The Best Non Fiction Writing Contests of 2023
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
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Showing 137 contests
AIIRA Writing Contest
AI Institute for Resilient Agriculture
AIIRA is seeking essays speculating on how AI will change careers within the next decade, as well as fiction stories depicting a day in the life of a job transformed by AI technology. Submissions should address how AI will help future professionals perform their jobs more efficiently as well as what job duties will become redundant due to AI.
Top prize
$550
Additional prizes
2nd: $400 (x2) | 3rd: $250
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Science Writing, Short Story
View contestEunice Williams Nonfiction Prize
HerStry Literary Magazine
HerStry has long been a place for women identifying and nonbinary folks to tell their stories. We are a brave space for brave stories. Now, we’d like to amplify your stories even more with our contest and prize. There is no theme to adhere to for this contest, simply nonfiction written by you, about you. Give us your best work, the stuff of your heart. Our stories are what make us, tell yours.
Top prize
$400
Additional prizes
2nd: $250 | 3rd: $100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: December 15, 2023
Genres
Memoir, Non-fiction
View contestGabriele Rico Challenge for Nonfiction
Reed Magazine
The Gabriele Rico Challenge for Nonfiction recognizes outstanding works of nonfiction. We are looking for creative nonfiction, such as personal essays or narratives, not scholarly papers or book reviews. All works should be stand-alone essays, not chapters of a longer work. Please limit prose submissions to 5,000 words.
Top prize
$1,333
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: November 01, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestNarrative Prize
Narrative Magazine
The Narrative Prize is awarded annually for the best short story, novel excerpt, poem, one-act play, graphic story, or work of literary nonfiction published by a new or emerging writer in Narrative. The submission system is open all year.
Top prize
$4,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $27
Deadline: June 15, 2024
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestPublic Roads Student Writing Competition
Federal Highway Administration/Public Roads Magazine
Public Roads is proud to announce its first Student Writing Competition, designed to encourage high school and college students interested in or actively pursuing STEM majors to demonstrate their knowledge by writing an article that relates to the transportation industry.
Top prize
Published in Winter 2023 Issue of Public Roads Magazine
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: July 21, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Non-fiction, Science Writing
View contestCreative Nonfiction Competition
Write the World
The teenage years are an in-between time, the stage linking our childhood to adulthood. It’s a time of internal transitions, as we find out more about who we are and who we want to be in the world. This month, use the tools of creative nonfiction to write about your own experience of this passage into adulthood.
Top prize
Best Entry: $100
Additional prizes
Runner up: $50 | Best Peer Review: $50
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: July 18, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction
View contestThe Heartland Review Open Calls
The Heartland Review Press
Submit one piece of fiction or creative nonfiction of topic or category to include flash in a Word document through Submittable (link on website). No pdfs. Include a short cover letter and bio. Simultaneous submissions accepted, but writers must withdraw if published elsewhere. We read the first 50 pieces of fiction and 50 of creative nonfiction submitted each month during the open call.
Top prize
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: November 15, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
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: $21
Deadline: July 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestMemo'd Write to Win
Memo'd
The Memo'd ""Write To Win"" contest is for new writers who have something to say, and who like saying it succinctly. A Memo is a shareable and bulleted essay of 300-800 words - think Twitter threads without the noise of Twitter. A Memo can be a: 1) Profile of a famous person 2) Summary of classic or new book 3) Point of view or opinion pieces 4) Revelation (e.g. career insights.) Just make it interesting! If you love writing, but don't want to write a whole book or long article, Memo'd may be for you.
Top prize
$750 For Most Engaging Memo
Additional prizes
$750 For Most Read Memo | $500 Editor's Pick
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: May 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Non-fiction
View contest2023 Black Voices in Children's Literature
Free Spirit Publishing
The contest is open to Black authors who at the time of entry are at least 18 years of age and residing anywhere in the United States. As always, the contest’s mission is to elevate authentic, culturally relevant children’s stories written by and about Black people. Every entry is considered for publication and three cash prizes will be awarded. Eligible entries will include original children’s books for ages 0–4 (50–125 words) or for ages 4–8 (300–800 words) featuring authentic, realistic Black characters and culture and focusing on one or more of the following topics: character development, self-esteem, identity, diversity, getting along with others, engaging with family and community, or other topics related to positive childhood development.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
2nd: $500 | 3rd: $250 | Meeting with editors, tote bag, tshirt
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: July 24, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story, Non-fiction
View contestRigel 2023
Sunspot Literary Journal
Sunspot Lit seeks one short story, CNF, artwork, poem, graphic novel, script, or excerpt that outshines the rest. Literary and genre works accepted. Feedback available for additional fee. See guidelines for details. Enter through Sunspot’s Submittable or through Duotrope.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: May 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Script Writing, Short Story
View contestQuill and Keyboard Teen International Writing Competition
Quills and Keyboard
We are made of students hosting a contest for teen & YA authors. There are 15 categories, from journalism to a section for novelists’ favorite chapters. Qualified judges will send feedback on each piece. We partnered with many writing organizations such as Teen Author Boot Camp and Newpages and recognized by non-profits such as Polyphony Lit.
