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DIRECTORY

Best Writing Contests in 2025

Showing 404 contests that match your search.

NOWW 26th 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: January 01, 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)

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)

Genres: Essay, Memoir, and Non-fiction

The Personal Essay Competition invites young writers (ages 13-19) to craft essays between 400-1000 words based on the prompt: "Making meaning." The competition emphasizes storytelling from personal perspectives.

Top Prize:

$100

Additional prizes:

Runner-Up and Best Peer Review will each receive $50.

📅 Deadline: June 23, 2025

Genres: Fiction and Novella

Established in 2001, this annual prize awards a novella that excels in the format, offering a $1,000 advance, publication, and 10 copies of the book. Recent judges include notable authors like Steven Dunn and Michael Martone. Submissions open January 1 and close March 31 each year.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Publication and 10 copies of the published book

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Flash Fiction

The competition features an open theme and includes four categories: Fiction, Flash Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction, and Poetry. Each category has a defined maximum word count. Winners will be acknowledged at the festival and have the opportunity to read their entries.

Top Prize:

£75

Additional prizes:

£75 for first prize in each category, plus the opportunity to read the winning entry at the festival. £25 for commended entries in each category.

💰 Entry fee: $4

📅 Deadline: March 28, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction and Non-fiction

Established in 2015, this prize honors outstanding debut literary works by first-generation immigrants. The prize alternates yearly between fiction and nonfiction, highlighting themes of identity and migration.

Top Prize:

$10,000

Additional prizes:

A writing residency from Millay Arts and publication by Restless Books

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: June 07, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

The Creative Writing Award celebrates outstanding new writing talents in poetry and short fiction, offering a platform for authors globally to showcase their work. It emphasizes innovation in content and form across any theme.

Top Prize:

$2,500

Additional prizes:

Publication in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual One-year subscription to The London Magazine, Granta, and Mslexia Consultation with Redhammer Management Six-week writing short stories course from Curtis Brown Creative

💰 Entry fee: $18

📅 Deadline: August 31, 2025

SFPA Poetry Contest

Science Fiction Poetry Association

Genres: Poetry

The SFPA Poetry Contest promotes speculative poetry, rewarding quality works while raising funds for the organization. The contest includes categories for poems of varying lengths—Dwarf (1-10 lines), Short (11-49 lines), and Long (50+ lines). 2024's judge is Stephanie M. Wytovich.

Top Prize:

$150

Additional prizes:

Second: $75 Third: $25 Winners are published on the SFPA website.

💰 Entry fee: $3

📅 Deadline: August 31, 2025

The Bath Children's Novel Award

The Bath Novel Awards

Genres: Children's, Fiction, and Young Adult

The Bath Children's Novel Award is an international writing prize for unagented emerging writers. It seeks novels for children or teens, chapter books, and picture book texts. The winner receives £5,000, a trophy, and feedback for listees.

Top Prize:

£5,000

Additional prizes:

A place on the 'Edit Your Novel the Professional Way' course worth £1,980 for one longlisted writer. Minerva trophy and feedback from an editorial director.

💰 Entry fee: $30

📅 Deadline: November 30, 2024 (Expired)

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)

Best Indie Book Award

Best Indie Book Award

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

The Best Indie Book Award (BIBA) is an international literary contest that recognizes outstanding achievements by independently published authors. Entries are limited to indie published books, including those from small presses and self-published authors, judged on various writing skills.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

A physical trophy or plaque

💰 Entry fee: $65

📅 Deadline: August 01, 2025

Scriptation Showcase

Showcase Script Competition

Genres: Script Writing and Short Story

The Scriptation Showcase is a screenwriting contest that offers exposure to Hollywood industry professionals. Winners' scripts are circulated to directors, showrunners, and producers. The contest includes analysis and feedback on submissions through ScreenplayIQ.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

$500 cash for best script in each category

💰 Entry fee: $59

📅 Deadline: July 20, 2025

Iridescence Award

Kinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Poetry, and Science Fiction

The Iridescence Award is a writing contest for BIPOC authors. It focuses on themes like the supernatural, extraterrestrial, or paranormal, encouraging submissions in short stories and poetry. Winners will have their work published in the Iridescence anthology, and cash awards are available. Entries must be original and unpublished, and they should align with the contest guidelines.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

Publication in the Iridescence anthology | 2nd place: $250 | 3rd place: $100

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2025 (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)

Oxford Flash Fiction Prize 2025

Oxford Flash Fiction

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

The Oxford Flash Fiction Prize celebrates flash fiction, encouraging new voices and showcasing creativity in under 1000 words. This biannual competition invites writers to submit their stories for the chance to win cash prizes and publication.

Top Prize:

£1000

Additional prizes:

2nd Prize: £200 | 3rd Prize: £100 | New Voice Prize: £200 | Publication in the anthology for shortlisted entrants.

