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About Reedsy Terms PrivacyThe Best Writing Contests of 2021
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Browse 80 contests that match your search 🔦
The Roswell Award & Feminist Futures Award
The Omega Sci-Fi Awards are proud to accept entries for The Roswell Award international short science fiction story competition from writers age 16 and older. The Feminist Futures Award will be awarded to a distinct winner for an outstanding feminist sci-fi story.
Deadline December 21, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$500
Additional prizes
UCLA Extension Writers’ Program
Genres
Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $0
Fall Travel Writing Contest
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.
Deadline December 15, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Essay, Non-fiction, Poetry, Fiction,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $20
Harold Morton Landon Translation Award
This $1,000 award recognizes a poetry collection translated from any language into English and published in the previous calendar year. Established in 1976, it is given annually. A noted translator chooses the winning book.
Deadline February 15, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: FREE
Ambroggio Prize
The Ambroggio Prize is a $1,000 publication prize given for a book-length poetry manuscript originally written in Spanish and with an English translation. The winning manuscript is published by Bilingual Press/Editorial Bilingüe, publisher of literary works, scholarship, and art books by or about U.S. Hispanics.
Deadline February 15, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication by Bilingual Press
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: FREE
CWA Margery Allingham Short Story Competition
Our mission is to find the best unpublished short mystery — one that fits into legendary crime writer Margery’s definition of what makes a great story: “The Mystery remains box-shaped, at once a prison and a refuge. Its four walls are, roughly, a Crime, a Mystery, an Enquiry and a Conclusion with an Element of Satisfaction in it.”
Deadline February 28, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
£500
Additional prizes
Two passes to Crimefest & a selection of books
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $16
James Jones First Novel Fellowship
A prize of $10,000 is given annually for a novel-in-progress by a U.S. writer who has not published a novel. Runners-up will receive $1000. A selection from the winning work is published in Provincetown Arts.
Deadline March 15, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
$10,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Novel,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $33
The Lascaux Prize in Poetry
Poems may be previously published or unpublished, and simultaneous submissions are accepted. Winner receives $1,000, a bronze medallion, and publication online in The Lascaux Review. The winner and all finalists will be published in the annual print journal.
Deadline March 31, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $15
The Killer Nashville Claymore Award
Every year, the Killer Nashville Claymore Award assists new and rebranding English-language fiction authors get published, including possible agent representation, book advances, editor deals, and movie and television sales. While we cannot guarantee that winners and finalists of this award will receive publication, dozens of winners & runners-up of the Claymore award have gone on to find great success in their careers and many of them attribute that success to this award.
Deadline April 01, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
Publishing contract
Additional prizes
Discounted admission to Killer Nashville, introductions to agents/editors
Genres
Fiction, Novel,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $40
Narrative Prize
The Narrative Prize is awarded annually for the best short story, novel excerpt, poem, one-act play, graphic story, or work of literary nonfiction published by a new or emerging writer in Narrative. The submission system is open all year.
Deadline June 15, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
$4,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $27
Annual Flash Fiction Competition
This quarterly open-themed competition has closing dates of 31st March, 30th June, 30th September and 31st December. The results will be announced about six weeks after each closing date and the three winning entries each quarter will be published on the website.
Deadline December 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
£300
Additional prizes
£200, £100
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $7
Fish Flash Fiction Prize
The Fish Flash Fiction Prize is an opportunity to attempt one of the most interesting and rewarding tasks – to create, in a tiny fragment, a completely resolved and compelling story in 300 words or less. The top ten stories will be published in the FISH ANTHOLOGY 2022.
Deadline February 28, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
€1,000
Additional prizes
2nd place €300, 3rd place an online writing course with Fish
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $16
Fish Short Memoir Prize
Everyone has a memoir in them. Go for it! Write a piece of your life, send it to Fish. Qian Julie Wang, author of her memoir Beautiful Country, will select 10 short memoirs to be published in the Fish Anthology 2022, which will be launched during the West Cork Literary Festival.
Deadline January 31, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
€1,000
Additional prizes
2nd place receives €200 and an online writing course
Genres
Memoir, Non-fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $21
Fish Short Story Prize
The Fish Short Story Prize was started in 1994, and has become an established event on the literary calendar. This year’s judge is Sarah Hall. Her critically acclaimed second novel, The Electric Michelangelo, was nominated for the 2004 Man Booker Prize. Sarah will select 10 short stories to be published in the Fish Anthology 2022, which will be launched during the West Cork Literary Festival.
Deadline November 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
€3,000
Additional prizes
5 day Short Story Workshop at the West Cork Literary Festival
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $23
Fish Poetry Prize
The top ten poems of the annual Fish Poetry Contest will be published in Fish Anthology. First prize winner will receive €1000 and the second prize winner will receive a week in residence at Anam Cara Writers ' Reatreat.
Deadline March 31, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
€1000
Additional prizes
A writer's retreat for 2nd place, €200 for 3rd place
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $17
2022 Book Prize
Writers are invited to submit novels, short story collections and creative nonfiction manuscripts. The Editors' Prize winner receives a publication contract with Unleash Press and $1000 prize, along with 10 printed copies of the final book. We may also offer publication contracts to additional outstanding manuscripts.
Deadline January 05, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publishing contract
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Novel, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $35
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!
