Menu
CONNECT
Editing
Design
Marketing
Publicity
Ghostwriting
Websites
BLOG
Success Stories
APPS
TOOLS
Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing ScholarshipsABOUT
About Reedsy Terms PrivacyThe Best Writing Contests of 2021
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Browse 160 contests that match your search 🔦
Seán O'Faoláin International Short Story Competition
The competition is open to original, unpublished and unbroadcast short stories in the English language of 3,000 words or fewer. The story can be on any subject, in any style, by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world.
Deadline July 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
€2,000
Additional prizes
Residency at Anam Cara Retreat, Featured reading at the Cork International Short Story Festival, Publication in Southword
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $22
HG Wells Short Story Competition
BBC Aeronautics Correspondent Reg Turnill and his wife, Margaret
The theme for this year’s competition is MASK in its broadest interpretation. There are two categories. Authors 21 years of age and under (on 12th July 2021) with a prize of £1,000. (Entry is free). Authors aged 22 years and above on 12th July 2021 with a prize of £500 (entry £10 or £5 with student id).
Deadline July 12, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
£1,000
Additional prizes
£500
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $0
The Moth Short Story Prize
The Moth Short Story Prize is an international prize, open to anyone from anywhere in the world, as long as their story is original and previously unpublished. The Prize will be judged this year by Ali Smith, the author of many works of fiction, including five collections of short stories and, most recently, the seasonal quartet, Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer. Her work has won many awards.
Deadline June 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
€3,000
Additional prizes
€1,000, writing retreat at Circle of Misse
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $18
Blue Lynx Prize for Poetry
The annual Blue Lynx Prize for Poetry awards $2000 plus publication for a full-length poetry collection. The Prize is awarded for an unpublished, full-length volume of poems by a U.S. author, which includes foreign nationals living and writing in the U.S. and U.S. citizens living abroad.
Deadline May 16, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$2,000
Additional prizes
Publication
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $28
First Novel Award
The Award is open to unrepresented and unpublished authors for a novel in any adult fiction genre. The winner and runners-up will receive an agent introduction and possibly a manuscript review.
Deadline May 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
£1,000
Additional prizes
Agent introduction, manuscript review
Genres
Fiction, Novel,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $27
The Black Orchid Novella Award
An important part of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe's opus are novellas. To celebrate this format, the Wolfe Pack and Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine have partnered to sponsor the Black Orchid Novella Award. Each entry must be an original unpublished work of fiction that conforms to the tradition of the Nero Wolfe series.
Deadline May 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in AHMM
Genres
Fiction, Mystery, Novella,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $0
The Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition
We're looking for original ideas, a fresh voice, a diverse range of entries and stories that children will love! To enter, you must have written a full-length novel suitable for children/young adults aged between 7 and 18 years. We suggest a minimum of 30,000 words and ask that manuscripts do not exceed 80,000 words. The IET 150 Award will be awarded to a manuscript that celebrates Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
Deadline May 14, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
A worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House & royalty advance of £10,000
Additional prizes
An offer of representation from a top literary agent
Genres
Fiction, Novel, Novella, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Young Adult,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $25
Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize
The Jolley Prize is open to all short story writers writing in English. We seek original short stories of between 2,000 and 5,000 words.
Deadline May 03, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$AU6,000
Additional prizes
$AU4,000, $AU2,500
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $25
Bristol Short Story Prize
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..) .
Deadline May 05, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
£1,000
Additional prizes
£500, £250, £100
Genres
Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction, Young Adult,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $12
The Bath Short Story Award
Jude Higgins, Jane Riekemann and Alison Woodhouse
The International Bath Short Story Award, is currently organised by Jude Higgins, Jane Riekemann and Alison Woodhouse. Launched in 2012 the BSSA has rapidly become established as one of the prominent short story competitions in the UK receiving over fifteen hundred world-wide entries each year and producing a yearly anthology of short-listed and winning authors.
Deadline April 19, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
£1200
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, Young Adult,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $12
Parsec Short Story Contest
The theme for the 2021 contest is: Still Waters, Deep Thoughts. This can be conveyed in the setting, plot, characters, dialogue…the only limit is your imagination. The theme must be integral to the story in some way and not just mentioned in passing. All stories must be of the Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Horror genres and no more than 3,500 words.
Deadline April 15, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$200
Additional prizes
Publication in the 2020 Confluence program book
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $0
The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize
Awarded for the best piece of writing on the theme of the Alpine Fellowship 2021 - Untamed: On Wilderness and Civilization. A maximum of 2,500 words per entry.
