The Best Writing Contests of 2023
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 643 contests
Hammond House Scriptwriting Competition
Hammond House
Be creative, be unpredictable, be different; the judges are looking for honesty and emotion. Top prize of £100.
Top prize
£100
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Script Writing
View contestNovel Fair 2024
Irish Writers Centre
Now in its 12th year, the Novel Fair is an annual competition initiated by the Irish Writers Centre. Described by The Irish Times as ‘A Dragons’ Den for writers’, each year the Fair introduces twelve up-and-coming writers to top publishers and literary agents, giving novelists the opportunity to bypass the slush pile, pitch their ideas and place their synopsis and sample chapters directly into the hands of industry professionals. Novel Fair has been attended by representatives from: Curtis Brown, Penguin Random House, Conville & Walsh, époque, Fletcher & Co, Poolbeg Press, Harper Collins, John Murray, Hachette, Lilliput Press, New Island Books, The Book Bureau, The Bent Agency, Greene & Heaton, Storyline Literary Agency and many others.
Top prize
Present your novel to leading publishers and agents at the Irish Writers Centre
Additional prizes
Runners up: Critique from the judging panel
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $60
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novel, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestThe X.J. Kennedy Poetry Prize
Texas Review Press
Established in 1998, The X. J. Kennedy Prize highlights one full-length collection of poetry per year. Since 2019 the Prize comes with a $10,000 advance, a standard royalty contract, and 20 copies of the published book.
Top prize
$10,000 advance
Additional prizes
Royalty contract with TRP, publication, 20 author copies
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $28
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contestGeorge Garrett Fiction Prize
Texas Review Press
Established in 1998, The George Garrett Fiction Prize highlights one book a year for excellence in a short story collection or novel. Since 2019, the prize comes with a $1,000 advance, a standard royalty contract, and 20 copies of the published book.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Standard royalty contract with TRP and 20 author copies of the published book
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $28
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Novel
View contestAll In The Mind
SaveAs Writers
SaveAs Writers invite entries of poetry and prose for their annual competition. 2023 celebrates the centenary of the publication of Freud’s The Ego and the Id. We hope that the theme of ‘all in the mind’ inspires you to write about the role of the unconscious in our daily experience and our culture. How do hidden forces motivate human beings in our spiritual, emotional, and mental lives?
Top prize
£200 for both Poetry & Prose
Additional prizes
2nd: £100 | 3rd: £50 for both Poetry & Prose
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $4
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Poetry
View contestThe One Page Poetry Contest
One Page Poetry
One Page Poetry is dedicated to the art of expressing a poetic theme on a single page, whether your poem is four lines or forty, whether yours is a love poem, inspirational poem, philosophical poem, or just one that is fun or whimsical. We welcome any and all poetic forms, as long as they fit on a single page.
Top prize
$2,000
Additional prizes
2nd: $1000 | 3rd: $500
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contestThe Moth Nature Writing Prize
The Moth
The Prize will be awarded to unpublished pieces of prose or poetry which best combine exceptional literary merit with an exploration of the writer’s relationship with the natural world. Judged by Kathleen Jamie.
Top prize
€1,000 + 1 week at Circle of Misse in France
Additional prizes
2nd: €500 | 3rd: €250
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $17
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestThe Goldilocks Zone
Sunspot Literary Journal
Sunspot Lit seeks a story, essay, excerpt from longer prose pieces, artwork, graphic novel, or poem that combines excellence in craft with reader or audience appeal. Feedback for fiction and nonfiction submissions available for additional fee.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Script Writing, Short Story
View contestAIIRA Writing Contest
AI Institute for Resilient Agriculture
AIIRA is seeking essays speculating on how AI will change careers within the next decade, as well as fiction stories depicting a day in the life of a job transformed by AI technology. Submissions should address how AI will help future professionals perform their jobs more efficiently as well as what job duties will become redundant due to AI.
Top prize
$550
Additional prizes
2nd: $400 (x2) | 3rd: $250
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Science Writing, Short Story
View contestInfrastructure Threat Contest
CAPTRS
CAPTRS is building the “Universe of Threats,” which will be used to prepare decision makers for future threats. This second Universe of Threats contest invites applicants to submit a ground truth and short story about a threat to one or multiple of the 16 defined critical infrastructure sectors. Submissions should specify the sector(s) experiencing the threat, the details and origin of the threat, and considerations for the unfolding response. Ground Truth maximum word count is 1,000 and essay word count is 2,500.
