The Best Romance Writing Contests of 2023
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Tadpole Press
100 words per entry. Submit as many entries as you’d like. All ages. All genders. All nationalities. All writers welcome. The theme is using humor as healing.
$1,000
2nd: writing coach package 3rd: developmental or diversity editing package.
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: April 30, 2023
Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult, Children's, Poetry, Romance, Short Story, Suspense, Travel
View contestFairfield Scribes
The Scribes Prize is looking for fiction & creative nonfiction stories of 90-110 words. Prizes include publication, award seals, and cash: $250 for gold, $125 for silver, $60 for bronze & 15 honorable mentions for $20 each. Simultaneous submissions & reprints welcome. Max 3 submissions per author. All entries will receive feedback from 2 editors.
$250
2nd: $125 | 3rd: $60 | Publication | Editor's deedback
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: September 01, 2023
Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller
View contestGrist
Imagine 2200 is an invitation to writers from all over the globe to imagine a future in which solutions to the climate crisis flourish and help bring about radical improvements to our world.
$3,000
2nd: $2000 | 3rd: $1000 | 9x finalists: $300 | Publication
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: June 13, 2023
Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Fantasy, Humor, Mystery, Romance
View contestThe Christy Award
The Christy Award® was established in 1999 to acknowledge the value and impact of the novel of faith in contemporary culture. Since that time, the Christys have been a focal point for the writers and publishers in our community, symbolizing the best aspirations and accomplishments of writers who write from a perspective of faith and who create stories with matters of belief at their core.
Award
💰 Fee: $175
Deadline: March 31, 2023
Christian, Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Romance, Young Adult
View contestWine Country Writers' Festival
Fire up those pens and get those unpublished stories and poems submitted to WCWF 3nd Annual Writing Contest. Three winners in each category (fiction/nonfiction/poetry), publication in Anthology, and your own copy. Entries: $15 or two for $25.
$150
2nd Place: $75 | 3rd Place: $50
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: June 30, 2023
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestEvening Standard
We’re searching for fresh new voices who can take the idea of ‘belonging’ in a surprising direction, or tackle it in a way that stops us in our tracks. This competition is not limited to a ‘short story’. Submissions can be a piece of spoken word or performance, perhaps it’s a monologue, a script or a self-contained episode of a narrative podcast. Entries can be submitted as written, audio, or film.
Mentorship with top industry contacts
Publication in Evening Standard media
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: April 12, 2023
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestElegant Literature
One of the largest awards open to unpublished writers, and the only one closed to professionals. We are the first magazine to pay pro rates and only accept submissions from new writers, paying new authors over $50,000 last year. One new writer receives the grand prize. We also choose the best stories, pay the authors above-professional rates, and publish them in our magazine. March head judge is Creag Munroe.
$3,000
Paid publication, 25 x $20 USD | Free entry to Novelist Accelerator | Now Novel Package
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: April 01, 2023
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult, Flash Fiction, Science Writing
View contestSunspot Lit
Geminga is a neutron star so small it was difficult to detect. It was named, in part, for a transcription of gh’è minga, meaning “it’s not there.” With Geminga: $500 for Tiny Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, or Art, Sunspot Lit honors the power of the small. No restrictions on theme or category. Word limit is 100 for fiction and nonfiction. Micropoetry is limited to 140 characters. Graphic novelsshould be 4 pages or less.
$500
Publication in digital and print
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: March 31, 2023
Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestPapers Owl
To all TV shows nerds: we're incredibly excited to announce a competition for the best essay based on the TV series you are keen on. This is a new challenge for folks who may be under budget and interested in winning subscriptions on streaming services (Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Disney).
Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, or Disney+ subscription for 6 months
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: May 15, 2023
Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestFirst Pages Prize
This international prize is open to unagented writers anywhere in the world for the first five pages (1,250 words) of a longer work of fiction or creative nonfiction. This year we will award three prizes in BOTH fiction and creative nonfiction! In addition to cash awards, winners receive developmental mentoring, consultation with a literary agent, and publicity.
$2,000
Developmental Mentoring & Agent Consultation
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: April 10, 2023
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestDarling Axe Editing
Summarize your novel in 500 words for a chance at a $1000 CAD prize pool! Our judge, Michelle Barker, will be asking herself one question: "Does this synopsis convince me that I'm in the hands of an adept novelist with a unique and engaging story to tell?"
