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DIRECTORY
Showing 383 contests that match your search.
Minotaur Books & Malice Domestic
Genres: Mystery and Novel
Welcome to the Tony Hillerman Prize for Best First Mystery Set in the Southwest Competition! The Competition is open to any writer, regardless of nationality, aged 18 or older, who has never been the author of any Published Mystery Novel (including self-published works and ebooks), as defined by the guidelines below, and is not under contract with a publisher for publication of a mystery novel.
Top Prize:
$10,000 advance
Additional prizes:
Contract with Minotaur Books
📅 Deadline: November 30, 2021 (Expired)
Write the World
Genres: Essay and Non-fiction
What are the most important issues taking place close to home? Perhaps a rare bird sighting near your town? Or a band of young people in your province fighting for access to higher education? This month, immerse yourself in a newsworthy event inside the borders of your own country, and invite us there through your written reporting.
Top Prize:
Best entry: $100
Additional prizes:
Runner up: $50 | Best peer review: $50
📅 Deadline: July 22, 2024 (Expired)
Genres: Travel
Have you been marked by travel? If so, tell us how. Engaging with the genre of creative nonfiction, seize upon memorable incidents from your travel history — study abroad, domestic travels, even your discovery of Northfield. Entertain us. Make us laugh. Move us. Help us travel with you.
Top Prize:
$200
📅 Deadline: April 07, 2024 (Expired)
Voice.club
Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, and Short Story
Voice.club Writing Contests: Express yourself in a supportive international community, as you develop your writing skills. We invite you to write a story of 350 words or less, based on our current prompt. Our monthly contests are open to writers aged 13 and older from any country, but each story must be written in English. Our April prompt is "Magic."
Top Prize:
$25 USD Amazon Gift Card
Additional prizes:
Publication
📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024 (Expired)
American Writers Museum
Genres: Children's
“Tradition was safety; change was danger.” — Mary Doria Russell, The Sparrow. This prompt is a quote from Russell’s The Sparrow and can be used as a first line, a last line, a jumping-off point, an inspiration for your students’ work.
Top Prize:
$2,000
📅 Deadline: June 07, 2024 (Expired)
Wolfe Pack & Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine
Genres: Crime, Mystery, and Novella
Novellas are an important part of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe's opus. 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 literary tradition of the Nero Wolfe series.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine
📅 Deadline: May 31, 2024 (Expired)
Writers of the Future
Genres: Fiction, Short Story, Fantasy, and Science Fiction
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 of $1000, $750 and $500 are awarded every three months. From the four 1st Place winners each year, one story is selected as the grand prize winner and the author receives an additional $5000 cash prize.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
$750 for 2nd place, $500 for 3rd, £5000 annual grand prize
📅 Deadline: June 30, 2024 (Expired)
Vancouver Writer's Fest
Genres: Children's
Every year, the Vancouver Writers Fest launches a youth writing contest for short stories and personal essays in spring. We’re thrilled to once again be organizing two writing contests for students in British Columbia: one for grades 5-7 and the other for grades 8-12. These contests are judged by esteemed members of the Vancouver literary community.
Top Prize:
$200
📅 Deadline: May 31, 2024 (Expired)
Hispanic Culture Review
Genres: Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Poetry
As we move forward we carry our culture wherever we go. It keeps us alive. This is why we propose the theme to be “¡Hacia delante!”. A phrase that means to move forward. This year we ask that you think about the following questions: What keeps you moving forward? What do you carry with you going into the future? How do you celebrate your successes, your dreams, and your culture?
Top Prize:
$100
Additional prizes:
Publication in magazine
📅 Deadline: February 07, 2024 (Expired)
Institute for Excellence in Writing
Genres: Children's
We are delighted to present our annual writing contest for all aspiring and accomplished writers, ages eight to eighteen. Whether or not they have experience with IEW's Structure and Style® writing method, your students are invited to participate. For both the students and their teachers, we have great prizes for the top three in each category!
Top Prize:
$200
📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024 (Expired)
Girton College
Genres: Poetry
The Jane Martin Poetry Prize is a national poetry competition, established in 2010, in memory of Girton alumna, Jane Elizabeth Martin (1978 Classics) through the generous support of Professor Sir Laurence Martin. Now in its 14th year, this national prize for young poets is a key part of the College’s support for poetry and will be of interest to all those who are serious about literary excellence. The competition is judged by experts drawn from across the literary world and academia. We are thrilled that this year the panel will be led by two judges – Abigail Parry and Bohdan Piasecki.
Top Prize:
£700
Additional prizes:
2nd: £300
📅 Deadline: March 15, 2024 (Expired)
New York Mills Regional Cultural Center
Genres: Essay and Non-fiction
The Great American Think-Off is an exhibition of civil disagreement between powerful ideas that connect to your life at the gut level. The Cultural Center, located in the rural farm and manufacturing town of New York Mills, sponsors this annual philosophy contest.
