The Best Writing Contests of 2023
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
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Showing 546 contests
Lumiere Review Writing Contest
Lumiere Review
The Lumiere Review is back with our annual Writing Contest! We accept both poems and prose (fiction, nonfiction) from all writers. That said, we particularly encourage emerging writers, as well as those who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA, disabled, or other marginalized groups to submit to our contest. We will actively promote writers with these backgrounds.
Top prize
$100
Additional prizes
Publication in Lumiere Magazine
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: January 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
LGBTQ, Poetry, Short Story
View contestLee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award
Society of Children's Book Writers
The Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award recognizes and encourages the publication of an excellent book of poetry or anthology for children and/or young adults. The award will be given to a book of poetry originally published in English. It can be a book by an individual poet or poets or an anthology.
Top prize
$1,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: March 15, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Children's, Poetry
View contestFunny Festival Fables
C.A.A.B Publishin
Write us a short story about the festive period. We want tales about silly snowmen, naughty elves, and hilarious stories that would make Santa go HO! HO! HO! Entries should be around 1,000 words or less and must be sent as a Word Document with no pictures.
Top prize
$40
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: August 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Children's, Flash Fiction
View contestIEW Writing Contest
Institute for Excellent Writing
We are delighted to present our annual writing contest for all aspiring and accomplished writers, ages eight to eighteen. Whether or not they have experience with IEW's Structure and Style® Writing Method, your students are invited to participate.
Top prize
$100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: April 30, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Children's, Short Story
View contestStone Soup Flash Fiction Contest
Stone Soup
Stone Soup holds a Flash Contest during the first week of every month. The month’s first Weekly Creativity prompt provides the contest challenge. Submissions are due by midnight on Sunday of the same week. Up to five winners are chosen for publication on our blog. The winners, along with up to five honorable mentions, are announced in the following Saturday Newsletter.
Top prize
Publication on Stone Soup's blog
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: December 01, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Children's, Flash Fiction
View contestScholastic Art & Writing Contest
Scholastic
We celebrate creative teens locally and nationally with awards, exhibitions, publications, and scholarships. Entry fees are $7 per individual entry and $25 per portfolio. If the entry fee is a barrier to your participation in the Awards, we will waive the fee when you submit a Fee Waiver Form.
Top prize
Additional prizes
Eligibility for regional & national awards
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $7
Deadline: January 15, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
View contest
VFW Voice of Democracy
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The VFW is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in our future generation. If you are a democracy-loving high school student interested in a $30,000 college scholarship or a patriotic middle school student interested in winning $5,000, these scholarships may be for you.
Top prize
$30,000 college scholarship
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: October 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Children's
View contestAmazing Women’s Edition Contest
National Youth Foundation
Founded by Black women with a vision for change, the mission of the National Youth Foundation is to promote diversity, inclusion and gender equality through innovative literary programs. To honor the vast accomplishments of women in the United States, the National Youth Foundation is pleased to announce the Amazing Women’s Edition (AWE) competition. This writing contest is open to students in grades K to 8 residing in the United States.
Top prize
$500
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: January 07, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Children's
View contestNational Youth Foundation "I Matter" Contest
National Youth Foundation
Founded by Black women with a vision for change, the mission of the National Youth Foundation is to promote diversity, inclusion and gender equality through innovative literary programs. The “I Matter” poetry contest was launched by a 14-year old student who took action to educate the world about why Black Lives Matter. The contest calls upon students across the country to submit poems on this important topic.
Top prize
$500
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: July 23, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Children's, Poetry
View contestJane Austen Society of North America Essay Contest
Jane Austen Society of North America
JASNA conducts an annual student Essay Contest to foster the study and appreciation of Jane Austen's works in new generations of readers. Students world-wide are invited to compete for scholarship awards in three divisions: high school, college, and graduate school.
Top prize
$1,000 scholarship
Additional prizes
Two nights’ lodging for JASNA’s Annual General Meeting
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: June 02, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Children's, Essay
View contestWe the Students Essay Contest
Bill of Rights Institute
The Bill of Rights Institute engages, educates, and empowers individuals with a passion for the freedom and opportunity that exist in a free society. Students in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Armed Forces schools abroad, and students in United States territories are eligible to participate in its contest.
