The list below is an archive of events where the deadline has aleady passed. For a list of all current (upcoming) events, please refer to our main calendar page.

April

wed23apr10:48 am10:00 pmPast DeadlineFree Flash Fiction Competition Twenty-SevenSubmit a flash fiction piece of between 100 and 300 words on any theme.CategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£3.95 Max word count:300 Top Prize:£150

mon28apr10:22 pm12:00 amThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineKSCPP's 17th Nationwide Essay ContestFor middle and high school students in the U.S.CategoryEssayUSAEntry Fee:Free Max word count:825 Top Prize:$500

wed30apr12:01 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineTadpole Press 100-Word Writing ContestCategoryOtherInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:100 Top Prize:$2,000

wed30apr10:15 am10:15 amPast DeadlineAgnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize 2025CategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:100 pages Top Prize:$5,000 and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press

wed30apr8:20 pm8:20 pmPast DeadlineWare Poets 27th annual Open Poetry CompetitionCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:50 lines Top Prize:£800 and publication

wed30apr8:28 pm8:28 pmPast DeadlineNew Writers 100-Word Writing Competition 2025CategoryFlash Fiction,Micro Fiction,PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£8 Max word count:100 Top Prize:£500

wed30apr11:13 pm11:13 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOxford/42 New Writing PrizeCategoryNovel,ScreenwritingInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize:£1500 and agency representation

wed30apr6:42 pm6:42 pmPast DeadlineGoldilocks Zone 2025 ContestCategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:$5 Max word count:2,500 (short stories); 24 lines (poetry); 8 pages (graphic novel/script/screenplay) Top Prize:$100 and publication

wed30apr11:57 pm11:57 pmPast DeadlineWilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize - New Voices AwardOpportunity for unpublished writersCategoryFictionInternationalEntry Fee:£30 Max word count:First three chapters (no more than 10,000) Top Prize:Mentorship and editorial guidance

wed30apr11:59 pm11:59 pmPast DeadlineThe Ghost Story Supernatural Fiction AwardCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:10,000 Top Prize:$1,500

May

thu01may12:01 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineTom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction and Essay ContestCategoryEssay,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:6,000 Top Prize:$3,500

wed30apr9:47 pm9:47 pmPast DeadlineWOW! CREATIVE NONFICTION ESSAY CONTESTCategoryEssay,Non-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:$12 Max word count:1,000 Top Prize:$500, publication, interview, and gift code good for one item from CreateWriteNow's Store

thu01may8:19 pm8:19 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineABA Journal / Ross Writing Contest for Legal Short FictionCategoryEssayUSAEntry Fee:Free Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:$5,000

fri02may8:22 pm8:22 pmPast DeadlineF(r)iction Writing Contest - Spring 2025CategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize:$1,000 and publication

sun04may11:01 pm11:01 pmPast DeadlineMisfit Poems PrizeCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:five pages Top Prize:$2,000 and publication

mon05may1:51 am1:51 amPast DeadlineABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize 2025CategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:$6,000 and publication

mon05may7:06 pm7:06 pmPast DeadlineWriter’s Digest Annual Writing CompetitionCategoryFull Manuscript,PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max word count:4,000 (short fiction); 40 lines (poetry) Top Prize:$5,000 and publication

wed07may11:44 pm11:44 pmPast DeadlineWigtown International Poetry PrizeCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£1500 and publication

sat10may8:13 pm8:13 pmPast DeadlineIronclad Creative Short Story CompetitionCategoryShort StoryUnited KingdomEntry Fee:£9 Max word count:6,000 Top Prize:£100

thu15may3:46 pm3:46 pmPast DeadlineLenore Marshall Poetry PrizeCategoryPoetryUSAEntry Fee:$75 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$25,000

thu15may8:13 pm8:13 pmPast DeadlinePloughshares Emerging Writer’s ContestCategoryPoetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max word count:6000 (short story); 3-5 pages (poetry) Top Prize:Publication in the Winter 2025-26 issue of Ploughshares

fri16may11:30 pm11:30 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineA Nightclub for the Newly DepartedDually Noted Group Writing ProjectCategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:No limit Top Prize:Publication