Deadline December 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$200 (CAD)
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $2
Accenti Writing Contest
The Accenti Writing Contest is inviting submissions for original and unpublished prose under 2,000 words. $1000 and publication is awarded to the winner.
Deadline February 07, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
$1000 (CDN)
Additional prizes
$100 (CDN) for three runners-up
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $30
Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards
The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards recognizes outstanding works that contribute to our understanding of racism and our appreciation of cultural diversity. Awards are given for fiction, poetry and nonfiction.
Deadline December 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$10,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $0
Willow Run Poetry Book Award
Hidden River Arts offers a yearly prize of $1000 and publication in Hidden River Press, an imprint of Hidden River Publishing, for an unpublished book-length collection of poetry between 75 and 100 pages long.
Deadline February 21, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in Hidden River Press
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $20
Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest
Now in its 21st year, this contest seeks today's best humor poems. No fee to enter. Submit published or unpublished work. $3,500 in prizes.
Deadline April 01, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
$2,000
Additional prizes
Two-year gift certificate for Duotrope
Genres
Humor, Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $0
WOW! Women On Writing Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest
Seeking short fiction of any genre between 250 - 750 words. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, communication, and well-rewarded recognition to contestants.
Deadline November 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$400
Additional prizes
Interview on WOW! Blog, $25 Amazon gift card
Genres
Flash Fiction, Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $10
Cranked Anvil Flash Fiction Competition
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.
Deadline November 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
£100
Additional prizes
£25, publication online
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $4
Stories Through The Ages - Baby Boomer Plus
Stories Through The Ages - Baby Boomers Plus is open to people born 1966 or earlier. There is no prompt for the contest Authors may write about any topic. The entry fee is $25 ($20 if submitting more than one story). The word count for this contest is 900 - 4000 words. Cash prizes of $500, $200 and $100 will be awarded. There will be a minimum of 15 finalists whose story will appear in the book.
Deadline June 15, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
$500
Additional prizes
Genres
Short Story, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $25
The Exeter Novel Prize
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.
Deadline January 01, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
£500
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Novel,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $23
Self-Publishing Literary Awards
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.
Deadline February 28, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
$500
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Novel, Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: FREE
Tusculum Review Poetry Chapbook Prize
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.
Deadline June 15, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in The Tusculum Review, creation of a limited edition chapbook
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $20
The Rubery Prize
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.
Deadline March 31, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
£2000
Additional prizes
£200, a write-up
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $60
Season Themes
HAVOK is a constant flash fiction contest, with rolling deadlines. Each season is split into monthly competitions with thematically connected prompts in a range of genres.
Deadline December 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$100
Additional prizes
Publication in an anthology. Potential for larger gift card wins.
Genres
Fantasy, Flash Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: FREE
Novella-in-Flash Award
The goal of the Novella-in-Flash Award is to promote flash fiction for both writers and readers and to bring the genre to a wider audience. There is a 6000 to 18000 word limit and each flash (or chapter) should not be more than about 1000 words.
Deadline January 16, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
£300
Additional prizes
£100 for two runners-up, publication
Genres
Novel, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $22
Fanstory Writing Contests
Subscribe to Fanstory for $9.95 a month and enter as many contests as you like from their list of writing and poetry contests, updated daily. All participants receive feedback from a community of writers, and the winner of each contest receives a cash prize of up to $100.
Deadline December 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
Cash prizes of up to $100
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Poetry, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $10
The Bath Children’s Novel Award
The Bath Children’s Novel Award is an annual international prize for emerging novelists writing for children or teens. Submissions are the first 5,000 words plus one page synopsis. A children’s literary agent will judge the winning manuscript from a shortlist chosen by Junior Judges aged seven to seventeen.
Deadline November 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
£3000
Additional prizes
Manuscript feedback from junior judges, literary agent introductions, novel editing course
Genres
Fiction, Novel, Young Adult,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $36
IndieReader Discovery Awards
Where talented authors meet publishing professionals with the power to make a difference in the success of their books. Every author who enters a title in the IR Discovery Awards will receive a verdict, written by an IndieReader reviewer and based on their assessment after reading the complete book.
Deadline February 15, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
First look consideration by a top, NYC-based literary agency
Additional prizes
$500, publicist consultation service, Reedsy credit, custom author website
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Novel,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $149
Annual Short Story Contest
We are looking for stories (of any genre) ranging between 1,000 and 3,000 words, with strong characters, a well-crafted plot and realistic dialogue (where used). Make us laugh, make us cry, but most of all, make us feel!
Deadline February 28, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
£500
Additional prizes
£200 for 2nd place, £100 for 3rd place
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $8
8th Ó Bhéal Five Words International Poetry Competition
At around noon each Tuesday (GMT), from 13 April 2021 to 225January 2022, five words are posted on the Ó Bhéal Five Words competition page. Entrants have one week to compose and submit poems that include all five words given for the week. The competition runs for 41 weeks, and a prize of 750 euro is awarded to one winner.
Deadline January 25, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
€750
Additional prizes
€500, €250
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $5
Daisy Pettles' Writing Residency
Women writers who are age 40 or older are invited to submit up to 20 pages of a work in progress to win a chance for a month-long residency in a house where you can focus on your writing. First prize comes with a $1000 cash prize. Fee reductions and hardship wavers can be granted.
Deadline December 12, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Month-long writer's getaway
Genres
Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $45
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