The Best Short Story Writing Contests of 2023
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
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Showing 240 contests
The Reedsy Prompts Contest
Reedsy
Every Friday, Reedsy sends out five writing prompts. Enter your response within a week for a chance at $250. Winners may also be included in a future issue of Reedsy’s literary magazine, Prompted.
Top prize
$250
Additional prizes
$25 credit toward Reedsy editorial services
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: December 31, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestStory Unlikely's Short Story Contest
Story Unlikely
Story Unlikely's Annual Short Story contest is simply looking for great stories, judged both by the technical and literary quality as well as the author's ability to tell a story. We are not genre specific, and judging is blind, not based on the author's credentials, background, or pedigree. This is merit only. May the best story win.
Top prize
$750
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: January 31, 2024
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestFrightening First Line Contest 2023
Gotham Writers Workshop
Autumn is the season of rustling leaves, a chill in the air, and, of course, Halloween. In that spirit, we invite you to create the first line of a frightening story. But we want that first line to be so intriguing or chilling or scary that it makes our skin tingle and our nerves twitch.
Top prize
Free Gotham Writers class
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: November 30, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Short Story, Thriller
View contestWinter Flash Fiction Battle
Writing Battle
Three days to write a 1000 word short story. The peer-powered quarterly writing contest where every story receives oodles of feedback. Write one. Read ten. Win thousands.
Top prize
$10,000
Additional prizes
Feedback by industry professionals.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: February 01, 2024
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller
View contestAutumn Short Story Battle
Writing Battle
Five days to write a 2000 word short story. The peer-powered quarterly writing contest where every story receives oodles of feedback. Write one. Read ten. Win thousands.
Top prize
$10,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: October 31, 2023
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller
View contest7 Day Story Writing Challenge
Globe Soup
Register now for our next 7-day story writing challenge. A secret theme, a randomly assigned genre, and just 7 days to write a story of no more than 2,000 words. Our 7-day story writing challenges take place throughout the year. The challenges are free and you can even get feedback on your story. Take part in one challenge or take part in all of them!
Top prize
£500
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 16, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestWriting LOVE
Sadie Tells Stories
Writing LOVE is a 500 word short story contest. It can be fiction or non-fiction. It can be a love of anything. A love for life, for nature, for a life partner, for peace, for justice, for a passion... The story also doesn't need to be about love, it just has to have an element of love.
Top prize
$500
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: November 15, 2023
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Young Adult
View contestInspiring Fiction's Fantasy Contest
Inspiring Fiction
Inspiring Fiction’s fantasy short story contest is on the theme ‘Belonging’. The winner and shortlisted entries will be published in the second issue of Mirk Fantasy Magazine.
Top prize
£100
Additional prizes
Publication in Mirk Fantasy Magazine
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $6
Deadline: October 31, 2023
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Short Story
View contestShort Story Competition 2023
Write the World
What truth do you want to convey through your stories? This month, write a short story of up to 1000 words and invite readers into a contained universe. With only a small word limit to work with, you must choose carefully. Remember, as Neil Gaiman once said: “Short stories are tiny windows into other worlds and other minds and other dreams.”
Top prize
$100
Additional prizes
Runner up: $50 | Best peer review: $50
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: November 27, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestScience Fiction & Fantasy Writing 2023
Write the World
Fantasy and sci-fi stir our imaginations, inviting us to think outside the limits of the life we know. This month, you have the extraordinary and exciting task of reimagining the world. In a fantasy or sci-fi short story, take your readers on a journey into a world of your imagination.
Top prize
$100
Additional prizes
Runner up: $50 | Best peer review: $50
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 23, 2023
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story
View contestElegant Literature's Award For New Writers
Elegant 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, putting over $100k into the hands of emerging talent around the globe. 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. September's guest judge is multi-award winning author Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki.
Top prize
$3,000
Additional prizes
Paid publication, 25 x $20 USD | Free entry to Novelist Accelerator | Now Novel Package
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: October 01, 2023
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult, Flash Fiction, Science Writing
View contestWenlock Olympian Society Short Story Competition
Wenlock Olympian Society
This is an international competition. There should be a maximum of up to 2,500 words on any theme and in any genre except YA and Children's stories. The contest will be judged by acclaimed author Philip Caine and winners announced in March 2024.
