The Best Science Fiction Writing Contests of 2022
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
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Join our short story competition
Submit a short story based on 1 of 5 weekly prompts. Winners get $250.
Showing 44 contests
Uncharted Magazine Sci-Fi/Fantasy Short Story Award
Uncharted Magazine
We invite writers to submit to the Uncharted Magazine Science Fiction and Fantasy Prize from August 1 to September 30, 2021. We’re excited to offer the winner of this prize $3000 and publication, while the 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive publication and $300 and $200, respectively along with publication.
Top prize
$3,000
Additional prizes
Publication in Uncharted Magazine
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: September 30, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Fantasy, Science Fiction, Short Story
View contestThe Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition
Chicken House Books
We're looking for original ideas, a fresh voice, a diverse range of entries and stories that children will love! To enter, you must have written a full-length novel suitable for children/young adults aged between 7 and 18 years. We suggest a minimum of 30,000 words and ask that manuscripts do not exceed 80,000 words. The IET 150 Award will be awarded to a manuscript that celebrates Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
Top prize
A worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House & royalty advance of £10,000
Additional prizes
An offer of representation from a top literary agent
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: June 01, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Novel, Novella, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Young Adult
View contestBristol Short Story Prize
Tangent Books
Welcome to the Bristol Short Story Prize – an annual international writing competition open to all published and unpublished, UK and non-UK based writers. Stories can be on any theme or subject and are welcome in any style including graphic, verse or genre-based (Crime, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Historical, Horror, Romance, Children’s etc..) .
Top prize
£1,000
Additional prizes
£500, £250, £100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: May 04, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction, Young Adult
View contestKiller Nashville Silver Falchion Award
Killer Nashville
The Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award is committed to discovering new writers, as well as superlative books by established authors and, upon discovery, sharing those writers and their works with new readers. There are a large number of both fiction and non-fiction categories you can enter.
Top prize
$250
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $79
Deadline: June 15, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Science Fiction, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller
View contestJim Baen Memorial Short Story Award
Baen Books
The National Space Society and Baen Books applaud the role that science fiction plays in advancing real science and have teamed up to sponsor this short fiction contest in memory of Jim Baen. We are seeking short stories of no more than 8,000 words, that show the near future (no more than about 50-60 years out) of manned space exploration.
Top prize
Publication on the Baen Books website for normal paying rates
Additional prizes
Free entry into the 2021 International Space Development Conference, a year's membership to the National Space Society, a prize package
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: February 01, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story
View contestThe Roswell Award & Feminist Futures Award
The Omega Sci-Fi Awards
The Omega Sci-Fi Awards are proud to accept entries for The Roswell Award international short science fiction story competition from writers age 16 and older. The Feminist Futures Award will be awarded to a distinct winner for an outstanding feminist sci-fi story.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
UCLA Extension Writers’ Program
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: December 21, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story
View contestThe Rubery Prize
Rubery Book Awards
The Rubery Prize is a prestigious international book award seeking the best books by indie writers, self published authors and books published by independent presses, judged by reputable judges. Through our reputation of finding quality and outstanding books we aim to bring recognition to the works that win and heighten an author's profile.
Top prize
£2000
Additional prizes
£200, a write-up
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $60
Deadline: March 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult, Romance
View contestIFW Sci-Fi First Pages Contest
Institute for Writers
Can you establish your science fiction world and pull a reader into your story in the first 1,000 words? Submit the first 1,000 words of your unpublished sci-fi manuscript aimed at an adult (or young adult) audience for your chance to win the grand prize.
Top prize
$650
Additional prizes
Critique from an IFW Instructor
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $19
Deadline: August 31, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Science Fiction
View contestInsecure Writer's Support Group Anthology Contest
Insecure Writer's Support Group
The winning stories will be edited and published by Dancing Lemur Press' imprint Freedom Fox Press next year in the IWSG anthology. Authors will receive royalties on books sold, both print and eBook. The top story will have the honor of giving the anthology its title. This year's genre is sweet romance, and the theme is first love.
Top prize
Publication by Freedom Fox Press
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: September 01, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Science Fiction, Romance
View contest
