The Best Short Story Writing Contests of 2023
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
CONNECT
Editing
Design
Marketing
Publicity
Ghostwriting
Websites
BLOG
Success Stories
APPS
TOOLS
Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Classes Writing Exercises Writing ScholarshipsABOUT
About Reedsy Terms PrivacyGenre
- All
- Children's
- Christian
- Crime
- Essay
- Fantasy
- Fiction
- Flash Fiction
- Horror
- Humor
- LGBTQ
- Memoir
- Mystery
- Non-fiction
- Novel
- Novella
- Poetry
- Romance
- Science Fiction
- Science Writing
- Script Writing
- Short Story
- Suspense
- Thriller
- Travel
- Young Adult
Manage a competition? Submit it here
Bring your short stories to life
Fuse character, story, and conflict with tools in the Reedsy Book Editor. 100% free.
Showing 226 contests
Grindstone Short Story Prize
Grindstone Literary
The Grindstone Short Story Prize returns this year, seeking out the best short fiction writers from around the world. Writers are asked to submit a piece of short fiction between 1000 and 3000 words, of any genre, aimed at adult readers.
Top prize
£500
Additional prizes
£200 runner-up, £50 four shortlisters
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $17
Deadline: August 01, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Short Story
View contestAnnual Short Story Contest
Flash 500
We are looking for stories (of any genre) ranging between 1,000 and 3,000 words, with strong characters, a well-crafted plot and realistic dialogue (where used). Make us laugh, make us cry, but most of all, make us feel!
Top prize
£500
Additional prizes
£200 for 2nd place, £100 for 3rd place
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $8
Deadline: February 28, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestVocal Challenges
Creatd
Enter themed storytelling contests to put your creativity to the test and be in with a chance of winning cash prizes and more. To submit, you'll need to sign up for a monthly fee of $9.99, or $4.99/month for 3 months.
Top prize
$1,000 — $5,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: December 31, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Short Story
View contestYouth Writing Contest
The Vancouver Writers Fest
The Vancouver Writers Fest's annual youth writing contest is open to all students enrolled in grades 8-12 in British Columbia. Entries will be accepted for previously unpublished short stories (fiction or non-fiction) and personal essays: 1,500 word limit. The first-prize winner will receive a $200 cash prize and the second-prize winner, a $100 cash prize.
Top prize
$200
Additional prizes
$100
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: May 31, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Short Story, Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction
View contestTypehouse Literary Magazine Open Fiction Contest
Typehouse Literary Magazine
We are pleased to announce Typehouse Literary Magazine 's third biennial Open Fiction Contest! All pieces must be between 1000-6000 words, entries must be previously unpublished and all genres are accepted.
Top prize
$175
Additional prizes
$100 for second place and $50 for third place
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: June 30, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestNowhere Magazine Spring 2021 Travel Writing Contest
Nowhere Magazine
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Nowhere Magazine is given twice yearly for a travel-specific short story, long-form creative nonfiction piece, poem or essay that possesses a powerful sense of place, character or time. Unpublished and published pieces that have not previously been chosen as a contest winner are eligible. Submit your 800- to 5,000-word piece with a $20 entry fee by June 30, 2021.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in Nowhere magazine
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: June 30, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestNowhere Emerging Travel Writers' Prize
Nowhere Magazine
We are looking for never-been-published travel writers from anywhere in the world to send us stories—fiction, nonfiction, essay or poetry—that possess a powerful sense of place, people and time.
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
Publication in Nowhere Magazine
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: March 31, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestJuniper Prizes
University of Massachusetts Press
The Juniper Prizes for Poetry, Fiction, and Creative Nonfiction are awarded annually to original manuscripts: two books of poetry, one work of creative nonfiction, one short story collection, and one novel. The University of Massachusetts Press publishes the winning manuscripts and the authors receive a $1,000 award upon publication. Submissions are accepted between August 1 and September 30.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication by University of Massachusetts Press
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $30
Deadline: September 30, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, 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, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestThe Lascaux Prize in Short Fiction
The Lascaux Review
Stories may be previously published or unpublished, and simultaneous submissions are accepted. Winner receives $1,000 and a bronze medallion. Finalists receive $100. Winner and finalists are published in both the online and annual print editions of The Lascaux Review.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication in The Lascaux Review
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: December 31, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestAn Axe to Grind - Flash Fiction Contest
The Darling Axe
Tell us a story in fewer than 1000 words for a chance to win from a growing prize pool, plus publication on the Chopping Blog.
Top prize
$700
Additional prizes
Publication on the Chopping Blog
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: March 31, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story, Flash Fiction
View contestWomen's National Book Association Writing Contest
Women's National Book Association
Do you want to show the world your writing? Then enter the 2020 WNBA Writing Contest! You can enter your work in four categories: fiction, creative nonfiction, flash prose, and poetry.
Top prize
$250
Additional prizes
Publishication in an anthology
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: December 01, 2020 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story
View contestShort Story Competition 2021
Exeter Writers
Exeter Writers runs an annual short story competition. The competition began in 2009 and is very popular, receiving entries from all over the world. The maximum word count is 3,000.
Top prize
$900
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $9
Deadline: February 28, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestChalk Circle Short Story Competition
Chalk Circle
Whether you are creating a dystopian nightmare, revelling in absurdist humour, or writing stories to celebrate what you love, or have discovered, and fear to lose, we invite you to submit your story to our inaugural short story competition. The word limit is 2,000.
Top prize
$240
Additional prizes
Publication on website or anthology
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $7
Deadline: August 31, 2020 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestAtlantis Short Story Contest
Atlantis Short Story Contest
In its seventh year, the Atlantis Short Story Contest accepts entries from unpublished authors around the world who write their short stories in English and do not exceed the length of 2,500 words. They are looking for short stories that create exciting new worlds with dynamic characters.
Top prize
$300
Additional prizes
In-depth feedback
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $9
Deadline: February 25, 2018 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contestNelson Algren Short Story Award
Chicago Tribune
The 2018 Nelson Algren Literary Awards is sponsored by Chicago Tribune. Stories must be written in English, double-spaced, and no longer than 8,000 words. A total of 10 prizes will be made available during Contest: One Grand Prize: $3,500, Four Finalist Prizes: $1,000, Five Runner-up Prizes: $500.
Top prize
$3,500
Additional prizes
Publication in Printers Row
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: February 07, 2018 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story
View contest