Top prize
Publication in Under the Madness and Skipping Stones
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: May 20, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novella, Poetry, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contest2024 Book Prize
Unleash Press
Writers are invited to submit novels, short story collections and creative nonfiction manuscripts. The Editors' Prize winner receives a publication contract with Unleash Press and $1000 prize, along with 10 printed copies of the final book. We may also offer publication contracts to additional outstanding manuscripts.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publishing contract
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $35
Deadline: December 15, 2023
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Novel, Short Story, Non-fiction
View contestWeekly Writing Competition
the archipelago
the archipelago is looking for great works of fiction, poetry, and personal essay. Eligibility: One piece per entry. One entry per person for each week (you can submit your writing for each round of competition repeating every week). The writing must be previously unpublished (including online). All entries must be in English. 700 - 1000 maximum word count for stories. 150 maximum lines for poetry. Submission Dates: April 10 - July 10
Top prize
$150 AUD
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: June 10, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestReader Views Literary Awards
Reader Views
The Reader Views Literary Awards program helps level the playing field for self-published authors, recognizing the most creative and exciting new books in the industry. Our awards program is recognized industry-wide as one of the top literary awards programs for independent authors.
Top prize
$2,500
Additional prizes
Several marketing prizes (e.g. book review)
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $89
Deadline: December 31, 2023
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestThe Synopsis Skirmish—a contest for querying authors
Darling Axe Editing
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?" According to literary agent Sarah Davies, a good query submission can be described in terms of concept and craft. In other words, you want to convey an original idea or fresh take and demonstrate a mastery of narrative structure. These elements are both important in your pitch, but even more so in your synopsis. So lay out your story's chain of consequence, and demonstrate character, context, and conflict—with style but without gimmick. And may the best plot summary win!
Top prize
$700 CAD
Additional prizes
2nd: $200 CAD | 3rd: $100 CAD
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $4
Deadline: May 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestAnthology Travel Writing Competition 2023
Anthology Magazine
The Anthology Travel Writing Competition is open to original and previously unpublished travel articles in the English language by writers of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. We are looking for an engaging article that will capture the reader’s attention, conveying a strong sense of the destination and the local culture. Max 1000 words.
Top prize
€500
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $16
Deadline: November 30, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Non-fiction, Travel
View contest2023 John Estey Student Writing Competition
American Writers Museum
"Give me a song of hope and a world where I can sing it.” – Pauli Murray, Dark Testament Pauli Murray (1910-1985) was difficult to define. They were a poet, a lawyer, a priest, a freight hopper, Eleanor Roosevelt’s friend, arrested for refusing to comply with bus segregation laws, a closeted member of the LBGTQ+ community, a professor, and so much more. Their work has influenced Supreme Court decisions, the Civil Rights movement, and countless individual people. This prompt is a quote from Murray’s collection of poems titled Dark Testament. It can be used as a first line, a last line, a jumping-off point, an inspiration for your students’ work. They can use the entire quote or portions of it to write a fiction or nonfiction story, poem, song, scene, short monologue or other form of writing. Submissions should be 1,000 words or less regardless of format.
Top prize
3x Elementary Grade winners: $500 | 3x Middle School winners: $1,000 | 3x High School winners: $2,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: June 05, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Script Writing
View contestThe Scribes Prize
Fairfield Scribes
The Scribes Prize is looking for fiction & creative nonfiction stories of 90-110 words. Prizes include publication, award seals, and cash: $250 for gold, $125 for silver, $60 for bronze & 15 honorable mentions for $20 each. Simultaneous submissions & reprints welcome. Max 3 submissions per author. All entries will receive feedback from 2 editors.
Top prize
$250
Additional prizes
2nd: $125 | 3rd: $60 | Publication | Editor's deedback
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: September 01, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller
View contestEmerging Writer's Contest
Ploughshares
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.
Top prize
3x $2000
Additional prizes
Publication in Ploughshares
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $24
Deadline: May 15, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestFlying South Contest
Winston-Salem Writers
Winning submissions in each of the three categories (Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Poetry) will be awarded prizes of $400 for First Place, $200 for Second Place, and $100 for a total of $2,100 in prizes. All finalists will be accepted for publication and will receive one copy of the current issue of Flying South.
Top prize
3x $400
Additional prizes
3x 2nd: $200 | 3x 3rd: $100 | Publication in Flying South 2023
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: May 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestThe UNO Writing Center's Writing Contest
The University of Nebraska, Omaha: Writing Center
The University of Nebraska, Omaha's Writing Center is hosting their 1st annual writing contest, open to Nebraska state residents (or remotely enrolled Nebraska university students.) It has three categories available in flash fiction, flash creative non-fiction, and poetry (up to 750 words.) The theme for the contest is: What it means to be a Maverick, and whatever your creative interpretation of that may be.
