The Best Writing Contests of 2023
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Manage a competition? Submit it here
Hopper Creative Group LLC
The Valorious Awards, sponsored by international best-selling author, Christopher Hopper, is an annual competition seeking to recognize and encourage emerging artists in two categories: best sci-fi novel, best sci-fi voice actor. The awards seek to recognize emerging independent authors and character actors and discover new and exciting talent within the world of science fiction.
$500
2nd: $250 | 3rd: $150
💰 Fee: $35
Deadline: December 31, 2023
Science Fiction
View contestWrite the World
What truth do you want to convey through your stories? This month, write a short story of up to 1000 words and invite readers into a contained universe. With only a small word limit to work with, you must choose carefully. Remember, as Neil Gaiman once said: “Short stories are tiny windows into other worlds and other minds and other dreams.”
$100
Runner up: $50 | Best peer review: $50
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: November 27, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Short Story
View contestWrite the World
Fantasy and sci-fi stir our imaginations, inviting us to think outside the limits of the life we know. This month, you have the extraordinary and exciting task of reimagining the world. In a fantasy or sci-fi short story, take your readers on a journey into a world of your imagination.
$100
Runner up: $50 | Best peer review: $50
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 23, 2023 (Expired)
Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story
View contestWrite the World
In his groundbreaking course on ecopoetry, writer and professor Craig Santos Perez focuses on how to use poetry as a voice for the planet. This month, write a poem about what you know and love from the natural world. Your poem may focus on an element of the environment under threat, explore changes in nature, or honor the planet we call home.
$100
Runner up: $50 | Best peer review: $50
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: September 25, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestThe Failing Writers Podcast
The Failing Writers Podcast presents its 3rd annual flash fiction competition. This year, with an apt subject to write about... 'Failing'. Check our blog for all the details from Monday the 4th of September, and write your way to £500 plus a skip-full of plaudits, bragging rights and jigs around the kitchen. (To hear past winners, just skiffle through our episodes to find the flash fiction winner eps and enjoy!)
£500
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: September 28, 2023 (Expired)
Flash Fiction
View contestOprelle
MATTER is our most inclusive contest. All poems that become finalists will be presented in the Matter XXIII anthology. The intention behind this particular contest is to give great odds for publication. It's one of MATTER’s, and Oprelle’s, founding principles: to uplift potentially unheard voices, their stories and poems, to prevent them from being lost in the masses.
$300
Publication in Matter Anthology
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: September 09, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestI Am In Print Ltd
I Am In Print are excited to be working with Canelo, one of the largest independent digitally focused publishers in Europe and one of the largest UK fiction publishers by volume, to find the best, as yet unpublished, manuscripts. Novels entered must be complete, written in English and be between 70,000 and 100,000 words. The award is open to writers globally and novels written for an adult audience in the following genres are welcome: Action thriller, Cosy mystery, Crime, Historical adventure, Horror, Psychological thriller, Romance, Saga. First prize is £1000 plus a 60 minute online consultation with a Canelo Editor!
£1000
60 minute online consultation with a Canelo Editor
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 09, 2023 (Expired)
Crime, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novel, Romance, Thriller
View contestWenlock Olympian Society
This is an international competition. There should be a maximum of up to 2,500 words on any theme and in any genre except YA and Children's stories. The contest will be judged by acclaimed author Philip Caine and winners announced in March 2024.
£150
2nd: £50 | 3rd: £25
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 30, 2023 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller
View contestThe Independent Author Network
The Independent Author Network presents the 2024 IAN Book of the Year Awards, an international contest open to all authors with 55 fiction and non-fiction categories. Winners are eligible to receive a share of cash prizes of $6,000 USD. Open to all English language print and eBooks available for sale, including small presses, mid-size independent publishers, university presses, and self-published authors.
$2,500
$6,000.00 USD in total cash prizes
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: August 15, 2023 (Expired)
Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestBergen International Literary Festival
Write your story about the climate crisis in a poem or a personal essay.
€2,000
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 15, 2023 (Expired)
Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Science Writing, Young Adult
View contestSunspot Literary Journal
Sunspot Lit seeks a story, essay, excerpt from longer prose pieces, artwork, graphic novel, or poem that combines excellence in craft with reader or audience appeal. Feedback for fiction and nonfiction submissions available for additional fee.
$500
Publication
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Script Writing, Short Story
View contestIndignor House Publishing
Indignor House Publishing is proud to announce that our annual writing competition (INDIGNOR PLAYHOUSE Short Story Annual Competition) is officially open with expected publication in the fall of 2024. Up to 25 submissions will be accepted for inclusion in the annual anthology.
