The Best Writing Contests of 2022
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
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Showing 537 contests
Clash of the Query Letters
Darling Axe Editing
Our judge, Michelle Barker, will be asking herself one question: does this query letter convince me that I'm in the hands of an adept novelist with a unique and engaging story to tell?
Top prize
CAD $700
Additional prizes
CAD $200 for 2nd place, $100 for 3rd place
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $4
Deadline: January 31, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel
View contestMedical Student Essay Contest
Hektoen International Journal of the Medical Humanities
Students currently enrolled in a medical school or program are encouraged to submit to our Medical Student Essay Contest. Essays can be on any topic as it relates to medicine. Art, history, and literature topics are preferred.
Top prize
$3,500
Additional prizes
Runner-ups: $2,500
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: March 15, 2023
Genres
Essay, Memoir
View contestStories Through The Ages - Baby Boomer Plus
Stories Through The Ages
Stories Through The Ages - Baby Boomers Plus 2023 is open to people born 1966 or earlier. The deadline for entries is June 15, 2023. There is no prompt for the contest. Authors may write about any topic. The entry fee is $20 ($15 if submitting more than one story). The word count for this contest is 900 - 5000 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.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
2nd: $200 | 3rd: $100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: June 15, 2023
Genres
Short Story, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction
View contestPet Flash Fiction Contest
Booksie.com
Write a true story about a pet in 300 words or less! To make it extra enjoyable, please show us a picture of your pet if you can! It can be silly, sad, scary, or any adjective so long as it involves your furry or scaly friend.
Top prize
$250
Additional prizes
2 runner-up: $50
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: February 28, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Humor, Young Adult
View contestThe Goldilocks Zone
Sunspot Lit
Inspired by the search for Goldilocks Zone planets, Sunspot Lit is looking for one short story, CNF, artwork, poem, graphic novel, or script that combines excellence with appeal. Literary and genre works accepted; feedback available.
Top prize
$200
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $9
Deadline: December 19, 2022
Genres
Crime, Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestMinds Shine Bright Writing Competition
Minds Shine Bright
As we adjust to new realities, inflationary pressures, geo-political tensions, environmental challenges and more it’s time to imagine and explore. The Minds Shine Bright writing competition Confidence 2023 is open and calling for entries of short stories, short scripts, flash fiction and poetry which explore the theme of confidence in some way.
Top prize
$1,080
Additional prizes
$540 for each category winner | $118 for commended entries
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $4
Deadline: February 28, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Poetry, Script Writing, Short Story
View contestCreative Writing Contest-CWC11
Dharma Inc. Intl.
What are the changes you would like to see, to make the world a better place? Our world is seeing a lot of changes. What are the beneficial ones, which ones are harmful? Which changes, from what you have seen, will make things better?
Top prize
$900
Additional prizes
2nd: $300 | 3nd: $100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: December 04, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Essay
View contestNational Essay Contest
U.S. Institute of Peace
The U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) partners with the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) on the annual National High School Essay Contest. The contest engages high school students in learning and writing about issues of peace and conflict, encouraging appreciation for diplomacy’s role in building partnerships that can advance peacebuilding and protect national security.
Top prize
$2,500
Additional prizes
Runner-up: $1,250
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: April 03, 2023
Genres
Essay
View contestMuse of Fire BIPOC Playwriting Festival
Atlanta Shakespeare Company
The Atlanta Shakespeare Company is launching a new playwriting initiative for historically marginalized artists. The "Muse Of Fire Playwriting Festival'' invites playwrights of the global majority to create a full-length play that reimagines Shakespeare’s themes and plots through the lens of BIPOC America.
Top prize
$5,000
Additional prizes
Stage reading in summer 2023
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: April 15, 2023
Genres
Script Writing
View contestThe Anne Marie Gracie Memorial Poetry Competition
Alex Frew
The contest is a loving tribute to Anne Marie Gracie, who died of cancer. All profits from the competition will go to Ayrshire Cancer Support.
