Looking to publish? Meet your dream editor, designer and marketer on Reedsy.

Find the perfect editor for your next book

1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them.

DIRECTORY

Best Writing Contests in 2025

Showing 400 contests that match your search.

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 Unpublished stories are accepted, and multiple entries are allowed.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)

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The 2025 Book Pipeline Unpublished Contest aims to discover unpublished manuscripts across ten categories.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

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)

Fiction Potluck

The Writer's Workout

Genres: Fiction, Short Story, and Science Fiction

Fiction Potluck is a quarterly writing competition open to fiction writers globally, featuring a guest judge who sets a unique challenge each period. The current challenge theme is 'Sci-Fi Western', with submissions of up to 6,000 words due by August 20. The competition is free to enter, and winners receive prizes including a two-year Duotrope service subscription (valued at $100).

Top Prize:

$100

Additional prizes:

Two years of Duotrope service for the first place winner.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: August 20, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: LGBTQ and Non-fiction

The Jeanne Córdova Prize honors lesbian/queer-identified women and trans/gender non-conforming nonfiction authors. It seeks to recognize writers who capture the depth and complexity of lesbian/queer life, culture, and history.

Top Prize:

$2,500

📅 Deadline: February 16, 2024 (Expired)

Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award

Poets & Writers, Inc.

Genres: Fiction and Poetry

Established in 1984, this award connects emerging writers with the New York City literary community, facilitating professional advancement through a network of agents, editors, and authors. The winners receive an honorarium, a public reading, and participation in a residency program.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

Residency at the Jentel Artist Residency Program in Wyoming.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: March 01, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Flash Fiction, Short Story, and Fiction

The Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction is a competition for short fiction (up to 5000 words) with no genre or theme restrictions. It is open to writers worldwide, with 2-4 winners published and sharing in the prize money. Entries are also considered for publication and submission to the Pushcart Prize.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Publication by The Letter Review. Up to 20 writers shortlisted. Publication and consideration for the Pushcart Prize and anthologies.

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2025 (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)

The Iowa Review Awards

The Iowa Review

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

The Iowa Review Awards is an annual writing contest accepting submissions in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. It has been held every January since 2003, and winners are published in the December issue.

Top Prize:

$1,500

Additional prizes:

First runners-up receive $750

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

The Diode Editions Chapbook Contest is an annual competition open to English-language poets. The contest is currently closed, with winners for the 2024 contests to be announced by August 1, 2024. Multiple publications may be selected during this contest.

Top Prize:

$750

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: July 15, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Short Story

The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest aims to inspire and encourage writers and poets to showcase their talents. The contest accepts entries in the forms of poems (up to 30 lines) and short stories (up to 5 pages) on any subject or theme.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

First Writing Prize: $500, Second Writing Prize: $250, Third Writing Prize: $100.

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: April 06, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, and Short Story

The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize aims to discover and support new writing talent on an annual basis. The prize includes financial support for the best pieces of writing submitted on an announced theme. The contest is open to all writers aged 18 and above, regardless of nationality.

Top Prize:

£3,000 cash grant

Additional prizes:

2nd: £1,000 travel expense | 3rd: £1,000 travel expense

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: March 01, 2025 (Expired)

Black River Chapbook Competition

Black Lawrence Press

Genres: Poetry

Twice each year 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. The winner will receive book publication, a $500 cash award, and ten copies of the book. Prizes are awarded on publication.

Top Prize:

$500

💰 Entry fee: $18

📅 Deadline: June 01, 2024 (Expired)

Genres:

This prize recognizes 12 emerging writers annually for their debut short story published in a literary magazine, journal, or cultural website. It supports new fiction writers and provides a cash award and publication in an anthology.

Top Prize:

$2,000

Additional prizes:

Publication in the anthology 'Best Debut Short Stories: The PEN America Dau Prize'

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: November 01, 2024 (Expired)

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

The Spring Microfiction Battle is part of the Writing Battle series, where participants write stories based on prompts. Participants receive feedback from peers and industry judges.