Top prize
$7,500
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: April 15, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Children's, Essay
View contestMBF/de Groot Prize
Miami Book Fair
The Miami Book Fair has partnered with The de Groot Foundation to launch the Miami Book Fair/de Groot Prize to be awarded to an author for an unpublished novella. We created the MBF/de Groot Prize to fan the flame in emerging writers who yearn to be published. We want the prize to bring out the best in new authors who have a story that needs to be heard.
Top prize
$6,000
Additional prizes
Publication by Melville House & an expense-paid trip to the Miami Book Fair
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: May 30, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Novella
View contestDrue Heinz Literature Prize
University of Pittsburgh Press
The Drue Heinz Literature Prize recognizes and supports writers of short fiction and makes their work available to readers around the world. The award is open to authors who have published a book-length collection of fiction or at least three short stories or novellas in commercial magazines or literary journals.
Top prize
$15,000
Additional prizes
Publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: June 30, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
View contest
Uncharted Magazine Sci-Fi/Fantasy Short Story Award
Uncharted Magazine
We invite writers to submit to the Uncharted Magazine Science Fiction and Fantasy Prize from August 1 to September 30, 2021. We’re excited to offer the winner of this prize $3000 and publication, while the 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive publication and $300 and $200, respectively along with publication.
Top prize
$3,000
Additional prizes
Publication in Uncharted Magazine
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: September 30, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Fantasy, Science Fiction, Short Story
View contestMontreal International Poetry Prize
Montreal International Poetry Prize
The Montreal International Poetry Prize was founded and incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in 2010. It sponsors a crowd-funded biennial competition, awarding one prize of $20,000 to one poet for a single poem. It has become a truly global competition, supported by its international jury of award-winning poets from North America, the Caribbean, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, India, Nigeria, and Uganda, and with participants from more than 100 countries.
Top prize
$20,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: May 15, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
View contest
Miller Williams Poetry Prize
University of Arkansas Press
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 requirements
💰 Fee: $28
Deadline: September 30, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contestBirdy Poetry Prize
Meadowlark Books
Meadowlark Books created The Birdy Poetry Prize to celebrate the voices of this era. The prize is $1,000 cash and publication by Meadowlark Books, including 50 copies of the completed book. All entries will be considered for standard Meadowlark Books publishing contract offers, as well.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication by Meadowlark Books
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: December 01, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contestThe Anthony Hecht Poetry Prize
The Waywiser Press
The Waywiser Press is a small independent company, with its main office in the UK, and a subsidiary in the USA. It was founded in late 2001, and started publishing in 2002. We are keen to promote the work of new as well as established authors, and would like to rescue still others from undeserved neglect.
Top prize
$3,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $29
Deadline: December 01, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contestBristol Short Story Prize
Tangent Books
Welcome to the Bristol Short Story Prize – an annual international writing competition open to all published and unpublished, UK and non-UK based writers. Stories can be on any theme or subject and are welcome in any style including graphic, verse or genre-based (Crime, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Historical, Horror, Romance, Children’s etc..) .
Top prize
£1,000
Additional prizes
£500, £250, £100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: May 04, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction, Young Adult
View contestMarsh Hawk Press Poetry Prize
Marsh Hawk Press
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Marsh Hawk Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Manuscripts should be between 48 to 84 pages.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication by Marsh Hawk Press
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: April 30, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contestMichael Waters Poetry Prize
University of Southern Indiana
A prize of $3,000 and publication by SIR Press is awarded annually for a collection of poetry written in English. Michael Waters will judge. Submit up at least 40 and no more than 100 pages of poetry to be considered.
Top prize
$5,000
Additional prizes
Publication by SIR Press
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: February 01, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contestCranked Anvil Flash Fiction Competition
Cranked Anvil Press
Our quarterly flash fiction competition is open for entries all year round. The competition is open to any theme or genre, and your story must be a maximum of 500 words (not including the title). You can enter up to two stories in each quarterly competition ($3 to enter one story, $5 for two).