Top prize
$118
Additional prizes
2nd: $60 | 3rd: $30
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $3
Deadline: April 30, 2023
Genres
Poetry
View contestHuman Rights Essay Contest for High School Students
RICHARD M KEMPER FOUNDATION
Respect for human rights seems to be eroding in many countries. Do you agree? If so, provide examples and explain what you think is the major cause of the problem and how it should be addressed? If you disagree, explain the reason you disagree.
Top prize
$3,000
Additional prizes
2nd: $1500 | 3rd: $750
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: December 10, 2022
Genres
Non-fiction
View contestPulp Fictional Writing Competitions
Pulp Fictional.com
Our Flash contest is now open and will run until 1st January 2023. The Short Story contest begins on the same date and will run until 31st May 2023.
Top prize
$452
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: May 31, 2023
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Short Story, Thriller
View contestNewbie Flash Fiction
FanStory.com Inc.
The challenge of this writing contest is to share a story that uses exactly 100 words. Write about anything but can you share a complete story with only 100 words?
Top prize
$100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: July 08, 2023
Genres
Flash Fiction
View contestDebut Dagger
Crime Writer's Association
The Debut Dagger is a competition for the opening of a crime novel by a writer who isn’t represented by an agent by the time the competition closes, and who has never had a traditional contract for any novel of any length, or who has never self-published any novel of any length in the last 5 years. Writers submit their opening 3,000 words and a 1,500 word synopsis. Entries from shortlisted writers are sent to UK literary agents and publishers. Every year, authors find representation this way.
Top prize
$577
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $41
Deadline: February 28, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Suspense, Thriller
View contest2-4-2 Poetry Contest
FanStory.com Inc.
Share a 2-4-2. What's that? That's a poem with only three lines that has 8 syllables total! So the first line of your poem will have two syllables. The second line will have four. And the final line will have two again. Cash prize to the winner.
Top prize
$100
Additional prizes
Winning poems will be featured on the FanStory.com welcome page.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: July 11, 2023
Genres
Poetry
View contestShare A Story In A Poem
FanStory.com Inc
Share a poem that rhymes and also tells a story. We included an example of this type of poem in the contest announcement. To the winner goes a cash prize.
Top prize
$100
Additional prizes
Winning poems will be featured on the FanStory.com welcome page.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: July 07, 2023
Genres
Poetry
View contestScience Fiction Writing Contest
FanStory.com Inc
Share a Science Fiction themed story to enter this writing contest with a cash prizes. Let your imagination fly and enjoy sharing your writing.
Top prize
$100
Additional prizes
Winning entries will be features on the FanStory.com welcome page.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $9
Deadline: April 12, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Science Writing, Science Fiction
View contestEthos Literacy Annual Short Short Story Contest
Ethos Literacy
The challenge: write a story using 100 words on one of four topics. Open to all ages with a special prize for authors 14 years or younger. The contest supports nonprofit literacy programs.
Top prize
$200
Additional prizes
6 cash prizes of $100 each; publication in digital magazine, inclusion in webcast
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: January 15, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestThe Roswell Award & Feminist Futures Award
The Omega Sci-Fi Awards
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.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
UCLA Extension Writers’ Program
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: December 19, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story
View contestThe Nervous Ghost Press Book Prize
Nervous Ghost Press
The 2021 Nervous Ghost Press Book Prizes are open to outstanding works of poetry and prose by anyone living in the United States of America. All work and all writers, from any point in their careers, are welcome to submit their work and get a chance of publication. Please submit a completed a manuscript (50,000-100,000 words for prose, 48-128 pages for poetry).
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication and a Californian reading tour
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: March 31, 2023
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Humor, Young Adult
View contestJim Baen Memorial Short Story Award
Baen Books
The National Space Society and Baen Books applaud the role that science fiction plays in advancing real science and have teamed up to sponsor this short fiction contest in memory of Jim Baen. We are seeking short stories of no more than 8,000 words, that show the near future (no more than about 50-60 years out) of manned space exploration.
Top prize
Publication on the Baen Books website for normal paying rates
Additional prizes
Free entry into the 2021 International Space Development Conference, a year's membership to the National Space Society, a prize package
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: February 01, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story
View contestHarold Morton Landon Translation Award
Academy of American Poets
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.
