The Best Writing Contests of 2023
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Manage a competition? Submit it here
Hammond House
Be creative, be unpredictable, be different; the judges are looking for honesty and emotion. Top prize of £100.
£100
Publication
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Script Writing
View contestIrish 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.
Present your novel to leading publishers and agents at the Irish Writers Centre
Runners up: Critique from the judging panel
💰 Fee: $60
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novel, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestTexas 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.
$10,000 advance
Royalty contract with TRP, publication, 20 author copies
💰 Fee: $28
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestTexas 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.
$1,000
Standard royalty contract with TRP and 20 author copies of the published book
💰 Fee: $28
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Novel
View contestSaveAs 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?
£200 for both Poetry & Prose
2nd: £100 | 3rd: £50 for both Poetry & Prose
💰 Fee: $4
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Poetry
View contestOne 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.
$2,000
2nd: $1000 | 3rd: $500
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestThe 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.
€1,000 + 1 week at Circle of Misse in France
2nd: €500 | 3rd: €250
💰 Fee: $17
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestSunspot 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.
$500
Publication
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Script Writing, Short Story
View contestAI 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.
$550
2nd: $400 (x2) | 3rd: $250
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Science Writing, Short Story
View contestCAPTRS
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.
$5,000
2nd: $2,500 (up to 2 winners) | 3rd: $1,000 (up to 5 winners) | Publication
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story
View contestMunster 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.
€1,000
Published in Southword
💰 Fee: $22
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestTim 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.
£100
Best Short Story: £50 | Best Flash Fiction: £25 | Best Poem: £25
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestTennessee 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.
$1,500
Airfare, accommodation, and all-access pass to the next Festival, where you will give a public reading.
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: October 01, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction
View contestTennessee 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.
$1,500
Professional Staged Reading at the next Festival
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: October 01, 2023 (Expired)
Script Writing
View contestBallarat 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.
$1000 AUD
2nd: $400 AUD | 3rd: $100 AUD
💰 Fee: $13
Deadline: October 01, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Short Story
View contestChilling 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.
$500
2nd: $300 | 3rd: $200
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: October 01, 2023 (Expired)
Flash Fiction, Horror
View contestI 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!
£1000
60 minute online consultation with a Canelo Editor
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 09, 2023 (Expired)
Crime, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novel, Romance, Thriller
View contestSoutham Book Festival
A story of up to 100 words ( including title). Must include the word 'alarmed'. Open to all over 16 yrs.
£60
2nd: £30 | 3rd: £20
💰 Fee: $4
Deadline: October 09, 2023 (Expired)
Flash Fiction
View contestPivotal
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.
$15,000
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 10, 2023 (Expired)
Essay, Non-fiction
View contestTennessee 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.
$1,000
VIP Festival pass ($600 value)
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: October 15, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestTennessee 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.
$500
VIP all-access pass to the next festival, where you will give a public reading.
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: October 15, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestBooksie
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.
$300
2 runner-ups: $50
💰 Fee: $6
Deadline: October 15, 2023 (Expired)
Short Story
View contestBergen International Literary Festival
Write your story about the climate crisis in a poem or a personal essay.
€2,000
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 15, 2023 (Expired)
Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Science Writing, Young Adult
View contestGlobe 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.
£1,000
Publication
💰 Fee: $11
Deadline: October 23, 2023 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestWrite 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.
$100
Runner up: $50 | Best peer review: $50
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 23, 2023 (Expired)
Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story
View contestThe 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.
Winners published | Feedback on each team's entry
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: October 27, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Short Story
View contestWenlock 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.
£150
2nd: £50 | 3rd: £25
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 30, 2023 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller
View contestRed 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.
$3,000
Book publication by Red Hen Press, a four-week PLAYA residency
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: October 31, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestWriting 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.
$10,000
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: October 31, 2023 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller
View contestAnthology 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.
€300
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: October 31, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Short Story, Flash Fiction
View contestFiction 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.
£100
Feedback on poems, a Zoom mentorship call, and publication
💰 Fee: $6
Deadline: October 31, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestKinsman 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.
$500
2nd: $250 | 3rd: $100 | 6 Finalists: $25 gift card
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: October 31, 2023 (Expired)
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Script Writing, Short Story
View contestThe Bedford Competition
Short stories, any theme up to 3000 words. Poems up to 40 lines. Judges: short story Tim Jarvis, poetry Kirsten Norrie/MacGillvray.
£1500
2nd: £300 | 3rd: £200
💰 Fee: $9
Deadline: October 31, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry, Short Story
View contestThe 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.
£5000
2nd: £2000 | 3rd: £1000 | Commended: £200 | Top three poems published in The Poetry Review
💰 Fee: $9
Deadline: October 31, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestThe 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!
10 finalists spotlighted on website | 3 winners published on blog
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: October 31, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Short Story
View contestSubmit a short story based on 1 of 5 weekly prompts. Winners get $250.