The Best Writing Contests of 2022
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
The Masters Review
Summer is for Short Stories! The Masters Review’s Short Story Award for New Writers is a bi-annual contest that recognizes the best fiction from today’s emerging writers. The winner receives a $3,000 prize and agency review, and their story will be published online in late winter/early spring. Second and third place finalists will be awarded publication, agency review and $300/$200 prizes. Entries must be under 6,000 words.
$3,000
Second and third place prizes ($300 / $200, publication, and agency review)
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: August 28, 2022
Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestGrindstone Literary
The 2022 Grindstone International Novel Prize is open to authors from all around the world, and is aimed at discovering and elevating new and unsung authors. Authors may submit finished or part-finished manuscripts providing they are not currently represented by an agent. We forward all longlisted works to some of the best agencies in the UK such as Curtis Brown Books, Conville and Walsh, Janklow & Nesbitt, the Paper Literary Agency, the Good Literary Agency, and so many more.
£1,000
Runner Up: £500 | 4x Shortlist: £125 | Longlist: Entries forwarded to affiliated agents.
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: October 01, 2022
Crime, Mystery, Novel, Thriller
View contestKiller Nashville
Created in 2009, the Killer Nashville Claymore Award assists new and rebranding English-language fiction authors to get published, including possible agent representation, book advances, editor deals, and movie and television sales. The contest is limited to only the first 50 double-spaced pages of unpublished English-language manuscripts containing elements of thriller, mystery, crime, or suspense NOT currently under contract.
Possible contract with Mystery Writers of America
💰 Fee: $40
Deadline: April 01, 2023
Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Novel, Science Fiction, Thriller
View contestRattle Foundation
Rattle is a publication of the Rattle Foundation, an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the practice of poetry, and is not affiliated with any other organization. The author of the poem must have been age 15 or younger when the poem was written, and 18 or younger when submitted.
Publication in Rattle Magazine
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: November 15, 2022
Children's, Poetry
View contestMiami University
The Miami University Novella Prize is awarded annually to a novella-length manuscript of original fiction (18,000–40,000 words). The winner receives $750, a standard contract, publication and 10 copies of the book.
$750
Publication through the University of Miami Press
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: August 30, 2022
Fiction, Novella
View contestUniversity of North Texas Press
The University of North Texas Press announces the 2023 Katherine Anne Porter Prize in Short Fiction. The winner of this annual award will receive $1000 and publication by UNT Press. Entries will be judged by an eminent writer.
$1,000
Publication by UNT Press
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: June 30, 2022 (Expired)
Flash Fiction, Novella, 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 contestLynx House Press
The annual Blue Lynx Prize for Poetry awards $2000 plus publication for a full-length poetry collection. The Prize is awarded for an unpublished, full-length volume of poems by a U.S. author, which includes foreign nationals living and writing in the U.S. and U.S. citizens living abroad.
$2,000
Publication
💰 Fee: $28
Deadline: July 16, 2022 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestClaremont Graduate University
The Kate Tufts Discovery Award was created in 1994, a year after the inception of the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. It is presented to a first book by a poet of genuine promise. The Kate Tufts Discovery Award offers a hefty prize of $10,000. The work submitted must be a first book of poetry published between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. Manuscripts, CDs, and chapbooks are not accepted.
$10,000
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: June 30, 2022 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestTufts Poetry Awards
Kate Tufts established the $50,000 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award at Claremont Graduate University in 1992. As Kate Tufts observed, these awards are intended “to give a poet a little breathing room and a little recognition.” The legacy created with the Kingsley & Kate Tufts Poetry Awards will continue to inspire countless generations of poets and lovers of poetry.
$100,000
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: June 30, 2022 (Expired)
Poetry
View contestLee & Low Books
The New Voices Award is given annually by children's book publisher Lee & Low Books for a children’s picture book manuscript by a writer of color or Indigenous/Native writer. Established in 2000, the New Voices Award encourages writers of color and Indigenous/Native writers to submit their work to a publisher that takes pride in nurturing new talent.
$2,000
A standard Lee & Low publishing contract | Honor Award winner: $1,000
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: August 01, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestGlobe Soup
We’re looking for the best SHORT STORY of no more than 8,000 words. There is no theme for this competition. Your story can be written in any genre or style, but it must be fiction.
£1500
💰 Fee: $7
Deadline: August 23, 2022
Short Story
View contestCreative Writing Matters
The competition is for stories of up to five thousand words on any theme. We are delighted that Sunday Times Bestselling author, Trisha Ashley is once again offering an award. This year she has asked us for a selection of 'engaging and quirky' stories to choose from.
