The Best Writing Contests of 2022
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
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Manage a competition? Submit it here
Join our short story competition
Submit a short story based on 1 of 5 weekly prompts. Winners get $250.
Showing 502 contests
Annual Novel Opening Competition
Flash 500
We are looking for an opening chapter up to 3,000 words, plus a one page synopsis outlining the balance of your story of any genre, so long as it's unpublished.
Top prize
£500
Additional prizes
2nd Place: £200
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $13
Deadline: October 31, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Novel
View contestFiction Factory Short Story Competition
Fiction Factory
This is a bi-annual competition. We welcome stories on any theme. The maximum wordcount is 3,000.
Top prize
£300
Additional prizes
£100, £50
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $8
Deadline: October 31, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestAnthology Poetry Award
Anthology Magazine
Entries are now invited for the Anthology Poetry Award. Established to recognise and encourage excellence in the craft of poetry writing and to provide a platform for publication, it is open to original and previously unpublished poems in the English language. Poems submitted must be on the theme of ‘Freedom’ and should not exceed 40 lines.
Top prize
€500 and a one year subscription to Anthology magazine
Additional prizes
Publication in Anthology Magazine, one-year subscription
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $17
Deadline: October 31, 2022
Genres
Poetry
View contestVFW 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
Genres
Children's
View contestThe Bedford Competition
The Bedford Competition
We are an International Competition with prizes totalling £3000 including special awards for 17-25 year olds. All winning and shortlisted entries are published by our partners, Ostrich Books. We donate proceeds to charities that support literary and literacy skills.
Top prize
$1,221
Additional prizes
2nd: $244 | 3rd: $122
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $9
Deadline: October 31, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestLetter Review Prize for Short Stories
Letter Review
Letter Review is offering $1000 USD total prize pool in a competition for short stories between 400 - 2000 words. No genre or theme restrictions! All winners receive publication at Letter Review. Twenty entries will be longlisted, who have the option to discuss publication at Letter Review too.
Top prize
$650
Additional prizes
2nd: $250 | 3rd: $150
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: October 31, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestGabriele Rico Challenge for Nonfiction
https://www.reedmag.org/gabriele-rico-challenge-for-nonfict
The Gabriele Rico Challenge for Nonfiction recognizes outstanding works of nonfiction. We are looking for creative nonfiction, such as personal essays or narratives, not scholarly papers or book reviews. All works should be stand-alone essays, not chapters of a longer work. Please limit prose submissions to 5,000 words.
Top prize
$1,333
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: November 01, 2022
Genres
Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestCaledonia Novel Award
Caledonia Novel Award
Now in our ninth year of competition, we are an Edinburgh-based, international award for unpublished and self-published novelists in all genres for adults and YA. This year's judge is Charlotte Seymour, literary agent at Johnson & Alcock. On top of the £1,500 top prize, the best entry from the UK and Ireland will receive a place on a writing course at Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre.
Top prize
£1, 500
Additional prizes
Free place on a writing course at Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $30
Deadline: November 01, 2022
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novel, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult, Romance, Suspense
View contestSonnet Poetry Contest
FanStory.com Inc
A sonnet is a poem with a specific structure. It has 14 lines and a specific rhyme scheme. The topic is open! Write about anything for this poetry contest. Just follow the rules on how to write a sonnet. To read the rules and for an example view the contest announcement. Cash prize for the winner of this contest.
Top prize
$100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: November 06, 2022
Genres
Poetry
View contestTrue Story Contest
FanStory.com Inc.
Share a true story about your life. Write about any event that happened in your life that you would like to share. Cash prize to the winner.
Top prize
$100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: November 12, 2022
Genres
Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestRattle Young Poets
Rattle Foundation
Rattle is a publication of the Rattle Foundation, an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the practice of poetry, and is not affiliated with any other organization. The author of the poem must have been age 15 or younger when the poem was written, and 18 or younger when submitted.
Top prize
Publication in Rattle Magazine
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: November 15, 2022
Genres
Children's, Poetry
View contestLune Poetry Contest
FanStory.com Inc.
