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The Best Writing Contests of 2023

Writing competitions curated by Reedsy

Genre

Manage a competition? Submit it here

Showing 628 contests

Birdy Poetry Prize

Meadowlark Books

Meadowlark Books created The Birdy Poetry Prize to celebrate the voices of this era. The prize is $1,000 cash and publication by Meadowlark Books, including 50 copies of the completed book. All entries will be considered for standard Meadowlark Books publishing contract offers, as well.

Top prize

$1,000

Additional prizes

Publication by Meadowlark Books

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $25

Deadline: December 01, 2021 (Expired)

Genres

Poetry

The 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 (Expired)

Genres

Poetry

Bristol Short Story Prize

Tangent Books

Welcome to the Bristol Short Story Prize – an annual international writing competition open to all published and unpublished, UK and non-UK based writers. Stories can be on any theme or subject and are welcome in any style including graphic, verse or genre-based (Crime, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Historical, Horror, Romance, Children’s etc..) .

Top prize

£1,000

Additional prizes

£500, £250, £100

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $12

Deadline: May 04, 2022 (Expired)

Genres

Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Prize

Marsh Hawk Press

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Marsh Hawk Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Manuscripts should be between 48 to 84 pages.

Top prize

$1,000

Additional prizes

Publication by Marsh Hawk Press

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $25

Deadline: April 30, 2022 (Expired)

Genres

Poetry

Michael Waters Poetry Prize

University of Southern Indiana

A prize of $3,000 and publication by SIR Press is awarded annually for a collection of poetry written in English. Michael Waters will judge. Submit up at least 40 and no more than 100 pages of poetry to be considered.

Top prize

$5,000

Additional prizes

Publication by SIR Press

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $25

Deadline: February 01, 2022 (Expired)

Genres

Poetry

Cranked Anvil Flash Fiction Competition

Cranked Anvil Press

Our quarterly flash fiction competition is open for entries all year round. The competition is open to any theme or genre, and your story must be a maximum of 500 words (not including the title). You can enter up to two stories in each quarterly competition ($3 to enter one story, $5 for two).

Top prize

£100

Additional prizes

£25, publication online

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $3

Deadline: February 28, 2022 (Expired)

Genres

Fiction, Flash Fiction

SFWP Literary Awards

SFWP

We are seeking fiction and creative nonfiction of every genre. The contest is open to authors who have not been published by a major press. We publish in English, but the contest is open to writers from anywhere in the world. The early-bird entry fee (December 15th-February 15th) will be $25.

Top prize

$1,500

Additional prizes

Two runner ups will be selected, each receiving $700.

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $30

Deadline: July 15, 2022 (Expired)

Genres

Fiction, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella

Saudi Historical Novel Award

Historical Novel Society

Inaugural Saudi Historical Novel Award. Entries must have historical Saudi themes or characters. Please read full guidelines.

Top prize

£10,000

Additional prizes

runner up prize of £3,000 and a 3rd prize of £2,000

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $0

Deadline: July 01, 2022 (Expired)

Genres

Fiction, Novel

Saudi Historical Short Story Award

Historical Novel Society

Inaugural Saudi Historical Short Story Award. Entries must have historical Saudi themes or characters. Please read full guidelines.

Top prize

£10,000

Additional prizes

5 runners up prizes of £1,000

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $14

Deadline: November 15, 2021 (Expired)

Genres

Fiction, Short Story

The Bird in Your Hands Prize

Thin Air Magazine

The Bird in Your Hands Prize is a contest that centers and celebrates BIPOC voices. This is a no-fee contest accepting poetry, fiction, and nonfiction in any form under 500 words. The winner of the contest will be awarded $1000, published in Thin Air Magazine, and interviewed for Thin Air Online.

Top prize

$1,000

Additional prizes

Publication in Thin Air Magazine; cash prizes for runner-up and second runner-up

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $0

Deadline: December 01, 2021 (Expired)

Genres

Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry

Hillerman Prize

St. Martin's Press and Western Writers of America

Sponsored by St. Martin's Press and Western Writers of America, the Tony Hillerman Prize is awarded annually for the best first mystery set in the Southwest. The winner receives a contract with St. Martin's Press for publication of the novel and $10,000.

Top prize

$10,000

Additional prizes

Publication

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: FREE

Deadline: January 01, 2022 (Expired)

Genres

Crime, Fiction

Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award

Poets & Writers, Inc.

Poetry manuscripts should not exceed 10 pages, single or double-spaced (minimum of seven pages). Fiction manuscripts should not exceed 25 pages and must be double-spaced. Fiction manuscripts may include stories and/or excerpts from novels.

Top prize

$500

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $0

Deadline: March 01, 2022 (Expired)

Genres

Fiction, Poetry

Fall Travel Writing Contest

Nowhere Magazine

We are looking for young, old, novice and veteran writers to send us stories that possess a powerful sense of place. Stories can be fiction, nonfiction, poetry or essay.