Top prize
$5,000
Additional prizes
2nd: $2,500 (up to 2 winners) | 3rd: $1,000 (up to 5 winners) | Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story
View contestSouthword Editor’s Poetry Award
Munster Literature Centre
Each entrant for their €20 entry fee will receive a complementary postage-free, one-year subscription to Southword. Poems will be read and judged anonymously. The winning poet will have their three poems published in Southword.
Top prize
€1,000
Additional prizes
Published in Southword
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $22
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contestThe Paul Cave Prize for Literature
Tim Saunders Publications
The Paul Cave Prize for Literature, established in 2023 by Tim Saunders Publications, is in memory of Paul Astley Cave-Browne-Cave (1917 to 2010), a hugely inspirational magazine and book publisher. What we are looking for All forms of poetry: haiku, free verse, sonnet, acrostic, villanelle, ballad, limerick, ode, elegy, flash fiction, short stories and novellas. Work must be new and unpublished. International submissions welcome.
Top prize
£100
Additional prizes
Best Short Story: £50 | Best Flash Fiction: £25 | Best Poem: £25
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestTWFest Fiction Contest
Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival
A submission is one original short story, written in English, up to 7,000 words. This contest is open only to writers who have not yet published a book of fiction. Published books include self-published books with ISBN numbers. Those who have published books in other genres besides fiction remain eligible.
Top prize
$1,500
Additional prizes
Airfare, accommodation, and all-access pass to the next Festival, where you will give a public reading.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: October 01, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction
View contestTWFest One-Act Play Contest
Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival
Plays should run no more than one hour in length (one act or approx. 60 pages.) This contest is for emerging or previously unpublished playwrights.
Top prize
$1,500
Additional prizes
Professional Staged Reading at the next Festival
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: October 01, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Script Writing
View contestSouthern Cross Short Story Competition 2023
Ballarat Writers
Ballarat Writers Inc is inviting entries to the 2023 Southern Cross Short Story competition, from authors writing in English on the theme of TRACKS OF DESIRE to a maximum of 3,000 words. First prize AUD$1000 with runner-up prizes and certificates of commendation. This year’s judge is internationally renowned Graeme Simsion.
Top prize
$1000 AUD
Additional prizes
2nd: $400 AUD | 3rd: $100 AUD
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $13
Deadline: October 01, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestThe Chilling Pen Award
Chilling Pen Horror Writers Assosiation
Unveil the complexities of betrayal in this year's Chilling Pen Competition for horror flash fiction. We invite writers to submit their original, unpublished works exploring the theme of betrayal in all its forms. Submissions should be under 1,000 words.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
2nd: $300 | 3rd: $200
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: October 01, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Flash Fiction, Horror
View contestI Am In Print Novel Award 2023
I Am In Print Ltd
I Am In Print are excited to be working with Canelo, one of the largest independent digitally focused publishers in Europe and one of the largest UK fiction publishers by volume, to find the best, as yet unpublished, manuscripts. Novels entered must be complete, written in English and be between 70,000 and 100,000 words. The award is open to writers globally and novels written for an adult audience in the following genres are welcome: Action thriller, Cosy mystery, Crime, Historical adventure, Horror, Psychological thriller, Romance, Saga. First prize is £1000 plus a 60 minute online consultation with a Canelo Editor!
Top prize
£1000
Additional prizes
60 minute online consultation with a Canelo Editor
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 09, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novel, Romance, Thriller
View contestSoutham Book Festival Flash Fiction Competition
Southam Book Festival
A story of up to 100 words ( including title). Must include the word 'alarmed'. Open to all over 16 yrs.
Top prize
£60
Additional prizes
2nd: £30 | 3rd: £20
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $4
Deadline: October 09, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Flash Fiction
View contestPivotal Essay Contest
Pivotal
Pivotal is an essay contest for high school students around the world run in partnership with Oxford University's Global Priorities Institute on the world’s most pressing problems. Students will write a 2000-word essay on one of three prompts relating to future generations, AI policy, and ethics.
Top prize
$15,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 10, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Non-fiction
View contestTWFest Poetry Contest
Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival
Submit a collection of 2-4 original, unpublished poems of any style or theme, written in English, with a combined length of up to 400 lines. This contest is open only to emerging writers who have not yet published a book of poetry with an ISBN. Those who have published books in other genres besides poetry remain eligible.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
VIP Festival pass ($600 value)
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: October 15, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contestTWFest Very Short Fiction Contest
Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival
A submission is one original short story, written in English, up to 1,000 words. This contest is open only to emerging writers who have not yet published a book of short fiction with an ISBN.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
VIP all-access pass to the next festival, where you will give a public reading.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: October 15, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestDawn of AI Short Story Contest
Booksie
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been covered extensively in the news lately with the release of Chat GPT and Google Bard. AI, long the subject material for science fiction is now becoming a reality. Will AI be a force for good for humanity, creating new products, medical breakthroughs, and helping us improve our standard of living? Or will it lead to a dystopian future where humanity is enslaved or even exterminated by new AI overlords? The goal of this contest to explore these potential themes in a short story that is no more than 1,500 words.
