The Best Short Story 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 159 contests
The Reedsy Prompts Contest
Reedsy
Respond to one of Reedsy's weekly writing prompt newsletters with a short story for the chance to win $250 and be featured on the Reedsy Blog!
Top prize
$250
Additional prizes
Publication on Reedsy Blog
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: December 31, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestDandy Writers Short Story Contest
Dandy Writers
Submit a story of no more than 200 words. Your submission must be in line with the theme of the month. A writer is only permitted to submit one application per month. No more than one application. No plagiarism, even if it’s your work already published. Your work must be yours. Your data entered must be accurate. You must pay the entry fee. Note: Failure to comply with these rules will result to your application cancelled. And your entry fee will not be refunded. Thanks as you obey these rules.
Top prize
$300
Additional prizes
Writing Job
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: May 30, 2023
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Short Story
View contestVoice.Club - Flash Fiction Writing Contest
Voice.Club
Voice.club has a strong commitment to writers and writing. Our monthly Flash Fiction writing contests are a wonderful opportunity for writers to practice their craft, share their stories and win prizes! Each entry must be 350 words or less, be family-friendly, and include some reference to the month's theme.
Top prize
$50 USD / $25 USD - Amazon Gift Cards
Additional prizes
Publication Online, Alexa and eBooks
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: December 31, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestWestern Writing Contest
FanStory.com Inc.
Share your Western story for this writing contest. Share your story that has a clear western theme. Your old west story can earn you a cash prize.
Top prize
$100
Additional prizes
Winning stories will be features on the FanStory.com welcome page.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: February 05, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestHorror Writing Contest
FanStory.com Inc.
Terrorize or thrill your audience with your writing. Share a horror story to enter this writing contest with a cash prize.
Top prize
$100
Additional prizes
Winning entries will be featured on the FanStory welcome page.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: February 08, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Horror, Short Story
View contestTrue Story Contest
FanStory.com Inc.
Share a true story from your life. Write a story that shares a moment, an object, a feeling, etc. This does not have to be a profound memory, but should allow readers insight into your feelings, observations and/or thoughts. Use at least 100 words. No poetry.
Top prize
$100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: March 09, 2022
Genres
Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestDialogue Only Writing Contest
FanStory.com Inc
Dialogue is used in stories but you may not be aware that you can write a story with just dialogue. Write a story using only dialogue. No narration or descriptions. Sentence tags are optional. No length requirements.
Top prize
$100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $9
Deadline: April 05, 2022
Genres
Short Story
View contestFable Competition
Robert Louis Stevenson Club
Little stories cleverly told with sparing use of words and a moral undertone. It must be a fable! With the upcoming Year of Scotland’s Stories 2022, what better time to find a fable for the 21st century in the style of Robert Louis Stevenson. RLS wrote 22 of them. Now it is your opportunity to explore this timeless art of storytelling, giving us an entry in no more than 350 words. Our international judging panel is chaired by Alan Taylor, author and journalist.
Top prize
$680
Additional prizes
Possible publication of a sample of entries
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: April 02, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestIndignor Play House Annual Short Story Annual Competition
Indignor House Publishing
Indignor House Publishing is proud to introduce the start of our annual writing competition with the first award and publication in August of 2022. Submissions will be accepted starting September 1st of each previous year and closing on March 31st of the publication year. Up to 25 submissions will be accepted for inclusion in the annual book publication. Book format will be in three media formats (hardback with jacket, softback, and e-book). Every year, a theme will be announced in June for the next year’s competition. The 2022-year theme is RESENTMENT and short stories can be of any genre. Maximum word count for short stories is up to 5,000 words.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication in Annual Book, trophy and certificate
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: March 31, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestThe Rhys Davies Short Story Competition 2022
Rhys Davies Short Story Competition
The Rhys Davies Short Story Competition recognises the very best short stories in English in any style and on any subject up to a maximum of 5,000 words by writers in / from Wales. Entries must not have been previously published in print or online, including personal blogs or on social media, or been broadcast, or placed in a competition. 11 finalist prizes of £100 each and publication in a short story anthology to be published by Parthian Books in 2022. There are 40 free entries for low income writers.
