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Best Writing Contests in 2025

Showing 421 contests that match your search.

Genres: Memoir

The Anthology Personal Memoir Competition invites entries for personal memoirs, encouraging emerging writers to share their stories. The winner will be published in Anthology magazine.

Top Prize:

€500

Additional prizes:

Publication in Anthology magazine

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: August 31, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Essay and Non-fiction

Creative nonfiction may include memoirs, chronicles, personal essays, humorous perspectives, literary journalism—anything the author has witnessed, experienced, or discovered. Pieces may be previously published or unpublished, and simultaneous submissions are accepted. Winner receives $1,000, a bronze medallion, and publication in The Lascaux Review.

Top Prize:

$1,000

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: September 30, 2025

Genres: Fiction and Novel

This competition invites submissions of the first chapter of a novel along with a synopsis. The focus is on originality and engaging storytelling. The winner will receive feedback from a literary agent and a substantial cash prize.

Top Prize:

£500

Additional prizes:

Free appraisal for the winning entry + all shortlisted entrants

💰 Entry fee: $22

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2025 (Expired)

2025 Canadian Jewish Playwriting Competition

Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre

Genres: Script Writing

The Canadian Jewish Playwriting Competition is a bi-annual event that encourages playwrights to submit original works. It aims to promote Jewish culture and stories through theatre, with strong participation from across Canada and other countries.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Winner receives $1,000 CDN and an 8-hour CAEA workshop with a director and up to six actors. This workshop concludes with a public reading.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: May 25, 2025 (Expired)

Creative Writing Award for Poetry

Aesthetica Magazine

Genres: Poetry

The Aesthetica Creative Writing Award celebrates outstanding writers in poetry and short fiction. It aims to support new literary talent and showcases entries that reflect upon the changing world and challenge traditional boundaries of form and technique.

Top Prize:

£2,500

Additional prizes:

Publication in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual, one-year subscription to Granta and Mslexia, and various courses.

💰 Entry fee: $12

📅 Deadline: August 31, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

The Plaza Short Story Prize invites entries for short stories up to 5000 words. The prize includes cash rewards and publication in an anthology, aiming to discover and promote new literary talent.

Top Prize:

$5,000

Additional prizes:

1st Prize: £4000 / $5000; 2nd Prize: £300 / $360; 3rd Prize: £100 / $120. Top 10 entries published in anthology.

💰 Entry fee: $18

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2025 (Expired)

Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

Ayn Rand Institute

Genres: Essay

The Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest is open to all high school, college, and graduate students worldwide. Participants write essays based on prompts related to Ayn Rand's novel _Atlas Shrugged_. The contest has seasonal entry rounds with unique prompts, and essays must be between 800 and 1,600 words. The winning essays demonstrate a strong grasp of the book's themes.

Top Prize:

$25,000

Additional prizes:

Annual Grand Prize of $25,000 Seasonal prize winners: 1st place: $3000 2nd place: $2000 3rd place: $1000

📅 Deadline: December 27, 2024 (Expired)

2025 Latino Voices in Children's Literature Writing Contest

Strive Publishing and Free Spirit Publishing

Genres: Children's and Fiction

This contest aims to elevate authentic, culturally relevant children's stories by Latino authors. It is open to Latino authors residing in the U.S. who are 18 years or older. The contest accepts original children's books focusing on topics like resilience, identity, and diversity for ages 0-8.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

2nd: $500 | 3rd Place: $300 | Winner also receives a meeting with Naibe Reynoso and an editor from Free Spirit. All winners receive a T-shirt.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: October 13, 2025

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry

The Emerging Writer's Contest, held by Ploughshares since 1971, recognizes outstanding work by emerging writers in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Winners are announced in the fall and their works are published in the Winter 2024-25 issue of Ploughshares.

Top Prize:

$2,000

Additional prizes:

Publication in Ploughshares and a conversation with Aevitas Creative Management.

💰 Entry fee: $30

📅 Deadline: May 15, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

The Canterbury Festival Poet of the Year Competition invites submissions from poets on any subject and in any format, up to 60 lines long. The winner receives the title and a cash prize, with additional prizes for runners-up.

Top Prize:

£300 + Title of Canterbury Festival Poet of the Year

Additional prizes:

Second Place: £150 Second Place: £75

💰 Entry fee: $4

📅 Deadline: June 02, 2025 (Expired)

HNS 2026 First Chapters Competition

Historical Novel Society

Genres: Fiction

The HNS 2026 First Chapters Competition invites entries for the opening (maximum 3,000 words) and a 1-page synopsis of a full-length historical novel. It's open to both members and non-members, encouraging excellence in historical fiction.