💰 Entry fee: $7

📅 Deadline: August 31, 2025

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: 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)

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)

Writing MAGIC

Sadie Tells Stories

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, and Young Adult

The Writing MAGIC contest invites authors to write a short story under 500 words about anything magical. Open to all age groups, stories can be fiction or non-fiction. The contest aims to celebrate creativity and share magical experiences.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

Second place: $150

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: April 01, 2024 (Expired)

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

High-quality unpublished manuscripts in memoir, fiction, and non-fiction are sought for this competition. The contest is designed to amplify the voices of contemporary writers.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Possible book publication/distribution in ebook and paperback formats

💰 Entry fee: $40

📅 Deadline: October 15, 2025

Genres: Poetry

The Heroica Poetry Prize is a competition aimed at women and non-binary authors and poets, offering monetary rewards and publication in an anthology.

Top Prize:

£125

Additional prizes:

2nd: £50 | 3rd: £25 | Winning and long-listed poems will be published.

💰 Entry fee: $2

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Non-fiction

The Future Leaders Competition encourages youth to engage with civic ideas and challenges, aiming to recognize and reward future leaders through scholarships and awards. The prompt for Winter 2024 explores the essence of effective political leadership.

Top Prize:

$250

Additional prizes:

First place winners receive $250, a Certificate of Achievement, and will be spotlighted in a biographical article. Second and Third Place winners also recognized with certificates and publication of their submissions.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: January 20, 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: Essay and Non-fiction

The Young Sports Journalist competition invites entries from students aged 14-21. Participants must submit a piece between 700-800 words responding to a prompt. Winners receive recognition in Pitch Magazine and a chance for work experience.

Top Prize:

£50

Additional prizes:

Publication in magazine and online, work experience at Pitch Magazine.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: April 09, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Short Story

The Creative Writing NZ Short Story Prize 2024 is an international competition open to entrants worldwide. Entries can be on any subject, theme, or genre, with a maximum of 3000 words. Judged anonymously, the winner will receive $1,000, and two runners-up will each receive $200, along with free online courses and publication on the website.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Two runners-up will receive $200 each and a free online course. Winner will also receive a free online course and publication on the website

💰 Entry fee: $9

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024 (Expired)

Write By The Sea Literary Festival 2024

Write By The Sea Festival Committee

Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, and Poetry

The competition features four categories: Fiction Short Story, Flash Fiction, Poetry, and Memoir/Personal Essay, with original works encouraged. Winners will be invited to read at the festival and have their work published.

Top Prize:

€500

Additional prizes:

2nd place: €300 3rd place: €200 Free weekend pass to the festival, publication in The Waxed Lemon Literary Journal.

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: June 21, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction and Flash Fiction

The Lascaux Prize in Flash Fiction invites submissions of stories that may be previously published or unpublished. True stories are accepted if written in a narrative style. The contest emphasizes the importance of storytelling.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Winner also receives a bronze medallion and publication in The Lascaux Review

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2025

Genres: Children's

The Celebration Day writing competition encourages students aged 5-18 to research and retell stories of inspiring people from history. This year, the optional theme focuses on sporting heroes. Submissions can be written articles or audio pieces.

Additional prizes:

iPad and a published story on The Day's website.

📅 Deadline: May 16, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

The contest is open to stories of 1500 words or fewer with a link to Australia. It aims to showcase short stories and has an award pool exceeding $1420 in cash and books, encouraging submissions from all authors aged 16 and above.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

2nd: $300 | 3rd: $50. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places also get publication + e-book + paperback + choice of any two Stringybark anthologies. 4th place gets publication + e-book.

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: February 25, 2024 (Expired)

The Hope Prize

Hope Prize

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Short Story

The Hope Prize is an international short story competition focused on original stories of hope, open to writers aged 18 and over, with entries accepted in English. The prize encourages bold self-expression and aims to spotlight charities making impactful changes.

Top Prize:

$10 000 AUD

Additional prizes:

2nd: $2000 AUD | 3rd: $1000 AUD | Shortlisted stories will be published in a Simon & Schuster anthology.

💰 Entry fee: $30

📅 Deadline: October 31, 2025

Genres: Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Mystery, Science Fiction, and Thriller

This contest invites submissions of short stories exploring the theme of 'Freedom' within the genres of crime, speculative, and fantasy fiction. Winning entries will be published in a special issue combining Tangled Web Magazine and Mirk Fantasy Magazine.

Top Prize:

£100

Additional prizes:

Publication

💰 Entry fee: $6

📅 Deadline: July 31, 2024 (Expired)

Spring Flash Fiction Contest

The Berlin Literary Review

Genres: Flash Fiction

This contest is for flash fiction pieces of 1,500 words or less. Winning entries will be published in the magazine.

Top Prize:

€660

Additional prizes:

Second place: €100 Third place: €60 Winner has publication in the online magazine for winners and shortlisted participants.

💰 Entry fee: $6

📅 Deadline: May 31, 2024 (Expired)

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)

Great American Think-Off

New York Mills Regional Cultural Center

Genres: Essay and Non-fiction

The Great American Think-Off is an annual philosophical essay contest that invites participants to submit essays on significant questions of life. The contest culminates in a live debate where finalists present their arguments, and the audience votes on the best perspective.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

Four cash prizes of $500 each for finalists.

📅 Deadline: April 01, 2024 (Expired)

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