Top prize
$1,360
Additional prizes
Publication in a short story anthology by Parthian Books in 2022
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: March 22, 2022
Genres
Short Story
View contestFemmeFluenza 2.0
WriteFluence
Become a published woman author by this International Women’s Day! Announcing our second exclusively-for-women-writers story-writing international contest FemmeFluenza 2.0 ‘Cos life is all about celebrating womanhood and surviving through various challenges it brings along! Theme: Survival stories through various challenges faced by women – be it prejudices, physical or emotional abuse, sexual harassment, corporate biases, denied education, breast cancer, female infanticide, gender discrimination, single-parenthood, divorce, social stigmas and taboos, etc.
Top prize
Publication
Additional prizes
Author features and Merit certificates (digital)
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $2
Deadline: February 15, 2022
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestStringybark Open Short Story Award 2021
Stringybark Publishing
We are looking for great short stories that address any theme that grabs you. But to just make life not too easy, the story has two stipulations. Firstly, it is to be written for those over the age of 16 and secondly, it must have a link, no matter how tenuous, to Australia. 1500 word limit.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $14
Deadline: February 13, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Mystery, Short Story, Crime, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestHispanic Culture Review – Literary and Photographic Contest 2021-2022
Hispanic Culture Review
If the past year has taught us anything, it is that circumstances are always changing. Just as the world inevitably changes around us, we, too, go through various cycles of transformation in our lifetimes. Our identities are not static but evolve as we experience life and confront obstacles that come our way. Who we are is not fixed but rather a reflection of ourselves at a certain point in time and the journey it took to get there. As Maya Angelou once stated, “we delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” This year, we invite you to reflect on the following questions: What does the phrase “ever-changing” mean for you or your community with respect to the journey of transformation? What has made you the person you are today? 1 work will be awarded in each category: 1) photography & visual arts, 2) poetry, and 3) narrative/essay/academic investigation. The selected works will be published in our magazine, and winners will receive a monetary prize of $100 dollars and a certificate of recognition, and will be notified through email as well as on our Facebook page (Hispanic Culture Review GMU). Prizes will be issued in the Spring of 2022.
Top prize
$100
Additional prizes
Publication in print and electronic magazine, Certificate of recognition
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: February 06, 2022
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestStory of the Year Contest
Storyshares
The annual Story of the Year Contest is back for the fifth year, and we are searching for fresh, diverse stories that are “easy to read and hard to put down. The 2021 competition will run from November 2, 2021 to February 1, 2022 and will feature 4 distinct categories. Winners will be announced April 5, 2022 to receive $5000 in cash prizes, in addition to publication in both digital and print form. Winning stories and those selected as runners-up will be included in the Storyshares library, which is currently serving tens of thousands of students in all 50 states and over 150 countries. This is an opportunity for writers to not only expose their work to a large, established network of readers, but moreover, for their words to become part of the mission to improve literacy outcomes for teens and young adults across the globe. This is an opportunity to change lives, and make a difference.
Top prize
$2,000
Additional prizes
$1,000 and publication in digital and print
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: February 01, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, Young Adult
View contestLorian Hemingway Short Story Competition
Lorian Hemingway
Writers of short fiction may now enter the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition. The competition has a history of literary excellence, and Lorian Hemingway and her small judging panel are dedicated to enthusiastically supporting the efforts and talent of writers of short fiction whose voices have yet to be heard.
Top prize
$1,500
Additional prizes
Second and third-place winners receive $500 each
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: February 01, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestThe Berkeley Fiction Review Sudden Fiction Contest
Berkeley Fiction Review
Submit pieces under 1000 words for a chance to be featured in the next issue of our journal as well as a cash prize of up to $150!
Top prize
$150
Additional prizes
Publication in journal
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: March 05, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestNelligan Prize
Colorado Review
The Nelligan Prize for Short Fiction was established in 2004 in memory of Liza Nelligan, a writer, editor, and friend of many in Colorado State University 's English Department. The winner receives a $2,500 honorarium and the story is published in the fall/winter issue of Colorado Review. Stories must be 10-50 pages.
