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Writing competitions are a great way to practice your writing skills with an opportunity to get feedback and recognition for your work, win prizes, and see your writing published either online or in print.

Our curated list of competitions has information about upcoming writing events for both established and aspiring writers. Each event listing includes a detailed description with information about entry fees, max word limit, submission deadlines, and prizes for the winners and shortlisted authors. The list features different competition categories, for example:

  • short stories and flash fiction
  • poetry
  • novels and novellas
  • essay and non-fiction
  • competitions for young writers
  • memoir, screenwriting, and more!

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please consider bookmarking this page and checking back again next week. Browse the event archive if you are looking for an older event with a past deadline.

Note: We do not host any of the events listed here. If you have questions about a particular event please reach out to the event organizer. Always do your own research before submitting your work. See our FAQ page for answers to common questions about writing competitions.
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FEATURED EVENTS:

fri24oct(oct 24)12:00 pmsun26(oct 26)11:59 pmNot Quite Write Prize for Flash FictionA flash fiction competition with a twistCategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:500 Top Prize:$1,500, trophy, and a publishing contract

ALL FUTURE EVENT DEADLINES:

September 2025

mon01sep2:08 amtue30(sep 30)2:08 am Snowfall & Silence Short Story ContestThe Elegant Literature Award for New WritersCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free (for Elegant Literature members) Max word count:2,000 Top Prize:$3,000, 10 cents per word, publication, and free enrollment in the New Novelist Accelerator program

mon15sep9:00 am9:00 pmWild Muse Nature Writing PrizeShare your journey of nature's wisdom and healingCategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:£10 (bursaries available for those who might find the entry fee prohibitive) Max word count:2,000 Top Prize:£750

mon15sep12:00 pm11:59 pm2025 Best in Rural Writing ContestCategoryFiction,Non-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:7,000 Top Prize:$500

mon22sep3:50 pm3:50 pmMslexia Women's Short Story Competition 2025CategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£12 Max word count:3,000 Top Prize:£3,000 and publication

thu25sep6:59 pm6:59 pm2025 Book Pipeline Unpublished ContestCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:$45 Max word count:Depends on category (check organizer Top Prize:$25,000, industry circulation, executive development

sat27sep11:06 pm11:06 pmPoetry Super Highway 2025 Poetry ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$1 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:50% of the entry fees collected and publication

tue30sep1:00 am12:00 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Michael Round PrizeFrom Croydon WritersCategoryFictionInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:1,200 Top Prize:£100

tue30sep3:47 am3:47 amTHE WRITERS' COLLEGE Short Story CompetitionProudly Supporting Emerging WritersCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free until 30 June. $15 afterwards. Max word count:2,000 Top Prize:$1000

tue30sep4:59 am11:59 pmAnthology Flash Fiction Competition 2025CategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:€12 Max word count:250 Top Prize:€300

tue30sep12:00 am11:59 pmThe Ghost Story Supernatural Fiction AwardCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:10,000 Top Prize:$1,500

tue30sep5:03 am11:59 pmAnthology Nature Writing Competition 2025CategoryNon-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:€15 Max word count:1500 Top Prize:€300

tue30sep8:52 am8:52 amCreative Writing Ink Short Story Competition 2025CategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£12 Max word count:3,000 Top Prize:£1,000, an online creative writing course, and publication

tue30sep12:12 pm12:12 pm2025 Hammond House Publishing International Literary PrizeCategoryPoetry,Scriptwriting,Short Story,SongwritingInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:5000 (short story); 40 lines (poetry); 10 pages (scripts) Top Prize:£1000, publication, and fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts

tue30sep1:08 pm1:08 pmThe One Page Poetry ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:Must fit on a single page Top Prize:$2,000 and publication

tue30sep2:23 pm2:23 pmSouthword Editor’s Poetry AwardCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:€24 Max word count:No limit (?) - Check with organizer to confirm Top Prize:€1,000 and publication

tue30sep3:59 pm3:59 pmThe Moth Nature Writing Prize 2025CategoryPoetry,ProseInternationalEntry Fee:€15 Max word count:4,000 Top Prize:€1,000 and a week at The Moth Retreat in Ireland

tue30sep5:12 pm5:12 pmThe Paul Cave Prize for Literature 2025CategoryFlash Fiction,Novella,Poetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize:£200 and publication

