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About Reedsy Terms PrivacyThe Best Writing Contests of 2021
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Browse 101 contests that match your search 🔦
John Steinbeck Award for Fiction
Awarding one of the richest purses among literary magazines—$1,000 for the winning story—the John Steinbeck Award for Fiction recognizes exceptional works of fiction. Aesthetically, we are open to most styles and approaches. All works should be stand-alone short stories, not chapters of a longer work. Please limit prose submissions to 5,000 words.
Deadline November 01, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $20
Flash Fiction Writing Contest
Voice.club has a strong commitment to writers and writing. Our monthly Flash Fiction writing contests are a wonderful opportunity for writers to practice their craft, share their stories and win prizes! Each entry must be 350 words or less, be family-friendly, and include some reference to the month's theme.
Deadline December 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$50 Amazon gift-card
Additional prizes
$25 Amazon gift-card
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $0
The Saturday Evening Post Great American Fiction Contest
In its nearly two centuries of existence, The Saturday Evening Post has published short fiction by a who's who of great American authors, including Ray Bradbury, William Faulkner, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Now you have the opportunity to join our illustrious lineup by entering The Saturday Evening Post 's Annual Great American Fiction Contest. The winning story will be published in the January/February 2022 edition of The Saturday Evening Post, and the author will receive $1,000. Five runners-up will each receive $200 and will also have their stories featured online.
Deadline July 01, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in The Saturday Evening Post
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $10
"Matter" Anthology Poetry Contest
Oprelle's monthly poetry contest is for all of you out there who carry a scrappy notebook full of poems. Your soul is on that paper, and your words matter. Your poem, based on that month's theme, can be simple and uplifting, or complicated and metaphorical; any style works, if you follow the rules and write 14 or less lines. Oh, and make sure your poetry is 100% original. We will consider both published and unpublished poems.
Deadline December 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$200
Additional prizes
Publication in Matter Anthology
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $10
The Lascaux Prize in Creative Nonfiction
The Lascaux Prize in Creative Nonfiction opens 1 April. Creative nonfiction may include memoirs, chronicles, personal essays, humorous perspectives, literary journalism—anything the author has witnessed, experienced, learned, or discovered. Pieces may be previously published or unpublished, and simultaneous submissions are accepted. Winner receives $1,000 and a bronze medallion. Finalists receive $100. Winner and finalists are published in both the online and annual print editions of The Lascaux Review.
Deadline September 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in the Lascaux Review
Genres
Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $15
The Lascaux Prize in Short Fiction
Stories may be previously published or unpublished, and simultaneous submissions are accepted. Winner receives $1,000 and a bronze medallion. Finalists receive $100. Winner and finalists are published in both the online and annual print editions of The Lascaux Review.
Deadline December 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in The Lascaux Review
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $15
Dzanc Books Nonfiction Prize
The Dzanc Books Nonfiction Prize honors an innovative and inspiring long-form works of nonfiction.
Deadline September 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,500
Additional prizes
Publication by Dzanc Books
Genres
Non-fiction,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $25
The Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry
The Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry is awarded annually to an African poet who has not yet published a collection of poetry. Along with $1,000, the winner recives book publication through the University of Nebraska Press and Amalion Press in Senegal. Poetry manuscripts should be at least 50 pages long. [Submissions open September 15, 2021]
Deadline December 01, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Book publication through the University of Nebraska Press and Amalion Press in Senegal
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: FREE
Dzanc Books Prize for Fiction
The Dzanc Books Prize for Fiction recognizes daring, original, and innovative writing in novel form.
Deadline September 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$5,000
Additional prizes
Publication by Dzanc Books
Genres
Fiction, Novel,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $25
Dzanc Books Short Story Collection Competition
The Dzanc Books Short Story Collection Prize celebrates imaginative and inventive writing in the short form. The winning submission will be awarded a $2,500 advance and publication by Dzanc Books.
Deadline September 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$2,500
Additional prizes
Publication by Dzanc Books
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $25
The Larry Brown Short Story Award
We’re pleased to announce the sixth annual Larry Brown Short Story Award. The winners will receive the following prizes: 1st $500 USD, 2nd $50 USD, 3rd $50 USD, and 4th and 5th will receive a copy of the book Tiny Love: The Complete Stories by Larry Brown. Each prize winner will be published in the January 2022 issue of Pithead Chapel.
Deadline October 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$500
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $10
The Lascaux Prize in Flash Fiction
Stories may be previously published or unpublished, and simultaneous submissions are accepted. True stories and prose poetry are welcome as long as they’re written in a narrative style. 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 June 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $15
Inkitt's Writing Contest
Inkitt’s Writing Contests regularly give authors the opportunity to share their books with readers around the world and showcase their talents. Their monthly cash prizes give you the chance to win money and exclusive book badges for your writing! Each month one grand prize winner, and two runners up will be selected.
Deadline December 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$300
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: FREE
Red Hen Press Women's Prose Prize
Established in 2018, the Women’s Prose Prize is for previously unpublished, original work of prose. Novels, short story collections, memoirs, essay collections, and all other forms of prose writing are eligible for consideration. The awarded manuscript is selected through a biennial competition, held in even-numbered years, that is open to all writers who identify as women.