Top prize
$2,500
Additional prizes
Publication in the Colorado Review
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $17
Deadline: March 14, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestBBC National Short Story Award
BBC with Cambridge University
The BBC National Short Story Award is one of the most prestigious for a single short story, with the winning author receiving £15,000, and four further shortlisted authors £600 each. The stories are broadcast on Radio 4 and published in an anthology by Comma Press. Previous alumni of the award include Zadie Smith, Hilary Mantel, and Jon McGregor.
Top prize
£15,000
Additional prizes
Broadcast on Radio 4, and published in an anthology
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: March 21, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestParsec Short Story Contest
Triangulation
The theme for the 2021 contest is: Still Waters, Deep Thoughts. This can be conveyed in the setting, plot, characters, dialogue…the only limit is your imagination. The theme must be integral to the story in some way and not just mentioned in passing. All stories must be of the Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Horror genres and no more than 3,500 words.
Top prize
$200
Additional prizes
Publication in the 2020 Confluence program book
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: May 01, 2022
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction, Short Story
View contestThe Saturday Evening Post Great American Fiction Contest
The Saturday Evening Post
In its nearly two centuries of existence, The Saturday Evening Post has published short fiction by a who's who of great American authors, including Ray Bradbury, William Faulkner, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Now you have the opportunity to join our illustrious lineup by entering The Saturday Evening Post 's Annual Great American Fiction Contest. The winning story will be published in the January/February 2023 edition of The Saturday Evening Post, and the author will receive $1,000. Five runners-up will each receive $200 and will also have their stories featured online.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in The Saturday Evening Post, 5 runners up receive $200
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: July 01, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestFabula Press Short Story Contest
Fabula Press
Fabula Press hosts two short story competitions every year, one during summer with submission period from May to July, and one during winter, with submissions accepted from November to February. While we are heavy on ‘literary fiction’, we would welcome a Poesque tale of horror, an enchanting work of historical fiction, or even light science fiction. Hard science fiction, fantasy, young adult or chick lit do not work for us, though.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication in an anthology, minimum payment to all published authors $75
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: April 14, 2022
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: March 31, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestGabriele Rico Challenge for Nonfiction
https://www.reedmag.org/gabriele-rico-challenge-for-nonfict
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, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestHenshaw Short Story Competition
Henshaw Press
We are a small group of writers, editors, lecturers and of course readers who wish to actively support creative writing. We run quarterly competitions throughout the year with closing dates at the end of March, June, September and December. Our aim is to encourage as wide a range of writing as possible and competitions are open for any subject and any style.
Top prize
$260
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $8
Deadline: March 31, 2022
Genres
Christian, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, LGBTQ, Mystery, Suspense, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Travel
View contestCricket Magazine Contest
Cricket Magazine
’Tis winter, and the cold wind doth blow. But it can be fun to frolic in the ice and snow. So, bundle up! For our January contest, everybuggy would love to read your best wintry tale. Welcome to an opportunity to get published in Cricket Magazine! Your contest entry must be your very own original work. Ideas and words should not be copied. Your entry must be signed by your parent or guardian, stating that it is your own work, that no help was given, and that Cricket has permission to publish it in the magazine and on our website.
Top prize
Publication in Cricket Magazine
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: January 25, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Children's, Short Story
View contestFHL Readers' Choice Awards
Faith, Hope, Love Christian Romance Writers
The FHLRCA is open to all writers, members of FHL as well as non-members, who are published in Christian fiction. Books entered in the FHLRCA must be written from a Christian worldview.
Top prize
Certificate and engraved box
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $35
Deadline: March 01, 2022
Genres
Christian, Romance, Novel, Novella, Short Story, Suspense
View contestCWA Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition
Crime Writers' Association
Every year since 2014, the CWA and the Margery Allingham Society have jointly held an international competition for a short story of up to 3,500 words. Our mission is to find the best unpublished short mystery, and not only that, but one which fits into Golden Age crime writer Margery Allingham’s definition of what makes a great story. Entries are invited from all writers, published or unpublished, writing in English.