Deadline April 01, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
£10,000
Additional prizes
£3,000, £2,000, invitation to attend the Fjällnäs symposium.
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $0
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, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$2,000
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
The Caterpillar Prize
The Caterpillar Poetry Prize is an annual prize for an unpublished poem written by an adult for children aged 7–11. This year’s judge is none other than Michael Morpurgo!
Deadline March 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in The Caterpillar
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $14
Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize
The aim of the Short Fiction Prize is both to celebrate the best of new short fiction and to give winners the most visibility possible for their writing. That’s why we’ve teamed up with fourteen different literary and artistic institutions to offer not only a cash prize and writing retreats but to ensure that all our shortlisters have the opportunity to be published in multiple print and online journals, have their work put in front of literary agents and perform in multiple countries.
Deadline April 15, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,500
Additional prizes
Week's residency in Italy, a consultation with a literary agent
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $20
BBC National Short Story Award
The BBC National Short Story Award is one of the most prestigious for a single short story, with the winning author receiving £15,000, and four further shortlisted authors £600 each. The stories are broadcast on Radio 4 and published in an anthology by Comma Press. Previous alumni of the award include Zadie Smith, Hilary Mantel, and Jon McGregor.
Deadline March 15, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
£15,000
Additional prizes
Broadcast on Radio 4, and published in an anthology
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $0
The Plough Prize
Now in its eighteenth year, the Plough Poetry Prize is an international open competition for a poem up to 40 lines on any subject.
Deadline March 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
£1,000
Additional prizes
£500, £250
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $7
The Kurt Brown Prizes
Association of Writers & Writing Programs
AWP will offer three scholarships of $500 each to be awarded to three first-place winners in the genres of creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. These scholarships must be used to attend a writers’ conference, center, retreat, festival, or residency at one of the AWP member programs in the Directory of Conferences & Centers. All winners and six finalists will also receive a one-year individual membership.
Deadline May 15, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$500 scholarship
Additional prizes
one-year membership
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $10
The Don Belton Fiction Reading Period
Indiana Review and Indiana University Press are proud to present the Don Belton Fiction Reading Period. Between May 1 and June 30, we will read fiction manuscripts of up to 80,000 words. The winning manuscript will be published by IU Press and the author will receive $1,000 against future royalties and a standard publication contract with IU Press.
Deadline June 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
Publication by IU Press
Additional prizes
$1,000 against future royalties, a standard publication contract with IU Press
Genres
Fiction, Novel,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $25
Indiana Review Poetry Prize
Winners of the Indiana Review poetry contest receive a prize of $1,000 and publication in Indiana Review. You may submit up to three poems. All entries are considered for publication. Each $20 fee gets you a year-long subscription of the journal.
Deadline March 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in Indiana Review
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $20
Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize
The Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize is a writing competition sponsored by the stage and radio series Selected Shorts. This long-running series at Symphony Space in New York City celebrates the art of the short story by having stars of stage and screen read aloud the works of established and emerging writers. Selected Shorts is recorded for Public Radio and heard nationally.
Deadline March 05, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Gotham Writers Workshop
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Science Fiction, Young Adult,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $25
Edwin Markham Prize for Poetry
The Edwin Markham Prize honors outstanding works of poetry. Our taste is eclectic and celebrates the wonderful diversity of forms, styles, and levels of diction available to the contemporary poet. Writers may submit up to five (5) poems per submission.
Deadline November 01, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $20
Gabriele Rico Challenge for Nonfiction
The Gabriele Rico Challenge for Nonfiction recognizes outstanding works of nonfiction. We are looking for creative nonfiction, such as personal essays or narratives, not scholarly papers or book reviews. All works should be stand-alone essays, not chapters of a longer work. Please limit prose submissions to 5,000 words.
Deadline November 01, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,333
Additional prizes
Genres
Non-fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $20
Tusculum Review Established/Emerging Prize
We seek collaborative works between oft-published and newer writers or artists. We are also interested in the joint projects of professional equals. The possibilities interest us; we see writing as a team sport and reject the image of writers as isolated masterminds. Each manuscript should consist of a single work of between 8 and 26 double-spaced pages.