tue30sep6:57 pm6:57 pmHenshaw Press Short Story CompetitionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max word count:2,000 Top Prize:£200 and publication

tue30sep8:49 pm8:49 pmPudding Press Detritus Writing CompetitionFor unpublished writers whose work has been previously rejectedCategoryFictionInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:20 pages Top Prize:Publishing contract

tue30sep5:00 pm5:00 pmThe Letter Review Prize for NonfictionCategoryNon-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:$333

tue30sep5:00 pm5:00 pmThe Letter Review Prize for BooksCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:$333

tue30sep5:00 pm11:59 pmThe Letter Review Prize for Short FictionShort Story Contest & Flash Fiction ContestCategoryFlash Fiction,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:$333

tue30sep5:00 pm11:59 pmThe Letter Review Prize for PoetryCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:70 Lines Top Prize:$333

tue30sep11:59 pm11:59 pmCrowvus Ghost Story CompetitionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£3 Max word count:4000 Top Prize:£100 and publication

October 2025

tue30sep12:00 am11:59 pmThe Ghost Story Supernatural Fiction AwardCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:10,000 Top Prize:$1,500

tue30sep5:00 pm11:59 pmThe Letter Review Prize for Short FictionShort Story Contest & Flash Fiction ContestCategoryFlash Fiction,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:$333

tue30sep5:00 pm11:59 pmThe Letter Review Prize for PoetryCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:70 Lines Top Prize:$333

wed01oct12:00 am11:59 pmThe Scribes PrizeCategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:$5 Max word count:110 Top Prize:$250 and publication

wed01oct12:01 am11:59 pmTom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:250 lines Top Prize:$3,500

wed01oct9:51 am9:51 amJohn Steinbeck Award for FictionCategorySongwritingInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:$1,000 and publication in Reed Magazine

wed01oct3:24 pm3:24 pm35th Annual Jeffrey E. Smith Editors’ PrizeCategoryFiction,Non-fiction,PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:8,500 (fiction and non-fiction); 12 pages (poetry) Top Prize:$5,000

wed01oct5:07 pm5:07 pmDzanc Books Short Story Collection PrizeCategoryFull Manuscript,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:40,000 Top Prize:$2,500 and publication by Dzanc Books

wed01oct4:00 pm4:00 pmJoy Bale Boone Poetry PrizePoetry Prize by The Heartland Review PressCategoryPoetryUSAEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$400 Visa Gift Card

sun05oct2:59 pm2:59 pmWhat the Wild Carries PrizeCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:$2,000 and publication

mon13oct12:10 pm12:10 pmPeter Porter Poetry PrizeCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max word count:60 lines Top Prize:$6,000

wed15oct12:37 pm12:37 pmThe Raven Short Story ContestCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$35 Max word count:2500 Top Prize:$300

wed15oct7:00 pm7:00 pmTennessee Williams Festival Fiction ContestCategoryFictionUSAEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:7,000 Top Prize:1,500 and publication in French Quarter Journal

wed15oct7:00 pm7:00 pmTennessee Williams Festival Poetry ContestCategoryPoetryUSAEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:400 lines Top Prize:$1,000 and publication in French Quarter Journal

wed15oct7:11 pm7:11 pmIML Publications Memoir/Fiction Book ContestCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:$40 Max word count:100,000 Top Prize:$1,000 and publication

wed15oct10:42 pm10:42 pmCaledonia Novel Award 2026CategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee:£28 Max word count:20 pages Top Prize:£1,500, a free place on a residential writing course, and an exclusive framed award designed by artist Lucy Roscoe

thu16oct7:00 pm7:00 pmTennessee Williams Festival Short Fiction ContestCategoryFlash Fiction,Micro Fiction,Short FictionUSAEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:1,000 Top Prize:$500 and publication in French Quarter Journal

thu16oct7:00 pm7:00 pmTennessee Williams Festival One-Act Play ContestCategoryScreenwriting,ScriptwritingUSAEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:One act or approx. 60 pages. Top Prize:$1,500 and publication in Bayou Magazine

fri17oct12:54 pm12:54 pmThe Booksie 2025 Poetry ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$6.95 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$1,000

mon20oct2:24 pm2:24 pmEyelands Book Awards 2025CategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:€30 Max word count:250,000 Top Prize:Five-day stay in Athens

