magazine
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: February 07, 2024
Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestReadWrite Strategies
Please submit funny, creative nonfiction stories 300-1200 words in length, set in or relating to work. If it makes us laugh, it works. No entry fee and submit as many times as you want before December 18th deadline. Prizes are: $500 and a print copy of the book for first place, $200 and a print copy for second place, and $100 and a print copy for 3rd, 4th, and 5th places. All featured stories will receive a digital copy of the book on publication. The best submissions will be featured in an anthology of funny workplace stories.
$500
2nd: 200 and print copy | 3rd, 4th, & 5th: $100 and print copy
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: December 18, 2023
Humor, Non-fiction
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 (up to 2,000 words), nonfiction (up to 2,000 words), and poetry (up to three one-page poems).
$200 CAD
Publication
💰 Fee: $11
Deadline: January 31, 2024
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Essay, Memoir, Short Story
View contestDarling Axe Editing
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?
CAD $700
CAD $200 for 2nd place, $100 for 3rd place
💰 Fee: $4
Deadline: January 31, 2024
Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novella, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestIreland Writing Retreat
Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher, is quoted as saying “change is the only constant in life” - and he was right. And change comes in many shapes and forms, some planned but some unplanned and totally unexpected. Events happen, often beyond our control, leading us to change our views. Of ourselves, of life, of others, irrevocably. Sometimes for the better. Sadly, sometimes for the worse. So, ‘change’ is a key word in everyday life. Perhaps even more so in the fast-paced, modern, post-Covid world in which we all live. As such, ‘Ireland Writing Retreat’ is delighted to announce ‘change’ as the buzzword for our latest ‘Wild Atlantic Writing Awards.’ Our competition has two categories - flash fiction and creative non-creative.
€500
💰 Fee: $11
Deadline: November 30, 2023 (Expired)
Flash Fiction, Non-fiction
View contestKinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc.
Submissions are open for Kinsman Quarterly’s African Diaspora Award. Top winners receive prizes up to $500 USD and publication within the Black Diaspora anthology. No entry fee required. Those eligible should submit an original, unpublished work in English that features themes of the African diaspora by July 15, 2023.
$500
2nd: $250 | 3rd: $100 + Publication
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: July 15, 2023 (Expired)
Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Romance, Script Writing, Short Story, Young Adult
View contestKiller Nashville
The Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award is committed to discovering new writers, as well as superlative books by established authors and, upon discovery, sharing those writers and their works with new readers. There are a large number of both fiction and non-fiction categories you can enter.
$250
💰 Fee: $79
Deadline: June 15, 2023 (Expired)
Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Science Fiction, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller
View contestColumbia Journalism School
The Mark Lynton History Prize, in the amount of $10,000, is awarded to a book-length work of history on any topic that best combines intellectual distinction with felicity of expression. Books must have been published in the United States between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023.
$10,000
💰 Fee: $75
Deadline: December 07, 2023
Non-fiction
View contestColumbia Journalism School
Two J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Awards, in the amount of $25,000, are given annually to aid in the completion of significant works of nonfiction on topics of American political or social concern. Recognizing that a nonfiction book based on extensive research often overtaxes the resources available to its author, the project envisions the Awards as a way of closing the gap between the time and money an author has and the time and money that finishing a book requires.
$25,000
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: December 07, 2023
Non-fiction
View contestColumbia Journalism School
The J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize, in the amount of $10,000, is given annually to a book-length work of narrative nonfiction on a topic of American political or social concern that exemplifies the literary grace, commitment to serious research and original reporting that characterized the distinguished work of the award’s namesake.
$10,000
💰 Fee: $75
Deadline: December 07, 2023
Non-fiction
View contestStanford University Libraries
Submissions are now being accepted for the 11th William Saroyan International Prize for Writing. Two prizes of $5,000 each are given for works of fiction and nonfiction. The awards, co-sponsored by Stanford Libraries and the William Saroyan Foundation, are intended to encourage new or emerging writers and honor the Saroyan legacy of originality, vitality, and stylistic innovation. Submit five copies of your work published between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2023 with a $50 entry fee by January 31, 2024. Writers who have published four or more books are ineligible.
$5,000
💰 Fee: $50
Deadline: January 31, 2024
Fiction, Non-fiction
View contestNew Beginnings
There is no topic relating to technology that brings more discussion than artificial intelligence. Some people think it does wonders. Others see it as trouble. Let us know your opinion about AI in this competition. Include experiences you have had with AI. 300-word limit. Winners will be selected January 1, 2024. Open to anyone, anywhere.
$100 CA
Publication
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: December 15, 2023
Essay, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story
View contestNarratively
Narratively is currently accepting submissions for their 2023 Memoir Prize. They are looking for revealing and emotional first-person nonfiction narratives from unique and overlooked points of view. The guest judge is New York Times bestselling memoirist Stephanie Land.
$3,000
$1,000 and publication
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: November 30, 2023 (Expired)
Essay, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction
View contestTadpole Press
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.
$2,000
2nd: writing coach package
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: November 30, 2023 (Expired)
Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult, Children's, Poetry, Romance, Short Story, Suspense, Travel
View contestWOW! Women On Writing
Seeking creative nonfiction essays on any topic (1000 words or less) and in any style--from personal essay and memoir to lyric essay and hybrid, and more! The mission of this contest is to reward bravery in real-life storytelling and create an understanding of our world through thoughtful, engaging narratives. Electronic submissions via e-mail only; reprints/previously published okay; simultaneous submissions okay; multiple submissions are okay as long as they are submitted in their own individual e-mail. Open internationally.