Top prize
Certificate | UNO Writing Center merch
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: April 10, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contest3nd Annual WCWF Writing Contest
Wine Country Writers' Festival
Fire up those pens and get those unpublished stories and poems submitted to WCWF 3nd Annual Writing Contest. Three winners in each category (fiction/nonfiction/poetry), publication in Anthology, and your own copy. Entries: $15 or two for $25.
Top prize
$150
Additional prizes
2nd Place: $75 | 3rd Place: $50
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: June 30, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestNarratively's 2023 Profile Prize
Narratively
Narratively is looking for profile pieces that tell the story of ordinary people or communities doing extraordinary things. The grand prize winner will receive $3,000, and the two finalists will receive $1,000 each. Guest judges are renowned journalists Gay Talese, Lisa Lucas and Rebecca Traister.
Top prize
$3,000
Additional prizes
$1000 for two other finalists
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: April 14, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Non-fiction
View contestBacopa Literary Review
Bacopa Literary Review
Bacopa Literary Review is an annual international print journal published by the Writers Alliance of Gainesville. Our Bacopa Literary Review Editors’ blog shows the quality of writing we seek by highlighting work we respect from previous Bacopa issues as well as other sources.
Top prize
£200 in 6 categories
Additional prizes
$100 Honorable mention in 6 categories
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: April 16, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story, Essay, Flash Fiction, Humor
View contestGeminga: $250 for Tiny Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, or Art
Sunspot Lit
Geminga is a neutron star so small it was difficult to detect. It was named, in part, for a transcription of gh’è minga, meaning “it’s not there.” With Geminga: $500 for Tiny Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, or Art, Sunspot Lit honors the power of the small. No restrictions on theme or category. Word limit is 100 for fiction and nonfiction. Micropoetry is limited to 140 characters. Graphic novelsshould be 4 pages or less.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication in digital and print
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: March 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestFirst Pages Prize
First Pages Prize
This international prize is open to unagented writers anywhere in the world for the first five pages (1,250 words) of a longer work of fiction or creative nonfiction. This year we will award three prizes in BOTH fiction and creative nonfiction! In addition to cash awards, winners receive developmental mentoring, consultation with a literary agent, and publicity.
Top prize
$2,000
Additional prizes
Developmental Mentoring & Agent Consultation
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: April 10, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestQueen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize
Wasafiri
Exceptionally international in scope, the prize supports writers who have not yet published a book-length work, with no limits on age, gender, nationality, or background. The winners of each category (fiction, poetry and life writing) will receive a £1,000 cash prize and publication, and will be published in Wasafiri’s print magazine. Shortlisted writers will have their work published on Wasafiri’s website.
Top prize
£1000 (x3)
Additional prizes
Mentoring & Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: June 30, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Poetry, Memoir, Non-fiction
View contestNorth Street Book Prize
Winning Writers
Submit a self-published or hybrid-published book, up to 200,000 words in length. One grand prize winner will receive $10,000, a marketing analysis and one-hour phone consultation with Carolyn Howard-Johnson, a $300 credit at BookBaby, three months of Plus service (a $207 value) and a $500 account credit from Book Award Pro, and 3 free ads in the Winning Writers newsletter (a $525 value)
Top prize
$10,000
Additional prizes
$1,000 for top winner in each category | $300 for honorable mentions
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $75
Deadline: June 30, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Children's, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestRomance on the Road
Intrepid Times
Write an original, factual, first-person travel story about a time you experienced romance while traveling. Feel free to explore romance in all of its manifestations, but ensure that your travel story builds itself around the context of a place or experience. Editors will be looking for originality, voice, and a satisfying story arc that captures attention and makes use of imagery to pull the reader along at every step.
Top prize
$200
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: March 19, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Non-fiction, Romance, Travel
View contestAurora Polaris Creative Nonfiction Award
Trio House Press
We seek un-agented full-length creative nonfiction manuscripts including memoir, essay collections, etc. 50,000 - 80,000 words.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: August 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction
View contestEco Friendly Writing Contest
Howard's New Beginnings
The aim of the contest is to share eco-friendly ideas. Tell us something you think helps make the planet become more eco-friendly such as an eco-friendly product or packaging, a recipe for a natural product, or a waste-management tip. Up to 500 words. Any writer from anywhere can submit an entry. Contest deadline is April 22 2023, Earth Day.
Top prize
$150
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: April 22, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Non-fiction, Science Writing
View contestWriting MAGIC
Sadie Tells Stories
Write a short story, under 500 words that is all about magic. It can be for any age group. It can be fiction or non-fiction. Get creative. Have fun. And share your magic with the world!
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
$150 USD for second prize
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: April 01, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Short Story, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Young Adult
View contestJeanne Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction
Lambda Literary
Lambda Literary’s Jeanne Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction, in memory of the beloved activist and author, honors lesbian/queer-identified women and trans/gender non-conforming nonfiction authors. The award will go to a writer committed to nonfiction work that captures the depth and complexity of lesbian/queer life, culture, and/or history.
Top prize
$2,500
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: February 17, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
LGBTQ, Non-fiction
View contestThe Iowa Review Awards
The Iowa Review
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 requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: January 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contest
