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DIRECTORY
Showing 96 contests that match your search.
The Morris Museum of Art
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Script Writing
Welcome to the 2024 Porter Fleming Literary Competition, now in its twenty-ninth year of recognizing outstanding writing and writers. The competition honors the memory of Porter Fleming, one of Augusta, Georgia’s leading citizens and foremost philanthropists. The competition is administered, with the support of the Porter Fleming Foundation, by the Morris Museum of Art, the first museum in the country to focus on the art and artists of the American South. Writers, ages 18 and older, who reside in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington, D.C are invited to apply.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
2nd place: $500 3rd place: $250 Prizes available in each of the four genre categories
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: February 16, 2024 (Expired)
Winning Writers
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Short Story
Welcome to the 31st annual Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest. Submit published or unpublished work. $9,000 in prizes.
Top Prize:
$3,000
Additional prizes:
Two-year gift certificate from Duotrope; 10 Honorable Mentions will receive $300 each
💰 Entry fee: $25
📅 Deadline: May 01, 2025 (Expired)
Killer Nashville
Genres: Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story, Suspense, and Thriller
The Claymore Award assists new and rebranding English-language fiction authors with potential publishing opportunities, including agent representation, book deals, and media adaptations. The contest emphasizes the importance of getting the first 50 pages of an unpublished work noticed by industry professionals.
Top Prize:
$0
Additional prizes:
Top three finalists receive discounted admission to next year's Killer Nashville conference. Winners may receive publishing contracts and significant exposure to agents and publishers.
💰 Entry fee: $54
📅 Deadline: April 01, 2025 (Expired)
WOW! Women on Writing
Genres: Essay and Non-fiction
The mission of this contest is to inspire creative nonfiction and provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants. 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
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
2nd: $300 | 3rd: $200 | 7 runner-ups: $25 Amazon Gift Cards
💰 Entry fee: $12
📅 Deadline: July 31, 2025
Folly Journal
Genres: Fiction, Short Story, Essay, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry
The Folly Short Story Prize 2025 invites submissions for stories that challenge conventional norms. It aims to recognize innovative writing that resonates with contemporary themes.
Top Prize:
$1000 NZD
Additional prizes:
Two tickets to the Folly After Party.
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: June 01, 2025 (Expired)
Ploughshares
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry
The Emerging Writer's Contest, held by Ploughshares since 1971, recognizes outstanding work by emerging writers in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Winners are announced in the fall and their works are published in the Winter 2024-25 issue of Ploughshares.
Top Prize:
$2,000
Additional prizes:
Publication in Ploughshares and a conversation with Aevitas Creative Management.
💰 Entry fee: $30
📅 Deadline: May 15, 2025 (Expired)
Indiana Review
Genres: Essay, Fiction, and Non-fiction
The Creative Nonfiction Prize is held annually by Indiana Review, which also publishes various genres including poetry and fiction. It features a $20 entry fee, which includes a subscription to the journal. All entries are considered for publication.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication in Indiana Review
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: March 31, 2024 (Expired)
Lascuax Review
Genres: Essay and Non-fiction
Creative nonfiction may include memoirs, chronicles, personal essays, humorous perspectives, literary journalism—anything the author has witnessed, experienced, or discovered. Pieces may be previously published or unpublished, and simultaneous submissions are accepted. Winner receives $1,000, a bronze medallion, and publication in The Lascaux Review.
Top Prize:
$1,000
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: September 30, 2024 (Expired)
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
📅 Deadline: May 02, 2024 (Expired)
Sadie Tells Stories
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, and Young Adult
The Writing MAGIC contest invites authors to write a short story under 500 words about anything magical. Open to all age groups, stories can be fiction or non-fiction. The contest aims to celebrate creativity and share magical experiences.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
Second place: $150
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: April 01, 2024 (Expired)
Vine Leaves Press
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)
Lambda Literary
Genres: LGBTQ and Non-fiction
The Jeanne Córdova Prize honors lesbian/queer-identified women and trans/gender non-conforming nonfiction authors. It seeks to recognize writers who capture the depth and complexity of lesbian/queer life, culture, and history.
