The Best Non Fiction Writing Contests of 2022
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
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Showing 102 contests
The Story I Needed To Have Read
Exisle Academy
Sometimes, the right story at the right moment can give us the courage we need to overcome adversity. And when that story doesn't already exist, we need to make it ourselves. Write a short story - in any genre, fiction or fact - that helped or would have helped you at a pivotal moment in your life. One winner will receive up to $2000 worth of training and coaching with Exisle Academy, including the opportunity to discuss developing a book with our editors. Entry is encouraged from writers of all types from all background’s cultures and abilities. We are seeking entries from as diverse a set of communities as possible. Top entries will be published on our website, with their permission.
Top prize
$2,000
Additional prizes
Free enrolment to the "Become a Successful Author" course
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: August 28, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestTo Hull and Back Humorous Short Story Contest
Christopher Fielden
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 requirements
💰 Fee: $16
Deadline: June 30, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Humor, Non-fiction, Short Story
View contest2nd Annual WCWF Writing Contest
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Fire up those pens and get those unpublished stories and poems submitted to WCWF 2nd Annual Writing Contest.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.
Top prize
$150
Additional prizes
2nd Place: $75 | 3rd Place: $50
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: July 29, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestYeahWrite Super Challenge
YeahWrite
The Super Challenge is a prompted, 48-hour flash competition alternating between fiction and creative nonfiction. Prompts are released on a Friday night; writers have 48 hours to craft a response in 1,000 words or fewer. Professional editors read all entries and provide detailed feedback on each. The top writers move on to round 2 with new prompts.
Top prize
$150
Additional prizes
$100 for second place | $50 for third place
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $35
Deadline: December 23, 2022
Genres
Essay, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction
View contestMarch Micro Writing Competition
Globe 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.
Top prize
$133
Additional prizes
Publication on our website
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $4
Deadline: March 14, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestGeminga: $250 for Tiny Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, or Art
Sunspot 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.
Top prize
$250
Additional prizes
Publication in digital and print
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $6
Deadline: June 30, 2022 (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 contestNew Voices Award
Lee & Low Books
The New Voices Award is given annually by children's book publisher Lee & Low Books for a children’s picture book manuscript by a writer of color or Indigenous/Native writer. Established in 2000, the New Voices Award encourages writers of color and Indigenous/Native writers to submit their work to a publisher that takes pride in nurturing new talent.
Top prize
$2,000
Additional prizes
A standard Lee & Low publishing contract | Honor Award winner: $1,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: August 01, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestIndieReader Discovery Awards
IndieReader
Where talented authors meet publishing professionals with the power to make a difference in the success of their books. Every author who enters a title in the IR Discovery Awards will receive a verdict, written by an IndieReader reviewer and based on their assessment after reading the complete book.
Top prize
First look consideration by a top, NYC-based literary agency
Additional prizes
$500, publicist consultation service, Reedsy credit, custom author website
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $150
Deadline: February 15, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Novel
View contestGabriele Rico Challenge for Nonfiction
https://www.reedmag.org/gabriele-rico-challenge-for-nonfict
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, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestNorth Street Book Prize
Winning Writers
One grand prize winner will receive $8,000, 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, 2022.
Top prize
$8,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $70
Deadline: June 30, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contest2nd Annual WCWF Writing Contest
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.
Top prize
$150
Additional prizes
Publication in an anthology
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: July 29, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestBacopa Literary Review
Writers Alliance of Gainesville
We seek unusual perspectives, passionate voices, compelling work. This includes poetry, creative non-fiction, and short stories.
Top prize
£300
Additional prizes
£100 second prize
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: May 23, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestThe Synopsis Skirmish—a contest for querying authors
Darling 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?"
Top prize
$560
Additional prizes
$200 for second place, $100 for third
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: May 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestWrong Turns Travel Writing Competition
Intrepid 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.
Top prize
$150
Additional prizes
Runners up: $50 | Publication on Intrepid Times
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: April 30, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Non-fiction, Travel
View contestTrue Story Contest
FanStory.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.
Top prize
$100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: November 12, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestScience me a Story
Society 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.
Top prize
$267
Additional prizes
£150 and £100 runner ups
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: April 24, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story
View contestTeen Angst: Mix Tape Vol 2
4 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.
Top prize
Publication in anthology
Additional prizes
Access to buy author copies at a discounted rate
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: June 30, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry
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
$2,000
Additional prizes
Publication in Ploughshares
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $24
Deadline: May 15, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestFlying South
Winston-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.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in Flying South 2022
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: May 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestThe Fountain Essay Contest
Fountain 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.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
$500, $300, $150
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: April 01, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction
View contestThe Writerwerx University Novel Opening Contest
Writerwerx University
Submit the first 1,000 words of your published book.
Top prize
$2,000
Additional prizes
2nd Place: $1,000 cash/prizes, 3rd Place $100 cash/prizes
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: February 28, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestRed Hen Press Nonfiction Award
Red 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.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication by Red Hen Press
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: March 31, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Non-fiction
View contestRed Hen Press Women's Prose Prize
Red 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.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication by Red Hen Press
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: February 28, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, Essay, Memoir, Novel
View contestTypewriter Awards
League 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.
Top prize
Trophy
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: May 13, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestQuills Award
League of Utah Writers
The Quills Awards are open to League of Utah Writers members who have published a book in the past year.
Top prize
Trophy
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $35
Deadline: May 13, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella
View contestOlive Woolley Burt Awards For Creative Writing
League 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.
Top prize
$150
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: May 13, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Science Writing, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestDandy Writers Short Story Contest
Dandy 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.
Top prize
$300
Additional prizes
Writing Job
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: May 30, 2023
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Short Story
View contestNon Fiction Writing Contest
FanStory.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.
Top prize
$100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: May 08, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Non-fiction
View contestTrue Story Flash
FanStory.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!
Top prize
$100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: May 27, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Flash Fiction, Non-fiction
View contestThe George Floyd Short Story Competition Vol2
Nottingham 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
Top prize
£250
Additional prizes
Publication in anthology - Earth 2.0
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: February 28, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestFemmeFluenza 2.0
WriteFluence
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.
Top prize
Publication
Additional prizes
Author features and Merit certificates (digital)
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $2
Deadline: February 15, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestHispanic Culture Review – Literary and Photographic Contest 2021-2022
Hispanic 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.
Top prize
$100
Additional prizes
Publication in print and electronic magazine, Certificate of recognition
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: February 06, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestAskew's Word on the Lake Writing Contest
Shuswap 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.
Top prize
$120
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: January 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestSAWG 29th Writing Contest
San 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.
Top prize
1st: $100; 2nd: $50; 3rd: $25 US
Additional prizes
Membership, list on website and FB, winner sticker
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $35
Deadline: January 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestThe Restless Books Prize For New Immigrant Writing
Restless 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.
Top prize
$10,000
Additional prizes
Publication by Restless Books
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: March 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction
View contest
