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DIRECTORY

Best Writing Contests in 2025

Showing 400 contests that match your search.

New England Readers' Choice Awards

New England Romance Writers

Genres: Romance and Fiction

The contest recognizes excellence in published romance fiction and is judged by fans, including librarians and booksellers. The grand prize includes coaching from Jeannie Moon, and winners will receive a web badge and printed certificate.

Top Prize:

Two hours of Story & Character Development Coaching by Jeannie Moon; web badge and printed award certificate for winners.

Additional prizes:

Web badge and printed certificate for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each category.

💰 Entry fee: $30

📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025 (Expired)

The Caledonia Novel Award

Alice Lutyens, literary agent at Curtis Brown

Genres: Fiction, Novel, and Young Adult

The Caledonia Novel Award aims to support unpublished and self-published novelists across all genres for adults and young adults. The 2025 competition encourages diverse submissions, offering significant prizes to help cultivate new talent.

Top Prize:

$1,500

Additional prizes:

Exclusive framed award designed by Edinburgh artist Lucy Roscoe. Highly Commended prize: £500 Special prize: a free place on a writing course at Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre

💰 Entry fee: $28

📅 Deadline: October 15, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction, Short Story, and Flash Fiction

The contest invites submissions of inspiring and uplifting stories, aiming to highlight the benefits of writing amidst global issues. Each story can be up to 5,000 characters (about 1,000 words). Winners are determined by writing quality and community votes.

Top Prize:

$300

Additional prizes:

Five runners-up will receive $100 each

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2025 (Expired)

Great American Think-Off

New York Mills Regional Cultural Center

Genres: Essay and Non-fiction

The Great American Think-Off is an annual philosophical essay contest that invites participants to submit essays on significant questions of life. The contest culminates in a live debate where finalists present their arguments, and the audience votes on the best perspective.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

Four cash prizes of $500 each for finalists.

📅 Deadline: April 01, 2024 (Expired)

100 Word Writing Contest

Tadpole Press

Genres: Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult, Children's, Poetry, Romance, Short Story, Suspense, and Travel

The 100 Word Writing Contest is an international contest hosted by Tadpole Press that encourages creativity across all genres. It welcomes entries from writers of all ages and backgrounds, aiming to diversify literature and promote unique narratives.

Top Prize:

$2,000

Additional prizes:

Publishing and marketing package

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2025 (Expired)

The Raven Short Story Contest

Pulp Literature Press

Genres: Fiction

The Raven Short Story Contest invites submissions of previously unpublished short fiction between 250 to 2500 words. The contest is judged by Kelly Robson, a renowned author.

Top Prize:

$300

Additional prizes:

Publication in Pulp Literature

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: October 15, 2025

The Rooker Prize

Lewes FC

Genres: Fiction

Entrants need only write the first 250 words of their novel/story/memoir, and are judged on how much the judges want to read the rest of the story.

Top Prize:

£250 to a charity of your choice

Additional prizes:

Feedback/coaching session with an experienced editor at Hachette UK, plus a wooden trophy.

💰 Entry fee: $50

📅 Deadline: April 05, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

The Letter Review Prize for Poetry is a competitive opportunity for poets, offering a prize pool every three months. It promotes diverse poetic expression, with no restrictions on subject or style. Winners are published and considered for prestigious anthologies.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Publication by The Letter Review. Up to 20 writers are shortlisted.

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Flash Fiction

The Flash Fiction Competition challenges participants to submit a story of no more than 100 words. This year's theme requires the inclusion of specific terms related to 'tip'.

Top Prize:

$60

Additional prizes:

2nd prize: £30 3rd prize: £20

💰 Entry fee: $3

📅 Deadline: September 08, 2024 (Expired)

The Book of the Year Awards

The Independent Author Network

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

The 11th Annual IAN Book of the Year Awards is an international contest open to all authors with 75 fiction and non-fiction categories. Winners share cash prizes totaling $6,000, including a Grand Prize of $2,500.

