The Best Writing Contests of 2023

Writing competitions curated by Reedsy

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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

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Novel 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

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The 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

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George 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

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All 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

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The 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

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The 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

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The 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

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AIIRA 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

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Infrastructure 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

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Southword 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

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The 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

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TWFest 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

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TWFest 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

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Southern 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

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The 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

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I 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

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Southam 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

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Pivotal 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

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TWFest 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

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TWFest 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

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Dawn 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

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Dissolution

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

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Genre 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

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Science 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

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Teams 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

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Wenlock 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

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Benjamin 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

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Autumn 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

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Anthology 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

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Fiction 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

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Native 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

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The 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

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The 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

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Fiction 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

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Writing Prompts #3

Join our short story competition

Submit a short story based on 1 of 5 weekly prompts. Winners get $250.