Top prize
£150
Additional prizes
2nd: £50 | 3rd: £25
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 30, 2023
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller
View contestThe Goldilocks Zone
Sunspot Literary Journal
Sunspot Lit seeks a story, essay, excerpt from longer prose pieces, artwork, graphic novel, or poem that combines excellence in craft with reader or audience appeal. Feedback for fiction and nonfiction submissions available for additional fee.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: September 30, 2023
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Script Writing, Short Story
View contestIndignor Play House Annual Short Story Competition
Indignor House Publishing
Indignor House Publishing is proud to announce that our annual writing competition (INDIGNOR PLAYHOUSE Short Story Annual Competition) is officially open with expected publication in the fall of 2024. Up to 25 submissions will be accepted for inclusion in the annual anthology.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
2nd: $250 | 3rd: $150
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: March 31, 2024
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestSouthern Cross Short Story Competition 2023
Ballarat Writers
Ballarat Writers Inc is inviting entries to the 2023 Southern Cross Short Story competition, from authors writing in English on the theme of TRACKS OF DESIRE to a maximum of 3,000 words. First prize AUD$1000 with runner-up prizes and certificates of commendation. This year’s judge is internationally renowned Graeme Simsion.
Top prize
$1000 AUD
Additional prizes
2nd: $400 AUD | 3rd: $100 AUD
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $13
Deadline: October 01, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestSummer Nanofiction Battle
Writing Battle
Two days to write a 250 word short story! The peer-powered quarterly writing contest where every story receives oodles of feedback. Write one. Read ten. Win thousands.
Top prize
$4,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: August 04, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Short Story, Thriller
View contestMoney Chronicles: A Story Initiative
Principal Foundation
This is a short story contest designed to bring our experiences with money – positive and negative – out of the shadows. We want to read your imaginative and meaningful short stories (fiction and creative nonfiction) touching on themes related to money and personal finance. Introduce us to protagonists whose relationship to money may be on the verge of unexpected or needed change.
Top prize
$250 USD (up to 30 winners)
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: August 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestInfrastructure Threat Contest
CAPTRS
CAPTRS is building the “Universe of Threats,” which will be used to prepare decision makers for future threats. This second Universe of Threats contest invites applicants to submit a ground truth and short story about a threat to one or multiple of the 16 defined critical infrastructure sectors. Submissions should specify the sector(s) experiencing the threat, the details and origin of the threat, and considerations for the unfolding response. Ground Truth maximum word count is 1,000 and essay word count is 2,500.
Top prize
$5,000
Additional prizes
2nd: $2,500 (up to 2 winners) | 3rd: $1,000 (up to 5 winners) | Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: September 30, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story
View contestNative Voices Award
Kinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc
Indigenous storytellers (Native American, First Nation Australian, Indian, Polynesian, etc.) may submit original, unpublished work in English; short stories, essays, onstage scripts, poetry, or visual art.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
2nd: $250 | 3rd: $100 | 6 Finalists: $25 gift card
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: October 31, 2023
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Script Writing, Short Story
View contestLetter Review Prize for Manuscripts
Letter Review
The Letter Review Prize for Manuscripts (Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction) is open to writers from anywhere in the world. Three Winners are awarded and have extracts published. 20 entries are Longlisted. Winners receive letter of recommendation for publishers.
Top prize
$1000 (shared by 3 winners)
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: August 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery, Novel, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestLetter Review Prize for Short Fiction
Letter Review
The Letter Review Prize for Flash Fiction (0-5000 words) is open to writers from anywhere in the world and has no theme or genre restrictions. Winners are published and every entry is considered for publication. 20 entries are Longlisted.
Top prize
$1000 (shared by 3 winners)
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: August 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestBig Writers, Little Ears
Travelnitch
We are actively seeking students in Grades 7-12 who love to write! Turn your own passion for travel into an inspiring story for our younger listeners. Whether it’s a fact-based narrative or creative fiction, this is an opportunity to gain real-life experience as a travel writer and show the world what you can do.
Top prize
Publication and recorded for Bedtime Stories podcast
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: August 20, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, Young Adult
View contestDawn of AI Short Story Contest
Booksie
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been covered extensively in the news lately with the release of Chat GPT and Google Bard. AI, long the subject material for science fiction is now becoming a reality. Will AI be a force for good for humanity, creating new products, medical breakthroughs, and helping us improve our standard of living? Or will it lead to a dystopian future where humanity is enslaved or even exterminated by new AI overlords? The goal of this contest to explore these potential themes in a short story that is no more than 1,500 words.
Top prize
$300
Additional prizes
2 runner-ups: $50
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $6
Deadline: October 15, 2023
Genres
Short Story
View contestInspiring Fiction's Crime and Speculative Fiction Contest
Inspiring Fiction
Inspiring Fiction’s first crime and speculative fiction short story contest is on the theme ‘Secrets’. The winner and shortlisted entries will be published in the fourth issue of Tangled Web Magazine.
