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DIRECTORY

Best Writing Contests in 2025

Showing 431 contests that match your search.

F(r)iction Short Story Contest

Brink Literacy Project

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

The F(r)iction Short Story Contest is open for submissions. It celebrates unique and boundary-pushing literature. The winning story will be published in F(r)iction's print collection or online blog, and the contest encourages experimental writing.

Top Prize:

$1,000

📅 Deadline: May 02, 2025 (Expired)

The New Adult Book Prize

The Bookseller

Genres: Fiction and Young Adult

The New Adult Book Prize is designed to celebrate new adult fiction that explores themes relevant to individuals aged 19-29. This inaugural prize aims to recognize the growing genre and will be awarded at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.

Top Prize:

£2000

📅 Deadline: June 05, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Essay and Non-fiction

This contest aims to inspire creative nonfiction and provide recognition to contestants. It's open to all styles of essays including personal, lyric, and hybrid essays.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

1st: Essay published on WOW! Women on Writing, item from CreateWriteNow’s Store, interview on the WOW! blog | 7 runners up: $25 Amazon Gift Certificate | 10 honorable mentions: name mentioned on WOW! Women on Writing.

💰 Entry fee: $12

📅 Deadline: October 31, 2025

Genres: Poetry

Welcome to the 20th annual Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest. Submit published or unpublished work. $3,000 for a poem in any style or genre. $3,000 for a poem that rhymes or has a traditional style.

Top Prize:

$3,000

Additional prizes:

$200 for 10 honorable mentions

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: October 01, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, and Young Adult

The annual Story of the Year contest is back with a new challenge! We’re looking for captivating, diverse stories that are "easy to read and hard to put down" for readers beyond the third grade. There are five categories aimed at young adult readers, and we encourage you to submit as many entries as you like—submission is free and unlimited!

Top Prize:

$15,000

Additional prizes:

Publication in digital and print

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: January 13, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, and Young Adult

The 2025 Book Pipeline Unpublished Contest aims to discover unpublished manuscripts across ten categories. Winners receive $25,000, industry circulation, and executive development opportunities. It is open to writers aged 18 and older, with specific submission guidelines based on categories.

Top Prize:

$25,000

Additional prizes:

$2,500 for each category winner

💰 Entry fee: $45

📅 Deadline: September 25, 2025 (Expired)

Jane Martin Poetry Prize

Girton College, University of Cambridge

Genres: Poetry

The Jane Martin Poetry Prize is a national poetry competition established in 2010 in memory of Girton alumna Jane Elizabeth Martin. It aims to support young poets and promote literary excellence, judged by experts in the literary field.

Top Prize:

£1000

Additional prizes:

2nd place: £500 Opportunity to give a reading at Girton College.

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

The contest invites writers aged 18 and up to submit short stories about personal finance and money-related experiences. It aims to facilitate discussions on financial matters through storytelling.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Honorarium for the winner and $150 for each of up to 20 finalists. Finalists' works will be published in Short Story Dispensers and considered for international publication.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: October 12, 2025 (Expired)

Writer's Games

The Writer's Workout

Genres: Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Script Writing, Thriller, and Young Adult

The Writer's Games is a free competition aimed at improving writing skills, offering feedback from judges. The 2024 edition has concluded, and it featured multiple events with winners recognized in an anthology. Registration is necessary to participate.

Top Prize:

Publication in anthology, 72 Hours (26+ spaces)

📅 Deadline: July 22, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction and Flash Fiction

The Cranked Anvil Flash Fiction Competition invites writers to submit stories with a maximum length of 500 words. The competition runs quarterly, with deadlines in February, May, August, and November. Up to three entries can be submitted per participant per quarter.

Top Prize:

£100

Additional prizes:

2nd: £50 + publication online

💰 Entry fee: $6

📅 Deadline: November 30, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction and Non-fiction

The Wild Muse Nature Writing Prize invites personal stories, articles, and essays exploring our relationship with the natural world, focusing on the theme 'Nature’s Wisdom and Healing.' Writers can submit original, unpublished works that resonate with their experiences in nature. 10 bursaries are available for those who find the entry fee prohibitive.

Top Prize:

£750

Additional prizes:

2nd: £300 | 3rd: £150

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: September 15, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

The Short Story Competition is organized by Exeter Writers, aiming to encourage and showcase emerging writing talent. This competition invites entries from writers of various backgrounds.

