The Best Writing Contests of 2023
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Meadowlark Books
Meadowlark Books created The Birdy Poetry Prize to celebrate the voices of this era. The prize is $1,000 cash and publication by Meadowlark Books, including 50 copies of the completed book. All entries will be considered for standard Meadowlark Books publishing contract offers, as well.
$1,000
Publication by Meadowlark Books
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: December 01, 2021 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestLambda Literary
Lambda Literary Awards celebrate the best LGBTQ books published in a given year. Submissions are judged principally on literary merit and content relevant to LGBTQ lives. Lambda Literary Awards are open to all authors regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity except in the case of the special awards that mark specific stages of an individual LGBTQ writer’s career.
Award
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: December 01, 2021 (Expired)
Fiction, LGBTQ, Novel
View contestRomance Writers of America
The VIVIAN® recognizes excellence in romance writing and showcases author talent and creativity. We celebrate the power of the romance genre with its central message of hope—because happily ever afters are for everyone.
Award
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: December 04, 2021 (Expired)
Romance
View contestNowhere Magazine
We are looking for novice and veteran writers of any stripe to send us stories that possess a powerful sense of people, place and time. Every submission will be read blind, so anyone can win!
$1,000
Publication in Nowhere Magazine
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: December 15, 2021 (Expired)
Travel
View contestNowhere Magazine
We are looking for young, old, novice and veteran writers to send us stories that possess a powerful sense of place. Stories can be fiction, nonfiction, poetry or essay.
$1,000
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: December 15, 2021 (Expired)
Essay, Non-fiction, Poetry, Fiction
View contestMystery Writers of America & Minotaur Books
MWA is the premier organization for mystery and crime writers, professionals allied to the crime-writing field, aspiring crime writers, and folks who just love to read crime fiction. To enter, you must complete an online entry form and upload an electronic file of your Manuscript. The entry form will allow you to upload one electronic file.
Advance against future royalties of $10,000 & publishing contract
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: December 17, 2021 (Expired)
Crime, Mystery, Novel
View contestDo Wha(TS) Write
Contest entries should be flash fiction or short stories, with an absolute word limit of 1000 words. There is no required prompt or topic. Write whatever you'd like! We want to see you get creative!
$200 (CAD)
💰 Fee: $2
Deadline: December 31, 2021 (Expired)
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestCreatd
Enter themed storytelling contests to put your creativity to the test and be in with a chance of winning cash prizes and more. To submit, you'll need to sign up for a monthly fee of $9.99, or $4.99/month for 3 months.
$1,000 — $5,000
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: December 31, 2021 (Expired)
Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestOprelle
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.
$200
Publication in Matter Anthology
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: December 31, 2021 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestThe Lascaux Review
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.
$1,000
Publication in The Lascaux Review
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: December 31, 2021 (Expired)
Fiction, Short Story
View contestGlobe Soup
Globe Soup are looking for the best flash fiction of no more than 800 words. The competition features a secret location in which all participants must set their story. Participants can get extensive feedback on their entry by joining Globe Soup's writing group and free entry to their monthly micro fiction contests and other opportunities to win cash prizes!
£1000
💰 Fee: $16
Deadline: December 31, 2021 (Expired)
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestSt. Martin's Press and Western Writers of America
Sponsored by St. Martin's Press and Western Writers of America, the Tony Hillerman Prize is awarded annually for the best first mystery set in the Southwest. The winner receives a contract with St. Martin's Press for publication of the novel and $10,000.
$10,000
Publication
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: January 01, 2022 (Expired)
Crime, Fiction
View contestCreative Writing Matters
We accept the first ten thousand words including synopsis of a novel that has not been accepted for publication by a traditional publishing house. We are delighted to welcome Kate Nash of the Kate Nash Literary Agency as our final judge.
£500
💰 Fee: $23
Deadline: January 01, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Novel
View contestMinotaur Books
Welcome to the Tony Hillerman Prize for Best First Mystery Set in the Southwest Competition! Please read all of the rules and guidelines before submitting your entry. You can find the complete rules and guidelines on our website.
