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DIRECTORY
Showing 400 contests that match your search.
WS Writers
Genres: Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
The Flying South contest invites submissions in three categories: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, and Poetry. Each entry should be original and previously unpublished. Winners are awarded cash prizes, and all finalists are published in the annual issue.
Top Prize:
$400
Additional prizes:
2nd Place: $200 3rd Place: $100 All finalists receive one copy of the current issue.
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: May 31, 2025
Poetry Wales
Genres: Poetry
The Poetry Wales Award is a single-poem competition allowing poets worldwide to submit new, unpublished works. The competition opens on 17th December 2024 and closes on 17th February 2025. The judge for this year is Jeremy Dixon, a prize-winning poet.
Top Prize:
£500
Additional prizes:
First prize gets choice of a course or a writing retreat, one-year subscription to Poetry Wales, publication of winning poem. £100 for second place, £50 for third place, and invitations for ten highly commended poets to read at the award ceremony.
💰 Entry fee: $5
📅 Deadline: February 17, 2025 (Expired)
Lambda Literary
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: February 16, 2024 (Expired)
National Youth Foundation
Genres: Poetry
A national poetry and art competition initiated by a 14-year-old youth co-founder to allow students to express feelings about racial injustice, specifically focusing on the Black Lives Matter movement. The contest aims to promote diversity and inclusion through literary arts.
Additional prizes:
Winning entries are featured on social media and published in an annual book
💰 Entry fee: $0
📅 Deadline: July 23, 2025
Henshaw Press
Genres: Short Story and Fiction
This competition invites short stories of up to 2,000 words on any theme. It is open to anyone over 16 years old. The entry fee is £6, and all profits go towards purchasing books for schools.
Top Prize:
$200
Additional prizes:
2nd Prize: £100 | 3rd Prize: £50. | Opportunity to be included in the next Henshaw Anthology.
💰 Entry fee: $6
📅 Deadline: June 30, 2025
F(r)iction
Genres: Flash Fiction
The F(r)iction Flash Fiction Contest invites writers to submit flash fiction pieces of up to 1,000 words. The winner will be published in F(r)iction. The contest embraces experimental and boundary-pushing literature, encouraging creativity.
Top Prize:
$300
Additional prizes:
Consideration for publication in F(r)iction and the potential for up to five finalists to be published.
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: May 02, 2025
Xulon Press
Genres: Christian
The Christian Author Awards recognize outstanding new Christian authors who have published independently. The awards honor exceptional books that align with a Christian worldview and promote them through various means, including media announcements and advertising.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
$200 for 2nd place, $100 for 3rd place
📅 Deadline: December 16, 2024 (Expired)
The R C Sherriff Trust
Genres: Fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
The 20th Elmbridge Literary Competition invites submissions of short stories and poems on the theme of 'The River' to commemorate RC Sherriff. Open internationally, the competition includes age categories with specific word counts.
Top Prize:
£250
Additional prizes:
Cash prizes for adults + book tokens for children's categories
📅 Deadline: February 21, 2025 (Expired)
The Rialto
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)
Anthology Magazine
Genres: Essay, Non-fiction, and Travel
This competition invites original, unpublished travel articles in English, not exceeding 1,000 words. Open to writers of any nationality. An engaging article capturing the destination and local culture is sought. Entries are accepted from both new and established writers.
Top Prize:
€300
Additional prizes:
Publication in Anthology magazine
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: November 30, 2025
Disruption Books
Genres: Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Novel
The First 100 Days Contest seeks innovative book ideas from authors committed to promoting good work amidst challenging times. Participants submit a one-page book overview and a sample manuscript of up to 5,000 words. Winning authors receive feedback and an editorial consultation.
Top Prize:
Editorial consultation and feedback on up to 100 pages.