$500
2nd: $300 | 3rd: $200 | 7 runner-ups: $25 Amazon Gift Cards
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: October 31, 2023 (Expired)
Non-fiction, Essay
View contestThe Letter Review
The Letter Review Prize for Books is open to writers from anywhere in the world. Seeking most unpublished (we accept some self/indie published) novels, novellas, story collections, nonfiction, poetry etc. 20 entries are longlisted.
$1000 USD shared by 3 winners
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: October 31, 2023 (Expired)
Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestSadie Tells Stories
Writing LOVE is a 500 word short story contest. It can be fiction or non-fiction. It can be a love of anything. A love for life, for nature, for a life partner, for peace, for justice, for a passion... The story also doesn't need to be about love, it just has to have an element of love.
$500
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: November 15, 2023 (Expired)
Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Young Adult
View contestThe Independent Author Network
The Independent Author Network presents the 2024 IAN Book of the Year Awards, an international contest open to all authors with 55 fiction and non-fiction categories. Winners are eligible to receive a share of cash prizes of $6,000 USD. Open to all English language print and eBooks available for sale, including small presses, mid-size independent publishers, university presses, and self-published authors.
$2,500
$6,000.00 USD in total cash prizes
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: August 15, 2023 (Expired)
Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestBergen International Literary Festival
Write your story about the climate crisis in a poem or a personal essay.
€2,000
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 15, 2023 (Expired)
Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Science Writing, Young Adult
View contestSunspot Literary Journal
Sunspot Lit seeks a story, essay, excerpt from longer prose pieces, artwork, graphic novel, or poem that combines excellence in craft with reader or audience appeal. Feedback for fiction and nonfiction submissions available for additional fee.
$500
Publication
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Script Writing, Short Story
View contestIndignor House Publishing
Indignor House Publishing is proud to announce that our annual writing competition (INDIGNOR PLAYHOUSE Short Story Annual Competition) is officially open with expected publication in the fall of 2024. Up to 25 submissions will be accepted for inclusion in the annual anthology.
$500
2nd: $250 | 3rd: $150
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: March 31, 2024
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestPivotal
Pivotal is an essay contest for high school students around the world run in partnership with Oxford University's Global Priorities Institute on the world’s most pressing problems. Students will write a 2000-word essay on one of three prompts relating to future generations, AI policy, and ethics.
$15,000
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 10, 2023 (Expired)
Essay, Non-fiction
View contestPeninsula Pulse
The contest was created to encourage and appreciate artistic expression through various literary forms and photography. The contest has showcased works from individuals of all ages and backgrounds – novice writers and photographers to professionals.
$250
2nd: $100 | 3rd: $50
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: September 01, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestIntrepid Times
Intrepid Times is inviting travelers and writers from all countries, at all levels of writing experience, to incorporate music into a travel story (1200-2000 words). The way you achieve this is up to you, but be creative and bold in the way you use music to help build your story. Your travel story should, as always, grow around the context of a place or experience; we want to see music being used in a way that enhances both.
$200
Publication
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: August 31, 2023 (Expired)
Non-fiction, Travel
View contestSmokeLong Quarterly
SmokeLong’s Grand Micro Competition (The Mikey) is a biennial competition that celebrates and compensates the best micro fiction and nonfiction online.
$1,500
2nd: $500 | 3rd: $300 | Finalists: $100 | Publication
💰 Fee: $13
Deadline: November 10, 2023 (Expired)
Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction
View contestThe Moth
The Prize will be awarded to unpublished pieces of prose or poetry which best combine exceptional literary merit with an exploration of the writer’s relationship with the natural world. Judged by Kathleen Jamie.
€1,000 + 1 week at Circle of Misse in France
2nd: €500 | 3rd: €250
💰 Fee: $17
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestKinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc
Indigenous storytellers (Native American, First Nation Australian, Indian, Polynesian, etc.) may submit original, unpublished work in English; short stories, essays, onstage scripts, poetry, or visual art.
$500
2nd: $250 | 3rd: $100 | 6 Finalists: $25 gift card
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: October 31, 2023 (Expired)
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Script Writing, Short Story
View contestSparkPoint Studio
Since 2018, we’ve been proud to play a role in the much-needed elevation of writers of color by awarding 2-3 authors of color publishing packages per year as part of our She Writes Press and SparkPress Toward Equality in Publishing (STEP). The purpose of this contest is to support inclusivity across our lists, and to fortify our own mission to give voice to women writers.
Publishing package valued at $9500
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: August 15, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Novel, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestTravelnitch
We are actively seeking students in Grades 7-12 who love to write! Turn your own passion for travel into an inspiring story for our younger listeners. Whether it’s a fact-based narrative or creative fiction, this is an opportunity to gain real-life experience as a travel writer and show the world what you can do.
Publication and recorded for Bedtime Stories podcast
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: August 20, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, Young Adult
View contestSunspot Lit
Beginnings have the power to spark passion or curiosity. They might immediately connect a specific place and time with an emotional tone. The best openings offer a feeling, atmosphere, action, or image that is gripping, and hints at more to come. For Sunspot Lit’s Inception contest, send your best opening. There are no restrictions on theme, category, or the length of the piece or collection from which the excerpt comes. Word limit is 250 for prose, 25 words for poetry.
$500
Publication in digital and print editions
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: July 31, 2023 (Expired)
Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Romance, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contest
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