$10,000 advance
Contract with Minotaur Books
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: January 01, 2022 (Expired)
Mystery, Novel
View contestNational Youth Foundation
Founded by Black women with a vision for change, the mission of the National Youth Foundation is to promote diversity, inclusion and gender equality through innovative literary programs. To honor the vast accomplishments of women in the United States, the National Youth Foundation is pleased to announce the Amazing Women’s Edition (AWE) competition. This writing contest is open to students in grades K to 8 residing in the United States.
$500
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: January 07, 2022 (Expired)
Children's
View contestBlue Ridge Mountains Conference
The Selah Awards are open to all published authors whose books were published between December 16, 2020 and December 15, 2021 with either traditional or nontraditional publishers.
Award
💰 Fee: $45
Deadline: January 15, 2022 (Expired)
Christian
View contestScholastic
We celebrate creative teens locally and nationally with awards, exhibitions, publications, and scholarships. Entry fees are $7 per individual entry and $25 per portfolio. If the entry fee is a barrier to your participation in the Awards, we will waive the fee when you submit a Fee Waiver Form.
Eligibility for regional & national awards
💰 Fee: $7
Deadline: January 15, 2022 (Expired)
View contest
Virginia Romance Writers
The Virginia Romance Writers Chapter of the Romance Writers of America® is pleased to announce the 27th Annual HOLT Medallion competition for the best romantic fiction. Entries must be a single work of romance fiction, with an original copyright date (not a release date) of January-December 2021 regardless of format (e-book or print).
Certificate and a pewter HOLT medallion
💰 Fee: $30
Deadline: January 15, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Romance
View contestPrism
Winter means one thing around these parts: our annual Jacob Zilber Prize for Short Fiction is now open for submissions! The prize is named for Jacob Zilber, who played a central role founding the University of British Columbia’s department of creative writing, (the very first of its kind in Canada) and PRISM international (us!).
$1,500
$600, $400
💰 Fee: $40
Deadline: January 16, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestEdward Stanford
In 1853 Edward Stanford established his map-making business in the heart of London and at the height of the British Empire. Over 160 years later, the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards exist to celebrate this most exciting of genres and encourage more travellers to put down their selfie-sticks and pick up their notebooks.
£2500
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: January 16, 2022 (Expired)
Travel
View contestWriter's Digest
We’re looking for short fiction stories! Think you can write a winning story in 1,500 words or less? Enter the 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition for your chance to win $3,000 in cash, get published in Writer’s Digest magazine, and a paid trip to our ever-popular Writer’s Digest Conference! One 1st Place Winner will receive: $3,000 in cash, their short story title published in Writer’s Digest magazine’s September/October 2022 issue, a paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, including a coveted Pitch Slam slot The 2nd Place Winner will receive: $1,500 in cash, their short story title published in Writer’s Digest magazine’s September/October 2022 issue The 3rd Place Winner will receive: $500 in cash, their short story title published in Writer’s Digest magazine’s September/October 2022 issue 4th - 10th Place Winners will receive: $100 in cash, their short story titles published in Writer’s Digest magazine’s September/October 2022 issue 11th - 25th Place Winners will receive: A $50 gift certificate for writersdigestshop.com
$3,000
💰 Fee: $30
Deadline: January 17, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Flash Fiction
View contestCricket Magazine
’Tis winter, and the cold wind doth blow. But it can be fun to frolic in the ice and snow. So, bundle up! For our January contest, everybuggy would love to read your best wintry tale. Welcome to an opportunity to get published in Cricket Magazine! Your contest entry must be your very own original work. Ideas and words should not be copied. Your entry must be signed by your parent or guardian, stating that it is your own work, that no help was given, and that Cricket has permission to publish it in the magazine and on our website.
Publication in Cricket Magazine
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: January 25, 2022 (Expired)
Children's, Short Story
View contestChristian Writers' Association
To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of ACW we are launching the Go for Gold Writing Competition with superlative prizes, including a free residential place at Worth Our Weight in Gold weekend and a year’s free membership of ACW.