£500
2nd Prize: £250 | 3rd Prize: £150 | Trisha Ashley Award: £200
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: August 31, 2022
Fiction, Short Story
View contestMoment Magazine
The Moment Magazine-Karma Foundation Short Fiction Contest encourages writers to unpublished short fiction related to Judaism or Jewish culture or history. Established in 2000, judges and special guests for this international annual contest have included Joyce Carol Oates, Robert Pinsky, Walter Mosley, Nicole Krauss, Erica Jong, Jonathan Safran Foer, Geraldine Brooks, Andre Aciman and Dara Horn.
$1,000
Publication in Moment Magazine
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: August 15, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Short Story
View contestRadix Media
The Megaphone Prize by Radix Media is dedicated to publishing timely and interrogative work by debut writers of color. This year, the prize is open to short story collections. Deesha Philyaw, author of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, will judge and choose the winning manuscript.
$1,000
Publication, 20 author copies
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: October 15, 2022
Fiction, Short Story
View contestTexas Review Press
Established in 1998, The X. J. Kennedy Prize highlights one full-length collection of poetry per year. Since 2019 the Prize comes with a $10,000 advance, a standard royalty contract, and 20 copies of the published book.
$10,000 advance
Royalty contract with TRP, publication, 20 author copies
💰 Fee: $28
Deadline: September 30, 2022
Poetry
View contestFiction Factory
This is a bi-annual competition. We welcome stories on any theme. The maximum wordcount is 3,000.
£300
£100, £50
💰 Fee: $8
Deadline: October 31, 2022
Fiction, Short Story
View contestRed Hen Press
Established in 1998, in honor of the poet Benjamin Saltman (1927–1999), this award is for a previously unpublished original collection of poetry. The awarded collection is selected through an annual competition that is open to all poets.
$3,000
Book publication by Red Hen Press, a four-week PLAYA residency
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: October 31, 2022
Poetry
View contestBath Flash Fiction Award
The goal of the Novella-in-Flash Award is to promote flash fiction for both writers and readers and to bring the genre to a wider audience. There is a 6000 to 18000 word limit and each flash (or chapter) should not be more than about 1000 words.
£300
£100 for two runners-up, publication
💰 Fee: $19
Deadline: January 15, 2023
Novel, Short Story, Novella
View contestIndieReader
Where talented authors meet publishing professionals with the power to make a difference in the success of their books. Every author who enters a title in the IR Discovery Awards will receive a verdict, written by an IndieReader reviewer and based on their assessment after reading the complete book.
First look consideration by a top, NYC-based literary agency
$500, publicist consultation service, Reedsy credit, custom author website
💰 Fee: $150
Deadline: February 15, 2023
Fiction, Non-fiction, Novel
View contestGlobe Soup
Register now for our next 7-day story writing challenge. A secret theme, a randomly assigned genre and just 7 days to write a story of no more than 2,000 words. Our 7 day story writing challenges take place throughout the year. The challenges are free and you can even get feedback on your story. Take part in one challenge or take part in all of them!
£500
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: December 31, 2022
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
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: $30
Deadline: August 31, 2022
Poetry
View contestOvacome
The theme is ‘connected’ and this can be interpreted however the writer chooses. The finalists will be judged by Call the Midwife stars Jenny Agutter and Stephen McGann. Entries cost £5 and all proceeds from the competition will help Ovacome to support anyone affected by ovarian cancer and raise awareness of the signs and symptoms.
£250
Runner up receives a £50 Waterstones voucher and the winner gets published on the Ovacome website
💰 Fee: $7
Deadline: August 31, 2022
Short Story
View contesthttps://www.reedmag.org/gabriele-rico-challenge-for-nonfict
The Gabriele Rico Challenge for Nonfiction recognizes outstanding works of nonfiction. We are looking for creative nonfiction, such as personal essays or narratives, not scholarly papers or book reviews. All works should be stand-alone essays, not chapters of a longer work. Please limit prose submissions to 5,000 words.
$1,333
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: November 01, 2022
Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestThe Day
The Celebration Day Competition gets children to connect with the oldest person they know and interview them about the person who inspired them most growing up. They will retell the story in a creative way to win their work being read out on camera by a star-studded collection of celebrity guests, an iPad, and a £100 Amazon voucher. You must be aged between five and 18 to enter the competition, or be a teacher, and can live anywhere in the world.
