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DIRECTORY

Best Writing Contests in 2025

Showing 421 contests that match your search.

F(r)iction Poetry Contest

Brink Literacy Project

Genres: Poetry

The F(r)iction Poetry Contest invites submissions of original poetry. The contest is open to writers globally, focusing on unique and experimental literature. The contest promotes creativity and individuality in submissions.

Top Prize:

$300

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: May 02, 2025 (Expired)

Southword Editor’s Poetry Award

Munster Literature Centre

Genres: Poetry

Each entrant for their €24 entry fee will receive a complementary postage-free, one-year subscription to Southword. Poems will be read and judged anonymously. Poems must be previously unpublished. The winning poet will have their three poems published in Southword.

Top Prize:

€1000

Additional prizes:

The winning poet will have their three poems published in Southword.

💰 Entry fee: $24

📅 Deadline: September 30, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction, LGBTQ, and Novel

This prize honors LGBTQ-identified authors who have published multiple novels, built a strong reputation, and show promise for future work. It is dedicated to Jim Duggins and supported by the James Duggins, PhD Fund.

Top Prize:

$5000 (x2)

📅 Deadline: May 16, 2025 (Expired)

Subnivean Awards

Soma Mei Sheng Frazier (Fiction) and Albert Abonado (Poetry)

Genres: Fiction and Poetry

The Subnivean Awards is an international literary competition that seeks outstanding fiction and poetry. The contest aims to highlight innovative works that break conventional molds.

Top Prize:

$150

Additional prizes:

Winner also receives a blurb by the appropriate final judge and publication in the May 2025 issue. Five finalists' works will be published and featured in a virtual event.

📅 Deadline: February 21, 2025 (Expired)

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

The Reader Views Literary Awards recognize innovative self-published books, offering visibility and credibility to independent authors. The contest provides thorough book reviews, evaluation forms, and promotional opportunities.

Top Prize:

$1,250

Additional prizes:

Gold: $750 | Silver: $350 | Bronze: $150 | Various sponsored awards and features in newsletters include marketing packages, interviews, and ads.

💰 Entry fee: $89

📅 Deadline: December 15, 2025

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)

The Next Big Story

The Novelry Group Limited

Genres: Fiction

The Next Big Story is a creative writing prize inviting submissions for the first 1,500 words of a work of fiction. The contest aims to encourage new voices in storytelling, offering a grand prize of $100,000 and eight shortlisting prizes of The Finished Novel Course to help writers finalize their projects.

Top Prize:

$100,000 or £75,000

Additional prizes:

Eight shortlists receive access to The Finished Novel Course (valued at approx $4,995 each).

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: July 31, 2025 (Expired)

Wild Atlantic Writing Awards (WAWA)

Ireland Writing Retreat

Genres: Flash Fiction and Non-fiction

The WAWA challenges writers to explore the theme of 'Endings' through short stories of up to 500 words. Entries must not include the word 'endings' in the title or story itself. Winners will be announced in March 2025.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

Winner can choose either 500 euro or a voucher worth 1,000 euro for any writing retreat in 2025. Top ten stories in each category will be published on the Ireland Writing Retreat website, including a bio and photo of the author.

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: January 12, 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)

World Historian Student Essay Competition

World History Association

Genres: Children's and Essay

An international competition open to K–12 students, focusing on personal connections to world history. Essays must address specific topics and demonstrate critical thinking and effective communication.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

One-year membership in the World History Association

📅 Deadline: May 01, 2025 (Expired)

J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize

Columbia Journalism School

Genres: Non-fiction

The J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize, in the amount of $10,000, is given annually to a book­-length work of narrative nonfiction on a topic of American political or social concern that exemplifies the literary grace, commitment to serious research and original reporting that characterized the distinguished work of the award’s namesake.

Top Prize:

$10,000

💰 Entry fee: $75

📅 Deadline: December 07, 2023 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

The competition invites poets to submit works based on five given words each week over a 42-week period. It aims to encourage creativity and showcases poets' works in an anthology.

Top Prize:

$750

Additional prizes:

Second place: 500 euros Third place: 250 euros Travel fee and accommodation for winners attending the event. Physical award crafted by Michael Ray, plus opportunities for winners to read at events.