mon19may2:56 pm2:56 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineCreative Future Writers’ Award 2025CategoryFiction,Non-fiction,PoetryUnited KingdomEntry Fee:Free Max word count:50 lines (Poetry); 2,000 (fiction and non-fiction) Top Prize:£20,000 of prizes in training, mentoring, assessment and coaching

mon26may7:49 pm7:49 pmPast DeadlineIronbridge Festival Poetry CompetitionCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£4 Max word count:35 lines Top Prize:£300

sat31may12:00 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineCranked Anvil Press Quarterly Flash Fiction PrizeCategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:500 Top Prize:£100

sat31may4:10 am4:10 amPast DeadlineGoldfinch Books Novel AwardCategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:Full manuscript Top Prize:£500 cash prize plus an invitation to join the Goldfinch writer community

sat31may9:22 am9:22 amPast Deadline2025 RockPaperPoem Poetry PrizeCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:Two pages per poem Top Prize:$300 and publication

sat31may10:20 am10:20 amPast DeadlineThe Never Too Late 60+ AwardThe Bridport Writing CompetitionCategoryFlash Fiction,Novel,Poetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Max word count:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize:£5,000

sat31may7:01 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineSolar Flare 2025 ContestCategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:$5 Max word count:500 (short stories or nonfiction); 12 lines (poetry); 8 pages (graphic novels, scripts, or screenplays) Top Prize:$100 and publication

sat31may3:15 pm3:15 pmPast DeadlinePeggy Chapman-Andrews First Novel AwardCategoryNovelUK & IrelandEntry Fee:£24 Max word count:8,000 taken from the opening chapter Top Prize:£1,500, manuscript appraisal, publication

sat31may3:26 pm3:26 pmPast DeadlineThe Yeovil Literary Prize 2025CategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:£10 - £18.50 Max word count:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize:£1350

sat31may6:06 pm6:06 pmPast DeadlineThe Bridport Prize 2025Award for Poetry, Short Story, Flash Fiction, and NovelCategoryFlash Fiction,Novel,Poetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£11 - £24 Max word count:Depends on category. Check with organizer. Top Prize:£5,000

sat31may7:59 pm7:59 pmPast DeadlineBlue Pencil Agency First Novel Award 2025Open to unrepresented writersCategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee:£25 Max word count:20,000 Top Prize:£1,000 + agent Introduction

sat31may8:04 pm8:04 pmPast DeadlineThe Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant WritingCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Top Prize:$10,000, admission to writing residency program, and publication by Restless Books

sat31may8:28 pm8:28 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineThe Irene Adler Prize$1,000 Scholarship for Women WritersCategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:Check with organizer for details Top Prize:$1,000

sat31may11:06 pm11:06 pmPast DeadlineMinds Shine Bright Places Writing CompetitionCategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:5000 Top Prize:$1500 and publication

sat31may11:06 pm11:06 pmPast DeadlineThe BeaconFlash Story CompetitionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£3 Max word count:500 Top Prize:£75 plus up to 5,000 words critique

sat31may6:55 pm6:55 pmPast DeadlineBuckham Fine Arts Project of Flint Michigan - Horror AnthologyAn Open Call for Horror Themed LiteratureCategoryFiction,Poetry,Short StoryUSAEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:4,000 (short story); 50 lines (poetry) Top Prize:$25

June

sat31may9:24 pm9:24 pmPast DeadlineWOW! Spring 2025 Flash Fiction ContestCategoryFiction,Flash Fiction,Short FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:750 Top Prize:$400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate

sun01jun3:48 pm6:00 pmPast DeadlinePeriscope Paired Fiction AwardCategoryFictionInternationalEntry Fee:£16 Max word count:1000 Top Prize:£400

mon02jun12:00 am12:00 amPast DeadlineSalamander 2025 Fiction PrizeCategoryFictionInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:7500 Top Prize:$1000 and publication

mon02jun(jun 2)12:00 amfri13(jun 13)11:59 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineALLMYNE's Literary Travels Writing CompetitionCategoryEssay,Featured event,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:500 Top Prize:$500, feature blog post on winner shared through social media, and one-year Pro subscription on the ALLMYNE app

mon02jun2:50 pm2:50 pmPast DeadlineThe Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition 2025CategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee:£20 Max word count:80,000 Top Prize:£10,000 and a publishing contract

mon02jun3:55 pm3:55 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineJane Austen Society of North America Essay ContestCategoryEssayInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:8 pages Top Prize:$1,000 scholarship and two nights’ lodging for JASNA’s Annual General Meeting

