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DIRECTORY
Showing 431 contests that match your search.
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
Anthology Magazine
Genres: Essay, Non-fiction, and Travel
This competition invites original, unpublished travel articles in English, not exceeding 1,000 words. Open to writers of any nationality. An engaging article capturing the destination and local culture is sought. Entries are accepted from both new and established writers.
Top Prize:
€300
Additional prizes:
Publication in Anthology magazine
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: November 30, 2025
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 It accepts unpublished creative nonfiction manuscripts and assesses entries based on originality, creativity, and writing quality.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)
Pocket FM
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, and Romance
Join the Werewolf Saga contest where passion, power, and packs collide. Only original English language audio series qualify. Stories must meet specified word counts and themes.
Top Prize:
$4,000
Additional prizes:
2nd: $300 | 3rd: $2000 | All winners receive a certificate and social media promotion.
📅 Deadline: November 02, 2025
Genres: Children's and Fiction
This contest invites participants aged 8-14 to submit a short story based on autumn themes with prompts including family dinners, campfire stories, and mysteries.
Top Prize:
£20
Additional prizes:
1st, 2nd, & 3rd place winners will receive a full feature on the blog and a personalized winner's certificate. Top 20 submissions will receive an Honourable Mention certificate and feedback from editors.
💰 Entry fee: $3
📅 Deadline: October 25, 2025
Vancouver Writer's Fest
Genres: Children's and Short Story
The Youth Writing Contest is an annual event organized by the Vancouver Writers Fest for students in British Columbia. It accepts short stories and personal essays, with two categories for different grade levels. It's supported by the Emily Carr University of Art + Design.
Top Prize:
$200
Additional prizes:
1st prize for high school and $100 for elementary, both with publication in the Books & Ideas Newsletter
💰 Entry fee: $0
📅 Deadline: May 31, 2025 (Expired)
Scottish Arts Trust
Genres: Crime, Humor, Romance, and Short Story
The Edinburgh Short Story Award is open to writers worldwide, welcoming stories of any genre. The award offers substantial cash prizes and the opportunity for publication in The Edinburgh Anthology. It emphasizes inclusivity through bursaries for underrepresented writers.
Top Prize:
$3,000
Additional prizes:
2nd: £500 | 3rd: £250 | Publication in the anthology for top twenty stories
💰 Entry fee: $12
📅 Deadline: February 28, 2026
WOW! Women On Writing
Genres: Fiction and Flash Fiction
The contest encourages creativity across all styles and genres of flash fiction, with a word limit of 250 to 750 words. It runs quarterly, with the fall contest currently open for submissions.
Top Prize:
$400
Additional prizes:
2nd: $300 | 3rd: $200 | 7 runner-ups: $25 Amazon Gift Cards | 10 honorable mentions: $20 Amazon Gift Card. All winners, runner-ups, and honorable mentions are published on WOW.
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: November 30, 2025
Dragon Tomes Publishing
Genres: Fiction, Horror, Short Story, and Humor
Dragon Tomes Publishing is compiling an anthology of ghost and cryptid stories. They seek short stories up to 6,000 words that explore themes of ghosts or cryptids, welcoming various genres.
Top Prize:
$20
Additional prizes:
Free author copy of the finished anthology.
📅 Deadline: July 31, 2025 (Expired)
Kinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc
Genres: Poetry and Script Writing
The TeenQuill Writing Contest invites students aged 12 to 19 to submit original, unpublished poetry and play monologues. Selected works will receive a $50 Amazon e-gift card and publication in Kinsman Quarterly. One winner is chosen each seasonal quarter, with submissions accepted throughout 2025.
Top Prize:
$50
Additional prizes:
Publication in Kinsman Quarterly and promotion on social media.
📅 Deadline: December 31, 2025
Glenville State University
Genres: Poetry
This is the inaugural Chapbook Contest inviting poets and prose writers to submit works celebrating Appalachia. Submissions must embody Appalachian themes and can include previously published works. The contest offers a $200 prize, publication of the winning chapbook, author copies, and a digital e-book.
Top Prize:
$200
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: March 31, 2025 (Expired)
Future Scholar Foundation
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
The competition invites elementary and middle school students to submit short stories (maximum 350 words) based on a monthly theme. Winners receive recognition and prizes, including Amazon gift cards and publication in the Hall of Fame.
Top Prize:
$60
Additional prizes:
2nd: $15 Amazon gift card | 3rd: $5 Amazon gift card | All winners are published in the Hall of Fame.
📅 Deadline: October 28, 2025
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)
Autumn House Press
Genres: Poetry
The Autumn House Poetry Contest accepts manuscripts of 50-80 pages. The winner receives publication of their manuscript, a $2,500 prize, and a $1,500 travel/publicity grant.
Top Prize:
$2,500
Additional prizes:
Publication of full-length manuscript + a $1,500 travel/publicity grant
💰 Entry fee: $35
📅 Deadline: June 30, 2024 (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)
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 (Expired)
Partus Press Ltd
Genres: Poetry
The Oxford Poetry Prize is an annual competition for a single poem in English. The guest judge this year is Rebecca Tamás.
Top Prize:
£1000
Additional prizes:
Second: £200 Third: £100 Publication offered to all winning poets.
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: August 31, 2025 (Expired)
Marsh Hawk Press
Genres: Poetry
The Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Prize invites submissions of poetry manuscripts. The prize includes cash awards and publication for the winner. Contest judge for 2025 is Elaine Equi.
