Looking to publish? Meet your dream editor, designer and marketer on Reedsy.
Find the perfect editor for your next book
1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them.
Science Fiction & Fantasy Writing 2023
Write the World
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, and Short Story
Fantasy and sci-fi stir our imaginations, inviting us to think outside the limits of the life we know. This month, you have the extraordinary and exciting task of reimagining the world. In a fantasy or sci-fi short story, take your readers on a journey into a world of your imagination.
Top Prize:
$100
Additional prizes:
Runner up: $50 | Best peer review: $50
💰 Entry fee: $0
📅 Deadline: October 23, 2023 (Expired)
Ambroggio Prize
Academy of American Poets
Genres: Poetry
The Ambroggio Prize is a $1,000 publication prize given for a book-length poetry manuscript originally written in Spanish and with an English translation. The winning manuscript is published by Bilingual Press/Editorial Bilingüe, publisher of literary works, scholarship, and art books by or about U.S. Hispanics.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication by Bilingual Press
📅 Deadline: February 15, 2024 (Expired)
Lune Poetry Contest
FanStory.com Inc.
Genres: Poetry
A Lune is a 5-3-5 contest. That means the first line has five syllables. The second line of your poem will have three. And the final line will have five again. Your poem can rhyme. Write about anything. Cash prize!
Top Prize:
$100
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: April 07, 2024 (Expired)
Poetry & Spoken Word Competition 2024
Write the World
Genres: Poetry
“Poetry lays the foundations for a future of change," wrote Audre Lorde. This month, sow your own seeds of change into stanzas, meter, or free verse, or else write and perform an original piece of spoken word (poetry performed aloud). We’ll award two top prizes—one for a written poem, and one for a recorded performance.
Top Prize:
Best entry: $100
Additional prizes:
Runner up: $50 | Best peer review: $50
📅 Deadline: May 27, 2024
Bridport Flash Fiction Prize
Bridport Arts Centre
Genres: Fiction and Flash Fiction
It may be the sprint of creative writing but that doesn’t mean you can rush the creative process. Take us somewhere fast then let your story marinade in the reader's mind. Make every one of your 250 words count. There is no minimum number of words, just like there is no limit to your imagination. They say lightning doesn't strike twice but we want to feel the electricity in your story right from the beginning through to the very end.
Top Prize:
£1000
Additional prizes:
£500 for 2nd, £250 for 3rd
💰 Entry fee: $12
📅 Deadline: May 31, 2024
Elegant Literature's Monthly Award For New Writers
Elegant Literature
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult, Flash Fiction, and Science Writing
One of the largest awards open to unpublished writers and closed to professionals. We are the first magazine to pay pro rates and only accept submissions from new writers, putting over $150k into the hands of emerging talent around the globe so far. One new writer receives the grand prize. We also choose the best stories, pay the authors professional rates, and publish them in our magazine. April guest judge is Christopher Fielden.
Top Prize:
$3,000
Additional prizes:
10x Paid publication, 25 x $20 USD | Free entry to Novelist Accelerator
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: May 01, 2024
Genres: Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Novel
We are a boutique publishing company that is dedicated to amplifying the voices of contemporary writers who are nomads and explorers of language, form, and the psyche. High-quality “unpublished” manuscript submissions of memoir, fiction and non-fiction entrusted to us will be read, sorted and pondered by our esteemed author, Jacqueline Gay Walley.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Possible publication
💰 Entry fee: $35
📅 Deadline: October 01, 2024
First Book Award
Academy of American Poets
Genres: Poetry
The First Book Award is a $5,000 first-book publication prize. The winning manuscript, chosen by an acclaimed poet, is published by Graywolf Press. The winner also receives an all-expenses-paid six-week residency at the Civitella Ranieri Center, in the Umbrian region of Italy.