Top prize

$1,000

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $20

Deadline: December 15, 2021 (Expired)

Genres

Essay, Non-fiction, Poetry, Fiction

Do Wha(TS) Write

Do Wha(TS) Write

Contest entries should be flash fiction or short stories, with an absolute word limit of 1000 words. There is no required prompt or topic. Write whatever you'd like! We want to see you get creative!

Top prize

$200 (CAD)

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $2

Deadline: December 31, 2021 (Expired)

Genres

Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story

Accenti Writing Contest

Accenti Magazine

The Accenti Writing Contest is inviting submissions for original and unpublished prose under 2,000 words. $1000 and publication is awarded to the winner.

Top prize

$1000 (CDN)

Additional prizes

$100 (CDN) for three runners-up

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $30

Deadline: February 07, 2022 (Expired)

Genres

Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story

First Book Award

Academy of American Poets

The First Book Award is a $5,000 first-book publication prize. The winning manuscript, chosen by an acclaimed poet, is published by Graywolf Press. The winner also receives an all-expenses-paid six-week residency at the Civitella Ranieri Center, in the Umbrian region of Italy.

Top prize

$5,000

Additional prizes

Publication by Graywolf Press

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $35

Deadline: October 01, 2021 (Expired)

Genres

Poetry

Stories Out of School

The Academy for Teachers

A flash fiction contest sponsored by The Academy for Teachers and Electric Literature. The story’s protagonist, or its narrator, must be a K-12 teacher.

Top prize

$1,000

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $0

Deadline: September 01, 2021 (Expired)

Genres

Fiction, Short Story

The Exeter Novel Prize

Creative Writing Matters

We accept the first ten thousand words including synopsis of a novel that has not been accepted for publication by a traditional publishing house. We are delighted to welcome Kate Nash of the Kate Nash Literary Agency as our final judge.

Top prize

£500

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $23

Deadline: January 01, 2022 (Expired)

Genres

Fiction, Novel

Self-Publishing Literary Awards

The Black Caucus of ALA

The Black Caucus of ALA (BCALA) honors the best self-published ebooks by an African American author in the U.S. in the Fiction and Poetry genres.

Top prize

$500

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: FREE

Deadline: February 28, 2022 (Expired)

Genres

Fiction, Novel, Poetry

Tusculum Review Poetry Chapbook Prize

The Tusculum Review

A prize of $1,000, publication of the chapbook in The Tusculum Review’s 2022 issue, and creation of a limited edition stand-alone chapbook is awarded for the winning collection of poems.

Top prize

$1,000

Additional prizes

Publication in The Tusculum Review, creation of a limited edition chapbook

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $20

Deadline: June 15, 2022 (Expired)

Genres

Poetry

The Gabo Prize in Translation & Multilingual Texts

Lunch Ticket

The Gabo Prize is funded by writers, translators, and Antioch University Los Angeles MFA Alumni, who launched the prize to support the work of peer translators. This cycle, we are seeking works dealing with the theme of "yet to emerge." Please send us works of translation less than 3,500 words long, that are fresh, current, and showcasing underrepresented authors, languages, and cultures.

Top prize

$200

Additional prizes

Publication in Lunch Ticket

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $0

Deadline: September 01, 2021 (Expired)

Genres

Fiction, Short Story

The Diana Woods Memorial Award

Lunch Ticket

Twice each year, in memory of Diana Woods, a work of creative nonfiction (3,500 words or less) is selected for the DWM award, and published in Lunch Ticket alongside two finalists. This cycle, we are seeking work on the theme of Openings. Send us your memoir, personal essays, and flash nonfiction that meets, exceeds, or explodes our expectations of how openings look, feel, and sound.

Top prize

$250

Additional prizes

Publication in the Lunch Ticket Magazine

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: FREE

Deadline: September 01, 2021 (Expired)

Genres

Non-fiction

The Ghost Story Supernatural Fiction Award

The Ghost Story

The Ghost Story Supernatural Fiction Award competition for full-length short stories on a supernatural theme is now open for submissions! Twice each year TGS awards $1,500 and both online and print publication to the winner of our short story competition.

Top prize

$1,500

Additional prizes

online and print publication

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $20

Deadline: September 30, 2021 (Expired)

Genres

Fiction, Short Story

The Rubery Prize

Rubery Book Awards

The Rubery Prize is a prestigious international book award seeking the best books by indie writers, self published authors and books published by independent presses, judged by reputable judges. Through our reputation of finding quality and outstanding books we aim to bring recognition to the works that win and heighten an author's profile.

Top prize

£2000

Additional prizes

£200, a write-up

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $60

Deadline: March 31, 2022 (Expired)

Genres

Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult, Romance

PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers

PEN America

The PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize recognizes 12 emerging writers for their debut short story published in a literary magazine, journal, or cultural website. The 12 winning stories are selected by a committee of three judges who are well-respected experts in the art of the short story. The winning writers each receive a $2,000 cash prize and will be published by Catapult in their annual anthology.