Top Prize:

$2,500

Additional prizes:

Minimum cash prizes of $1,000, $500, and $250 for first, second, and third places in each category respectively

💰 Entry fee: $49

📅 Deadline: August 16, 2025

Genres: Script Writing

The Scriptation Showcase offers a competitive platform for screenwriters, featuring their scripts to industry professionals. The competition includes two main categories: Screenplay and Short Script, with professional readers analyzing submissions.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

1 Year Scriptation Showcase, 1 year industry pro access

💰 Entry fee: $64

📅 Deadline: July 20, 2025

$1000 for 1000 Words Contest

The Layla Beban Young Authors

Genres: Children's and Short Story

The contest invites students in grades 6-12 to submit a piece of short fiction exactly 1000 words long. There are no specific themes, but entries should be original and not previously published. The contest aims to encourage young authors to tell significant stories.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Seven $100 cash prizes for runners-up

📅 Deadline: February 01, 2025 (Expired)

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)

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

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

The competition features an open theme and includes four categories: Fiction, Flash Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction, and Poetry. Each category has a defined maximum word count. Winners will be acknowledged at the festival and have the opportunity to read their entries.

Top Prize:

£75

Additional prizes:

£75 for first prize in each category, plus the opportunity to read the winning entry at the festival. £25 for commended entries in each category.

💰 Entry fee: $4

📅 Deadline: March 28, 2025 (Expired)

Bacopa Literary Review Annual Writing Contest

Writers Alliance of Gainesville

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

The Bacopa Literary Review is an annual international print journal seeking engaging and original submissions across multiple genres. The contest includes various categories with specific guidelines to encourage diverse forms of writing.

Top Prize:

$200

Additional prizes:

$100 Honorable Mention in each of six categories

📅 Deadline: May 02, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction and Horror

This contest invites writers to create an audio series focusing on horror themes. Works must be original, with a minimum of 100k words completed by the deadline. Various horror genres, including supernatural and psychological horror, are encouraged.

Top Prize:

$1,500

Additional prizes:

2nd: $1500 | 3rd: $1000 | Each winner receives a certificate and social media promotion

📅 Deadline: June 15, 2025

Romance Through The Ages Contest — Published

Hearts Through History Romance Writers

Genres: Fiction and Romance

This contest focuses on historical romance, aiming to promote both published and unpublished authors. It accepts entries that are historical in nature and emphasizes the romance element central to the narrative. The contest has several categories based on historical time periods.

Top Prize:

$50

Additional prizes:

1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each category receive a social media badge. All winners will be announced in RWA’s digital Romance Writers Report.

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: May 31, 2025

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

Principal Foundation has launched the second edition of its national short story contest, Money Chronicles: A Story Initiative. Hosted in collaboration with The Center for Fiction and Short Édition, the contest invites adults ages 18 and up to submit imaginative short stories that reflect lived experiences with money now through October 2, 2024.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Up to 20 finalists will receive $150.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: October 02, 2024 (Expired)

Poetry International Prize 2024

Poetry International

Genres: Poetry

The Poetry International Prize is an annual contest to award a cash prize of $1000 and publication for a single poem of any length. Submissions are accepted via Submittable and all entries are considered for publication.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Publication in Poetry International

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024 (Expired)

GWG Literary Prize 2025

Geneva Writers Group

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry

The GWG Literary Prize 2025 invites writers to explore hope and resilience through candid writing. Categories include fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry, all reflecting the theme of hope.

Top Prize:

$100

Additional prizes:

1st: 100CHF, 2nd: 50CHF, 3rd: 25CHF. Each winner and runner-up also receives 1 free workshop each.

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: March 03, 2025 (Expired)

Great American Fiction Contest

Saturday Evening Post

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

The Great American Fiction Contest celebrates the legacy of American authors through the submission of original short stories. The winning entry will be published in the January/February edition of the magazine.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

The winning story will be published in The Saturday Evening Post. Five runners-up will each receive $200 and have their stories featured online.

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: July 01, 2024 (Expired)

Open Prize

National Poetry Series

Genres: Poetry

The NPS Open Competition invites submissions of book-length poetry manuscripts from U.S. residents and American citizens abroad. Winners receive cash prizes and publication.