£100 Amazon Voucher
Celebrities reading out winning entries, publication on website.
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: June 21, 2022 (Expired)
Children's
View contestWinning Writers
One grand prize winner will receive $8,000, 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, 2022.
$8,000
💰 Fee: $70
Deadline: June 30, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry
View contestCaledonia Novel Award
Now in our ninth year of competition, we are an Edinburgh-based, international award for unpublished and self-published novelists in all genres for adults and YA. This year's judge is Charlotte Seymour, literary agent at Johnson & Alcock. On top of the £1,500 top prize, the best entry from the UK and Ireland will receive a place on a writing course at Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre.
£1, 500
Free place on a writing course at Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre.
💰 Fee: $30
Deadline: November 01, 2022
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novel, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult, Romance, Suspense
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 contestInterAct Stroke Support
InterAct Stroke Support is a UK charity dedicated to supporting stroke recovery by using professional actors to deliver hospital readings and community projects. InterAct's competition asks writers to write a piece in any genre in no more than 1000 words. Stories must be suitable to be read in the sensitive environment of a hospital setting.
$1,000
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: December 02, 2019 (Expired)
Fiction, Short Story
View contestWine Country Writers' Festival
Fire up those pens and get those unpublished stories and poems submitted to WCWF 2nd Annual Writing Contest. Three winners in each category, publication in Anthology, and your own copy. Entries: $15 or two for $25. See the contest rules and enter now. Blind Judging.
$150
Publication in an anthology
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: July 29, 2022 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestMemoir Writing Ink
Original, unpublished works of memoir writing to a maximum of 2000 words are accepted. Submission guidelines are available on our website: www.amyaward.com. Winner receives $1000, plus an additional $1000 off a Mindful Memoir Writing Retreat in southern France with award-winning author, playwright, and writing coach Alison Wearing. Shortlisted stories will be published in the annual Amy Award Anthology and featured in the Memoir Writing Ink program. This award has been 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.
$1,000
$1,000 US towards a Mindful Memoir Writing Retreat in Southern France with award-winning author, playwright, and writing coach, Alison Wearing
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: June 21, 2022 (Expired)
Memoir
View contestLiterary Taxidermy Short Story Competition
The Literary Taxidermy Writing Competition invites writers to create original stories and poems using the opening and closing lines of classic works of literature. In previous years, participants have tackled works by Lewis Carroll, Dorothy Parker, and Dashiell Hammett, crafting stories and poems in every genre, from science fiction to meta-fiction, and from sonnets to free verse. For its fifth year, in addition to monetary prizes and publication, the competition offers personal feedback for all honorable mentions. The competition is also a fundraiser for Ukraine. Sarah Waits, one of the competition editors, says, "We're a small organization, but we believe we can make a difference in the world.” Learn more about the 2022 Literary Taxidermy Writing Competition on our website: www.literarytaxidermy.com. Take the creative challenge—and join the fun! The competition begins on May 1st. We can’t wait to see what you stitch together!
$500
Publication in 2019 Anthology of Literary Taxidermy
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: July 11, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Short Story
View contestTales
Can’t decide between the headstrong alpha or the hunky omega? Us either. We’re seeking stories featuring steamy werewolf romance, perfect for reading under a full moon. Whether you’re Team Jacob Black or Team Alcide Herveaux…we’re all Team Awoooo. Works up to 3,000 words will be considered.
$600
2nd place: $300; 3rd place: $100
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: May 31, 2022 (Expired)
Fantasy, Fiction, Short Story, Thriller
View contestElegantLiterature.com
We help new talent go pro, award life-changing prize money, and promote fiction writers worldwide. Each month we hold a contest based on a short fiction prompt. You write a wonderful story and enter the contest. We choose the winner who receives the grand prize. We also choose the best stories, pay the authors above-professional rates, and publish them in our magazine. Anyone can submit work to the magazine for free, but you must be an Elegant+ Member to enter the contests and win prizes. Membership is $10/month.
$3000 USD + $0.10/word for publication
Publication in online monthly magazine
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: May 31, 2022 (Expired)
Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestThe National Poetry Series
Miami Book Fair will award one $2,000 prize every other year for the publication of a previously unpublished book of poetry originally written in Spanish by an American resident. The prize will recognize book-length manuscripts of poetry written in Spanish. Translations, works of literary criticism and scholarly texts do not qualify. The next Paz Prize competition will open in May, 2020.
$2,000
💰 Fee: $35
Deadline: May 31, 2022 (Expired)
Poetry
View contest