Top Prize:
$500
📅 Deadline: April 01, 2024 (Expired)
Kinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Poetry, and Science Fiction
Kinsman Quarterly seeks fiction and poetry submissions from BIPOC authors for the Iridescence Award by December 31. Themes should include the supernatural, extraterrestrial, paranormal--urban fantasy, magical realism, science fiction, Afro-futurism, etc. Winners receive cash prizes up to $500 USD and publication in our literary magazine and E-book. No fees required.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
Publication in Kinsman Quarterly and the Iridescence anthology
📅 Deadline: January 31, 2024 (Expired)
Kinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc
Genres: Essay and Non-fiction
Nonfiction stories of inspiration wanted (between 500 to 2,000 words). Submissions should highlight the struggle and resilience of the human spirit, especially related to cultures of BIPOC or marginalized communities. Stories must be original, unpublished works in English. One successful entry will be awarded each month from April 2024 and will be included within Kinsman Quarterly’s online journal and digital magazine. Successful authors receive $200 USD and publication in our digital magazine. No entry fee required.
Top Prize:
$200
Additional prizes:
Publication in Kinsman Quarterly's online magazine
📅 Deadline: December 31, 2024
Genres: Poetry
The Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowships are $50,000 awards given to honor poets of literary merit appointed to serve in civic positions and to support them in creating new work, as well as to enable them to undertake meaningful, impactful, and innovative projects that enrich the lives of their neighbors, including youth, through responsive and interactive poetry activities.
Top Prize:
$50,000
📅 Deadline: April 08, 2024 (Expired)
Writers Alliance of Gainesville
Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
Bacopa Literary Review’s 2024 contest is open from March 4 through April 4, with $200 Prize and $100 Honorable Mention in each of six categories: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Flash Fiction, Free Verse Poetry, Formal Poetry, and Visual Poetry.
Top Prize:
$200
Additional prizes:
100
📅 Deadline: May 02, 2024 (Expired)
Write the World
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, and Flash Fiction
Since the very first tale told by the fireside, the idea of mysterious worlds—rife with talking trees, dragons and beasts, and spells of all kinds—has captivated us humans. This month, dear writers, write a myth or fairytale that uses fantasy as a lens to understand the reality of everyday life.
Top Prize:
Best entry: $100
Additional prizes:
Runner up: $50 | Best peer review: $50
📅 Deadline: March 04, 2024 (Expired)
The Writer's Workout
Genres: Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Script Writing, Thriller, and Young Adult
The Writer's Games is a free competition with six surprise challenges over six weeks, designed to help each individual writer improve his or her craft fast. FREE registration is required in advance (opens May 1, 2024). Every entry from a registered participant receives honest, unbiased feedback from multiple judges. There's no elimination; push yourself to try each challenge and see what you alone can do in 72 hours each week. The top five winners each week are published in a competition anthology (that's 25 chances, plus the Judges' Choice!).
Top Prize:
Publication in anthology, 72 Hours (26+ spaces)
📅 Deadline: July 22, 2024 (Expired)
The Letter Review
Genres: Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult
Free to enter. Seeking 0-5000 word (poetry: 15 pgs) excerpts of unpublished books (Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction), including most self-published and indie-published works. 2-4 Winners (publication of extract is optional). We Shortlist 10-20 writers. Open to writers from anywhere in the world, with no theme or genre restrictions. Judged blind.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
Optional Publication of Excerpt, Letter of Recommendation
📅 Deadline: May 01, 2024 (Expired)
MoonLit Getaway
Genres: Flash Fiction and Poetry
This contest is intended to promote our website’s September 23, 2024 launch, while providing opportunities for fiction writers, poets, and visual artists.
Top Prize:
$100
Additional prizes:
Publication for runners up
📅 Deadline: August 01, 2024
Ottawa Tourism
Genres: Travel
Ottawa Tourism offers an annual $500 CAD prize for outstanding travel writing featuring Canada’s Capital Region. Eligible entries include items in English or in French that have appeared in magazines, newspapers, or online media in 2023 that highlight Ottawa as a travel destination.
Top Prize:
$500 CAD
📅 Deadline: February 02, 2024 (Expired)
Columbia Undergraduate Science Journal
Genres: Essay and Non-fiction
The High School Academic Research Competition is where talented students from around the world compete to publish high-quality research on any topic. SARC challenges students to sharpen their critical thinking skills, immerse themselves in the research process, and hone their writing skills for success.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Indigo Research Intensive Summer Program
📅 Deadline: April 17, 2024 (Expired)
The Layla Beban Young Authors
Genres: Children's and Short Story
The $1000 for 1000 Words fiction writing contest is open to all students enrolled in grades 6-12. Each entrant may submit a fiction piece consisting of exactly 1,000 words (not including title or author’s name). The fiction piece can be on any topic, as long as it is not vulgar or offensive, does not use inappropriate profanity, and is the original work of the entrant not previously published.
