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DIRECTORY

Best Writing Contests in 2024

Showing 428 contests that match your search.

Genres: Fiction

The John Steinbeck Award for Fiction recognizes exceptional works of fiction. Aesthetically, they are open to most styles and approaches, including experimental and literary. All works should be stand-alone short stories, not chapters of a longer work.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Entry includes a free copy of the latest edition of Reed.

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: November 01, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Essay, Memoir, and Non-fiction

We seek un-agented full-length creative nonfiction manuscripts including memoir, essay collections, etc. 50,000 - 80,000 words.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Publication

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: May 15, 2024 (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

Drue Heinz Literature Prize

University of Pittsburgh Press

Genres: Novella and Short Story

The Drue Heinz Literature Prize recognizes and supports writers of short fiction, awarding a cash prize of $15,000 and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press. It is open to authors with a book-length collection of fiction or at least three short stories/novellas published in reputable magazines. Manuscripts are judged anonymously by noted writers.

Top Prize:

$15,000

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2024 (Expired)

Four Line Poem

FanStory.com Inc.

Genres: Poetry

Write a four line poem that has a specific syllable count. The first line has 1 syllable, the second line has 5 syllables, the third line has 5 syllables, and the last line has 9 syllables. The subject can be anything.

Top Prize:

$100

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: May 16, 2024 (Expired)

Hastings Book Festival - Poetry

Hastings Book Festival

Genres: Poetry and LGBTQ

The Hastings Book Festival Poetry contest invites poets to submit their original works. The competition is judged anonymously, with a focus on innovative and courageous writing. Winners will be announced during the festival in September 2024.

Top Prize:

1st place: £250

Additional prizes:

2nd place: £100 3rd place: £50 1st place also receives 1-1 mentoring with a professional writer, festival pass, and a free online course of choice worth £75. LGBT+ Prize includes a 3-day creative retreat.

💰 Entry fee: $8

📅 Deadline: July 07, 2024 (Expired)

Autumn 2024 Short Story Battle

Writing Battle, Inc.

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

The Autumn 2024 Short Story Battle is a peer-powered contest designed for writers to showcase their short stories. The contest aims to engage the community and provide recognition for creative talents.

Top Prize:

$2,000

Additional prizes:

$2000 prize for 4x Genre Winners; $500 prize for 4x Genre Runner-ups.

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: October 27, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Novella, and Script Writing

We are not concerned with genre distinctions. Send us the best you have; we want only for it to be thoughtful, intelligent, and beautiful. We want art that grows in complexity upon each visitation; we enjoy ornate, cerebral, and voluptuous phrases executed with thematic intent.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

Publication in "AZURE: A Journal of Literary Thought"

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: September 24, 2024 (Expired)

Maggie Award for Prepublished Writers

Georgia Romance Writers

Genres: Fiction, Novel, and Romance

The Maggie Award for Excellence for Prepublished writers aims to recognize and reward romance writing mastery. Each entry receives two critiques from published authors, and finalists are assessed by industry agents and editors. The highest-scored manuscript in each category wins a Maggie Award medallion.

Additional prizes:

Maggie Award medallion for highest-scored manuscript in each category; all finalists receive certificates. Critiques returned to all entrants.

💰 Entry fee: $40

📅 Deadline: April 26, 2024 (Expired)

Flash Fiction Award

Bath Flash Fiction Award

Genres: Fiction and Flash Fiction

In addition to winning cash prizes, entrants have the opportunity to appear in our print and digital anthology collections. Our books are published by the award-winning small press Ad Hoc Fiction, and are available to buy from their own independent bookshop as well as worldwide from Amazon. 300 word limit.

Top Prize:

£1000

Additional prizes:

£300 for 2nd, £100 for 3rd

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: June 02, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

The Moth Poetry Prize is one of the largest international contests for a single unpublished poem, attracting thousands of entries from poets worldwide. The prize acknowledges original work and is judged anonymously.

Top Prize:

€6,000

Additional prizes:

3x runners up: €1,000 | 8x further prizes of €250 | Publication online in Irish Times

💰 Entry fee: $16

📅 Deadline: December 31, 2024

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

Stories may be previously published or unpublished, and simultaneous submissions are accepted. Winner receives $1,000 and a bronze medallion. Finalists receive $100. Winner and finalists are published in both the online and annual print editions of The Lascaux Review.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Publication in The Lascaux Review

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: December 31, 2021 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

The New Writers Poetry Competition 2024 is open to published and unpublished poets from around the world. There is no specific theme but poems should be no longer than 42 lines. NewWriters.org.uk will donate £1.00 from each entry to First Story (a creative writing charity in the UK).