$500
2nd: $250 | 3rd: $150
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: March 31, 2024
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestThe Masters Review
Each fall, The Masters Review hosts a call for novel excerpts! Writing a novel can be an arduous and lonely process, but we’re here to champion the great work being produced. Whether your book is not quite finished or ready to pitch, we want to read your words. For this contest, we’re looking for self-contained excerpts that display a strong voice, compelling characters, and carefully constructed narrative arcs. You may submit an excerpt from any section of your completed or in-progress novel, but choose wisely: a synopsis should not be required for understanding the excerpt. As always, we have no limitations on genre, though we are primarily interested in literary fiction.
$3,000
2nd: $300, online publication | 3rd: $200, online publication
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: November 12, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Novel
View contestPivotal
Pivotal is an essay contest for high school students around the world run in partnership with Oxford University's Global Priorities Institute on the world’s most pressing problems. Students will write a 2000-word essay on one of three prompts relating to future generations, AI policy, and ethics.
$15,000
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 10, 2023 (Expired)
Essay, Non-fiction
View contestPeninsula Pulse
The contest was created to encourage and appreciate artistic expression through various literary forms and photography. The contest has showcased works from individuals of all ages and backgrounds – novice writers and photographers to professionals.
$250
2nd: $100 | 3rd: $50
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: September 01, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestTexas Review Press
Established in 1998, The George Garrett Fiction Prize highlights one book a year for excellence in a short story collection or novel. Since 2019, the prize comes with a $1,000 advance, a standard royalty contract, and 20 copies of the published book.
$1,000
Standard royalty contract with TRP and 20 author copies of the published book
💰 Fee: $28
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Novel
View contestBallarat Writers
Ballarat Writers Inc is inviting entries to the 2023 Southern Cross Short Story competition, from authors writing in English on the theme of TRACKS OF DESIRE to a maximum of 3,000 words. First prize AUD$1000 with runner-up prizes and certificates of commendation. This year’s judge is internationally renowned Graeme Simsion.
$1000 AUD
2nd: $400 AUD | 3rd: $100 AUD
💰 Fee: $13
Deadline: October 01, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Short Story
View contestThe Self Published Science Fiction Competition
A competition only applicable for self-published science fiction authors. This is similar to the Self Published Fantasy Blog-Off but for Science Fiction. It's a year long and entrants are judges by teams of volunteer reviewers, Quarter, Semi, and Finalists all highlighted and reviews posted on blogs and shared on socials.
Trophy
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: August 25, 2023 (Expired)
Science Fiction
View contestWriting Battle
Two days to write a 250 word short story! The peer-powered quarterly writing contest where every story receives oodles of feedback. Write one. Read ten. Win thousands.
$4,000
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: August 04, 2023 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Short Story, Thriller
View contestPrincipal Foundation
This is a short story contest designed to bring our experiences with money – positive and negative – out of the shadows. We want to read your imaginative and meaningful short stories (fiction and creative nonfiction) touching on themes related to money and personal finance. Introduce us to protagonists whose relationship to money may be on the verge of unexpected or needed change.
$250 USD (up to 30 winners)
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: August 31, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Short Story
View contestIntrepid Times
Intrepid Times is inviting travelers and writers from all countries, at all levels of writing experience, to incorporate music into a travel story (1200-2000 words). The way you achieve this is up to you, but be creative and bold in the way you use music to help build your story. Your travel story should, as always, grow around the context of a place or experience; we want to see music being used in a way that enhances both.
$200
Publication
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: August 31, 2023 (Expired)
Non-fiction, Travel
View contestSmokeLong Quarterly
SmokeLong’s Grand Micro Competition (The Mikey) is a biennial competition that celebrates and compensates the best micro fiction and nonfiction online.
$1,500
2nd: $500 | 3rd: $300 | Finalists: $100 | Publication
💰 Fee: $13
Deadline: November 10, 2023 (Expired)
Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction
View contestCAPTRS
CAPTRS is building the “Universe of Threats,” which will be used to prepare decision makers for future threats. This second Universe of Threats contest invites applicants to submit a ground truth and short story about a threat to one or multiple of the 16 defined critical infrastructure sectors. Submissions should specify the sector(s) experiencing the threat, the details and origin of the threat, and considerations for the unfolding response. Ground Truth maximum word count is 1,000 and essay word count is 2,500.