Top Prize:
$2,000
Additional prizes:
Winner gets publication. Robert Creeley Memorial Award ($250), Rochelle Ratner Memorial Award ($250) are also available.
💰 Entry fee: $30
📅 Deadline: April 30, 2025 (Expired)
Storyshares
Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, and Young Adult
The annual Story of the Year contest is back with a new challenge! We’re looking for captivating, diverse stories that are "easy to read and hard to put down" for readers beyond the third grade. There are five categories aimed at young adult readers, and we encourage you to submit as many entries as you like—submission is free and unlimited!
Top Prize:
$15,000
Additional prizes:
Publication in digital and print
💰 Entry fee: $0
📅 Deadline: January 13, 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)
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)
Indie Author Project
Genres: Memoir, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult
gThe Indie Author Project Annual Contest aims to recognize indie authors and provide them visibility through library support. It encourages submissions from indie-published authors in various genres and offers significant prizes.
Top Prize:
$2,500
Additional prizes:
$500 each to two runner-ups in each genre. Opportunity to promote books at libraries, inclusion in a print spread in Library Journal.
📅 Deadline: May 31, 2025 (Expired)
New Beginnings
Genres: Essay, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, and Short Story
There is no topic relating to technology that brings more discussion than artificial intelligence. Some people think it does wonders. Others see it as trouble. Let us know your opinion about AI in this competition. Include experiences you have had with AI. 300-word limit. Winners will be selected January 1, 2024. Open to anyone, anywhere.
Top Prize:
$100 CA
Additional prizes:
Publication
💰 Entry fee: $5
📅 Deadline: December 15, 2023 (Expired)
Genres: Fiction
The contest invites young writers aged 12-18 to submit fiction stories inspired by the theme 'A Summer Trip'. Winners receive prizes and feedback is provided to top submissions.
Top Prize:
£50
Additional prizes:
Winner also gets publication of winning entry on the blog. Honorable mentions and feedback for the top 20 submissions.
💰 Entry fee: $5
📅 Deadline: August 31, 2025 (Expired)
American Foreign Service Association (AFSA)
Genres: Essay
The contest invites high school students to write an essay reflecting on the role of the U.S. Foreign Service during the Vietnam War and its impacts on contemporary U.S. diplomacy.
Top Prize:
$2,500
Additional prizes:
All-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C.
📅 Deadline: March 01, 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, 2025 (Expired)
Chicken House Books
Genres: Fiction, Novel, Novella, Science Fiction, Science Writing, and Young Adult
An annual contest for unpublished and unagented writers of children's fiction, focusing on originality and diverse voices. The competition seeks full-length novels suitable for readers aged 7-18.
Top Prize:
A worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House & royalty advance of £10,000
Additional prizes:
An offer of representation from a top literary agent
💰 Entry fee: $25
📅 Deadline: June 02, 2025 (Expired)
Surrey International Writers' Conference Society
Genres: Short Story
The contest invites short stories in any genre, with a word count of 2,500 to 4,000 words. First prize is $1,000 and publication in Pulp Literature, while Honourable Mentions receive $150 and potential publication.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Winner gets publication in Pulp Literature, subject to editorial review. Honourable Mention: $150
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: September 15, 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: May 16, 2025 (Expired)
Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival
Genres: Poetry
The TWFest Poetry Contest encourages emerging writers to submit their original poems. The contest aims to support new literary works and provides a platform for diverse voices in poetry.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
VIP All-Access Pass ($600 value) for the next Festival, public reading at the Festival, publication in French Quarter Journal, photo and bio on website for one year, interview in newsletter and social media. LitPass ($100 value) for top finalists.
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: October 15, 2025 (Expired)
The Day
Genres: Children's
The Celebration Day writing competition encourages students aged 5-18 to research and retell stories of inspiring people from history. This year, the optional theme focuses on sporting heroes. Submissions can be written articles or audio pieces.
Additional prizes:
iPad and a published story on The Day's website.
📅 Deadline: May 16, 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 (Expired)
Bath Flash Fiction Award
Genres: Fiction and Flash Fiction
The Bath Flash Fiction Award is an international rolling competition for flash fiction, held three times a year. It encourages writers to submit original works of up to 300 words and offers substantial prizes and publication opportunities.
Top Prize:
£1000
Additional prizes:
2nd: £300 | 3rd: £100 | Two commendations of £30 each. 50 longlisted entrants may also get published in an anthology.
💰 Entry fee: $9
📅 Deadline: October 05, 2025 (Expired)
The Masters Review
Genres: Fiction and Novel
The contest invites submissions of self-contained novel excerpts up to 6,000 words, focusing on strong voice, characters, and narrative arcs. The grand prize includes $3,000, online publication, and a consultation with a literary agent.
Top Prize:
$3,000
Additional prizes:
2nd: $300 | 3rd: $200 | Online publication + an hour-long consultation with a literary agent.
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: November 01, 2024 (Expired)
Academy of American Poets
Genres: Poetry
The Ambroggio Prize is a $1,000 publication prize for a poetry manuscript originally in Spanish with an English translation. It honors American poets whose first language is Spanish and is awarded annually since 2017.
Top Prize:
$1,000
📅 Deadline: September 15, 2025 (Expired)
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