💰 Entry fee: $0
📅 Deadline: May 31, 2025
Trio House Press
Genres: Poetry
The Louise Bogan Award for Artistic Merit and Excellence includes $1,000, publication, and twenty books. The Louise Bogan Award for Artistic Merit and Excellence is open to ALL poets, regardless of publication history.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication and twenty copies of the book
💰 Entry fee: $25
📅 Deadline: March 31, 2025 (Expired)
The Letter Review
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Novel
The Letter Review Prize for Books invites submissions of unpublished, self-published, or indie-published book-length works. It aims to highlight new literature and supports writers through various stages of their careers. The competition is judged blind, ensuring equal opportunity for all entrants.
Top Prize:
$1000 USD shared by 2 to 4 winners
Additional prizes:
Publication in Letter Review. Up to 20 writers are shortlisted.
💰 Entry fee: $25
📅 Deadline: March 31, 2025 (Expired)
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
Ann Arbor District Library
Genres: Children's
The contest is for Grades 3-5 and will be open for submissions from January 6 to February 2, 2025. An awards ceremony will be held on April 19, 2025.
Top Prize:
Publication on website
📅 Deadline: February 02, 2025 (Expired)
Crime Writer's Association
Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Suspense, and Thriller
The Emerging Author Dagger is an international competition for unpublished crime novelists. It accepts submissions of a crime novel opening (max. 3,000 words) and synopsis (max. 1,500 words). The contest is open to those who have never had a publishing contract for a novel and do not have a literary agent when the competition closes.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
Shortlisted entries shown to agents and publishers
💰 Entry fee: $41
📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025 (Expired)
Atom Learning
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
The Atom Learning Young Author Award encourages children aged 7-11 to express their creativity through writing. The contest invites submissions of up to 500 words based on a specific theme, fostering young authors' storytelling skills.
Top Prize:
$250
Additional prizes:
A trip to Disneyland Paris, a Chromebook, and a subscription to Atom Home. £50 book voucher or one month subscription to Atom Home for 10 runners-up.
💰 Entry fee: $0
📅 Deadline: June 17, 2024 (Expired)
Lambda Literary
Genres: LGBTQ
The award recognizes LGBTQ-identified writers demonstrating strong potential for promising careers. It includes a cash prize of $1,500 and is awarded annually to two writers.
Top Prize:
$1000 (x2)
📅 Deadline: February 16, 2024 (Expired)
Vancouver Writer's Fest
Genres: Children's and Short Story
The Youth Writing Contest is an annual event organized by the Vancouver Writers Fest for students in British Columbia. It accepts short stories and personal essays, with two categories for different grade levels. It's supported by the Emily Carr University of Art + Design.
Top Prize:
$200
Additional prizes:
1st prize for high school and $100 for elementary, both with publication in the Books & Ideas Newsletter
💰 Entry fee: $0
📅 Deadline: May 31, 2024 (Expired)
Oxford Flash Fiction
Genres: Flash Fiction, Fiction, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult
The contest celebrates the art of flash fiction. It invites writers to explore themes of transformation, inspired by Kafka's legacy, as part of the centenary commemoration of his work. The prize aims to provide opportunities for both emerging and established writers.
Top Prize:
£1000
Additional prizes:
2nd Prize: £200 | 3rd Prize: £100 | New Voice Prize: £200
💰 Entry fee: $9
📅 Deadline: August 31, 2024 (Expired)
Winning Writers
Genres: Humor and Poetry
Now in its 24th year, this contest seeks the best humor poems. There is no fee to enter, and both published and unpublished works are accepted. A total of $3,750 in prizes is available, with the first prize being $2,000.
Top Prize:
$3,750
Additional prizes:
Two-year gift certificate for Duotrope | 2nd: $500
💰 Entry fee: $0
📅 Deadline: April 01, 2025 (Expired)
Ironclad Creative CIC
Genres: Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Fantasy, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novella, Romance, Science Fiction, and Thriller
The Ironclad Creative Short Story Competition is held quarterly, encouraging original short stories based on a provided prompt. The latest competition had a theme of '7.12am' and featured multiple prize-winning entries. The organization aims to support writers, especially those with low incomes and neurodivergent backgrounds.
