The Best Short Story Writing Contests of 2023
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
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.
$250
$25 credit toward Reedsy editorial services
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: December 31, 2023
Fiction, Short Story
View contestStory 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.
$750
Publication
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: January 31, 2024
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestGotham 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.
Free Gotham Writers class
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: November 30, 2023
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Short Story, Thriller
View contestWriting 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.
$10,000
Feedback by industry professionals.
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: February 01, 2024
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller
View contestWriting 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.
$10,000
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: October 31, 2023
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller
View contestGlobe 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!
£500
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 16, 2023
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestSadie 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.
$500
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: November 15, 2023
Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Young Adult
View contestInspiring 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.
£100
Publication in Mirk Fantasy Magazine
💰 Fee: $6
Deadline: October 31, 2023
Fantasy, Fiction, Short Story
View contestWrite 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.”
$100
Runner up: $50 | Best peer review: $50
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: November 27, 2023
Fiction, Short Story
View contestWrite 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.
$100
Runner up: $50 | Best peer review: $50
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 23, 2023
Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story
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, 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.
$3,000
Paid publication, 25 x $20 USD | Free entry to Novelist Accelerator | Now Novel Package
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: October 01, 2023
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult, Flash Fiction, Science Writing
View contestWenlock 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.
£150
2nd: £50 | 3rd: £25
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 30, 2023
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller
View contestSunspot 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.
$500
Publication
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: September 30, 2023
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Script Writing, Short Story
View contestIndignor 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.
$500
2nd: $250 | 3rd: $150
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: March 31, 2024
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestBallarat 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.
$1000 AUD
2nd: $400 AUD | 3rd: $100 AUD
💰 Fee: $13
Deadline: October 01, 2023
Fiction, Short Story
View contestWriting 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.
$4,000
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: August 04, 2023 (Expired)
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Short Story, Thriller
View contestPrincipal 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.
$250 USD (up to 30 winners)
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: August 31, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Short Story
View contestCAPTRS
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.
$5,000
2nd: $2,500 (up to 2 winners) | 3rd: $1,000 (up to 5 winners) | Publication
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: September 30, 2023
Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story
View contestKinsman 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.
$500
2nd: $250 | 3rd: $100 | 6 Finalists: $25 gift card
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: October 31, 2023
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Script Writing, Short Story
View contestLetter 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.
$1000 (shared by 3 winners)
Publication
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: August 31, 2023 (Expired)
Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery, Novel, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestLetter 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.
$1000 (shared by 3 winners)
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: August 31, 2023 (Expired)
Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestTravelnitch
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.
Publication and recorded for Bedtime Stories podcast
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: August 20, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, Young Adult
View contestBooksie
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.
$300
2 runner-ups: $50
💰 Fee: $6
Deadline: October 15, 2023
Short Story
View contestInspiring 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.
£100
Publication
💰 Fee: $6
Deadline: July 31, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller
View contestSunspot 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.
$500
Publication in digital and print editions
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: July 31, 2023 (Expired)
Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Romance, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestPigeon 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.
$125
2nd: $100 | 3rd: $75
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: July 31, 2023 (Expired)
Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller
View contestAI 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.
$550
2nd: $400 (x2) | 3rd: $250
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: September 30, 2023
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Science Writing, Short Story
View contestReed 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.
$1,333
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: November 01, 2023
Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestUniversity 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.
$1,000
Publication by UNT Press
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: June 30, 2023 (Expired)
Flash Fiction, Novella, Short Story
View contestNarrative 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.
$4,000
💰 Fee: $27
Deadline: June 15, 2024
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestMoment 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.
$1,000
Publication in Moment Magazine
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: September 30, 2023
Fiction, Short Story
View contestFlash 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.
£300
£200, £100
💰 Fee: $7
Deadline: December 31, 2023
Fiction, Short Story
View contestReed 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.
$1,000
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: November 01, 2023
Fiction, Short Story
View contestUniversity 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.
£500 prize
2nd: £200 | 3rd: £100
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: September 21, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Novel, Short Story, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller
View contestBriar 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!)
Publication in Anthology
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: August 01, 2023 (Expired)
Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Short Story, Thriller
View contest