Top Prize:
$1,000
📅 Deadline: February 01, 2024 (Expired)
Lambda Literary
Genres: LGBTQ and Novel
The Randall Kenan Prize for Black LGBTQ Fiction, in memory of the celebrated author Randall Kenan, honors Black LGBTQ writers of fiction. The award will go to a Black LGBTQ writer whose fiction explores themes of Black LGBTQ life, culture, and/or history. To be eligible, the winner of the prize must have published at least one book and show promise in continuing to produce groundbreaking work.
Top Prize:
$3,000
📅 Deadline: February 16, 2024 (Expired)
The Letter Review
Genres: Poetry
This Prize is free to enter. 2-4 Winners are published. We Shortlist 10-20 writers. Seeking poems up to 70 lines. Judges’ feedback available. Open to writers from anywhere in the world, with no style / theme restrictions. Judged blind. All entries considered for publication + submission to Pushcart.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
Publication by The Letter Review
📅 Deadline: May 01, 2024 (Expired)
Fountain Magazine
Genres: Essay and Non-fiction
“Home” holds a special place in our lives. Our earliest memories form inside its walls; we utter our first words and take our first steps there. Does everyone feel the same about home? Is it where you were born or where you earn your bread? Is home a physical place? In a world that moves faster than ever and is confined to small screens, how do perceptions about "home" change? Where is home for people who are forced to leave their homes? Where is your home?
Top Prize:
$1,000
📅 Deadline: June 30, 2024 (Expired)
Unleash Press
Genres: Fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, and Short Story
Details: $1,000 advance and standard contract from Unleash Press for one winning manuscript. Novels, poetry collections, short story collections, and creative nonfiction manuscripts are accepted. We'll reopen for our 2025 competition in July.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication with Unleash Press
📅 Deadline: December 02, 2024
Letter Review
Genres: Flash Fiction, Short Story, and Fiction
This Prize is free to enter. 2-4 Winners are published. We Shortlist 10-20 writers. Seeking stories 0-5000 words. Judges’ feedback available. Open to writers from anywhere in the world, with no theme or genre restrictions. Judged blind. All entries considered for publication + submission to Pushcart.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
Publication by The Letter Review
📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024 (Expired)
Academy of American Poets
Genres: Poetry
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
📅 Deadline: February 15, 2024 (Expired)
The Writer's Workout
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
Fiction Potluck is free to enter and open to fiction writers of all ages around the world. One entry per person per challenge. Submissions are accepted six weeks at a time, starting in January, April, July, and October. The challenge and guest judge will change each open period. The guest judge picks the challenge—we never know what we'll get!
Top Prize:
Query package reviews to all finalists
📅 Deadline: May 20, 2024 (Expired)
Write the World
Genres: Essay and Memoir
We want to hear about an experience in your life, rife with characters and description and conflict and scene… but we also want to hear how you make sense of this experience, how it sits with you, and why it has surfaced as writing. Open a window into your life and invite your readers to enter.
Top Prize:
Best entry: $100
Additional prizes:
Runner up: $50 | Best peer review: $50
📅 Deadline: June 24, 2024 (Expired)
Genres: Non-fiction
Memo'd is a platform where wisdom is distilled into 10-point “Memos”. It aims to be the world’s most inspiring (and free-to-use!) repository of short-form knowledge – and AI will play a pivotal role in this. So what do you have to do to win? Publish an AI-assisted Memo (or Memos) that helps readers gain valuable knowledge in a specific area. Think Twitter threads that are worth remembering. Multiple submissions are welcome and there are no fees - and no catch!
Top Prize:
$750
Additional prizes:
Second Prize for second most unique views: $250 | Best AI Prompt Prize for most creative and useful prompt: $250
📅 Deadline: February 28, 2024 (Expired)
Gotham Writers Workshop
Genres: Poetry
The holidays are a time of glad tidings and good cheer and, if we're honest, some not-so-glad tidings as well. In the spirit of Scrooge, Santa, and everything in between, we invite you to write your most honest holiday haiku. A reminder: a haiku consists of 5 syllables in the first line, 7 syllables in the second line, and 5 in the third line.
Top Prize:
Free class from Gotham Writers Workshop
Additional prizes:
Publication on website
📅 Deadline: February 29, 2024 (Expired)
Write the World
Genres: Essay and Non-fiction
The writer and activist Bill McKibben describes Environmental Writing as "the collision between people and the rest of the world." This month, peer closely at that intersection: How do humans interact with their environment? Given your inheritance of this earth, the world needs your voices now more than ever.
Top Prize:
Best entry: $100
Additional prizes:
Runner up: $50 | Best peer review: $50
📅 Deadline: April 22, 2024 (Expired)
Xulon Press
Genres: Christian
The Christian Author Awards recognizes preeminent new Christian authors who are independently published. Xulon Press, host and sponsor of the Christian Author Awards, is excited to once again extend the opportunity to Christian authors to have their work recognized and given due credit. The Christian Author Awards exists to honor exceptional books written by Christian authors like you that are published independently by nontraditional publishers.
Top Prize:
Xulon Press Elite Publishing Package valued at $8,780
📅 Deadline: September 21, 2021 (Expired)
Get 5 new writing prompts every Friday. Write and submit a story for a chance to win $250.