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: January 28, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Short Story

The Brink Literary Journal Award for Hybrid Writing seeks to recognize writing that is hybrid and cross-genre in nature, integrating multiple mediums to create dynamic, engaging work. The contest emphasizes unique perspectives and voices, prioritizing hybridization over experimental forms.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Publication in the fall issue of Brink Literary Journal and 4 copies of the journal issue.

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Flash Fiction, Short Story, and Fiction

The Gemini Magazine Short Story Contest invites entries of any subject and length. Unpublished stories are accepted, and multiple entries are allowed. All entries are treated anonymously during the judging process.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

2nd: $100 | 3x honorable mentions: $25. Publication for each winner.

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2025 (Expired)

The Free Verse Prize

Poetry Society

Genres: Poetry

The Free Verse Prize is a new poetry prize, which supports the Free Verse Poetry Book and Magazine Fair. The judge is poet and former Poetry Book Fair director, Chrissy Williams. Poems can be on any theme, and should have fewer than 40 lines.

Top Prize:

£500

Additional prizes:

Publication in Poetry News and the Poetry Book Fair programme

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: March 07, 2025 (Expired)

Harold Morton Landon Translation Award

Academy of American Poets

Genres: Poetry

The Harold Morton Landon Translation Award is an annual award recognizing the work of a translator for a poetry collection translated from any language into English, published in the previous calendar year. Established in 1976, the award amount is $1,000.

Top Prize:

$1,000

📅 Deadline: February 15, 2025 (Expired)

James Laughlin Award

Academy of American Poets

Genres: Poetry

The James Laughlin Award recognizes and supports a second full-length print book of original poetry by a living poet, forthcoming in the next calendar year. It includes a $5,000 prize and an all-expenses-paid residency.

Top Prize:

$5,000

📅 Deadline: May 15, 2025 (Expired)

Anthology Flash Fiction Award

Anthology Magazine

Genres: Fiction, Short Story, and Flash Fiction

The Anthology Flash Fiction Competition invites original, unpublished flash fiction pieces on any theme or genre, written in English. Entries must not exceed 250 words, and multiple submissions are allowed with separate fees. The competition aims to inspire creativity and provide a publication platform.

Top Prize:

€300

💰 Entry fee: $12

📅 Deadline: September 30, 2025

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

The competition is open for submissions themed 'The Evolution of Love'. Each entry will be edited, judged based on various writing criteria, and selected works will be published in an anthology.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

2nd: $250 | 3rd: $150

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: March 01, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction and Science Fiction

The Global Thriller Awards seek the best books featuring suspense and thrilling stories that can change the balance of world power. It includes the Lab Lit genre, focusing on stories based on real science.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Grand Prize winners receive exclusive Chanticleer Book Review Packages and author interviews, valued at $795, along with additional prizes.

💰 Entry fee: $99

📅 Deadline: July 31, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Flash Fiction

The New Writers Poetry Competition offers a £1,200 top prize (with £1,800 total) and publication for the top six poems in its next New Writers Anthology. It is open globally to any English-language poet aged 18+. 10% of proceeds will be donated to charity. The head judge is prize-winning poet, Katrina Moinet.

Top Prize:

£1,200

Additional prizes:

2nd: £300 | 3rd: £150 | 4th to 6th: £50 each

💰 Entry fee: $14

📅 Deadline: July 17, 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 Edwin Markham Prize for Poetry honors outstanding works of poetry, celebrating the diverse forms and styles of contemporary poets. The contest features a submission fee and specific entry requirements for participation.

Top Prize:

$1,000

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: October 01, 2025

Genres: Horror and Fiction

The Ghost Story Supernatural Fiction Award is a biannual contest seeking full-length supernatural or magic realist short stories. The winning stories are published on June 1 and Halloween. The award is open to any story with a supernatural theme, not limited to traditional ghost stories.

Top Prize:

$1,500

Additional prizes:

Publication of the winning story. $300 for each of two Honorable Mentions.