Top Prize:

$1,500

Additional prizes:

Genre Runner-up (x4): $375 Feedback by industry professionals. Various merchandise and opportunities for additional exposure in the community.

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: May 03, 2024 (Expired)

swamp pink Prizes

crazyhorse

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

The Swamp Pink Prizes celebrate excellence in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Each winner receives $2,000 and publication in an upcoming issue of Swamp Pink. The contest is open for submissions throughout January.

Top Prize:

$2,000

Additional prizes:

Publication in an upcoming issue of Swamp Pink

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2024 (Expired)

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

Winds of Asia Award

Kinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc

Genres: Flash Fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

The Winds of Asia Award invites Asian authors and poets to submit original, unpublished works that highlight Asian cultures. Winners can receive cash prizes up to $500, along with publication in Kinsman Quarterly and the upcoming anthology, Winds of Asia. The contest encourages diverse voices and stories.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

2nd: $200, 3rd: $100, 4th: $50. Subsequent 6 finalists receive a $25 amazon gift card. 1st place also gets publication in Kinsman Quarterly and the annual anthology.

📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

The competition runs for 42 weeks from April 9, 2024, to January 28, 2025. Each week, five words will be provided for poem submissions, which must incorporate all the words.

Top Prize:

€750

Additional prizes:

€500, €250

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: January 28, 2025 (Expired)

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

The Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize is a competition sponsored by _Selected Shorts_, where winning stories are performed live and published. The contest aims to celebrate the art of the short story.

Top Prize:

$1000

Additional prizes:

Free 10 week course with Gotham Writers

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: March 01, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction and Novel

The James Jones First Novel Fellowship, established in 1992, honors the spirit of honesty and insight in modern culture exemplified by James Jones. The fellowship awards a prize for a novel-in-progress by a U.S. writer who has not published a novel.

Top Prize:

$12,000

Additional prizes:

First runner-up: $3,000; Second runner-up: $2,000.

💰 Entry fee: $33

📅 Deadline: March 15, 2025 (Expired)

The Elegant Literature Award For New Writers

Elegant Media Publishing Corporation

Genres: Fiction, Crime, Fantasy, and Romance

This contest invites new or unpublished authors from around the world (excluding Quebec, Canada) to write a story about 'Ghostly Gardens' involving a watch. The contest promotes new talent and encourages creativity across all genres.

Top Prize:

$3,000

Additional prizes:

1st: Free enrollment in New Novelist Accelerator and publication payment at 10c/word | 2nd – 10th: 10c/word and publication | 11th – 35th: $20 USD and an honorable mention in the magazine.

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2025 (Expired)

TWFest One-Act Play Contest

Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival

Genres: Script Writing

The TWFest One-Act Play Contest is aimed at emerging or previously unpublished playwrights, encouraging original work not previously published or performed. It promotes new voices in playwriting while providing opportunities for recognition and publication.

Top Prize:

$1,500

Additional prizes:

Professional Staged Reading at the next Festival, VIP Festival pass ($600 value), Publication in Bayou Magazine, Photo and bio on their website for ~1 year, Interview in their newsletter. Top finalists receive a LitPass ($100 value) to the Festival.

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: October 01, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry

The Emerging Writer's Contest, held by Ploughshares since 1971, recognizes outstanding work by emerging writers in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Winners are announced in the fall and their works are published in the Winter 2024-25 issue of Ploughshares.

Top Prize:

$2,000

Additional prizes:

Publication in Ploughshares and a conversation with Aevitas Creative Management.

💰 Entry fee: $30

📅 Deadline: May 15, 2025

Genres: Flash Fiction and Poetry

The Flash Fiction Contest invites entries of prose or prose poetry that tell a compelling story in 500 words or less. The contest emphasizes clarity, originality, and emotional impact.

