The Best Short Story Writing Contests of 2023
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
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Manage a competition? Submit it here
Join our short story competition
Submit a short story based on 1 of 5 weekly prompts. Winners get $250.
Showing 208 contests
The Screw Turn Flash Fiction Competition
The Ghost Story
We’re interested in flash fiction pieces of between 250 and 1,000 words. We’re seeking the finest work we can find that incorporates an uncanny element. Ghost stories are welcome, of course—but your submission may involve any paranormal or supernatural theme, as well as magic realism. What we’re looking for is superb writing, fresh perspectives, and maybe a few surprises.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
print and online publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: January 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Short Story, Thriller
View contestswamp pink Prizes
crazyhorse
From January 1st to January 31st, submit short stories and essays of up to 25 pages or a set of 1-3 poems. Winners in each genre will receive $2,000 and publication.
Top prize
$2,000
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: January 31, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestCreative Writing Award for Short Fiction
Aesthetica
The Aesthetica Creative Writing Award is a celebration of innovative new writing from across the globe. Each year, the competition invites submissions of short fiction that redefine the parameters of form, concept and technique.
Top prize
$3,068
Additional prizes
Publication + Consultation
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $22
Deadline: September 08, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestThe Kurt Brown Prizes
Association of Writers & Writing Programs
AWP will offer three scholarships of $500 each to be awarded to three first-place winners in the genres of creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. These scholarships must be used to attend a writers’ conference, center, retreat, festival, or residency at one of the AWP member programs in the Directory of Conferences & Centers. All winners and six finalists will also receive a one-year individual membership.
Top prize
$500 scholarship
Additional prizes
one-year membership
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: March 31, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Short Story
View contestAIIRA Writing Contest
AI Institute for Resilient Agriculture
We invite contestants to submit writing that imagines the world in the year 2050 and explores the relationship between humans, technology, and their food: what will food look, taste, and feel like; where will it come from; who will produce and transport it; and how will we access and consume it? The world you bring to light should be believable and probe the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the future of agriculture. Your submission can be fiction or creative non-fiction, but keep in mind that the strongest submissions will use research to support the reality described. Contestants must be undergraduate students to submit to this contest.
Top prize
$2,000
Additional prizes
2nd: $1,500 | 3rd: $1,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: December 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Science Writing, Short Story
View contestNOWW 25th International Writing Contest
Northwestern 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).
Top prize
$150 CAD
Additional prizes
Publication in NOWW magazine
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: February 28, 2023
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestVoice.Club - Flash Fiction Writing Contest
Voice.Club
Express yourself in a supportive, family-friendly community, as you develop your writing skills. Voice.club is a family-friendly platform where creators can express themselves in a supportive environment. Our recurring writing contests have attracted talented writers from all over the world, and invite you to write a story of 350 words or less, based on our current prompt.
Top prize
$50 Amazon Gift Card + Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: December 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestStories Through The Ages - Baby Boomer Plus
Stories Through The Ages
Stories Through The Ages - Baby Boomers Plus 2023 is open to people born 1966 or earlier. The deadline for entries is June 15, 2023. There is no prompt for the contest. Authors may write about any topic. The entry fee is $20 ($15 if submitting more than one story). The word count for this contest is 900 - 5000 words. Cash prizes of $500, $200 and $100 will be awarded. There will be a minimum of 15 finalists whose story will appear in the book.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
2nd: $200 | 3rd: $100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: June 15, 2023
Genres
Short Story, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction
View contestThe Goldilocks Zone
Sunspot Lit
Inspired by the search for Goldilocks Zone planets, Sunspot Lit is looking for one short story, CNF, artwork, poem, graphic novel, or script that combines excellence with appeal. Literary and genre works accepted; feedback available.
Top prize
$200
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $9
Deadline: December 19, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestMinds Shine Bright Writing Competition
Minds Shine Bright
As we adjust to new realities, inflationary pressures, geo-political tensions, environmental challenges and more it’s time to imagine and explore. The Minds Shine Bright writing competition Confidence 2023 is open and calling for entries of short stories, short scripts, flash fiction and poetry which explore the theme of confidence in some way.
Top prize
$1,080
Additional prizes
$540 for each category winner | $118 for commended entries
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $4
Deadline: February 28, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Poetry, Script Writing, Short Story
View contestPulp Fictional Writing Competitions
Pulp Fictional.com
Our Flash contest is now open and will run until 1st January 2023. The Short Story contest begins on the same date and will run until 31st May 2023.
Top prize
$452
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: May 31, 2023
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Short Story, Thriller
View contestEthos Literacy Annual Short Short Story Contest
Ethos Literacy
The challenge: write a story using 100 words on one of four topics. Open to all ages with a special prize for authors 14 years or younger. The contest supports nonprofit literacy programs.
Top prize
$200
Additional prizes
6 cash prizes of $100 each; publication in digital magazine, inclusion in webcast
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: January 15, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash 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 19, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story
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, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story
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, 2023
Genres
Mystery, Short Story
View contestThe Breakwater Fiction Contest
Break Water Review
We are seeking submissions for pieces that breathe freshness to the form. We are interested in previously unpublished prose ranging from 1,000 - 4,000 words.
Top prize
$1,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: December 01, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestF(r)iction Short Story Contest
F(r)iction
We seek work that actively pushes boundaries, that forces us to question traditions and tastes. If your work takes risks, we want to read it. You may submit up to three entries for $12. A single entry is $10. Each entry can be up to 1,000 words long.