Top Prize:
$5,000
Additional prizes:
Publication by Graywolf Press
💰 Entry fee: $35
📅 Deadline: October 01, 2021 (Expired)
First 5 Pages Prize
Stockholm Writers Festival
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult
SWF is proud to launch the First 5 Pages Prize to mark our 5th anniversary. Dazzle us with your brilliance. Delight us with your wit. Deceive us with your dastardly plot-twists. There will be one Grand Prize winner chosen from all entries. The winner will receive: $1000 cash, a ticket to SWF22, a pitch meeting with an agent conducted over Zoom, two night’s accommodation at a boutique hotel, and a full developmental edit donated by Reedsy, the industry’s leading platform for writing services.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
A full developmental edit donated by Reedsy & pitch meeting with an agent
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: January 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, and Short Story
Open to writers from around the world, we’re offering a top prize of £1,000, a second prize of £300 and a third prize of £200. Any themes/genres are welcome but stories must be 1,000 words or fewer. The deadline is midnight (UK time) on Tuesday 30th April 2024 and £1.00 from each entry will be donated to the creative writing charity, First Story.
Top Prize:
£1,000
Additional prizes:
2nd: £300 | 3rd: £200
💰 Entry fee: $13
📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024
Chapter One Prize
Gutsy Great Novelist
Genres: Fiction, Novel, Young Adult, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, and Thriller
The Gutsy Great Novelist Chapter One Prize is awarded for an outstanding first chapter of an unpublished novel. The prize is open internationally to anyone over 18 writing a novel in English in any genre for adult or YA readers. Winners will be announced March 29, 2024.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
2nd: $500 |3rd: $250
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: March 01, 2024 (Expired)
Horror Writing Contest
FanStory.com Inc.
Genres: Fiction, Horror, and Short Story
Share a horror or thriller story to enter this writing contest. Write about anything but the object is to terrorize or thrill your reader. Cash prize!
Top Prize:
$100
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: October 27, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction Factory Poetry Competition
Fiction Factory
Genres: Poetry
This is a UK based competition but we welcome international entries. Poets are invited to enter poems (maximum 40 lines excluding title) on any theme. Discounts are offered on multiple entries. Besides the cash prize, our judge, poet and author and mentor, Helen Cox, will offer feedback on five of the winner's poems plus an hour-long mentorship zoom call about their poetry.
Top Prize:
£100
Additional prizes:
Feedback on poems, a Zoom mentorship call, and publication
💰 Entry fee: $6
📅 Deadline: October 31, 2023 (Expired)
The Lascaux Prize in Poetry
The Lascaux Review
Genres: Poetry
Poems may be previously published or unpublished, and simultaneous submissions are accepted. Winner receives $1,000, a bronze medallion, and publication online in The Lascaux Review. The winner and all finalists will be published in the annual print journal.
Top Prize:
$1,000
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: March 31, 2024 (Expired)
Two Line Poem
FanStory.com Inc.
Genres: Poetry
Write an essence poem. This is a poem of two lines with six syllables per line, each containing an internal rhyme and an ending rhyme.
Top Prize:
$100
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: December 05, 2022 (Expired)
Red Hen Press Women's Prose Prize
Red Hen Press
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, Essay, Memoir, and Novel
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 fee: $25
📅 Deadline: February 28, 2024 (Expired)
Ghost Novellas for the "Presence" Collection
Kinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc
Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, Novella, and Thriller
Ghost novellas wanted from (but not limited to) underrepresented authors by April 31, 2024. Entries must be between 15,000-25,000 words, incorporating BIPOC cultures, traditions, and histories. Selected submissions receive $1000 USD and publication within Kinsman Quarterly’s journal and the “Presence” collection. $25 submission fee required.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication in the Kinsman Quarterly and the "Presence" collection
💰 Entry fee: $25
📅 Deadline: March 31, 2024 (Expired)
Haiku Poetry Contest
FanStory.com Inc.