Top Prize:
£100
Additional prizes:
2nd: £50 3rd & 4th: £25 10 short-listed entries ge4t publication
💰 Entry fee: $8
📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024 (Expired)
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
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: May 01, 2024 (Expired)
Storyshares
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)
Columbia Journalism School
Genres: Non-fiction
Two J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Awards, in the amount of $25,000, are given annually to aid in the completion of significant works of nonfiction on topics of American political or social concern. Recognizing that a nonfiction book based on extensive research often overtaxes the resources available to its author, the project envisions the Awards as a way of closing the gap between the time and money an author has and the time and money that finishing a book requires.
Top Prize:
$25,000
📅 Deadline: December 07, 2023 (Expired)
Reed Magazine
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 31, 2025
Department of English at McGill University
Genres: Poetry
Founded in 2010, the Montreal International Poetry Prize is a global competition awarding $20,000 CAD to a poet for a single poem of 40 or fewer lines. The prize emphasizes original poetry, international readership, and exploration of diverse Englishes. The contest is juried by esteemed poets and critics, and the shortlisted works are published in an anthology.
Top Prize:
$20,000
Additional prizes:
Publication in the Montreal Poetry Prize Anthology
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: May 15, 2024 (Expired)
Blue Ridge Mountains Conference
Genres: Christian
The Foundation Awards are designed for unpublished works from attendees of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. Participants must be registered for the entire conference and follow specific guidelines for submission.
💰 Entry fee: $35
📅 Deadline: April 01, 2025 (Expired)
Writers of the Future
Genres: Fiction, Short Story, Fantasy, and Science Fiction
The Writers of the Future Contest, initiated by L. Ron Hubbard in 1983, supports new writers in science fiction and fantasy, judged by leading authors. Winners receive cash prizes and recognition. The contest encourages original works and offers a platform for upcoming writers.
Top Prize:
$5,000
📅 Deadline: December 31, 2024 (Expired)
Bridport Arts Centre
Genres: Poetry
The Bridport Poetry Prize is a prestigious competition open to poets worldwide, encouraging original and unpublished works. It features significant cash prizes and opportunities for publication in an anthology.
Top Prize:
£5000
Additional prizes:
£1000 for 2nd, £500 for 3rd
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: May 31, 2025
Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA)
Genres: Fiction
The STAR Award is designed for published women's fiction authors. It has two categories: a general category for all full-length published works and an 'Outstanding Debut' category for authors' first published work. Each category winner receives a $500 prize, along with a trophy and recognition. The contest is limited to the first 50 entries per category.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
Trophy and recognition by WFWA for category winners. For finalists, a digital badge and certificate will also be awarded.
💰 Entry fee: $65
📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025 (Expired)
Scottish Arts Trust
Genres: Crime, Humor, Romance, and Short Story
The Edinburgh Short Story Award is open to writers worldwide, welcoming stories of any genre. The award offers substantial cash prizes and the opportunity for publication in The Edinburgh Anthology. It emphasizes inclusivity through bursaries for underrepresented writers.
Top Prize:
$3,000
Additional prizes:
2nd: £500 | 3rd: £250 | Publication in the anthology for top twenty stories
💰 Entry fee: $12
📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025 (Expired)
Narratively
Genres: Essay, Humor, Memoir, and Non-fiction
The Narratively 2024 Memoir Prize is an opportunity to share intimate, true personal stories that resonate with readers. Submissions are open for memoirs that offer a compelling glimpse into unique experiences, presented through vivid, active scenes.
Top Prize:
$3,000
Additional prizes:
$1,000 + publication in Narratively.com
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: December 19, 2024 (Expired)
Trio House Press
Genres: Essay, Memoir, and Non-fiction
The Aurora Polaris Creative Nonfiction Award is an annual contest launched by Trio House Press, focused on creative nonfiction manuscripts. The award aims to recognize innovative and distinct works in this genre.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication
💰 Entry fee: $25
📅 Deadline: May 15, 2025
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