Top prize
$300
Additional prizes
2 runner-ups: $50
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $6
Deadline: October 15, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Short Story
View contestDissolution
Bergen International Literary Festival
Write your story about the climate crisis in a poem or a personal essay.
Top prize
€2,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 15, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Science Writing, Young Adult
View contestGenre Smash Short Story Challenge
Globe Soup
For this short story challenge, all participants will be randomly assigned a genre pairing. As soon as you receive your ‘smashed’ genres you'll have until the closing time to write and submit a short story of any length up to 5,000 words, that perfectly and seamlessly combines both genres into one amazing short story.
Top prize
£1,000
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $11
Deadline: October 23, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestScience Fiction & Fantasy Writing 2023
Write the World
Fantasy and sci-fi stir our imaginations, inviting us to think outside the limits of the life we know. This month, you have the extraordinary and exciting task of reimagining the world. In a fantasy or sci-fi short story, take your readers on a journey into a world of your imagination.
Top prize
$100
Additional prizes
Runner up: $50 | Best peer review: $50
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 23, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story
View contestTeams Challenge
The Writer's Workout
Teams is a cowriting challenge designed to encourage writers to work together. You and your team (4-6) will develop a single entry to be judged and critiqued. Create a team on your own or use our Discord to find a perfect match. This challenge is public domain mash-ups. We'll supply a list of available works on Oct 20.
Top prize
Winners published | Feedback on each team's entry
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: October 27, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestWenlock Olympian Society Short Story Competition
Wenlock Olympian Society
This is an international competition. There should be a maximum of up to 2,500 words on any theme and in any genre except YA and Children's stories. The contest will be judged by acclaimed author Philip Caine and winners announced in March 2024.
Top prize
£150
Additional prizes
2nd: £50 | 3rd: £25
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 30, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller
View contestBenjamin Saltman Poetry Award
Red Hen Press
Established in 1998, in honor of the poet Benjamin Saltman (1927–1999), this award is for a previously unpublished original collection of poetry. The awarded collection is selected through an annual competition that is open to all poets.
Top prize
$3,000
Additional prizes
Book publication by Red Hen Press, a four-week PLAYA residency
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: October 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contestAutumn Short Story Battle
Writing Battle
Five days to write a 2000 word short story. The peer-powered quarterly writing contest where every story receives oodles of feedback. Write one. Read ten. Win thousands.
Top prize
$10,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: October 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller
View contestAnthology Short Story Award
Anthology Magazine
The Anthology Flash Fiction Competition is open to original and previously unpublished flash fiction on any theme in the English language by writers of any nationality. We are looking for writing that is clever and unique, inspires us, and crafts a compelling story. Max 250 words.
Top prize
€300
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: October 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story, Flash Fiction
View contestFiction Factory Poetry Competition
Fiction Factory
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 requirements
💰 Fee: $6
Deadline: October 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contestNative Voices Award
Kinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc
Indigenous storytellers (Native American, First Nation Australian, Indian, Polynesian, etc.) may submit original, unpublished work in English; short stories, essays, onstage scripts, poetry, or visual art.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
2nd: $250 | 3rd: $100 | 6 Finalists: $25 gift card
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: October 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Script Writing, Short Story
View contestThe Bedford Competition
The Bedford Competition
Short stories, any theme up to 3000 words. Poems up to 40 lines. Judges: short story Tim Jarvis, poetry Kirsten Norrie/MacGillvray.
Top prize
£1500
Additional prizes
2nd: £300 | 3rd: £200
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $9
Deadline: October 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry, Short Story
View contestThe National Poetry Competition
The Poetry Society
Run by The Poetry Society since 1978, The National Poetry Competition is one of the world’s most prestigious prizes for an unpublished poem of up to 40 lines, open to all poets worldwide aged 18 or over.
Top prize
£5000
Additional prizes
2nd: £2000 | 3rd: £1000 | Commended: £200 | Top three poems published in The Poetry Review
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $9
Deadline: October 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contestFiction Potluck
The Writer's Workout
Each quarter, we'll host a guest judge who picks a challenge. WW staff will read the entries blind and choose ten finalists to feature, then the guest judge picks three winners to be published on our blog at the end of the quarter for Fiction Potluck Friday!
Top prize
10 finalists spotlighted on website | 3 winners published on blog
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: October 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contest