Top prize
$1,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: February 15, 2023
Genres
Poetry
View contestAmbroggio Prize
Academy of American Poets
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.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication by Bilingual Press
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: February 15, 2023
Genres
Poetry
View contestCWA Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition
Crime Writers' Association
Every year since 2014, the CWA and the Margery Allingham Society have jointly held an international competition for a short story of up to 3,500 words. Our mission is to find the best unpublished short mystery, and not only that, but one which fits into Golden Age crime writer Margery Allingham’s definition of what makes a great story. Entries are invited from all writers, published or unpublished, writing in English.
Top prize
£500
Additional prizes
Two weekend passes to CrimeFest
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $16
Deadline: February 28, 2023
Genres
Mystery, Short Story
View contestJames Jones First Novel Fellowship
Wilkes University
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.
Top prize
$10,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $33
Deadline: March 15, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Novel
View contestThe Killer Nashville Claymore Award
Killer Nashville
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.
Top prize
Publishing contract
Additional prizes
Discounted admission to Killer Nashville, introductions to agents/editors
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $40
Deadline: April 01, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Novel
View contestThe Breakwater Fiction Contest
Break Water Review
We are seeking submissions for pieces that breathe freshness to the form. We are interested in previously unpublished prose ranging from 1,000 - 4,000 words.
Top prize
$1,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: December 01, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestHenshaw Short Story Competition
Henshaw Press
Short Story of up to 2000 words on any theme.
Top prize
$237
Additional prizes
2nd: $118 | 3rd: $60
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $7
Deadline: January 06, 2023
Genres
Fiction
View contestF(r)iction Short Story Contest
F(r)iction
We seek work that actively pushes boundaries, that forces us to question traditions and tastes. If your work takes risks, we want to read it. You may submit up to three entries for $12. A single entry is $10. Each entry can be up to 1,000 words long.
Top prize
$300
Additional prizes
Considered for publication in F(r)iction
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: November 01, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestF(r)iction Poetry Contest
F(r)iction
We seek work that actively pushes boundaries, that forces us to question traditions and tastes. If your work takes risks, we want to read it. You may submit up to three entries for $12. A single entry is $10. Each poem can be up to three pages.
Top prize
$300
Additional prizes
Considered for publication in F(r)iction
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: November 01, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry
View contestSNHU 2022 Fall Fiction Contest
Southern New Hampshire University
SNHU is hosting its 8th annual Fall Fiction Contest, where you can showcase your talents and creativity by submitting an original short story. This contest is open to any writer, based in the continental U.S., and submissions will be accepted from Oct. 3-31. By entering, you'll have the opportunity to win up to $3,000 in SNHU scholarships, have your short story featured in The Penmen Review and more.
Top prize
$3,000
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: October 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestMum Life Stories Micro Fiction Writing Competition
Mum Life Stories
Win cash prizes and publication in an anthology. This is the 6th and final round of the second series of micro fiction competitions on the blog 'Mum Life Stories'. Just 500 words around the them 'Empty Nest', which can be interpreted any way you like, as long as it includes a mum somewhere in the story. There will be an anthology release early to mid 2023 including the shortlists (Top 10) from each round.
Top prize
$31
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $2
Deadline: November 06, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestGlobal Warning Contest
Effective Altruism at UC Berkeley
What are the large-scale problems that the world is facing over the next 20 years? People frequently express concern about climate change as one of the largest existential risks and potential sources of suffering for humans and other animals in the coming decades. The Global Warning Contest hopes to create more awareness around it and reward people for thinking critically about the future.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
2nd: $300 | 4x runner-up: $50
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: November 20, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Non-fiction
View contestNovel Writing Competition 2022
Write the World
Novel writing is about personally inhabiting the world of your characters. And yet a novel also requires looking inward—reflecting on your own experience and interior life to develop authentic, three-dimensional characters. This November, join thousands of other writers in the honorable pursuit of novel writing (it’s National Novel Writing Month!) and then submit an excerpt to us.
Top prize
$100
Additional prizes
Runner-up: $50
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: November 22, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Novel
View contestThe European Writing Prize
The European Society of Literature
The European Writing Prize is a competition that seeks to find young, unrecognised talent in the literary scene, and showcase their work to the public.
Top prize
$50
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: January 01, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contest
