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DIRECTORY
Showing 413 contests that match your search.
Booksie
Genres: Poetry
The Booksie 2025 Poetry Contest seeks original poems of any type or length. Entries can be serious or whimsical, but should evoke thought. Judges will select winners from six finalists.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Gold winner badge and promotion across Booksie. Runners-up receive $100 cash and a silver winner badge
💰 Entry fee: $7
📅 Deadline: October 17, 2025
The Berlin Literary Review
Genres: Flash Fiction
This contest is for flash fiction pieces of 1,500 words or less. Winning entries will be published in the magazine.
Top Prize:
€660
Additional prizes:
Second place: €100 Third place: €60 Winner has publication in the online magazine for winners and shortlisted participants.
💰 Entry fee: $6
📅 Deadline: May 31, 2024 (Expired)
Chanticleer Book Reviews
Genres: Fiction and Crime
The Clue Awards recognize outstanding works in Suspense and Thriller genres, emphasizing detective work, police procedural, and crime-solving narratives. The contest aims to discover and promote new talent while rewarding excellence in these literary categories.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Exclusive Chanticleer Book Review Package and Author Interview valued at $795.
💰 Entry fee: $99
📅 Deadline: July 31, 2025 (Expired)
Kemper Human Rights Education Foundation
Genres: Essay
The contest invites high school students to respond to a prompt regarding human rights. Essays should not exceed 2500 words and must include a cover page with specific details.
Top Prize:
$5,000
💰 Entry fee: $0
📅 Deadline: December 10, 2025
Anthology Magazine
Genres: Fiction, Short Story, and Flash Fiction
The Anthology Flash Fiction Competition invites original, unpublished flash fiction pieces on any theme or genre, written in English. Entries must not exceed 250 words, and multiple submissions are allowed with separate fees. The competition aims to inspire creativity and provide a publication platform.
Top Prize:
€300
💰 Entry fee: $12
📅 Deadline: September 30, 2025
Write By The Sea Festival Committee
Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, and Poetry
The competition features four categories: Fiction Short Story, Flash Fiction, Poetry, and Memoir/Personal Essay, with original works encouraged. Winners will be invited to read at the festival and have their work published.
Top Prize:
€500
Additional prizes:
2nd place: €300 3rd place: €200 Free weekend pass to the festival, publication in The Waxed Lemon Literary Journal.
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: June 21, 2024 (Expired)
Ottawa Tourism
Genres: Travel
The Travel Writing Award invites writers to explore and share their experiences in Ottawa and its surroundings. It emphasizes capturing the essence of travel through a narrative lens.
Top Prize:
$1000 CAD
Additional prizes:
Winning entries will also be featured in Ottawa Tourism publications
📅 Deadline: July 21, 2025 (Expired)
Cleveland Foundation
Genres: Novel, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Poetry
The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards recognize outstanding works that contribute to our understanding of racism and cultural diversity. Established in 1935 by Edith Anisfield Wolf, it remains the only American book prize focused on these themes.
Top Prize:
$10,000
Additional prizes:
Winners receive $10,000 and are honored at a ceremony in Cleveland.
📅 Deadline: December 31, 2025
New England Romance Writers
Genres: Romance and Fiction
The contest recognizes excellence in published romance fiction and is judged by fans, including librarians and booksellers. The grand prize includes coaching from Jeannie Moon, and winners will receive a web badge and printed certificate.
Top Prize:
Two hours of Story & Character Development Coaching by Jeannie Moon; web badge and printed award certificate for winners.
Additional prizes:
Web badge and printed certificate for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each category.
💰 Entry fee: $30
📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025 (Expired)
Narrative Magazine
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
The Narrative Prize is awarded annually for the best short story, novel excerpt, poem, one-act play, graphic story, or work of literary nonfiction by a new or emerging writer. All works published in the magazine each year are considered, and previously unpublished works may also be submitted. The prize includes a cash award and recognition in the literary community.
Top Prize:
$5,000
💰 Entry fee: $27
📅 Deadline: June 15, 2025 (Expired)
The Plaza Prizes Ltd.
Genres: Poetry
The Plaza Poetry Prize (60 lines) is an international competition with the aim of discovering, publishing, and promoting talented new writers. Judged by Pulitzer Prize-winner Natalie Diaz, it offers cash prizes and publication opportunities for shortlisted entries.