Top Prize:

$10,000

Additional prizes:

Publication of a full-length manuscript by a participating publisher.

💰 Entry fee: $35

📅 Deadline: March 21, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult

The Colorado Gold Rush Literary Awards Contest is aimed at unpublished writers of novel-length fiction, offering feedback and exposure to literary agents and editors. It encourages diverse voices and celebrates various genres.

Top Prize:

$150

Additional prizes:

Winner receives official certificate, trophy, and reading during the conference luncheon. Three finalists receive $50, certificate, and pitch session with agents.

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: May 01, 2024 (Expired)

Oxford Poetry Prize

Partus Press Ltd

Genres: Poetry

The Oxford Poetry Prize is an annual competition for a single poem in English. The guest judge this year is Rebecca Tamás.

Top Prize:

£1000

Additional prizes:

Second: £200 Third: £100 Publication offered to all winning poets.

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: August 31, 2025

2025 Book Prize

Unleash Press

Genres: Fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, and Short Story

The 2025 Book Prize awards a winning manuscript with a $1,000 advance and a standard contract from Unleash Press. Accepts novels, poetry collections, short story collections, and creative nonfiction. The competition is open now until December 1, 2024.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Standard publishing contract for the winner. Finalists will be considered for publication.

💰 Entry fee: $35

📅 Deadline: July 15, 2025

Genres: Poetry

The TCK Publishing Poetry Awards Contest is an international poetry contest established in 2021. The contest invites writers from all backgrounds to submit poems. The winner receives a $1,000 honorarium and publication on the TCK Publishing website.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Publication on TCK Website

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2025

AWP Prize for Creative Nonfiction

Association of Writers & Writing Programs

Genres: Non-fiction

AWP sponsors the Award Series, an annual competition for the publication of excellent new book-length works. The competition is open to all authors writing in English regardless of nationality or residence, and is available to published and unpublished authors alike.

Top Prize:

$2,500

Additional prizes:

Publication by the University of Georgia Press

💰 Entry fee: $30

📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025 (Expired)

The Fountain Essay Contest

Fountain Magazine

Genres: Essay and Non-fiction

“Home” holds a special place in our lives. Our earliest memories form inside its walls; we utter our first words and take our first steps there. Does everyone feel the same about home? Is it where you were born or where you earn your bread? Is home a physical place? In a world that moves faster than ever and is confined to small screens, how do perceptions about "home" change? Where is home for people who are forced to leave their homes? Where is your home?

Top Prize:

$1,000

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Mystery and Short Story

An annual international competition for unpublished short mystery stories up to 3,500 words. The competition seeks to find the best story that aligns with Margery Allingham's definition of a mystery.

Top Prize:

£500

Additional prizes:

Potential publication on the CWA website + in the Margery Allingham Society journal

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025 (Expired)

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

Genres: Short Story

An annual short story competition dedicated to Seán Ó Faoláin, one of Ireland’s notable story writers. The competition is open to original, unpublished, and unbroadcast short stories in English.

Top Prize:

$2,000

Additional prizes:

2nd Place: €500 Four runners-up: €300 Publication in Southword for all

💰 Entry fee: $19

📅 Deadline: July 31, 2024 (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

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction, and Short Story

The Parsec Short Story Contest aims to encourage non-professional writers to explore speculative fiction in genres like science fiction, fantasy, and horror. The theme for 2025 is 'ROOTS', and submissions should relate to this theme. The contest has no entry fee and supports young writers through a special Youth Story Prize.

Top Prize:

$200

Additional prizes:

2nd: $100 | 3rd: $50

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2025 (Expired)

The Hudson Prize

Black Lawrence Press

Genres: Fiction and Poetry

The Hudson Prize is awarded annually for an unpublished collection of poems or prose. It is open to new, emerging, and established writers. The winner receives book publication, a $1,000 cash award, and ten copies of the book.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Book publication and ten copies of the book

💰 Entry fee: $30

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2024 (Expired)

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