Top prize
$300
Additional prizes
Considered for publication in F(r)iction
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: November 01, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestSNHU 2022 Fall Fiction Contest
Southern New Hampshire University
SNHU is hosting its 8th annual Fall Fiction Contest, where you can showcase your talents and creativity by submitting an original short story. This contest is open to any writer, based in the continental U.S., and submissions will be accepted from Oct. 3-31. By entering, you'll have the opportunity to win up to $3,000 in SNHU scholarships, have your short story featured in The Penmen Review and more.
Top prize
$3,000
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: October 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestMum Life Stories Micro Fiction Writing Competition
Mum 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.
Top prize
$31
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $2
Deadline: November 06, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestThe European Writing Prize
The European Society of Literature
The European Writing Prize is a competition that seeks to find young, unrecognised talent in the literary scene, and showcase their work to the public.
Top prize
$50
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: January 01, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestEdit Your Source Code
Effective Altruism at Berkeley
With a $1800 prize pool, Effective Altruism at Berkeley is hosting a scifi creative writing contest. In this contest, writers can explore the ways that becoming a supercapable human affects their lives and changes the world. In the Edit Your Source Code Contest, you’re asked to: Imagine what change(s) you would make to your own source code. Then, explore the possible consequences of your edits. What is it like living in the world as an altered, potentially superpowerful person? We encourage you to explore a range of possible outcomes, including what would happen if your edits create outcomes that are misaligned with your goals.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
2nd: $350 | 5x runner-up: $100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: October 23, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story
View contestWenlock Olympian Society Short Story Competition
Wenlock 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.
Top prize
$165
Additional prizes
2nd: $55 | 3rd: $27
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $6
Deadline: November 23, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller
View contestLeiby Chapbook Contest
The Florida Review
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Florida Review is given annually for a chapbook of short fiction, short nonfiction, or graphic narrative. Submit a manuscript of up to 45 pages with a $25 entry fee by December 31. All entries are considered for publication. All entrants receive a 1-year subscription. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: December 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novella, Short Story
View contestStory Unlikely's Short Story Contest
Story 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.
Top prize
$1,000 total package
Additional prizes
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: December 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestWriting MISCHIEF
Sadie 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.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
2nd: $150
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: November 15, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Young Adult
View contestHistorical Fiction Challenge
Globe 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.
Top prize
$1,131
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $17
Deadline: October 28, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestDream Quest One Writing Contest
Dream Quest One
Write a short story, 5 pages maximum length, on any subject or theme, fiction, non-fiction, creative nonfiction (including essay compositions, diary, journal entries, short stage plays, screenplays, and screenwriting). All entries must be either typed or legibly hand printed. Multiple and simultaneous poetry and short story entries are accepted.
Top prize
$250
Additional prizes
2nd: $125 | 3rd: $50
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: March 19, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestInception 2022: $250 for Best Opening
Sunspot 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.
Top prize
$250
Additional prizes
Publication in digital and print editions
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $8
Deadline: October 09, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Romance, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestIndignor Play House Annual Short Story Annual 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 2023.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
2nd: $250 | 3rd: $150
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: March 31, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestStory of the Year Contest
Storyshares
The annual Story of the Year Contest is coming back for the sixth year, and we are searching for fresh, diverse stories that are "easy to read and hard to put down." The 2022 competition will run from October 4 to December 27 and will feature 4 distinct categories. Winners will receive $12,000 in cash prizes, plus publication in both digital and print form. Entry will be free, unlimited, and open internationally.
Top prize
Diversity $3,000
Additional prizes
Tough Topics $2,000 | For Teens By Teens $2,000 | People’s Choice $1,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: December 27, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, Young Adult
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
$5,000
Additional prizes
Feedback by industry professionals.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: January 02, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story
View contestAnnual Contest Submissions
So to Speak Journal
So to Speak seeks work by writers who want to challenge and change the identity of the “canonical” writer. Our mission is to amplify voices of BIPOC, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people, women, neurodivergent people, people of different religions or none, migrants, refugees & immigrants (regardless of citizenship), and incarcerated writers. Free submissions for Black and Indigenous Writers.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication for winner and runner-up
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $9
Deadline: November 14, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestLazuli Literary Group Writing Contest
Lazuli Literary Group
We are not concerned with genre distinctions. Send us the best you have; we want only for it to be thoughtful, intelligent, and beautiful. We want art that grows in complexity upon each visitation; we enjoy ornate, cerebral, and voluptuous phrases executed with thematic intent.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication in "AZURE: A Journal of Literary Thought"
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: February 22, 2023
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Novella, Script Writing
View contestSeán O'Faoláin International Short Story Competition
Munster Literature Centre
The competition is open to original, unpublished and unbroadcast short stories in the English language of 3,000 words or fewer. The story can be on any subject, in any style, by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world.
Top prize
€2,000
Additional prizes
Residency at Anam Cara Retreat, Featured reading at the Cork International Short Story Festival, Publication in Southword
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $22
Deadline: July 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestBlack River Chapbook Competition
Black Lawrence Press
Twice each year Black Lawrence Press run the Black River Chapbook Competition for an unpublished chapbook of poems or prose between 16-36 pages in length. The contest is open to new, emerging, and established writers.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication by Black Lawrence Press
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $17
Deadline: October 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Poetry, Short Story, Fiction
View contest