$700 CAD
2nd: $200 CAD | 3rd: $100 CAD
💰 Fee: $4
Deadline: May 31, 2023
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestWinning Writers
Submit a self-published or hybrid-published book, up to 200,000 words in length. One grand prize winner will receive $10,000, a marketing analysis and one-hour phone consultation with Carolyn Howard-Johnson, a $300 credit at BookBaby, three months of Plus service (a $207 value) and a $500 account credit from Book Award Pro, and 3 free ads in the Winning Writers newsletter (a $525 value)
$10,000
$1,000 for top winner in each category | $300 for honorable mentions
💰 Fee: $75
Deadline: June 30, 2023
Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Children's, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestGutsy Great Novelist
The Gutsy Great Novelist Chapter One Prize is awarded for an outstanding first chapter of an unpublished novel. The prize is open internationally to anyone over 18 writing a novel in English in any genre for adult or YA readers. Winners will be announced March 31, 2023.
$1,000
2nd: $500 |3rd: $250
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: March 01, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Novel, Young Adult, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller
View contestIntrepid Times
Write an original, factual, first-person travel story about a time you experienced romance while traveling. Feel free to explore romance in all of its manifestations, but ensure that your travel story builds itself around the context of a place or experience. Editors will be looking for originality, voice, and a satisfying story arc that captures attention and makes use of imagery to pull the reader along at every step.
$200
Publication
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: March 19, 2023 (Expired)
Non-fiction, Romance, Travel
View contestSadie Tells Stories
Write a short story, under 500 words that is all about magic. It can be for any age group. It can be fiction or non-fiction. Get creative. Have fun. And share your magic with the world!
$500
$150 USD for second prize
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: April 01, 2023
Fantasy, Fiction, Short Story, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Young Adult
View contestGrassroots Literary Magazine
Three awards will be given out to authors in categories of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, with a special fourth award being given to a standout self-published work. Each winning author will be awarded $1,500, given the author attends the festival to host a workshop decided by the festival staff. A two-night hotel stay will be provided.
$1,500 x4
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: February 19, 2023 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestNorthwestern Ontario Writers Workshop (NOWW)
A Canadian contest with an international flair. As part of our 25th anniversary celebration, we have increased the prize total to $1800 over six major categories: poetry, short fiction, creative non-fiction, crime fiction, literary critical writing, and The Bill MacDonald prize for prose (A Northwestern Ontario setting must be central to the work).
$150 CAD
Publication in NOWW magazine
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: February 28, 2023 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestMum Life Stories
Win cash prizes and publication in an anthology. This is the 6th and final round of the second series of micro fiction competitions on the blog 'Mum Life Stories'. Just 500 words around the them 'Empty Nest', which can be interpreted any way you like, as long as it includes a mum somewhere in the story. There will be an anthology release early to mid 2023 including the shortlists (Top 10) from each round.
$31
Publication
💰 Fee: $2
Deadline: November 06, 2022 (Expired)
Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestWenlock Olympian Society
A prestigious short story competition with a maximum of 2,500 words. Entries can be on any theme in any genre. We are looking for flair and creativity. The competition will be judged by highly acclaimed author Emma Cooper. Winners to be announced in March 2023.
$165
2nd: $55 | 3rd: $27
💰 Fee: $6
Deadline: November 23, 2022 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller
View contestStory Unlikely
Short Story contest with $1,000 prize package and NO entry fee. Fiction or memoir, up to 4,500 words. Looking for well-written, expertly told stories, regardless of genre.
$1,000 total package
Publication
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: December 31, 2022 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestSadie Tells Stories
For Sadie's final writing competition of 2022 she wanted to inspire you to have a little fun, mischievous fun that is. One of the definitions of mischief is: irresponsibly playful. Writing MISCHIEF is a 500 word short story contest. The story can be fiction or non-fiction as long as it includes an element of mischief. As usual, it does not need to be about mischief, it just needs to have an element of it somewhere in the story.
$500
2nd: $150
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: November 15, 2022 (Expired)
Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Young Adult
View contestGlobe Soup
For this short story challenge, all participants will be randomly assigned a period in history. As soon as you receive your assignment, you'll have until the closing time to research, write, and submit a short story of no more than 4,000 words, set during this historical period.
$1,131
💰 Fee: $17
Deadline: October 28, 2022 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestThe Historical Fiction Company
An exclusive book contest for Historical Fiction, including all subgenres of historical romance, mystery, fantasy, time travel, alternate history, YA/children, non-fiction, and novellas. We have sixteen categories with gold, silver, and bronze winners in each category. The top prize is chosen from the gold category winners and receives $1000 in cash plus a stunning crystal trophy and our new prize - a one-of-a-kind leather-bound book of the winning book.