Free residential place at Worth Our Weight in Gold weekend
A year’s free membership of ACW
💰 Fee: $13
Deadline: January 31, 2022 (Expired)
Christian
View contestInkitt
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.
$300
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: January 31, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction
View contestSan Antonio Writers Guild
Preliminary judging by trained SAWG members, final judging by successful professional writers or university-level writing instructors who specialize in the entries’ genres. Every entrant can obtain his/her preliminary and final score sheets. Genre winners (1st, 2nd, 3rd place) may correspond with their final judges. This is SAWG's 29th contest.
1st: $100; 2nd: $50; 3rd: $25 US
Membership, list on website and FB, winner sticker
💰 Fee: $35
Deadline: January 31, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestStockholm Writers Festival
SWF is proud to launch the First 5 Pages Prize to mark our 5th anniversary. Dazzle us with your brilliance. Delight us with your wit. Deceive us with your dastardly plot-twists. There will be one Grand Prize winner chosen from all entries. The winner will receive: $1000 cash, a ticket to SWF22, a pitch meeting with an agent conducted over Zoom, two night’s accommodation at a boutique hotel, and a full developmental edit donated by Reedsy, the industry’s leading platform for writing services.
$1,000
A full developmental edit donated by Reedsy & pitch meeting with an agent
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: January 31, 2022 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestHAVOK Publishing
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.
$100
Publication in an anthology. Potential for larger gift card wins.
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: January 31, 2022 (Expired)
Fantasy, Flash Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller
View contestLumiere Review
The Lumiere Review is back with our annual Writing Contest! We accept both poems and prose (fiction, nonfiction) from all writers. That said, we particularly encourage emerging writers, as well as those who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA, disabled, or other marginalized groups to submit to our contest. We will actively promote writers with these backgrounds.
$100
Publication in Lumiere Magazine
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: January 31, 2022 (Expired)
LGBTQ, Poetry, Short Story
View contestCave Canem
Launched in 1999 with Rita Dove 's selection of Natasha Trethewey 's Domestic Work, this first-book award is dedicated to the discovery of exceptional manuscripts by black poets of African descent. Manuscripts should be 48-75 pages in length.
$1,000
Publication by University of Pittsburgh Press
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: January 31, 2022 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestGotham Writers
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.
Gotham Writers Workshop
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: January 31, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Flash Fiction
View contestRuminate Magazine
A prize of $1,500 and publication in Ruminate is given annually for a short story. Using only the online submission system, submit a story of up to 5,500 words with a $20 entry fee, which includes a digital copy of the prize issue, by February 1.
$1,500
Publication in Ruminate
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: February 01, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Short Story
View contestMichigan State University
The Wheelbarrow Books Poetry Prize is a biannual poetry contest, awarding $1,000 and book publication to one established poet, and one new poet annually. Submissions are now open to authors of at least one full-length collection of poetry.
$1,000
Book publication
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: February 01, 2022 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestUniversity of Southern Indiana
A prize of $3,000 and publication by SIR Press is awarded annually for a collection of poetry written in English. Michael Waters will judge. Submit up at least 40 and no more than 100 pages of poetry to be considered.
$5,000
Publication by SIR Press
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: February 01, 2022 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestAccenti Magazine
The Accenti Writing Contest is inviting submissions for original and unpublished prose under 2,000 words. $1000 and publication is awarded to the winner.
$1000 (CDN)
$100 (CDN) for three runners-up
💰 Fee: $30
Deadline: February 07, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestCreate the Future
Create The Future is running a free global writing competition to help us imagine a better earth for all. All winning entries will be published in a global anthology alongside experts and changemakers. We’d like you to answer the question “What does a sustainable future look like to you? What happens when we dare to dream?” Submissions are open for short fiction (up to 2,000 words) and poetry (up to 40 lines).
£50
Eco lifestyle bundles and publication in global anthology
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: February 13, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contest