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DIRECTORY

Best Non Fiction Writing Contests in 2025

Showing 91 contests that match your search.

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Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult

The competition is open for submissions themed 'The Evolution of Love'. Each entry will be edited, judged based on various writing criteria, and selected works will be published in an anthology.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

2nd: $250 | 3rd: $150

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: March 01, 2025 (Expired)

The First 100 Days Contest

Disruption Books

Genres: Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Novel

The First 100 Days Contest seeks innovative book ideas from authors committed to promoting good work amidst challenging times. Participants submit a one-page book overview and a sample manuscript of up to 5,000 words. Winning authors receive feedback and an editorial consultation.

Top Prize:

Editorial consultation and feedback on up to 100 pages.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: May 31, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Suspense, and Thriller

The Story Unlikely Short Story Contest encourages submissions of all genres, with a focus on quality storytelling. The contest aims to revive the art of storytelling and embraces a variety of narratives without restrictions on age or location.

Top Prize:

$1,500

Additional prizes:

2nd: $1,000; 3rd: $500; All winning stories will be published with illustrations. Honorable mentions receive certificates and potential publication.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2025 (Expired)

High School Academic Research Competition

Crimson Consulting Limited

Genres: Essay and Non-fiction

The High School Academic Research Competition (SARC) is an online contest for high school students aged 13-18 to conduct research on any topic. Participants develop their research proposals and skills through exclusive bootcamps and compete by submitting proposals and video pitches.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

1st place: $1000 and free Indigo Research Intensive Program 2nd place: $750 3rd place: $500

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2025 (Expired)

AWP Prize for Creative Nonfiction

Association of Writers & Writing Programs

Genres: Non-fiction

AWP sponsors the Award Series, an annual competition for the publication of excellent new book-length works. The competition is open to all authors writing in English regardless of nationality or residence, and is available to published and unpublished authors alike.

Top Prize:

$2,500

Additional prizes:

Publication by the University of Georgia Press

💰 Entry fee: $30

📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025 (Expired)

Swamp Pink Prizes

Swamp Pink

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

The Swamp Pink Prizes celebrate excellence in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Each winner receives $2,000 and publication in an upcoming issue of Swamp Pink. The contest is open for submissions throughout January.

Top Prize:

$2,000

Additional prizes:

Publication in an upcoming issue of Swamp Pink

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Essay and Non-fiction

This contest aims to inspire creative nonfiction and provide recognition to contestants. It's open to all styles of essays including personal, lyric, and hybrid essays.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

1st: Essay published on WOW! Women on Writing, item from CreateWriteNow’s Store, interview on the WOW! blog | 7 runners up: $25 Amazon Gift Certificate | 10 honorable mentions: name mentioned on WOW! Women on Writing.

💰 Entry fee: $12

📅 Deadline: October 31, 2025

Bacopa Literary Review Annual Writing Contest

Writers Alliance of Gainesville

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

The Bacopa Literary Review is an annual international print journal seeking engaging and original submissions across multiple genres. The contest includes various categories with specific guidelines to encourage diverse forms of writing.

Top Prize:

$200

Additional prizes:

$100 Honorable Mention in each of six categories

💰 Entry fee: $3

📅 Deadline: June 01, 2025 (Expired)

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

The competition features an open theme and includes four categories: Fiction, Flash Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction, and Poetry. Each category has a defined maximum word count. Winners will be acknowledged at the festival and have the opportunity to read their entries.

Top Prize:

£75

Additional prizes:

£75 for first prize in each category, plus the opportunity to read the winning entry at the festival. £25 for commended entries in each category.

💰 Entry fee: $4

📅 Deadline: March 28, 2025 (Expired)

The Iowa Review Awards

The Iowa Review

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

The Iowa Review Awards is an annual writing contest accepting submissions in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. It has been held every January since 2003, and winners are published in the December issue.

Top Prize:

$1,500

Additional prizes:

First runners-up receive $750

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2025 (Expired)

The Philip Hoare Competition

University of Southampton

Genres: Non-fiction and Short Story

The Philip Hoare Prize is an international competition for the best non-fiction writing, established in 2025, seeking vivid and original narratives that blend personal, historical, and natural themes.