Top prize

$2,000

Additional prizes

Publication in Catapult

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $0

Deadline: November 15, 2021 (Expired)

Genres

All-Story Short Fiction Competition

Zoetrope

The three prizewinners and seven honorable mentions will be considered for representation by a number of literary agencies. Guest Judge: Daniel Mason, finalist for the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Top prize

$1,000

Additional prizes

2nd $500; 3rd $250

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $30

Deadline: October 01, 2021 (Expired)

Genres

Fiction, Short Story

The Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence

Baton Rouge Area Foundation

The Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence honors Louisiana’s revered storyteller, Ernest J. Gaines, and serves to inspire and recognize rising African-American fiction writers of excellence at a national level. Authors may submit a work of fiction (novel or collection of short stories) that will be published in 2021. Galleys for a 2021 publication are also accepted. The cash prize is to support and enable the writer to focus on writing.

Top prize

$15,000

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $0

Deadline: August 15, 2021 (Expired)

Genres

Fiction, Novel, Short Story

1/2K Prize

Indiana Review

Send us up to 3 pieces of no more than 500 words each in any genre for a chance to win $1000 + publication. This year’s final judge is Taylor Johnson. Submit your work from July 1 through August 15!

Top prize

$1,000

Additional prizes

Publication

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $20

Deadline: August 15, 2021 (Expired)

Genres

Fiction, Flash Fiction

Dillydoun International Fiction Prize

The Dillydoun Review

International fiction contest open to all genres, themes, and subjects. 8,000 word max / no minimum. Short story, flash fiction, self-contained excerpts from longer works welcome. Entries must be written in English.

Top prize

$2,000

Additional prizes

2nd $1,000, 3rd $500, Honorable Mention $50, Publication in Print Anthology

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $25

Deadline: October 31, 2021 (Expired)

Genres

Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story

Justice Centre Essay Contest

Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms asks Canadian students to answer (in 1000-2500 words) the following question: Should citizens who refuse to get vaccinated have the same rights and freedoms as those who do get vaccinated? This contest is open to all Canadian youth who will be between the age of 15–24 on the date they submit their essay.

Top prize

$2,000

Additional prizes

$1000 for 2nd, $500 for 3rd

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: FREE

Deadline: October 31, 2021 (Expired)

Genres

Essay, Non-fiction

The Tamaqua Award for a Collection of Essays

Hidden River Arts

Hidden River Arts offers an award of $1,000 and publication by Hidden River Press, an imprint of Hidden River Publishing, for an original collection of essays. Previous publication of individual essays is acceptable, as long as you include the list of the published essays, the journals and magazines where they appeared, and authorize that the publication rights have reverted to you, as author.

Top prize

$1,000

Additional prizes

Publication by Hidden River Arts

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $20

Deadline: October 31, 2021 (Expired)

Genres

Essay, Non-fiction

Poetry Competition

Globe Soup

We’re looking for the best POEM of up to 50 lines. The theme for Globe Soup Poetry Competitions is always: ‘Poetry with a Sense of Place’. We accept all forms and styles of poetry. We can’t wait to see where this competition takes you!

Top prize

£1000

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $11

Deadline: August 24, 2021 (Expired)

Genres

Poetry

Put Your Heart in a Book Contest

New Jersey Romance Writers

Submissions will consist of a FIRST chapter, not to exceed 30 pages, and a PROJECTED WORD COUNT of the completed manuscript. A prologue may be included as part of the first chapter, if within page total guidelines. An UNJUDGED SYNOPSIS must be included at the end of the submission, clearly defined with a page break and titled "SYNOPSIS". The synopsis will not count toward the page count.

Top prize

$200

Additional prizes

Social media promotion, feedback from 2 published authors

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $25

Deadline: August 01, 2021 (Expired)

Genres

Novel

IFW Sci-Fi First Pages Contest

Institute for Writers

Can you establish your science fiction world and pull a reader into your story in the first 1,000 words? Submit the first 1,000 words of your unpublished sci-fi manuscript aimed at an adult (or young adult) audience for your chance to win the grand prize.

Top prize

$650

Additional prizes

Critique from an IFW Instructor

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $19

Deadline: August 31, 2021 (Expired)

Genres

Science Fiction

Insecure Writer's Support Group Anthology Contest

Insecure Writer's Support Group

The winning stories will be edited and published by Dancing Lemur Press' imprint Freedom Fox Press next year in the IWSG anthology. Authors will receive royalties on books sold, both print and eBook. The top story will have the honor of giving the anthology its title. This year's genre is sweet romance, and the theme is first love.

Top prize

Publication by Freedom Fox Press

Entry requirements

💰 Fee: $0

Deadline: September 01, 2021 (Expired)

Genres

Fiction, Science Fiction, Romance

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