Deadline February 28, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication by Red Hen Press
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, Essay, Memoir, Novel,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $25
Fischer Prize
This annual award is open to poets of all ages living in the US. Deadline for submissions is August 31st, 2021.
Deadline August 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Attendance at Telluride Literary Arts Festival
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $10
Tom Howard Poetry Contest
$3,000 for a poem in any style or genre.
Deadline September 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$3,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $15
Margaret Reid Poetry Contest
$3,000 for a poem that rhymes or has a traditional style.
Deadline September 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$3,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $15
Rattle Poetry Prize
The annual Rattle Poetry Prize offers $15,000 for a single poem to be published in the winter issue of the magazine. Ten finalists will also receive $500 each and publication, and be eligible for the $5,000 Readers’ Choice Award, to be selected by subscriber and entrant vote.
Deadline July 15, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$15,000
Additional prizes
Published in the Winter 2020 issue of Rattle
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $25
Muriel Craft Bailey Poetry Contest
Here 's how it works: our editorial staff chooses approximately fifty to sixty finalists. The highest scoring finalists (25 or so) are considered Special Merit poems. Special Merit poems go to the judge. The judge determines the top three prize winners. The entire editorial staff then selects the Honorable Mentions from the remaining Special Merits.
Deadline July 15, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication by The Comstock Review
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $5
Red Hen Press Novella Award
Established in 2018, the Novella Award is for a previously unpublished, original work of fiction between 15,000 and 30,000 words. Beginning in 2021, the Novella Award will be held biennially in even-numbered years. The award will open for submissions on January 31, 2022.
Deadline July 31, 2022
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication by Red Hen Press
Genres
Fiction, Novel, Novella,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $25
Season Themes
HAVOK is a constant flash fiction contest, with rolling deadlines. Each season is split into monthly competitions with thematically connected prompts in a range of genres.
Deadline December 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$10
Additional prizes
Publication in an anthology. Potential for larger gift card wins.
Genres
Fantasy, Flash Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: FREE
Francine Ringold Awards for New Writers
The Francine Ringold Awards for New Writers honor the work of writers at the beginning of their careers. Open only to writers whose work has not appeared or is not scheduled to appear in more than 2 publications in the genre in which they are submitting.
Deadline July 15, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication in the Spring issue of Nimrod
Genres
Fiction, Poetry, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $12
SFPA Poetry Contest
Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association (SFPA)
The annual SFPA Speculative (Dwarf/Short/Long) Poetry Contest is open to all poets, including non-members of the SFPA. Awards will be given across 3 categories.
Deadline August 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$150
Additional prizes
Genres
Poetry, Fiction,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $3
Lune Spark Young Writers' Short Story Contest
Lune Spark's yearly contest aims to encourage children to engage in creating writing. Submit a story up to 1,500 words long for a chance to get published.
Deadline July 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication in paperback, hardback, ebook, and audiobook
Genres
Short Story, Young Adult,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $15
Drue Heinz Literature Prize
University of Pittsburgh Press
The Drue Heinz Literature Prize recognizes and supports writers of short fiction and makes their work available to readers around the world. The award is open to authors who have published a book-length collection of fiction or at least three short stories or novellas in commercial magazines or literary journals.
Deadline June 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$15,000
Additional prizes
Publication in University of Pittsburgh Press
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: FREE
Moment Magazine-Karma Foundation Short Fiction Contest
Moment Magazine is now accepting submissions for the 2021 contest. Moment will award up to three prizes to outstanding works of unpublished short fiction with Jewish content, including $1,000 for first place.
Deadline June 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in Moment Magazine
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $25
The Bath Spa University Writing Award
With the support of Jack and Audrey Ladevèze, the University has established an award for students studying for a Master’s in Creative Writing, Travel and Nature Writing or Writing for Young People. Each year the Award will be made to a student who has demonstrated outstanding talent in writing and for whom this award will make a significant difference in enabling them to further their studies at a Master’s level.
Deadline September 16, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,360
Additional prizes
Genres
Essay,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: FREE
Red Hen Press Fiction Award
The Red Hen Fiction Award is for a fresh and original story of fiction with a minimum of 150 pages. The awarded manuscript is selected through an annual submission process which is open to all authors. Award is $1000 and publication of the awarded manuscript by Red Hen Press.
Deadline September 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication by Red Hen Press
Genres
Fiction, Novel,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $25
North Street Book Prize
One grand prize winner will receive $5,000, a marketing analysis and one-hour phone consultation with Carolyn Howard-Johnson, a $300 credit at BookBaby, and 3 free ads in the Winning Writers newsletter (a $525 value). Please submit between February 15 and June 30, 2021.
Deadline June 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$5,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $65
The Breakwater Fiction Contest
We are seeking submissions for pieces that breathe freshness to the form. We are interested in previously unpublished prose ranging from 1,000 - 4,000 words.
Deadline December 01, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $10
#GWstorieseverywhere
Each month we invite you to post a story on Twitter using #GWstorieseverywhere for a chance to win a free class. Your story must be no longer than 25 words, with a max of 280 characters, including spaces and the hashtag #GWstorieseverywhere.
Deadline December 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
Gotham Writers Workshop
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $0
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