fri24oct(oct 24)12:00 pmsun26(oct 26)11:59 pmNot Quite Write Prize for Flash FictionA flash fiction competition with a twistCategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:500 Top Prize:$1,500, trophy, and a publishing contract

fri31oct12:01 am11:59 pmThe Bedford Short Story and Poetry CompetitionCategoryPoetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£8.50 Max word count:3000 (short story); 40 lines (poetry) Top Prize:£2000

fri31oct12:05 am12:05 amThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!TogetherintheUK ‘Then & Now’ Writing CompetitionCategoryEssay,Poetry,Short Story,SongwritingInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:1500 Top Prize:£250

fri31oct7:00 am11:58 pmThe Whispering Wisdom Poetry PrizeTheme: LOVECategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:15 lines Top Prize:£100 and publication

fri31oct12:01 am11:59 pmCai Emmons Short Fiction ContestCategoryShort FictionUSAEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:3,000 Top Prize:$700

fri31oct9:45 am9:45 amBenjamin Saltman Poetry AwardCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:96 pages Top Prize:$3,000 and publication

fri31oct11:00 am11:59 pmIronclad Creative Short Story Comp: SwitchCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£9 Max word count:6,000 Top Prize:£100 and publication

fri31oct3:00 pm11:59 pmNational Poetry CompetitionCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£8 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£5,000

fri31oct5:22 pm5:22 pmThe Hope PrizeGet published by Simon & Schuster AustraliaCategoryShort Fiction,Short Non-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:$10,000 and publication Simon & Schuster Australia

fri31oct9:06 pm9:06 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Solstice Nature Prize for Young WritersCategoryPoetry,Short StoryUnited KingdomEntry Fee:Free Max word count:500 (short stories); 500 (blogs); 40 lines (poetry) Top Prize:£100, goody bags and anthology publication

November 2025

fri31oct12:01 am11:59 pmCai Emmons Short Fiction ContestCategoryShort FictionUSAEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:3,000 Top Prize:$700

sat01nov12:30 pm12:30 pmCatherine Doctorow Innovative Fiction PrizeCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$3,000 and publication by FC2, an imprint of the University of Alabama Press

sat01nov11:19 pm11:19 pmAscent Novel PrizeCategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee:£29 (free for under-represented writers) Max word count:3,000 Top Prize:£1,000 and personalised feedback

fri07nov12:20 pm12:20 pmF(r)iction Fall 2025 Writing ContestsCategoryFlash Fiction,Poetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:7,500 (short story); 3 pages (poetry); 1,000 (flash fiction) Top Prize:$1,000 and publication

sat08nov2:12 pm2:12 pmThe Galley Beggar Press Short Story PrizeCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£11 Max word count:6,000 Top Prize:£2,500

sat15nov8:55 pm8:55 pmThe SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest 2025CategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$14 Max word count:250 Top Prize:$1,000 and publication

mon17nov9:57 am9:57 am2026 First Chapters Competition - Historical Novel SocietyCategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee:£25 Max word count:3,000 Top Prize:£1,000 and the competition trophy

fri28nov10:55 pm10:55 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!2026 Women's Prize for FictionCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:Full manuscript Top Prize:£30,000 and a statuette

sun30nov5:01 am11:59 pmAnthology Travel Writing Competition 2025CategoryNon-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:€15 Max word count:1000 Top Prize:€300

sun30nov2:17 pm2:17 pmTadpole Press 100-Word Writing ContestCategoryShort FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:100 Top Prize:$1,000

sun30nov2:19 pm2:19 pmGregory O’Donoghue International Poetry CompetitionCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:€7 per poem or €30 for a batch of five Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:€2,000 and publication

sun30nov4:27 pm4:27 pmInkspot Publishing Short Story CompetitionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:£1,000 and publication

sun30nov10:37 pm10:37 pmBath Children’s Novel Award 2025£5,000 International Writing PrizeCategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee:£29.99 Max word count:5,000 words plus one page synopsis Top Prize:£5,000, manuscript feedback, online novel editing course worth £1,800