Deadline April 01, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in The Tusculum Review
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $25
Tusculum Review Fiction Prize
We seek manuscripts consisting of a single story between 2,000 and 6,500 words long. Entry fees include a one-year subscription to The Tusculum Review (an annual publication) and consideration for publication.
Deadline April 01, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in The Tusculum Review, creation of a limited edition chapbook
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $15
Horror and Fantasy Short Story Contest
Write an original story between 2,000 and 10,000 words in the Horror or Fantasy genres for the chance to win a cash prize.
Deadline March 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$50
Additional prizes
Publication
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $0
Creative Writing Award for Short Fiction
Since its establishment 15 years ago, this international literary prize has provided a platform for poets and authors across the globe to showcase their work through publication, prize money and exposure. The Creative Award is open to poetry and short fiction submissions on any theme, celebrating innovation in content, form and technique. Fiction entries should be no more than 2,000 words.
Deadline August 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$3,400
Additional prizes
Publication in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual, Consultation with Redhammer Management, Selection of books from Vintage, One year print subscription to Granta
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $25
Creative Writing Award for Poetry
Since its establishment 15 years ago, this international literary prize has provided a platform for poets and authors across the globe to showcase their work through publication, prize money and exposure. The Creative Award is open to poetry and short fiction submissions on any theme, celebrating innovation in content, form and technique. Poetry entries should be no more than 40 lines.
Deadline August 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$3,400
Additional prizes
Publication in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual, Full membership to The Poetry Society, Selection of books from Vintage, One year print subscription to Granta
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $16
The Loraine Williams Poetry Prize
The Loraine Williams Poetry Prize is an award for a single poem, to be published in The Georgia Review. The winner will receive $1,500 and an expenses-paid trip to Athens, Georgia, to give a public reading with the judge. Submissions must be sent either online or by mail from March 1 through May 1. All submitted poems will be considered for publication in The Georgia Review; any selected will be paid $4 per line.
Deadline May 01, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,500
Additional prizes
Expenses-paid trip to Athens, Georgia
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $15
F(r)iction Poetry Contest
You may submit up to five poems in the same document, and each poem can be up to three pages long. We are particularly drawn to poetry that capitalizes on three main elements: narrative trajectory, central imagery, and a strong content-to-structure relationship. We want to be challenged to dig deeper, but not so much that we have no idea what you’re saying.
Deadline April 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$300
Additional prizes
Considered for publication in F(r)iction
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $10
F(r)iction Creative Nonfiction Contest
F(r)iction celebrates and welcomes all forms of creative nonfiction: memoir excerpts, personal essays, braided narratives, and more. We are particularly drawn to works with interesting structures that help to propel the narrative forward, strong character arcs in which the narrator is deeply changed by their experiences, or a cinematic feel. Entries should be up to 6,000 words.
Deadline April 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Considered for publication in F(r)iction
Genres
Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $15
F(r)iction Flash Fiction Contest
We accept work, written in English, from anywhere in the world—regardless of genre, style, or origin—and welcome speculative writing and experimental literature. Strange is good. Strange with a strong character arc is even better. Keep it weird, folks. Entries should be up to 1,000 words a piece. Writers over the age of thirteen are welcome to submit.
Deadline April 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$300
Additional prizes
Considered for publication in F(r)iction
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $10
F(r)iction Short Story Contest
We accept work, written in English, from anywhere in the world—regardless of genre, style, or origin—and welcome speculative writing and experimental literature. Strange is good. Strange with a strong character arc is even better. Keep it weird, folks. Entries should be between 1,001 and 7,500 words. Writers over the age of thirteen are welcome to submit.
Deadline April 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Considered for publication in F(r)iction
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $15
Anthology Short Story Award
Writers of short fiction are invited to enter the Anthology Short Story Award. Established to recognise and encourage creative writing and provide a platform for publication, it is open to original and previously unpublished short stories in the English language. Stories submitted must be on the theme of ‘Memories’ and not exceed the maximum of 1,500 words.
Deadline April 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication in Anthology Magazine, one-year subscription
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $10
Anthology Poetry Award
Entries are now invited for the Anthology Poetry Award. Established to recognise and encourage excellence in the craft of poetry writing and to provide a platform for publication, it is open to original and previously unpublished poems in the English language. Poems submitted must be on the theme of ‘Freedom’ and should not exceed 40 lines.
Deadline August 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication in Anthology Magazine, one-year subscription
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $10
Find the perfect editor for your next book
Over 500,000 authors trust the professionals on Reedsy, come meet them.