Genres: Poetry
Share a Haiku! That's a poem with only three lines that generally follows the 5-7-5 syllable count. So the first line of your poem will have three syllables. Second line seven. Final line five!
Top Prize:
$100
💰 Entry fee: $13
📅 Deadline: April 15, 2023 (Expired)
Flash Fiction Competition 2024
Write the World
Genres: Flash Fiction
“There was more room to think,” wrote novelist David Gaffney on becoming a flash fiction convert, “more space for the original idea to resonate, fewer unnecessary words to wade through.” This month, gather your briefest bits of story, your flashes in a pan, your poetic impulses, and give us a story in 100 words or fewer.
Top Prize:
Best Entry: $100
Additional prizes:
Runner up: $50, Best Peer Review: $50
📅 Deadline: August 26, 2024
Flash Fiction Award
Bath Flash Fiction Award
Genres: Fiction and Flash Fiction
In addition to winning cash prizes, entrants have the opportunity to appear in our print and digital anthology collections. Our books are published by the award-winning small press Ad Hoc Fiction, and are available to buy from their own independent bookshop as well as worldwide from Amazon. 300 word limit.
Top Prize:
£1000
Additional prizes:
£300 for 2nd, £100 for 3rd
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: February 04, 2024 (Expired)
Jim Martin Memorial Story Contest
Arizona Mystery Writers
Genres: Fiction, Mystery, and Short Story
Every year the Arizona Mystery Writers hosts the Jim Martin Memorial Story Contest. Naturally, since we’re the Arizona Mystery Writers, we want a mystery story, but we’re flexible about the boundaries of that category, and we also accept thrillers and suspense stories. It doesn’t matter if your story’s characters are in outer space, riding horses, or living underground. Costumes and settings don’t matter as long as the story is a mystery, thriller, or suspense tale as described.
Top Prize:
$200
Additional prizes:
2nd: $100 | 3rd: $75
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: August 01, 2024
HNS 2024 First Chapters Competition
Historical Novel Society
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Novel, Romance, Thriller, and Young Adult
The HNS UK 2024 First Chapters Competition is for the first three chapters of a full-length historical novel that has not been previously published in any form. We are looking to recognize and promote excellence in storytelling and the craft of historical fiction and its subgenres. The competition coincides with the HNS UK 2024 conference and the overall winner will be announced at the conference.
Top Prize:
£1,000
Additional prizes:
Category winners: £500 and HNS UK 2024 conference ticket
💰 Entry fee: $50
📅 Deadline: February 15, 2024 (Expired)
Annual Short Story Contest
Flash 500
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
We are looking for stories (of any genre) ranging between 1,000 and 3,000 words, with strong characters, a well-crafted plot and realistic dialogue (where used). Make us laugh, make us cry, but most of all, make us feel!
Top Prize:
£500
Additional prizes:
£200 for 2nd place, £100 for 3rd place
💰 Entry fee: $8
📅 Deadline: February 29, 2024 (Expired)
Science Fiction Writing Contest
FanStory.com Inc
Genres: Fiction, Science Writing, and Science Fiction
Share a Science Fiction themed story to enter this writing contest with a cash prizes. Let your imagination fly and enjoy sharing your writing.
Top Prize:
$100
Additional prizes:
Winning entries will be features on the FanStory.com welcome page.
💰 Entry fee: $9
📅 Deadline: April 12, 2023 (Expired)
Debut Dagger
Crime Writer's Association
Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Suspense, and Thriller
The Debut Dagger is a competition for the opening of a crime novel by a writer who isn’t represented by an agent by the time the competition closes, and who has never had a traditional contract for any novel of any length, or who has never self-published any novel of any length in the last 5 years. Writers submit their opening 3,000 words and a 1,500 word synopsis. Entries from shortlisted writers are sent to UK literary agents and publishers. Every year, authors find representation this way.