Top Prize:

£700

💰 Entry fee: $9

📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

The Dzanc Books Short Story Collection Prize celebrates imaginative and inventive writing in book-length collections. The winning submission will receive a $2,500 advance and publication. The contest is open to all writers, and all submitted works must be previously unpublished collections.

Top Prize:

$2,500

Additional prizes:

Publication

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: September 30, 2025 (Expired)

Rhina Espaillat Poetry Award

Plough Publishing

Genres: Poetry

The award honors Dominican-American poet Rhina Espaillat. It is for an original poem of up to 50 lines, showcasing empathy and grace in everyday life.

Top Prize:

$2,000

Additional prizes:

Winning poem published in Plough Quarterly | Two finalists will receive $250

💰 Entry fee: $7

📅 Deadline: March 30, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

The Nature and Place Poetry Competition 2024 is a poetry contest organized by The Rialto in association with RSPB, BirdLife International, Cambridge Conservation Initiative, and The University of Leeds Poetry Centre. It invites poets to submit unpublished poems focused on nature and place. Free entries available for writers on low or supported incomes (up to two poems)

Top Prize:

£1000

Additional prizes:

2nd prize: £500, 3rd prize: £250

💰 Entry fee: $7

📅 Deadline: April 01, 2025 (Expired)

NOWW 27th International Writing Contest

Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop (NOWW)

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

The 26th Annual Writing Contest is currently closed. The next contest will open on January 1, 2025. Categories and further details will be announced later.

Top Prize:

$150

Additional prizes:

2nd place: $100 3rd place: $50

💰 Entry fee: $7

📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025 (Expired)

The Selah Awards

Blue Ridge Mountains Conference

Genres: Christian

The Selah Awards celebrate published works from January 1 to December 31, 2024. Participants must submit a physical entry form alongside their works. The contest is part of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.

Top Prize:

The Selah Book of the Year is selected from first-place winners

Additional prizes:

The Selah Book of the Year selected from first-place winners

💰 Entry fee: $55

📅 Deadline: January 10, 2025 (Expired)

Jade Ring Writing Contest

Wisconsin Writers Association

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry

The Jade Ring Contest is a prestigious annual competition celebrating exceptional writing in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Now in its 76th year, this contest offers writers a chance to shine, with cash prizes, publication opportunities in Creative Wisconsin Magazine, and a coveted residency at Write On, Door County for first-place winners.

Top Prize:

$250

Additional prizes:

1st: $250, a Jade Ring, a writing residency, and publication. | 2nd: $200 + publication. | $150 + publication. | Honorable Mentions: one year membership (or gift card for lifetime members) to WWA, publication. Prizes apply to each category.

💰 Entry fee: $30

📅 Deadline: June 01, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

This contest celebrates independent and self-published poets, allowing them to showcase their poetry books and pamphlets.

Top Prize:

£400

Additional prizes:

2nd: £200 | 3rd: £100 | Publication

💰 Entry fee: $44

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

The competition, run by The Poetry Society since 1978, is one of the world’s most prestigious prizes for a single unpublished poem. Judged by Stephen Sexton, Romalyn Ante, John McAuliffe. Open to all poets worldwide aged 18+.

Top Prize:

£5,000

Additional prizes:

Runners-up receive £2,000 and £1,000. Commended entries receive £500

💰 Entry fee: $8

📅 Deadline: October 31, 2025

Weatherglass Novella Prize 2025

Weatherglass Books

Genres: Fiction and Novella

The Weatherglass Novella Prize 2025 is dedicated to celebrating the novella form. The winner will have their work published by Weatherglass Books, with the judging by acclaimed author Ali Smith.

Top Prize:

£500

Additional prizes:

Winning novellas will be published by Weatherglass Books

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: March 01, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

The 42 Miles Press Poetry Award aims to highlight urgent and original voices in poetry. Open to all poets writing in English, it accepts collections of poetry that showcase contemporary American poetic voices. The contest is judged by David Dodd Lee, and past winners include several notable poets.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Publication of the winning book and 50 author copies, plus an invitation for a reading at Indiana University South Bend.

