The Best Writing Contests of 2023
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
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.
$1,000
Publication by Meadowlark Books
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: December 01, 2021 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestThe 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.
$3,000
💰 Fee: $29
Deadline: December 01, 2022 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestTangent 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Welcome to the Bristol Short Story Prize – an annual international writing competition open to all published and unpublished, UK and non-UK based writers.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..) .
£1,000
£500, £250, £100
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: May 04, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction, Young Adult
View contestMarsh 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.
$1,000
Publication by Marsh Hawk Press
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: April 30, 2022 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestUniversity 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.
$5,000
Publication by SIR Press
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: February 01, 2022 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestCranked 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).
£100
£25, publication online
💰 Fee: $3
Deadline: February 28, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Flash Fiction
View contestSFWP
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.
$1,500
Two runner ups will be selected, each receiving $700.
💰 Fee: $30
Deadline: July 15, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella
View contestHistorical Novel Society
Inaugural Saudi Historical Novel Award. Entries must have historical Saudi themes or characters. Please read full guidelines.
£10,000
runner up prize of £3,000 and a 3rd prize of £2,000
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: July 01, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Novel
View contestHistorical Novel Society
Inaugural Saudi Historical Short Story Award. Entries must have historical Saudi themes or characters. Please read full guidelines.
£10,000
5 runners up prizes of £1,000
💰 Fee: $14
Deadline: November 15, 2021 (Expired)
Fiction, Short Story
View contestThin 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.
$1,000
Publication in Thin Air Magazine; cash prizes for runner-up and second runner-up
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: December 01, 2021 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestSt. 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.
$10,000
Publication
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: January 01, 2022 (Expired)
Crime, Fiction
View contestPoets & 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.
$500
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: March 01, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Poetry
View contestNowhere 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.
$1,000
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: December 15, 2021 (Expired)
Essay, Non-fiction, Poetry, Fiction
View contestDo 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!
$200 (CAD)
💰 Fee: $2
Deadline: December 31, 2021 (Expired)
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestAccenti 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.
$1000 (CDN)
$100 (CDN) for three runners-up
💰 Fee: $30
Deadline: February 07, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestAcademy 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.
$5,000
Publication by Graywolf Press
💰 Fee: $35
Deadline: October 01, 2021 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestThe 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.
$1,000
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: September 01, 2021 (Expired)
Fiction, Short Story
View contestCreative 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.
£500
💰 Fee: $23
Deadline: January 01, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Novel
View contestThe 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.
$500
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: February 28, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Novel, Poetry
View contestThe 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.
$1,000
Publication in The Tusculum Review, creation of a limited edition chapbook
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: June 15, 2022 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestLunch 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.
$200
Publication in Lunch Ticket
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: September 01, 2021 (Expired)
Fiction, Short Story
View contestLunch 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.
$250
Publication in the Lunch Ticket Magazine
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: September 01, 2021 (Expired)
Non-fiction
View contestThe 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.
$1,500
online and print publication
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: September 30, 2021 (Expired)
Fiction, Short Story
View contestRubery 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.
£2000
£200, a write-up
💰 Fee: $60
Deadline: March 31, 2022 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult, Romance
View contestPEN 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.
$2,000
Publication in Catapult
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: November 15, 2021 (Expired)
View contest
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.
$1,000
2nd $500; 3rd $250
💰 Fee: $30
Deadline: October 01, 2021 (Expired)
Fiction, Short Story
View contestBaton 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.
$15,000
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: August 15, 2021 (Expired)
Fiction, Novel, Short Story
View contestIndiana 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!
$1,000
Publication
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: August 15, 2021 (Expired)
Fiction, Flash Fiction
View contestThe 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.
$2,000
2nd $1,000, 3rd $500, Honorable Mention $50, Publication in Print Anthology
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: October 31, 2021 (Expired)
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestJustice 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.
$2,000
$1000 for 2nd, $500 for 3rd
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: October 31, 2021 (Expired)
Essay, Non-fiction
View contestHidden 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.
$1,000
Publication by Hidden River Arts
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: October 31, 2021 (Expired)
Essay, Non-fiction
View contestGlobe 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!
£1000
💰 Fee: $11
Deadline: August 24, 2021 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestNew 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.
$200
Social media promotion, feedback from 2 published authors
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: August 01, 2021 (Expired)
Novel
View contestInstitute 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.
$650
Critique from an IFW Instructor
💰 Fee: $19
Deadline: August 31, 2021 (Expired)
Science Fiction
View contestInsecure 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.
Publication by Freedom Fox Press
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: September 01, 2021 (Expired)
Fiction, Science Fiction, Romance
View contest