Top Prize:

£1,000

Additional prizes:

2nd: £300 | 3rd: £200

💰 Entry fee: $13

📅 Deadline: July 31, 2024 (Expired)

AWP Prize for Creative Nonfiction

Association of Writers & Writing Programs

Genres: Non-fiction

AWP sponsors the Award Series, an annual competition for the publication of excellent new book-length works. The competition is open to all authors writing in English regardless of nationality or residence, and is available to published and unpublished authors alike.

Top Prize:

$2,500

Additional prizes:

Publication by the University of Georgia Press

💰 Entry fee: $30

📅 Deadline: February 28, 2024 (Expired)

"Write On!" Short Story Contest

Ann Arbor District Library

Genres: Children's and Short Story

The annual "Write On!" Short Story Contest for Grades 3-5 accepts story entries each winter. All writers, their friends, and families are invited to a Story Celebration and awards ceremony on Saturday, April 23, 2022, featuring a published children's author and the top three writers in each grade will receive an award.

Top Prize:

Publication on website

📅 Deadline: February 05, 2024 (Expired)

Tor House Prize for Poetry

Robinson Jeffers Tor House Foundation

Genres: Poetry

The annual Tor House Prize for Poetry is a living memorial to American poet Robinson Jeffers. The contest is open to well-crafted poetry in all styles, ranging from experimental work to traditional forms, including short narrative poems. Poems should be no longer than 3 pages.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

$200 for honorable mention

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: March 15, 2024 (Expired)

Oxford Flash Fiction Prize 2024

Oxford Flash Fiction

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

Write yourself into history and become one of the greats with the Oxford Flash Fiction Prize. For centuries, the greats have come to Oxford to ink masterpieces. Now, in one of the oldest towns, where the history of the English language can be traced back to its ancient streets, we are celebrating one of the newest forms in literature – flash fiction.

Top Prize:

£1000

Additional prizes:

2nd Prize: £200 | 3rd Prize: £100 | New Voice Prize: £200

💰 Entry fee: $9

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction and Novel

The Masters Review hosts an annual Novel Excerpt Contest seeking self-contained excerpts up to 6,000 words. The contest emphasizes strong narrative voice and character development, primarily in literary fiction. The winner receives a cash prize, online publication, and a consultation with a literary agent.

Top Prize:

$3,000

Additional prizes:

2nd: $300 | 3rd: $200 Online publication and an hour-long consultation with a literary agent.

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: October 27, 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: September 30, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

The Trio Award for First or Second Book includes $1,000, publication, and twenty books. The Trio Award for First or Second Book is only open to poets with less than two books published.

Top Prize:

$1,000

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: March 15, 2024 (Expired)

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

The Genre Smash Short Story Challenge invites writers to create a story combining two randomly assigned genres from a list. Participants will have a maximum of 5,000 words to submit their entries. The winning story will be published on the website.

Top Prize:

£1,000

Additional prizes:

Publication

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: October 23, 2023 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction, Science Writing, and Science Fiction

Share a Science Fiction themed story to enter this writing contest with a cash prizes. Let your imagination fly and enjoy sharing your writing.

Top Prize:

$100

Additional prizes:

Winning entries will be features on the FanStory.com welcome page.

💰 Entry fee: $9

📅 Deadline: April 12, 2023 (Expired)

Goldfinch Books Novel Award

Goldfinch Books

Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novel, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult

The Goldfinch Novel Award is a prize for emerging authors, inviting submissions of the first 3,000 words of a completed novel plus a 1-page synopsis. It aims to discover new literary talent and is in partnership with the Alton Arts Festival.

Top Prize:

£500

Additional prizes:

Shortlisted authors receive feedback from judges, free place on the Creative Writing Course, Goldfinch membership

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: May 31, 2025

Annual Poetry Contest

Third Wednesday

Genres: Poetry

Each year Third Wednesday awards 3 $100 prizes in its annual poetry contest. For this year's contest, entries will be accepted from November 1, 2020 through February 15, 2021. We will accept contest entries of up to 3 previously unpublished poems of any style and subject matter. There is no limit on length.