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 requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: November 16, 2022
Genres
Poetry
View contestMinute Poetry Contest
FanStory.com Inc
Share a minute poem to enter this poetry contest. It's a fun poem to write. It has three stanzas. Each stanza has the same 8-4-4-4 syllable count. So the first line has eight syllables. All other lines in the stanza have four. Cash prize to the winner!
Top prize
$100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: November 22, 2022
Genres
Poetry
View contestWestern Writing Contest
FanStory.com Inc.
Share your Western story for this writing contest. Share your story that has a clear western theme. Your old west story can earn you a cash prize.
Top prize
$100
Additional prizes
Winning stories will be features on the FanStory.com welcome page.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: November 29, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestNew Writers Flash Fiction Competition 2022
New Writers UK
The New Writers Flash Fiction Competition is open for submissions. The competition seeks to reward authors of the most imaginative, moving or just downright brilliant flash fiction entries of up to 300 words. With a prize pool of £1,000 and £1 from each entry going to a creative writing charity, it's time to get involved.
Top prize
$717
Additional prizes
2nd: $240 | 3rd: $120
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $7
Deadline: November 30, 2022
Genres
Flash Fiction
View contestQuill Prose Award 2020
Red Hen Press
Queer literature is often found in the side stacks, in the back of the bookstore, under “Gay and Lesbian.” These authors are put into a genre that barely fits them, excluded from mainstream funding, and more. Red Hen Press seeks to work against the politics of labeling while honoring and empowering authors who identify as queer through this contest.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication by Red Hen Press
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: November 30, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Novel
View contestFiction Factory Flash Fiction
Fiction Factory
We welcome previously unpublished stories (max 1,000 words) on any theme. Our judge is looking for freshness, originality and strongly drawn characters.
Top prize
£200
Additional prizes
£50, £25
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $7
Deadline: November 30, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Crime, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller
View contestThe Bath Children’s Novel Award
The Bath Novel Awards
The Bath Children’s Novel Award is an annual international prize for emerging novelists writing for children or teens. Submissions are the first 5,000 words plus one page synopsis. A children’s literary agent will judge the winning manuscript from a shortlist chosen by Junior Judges aged seven to seventeen.
Top prize
£3000
Additional prizes
Manuscript feedback from junior judges, literary agent introductions, novel editing course
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $34
Deadline: November 30, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Novel, Young Adult
View contestSix Word Wonder Contest
Six Word Wonder
To win, write a six word story, poem, memoir, or joke. Free to enter, with the chance to get your tiny creation published, and you crowned as the Six Word Wonder - winning $100. Last year's contest had over 3,300 entries, with over 100 short-listed. Every writer gets six free entries to play with.
Top prize
$100
Additional prizes
Publication in next book in the Six Word Wonder series
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: November 30, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Short Story
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
Genres
Poetry
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
Genres
Children's, Flash Fiction
View contestTwo Line Poem
FanStory.com Inc.
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 requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: December 05, 2022
Genres
Poetry
View contestFour Line Poem
FanStory.com Inc.
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 requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: December 22, 2022
Genres
Poetry
View contestCompetition 11-13
Free Flash Fiction
The Bi-monthly Free Flash Fiction Competition promotes the work of flash fiction authors. The winner of the current competition will be invited to be the judge for the next competition. Submit a flash fiction piece between 100 and 300 words, on any theme. Comp 11 ends 23rd Aug | Comp 12 ends 23rd Oct | Comp 13 ends 23rd Dec 2022.
Top prize
$150
Additional prizes
Books & Publication on website
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $4
Deadline: December 23, 2022
Genres
Flash Fiction
View contestYeahWrite Super Challenge
YeahWrite
The Super Challenge is a prompted, 48-hour flash competition alternating between fiction and creative nonfiction. Prompts are released on a Friday night; writers have 48 hours to craft a response in 1,000 words or fewer. Professional editors read all entries and provide detailed feedback on each. The top writers move on to round 2 with new prompts.