Top prize
£500
Additional prizes
Two weekend passes to CrimeFest
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $16
Deadline: February 28, 2022
Genres
Mystery, Short Story
View contestCreate The Future Climate Writing and Solarpunk Competition
Create the Future
Create The Future is running a free global writing competition to help us imagine a better earth for all. All winning entries will be published in a global anthology alongside experts and changemakers. We’d like you to answer the question “What does a sustainable future look like to you? What happens when we dare to dream?” Submissions are open for short fiction (up to 2,000 words) and poetry (up to 40 lines).
Top prize
£50
Additional prizes
Eco lifestyle bundles and publication in global anthology
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: February 13, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestDesperate Literature Prize for Short Fiction
Desperate Literature
The aim of the Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize is both to celebrate the best of new short fiction and to give winners the most visibility possible for their writing. We value fiction that pushes some boundary or another, that wakes us up and shows us something vital and surprising about the world. We are a bookshop and organization based in Madrid, Spain, but our contest welcomes English-language fiction from around the world. There are no geographical limits to enter, but stories must be previously unpublished, and under 2,000 words. Judges for the 2022 prize are Ottessa Moshfegh and Joanna Walsh. Sponsorships and discounted entry fees available; see our website. 1st place: a week's residency at the Civitella Ranieri Foundation, consultation with a UK literary agent, manuscript consultation. One shortlister is offered an additional residency or opportunity at the Writers’ House of Georgia, Tbilisi. Top 11 stories are published in our magazine and in our partner journals.
Top prize
€1,500
Additional prizes
2nd and 3rd place: €750
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $23
Deadline: April 15, 2020 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestSadie Tells Stories
Sadie Tells Stories
Are you an author who loves magic? Do you have an idea for a super short story that needs to be shared with the world? If you answered yes to both of those questions this contest is for you! The story can be about anything magical. Maybe it’s something that you’ve experienced in real life or it’s something you’ve created. Maybe it’s the start of a great idea. Maybe it’ll be the thing that inspires you to finally publish your book.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication on website and in newsletter
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: March 31, 2022
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Short Story
View contestAnthology Short Story Award
Anthology Magazine
Writers of short fiction are invited to enter the Anthology Short Story Award. Established to recognise and encourage creative writing and provide a platform for publication, it is open to original and previously unpublished short stories in the English language. Stories submitted must be on the theme of ‘Memories’ and not exceed the maximum of 1,500 words.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication in Anthology Magazine, one-year subscription
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: August 31, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestThe Masters Review Short Story Contest
The Masters Review
Welcome to our Short Story Award for New Writers, bi-annual contest that recognizes the best fiction from today’s emerging writers. Judging this year’s contest is Ye Chun, author of Hao, a collection of stories recently longlisted for the 2022 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence. Entries must be under 6,000 words.
Top prize
$3,000
Additional prizes
Second and third place prizes ($300 / $200, publication, and agency review)
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: January 31, 2022
Genres
Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestRomance Anthology Contest: Love Is Blind
Bardsy
From classical Rome to Shakespearean England, and even the present-day La-La Land of reality television, the notion of blind love has resonated through the ages. Write a story where a romantic connection goes beyond the surface. Off-prompt entries will not be considered. All finalists will be published in Bardsy's 2022 Romance Anthology. The winner will also receive a six-month Elite membership that includes a facilitated writing group and monthly one-on-one coaching sessions with a Bardsy author-educator. Finalists will receive $50 and a three-month membership. US and 18+ only please. Word count: 1,200 to 3,000.
Top prize
$399
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: February 10, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Romance, Short Story
View contestFlash Fiction Battle
Writing Battle
Writing Battle is a creative writing competition for writers, by writers. Light on battle. Heavy on fun and friendship (but still somewhat battle-like). Receive prompts, write a short story, then judge each other's stories. Win cash and get feedback from your peers. Join the battle!
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Feedback by industry professionals. Guaranteed feedback by at least 5 of your peers.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: February 04, 2022
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestSeason Themes
HAVOK Publishing
HAVOK is a constant flash fiction contest, with rolling deadlines. Each season is split into monthly competitions with thematically connected prompts in a range of genres.
Top prize
$100
Additional prizes
Publication in an anthology. Potential for larger gift card wins.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: January 31, 2022
Genres
Fantasy, Flash Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller
View contest
