The Best Young Adult Writing Contests of 2022
Writing competitions curated by Reedsy
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Showing 50 contests
Annual Cultural Heritage Writing Contest
The Trailblazer Review
Founded in November 2022, The Trailblazer Review is an international high school literary magazine dedicated to celebrating and honoring indigenous culture through creative writing. Its Annual Cultural Heritage Contest accepts submissions of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction under 4000 words from middle and high school students (13-18 years old) on the subject of native culture and heritage.
Top prize
Publication
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: February 20, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Script Writing, Short Story, Young Adult
View contestStringybark Open Short Story Award 2023
Stringybark Publishing
Our annual flagship competition, the Stringybark Stories Open Short Story Award 2023, is now bigger than ever! Thanks to Graeme Simpson and Anne Buist, a record prize pool of over $1300 is on offer. The theme is open, the only constraint is that there must be a reference to Australia somewhere in the story. It doesn't matter how small a link there is (it could be a jar of vegemite on the counter), there just needs to be one!
Top prize
$560
Additional prizes
2nd: $360 | 3rd: $210 | 4th: $110
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: February 12, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Mystery, Short Story, Crime, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestElegant Literature's Contest For New Writers
Elegant 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One of the largest awards open to unpublished writers, and the only one closed to professionals.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, paying new authors over $50,000 this year. 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. December's head judge is Creag Munroe.
Top prize
$3,000
Additional prizes
Paid publication, 25 x $20 USD | Free entry to Novelist Accelerator
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: January 01, 2023
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestThe Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition
Chicken House Books
We're looking for original ideas, a fresh voice, a diverse range of entries and stories that children will love! To enter, you must have written a full-length novel suitable for children/young adults aged between 7 and 18 years. We suggest a minimum of 30,000 words and ask that manuscripts do not exceed 80,000 words. The IET 150 Award will be awarded to a manuscript that celebrates Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
Top prize
A worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House & royalty advance of £10,000
Additional prizes
An offer of representation from a top literary agent
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: June 01, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Novel, Novella, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Young Adult
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 contestPet Flash Fiction Contest
Booksie.com
Write a true story about a pet in 300 words or less! To make it extra enjoyable, please show us a picture of your pet if you can! It can be silly, sad, scary, or any adjective so long as it involves your furry or scaly friend.
Top prize
$250
Additional prizes
2 runner-up: $50
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: February 28, 2023
Genres
Fiction, Humor, Young Adult
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
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 contestThe Nervous Ghost Press Book Prize
Nervous Ghost Press
The 2021 Nervous Ghost Press Book Prizes are open to outstanding works of poetry and prose by anyone living in the United States of America. All work and all writers, from any point in their careers, are welcome to submit their work and get a chance of publication. Please submit a completed a manuscript (50,000-100,000 words for prose, 48-128 pages for poetry).
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Publication and a Californian reading tour
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: March 31, 2023
Genres
Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Humor, Young Adult
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 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
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 contestHFC Book of the Year Contest
The Historical Fiction Company
An exclusive book contest for Historical Fiction, including all subgenres of historical romance, mystery, fantasy, time travel, alternate history, YA/children, non-fiction, and novellas. We have sixteen categories with gold, silver, and bronze winners in each category. The top prize is chosen from the gold category winners and receives $1000 in cash plus a stunning crystal trophy and our new prize - a one-of-a-kind leather-bound book of the winning book.
Top prize
$1,000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $50
Deadline: November 29, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Novel, Novella, Romance, Young Adult
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 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
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, Young Adult
View contest100 Word Writing Contest
Tadpole Press
100 words per entry. Submit as many entries as you’d like. All ages. All genders. All nationalities. All writers welcome. This year's theme is the power of words. The words we write, the words we say, the words we keep to ourselves. They make a difference in the lives of those around us. How can you use your words to instill a sense of calm, of hope, of community? To remind one another of the beauty of diversity. To encourage us to support, love, and inspire one another.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
2nd: writing coach package 3rd: developmental or diversity editing package.
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: November 30, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestShe Writes Press and SparkPress Towards Equality in Publishing (STEP)
SparkPoint Studio
The STEP contest awards female BIPOC authors a publishing package to publish on either She Writes Press or SparkPress. The purpose of this contest is to support inclusivity across our own lists, and to fortify our own mission to give voice to women writers.
Top prize
Publishing package valued at $8500
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: October 15, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Non-fiction, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Novel, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestWriting Contest 2023
BooksShelf
We look for an original and captivating work of fiction or nonfiction. The genre is not important - the story is. We're looking forward to reading your amazing books!
Top prize
$200 USD Fiction | $100 USD Nonfiction
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: January 31, 2023
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestThe Annual Writerwerx University Short Story Contest
Writerwerx University
Submit your piece of 2,000 words or less to compete with writers all over the country for cash, prizes, and bragging rights! There are no theme or topic restrictions. Erotic, religious, and technical shorts are welcome.
Top prize
$2,500
Additional prizes
2nd: $1500 | 3rd: $150
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $25
Deadline: August 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestScienceQuest NextGen Science Literary Writing Competition
Zoomcatchers
Established to recognize and encourage creative writing and provide a platform for publication, this science literary competition is open to original and previously unpublished short stories in the English language by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. Writing samples submitted must be from the genres of: Science fiction, Dystopian, Futuristic, Fantasy, Paranormal We accept essay, short story, and novel submissions up to 15 pages in length, double-spaced.