Top prize
£100
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $6
Deadline: July 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller
View contestInception 2023
Sunspot Lit
Beginnings have the power to spark passion or curiosity. They might immediately connect a specific place and time with an emotional tone. The best openings offer a feeling, atmosphere, action, or image that is gripping, and hints at more to come. For Sunspot Lit’s Inception contest, send your best opening. There are no restrictions on theme, category, or the length of the piece or collection from which the excerpt comes. Word limit is 250 for prose, 25 words for poetry.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication in digital and print editions
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: July 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Romance, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestFlash Fiction Competition
Pigeon Review
This year's Flash Fiction competition centers around the theme of "home". What it means to you, how you understand it, and the emotions "home" evokes within you.
Top prize
$125
Additional prizes
2nd: $100 | 3rd: $75
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: July 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller
View contestAIIRA Writing Contest
AI Institute for Resilient Agriculture
AIIRA is seeking essays speculating on how AI will change careers within the next decade, as well as fiction stories depicting a day in the life of a job transformed by AI technology. Submissions should address how AI will help future professionals perform their jobs more efficiently as well as what job duties will become redundant due to AI.
Top prize
$550
Additional prizes
2nd: $400 (x2) | 3rd: $250
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: September 30, 2023
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Science Writing, Short Story
View contestGabriele Rico Challenge for Nonfiction
Reed Magazine
The Gabriele Rico Challenge for Nonfiction recognizes outstanding works of nonfiction. We are looking for creative nonfiction, such as personal essays or narratives, not scholarly papers or book reviews. All works should be stand-alone essays, not chapters of a longer work. Please limit prose submissions to 5,000 words.
Top prize
$1,333
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: November 01, 2023
Genres
Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestKatherine Anne Porter Prize in Short Fiction
University of North Texas Press
The University of North Texas Press announces the 2024 Katherine Anne Porter Prize in Short Fiction. The winner of this annual award will receive $1000 and publication by UNT Press. Entries will be judged by an eminent writer.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication by UNT Press
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: June 30, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Flash Fiction, Novella, Short Story
View contestNarrative Prize
Narrative Magazine
The Narrative Prize is awarded annually for the best short story, novel excerpt, poem, one-act play, graphic story, or work of literary nonfiction published by a new or emerging writer in Narrative. The submission system is open all year.
Top prize
$4,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $27
Deadline: June 15, 2024
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestMoment Magazine-Karma Foundation Short Fiction Contest
Moment Magazine
The Moment Magazine-Karma Foundation Short Fiction Contest encourages writers to unpublished short fiction related to Judaism or Jewish culture or history. Established in 2000, judges and special guests for this international annual contest have included Joyce Carol Oates, Robert Pinsky, Walter Mosley, Nicole Krauss, Erica Jong, Jonathan Safran Foer, Geraldine Brooks, Andre Aciman and Dara Horn.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in Moment Magazine
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: September 30, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestAnnual Flash Fiction Competition
Flash 500
This quarterly open-themed competition has closing dates of 31st March, 30th June, 30th September and 31st December. The results will be announced about six weeks after each closing date and the three winning entries each quarter will be published on the website.
Top prize
£300
Additional prizes
£200, £100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $7
Deadline: December 31, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestJohn Steinbeck Award for Fiction
Reed Magazine
Awarding one of the richest purses among literary magazines—$1,000 for the winning story—the John Steinbeck Award for Fiction recognizes exceptional works of fiction. Aesthetically, we are open to most styles and approaches. All works should be stand-alone short stories, not chapters of a longer work. Please limit prose submissions to 5,000 words.
Top prize
$1,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: November 01, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestGreen Stories Writing Competition
University of Southampton
Theme: Microbes to the Rescue! This short story competition is sponsored by the Environmental Biotechnology Network. It may appeal to writers with a scientific bent as it aims to use fiction to raise awareness of Environmental Biotechnology and what microbial systems can do for us. Eligibility: Open to all – we encourage international writers. All submissions must be in English and unpublished. Length: We ask for a short story of between 1000 and 3000 words.
Top prize
£500 prize
Additional prizes
2nd: £200 | 3rd: £100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: September 21, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Novel, Short Story, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller
View contestGothic Short Story
Briar Press New York
Briar Press NY is looking for Short Stories in the Gothic tradition, previously unpublished and set in any time period/place/culture. 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!)
Top prize
Publication in Anthology
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: August 01, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Short Story, Thriller
View contest