$5,000
2nd: $2,500 (up to 2 winners) | 3rd: $1,000 (up to 5 winners) | Publication
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story
View contestThe Moth
The Prize will be awarded to unpublished pieces of prose or poetry which best combine exceptional literary merit with an exploration of the writer’s relationship with the natural world. Judged by Kathleen Jamie.
€1,000 + 1 week at Circle of Misse in France
2nd: €500 | 3rd: €250
💰 Fee: $17
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestFly on the Wall Press
In its fifth year, the Aryamati Prize seeks poets who write for social change and peace. Past winners have included Katrina Dybzynska, Pippa Little, Jenny Mitchell and Sundra Lawrence. The prize will publish both a pamphlet winner and a full collection winner. The Aryamati Poetry Prize is thrilled to announce poet Maura Dooley as a judge for 2023.
Traditional publishing contract for 2024 publication
10 Fly on the Wall books worth £100, in any format
💰 Fee: $14
Deadline: August 28, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestKinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc
Indigenous storytellers (Native American, First Nation Australian, Indian, Polynesian, etc.) may submit original, unpublished work in English; short stories, essays, onstage scripts, poetry, or visual art.
$500
2nd: $250 | 3rd: $100 | 6 Finalists: $25 gift card
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: October 31, 2023 (Expired)
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Script Writing, Short Story
View contestSparkPoint Studio
Since 2018, we’ve been proud to play a role in the much-needed elevation of writers of color by awarding 2-3 authors of color publishing packages per year as part of our She Writes Press and SparkPress Toward Equality in Publishing (STEP). The purpose of this contest is to support inclusivity across our lists, and to fortify our own mission to give voice to women writers.
Publishing package valued at $9500
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: August 15, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Novel, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestMunster Literature Centre
Each entrant for their €20 entry fee will receive a complementary postage-free, one-year subscription to Southword. Poems will be read and judged anonymously. The winning poet will have their three poems published in Southword.
€1,000
Published in Southword
💰 Fee: $22
Deadline: September 30, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestMunster Literature Center
The competition is open to new, emerging and established poets from any country. One of these winners will be the highest scoring manuscript entered by a poet with no solo collection (full-length or chapbook) previously published. Up to 25 other entrants will be publicly listed as "highly commended".
€1,000
Chapbook publication with 50 free copies, 2nd prize €500
💰 Fee: $27
Deadline: August 31, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestZoetrope
The mission of the American Zoetrope Screenplay Competition is to find and promote new and innovative voices in cinema. The competition considers feature-length film scripts, as well as pilot scripts for television/streaming services. Every script is read closely by a select handful of professional readers, and the American Zoetrope staff and Francis Ford Coppola choose a winner from among the ten finalists.
$5,000
Considered for representation
💰 Fee: $50
Deadline: September 05, 2023 (Expired)
Script Writing
View contestTravelnitch
We are actively seeking students in Grades 7-12 who love to write! Turn your own passion for travel into an inspiring story for our younger listeners. Whether it’s a fact-based narrative or creative fiction, this is an opportunity to gain real-life experience as a travel writer and show the world what you can do.
Publication and recorded for Bedtime Stories podcast
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: August 20, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, Young Adult
View contestStephen Spender Trust
The leading annual competition for poetry in translation. Submit an English translation of a published poem from any language (max. 60 lines), together with a commentary of no more than 300 words. Open to adults aged 19+ from all over the world. Newcomers to poetry translation welcome!
£1000
💰 Fee: $13
Deadline: July 14, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestOxford Poetry Magazine
Oxford Poetry hosts the annual Oxford Poetry Prize, awarded for a single poem in the English language. The guest judge for 2023 is Will Harris.
£1000
2nd: £200 | 3rd: £100
💰 Fee: $13
Deadline: August 31, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestBooksie
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been covered extensively in the news lately with the release of Chat GPT and Google Bard. AI, long the subject material for science fiction is now becoming a reality. Will AI be a force for good for humanity, creating new products, medical breakthroughs, and helping us improve our standard of living? Or will it lead to a dystopian future where humanity is enslaved or even exterminated by new AI overlords? The goal of this contest to explore these potential themes in a short story that is no more than 1,500 words.
$300
2 runner-ups: $50
💰 Fee: $6
Deadline: October 15, 2023 (Expired)
Short Story
View contestInspiring Fiction
Inspiring Fiction’s first crime and speculative fiction short story contest is on the theme ‘Secrets’. The winner and shortlisted entries will be published in the fourth issue of Tangled Web Magazine.
£100
Publication
💰 Fee: $6
Deadline: July 31, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller
View contestSubmit a short story based on 1 of 5 weekly prompts. Winners get $250.