The Best Writing Contests of 2023
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
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Showing 639 contests
True 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 (Expired)
Genres
Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestHorror Writing Contest
FanStory.com Inc.
Share a horror or thriller story to enter this writing contest. Write about anything but the object is to terrorize or thrill your reader. Cash prize!
Top prize
$100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: October 27, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Horror, Short Story
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 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
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 (Expired)
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 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestScience me a Story
Society of Spanish Researchers in the UK (SRUK)
This competition was created with the aim of promoting scientific outreach in a fun and engaging way, appropriate for primary school children. The ultimate goal of the contest is to promote scientific spirit and inspire the generations that will build our future. We hope to achieve this through the communication of scientific achievements, findings, methods, and anecdotes in the form of short stories.
Top prize
$267
Additional prizes
£150 and £100 runner ups
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: April 24, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story
View contestThis Sentence Starts The Story Writing Contest
Fanstory.com Inc
Share a story that starts with this sentence: I'm glad you made it. Now continue the story. What will you write about? What is going on here? You decide. Cash prize!
Top prize
$100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: October 14, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Short Story
View contestCreative Writing Ink Short Story Competition 2022
Creative Writing Ink
We're looking for short stories of up to 3000 words. Stories can be any theme, genre, or subject - the world is your oyster! Top prize is £1000, plus a free creative writing course of your choice and publication on our site. Two runners-up will receive £200 each."
Top prize
$1,333
Additional prizes
Free creative writing course, publication online
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: September 30, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Suspense, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestEighth Drapers Guild Short Story Contest
Drapers Guild
We accept stories of any length, written in English, that fit the theme "Fiction about a Stranger"
Top prize
$100
Additional prizes
Publication on Drapers Guild Website
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: February 15, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction
View contest"Write On!" Short Story Contest
Ann Arbor District Library
The annual "Write On!" Short Story Contest for Grades 3-5 accepts story entries each winter. All writers, their friends, and families are invited to a Story Celebration and awards ceremony on Saturday, April 23, 2022, featuring a published children's author and the top three writers in each grade will receive an award.
Top prize
Publication on website
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: March 06, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Children's, Short Story
View contestAcrostic Poetry Contest
FanStory.com Inc.
To enter this poetry contest share an acrostic. That's a poem where the first letter of each line spells out a word (downwards). Cash Prize
Top prize
$100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: October 16, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contest5-7-5 Poetry Contest
FanStory.com Inc.
A 5-7-5 is a poem that only has three lines. Each line has a specific syllable count. The first line has five syllables. The second line has seven. The final line has five syllables again. Write about anything! Cash prize to the winner.
Top prize
$100
Additional prizes
Winning poems are featured on the FanStory.com welcome page.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: April 09, 2022 (Expired)
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 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestJim Martin Memorial Story Contest
Arizona Mystery Writers
Send in your short story in mystery, suspense, or thriller style. Entries may be up to 2500 words (about 10 double-spaced pages). It’s loads of fun and a good exercise of your writing skills.
Top prize
$200
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: August 01, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Short Story
View contestDiode Editions Chapbook Contest
Diode Editions
Open to all poets over the age of 18 who write in English. Length: 25—50 pages (front matter is not included in page count). We will consider translations, and we welcome collaborations.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication and 25 author copies
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $18
Deadline: September 30, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contestDiode Editions Full Length Book Contest
Diode Editions
Open to all poets over the age of 18 who write in English. Length: 55—85 pages (front matter is not included in page count). We will consider translations, and we welcome collaborations.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication and 25 author copies
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: September 30, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contestF(r)iction Flash Fiction Contest
F(r)iction
We seek work that actively pushes boundaries, that forces us to question traditions and tastes. If your work takes risks, we want to read it. You may submit up to three entires for $12. A single entry is $10. Each entry can be up to 1,000 words long.
Top prize
$300
Additional prizes
Considered for publication in F(r)iction
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: April 28, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction
View contestThe Fountain Essay Contest
Fountain Magazine
We want to hear your COVID-19 story. What has the virus taught you about life? If you were not infected, what has your experience been like as an “outsider?” We encourage our contestants to explore this issue in a way that is most meaningful to them, and to do so while making sure to avoid speculative narratives and political polarization.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
$500, $300, $150
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: April 01, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction
View contestBiopage Storytelling Writing Contest
Biopage
Biopage is hosting a writing contest to remind people the benefits of writing. Each story (or once chapter of your stories) is limited to 5,000 characters or roughly 1,000 words. You can write about good life experience, or bad, embarrassing, frightening ones. You can win $300, and five runners-up can win $100 each.