Top prize
$200
Additional prizes
Consultation with literary agent Leticia Gomez
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: September 05, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Essay, Fantasy, Novel, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Young Adult
View contestSeven Hills Literary Contest and Penumbra Poetry and Haiku Contest
Tallahassee Writers Association
The Seven Hills Literary Contest and Penumbra Poetry and Haiku Contest (collectively, “the Contest”) is sponsored annually by the Tallahassee Writers Association. The contest is open to English-language entries from around the world. For the first time, we are open to published entries as well as unpublished entries.
Top prize
$300
Additional prizes
Published in the Seven Hills Review
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: September 30, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Children's, Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestThe Bath Children’s Novel Award
The Bath Novel Awards
The Bath Children’s Novel Award is an annual international prize for emerging novelists writing for children or teens. Submissions are the first 5,000 words plus one page synopsis. A children’s literary agent will judge the winning manuscript from a shortlist chosen by Junior Judges aged seven to seventeen.
Top prize
£3000
Additional prizes
Manuscript feedback from junior judges, literary agent introductions, novel editing course
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $34
Deadline: November 30, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Novel, Young Adult
View contestWriting LOVE
Sadie Tells Stories
Writing LOVE is a 500 word short story contest. The story can be fiction or non-fiction as long as it includes an element of love. A love for life, for nature, for someone, for peace, for a passion..
Top prize
$500
Additional prizes
$150 to the runner up
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $10
Deadline: August 15, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Young Adult
View contestBest Indie Book Award
Best Indie Book Award
The annual Best Indie Book Award® (or BIBA®) is an international literary awards contest recognizing self-published and independently published authors from all over the world. Entries are limited to independently (indie) published books, including those from small presses, e-book publishers, and self-published authors.
Top prize
Trophy
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $65
Deadline: October 01, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contest2nd Annual WCWF Writing Contest
Wine Country Writers' Festival
Fire up those pens and get those unpublished stories and poems submitted to WCWF 2nd Annual Writing Contest. Three winners in each category, publication in Anthology, and your own copy. Entries: $15 or two for $25.
Top prize
$150
Additional prizes
2nd Place: $75 | 3rd Place: $50
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: July 29, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestTime Travelers Contest
Neovel
The theme of this contest is Time travel. To respect the theme of the contest, the main character or characters of your entry must go through a change of temporality and must have a significant impact on the plot. This change must occur in the story before the end of the fourth chapter and must be mentioned in your book description.
Top prize
€2000
Additional prizes
2nd: €750 3rd: €250
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: May 25, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fantasy, Fiction, Novel, Science Fiction, Young Adult
View contestBlack Voices in Children's Literature
Free Spirit Publishing
Seeking Black Midwestern writers 18 years and older to submit an original fiction or nonfiction children’s story for a picture book. Manuscripts 300–800 words (ages 4–8) or 50–125 words (ages 0–4) in length. Must feature contemporary Black characters and culture.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
Meeting with Strive and Free Spirit; 2nd $500; 3rd $250, t-shirt and totebag for all winners
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $0
Deadline: July 24, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story, Young Adult
View contestGeminga: $250 for Tiny Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, or Art
Sunspot Lit
Authors and artists eligible. Sunspot Lit’s Geminga contest honors the power of the small. No restrictions on theme or category. $250 cash, publication for the winner, and publication offered to runners-up and finalists. Enter as many times as you like, but only one piece per submission.
Top prize
$250
Additional prizes
Publication in digital and print
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $6
Deadline: June 30, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
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 contestFlash Fiction Competition
Globe Soup
Globe Soup are looking for the best flash fiction of no more than 800 words. The competition features a secret location in which all participants must set their story. Participants can get extensive feedback on their entry by joining Globe Soup's writing group and free entry to their monthly micro fiction contests and other opportunities to win cash prizes!
Top prize
£1000
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $16
Deadline: December 31, 2021 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Science Fiction, 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 contestFirst 5 Pages Prize
Stockholm Writers Festival
SWF is proud to launch the First 5 Pages Prize to mark our 5th anniversary. Dazzle us with your brilliance. Delight us with your wit. Deceive us with your dastardly plot-twists. There will be one Grand Prize winner chosen from all entries. The winner will receive: $1000 cash, a ticket to SWF22, a pitch meeting with an agent conducted over Zoom, two night’s accommodation at a boutique hotel, and a full developmental edit donated by Reedsy, the industry’s leading platform for writing services.
Top prize
$1,000
Additional prizes
A full developmental edit donated by Reedsy & pitch meeting with an agent
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $20
Deadline: January 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contest2nd Annual WCWF Writing Contest
Wine Country Writers' Festival
Fire up those pens and get those unpublished stories and poems submitted to WCWF 2nd Annual Writing Contest. Three winners in each category, publication in Anthology, and your own copy. Entries: $15 or two for $25. See the contest rules and enter now. Blind Judging.
Top prize
$150
Additional prizes
Publication in an anthology
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $15
Deadline: July 29, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult
View contestPage Turner's Short Story Contest
Clumsy Spider Publishing
Page Turner is looking for your short story that teens will read in one sitting because they can't stop!
Top prize
$50
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: FREE
Deadline: July 30, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Fiction, Short Story, Young Adult
View contestThe Synopsis Skirmish—a contest for querying authors
Darling Axe Editing
Summarize your novel in 500 words for a chance at a $1000 CAD prize pool! Our judge, Michelle Barker, will be asking herself one question: "Does this synopsis convince me that I'm in the hands of an adept novelist with a unique and engaging story to tell?"
Top prize
$560
Additional prizes
$200 for second place, $100 for third
Entry requirements
💰 Fee: $5
Deadline: May 31, 2022 (Expired)
Genres
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
View contest
