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DIRECTORY
Showing 425 contests that match your search.
Plough Publishing
Genres: Poetry
This award honors the achievements of the great Dominican-American poet, translator, and public school teacher Rhina Polonia Espaillat. The Rhina Espaillat Poetry Award will be awarded for an original poem of not more than fifty lines that reflects her lyricism, empathy, and ability to find grace in everyday events of life.
Top Prize:
$2,000
Additional prizes:
Publication in Plough Quarterly. Two finalists will receive $250
💰 Entry fee: $5
📅 Deadline: March 30, 2025
Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival
Genres: Script Writing
The TWFest One-Act Play Contest is aimed at emerging or previously unpublished playwrights, encouraging original work not previously published or performed. It promotes new voices in playwriting while providing opportunities for recognition and publication.
Top Prize:
$1,500
Additional prizes:
Professional Staged Reading at the next Festival, VIP Festival pass ($600 value), Publication in Bayou Magazine, Photo and bio on their website for ~1 year, Interview in their newsletter. Top finalists receive a LitPass ($100 value) to the Festival.
💰 Entry fee: $25
📅 Deadline: October 01, 2024
Andre L. West
Genres: Poetry
The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest aims to inspire and encourage poets and writers worldwide, showcasing their creativity. The contest is open to all, allowing multiple entries in both poetry and writing categories.
Top Prize:
$1,275
Additional prizes:
Winners may have their works published on the Dare to Dream pages.
💰 Entry fee: $5
📅 Deadline: September 30, 2024
FanStory.com Inc.
Genres: Poetry
Write a four line poem that has a specific syllable count. The first line has 1 syllable, the second line has 5 syllables, the third line has 5 syllables, and the last line has 9 syllables. The subject can be anything.
Top Prize:
$100
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: May 16, 2024 (Expired)
Killer Nashville
Genres: Fiction and Novel
Every year, the Killer Nashville Claymore Award assists new and rebranding English-language fiction authors get published, including possible agent representation, book advances, editor deals, and movie and television sales. While we cannot guarantee that winners and finalists of this award will receive publication, dozens of winners & runners-up of the Claymore award have gone on to find great success in their careers and many of them attribute that success to this award.
Top Prize:
Publishing contract
Additional prizes:
Discounted admission to Killer Nashville, introductions to agents/editors
💰 Entry fee: $40
📅 Deadline: April 01, 2024 (Expired)
Creative Writing NZ
Genres: Short Story
The Creative Writing NZ Short Story Prize 2024 is an international competition open to entrants worldwide. Entries can be on any subject, theme, or genre, with a maximum of 3000 words. Judged anonymously, the winner will receive $1,000, and two runners-up will each receive $200, along with free online courses and publication on the website.
Top Prize:
$1,000
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: $9
📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024 (Expired)
Xulon Press
Genres: Christian
The Christian Author Awards recognizes preeminent new Christian authors who are independently published. Xulon Press, host and sponsor of the Christian Author Awards, is excited to once again extend the opportunity to Christian authors to have their work recognized and given due credit. The Christian Author Awards exists to honor exceptional books written by Christian authors like you that are published independently by nontraditional publishers.
Top Prize:
Xulon Press Elite Publishing Package valued at $8,780
📅 Deadline: September 21, 2021 (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: $22
📅 Deadline: May 01, 2024 (Expired)
FanStory.com
Genres: Poetry
Participants must write a 2-4-2 syllable poem consisting of three lines: the first line has 2 syllables, the second line has 4 syllables, and the last line has 2 syllables. The subject can be anything. All entries will receive feedback.
Top Prize:
$100
💰 Entry fee: $1
📅 Deadline: December 11, 2024
Texas Review Press
Genres: Poetry
The TRP Southern Poetry Breakthrough Series highlights a first full-length collection by emerging authors from each state in the southern U.S. This year's state is South Carolina. Open to any poet born in South Carolina, currently residing in South Carolina, or who has lived in South Carolina for five consecutive years at any point, who has not yet published a full-length collection of poetry. The author may have published chapbooks or books in other genres. Submissions accepted through Submittable only.