Top Prize:
$577
💰 Entry fee: $41
📅 Deadline: February 29, 2024 (Expired)
Ninth Drapers Guild Short Story Contest
Drapers Guild
Genres: Fiction
We accept stories of any length, written in English, that fit the theme "Fiction about a Stranger"
Top Prize:
$100
Additional prizes:
Publication on Drapers Guild Website
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: February 15, 2024 (Expired)
Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, and Short Story
CAPTRS is building a catalog of threats, called the “Universe of Threats,” which will be used to prepare decision makers for future threats. We invite you to submit a 2,500 word or less story describing a threat scenario related to natural disasters, including floods, wildfires, hurricanes or another natural disaster of your choosing.
Top Prize:
$5,000
Additional prizes:
2nd: $2,500 | 3rd: $1,000 | Publication on CAPTRS website
📅 Deadline: January 31, 2024 (Expired)
F(r)iction Contests
Brink Literacy Project
Genres: Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
For our contests, we seek writing that pushes boundaries and challenges us to think differently. We like work that features complex characters and strong narratives, and plays with genre, setting, voice, you name it. For Spring 2024, we have Wole Talabi judging Short Story, Sherrie Flick judging Flash Fiction, C. S. E. Cooney judging Poetry, and Marin Sardy judging Creative Nonfiction.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: November 03, 2024
Writers of the Future
Writer's of the Future
Genres: Fiction, Short Story, Fantasy, and Science Fiction
L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest is an opportunity for new writers of science fiction and fantasy to have their work judged by some of the masters in the field and discovered by a wide audience. Prizes of $1000, $750 and $500 are awarded every three months. From the four 1st Place winners each year, one story is selected as the grand prize winner and the author receives an additional $5000 cash prize.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
$750 for 2nd place, $500 for 3rd, £5000 annual grand prize
📅 Deadline: September 30, 2022 (Expired)
Open Prize
National Poetry Series
Genres: Poetry
The National Poetry Series seeks book-length manuscripts of poetry written by American residents or American citizens living abroad.
Top Prize:
$10,000
Additional prizes:
Publication
💰 Entry fee: $35
📅 Deadline: March 15, 2024 (Expired)
Dzanc Books Short Story Collection Competition
Dzanc Books
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
The Dzanc Books Short Story Collection Prize celebrates imaginative and inventive writing in book-length collections (generally over 40,000 words, but there is no hard minimum). Past winners include Suzi Ehtesham-Zadeh (Zan), Nino Cipri (Homesick), Anne Valente (By Light We Knew Our Names), Chaya Bhuvaneswar (White Dancing Elephants), Jen Grow (My Life as a Mermaid), Julie Stewart (Water and Blood), and Ethel Rohan (In the Event of Contact). The winning submission will be awarded a $2,500 advance and publication by Dzanc Books.
Top Prize:
$2,500
Additional prizes:
Publication
💰 Entry fee: $25
📅 Deadline: September 30, 2024
Season Themes
HAVOK Publishing
Genres: Fantasy, Flash Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Short Story, and Thriller
HAVOK is a constant flash fiction contest, with rolling deadlines. Each season is split into monthly competitions with thematically connected prompts in a range of genres.
Top Prize:
$100
Additional prizes:
Publication in an anthology. Potential for larger gift card wins.
📅 Deadline: December 29, 2023 (Expired)
J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize
Columbia Journalism School
Genres: Non-fiction
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.
Top Prize:
$10,000
💰 Entry fee: $75
📅 Deadline: December 07, 2023 (Expired)
The Rubery Prize
Rubery Book Awards
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult, and Romance
The Rubery Prize is a prestigious international book award seeking the best books by indie writers, self published authors and books published by independent presses, judged by reputable judges. Through our reputation of finding quality and outstanding books we aim to bring recognition to the works that win and heighten an author's profile.
Top Prize:
£2000
Additional prizes:
£200, a write-up
💰 Entry fee: $60
📅 Deadline: March 31, 2024 (Expired)