Top Prize:

£1000

Additional prizes:

Grand winner also receives a trophy. 10 Category Winners receive £500 and a free HNS 2026 conference ticket.

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: November 17, 2025

Genres: Flash Fiction

An annual competition celebrating excellence in flash fiction. Entries must be unpublished, and winners receive cash prizes and nominations for various prestigious awards.

Top Prize:

$2,500

Additional prizes:

2nd: $1000 | 3rd: $500 | Grand Prize winner receives automatic nominations for Best Small Fictions and Pushcart Prize.

💰 Entry fee: $16

📅 Deadline: May 10, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Christian

The Christian Author Awards recognize outstanding new Christian authors who have published independently. The awards honor exceptional books that align with a Christian worldview and promote them through various means, including media announcements and advertising.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

$200 for 2nd place, $100 for 3rd place

📅 Deadline: December 16, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Essay, Fiction, and Non-fiction

This bi-annual contest recognizes emerging writers with submissions of previously unpublished fiction or nonfiction up to 6,000 words. Judged by Colin Barrett, it awards $3,000 for first place, $300 for second, and $200 for third, along with agency reviews for finalists.

Top Prize:

$3,000

Additional prizes:

Second place: $300 Third place: $200 Agency review for all finalists

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: August 25, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

The Troubadour International Poetry Prize is an annual competition open to poets worldwide, judged by notable figures in the literary community. The 2024 prize includes cash awards for the top three poems, as well as opportunities for commended entries.

Top Prize:

$2,000

Additional prizes:

Second: £1,000 Third prize: £500 20 commended entries Winners read with judges at the online international prize-night celebration.

💰 Entry fee: $8

📅 Deadline: September 23, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, LGBTQ, Non-fiction, and Poetry

So to Speak is a feminist literary journal seeking diverse voices, focusing on intersectional feminism. They publish twice a year, accepting submissions of fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and visual art, with a particular emphasis on marginalized perspectives.

Top Prize:

$100

Additional prizes:

All accepted contributions will receive a $100 prize.

💰 Entry fee: $4

📅 Deadline: November 20, 2025

Genres: Children's and Fiction

This contest invites participants aged 8-14 to submit a short story based on autumn themes with prompts including family dinners, campfire stories, and mysteries.

Top Prize:

£20

Additional prizes:

1st, 2nd, & 3rd place winners will receive a full feature on the blog and a personalized winner's certificate. Top 20 submissions will receive an Honourable Mention certificate and feedback from editors.

💰 Entry fee: $3

📅 Deadline: October 25, 2025

Genres: Fiction and Novella

Established in 2001, this annual prize awards a novella that excels in the format, offering a $1,000 advance, publication, and 10 copies of the book. Recent judges include notable authors like Steven Dunn and Michael Martone. Submissions open January 1 and close March 31 each year.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Publication and 10 copies of the published book

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2025 (Expired)

Nimrod Literary Awards

Nimrold International Journal of Prose and Poetry

Genres: Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, and Novel

The Nimrod Literary Awards are hosted by the Nimrod International Journal to honor outstanding writing in fiction and poetry. Each year, the awards feature a first prize of $2,000 and a second prize of $1,000, along with publication opportunities for winners.

Top Prize:

$2,000

Additional prizes:

2nd: $1000 + publication

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Memoir, Non-fiction, and Short Story

Original, unpublished works of memoir writing up to 2000 words. The winner will be interviewed and the winning story published on Alison Wearing’s website and featured in the Memoir Writing Ink program. This award was created in celebration of the life of Amy Macrae and in support of her living legacy to improve the outcomes of women with ovarian cancer.

Top Prize:

$1,000

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Essay, Fiction, and Non-fiction

The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize is awarded for the best piece of writing on the theme of 'Fear.' All genres are accepted, and entries must be in English. The competition aims to discover and support emerging writing talent globally.

Top Prize:

£3000

Additional prizes:

2nd: £1000 | 3rd: £1000

📅 Deadline: April 01, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction

The contest is open to US writers who have not previously published with FC2. Works can include novels, novellas, or collections of short stories, with no length requirement. Translations and previously published works are not eligible.

Top Prize:

$3,000

Additional prizes:

Publication by FC2

📅 Deadline: November 01, 2025

Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult

The Storytrade Book Awards celebrate literary excellence in small and independent publishing, featuring over 70 categories for fiction and nonfiction. The awards spotlight outstanding books and provide industry recognition for authors.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

$1,000 for each Book of the Year (Fiction & Nonfiction). Medals, book stickers, and digital seals for Winners and Finalists

💰 Entry fee: $75

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult

The competition invites short story submissions of up to 8,000 words from writers of all genres. It aims to encourage creativity and provide feedback opportunities. Participants retain ownership of their work, with the winner receiving a cash prize along with chances to win in a bonus draw.