Top Prize:
Publication
📅 Deadline: March 01, 2024 (Expired)
Passager
Genres: Poetry
The Passager Poetry Contest is open to writers aged 50 and older, inviting submissions of up to 5 poems (maximum 40 lines each). The contest provides a platform for showcasing poetic talent among mature writers, with the winner featured in the Passager Journal.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Winner receives publication and a featured interview. All honorable mentions are published.
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024 (Expired)
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: August 30, 2024 (Expired)
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: September 01, 2024 (Expired)
Anthology Magazine
Genres: Memoir
The competition invites participants to submit original, unpublished personal memoirs in English, max 1,500 words. There's no theme constraint, and multiple entries are allowed. The winner receives €500 and publication in Anthology magazine.
Top Prize:
€500
Additional prizes:
Publication in Anthology magazine
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: August 31, 2024 (Expired)
Reedsy
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
Every Friday, Reedsy sends out five writing prompts. Enter your response within a week for a chance at $250. Winners may also be included in a future issue of Reedsy’s literary magazine, Prompted.
Top Prize:
$250
Additional prizes:
$25 credit toward Reedsy editorial services
💰 Entry fee: $5
📅 Deadline: December 31, 2024
Hemingway Days Festival
Genres: Short Story
The Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition is dedicated to supporting new voices in short fiction. It has a history of over 43 years and emphasizes original, unpublished stories. Winners are highlighted on the competition's website.
Top Prize:
$1,500
Additional prizes:
Second place: $500 Third place: $500 Honorable mentions also awarded Publication of the winning story on the competition website
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: September 01, 2024 (Expired)
Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop (NOWW)
Genres: Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
The 26th Annual Writing Contest is currently closed. The next contest will open on January 1, 2025. Categories and further details will be announced later.
Top Prize:
$150
Additional prizes:
2nd place: $100 3rd place: $50
💰 Entry fee: $7
📅 Deadline: January 01, 2025
Creatd
Genres: Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Short Story
Enter themed storytelling contests to put your creativity to the test and be in with a chance of winning cash prizes and more. To submit, you'll need to sign up for a monthly fee of $9.99, or $4.99/month for 3 months.
Top Prize:
$1,000 — $5,000
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: March 07, 2024 (Expired)
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Romance, and Short Story
The Booksie 2024 Short Story Contest invites writers to submit original short stories, with a maximum length of 5,000 words. The contest offers a grand prize of $500, along with badges for winners encoded on the blockchain. The contest aims to promote creativity and originality across all genres.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
Gold winner badge, optional publication contract worth $100. Runners-up receive $100 cash and a silver winner badge
💰 Entry fee: $7
📅 Deadline: August 31, 2024 (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, 2024 (Expired)
Manitoba Writers' Guild
Genres: Fiction
Open to writers across Canada. Short prose in English, 2,500-5,000 words in any fiction genre. We actively encourage submissions from all writers who are 18 years of age or older.
Top Prize:
$1,000 CAD
Additional prizes:
2nd: $600 CAD | 3rd: $400 CAD
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: February 15, 2024 (Expired)
The Lascaux Review
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
Stories may be previously published or unpublished, and simultaneous submissions are accepted. Winner receives $1,000 and a bronze medallion. Finalists receive $100. Winner and finalists are published in both the online and annual print editions of The Lascaux Review.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication in The Lascaux Review
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: December 31, 2021 (Expired)
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)
Australian Book Review
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
The ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize is an annual competition for short stories. Further details on submission and eligibility are outlined on the main prize page.
Top Prize:
$6000 AUD
Additional prizes:
2nd: $4000 AUD 3rd: $2500 AUD
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: April 22, 2024 (Expired)
Witcraft
Genres: Flash Fiction and Humor
Send us your skillfully written stories that are brief, humorous and engaging, with the emphasis on wit, word play, absurdity and inspired nonsense. Whether your story is designed to raise a smile or a belly laugh, we want stories that are a refuge from the relentless barrage of negativity, angst, war and climate catastrophe that dominates the web.