Top prize
$300
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: July 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story, Flash Fiction
View contestStan and Tom Wick Poetry Prize
Kent State University
This prize is offered annually to a poet who has not previously published a full-length collection of poems. The prize awards the winner with $2,500 and publication of their first full-length book of poetry by the Kent State University Press. The winner and the competition's judge will give a reading together on the Kent State campus.
Top prize
$2,500
Additional prizes
Publication by Kent State University Press
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $30
Deadline: May 01, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contestScreenwriting Battle
Writing Battle
Writing Battle is a screenwriting competition for writers, by writers. Light on battle. Heavy on fun and friendship (but still somewhat battle-like). Receive prompts, write a script, then judge each other's stories. Win cash and get feedback from your peers. Join the battle!
Top prize
$1,500
Additional prizes
Feedback by industry professionals. Guaranteed feedback by at least 5 of your peers.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: May 03, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Script Writing
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 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Short Story
View contestIrene Adler Prize
Lucas Aykroyd
The Irene Adler Prize offers a $1,000 US scholarship to a woman pursuing a degree in journalism, creative writing, or literature at a recognized post-secondary institution in the U.S. or Canada, based on an essay competition.
Top prize
$1,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: May 30, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Essay
View contestIndiana Review Poetry Prize
Indiana Review
Winners of the Indiana Review poetry contest receive a prize of $1,000 and publication in Indiana Review. You may submit up to three poems. All entries are considered for publication. Each $20 fee gets you a year-long subscription of the journal.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in Indiana Review
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: March 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contestFiction Prize
Indiana Review
Winners of the Indiana Review short story contest receive a prize of $1,000 and publication in Indiana Review. Stories can be up to 6,000 words. All entries are considered for publication. Each $20 fee gets you a year-long subscription of the journal.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in Indiana Review
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: March 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestFirst Novel Award
Blue Pencil Agency
The Award is open to unrepresented and unpublished authors for a novel in any adult fiction genre. The winner and runners-up will receive an agent introduction and possibly a manuscript review.
Top prize
£1,000
Additional prizes
Agent introduction, manuscript review
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $27
Deadline: May 29, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Novel
View contest42 Miles Press Poetry Award
42 Miles Press
The 42 Miles Press Poetry Award was created in an effort to bring fresh and original voices to the poetry reading public. Manuscripts submitted should exhibit an awareness of the contemporary voice in American poetry.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication by 42 Miles Press
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: June 15, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contestLune Spark Young Writers' Short Story Contest
Lune Spark Books
Lune Spark's yearly contest aims to encourage children to engage in creating writing. Submit a story up to 1,500 words long for a chance to get published.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication in paperback, hardback, ebook, and audiobook
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: July 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Short Story, Young Adult
View contestRed Hen Press Nonfiction Award
Red Hen Press
Established in 2015, the Red Hen Nonfiction Award seeks to recognize the art of true story-telling through literary craft. The awarded fiction manuscript is selected through an annual submission process which is open to all authors.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication by Red Hen Press
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: March 31, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Non-fiction
View contestRed Hen Press Fiction Award
Red Hen Press
The Red Hen Fiction Award is for a fresh and original story of fiction with a minimum of 150 pages. The awarded manuscript is selected through an annual submission process which is open to all authors. Award is $1000 and publication of the awarded manuscript by Red Hen Press.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication by Red Hen Press
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: September 30, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Novel
View contestRed Hen Press Women's Prose Prize
Red Hen Press
Established in 2018, the Women’s Prose Prize is for previously unpublished, original work of prose. Novels, short story collections, memoirs, essay collections, and all other forms of prose writing are eligible for consideration. The awarded manuscript is selected through a biennial competition, held in even-numbered years, that is open to all writers who identify as women.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication by Red Hen Press
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: February 28, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, Essay, Memoir, Novel
View contestRed Hen Press Novella Award
https://redhen.org/awards/
Established in 2018, the Novella Award is for a previously unpublished, original work of fiction between 15,000 and 30,000 words. Beginning in 2021, the Novella Award will be held biennially in even-numbered years. The award will open for submissions on January 31, 2022.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication by Red Hen Press
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: July 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Novel, Novella
View contestTypewriter Awards
League of Utah Writers
The Typewriter Awards are open to members of the League of Utah Writers for shorter creative writing work published in 2021 or 2022 before the contest deadline.
Top prize
Trophy
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: May 13, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestQuills Award
League of Utah Writers
The Quills Awards are open to League of Utah Writers members who have published a book in the past year.
Top prize
Trophy
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $35
Deadline: May 13, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella
View contestOlive Woolley Burt Awards For Creative Writing
League of Utah Writers
The Olive Woolley Burt Awards are open to the general public for previously unpublished work. Discounts for entry given to members of the League of Utah Writers.
Top prize
$150
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: May 13, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Science Writing, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contest