Top Prize:
$2,500
📅 Deadline: February 16, 2024 (Expired)
Killer Nashville
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)
Story Unlikely
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)
Reed Magazine
Genres: Essay and Non-fiction
The contest recognizes outstanding works of nonfiction, awarding $1,333 for creative nonfiction entries, such as personal essays. Submissions must be stand-alone essays, not previously published, and limited to 5,000 words.
Top Prize:
$1,333
Additional prizes:
All contest entrants receive a free copy of the latest edition of Reed Magazine.
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: November 01, 2024 (Expired)
Intrepid Times
Genres: Non-fiction and Travel
Intrepid Times' 10th writing competition invites readers and wanderers to explore the books that have guided our lives and impelled our adventures. Write a non-fiction travel story of up to 2,000 words that describes following in the footsteps of your literary heroes.
Top Prize:
$300
Additional prizes:
Publication in Intrepid Times. Up to four runners-up will be published at standard rates.
💰 Entry fee: $0
📅 Deadline: August 31, 2025
Kinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc
Genres: Essay and Non-fiction
The Native Voices Award 2025 invites Indigenous storytellers from various communities to submit original, unpublished works in genres such as short stories, flash fiction, essays, scripts, or poetry. The contest focuses on themes rich in cultural depth.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
2nd: $200, 3rd: $100, 4th: $50. Subsequent 6 finalists receive a $25 amazon gift card. 1st place also gets publication in Kinsman Quarterly and the anthology Native Voices, Vol. 2.
💰 Entry fee: $0
📅 Deadline: April 30, 2025 (Expired)
South Warwickshire Literary Festival
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)
Ireland Writing Retreat
Genres: Flash Fiction and Non-fiction
The WAWA challenges writers to explore the theme of 'Endings' through short stories of up to 500 words. Entries must not include the word 'endings' in the title or story itself. Winners will be announced in March 2025.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
Winner can choose either 500 euro or a voucher worth 1,000 euro for any writing retreat in 2025. Top ten stories in each category will be published on the Ireland Writing Retreat website, including a bio and photo of the author.
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: January 12, 2025 (Expired)
Wisconsin Writers Association
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry
The Jade Ring Contest is a prestigious annual competition celebrating exceptional writing in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Now in its 76th year, this contest offers writers a chance to shine, with cash prizes, publication opportunities in Creative Wisconsin Magazine, and a coveted residency at Write On, Door County for first-place winners.
Top Prize:
$250
Additional prizes:
1st: $250, a Jade Ring, a writing residency, and publication. | 2nd: $200 + publication. | $150 + publication. | Honorable Mentions: one year membership (or gift card for lifetime members) to WWA, publication. Prizes apply to each category.
💰 Entry fee: $30
📅 Deadline: June 01, 2025 (Expired)
Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum
Genres: Essay and Non-fiction
The contest encourages students to reflect on strength and resilience in overcoming challenges. Since 2001, it has engaged over 15,000 students from more than 20 countries, with 900 participants this year. Winners were selected based on their unique voice and thoughtful analysis.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
2nd place: $750 3rd place: $500
📅 Deadline: March 04, 2024 (Expired)
Masters Review
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
Memoir Writing Ink
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)
Arizona Authors
Genres: Children's, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story, and Young Adult
The Arizona Authors Literary Contest is open to authors worldwide from January 1, 2025, to June 1, 2025. It accepts unpublished and published works across multiple categories, with a focus on literary merit.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
Grand winner: $500 | 3x 1st: $200 | 3x 2nd: $125 | 3x 3rd: $75 | 3x 4th: $50 | 11x "Best of Subcategory" prizes: $25 each | Recognition in the Arizona Literary Magazine and various monetary prizes for winners and runners-up.
💰 Entry fee: $50
📅 Deadline: June 01, 2025 (Expired)
Sunspot Literary Journal
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry
The Rigel 2025 writing contest is a writing contest organized by Sunspot Lit, seeking exceptional submissions in various formats including short stories, poetry, and artwork. The contest aims to highlight quality works across genres.
Top Prize:
$100
Additional prizes:
Publication offered to winner and select finalists.
💰 Entry fee: $5
📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025 (Expired)
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, 2024 (Expired)
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