Top Prize:
AUD $50
Additional prizes:
2nd: AUD $20 | 3rd: AUD $10
📅 Deadline: December 15, 2023 (Expired)
WOW! Women on Writing
Genres: Flash Fiction
This contest encourages creativity across all styles and genres of flash fiction, with a word count between 250 and 750. The contest offers substantial cash prizes and publication opportunities.
Top Prize:
$400
Additional prizes:
2nd: $300 | 3rd: $200 | 7 runner-ups: $25 Amazon Gift Cards
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: February 28, 2024 (Expired)
Writer's Digest
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
Enter our 91st Annual Writing Competition for the chance to have your work be seen by editors and agents! Almost 500 winners will be chosen. The top winning entries of this writing contest will also be on display in the Annual Writer’s Digest Competition Collection. [$20 for a poetry entry, $30 for a manuscript entry]
Top Prize:
$5,000
Additional prizes:
2nd: $500 | 3rd: $100
💰 Entry fee: $30
📅 Deadline: May 06, 2024 (Expired)
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: $5
📅 Deadline: June 30, 2024 (Expired)
Munster Literature Centre
Genres: Poetry
Each entrant for their €24 entry fee will receive a complementary postage-free, one-year subscription to Southword. Poems will be read and judged anonymously. Poems must be previously unpublished. The winning poet will have their three poems published in Southword.
Top Prize:
€1000
Additional prizes:
The winning poet will have their three poems published in Southword.
💰 Entry fee: $24
📅 Deadline: September 30, 2024
F(r)iction
Genres: Poetry
The F(r)iction Poetry Contest invites submissions of poetry that are narrative-driven with strong imagery and a coherent structure. It encourages experimental and nontraditional works.
Top Prize:
$300
Additional prizes:
Up to five finalists will also be considered for publication.
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: November 01, 2024
Kemper Human Rights Education Foundation
Genres: Essay
The contest invites high school students to respond to a prompt regarding human rights. Prizes include $3000 for 1st place, $1500 for 2nd, and $750 for 3rd. Essays should not exceed 2500 words and must include a cover page with specific details.
Top Prize:
$3,000
💰 Entry fee: $0
📅 Deadline: December 10, 2024
Blake Chasen and Emma Needell
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, and Romance
The Avenue Writing Contest invites participants to create interactive narratives in four categories: Romance, Fantasy, Progression Fantasy + LitRPG, and D&D. Entries are crafted using the Avenue Creator Studio, where participants develop episodes that allow reader choices to influence the story.
Top Prize:
$250
Additional prizes:
2nd: $150 3rd: $100 Winners will also be featured on Avenue’s app, website, and social media. Prizes apply for each category.
📅 Deadline: May 22, 2024 (Expired)
Globe Soup
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult
For this short story challenge, all participants will be randomly assigned a period in history. As soon as you receive your assignment, you'll have until the closing time to research, write, and submit a short story of no more than 4,000 words, set during this historical period.
Top Prize:
$1,131
💰 Entry fee: $17
📅 Deadline: October 28, 2022 (Expired)
Poetry International
Genres: Poetry
The Poetry International Prize is an annual contest to award a cash prize of $1000 and publication for a single poem of any length. Submissions are accepted via Submittable and all entries are considered for publication.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication in Poetry International
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024 (Expired)
Genesee Valley Council on the Arts (GVCA)
Genres: Christian, Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, LGBTQ, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, and Travel
The New Deal Writing Competition invites writers to create a short story inspired by a specific painting. The current painting is 'Playtime' by Fred Ross. This is the ninth annual contest, intended to celebrate creativity and connect art and writing.
Top Prize:
$200
Additional prizes:
Publication in newsletter
💰 Entry fee: $5
📅 Deadline: March 15, 2024 (Expired)
Get 5 new writing prompts every Friday. Write and submit a story for a chance to win $250.