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About Reedsy Terms PrivacyThe Best Writing Contests of 2021
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Browse 160 contests that match your search 🔦 reset
Writers of the Future
L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest is an opportunity for new writers of science fiction and fantasy to have their work judged by some of the masters in the field and discovered by a wide audience. Prizes every three months: $1,000, $750, $500. Annual Grand Prize: $5,000 additional!
Deadline March 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$5,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Short Story, Fantasy, Science Fiction,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: FREE
Red Hen Press Nonfiction Award
Established in 2015, the Red Hen Nonfiction Award seeks to recognize the art of true story-telling through literary craft. The awarded fiction manuscript is selected through an annual submission process which is open to all authors.
Deadline March 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication by Red Hen Press
Genres
Non-fiction,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $25
Poetry Prize
The top ten poems of the annual Fish Poetry Contest will be published in Fish Anthology. First prize winnner will receive the cash reward and the second prize winner will receive a week in residence at Anam Cara Writers ' Reatreat.
Deadline March 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in Fish Anthology
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $14
Fiction Prize
Winners of the Indiana Review short story contest receive a prize of $1,000 and publication in Indiana Review. Stories can be up to 6,000 words. 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
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $20
Annual Flash Fiction Competition
This quarterly open-themed competition has closing dates of 31st March, 30th June, 30th September and 31st December
Deadline March 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$400
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $7
Short Story Prize
Open to any subject, writing style or genre. Stories can be 6 to 6,000 words long.
Deadline March 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in Gemini Magazine
Genres
Short Story, Fiction, Flash Fiction,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $8
Winter 2021 Story Contest
Narrative Magazine's Winter Contest is open to all fiction and nonfiction writers. They're looking for short shorts, short stories, essays, memoirs, photo essays, graphic stories, all forms of literary nonfiction, and excerpts from longer works of both fiction and nonfiction. Entries must be previously unpublished, no longer than 15,000 words, and must not have been previously chosen as a winner, finalist, or honorable mention in another contest.
Deadline March 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$2,500
Additional prizes
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $27
Frost Farm Prize for Metrical Poetry
The Trustees of the Robert Frost Farm in Derry, NH, and the Hyla Brook Poets invite submissions for the 2021, 11th Annual The Frost Farm Prize for metrical poetry. The winner receives $1,000 and an invitation, with honorarium, to read in June 2021 as part of The Hyla Brook Reading Series at the Robert Frost Farm.
Deadline March 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $6
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, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $15
Lighthouse Poetry Series
Cleveland State University Poetry Center
The Cleveland State University Poetry Center welcomes submissions for the Lighthouse Poetry Series. The Lighthouse Poetry Series publishes contemporary poetry from poets with any history of publication. The winner will receive $1,000, publication, and a standard royalty contract. This year’s contest will be judged by Randall Mann.
Deadline March 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Royalty contract
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $28
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
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
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 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
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
Poetry Awards Contest
The TCK Publishing Poetry Awards Contest is an international poetry contest established in 2021. Each year’s prizewinner receives a $1,000 honorarium and publication of his or her poem on the TCK Publishing website. TCK Publishing recognizes poetry writers from all countries, backgrounds, and levels of experience.
Deadline March 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication on TCK Website
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $5
Nowhere Emerging Travel Writers' Prize
We are looking for never-been-published travel writers from anywhere in the world to send us stories—fiction, nonfiction, essay or poetry—that possess a powerful sense of place, people and time.
Deadline March 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication in Nowhere Magazine
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $15
Nimrod Literary Awards
Nimrold International Journal of Prose and Poetry
The Awards are among the most distinguished literary prizes in the country. Past judges include Karen Russell, Stanley Kunitz, Marvin Bell and Mark Doty. Poetry submissions should be 3-10 pages of poetry (one long poem or several short poems), and fiction submissions should be 7,500 words maximum (one short story or a self-contained excerpt from a novel).
Deadline April 01, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$2,000
Additional prizes
Publication
Genres
Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, Novel,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $20
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, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
Publishing contract
Additional prizes
Discounted admission to Killer Nashville, introductions to agents/editors
Genres
Fiction, Novel,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $40
Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest
This contest seeks today's best humor poems. No fee to enter. Submit published or unpublished work. $2,250 in prizes.
Deadline April 01, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Humor, Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: FREE
New Deal Writing Competition
Genesee Valley Council on the Arts
The New Deal Writing Competition is a short story competition where the writer is asked to use a painting chosen by the staff of GVCA as inspiration for their short story. The application portal for submissions will be open from March 1, 2021 to April 1, 2021.
Deadline April 01, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$200
Additional prizes
Publication in Artsphere Magazine
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $5
Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards
Whether you’re a professional writer, a part-time freelancer or a self-starting student, here’s your chance to enter the premier self-published competition exclusively for self-published books. This self-published competition spotlights today’s self-published works and honors self-published authors.
Deadline April 01, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$8,000
Additional prizes
A feature in Writer's Digest
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult, Novel,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $99
Geminga: $500 for Tiny Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, or Art
Geminga is a neutron star so small it was difficult to detect. It was named, in part, for a transcription of gh’è minga, meaning “it’s not there.” For 2021, Sunspot Lit is launching "Geminga" to honor the power of the small. No restrictions on theme or category. Word limit is 100 for fiction and nonfiction. Micropoetry is limited to 140 characters.
Deadline April 01, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication in Sunspot Lit for winner, runners-up & finalists
Genres
Fiction, Poetry, Essay, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $6
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
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
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
Dream Quest One Poetry
This poetry contest is open to everyone and international. We hope that you are inspired to display the beauty and art of poetry for the entire world to see your "gift of a dream."
Deadline April 05, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$250
Additional prizes
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $5
Dream Quest One Writing Contest
The mission of this contest is to inspire, motivate and encourage anyone having the desire or love of poetry and writing, to continue doing so without fear of failure or success! Remember, in whatever you do, "it's okay to dream," for dreams do come true...
Deadline April 05, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$500
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $10
The Pinch Literary Awards
Pinch is a literary journal run by the MFA students at the University of Memphis. In their annual contest, two winners are selected from each category of fiction and poetry. Only unpublished entries are considered.
Deadline April 07, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$2,000
Additional prizes
Publication in Pinch
Genres
Fiction, Poetry, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $20
2021 Screenplay & Short Script Competition
The Scriptation Showcase is the screenwriting competition that circulates winners’ scripts to the widest range of Hollywood directors, showrunners, and producers. The early you apply, the lower the entry will be.
Deadline April 11, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
1 Year Scriptation Showcase
Genres
Script Writing,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $44
Travel Writing Competition
We’re looking for the best piece of NON-FICTION travel writing of 2,000 words or fewer. Your entry can be in the form of an article, opinion piece, destination guide, literary non-fiction, memoir, or any other form of non-fiction travel writing.
Deadline April 13, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
£1000
Additional prizes
Genres
Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $11
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
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 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
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
Welcome to the 29th annual Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest. Submit published or unpublished work. $5,000 in prizes.
Deadline April 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$3,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $20
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