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: June 15, 2024 (Expired)

Romance Through The Ages Contest — Un-Published

Hearts Through History Romance Writers

Genres: Fiction and Romance

This contest is aimed at unpublished authors focusing on historical romance narratives. It promotes creativity by allowing submissions that adhere to specific genre standards, such as historical accuracy and romantic plots.

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: June 30, 2025 (Expired)

Cricket Magazine Contest

Cricket Magazine

Genres: Children's and Poetry

The contest invites children to submit original art related to a camp theme. It emphasizes creativity and originality, encouraging participants to depict their ideal camping experiences.

Top Prize:

Winning entries will be published in an upcoming issue and online.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: August 25, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Essay, Fiction, and Non-fiction

The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize is awarded for the best piece of writing on the theme of 'Fear.' All genres are accepted, and entries must be in English. The competition aims to discover and support emerging writing talent globally.

Top Prize:

£3000

Additional prizes:

2nd: £1000 | 3rd: £1000

📅 Deadline: April 01, 2025 (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)

I'm Obsessed Contest

Gotham Writers Workshop

Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, and Short Story

In this contest, participants must write a story about a niche hobby or special interest in 101 words or fewer. Entries should be original and unpublished, and AI-generated entries are not allowed. Judging will focus on originality, quality, spelling, and grammar.

Top Prize:

Winner receives a free Gotham class of their choosing, excluding premium classes.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: August 31, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction and Romance

This contest invites writers to explore themes of hidden identities and class divides in a romance narrative. The prompt centers around a wealthy character whose true status is unknown to their love interest.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

2nd: $300 | 3rd: $100 | Winner receives a Galatea publishing deal + potential movie adaptation on CandyJar app. 2nd + 3rd also receive 1 year of Galatea Unlimited, Instagram feature, & Inkitt VIP Badge

📅 Deadline: September 28, 2025 (Expired)

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 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction and Romance

Join Inkitt’s Reality TV Romance Writing Contest 2025, a free contest where you can win up to $500, a Galatea publishing deal, and a chance for your book to be reviewed for a CandyJar movie adaptation. The theme focuses on romance amidst the drama of reality TV.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

2nd Place: $300 | 3rd Place: $100 | Winner also receives a Galatea publishing deal + potential movie adaptation on CandyJar app.

📅 Deadline: October 26, 2025

The Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction

Association of Writers & Writing Programs

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

The Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction awards $5,500 and publication by Mad Creek Books, an imprint of The Ohio State University Press. It is part of the AWP Award Series open to all authors writing in English. The prize celebrates outstanding book-length works and is judged anonymously.

Top Prize:

$5,500

Additional prizes:

Publication by Mad Creek Books

💰 Entry fee: $30

📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025 (Expired)

Anthology Poetry Competition

Anthology Magazine

Genres: Poetry

The Anthology Poetry Competition aims to recognize and encourage excellence in poetry writing and to provide a platform for publication. Open to original and unpublished poems in English, there are no restrictions on theme or style. Poems must not exceed 40 lines, and there is no limit on the number of entries.

Top Prize:

€1000

Additional prizes:

2nd: €500 | 3rd: €250 + publication of the winning poem in Anthology magazine

💰 Entry fee: $18

📅 Deadline: October 31, 2025

Genres: Poetry

The Canterbury Festival Poet of the Year Competition invites submissions from poets on any subject and in any format, up to 60 lines long. The winner receives the title and a cash prize, with additional prizes for runners-up.

Top Prize:

£300 + Title of Canterbury Festival Poet of the Year

Additional prizes:

Second Place: £150 Second Place: £75

💰 Entry fee: $4

📅 Deadline: June 02, 2025 (Expired)

A Very Short Story Contest

Gotham Writers Workshop

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

Write a great short story in ten words or fewer. The contest is inspired by the story of Hemingway’s six-word story. Entries must be original and unpublished. Judging is based on originality and quality. The winner will be notified by mid-June.

Top Prize:

$0

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: May 30, 2025 (Expired)

The Caterpillar Poetry Prize 2025

The Caterpillar Magazine

Genres: Poetry

An annual prize for unpublished poems written by adults for children aged 7–11. The prize aims to celebrate poetry that appeals to younger audiences.

Top Prize:

€1,000

Additional prizes:

A week at Circle of Misse in France

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2025 (Expired)

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