Top Prize:

$100

Additional prizes:

print copy of the 3rd Wednesday contest issue

💰 Entry fee: $6

📅 Deadline: February 28, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, and Flash Fiction

The competition invites young writers aged 13-19 to explore themes of fairytales and myths, honing their creativity and writing skills in a structured environment.

Top Prize:

$100

Additional prizes:

Runner up: $50 | Best peer review: $50

📅 Deadline: March 04, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

We are looking for stories (of any genre) ranging between 1,000 and 3,000 words, with strong characters, a well-crafted plot and realistic dialogue (where used). Make us laugh, make us cry, but most of all, make us feel!

Top Prize:

£500

Additional prizes:

£200 for 2nd place, £100 for 3rd place

💰 Entry fee: $8

📅 Deadline: February 29, 2024 (Expired)

Lune Poetry Contest

FanStory.com Inc.

Genres: Poetry

A Lune is a 5-3-5 contest. That means the first line has five syllables. The second line of your poem will have three. And the final line will have five again. Your poem can rhyme. Write about anything. Cash prize!

Top Prize:

$100

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: April 07, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

The Loraine Williams Poetry Prize is an award for a single poem, to be published in The Georgia Review. The winner will receive an honorarium of $1,500 and an expenses-paid trip to Athens, Georgia, to give a public reading with the judge. We are pleased to announce that Hanif Abdurraqib will serve as the final judge for the 2023 Loraine Williams Poetry Prize.

Top Prize:

$1,500

Additional prizes:

Expenses-paid trip to Athens, Georgia

💰 Entry fee: $30

📅 Deadline: May 15, 2024 (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)

Fish Short Memoir Prize

Fish Publishing

Genres: Memoir, Non-fiction, and Short Story

Everyone has a memoir in them. Go for it! Write a piece of your life, send it to Fish. Qian Julie Wang, author of her memoir Beautiful Country, will select 10 short memoirs to be published in the Fish Anthology 2022, which will be launched during the West Cork Literary Festival.

Top Prize:

€1,000

Additional prizes:

2nd: Writing Course (online) + €300 | 3rd: €300

💰 Entry fee: $18

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2024 (Expired)

The Carla Crown Jewel of Books

Mid-America Romance Authors (MARA)

Genres: Romance

The Carla Crown Jewel of Books contest is for traditionally or self-published authors with an original copyright date of 2022. Finalists are announced in late October and the winner on or about November 30, 2024.

📅 Deadline: June 10, 2024 (Expired)

The Bedford Competition

The Bedford Competition

Genres: Poetry and Short Story

The Bedford Competition runs annual international short story and poetry competitions open to anyone over 17 years. Winning entries are published in an anthology. The 2024 competition opens on May 1st and closes on October 31st.

Top Prize:

$1,500

Additional prizes:

2nd Prize £300, 3rd Prize £200, Cygnature Prizes £200, Bedford Prizes £100

💰 Entry fee: $9

📅 Deadline: October 31, 2024 (Expired)

First 5 Pages Prize

Stockholm Writers Festival

Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult

SWF is proud to launch the First 5 Pages Prize to mark our 5th anniversary. Dazzle us with your brilliance. Delight us with your wit. Deceive us with your dastardly plot-twists. There will be one Grand Prize winner chosen from all entries. The winner will receive: $1000 cash, a ticket to SWF22, a pitch meeting with an agent conducted over Zoom, two night’s accommodation at a boutique hotel, and a full developmental edit donated by Reedsy, the industry’s leading platform for writing services.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

A full developmental edit donated by Reedsy & pitch meeting with an agent

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2022 (Expired)

Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards

Cleveland Foundation

Genres: Novel, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Poetry

The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards recognize outstanding works that contribute to our understanding of racism and cultural diversity. Established in 1935 by Edith Anisfield Wolf, it remains the only American book prize focused on these themes.

Top Prize:

$10,000

Additional prizes:

Winners receive $10,000 and are honored at a ceremony in Cleveland.

📅 Deadline: December 31, 2024

Debut Dagger

Crime Writer's Association

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Suspense, and Thriller

The Debut Dagger is a competition for the opening of a crime novel by a writer who isn’t represented by an agent by the time the competition closes, and who has never had a traditional contract for any novel of any length, or who has never self-published any novel of any length in the last 5 years. Writers submit their opening 3,000 words and a 1,500 word synopsis. Entries from shortlisted writers are sent to UK literary agents and publishers. Every year, authors find representation this way.

Top Prize:

$577

💰 Entry fee: $41

📅 Deadline: February 29, 2024 (Expired)

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