$1,000
💰 Fee: $50
Deadline: November 29, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Novel, Novella, Romance, Young Adult
View contestSunspot Lit
Beginnings weight one moment with a particular power. A poem handles this differently than flash fiction, a novel, a graphic novel or an art series. Send your best opening. No restrictions on theme, category, or the length of the piece or collection from which the excerpt comes. Publication will be offered to runners-up and finalists.
$250
Publication in digital and print editions
💰 Fee: $8
Deadline: October 09, 2022 (Expired)
Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Romance, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestShepton Snowdrops Festival
The Shepton Snowdrop Festival is inviting poets, young and old, to pen a poem that reflects the power of nature, its reawakening, and the hope it brings. ‘Hope in nature’ is the theme for the 2022 Poetry Competition. During the short days and long evenings of winter, the green tips and delicate flowers of the snowdrop emerge to give hope and a sense of renewal.
$260
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: January 08, 2023 (Expired)
Poetry, Romance
View contestPost-Apocalyptic Media
We’re looking for a short story (between 2k-5k words) within the post-apocalyptic genre. Your story can be fiction, non-fiction, past, present, or future, but it MUST take place after some sort of global catastrophe. Contest open to anyone 18 years or older worldwide.
$300
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: December 16, 2022 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller
View contestSparkPoint Studio
The STEP contest awards female BIPOC authors a publishing package to publish on either She Writes Press or SparkPress. The purpose of this contest is to support inclusivity across our own lists, and to fortify our own mission to give voice to women writers.
Publishing package valued at $8500
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 15, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Novel, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestBooksShelf
We look for an original and captivating work of fiction or nonfiction. The genre is not important - the story is. We're looking forward to reading your amazing books!
$200 USD Fiction | $100 USD Nonfiction
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: January 31, 2023 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestTallahassee Writers Association
The Seven Hills Literary Contest and Penumbra Poetry and Haiku Contest (collectively, “the Contest”) is sponsored annually by the Tallahassee Writers Association. The contest is open to English-language entries from around the world. For the first time, we are open to published entries as well as unpublished entries.
$300
Published in the Seven Hills Review
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: September 30, 2022 (Expired)
Children's, Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestSadie Tells Stories
Writing LOVE is a 500 word short story contest. The story can be fiction or non-fiction as long as it includes an element of love. A love for life, for nature, for someone, for peace, for a passion..
$500
$150 to the runner up
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: August 15, 2022 (Expired)
Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Young Adult
View contestPigeon Review
A flash fiction competition in honor of the Pigeon Review Publication turning 1 year old.
$100
2nd: $75 | 3rd: $25 | Finalist & Top 3 Published
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: August 31, 2022 (Expired)
Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller
View contestBriar Press NY
Briar Press NY is looking for a Novella in the Gothic tradition, previously unpublished and set in any historical time period and place/culture up until 1970. We are looking for beautiful writing, an engaging plot, memorable characters, and that authentic Gothic atmosphere (classic tropes are welcomed, but we also want substance and depth!) 75 to 150 pp long (18,000 to 38,000 words)
Publication with Briar Press NY in Autumn 2022
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: July 15, 2022 (Expired)
Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Novella, Romance, Thriller
View contestBest Indie Book Award
The annual Best Indie Book Award® (or BIBA®) is an international literary awards contest recognizing self-published and independently published authors from all over the world. Entries are limited to independently (indie) published books, including those from small presses, e-book publishers, and self-published authors.
Trophy
💰 Fee: $65
Deadline: October 01, 2022 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestBeagle North
The theme for Beagle North's short story competition changes quarterly. - Your story must be no longer than 2,500 words (not including the title) - Only one story permitted per person, each quarter - Stories must be in English
£20 Amazon Voucher
£10 Amazon voucher for 2nd and 3rd place
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: June 30, 2022 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller
View contestChanticleer Book Reviews and Media
The Dante Rossetti Awards Categories are: Contemporary Young Adult; SFF & Paranormal; Dystopian/Edgy/Urban; Mystery/Thriller/Suspense; Historical Young Adult; YA Adventure/Romance. The Chanticleer Prize Package includes: A Prize Ribbon to use in promotion at book signings and book festivals Digital Badges for display on your website or incorporation into book covers Book stickers to identify your print books to bookstore shoppers as they browse.
$1,000
💰 Fee: $99
Deadline: August 30, 2022 (Expired)
Fiction, Mystery, Novel, Romance, Science Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Young Adult
View contest