Top prize
$150
Additional prizes
$100 for second place | $50 for third place
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $35
Deadline: December 23, 2022
Genres
Essay, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction
View contestEditor's Prize - Work Anthology
Unleash Press
Writers are invited to submit creative interpretations on Work for an upcoming anthology and the chance of winning the editors' prize. Essays, fiction, drama, and poetry interpretations of the theme will be accepted. Submissions should have a total word count of no more than 5,000 words. All authors chosen for the anthology will receive a paperback copy of the book. Only one editor’s prize will be selected.
Top prize
150
Additional prizes
Publication in anthology
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: December 30, 2022
Genres
Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Poetry, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller
View contestThe Reedsy Prompts Contest
Reedsy
Respond to one of Reedsy's weekly writing prompt newsletters with a short story for the chance to win $250 and be featured on the Reedsy Blog!
Top prize
$250
Additional prizes
Publication on Reedsy Blog
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: December 31, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contest7 Day Story Writing Challenge
Globe Soup
Register now for our next 7-day story writing challenge. A secret theme, a randomly assigned genre and just 7 days to write a story of no more than 2,000 words. Our 7 day story writing challenges take place throughout the year. The challenges are free and you can even get feedback on your story. Take part in one challenge or take part in all of them!
Top prize
£500
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: December 31, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestThe Poetry.com Contest
Poetry.com
Poetry.com offers monthly contests for poets worldwide to gain motivation, inspiration and exposure, while building passion and enjoyment for the written creative process! How are winners chosen? Our contest boasts a clever twist: poems remain anonymous whilst applicants vote on what they believe should be the winning entry.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
2nd place: 300 USD | 3rd place: 200 USD | Runner up personalized Poetry.com mug
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: December 31, 2022
Genres
Poetry
View contestFusilli Flash Fiction
Fusilli Writing
Free flash fiction competition for stories up to 200 words with a twist. Competition always open, with a winner announced and published online after 100 entries received (story count on website). Feedback and the PDF ‘An introduction the writing good flash fiction’ offered for (£5 or equivalent).
Top prize
Publication on website
Additional prizes
Social media promotion
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: December 31, 2022
Genres
Flash Fiction
View contestGreen Stories Writing Competitions
Green Stories project at University of Southampton
Organised by the University of Southampton, Green Stories is a ‘free’ writing competition project with a range of categories for novelists and short story writers. Entries should conform with positive visions of more sustainable futures and/or the inclusion of green solutions but needn’t have an explicitly green theme.
Top prize
Between £100-£1000
Additional prizes
Publication support and publicity
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: December 31, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Novel, Short Story
View contestNovella-in-Flash Award
Bath Flash Fiction Award
The goal of the Novella-in-Flash Award is to promote flash fiction for both writers and readers and to bring the genre to a wider audience. There is a 6000 to 18000 word limit and each flash (or chapter) should not be more than about 1000 words.
Top prize
£300
Additional prizes
£100 for two runners-up, publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $19
Deadline: January 15, 2023
Genres
Novel, Short Story, Novella
View contestAlone Writing Contest
FanStory.com Inc.
Write a story where the main character is alone. Fiction and non-fiction welcomed. Maximum words 5,000. The winner takes away a $100 cash prize. All writers will receive feedback for their submission.
Top prize
$100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: January 29, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction
View contest8th Ó Bhéal Five Words International Poetry Competition
Ó Bhéal
At around noon each Tuesday (GMT), from 12 April 2022 to 31 January 2023, five words are posted on the Ó Bhéal Five Words competition page. Entrants have one week to compose and submit poems that include all five words given for the week. The competition runs for 42 weeks, and a prize of 750 euro is awarded to one winner.
Top prize
€750
Additional prizes
€500, €250
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: January 31, 2023
Genres
Poetry
View contestFanstory Writing Contests
Fanstory
Subscribe to Fanstory for $9.95 a month and enter as many contests as you like from their list of writing and poetry contests, updated daily. All participants receive feedback from a community of writers, and the winner of each contest receives a cash prize of up to $100.
Top prize
Cash prizes of up to $100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: January 31, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contest