Top Prize:
$5,000
Additional prizes:
First Place: £4000 / $5000 + publication in the anthology + nomination for The Forward Prize (Top prize of £1000 / $1200). Second Prize: £300 / $360. Third Prize: £100 / $120.
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025 (Expired)
Andre L. West
Genres: Short Story
The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest aims to inspire and encourage writers and poets to showcase their talents. The contest accepts entries in the forms of poems (up to 30 lines) and short stories (up to 5 pages) on any subject or theme.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
First Writing Prize: $500, Second Writing Prize: $250, Third Writing Prize: $100.
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: April 06, 2025 (Expired)
Reed Magazine
Genres: Poetry
The Edwin Markham Prize for Poetry honors outstanding works of poetry, celebrating the diverse forms and styles of contemporary poets. The contest features a submission fee and specific entry requirements for participation.
Top Prize:
$1,000
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: October 01, 2025
Fiction Collective 2
Genres: Fiction
The contest is open to US writers who have not previously published with FC2. Works can include novels, novellas, or collections of short stories, with no length requirement. Translations and previously published works are not eligible.
Top Prize:
$3,000
Additional prizes:
Publication by FC2
📅 Deadline: November 01, 2025
Stephen Spender Trust
Genres: Poetry
The Stephen Spender Prize is an annual award recognizing excellence in poetry translation, encouraging participants to translate poems from any language into English. It is open to various age groups including adults and students in the UK and Ireland. The contest aims to celebrate linguistic diversity and foster creative translation.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Second: £500 Third: £250 Various cash prizes for youth categories.
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: July 31, 2025 (Expired)
Creative Writing Ink
Genres: Short Story
The competition is open for entries, accepting submissions on any theme or genre. All entries are judged anonymously.
Top Prize:
£1000
Additional prizes:
Two runners-up will receive £200 each and a free online course. Winner will also receive a free online course and publication on the website
💰 Entry fee: $12
📅 Deadline: September 30, 2025
New Writers UK
Genres: Flash Fiction
The New Writers Poetry Competition offers a £1,200 top prize (with £1,800 total) and publication for the top six poems in its next New Writers Anthology. It is open globally to any English-language poet aged 18+. 10% of proceeds will be donated to charity. The head judge is prize-winning poet, Katrina Moinet.
Top Prize:
£1,200
Additional prizes:
2nd: £300 | 3rd: £150 | 4th to 6th: £50 each
💰 Entry fee: $14
📅 Deadline: July 17, 2025 (Expired)
Chanticleer Book Reviews
Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, and Young Adult
The Cygnus Awards recognize the best Science Fiction books across various subgenres. It includes prizes, recognition, and promotional opportunities for winning entries.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Exclusive Chanticleer Book Review Package and Author Interview (valued at $795)
💰 Entry fee: $99
📅 Deadline: June 30, 2025 (Expired)
Goldfinch Books
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novel, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult
The Goldfinch Books Novel Award is a competition for emerging novelists. It invites submissions of 3,000 words from completed novels. The winner receives a £500 cash prize and an invitation to join the Goldfinch writer community.
Top Prize:
£500
Additional prizes:
Shortlisted authors receive feedback from judges + Goldfinch membership
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: May 31, 2025 (Expired)
Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival
Genres: Fiction
The TWFest Fiction Contest aims to promote new work from emerging writers. It is open to previously unpublished short stories up to 7,000 words.
Top Prize:
$1,500
Additional prizes:
Domestic airfare & French Quarter accommodations, VIP Festival pass for 2026 festival, public reading, publication in French Quarter Journal, photo & bio on the website for ~1 year, interview feature. Top finalists receive a $100 LitPass for the Festival.
💰 Entry fee: $25
📅 Deadline: October 15, 2025
University of New Orleans Press
Genres: Novel and Fiction
The Publishing Laboratory at the University of New Orleans seeks to promote innovative publicity and broad distribution for authors. They accept submissions for unpublished novels and short story collections. A selected author is awarded a $10,000 advance on royalties and a publishing contract.
Top Prize:
$10,000
Additional prizes:
Advance on royalties
💰 Entry fee: $28
📅 Deadline: September 01, 2025
Lambda Literary
Genres: LGBTQ, Novel, and Fiction
The Randall Kenan Prize for Black LGBTQ Fiction honors Black LGBTQ writers of fiction, celebrating works that explore themes of Black LGBTQ life, culture, and history. The prize is awarded to writers who have published at least one book and show promise for future groundbreaking work.