Top Prize:

Varies based on the number of winners

Additional prizes:

Feedback on submissions for an additional fee

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: June 02, 2025

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: Essay, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, and Short Story

There is no topic relating to technology that brings more discussion than artificial intelligence. Some people think it does wonders. Others see it as trouble. Let us know your opinion about AI in this competition. Include experiences you have had with AI. 300-word limit. Winners will be selected January 1, 2024. Open to anyone, anywhere.

Top Prize:

$100 CA

Additional prizes:

Publication

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: December 15, 2023 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction

BOMB Magazine's 2025 Fiction Contest invites submissions for a chance to win a $1,000 prize and publication. The contest is judged by Kelly Link, a Pulitzer Prize finalist and MacArthur Fellow.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Publication in BOMB Magazine

💰 Entry fee: $30

📅 Deadline: April 15, 2025 (Expired)

Adrienne Rich Award for Poetry

Beloit Poetry Journal

Genres: Poetry

The Adrienne Rich Award for Poetry is an annual contest with a focus on recognizing outstanding poetry. It is supported by the Adrienne Rich Literary Trust and has specific guidelines for submissions, including entry fees and poem requirements.

Top Prize:

$1,500

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024 (Expired)

Fischer Prize

Telluride Institute

Genres: Poetry

A national poetry contest established in 1997 in memory of Mark Fischer. It aims to promote poetry and supports the Talking Gourds community poetry program. The contest is open to all poets writing in English, regardless of age or location, and it awards cash prizes to winners and finalists.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Five $250 Outstanding Finalist prizes

💰 Entry fee: $12

📅 Deadline: August 31, 2025

2024 International Literary Prize

Hammond House Publishing

Genres: Poetry, Script Writing, and Short Story

The 2024 International Literary Prize invites writers to submit entries in four categories: Short Stories, Poetry, Scriptwriting, and Songwriting. The contest emphasizes anonymity in submissions and offers cash prizes, publication opportunities, and feedback options.

Top Prize:

1st prize for Short Story and Poetry: £1000 1st prize for Scriptwriting: £500 1st prize for Song writing: £250

Additional prizes:

2nd and 3rd prizes for all categories: £100 and £50 respectively, along with publication for all shortlisted entries.

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: September 30, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Essay and Non-fiction

The mission of this contest is to inspire creative nonfiction and provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants. Your story must be true, but the way you tell it is your chance to get creative. We are open to all styles of essay

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

2nd: $300 | 3rd: $200 | 7 runner-ups: $25 Amazon Gift Cards

💰 Entry fee: $12

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2025 (Expired)

Katherine Anne Porter Prize in Short Fiction

University of North Texas Press

Genres: Short Story, Flash Fiction, and Novella

The Katherine Anne Porter Prize in Short Fiction is an esteemed competition for unpublished collections of fiction. The contest is open for submissions of flash fiction, short stories, or novellas, with a total manuscript length of 100 to 200 book pages.

Top Prize:

$1,000

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2025

Best First Traditional Mystery Novel Competition

Minotaur Books & Malice Domestic

Genres: Mystery and Novel

The competition is open to writers aged 18 or older who have not published a mystery novel. It aims to discover new talents in traditional mystery writing. All submissions must be original works of at least 60,000 words that follow the guidelines. The winner will be announced after April 2025.

Top Prize:

$10,000 advance + winning manuscript publication

📅 Deadline: November 30, 2024 (Expired)

Bridport Short Story Prize

Bridport Arts Centre

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

Gail Honeyman was shortlisted in our competition and went on to write Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, winning the Costa debut novel award. All the winning and highly commended pieces are entered into the Sunday Times Audible competition, top prize £30,000. UK based writers are entered into the BBC short story competition. That's not all, literary agent A.M. Heath reads all the shortlist and considers representation. Long story short? You are 5,000 words away from success.

Top Prize:

£5000

Additional prizes:

£1000 for 2nd, £500 for 3rd

💰 Entry fee: $17

📅 Deadline: May 31, 2025

Reedsy | Default — Concrete Book | 2024-01

Bring your publishing dreams to life

The world's best editors, designers, and marketers are on Reedsy. Come meet them.