mon02jun11:02 pm11:02 pmPast DeadlineCanterbury Festival Poet of the Year 2025InternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:60 lines Top Prize:£300

wed04jun8:30 pm8:30 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineThe International Audio Drama Competition 2026CategoryAudio DramaInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:40-50 minutes Top Prize:£2,500 and recording for a world premiere on BBC World Service platforms

fri06jun11:10 pm11:10 pmPast DeadlineWrite By The Sea Writing CompetitionCategoryEssay,Flash Fiction,Memoir,Poetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:€10 Max word count:Depends on category Top Prize:€500, publication, and a free weekend pass to the Write By The Sea Festival 2025

sun15jun4:23 pm4:23 pmPast DeadlineThe MacGuffin’s 30th Annual Poet Hunt ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:400 lines Top Prize:$500 and publication

sun15jun5:41 pm5:41 pmPast Deadline2025 Montreal Fiction PrizeCategoryShort StoryCanadaEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:4,000 Top Prize:$2,000 and publication

mon23jun11:43 am10:00 pmPast DeadlineFree Flash Fiction Competition Twenty-EightCategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£3.95 Max word count:300 Top Prize:£1500 and publication

wed25jun6:53 pm6:53 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineAtwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction PrizeAwarding the best Canadian novel or short story collection of the yearCategoryNovelCanadaEntry Fee:Free Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$60,000 (winner); $5,000 (finalists)

mon30jun12:14 am12:14 amPast Deadline2025 Wells Festival of Literature International CompetitionsCategoryPoetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max word count:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize:£1000

mon30jun1:00 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineHysteria Writing CompetitionCategoryFlash Fiction,Poetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:1,000 (short story); 250 (flash fiction); 16 lines (poetry) Top Prize:£75 and publication

mon30jun3:40 am3:40 amPast DeadlinePoetry London Prize 2025CategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:80 lines Top Prize:£5,000

mon30jun4:03 am4:03 amPast DeadlineThe Lascaux Prize in Flash FictionCategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:1,000 Top Prize:$1,000, a bronze medallion, and publication in The Lascaux Review

mon30jun12:17 pm12:17 pmPast DeadlinePage Turner International Writing AwardCategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:£40 Max word count:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize:$1,000

mon30jun12:47 pm12:47 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineKatherine Anne Porter Prize in Short FictionCategoryShort FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$25 (free option available) Max word count:50,000 Top Prize:$1000 and publication by UNT Press

mon30jun1:00 pm10:00 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineHastings Book Festival Writing CompetitionsCategoryFiction,Multiple categories,Non-fiction,Poetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:2,500 Top Prize:£250 and publication

mon30jun1:44 pm11:59 pmPast DeadlineThe Letter Review Prize for PoetryCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:70 lines Top Prize:$333 and publication

mon30jun1:47 pm1:47 pmPast DeadlineThe Letter Review Prize for Short FictionCategoryShort FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:5000 Top Prize:$333 and publication

mon30jun1:54 pm11:59 pmPast DeadlineThe Letter Review Prize for BooksCategoryUnpublished BooksInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:5000 Top Prize:$1000 prize pool + publication

mon30jun2:31 pm2:31 pmPast DeadlineThe International Amy MacRae Award for MemoirCategoryMemoirInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:2000 Top Prize:$1,000

mon30jun4:21 pm11:59 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineRinks and Romance Writing Contest: Showcase Your Best Hockey Love StoryCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$300 USD and a Galatea Publishing Contract

mon30jun4:30 pm11:59 pmPast DeadlineCranked Anvil Press Annual Short Story Prize 2025CategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max word count:2500 Top Prize:£300

mon30jun6:45 pm6:45 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineDrue Heinz Literature PrizeCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:300 pages Top Prize:$15,000 cash prize and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press

mon30jun6:57 pm6:57 pmPast DeadlineHenshaw Press Short Story CompetitionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max word count:2,000 Top Prize:£200

mon30jun2:24 pm2:24 pmPast DeadlineThe Letter Review Prize for NonfictionCategoryNon-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:5000 Top Prize:$1000 prize pool + publication

mon30jun8:16 pm8:16 pmPast DeadlineSouthword Creative Non Fiction AwardCategoryNon-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:€20 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:€1,000 and publication

mon30jun9:21 pm9:21 pmPast DeadlineThe 9th To Hull and Back Humorous Short Story CompetitionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 (early bird entry) Max word count:2,500 Top Prize:£1,000 and publication

mon30jun10:33 pm10:33 pmPast DeadlineThe Moth Short Story Prize 2025CategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:€15 Max word count:3,000 Top Prize:€3,000

mon30jun11:34 pm11:34 pmPast DeadlineHeroines Women’s Writing PrizeCategoryPoetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:3 pages (poetry), 2500 words (short story) Top Prize:Publication