Top Prize:
$3,000
📅 Deadline: May 16, 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)
Fabula Press
Genres: Fiction, Short Story, Horror, Mystery, and Science Fiction
The Fabula Press Short Story Contest encourages exceptional storytelling across genres, with no specific theme. Participants can submit entries for both free and paid categories. Winning stories may be published in an anthology.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
2nd place: $250 3rd place: $100 Stories selected for publication: $75
📅 Deadline: June 11, 2024 (Expired)
Genres:
This prize recognizes 12 emerging writers annually for their debut short story published in a literary magazine, journal, or cultural website. It supports new fiction writers and provides a cash award and publication in an anthology.
Top Prize:
$2,000
Additional prizes:
Publication in the anthology 'Best Debut Short Stories: The PEN America Dau Prize'
💰 Entry fee: $0
📅 Deadline: November 01, 2024 (Expired)
University of Arkansas Press
Genres: Poetry
Every year, the University of Arkansas Press accepts submissions for the Miller Williams Poetry Series and from the books selected awards the $5,000 Miller Williams Poetry Prize in the following summer. For almost a quarter century the press has made this series the cornerstone of its work as a publisher of some of the country’s best new poetry. The series and prize are named for and operated to honor the cofounder and longtime director of the press, Miller Williams.
Top Prize:
$5,000
Additional prizes:
Publication through the University of Arkansas Press
💰 Entry fee: $28
📅 Deadline: September 30, 2024 (Expired)
Georgia Romance Writers
Genres: Novel and Romance
The Maggie Award for Excellence recognizes outstanding works of romantic fiction. Open to both traditional and self-published authors, the contest emphasizes quality storytelling. The award seeks submissions that showcase excellence in the romance genre.
Top Prize:
Trophy
💰 Entry fee: $40
📅 Deadline: April 06, 2025 (Expired)
Academy of American Poets
Genres: Poetry
These fellowships are $50,000 awards aimed at honoring poets of literary merit who serve in civic positions. The goal is to support them in creating new work and undertaking impactful projects that enrich local communities through poetry.
Top Prize:
$50,000
Additional prizes:
Awards are $50,000 for the fellowship. The Academy will match up to $10,000 in in-kind or cash contributions for project support.
📅 Deadline: February 24, 2025 (Expired)
Southam Book Festival
Genres: Flash Fiction
The competition invites writers to submit original 100-word stories that include one of the specified words: PLACE, PLACED, or PLACES. The competition aims to celebrate concise storytelling.
Top Prize:
£60
Additional prizes:
2nd prize: £30 3rd prize: £20
💰 Entry fee: $3
📅 Deadline: September 07, 2025
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)
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
Parsec Inc.
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction, and Short Story
The Parsec Short Story Contest aims to encourage non-professional writers to explore speculative fiction in genres like science fiction, fantasy, and horror. The theme for 2025 is 'ROOTS', and submissions should relate to this theme. The contest has no entry fee and supports young writers through a special Youth Story Prize.
Top Prize:
$200
Additional prizes:
2nd: $100 | 3rd: $50
💰 Entry fee: $0
📅 Deadline: March 31, 2025 (Expired)
Poets & Writers, Inc.
Genres: Fiction and Poetry
Established in 1984, this award connects emerging writers with the New York City literary community, facilitating professional advancement through a network of agents, editors, and authors. The winners receive an honorarium, a public reading, and participation in a residency program.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
Residency at the Jentel Artist Residency Program in Wyoming.
💰 Entry fee: $0
📅 Deadline: March 01, 2025 (Expired)
The Letter Review
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Novel
The Letter Review Prize for Books invites submissions of unpublished, self-published, or indie-published book-length works. It aims to highlight new literature and supports writers through various stages of their careers. The competition is judged blind, ensuring equal opportunity for all entrants.
Top Prize:
$1000 USD shared by 2 to 4 winners
Additional prizes:
Winners may publish extracts of their entries in The Letter Review's anthology. Up to 20 writers are shortlisted.
💰 Entry fee: $25
📅 Deadline: July 22, 2025 (Expired)
The Fountain
Genres: Essay
The 2025 contest is themed “Real or Fake: Discovering Authenticity”, and it invites submissions exploring the meaning of truth in a time of misinformation, imitation, and uncertainty.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
2nd: $500 | 3rd: $300 | 2x honorable mentions: $150
📅 Deadline: September 30, 2025
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