Top prize
£100
Additional prizes
£25, publication online
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $3
Deadline: February 28, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction
View contestSFWP Literary Awards
SFWP
We are seeking fiction and creative nonfiction of every genre. The contest is open to authors who have not been published by a major press. We publish in English, but the contest is open to writers from anywhere in the world. The early-bird entry fee (December 15th-February 15th) will be $25.
Top prize
$1,500
Additional prizes
Two runner ups will be selected, each receiving $700.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $30
Deadline: July 15, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella
View contestSaudi Historical Novel Award
Historical Novel Society
Inaugural Saudi Historical Novel Award. Entries must have historical Saudi themes or characters. Please read full guidelines.
Top prize
£10,000
Additional prizes
runner up prize of £3,000 and a 3rd prize of £2,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: July 01, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Novel
View contestSaudi Historical Short Story Award
Historical Novel Society
Inaugural Saudi Historical Short Story Award. Entries must have historical Saudi themes or characters. Please read full guidelines.
Top prize
£10,000
Additional prizes
5 runners up prizes of £1,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $14
Deadline: November 15, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestThe Bird in Your Hands Prize
Thin Air Magazine
The Bird in Your Hands Prize is a contest that centers and celebrates BIPOC voices. This is a no-fee contest accepting poetry, fiction, and nonfiction in any form under 500 words. The winner of the contest will be awarded $1000, published in Thin Air Magazine, and interviewed for Thin Air Online.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in Thin Air Magazine; cash prizes for runner-up and second runner-up
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: December 01, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestHillerman Prize
St. Martin's Press and Western Writers of America
Sponsored by St. Martin's Press and Western Writers of America, the Tony Hillerman Prize is awarded annually for the best first mystery set in the Southwest. The winner receives a contract with St. Martin's Press for publication of the novel and $10,000.
Top prize
$10,000
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: January 01, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fiction
View contestMaureen Egen Writers Exchange Award
Poets & Writers, Inc.
Poetry manuscripts should not exceed 10 pages, single or double-spaced (minimum of seven pages). Fiction manuscripts should not exceed 25 pages and must be double-spaced. Fiction manuscripts may include stories and/or excerpts from novels.
Top prize
$500
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: March 01, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Poetry
View contestFall Travel Writing Contest
Nowhere Magazine
We are looking for young, old, novice and veteran writers to send us stories that possess a powerful sense of place. Stories can be fiction, nonfiction, poetry or essay.
Top prize
$1,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: December 15, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Non-fiction, Poetry, Fiction
View contestDo Wha(TS) Write
Do Wha(TS) Write
Contest entries should be flash fiction or short stories, with an absolute word limit of 1000 words. There is no required prompt or topic. Write whatever you'd like! We want to see you get creative!
Top prize
$200 (CAD)
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $2
Deadline: December 31, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestAccenti Writing Contest
Accenti Magazine
The Accenti Writing Contest is inviting submissions for original and unpublished prose under 2,000 words. $1000 and publication is awarded to the winner.
Top prize
$1000 (CDN)
Additional prizes
$100 (CDN) for three runners-up
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $30
Deadline: February 07, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestFirst Book Award
Academy of American Poets
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 requirements
💰 Fee: $35
Deadline: October 01, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contestStories Out of School
The Academy for Teachers
A flash fiction contest sponsored by The Academy for Teachers and Electric Literature. The story’s protagonist, or its narrator, must be a K-12 teacher.
Top prize
$1,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: September 01, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestThe Exeter Novel Prize
Creative Writing Matters
We accept the first ten thousand words including synopsis of a novel that has not been accepted for publication by a traditional publishing house. We are delighted to welcome Kate Nash of the Kate Nash Literary Agency as our final judge.
Top prize
£500
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $23
Deadline: January 01, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Novel
View contestSelf-Publishing Literary Awards
The Black Caucus of ALA
The Black Caucus of ALA (BCALA) honors the best self-published ebooks by an African American author in the U.S. in the Fiction and Poetry genres.
Top prize
$500
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: February 28, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Novel, Poetry
View contest