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

The Poetry.com Contest is a monthly poetry competition aiming to support and encourage poets of all backgrounds. Participants can submit original poems for a chance to win cash prizes and gain recognition. Voting is conducted by contestants, adding a unique twist to the judging process.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

2nd Place: $300 | 3rd Place: $200 | Five runners-up receive a personalized mug and a chance to compete for Poem of the Year.

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: September 30, 2025

Leave Your Mark: Teen Contest

Gotham Writers Workshop

Genres: Script Writing, Fiction, and Poetry

Participants are invited to write about a scar, real or fictional, in any format (story, song, script, poem) with a limit of 250 words. The contest encourages creativity and personal expression.

Top Prize:

$400 Gotham credit, a $50 gift certificate to Bookshop, and publication on the Gotham Writers website.

Additional prizes:

Two runner ups wll receive a free Gotham class of their choice and publication.

📅 Deadline: December 15, 2025

National High School Essay Contest

American Foreign Service Association (AFSA)

Genres: Essay

The contest invites high school students to write an essay reflecting on the role of the U.S. Foreign Service during the Vietnam War and its impacts on contemporary U.S. diplomacy.

Top Prize:

$2,500

Additional prizes:

All-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C.

📅 Deadline: March 01, 2025 (Expired)

#GWstorieseverywhere

Gotham Writers

Genres: Fiction and Flash Fiction

The #GWstorieseverywhere contest invites participants to submit very short stories based on monthly themes. The stories can be fictional or true and must be original and unpublished. The winning entries are featured on Gotham's website.

Additional prizes:

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

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2025 (Expired)

The Peseroff Prize

Breakwater Review

Genres: Poetry

The Peseroff Prize honors Joyce Peseroff's contributions to poetry and literature. It is an annual contest that invites submissions of previously unpublished poems.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Publication in spring issue

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: April 15, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

The Francine Ringold Awards for New Writers honor the work of writers at the beginning of their careers. $500 prizes will be awarded in both the fiction and poetry categories, and the winning manuscripts will appear in the spring issue of Nimrod. Winners will have the chance to work with the Nimrod board of editors to refine and edit their manuscripts before publication.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

Publication

💰 Entry fee: $12

📅 Deadline: July 15, 2024 (Expired)

The Bath Novel Award

The Bath Novel Awards

Genres: Fiction, Novel, and Young Adult

The Bath Novel Award is a £5,000 international prize for adult and YA manuscripts across various genres, aimed at unagented writers who are unpublished, self-published, or independently published.

Top Prize:

£5,000

Additional prizes:

Shortlisted writers receive feedback on their full manuscripts

💰 Entry fee: $38

📅 Deadline: May 31, 2025 (Expired)

"Matter" Poetry Contest

Oprelle Publications

Genres: Poetry

The Matter Poetry Contest invites poets to showcase their work. Winners are selected based on the emotional impact and creativity of their submissions. The contest aims to highlight the significance of poetry in personal and societal contexts.

Top Prize:

$100

Additional prizes:

2nd: $100 | 3rd: $50 | Publication in anthology

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: October 31, 2025

Tom Grass Prize

Friends and family of Tom Grass

Genres: Fiction and Non-fiction

The Tom Grass Prize celebrates the spirit of adventure through short pieces of prose, inviting writers from all backgrounds to reflect on the theme of adventure. The prize honors Tom Grass, a multifaceted writer and traveler.

Additional prizes:

1st prize of £1,000 and two runners-up prizes of £500 each.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2025 (Expired)

TWFest Poetry Contest

Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival

Genres: Poetry

The TWFest Poetry Contest encourages emerging writers to submit their original poems. The contest aims to support new literary works and provides a platform for diverse voices in poetry.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

VIP All-Access Pass ($600 value) for the next Festival, public reading at the Festival, publication in French Quarter Journal, photo and bio on website for one year, interview in newsletter and social media. LitPass ($100 value) for top finalists.

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: October 15, 2025

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

The contest welcomes submissions of previously unpublished short stories of 1000 words or fewer. It encourages simultaneous submissions and offers publication for finalists in their journal.

Top Prize:

$150

Additional prizes:

2nd place: $100 3rd place: $50 Honorable mentions: $25 Publication in the journal for top finalists.

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: April 01, 2025 (Expired)

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