The Best Suspense Writing Contests of 2023
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
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Showing 7 contests
The Christy Award
The Christy Award
The Christy Award® was established in 1999 to acknowledge the value and impact of the novel of faith in contemporary culture. Since that time, the Christys have been a focal point for the writers and publishers in our community, symbolizing the best aspirations and accomplishments of writers who write from a perspective of faith and who create stories with matters of belief at their core.
Top prize
Award
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $175
Deadline: March 31, 2023
Genres
Christian, Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Romance, Young Adult
View contestDebut Dagger
Crime Writer's Association
The Debut Dagger is a competition for the opening of a crime novel by a writer who isn’t represented by an agent by the time the competition closes, and who has never had a traditional contract for any novel of any length, or who has never self-published any novel of any length in the last 5 years. Writers submit their opening 3,000 words and a 1,500 word synopsis. Entries from shortlisted writers are sent to UK literary agents and publishers. Every year, authors find representation this way.
Top prize
$577
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $41
Deadline: February 28, 2023 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Suspense, Thriller
View contestThe Dante Rossetti Awards
Chanticleer Book Reviews and Media
The Dante Rossetti Awards Categories are: Contemporary Young Adult; SFF & Paranormal; Dystopian/Edgy/Urban; Mystery/Thriller/Suspense; Historical Young Adult; YA Adventure/Romance. The Chanticleer Prize Package includes: A Prize Ribbon to use in promotion at book signings and book festivals Digital Badges for display on your website or incorporation into book covers Book stickers to identify your print books to bookstore shoppers as they browse.
Top prize
$1,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $99
Deadline: August 30, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Mystery, Novel, Romance, Science Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestCaledonia Novel Award
Caledonia Novel Award
Now in our ninth year of competition, we are an Edinburgh-based, international award for unpublished and self-published novelists in all genres for adults and YA. This year's judge is Charlotte Seymour, literary agent at Johnson & Alcock. On top of the £1,500 top prize, the best entry from the UK and Ireland will receive a place on a writing course at Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre.
Top prize
£1, 500
Additional prizes
Free place on a writing course at Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $30
Deadline: November 01, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novel, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult, Romance, Suspense
View contestCreative Writing Ink Short Story Competition 2022
Creative Writing Ink
We're looking for short stories of up to 3000 words. Stories can be any theme, genre, or subject - the world is your oyster! Top prize is £1000, plus a free creative writing course of your choice and publication on our site. Two runners-up will receive £200 each."
Top prize
$1,333
Additional prizes
Free creative writing course, publication online
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $12
Deadline: September 30, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Suspense, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestThe Daphne du Maurier Award For Excellence in Mystery/Suspense Unpublished Division
RWA Kiss of Death Chapter
The Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense is named for Daphne du Maurier, the author of Rebecca, a suspense novel with romantic and gothic overtones and a precursor to today’s romantic suspense. The writing contest is for unpublished authors of mystery, suspense, and thrillers with or without romantic subplots.
Top prize
Award
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $30
Deadline: March 15, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Mystery, Suspense, Romance, Thriller
View contestThe Daphne du Maurier Award For Excellence in Mystery/Suspense (Published Division)
RWA Kiss of Death Chapter
The Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense is named for Daphne du Maurier, the author of Rebecca, a suspense novel with romantic and gothic overtones and a precursor to today’s romantic suspense. The writing contest is for published authors of mystery, suspense, and thrillers with or without romantic subplots.
Top prize
Award
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $30
Deadline: March 15, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Mystery, Suspense, Romance, Thriller
View contest
