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About Reedsy Terms PrivacyThe Best Writing Contests of 2021
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Browse 162 contests that match your search 🔦
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Established in 2018, the Novella Award is for a previously unpublished, original work of fiction between 15,000 and 30,000 words.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
Acrostic Poetry Contest
Share an Acrostic poem to enter this poetry contest. See an example in the contest announcement. Cash prize.
Deadline June 29, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$100
Additional prizes
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $9
Nonet Poetry Contest
Share a Nonet. This is a poem with nine lines and a specific syllable count. It's a fun poem to write. Cash prize to the winner. See the details and a sample poem in the contest announcement.
Deadline June 12, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$100
Additional prizes
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $9
2-4-2 Poetry Contest
Share a 2-4-2 poem to enter this poetry contest. A 2-4-2 is a three line poem that has a 2-4-2 syllable count.
Deadline June 18, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$100
Additional prizes
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $9
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
Stories Through The Ages - Baby Boomer Plus
This contest is for anyone who was born 1966 or earlier. Tell us about an experience growing up as a baby boomer, or use your experience gained becoming a baby boomer and tell us a story. The entry may be fiction or nonfiction. The word count for this contest is 900 - 4000 words. Cash prizes of $500, $200 and $100 will be awarded.
Deadline June 15, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$500
Additional prizes
Genres
Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $25
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
Black River Chapbook Competition
Twice each year, during May and October, Black Lawrence Press will run the Black River Chapbook Competition for an unpublished chapbook of poems or prose between 16-36 pages in length. The contest is open to new, emerging, and established writers.
Deadline May 31, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication by Black Lawrence Press
Genres
Poetry, Short Story, Fiction,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $15
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
Narrative Prize
The Narrative Prize is awarded annually for the best short story, novel excerpt, poem, one-act play, graphic story, or work of literary nonfiction published by a new or emerging writer in Narrative. The submission system is open all year.
Deadline June 15, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$4,000
Additional prizes
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $27
New Deal Writing Competition
Genesee Valley Council on the Arts
The New Deal Writing Competition is a short story competition where the writer is asked to use a painting chosen by the staff of GVCA as inspiration for their short story. The application portal for submissions will be open from March 1, 2021 to April 1, 2021.
Deadline April 01, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$200
Additional prizes
Publication in Artsphere Magazine
Genres
Fiction, Short Story,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $5
2021 Screenplay & Short Script Competition
The Scriptation Showcase is the screenwriting competition that circulates winners’ scripts to the widest range of Hollywood directors, showrunners, and producers. The early you apply, the lower the entry will be.
Deadline April 11, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
1 Year Scriptation Showcase
Genres
Script Writing,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $44
Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Prize
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Marsh Hawk Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Manuscripts should be between 48 to 84 pages. [Submissions open December 1, 2020]
Deadline April 30, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication by Marsh Hawk Press
Genres
Poetry,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $25
Zizzle Literary Flash Fiction Contest
Every week during our submission period, we’ll post one-sentence dialogue writing prompts on our social media platforms. Choose a dialogue prompt that inspires you and write a story that includes the prompt.
Deadline March 15, 2021
Learn moreTop prize
Additional prizes
1000
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction,
Entry fee
💰 Entry Fee: $5
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