Top Prize:

£300

Additional prizes:

2nd: £100 | 3rd: £50 | Winner also receives publication in the University of Southampton’s annual Avenues Creative Writing anthology.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: July 31, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Novel

The competition aims to give marginalized voices the opportunity to establish literary legacies. It accepts unpublished creative nonfiction manuscripts and assesses entries based on originality, creativity, and writing quality.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Publication of the winning manuscript in 2026. Runners up will also be considered for publication.

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: July 01, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult

The Storytrade Book Awards celebrate literary excellence in small and independent publishing, featuring over 70 categories for fiction and nonfiction. The awards spotlight outstanding books and provide industry recognition for authors.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

$1,000 for each Book of the Year (Fiction & Nonfiction). Medals, book stickers, and digital seals for Winners and Finalists

💰 Entry fee: $75

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Science Fiction, Script Writing, Short Story, and Thriller

The Silver Falchion Award honors the best books published in 2024 across various genres, including mystery, thriller, suspense, and romance. The competition aims to recognize quality storytelling and is open to all published authors.

Top Prize:

$250

💰 Entry fee: $85

📅 Deadline: April 01, 2025 (Expired)

Solar Flare Contest 2025

Sunspot Literary Journal

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

The Solar Flare Contest seeks submissions for a single short story, novel or novella excerpt, artwork, graphic novel, or poem that exhibits a burst of creative energy. All genres accepted, with a maximum word limit of 500 for stories and nonfiction, 12 lines for poetry, and 8 pages for graphic novels.

Top Prize:

$100

Additional prizes:

Publication for the winner; publication offered to runners-up and finalists.

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: June 01, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Essay, Fiction, and Non-fiction

This bi-annual contest recognizes emerging writers with submissions of previously unpublished fiction or nonfiction up to 6,000 words. Judged by Colin Barrett, it awards $3,000 for first place, $300 for second, and $200 for third, along with agency reviews for finalists.

Top Prize:

$3,000

Additional prizes:

Second place: $300 Third place: $200 Agency review for all finalists

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: August 25, 2025 (Expired)

Rule of Law — Your Story

Write the World

Genres: Essay and Non-fiction

The contest invites young writers aged 13-19 to explore themes of justice and (in)justice through personal narratives, opinion writing, or creative writing. Participants can reflect on moments when laws impacted their lives or communities.

Top Prize:

$100

Additional prizes:

Runner-Up and Best Peer Review each receive $50. Recognition and publication opportunities for finalists.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: October 27, 2025

Great American Think-Off

New York Mills Regional Cultural Center

Genres: Essay and Non-fiction

The Great American Think-Off is an annual philosophical essay contest that invites participants to submit essays on significant questions of life. The contest culminates in a live debate where finalists present their arguments, and the audience votes on the best perspective.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

Four cash prizes of $500 each for finalists.

📅 Deadline: April 01, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Non-fiction, and Short Story

The To Hull and Back Humorous Short Story Competition is a biennial contest focused on humorous writing. It celebrates imaginative short stories from writers globally. The current competition is open until June 30, 2025, with multiple cash prizes and publication opportunities in an anthology.

Top Prize:

£1,000

Additional prizes:

2nd Prize: £200 | 3rd Prize: £100

💰 Entry fee: $16

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Memoir, Non-fiction, and Short Story

Original, unpublished works of memoir writing up to 2000 words. The winner will be interviewed and the winning story published on Alison Wearing’s website and featured in the Memoir Writing Ink program. This award was created in celebration of the life of Amy Macrae and in support of her living legacy to improve the outcomes of women with ovarian cancer.

Top Prize:

$1,000

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2025 (Expired)

Self-Publishing Literary Awards

Black Caucus of ALA (BCALA)

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Novel, and Poetry

The BCALA Self-Publishing Literary Awards honors the best self-published ebooks by African American authors in the U.S. across fiction and poetry genres. The awards focus on the cultural, historical, and sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora.

Top Prize:

$2,500

Additional prizes:

Formal recognition at the NCAAL conference, BCALA Literary Award Seal.

📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025 (Expired)

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