December 2025

mon01dec12:05 am12:05 amPhiladelphia Stories Fiction ContestCategoryShort StoryUSAEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:8,000 Top Prize:$1,000, publication, and a complimentary copy of Philadelphia Stories

fri05dec12:00 am12:00 amBardsy 2025 Fall First Chapter Anthology ContestCategoryFiction,Micro Fiction,Multiple categories,Short Fiction,Short Story,Unpublished BooksInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:2,500 Top Prize:$1,000 and publication

sun14dec9:37 am9:37 amThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel CompetitionCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$10,000 and publishing contract

mon15dec9:10 am9:10 amThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Leave Your Mark: Writing Contest for TeensCategoryShort FictionInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:250 Top Prize:$400 Gotham credit, a $50 gift certificate, and publication on the Gotham Writers website

mon15dec3:48 pm3:48 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Final Girl Review - Horror Fiction, Poetry, and Non-fictionCategoryEssay,Fiction,Non-fiction,PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize:Publication

mon15dec11:48 pm11:48 pmUnleash Press WIP AwardCategoryFiction,Non-fiction,PoetryEntry Fee:$35 Max word count:25 pages double-spaced Top Prize:$500 to supplement costs to support the completion of a book-length work of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry

sun21dec5:00 pm5:00 pmRuth Rendell Short Story CompetitionInterAct Stroke SupportCategoryShort StoryUnited KingdomEntry Fee:£15 Max word count:1000 Top Prize:£1,000

wed31dec12:00 am12:00 amKiller Shorts Horror Short Screenplay CompetitionThe premier writing contest for emerging genre writers. CategoryScriptwriting,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:6000 Top Prize:Publication, career mentorship, industry circulation, Scrivener writing software, and a skull-shaped typewriter trophy

wed31dec9:29 am9:29 amThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Anisfield-Wolf Book AwardBooks that confront racism and celebrate diversityCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$10,000 from the Anisfield-Wolf fund

wed31dec2:47 pm2:47 pmFusilli Flash Fiction CompetitionCategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£2.50 Max word count:200 Top Prize:£30 and publication on website

wed31dec11:38 pm11:38 pmThe Danahy Fiction PrizeCategoryShort FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:$1,000 and publication in Tampa Review

January 2026

thu01jan8:55 am8:55 amThe Exeter Novel PrizeCategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee:£20 Max word count:10,000 Top Prize:£1000

fri02jan11:32 pm11:32 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Welkin Writing PrizeCategoryMicro FictionEntry Fee:Free Max word count:100 Top Prize:£75

mon26jan11:27 pm11:27 pm2026 Bridge Prize Short Story AwardCelebrating short story fiction writing at the post-secondary level in CanadaCategoryShort StoryCanadaEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:7,500 Top Prize:$5,000 + $200 gift card courtesy of Munro’s Books

February 2026

tue10feb11:17 pm11:17 pmThe Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition 2026CategoryEssayInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:Check with organizer for details Top Prize:$1,000

thu12feb12:00 am11:59 pm2026 Next Generation Indie Book AwardsThe largest international awards program for indie authors and independent publishersCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:$80 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$1500, trophy, social media coverage, and many other prizes

thu26feb12:00 am11:59 pm2026 Next Generation Short Story AwardsAn international awards program for authors of short storiesCategoryMultiple categories,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:5000 Top Prize:$500, trophy, publication

fri27feb9:15 am9:15 amEmerging Author DaggerCrime Writing CompetitionCategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee:£42 Max word count:Opening (max. 3,000 words) and synopsis (max. 1,500 words) Top Prize:$500 + shortlisted entries shown to agents and publishers

sat28feb9:07 am9:07 amEdinburgh Short Story AwardCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£11 Max word count:2,000 Top Prize:£3,000 and publication

March 2026

sun01mar3:54 pm3:54 pmPorter Fleming Literary CompetitionCategoryFiction,Non-fiction,Play,PoetryUSAEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize:$7,000 cash awards across categories

tue31mar8:56 am8:56 amThe Lascaux Prize in PoetryCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$1,000, a bronze medallion, and publication in The Lascaux Review

April 2026

wed01apr2:47 pm2:47 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!2026 Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:250 lines Top Prize:$2,000 and publication

thu30apr4:02 pm4:02 pmThe Adrienne Rich Award for PoetryCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:10 pages Top Prize:$1,500 + publication in BPJ

June 2026

mon15jun9:04 am9:04 amThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Paz Prize for PoetryPoetry originally written in Spanish by an American residentCategoryPoetryUSAEntry Fee:Free Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$2,000 and publication

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