Top Prize:

£2,000

Additional prizes:

2nd: £1000 | 3rd: £500 | £1,500 Bonus Prize Draw shared among multiple winners

💰 Entry fee: $16

📅 Deadline: December 16, 2025

Genres: Fiction, Novel, Novella, and Romance

This contest celebrates diverse voices in literature. The winner will receive a 3 month membership with a published author to help them prepare their book for publishing.

Additional prizes:

1st: A 3 month mentorship with a published author. | 2nd: A 2 month mentorship with a published author. | 3rd: A 1 month mentorship with a published author. | 4th – 5th: A one hour coaching session with a published author.

💰 Entry fee: $45

📅 Deadline: July 31, 2025 (Expired)

Fish Poetry Prize

Fish Publishing

Genres: Poetry

The Fish Poetry Prize is an open competition judged by Billy Collins, offering significant monetary prizes and publication opportunities in the Fish Anthology 2025. It has been established since 2006, focusing on poems of any theme, restricted to 60 lines.

Top Prize:

€1000

Additional prizes:

2nd: writer's retreat | 3rd: €300

💰 Entry fee: $14

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2025 (Expired)

Fusilli Flash Fiction

Fusilli Writing

Genres: Flash Fiction

An international flash fiction competition for stories up to 200 words with a twist. The competition is open to anyone 18+ and accepts any theme, with a focus on quality writing.

Top Prize:

£30

Additional prizes:

Publication on the winners' page

💰 Entry fee: $3

📅 Deadline: December 31, 2025

The Big Moose Prize

Black Lawrence Press

Genres: Fiction, Novel, Poetry, and Short Story

The Big Moose Prize awards an unpublished novel, open to all writers. The winner receives publication, a cash award of $1,000, and ten copies of the book.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Publication of the novel and ten copies

💰 Entry fee: $28

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction

The Catherine Doctorow Innovative Fiction Prize is designed for writers with at least three books published. It encourages innovative fiction that challenges dominant narratives. Submissions must be in English and can include various forms of long fiction. The contest aims to support diverse voices in literature.

Top Prize:

$15,000

Additional prizes:

Publication by FC2, an imprint of the University of Alabama Press, with an Introduction by the final judge.

📅 Deadline: November 01, 2025

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

The Anthology Short Story Competition aims to recognize and encourage creative writing by providing a platform for publication. It is open to original and previously unpublished short stories in English, with no restrictions on theme or style. Stories should not exceed 1,500 words.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Second place: €250 Third place: €150 Winning story published in Anthology magazine.

💰 Entry fee: $22

📅 Deadline: July 31, 2025 (Expired)

IEW Writing Contest

Institute for Excellence in Writing

Genres: Children's

The contest invites students aged 8-18 to participate, regardless of experience with IEW's writing methods. Each participant submits an essay based on specified prompts for different age levels.

Top Prize:

$200

Additional prizes:

1st place: $200 for the student winner and a $200 gift certificate for their parent or teacher Additional monetary prizes and gift certificates for 2nd and 3rd places. Participants receive a free IEW bookmark.

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024 (Expired)

Best First Traditional Mystery Novel Competition

Minotaur Books & Malice Domestic

Genres: Mystery and Novel

The competition is open to writers aged 18 or older who have not published a mystery novel. It aims to discover new talents in traditional mystery writing. All submissions must be original works of at least 60,000 words that follow the guidelines. The winner will be announced after April 2025.

Top Prize:

$10,000 advance + winning manuscript publication

📅 Deadline: December 14, 2025

Genres: Poetry

The Heroica Poetry Prize is a competition aimed at women and non-binary authors and poets, offering monetary rewards and publication in an anthology.

Top Prize:

£125

Additional prizes:

2nd: £50 | 3rd: £25 | Winning and long-listed poems will be published.

💰 Entry fee: $2

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

Write a 2-4-2 syllable poem: 2 syllables in the first line, 4 in the second, 2 in the last. Subject can be anything. Winner receives feedback and a cash prize.

Top Prize:

$100

Additional prizes:

Feedback for all submissions.

📅 Deadline: September 18, 2025 (Expired)

The Clue Awards for Thriller/Suspense

Chanticleer Book Reviews

Genres: Fiction and Crime

The Clue Awards recognize outstanding works in Suspense and Thriller genres, emphasizing detective work, police procedural, and crime-solving narratives. The contest aims to discover and promote new talent while rewarding excellence in these literary categories.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Exclusive Chanticleer Book Review Package and Author Interview valued at $795.

💰 Entry fee: $99

📅 Deadline: July 31, 2025 (Expired)

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