July

tue01jul12:01 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineNorth Street Book PrizeCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:$85 Max word count:200,000 Top Prize:$10,000

sun13jul9:00 am11:59 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineInterwoven: Poetry Celebrating ConnectednessCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:100 lines/ or 750 words Top Prize:£200

tue15jul4:25 pm4:25 pmPast DeadlineDriftwood Press 2025 Adrift Short Story ContestCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max word count:6,000 Top Prize:$500, publication, and five copies of the anthology in which the story appears

tue15jul4:36 pm4:36 pmPast DeadlineDriftwood Press 2025 Adrift Chapbook ContestCategoryChapbookInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:15-40 pages of poetry Top Prize:$750 dollars and 20 copies of the published chapbook

tue15jul12:00 pm11:59 pmPast DeadlineThe Screw Turn Flash Fiction CompetitionCategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:1,000 Top Prize:$1,000 and publication

tue15jul10:56 pm10:56 pmPast Deadline2025 Rattle Poetry PrizeCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$15,000

wed16jul8:00 pm5:00 pmPast DeadlineGutsy Great Novelist Page One PrizeCategoryFiction,Novel,Unpublished BooksInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:One page Top Prize:$1000

thu17jul5:39 pm5:39 pmPast DeadlineThe New Writers Poetry CompetitionCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:42 lines Top Prize:£1,200 and publication

sat19jul12:00 am8:00 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOcto Books Child-Friendly Writing CompetitionCategoryFiction,Short Fiction,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:900 Top Prize:Published by Octo Books, featured on website and social media, custom certificate, and surprise gift!

tue22jul12:01 am11:59 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineBlack Voices in Children's Literature Writing Contest 2025CategoryMultiple categoriesUSAEntry Fee:Free Max word count:800 Top Prize:$1000

wed23jul11:05 pm11:05 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineNational Youth Foundation 'I Matter' ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:Check with organizer for details Top Prize:$500

fri25jul(jul 25)12:00 pmsun27(jul 27)11:59 pmPast DeadlineNot 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

thu31jul12:01 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineThe Next Big Story PrizeCategoryFiction,Novel,Unpublished BooksInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:1,500 Top Prize:£100,000

thu31jul4:53 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineAnthology Short Story Competition 2025CategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:€18 Max word count:1500 Top Prize:€1000

thu31jul7:00 am11:58 pmPast DeadlineThe Whispering Wisdom Poetry PrizeCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:15 lines Top Prize:£100 and publication

thu31jul11:31 am11:31 amPast DeadlineSeán Ó Faoláin International Short Story Competition 2025CategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:€19 Max word count:3,000 Top Prize:€2,000 and publication in the literary journal Southword

thu31jul12:58 pm12:58 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineBerggruen Prize Essay CompetitionCategoryEssayInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:10,000 Top Prize:$50,000

thu31jul2:49 pm5:00 pmPast DeadlineWild Atlantic Words Short Story CompetitionCategoryShort StoryIrelandEntry Fee:€10 Max word count:3,000 Top Prize:€500

thu31jul10:53 pm10:53 pmPast DeadlineSouthlands Arts Creative Writing Competition 2025CategoryFiction,Non-fictionUnited KingdomEntry Fee:£3 Max word count:2,000 Top Prize:£100

thu31jul11:00 pm11:00 pmPast DeadlineWOW! Creative Nonfiction Essay ContestCategoryEssay,Short Non-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:$12 Max word count:1,000 Top Prize:$500, publication, interview, and gift code good for one item from CreateWriteNow

thu31jul11:04 pm11:04 pmPast DeadlineThe Winchester Poetry Prize 2025CategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£1000

View full caledar of events scheduled for this year