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.

August

fri29aug6:00 pm6:00 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineSt. Andrew's Poetry Contest 2025CategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$250

sun31aug4:57 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineAnthology Poetry Competition 2025CategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:€18 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:€1000

sun31aug5:05 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineAnthology Personal Memoir Competition 2025CategoryMemoirInternationalEntry Fee:€15 Max word count:1500 Top Prize:€500

sun31aug10:07 am10:07 amPast DeadlineAesthetica Creative Writing AwardCategoryPoetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£18 Max word count:2,000 (fiction); 40 lines (poetry) Top Prize:£5,000, publication, and a big package of other benefits

sun31aug12:00 pm12:00 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineIntrepid Times Travel Writing Competition - "A Book Led Me There"Travel Writing CompetitionCategoryMemoir,Non-fiction,Short Non-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:2,000 Top Prize:$300

sun31aug12:43 pm12:43 pmPast DeadlineOxford Flash Fiction PrizeCategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£7 Max word count:1000 Top Prize:£1000 and publication

sun31aug2:31 pm2:31 pmPast DeadlineEdinburgh True Flash AwardCategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee: £10 Max word count:250 Top Prize:£500 and publication

sun31aug2:55 pm2:55 pmPast DeadlineVirtual EventFool for Poetry International Chapbook CompetitionCategoryChapbookInternationalEntry Fee:€25 Top Prize:€1000, publication, and featured reading at the Cork International Poetry Festival (with three-night hotel stay and full board)

sun31aug2:56 pm2:56 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineI'm Obsessed Writing ContestGotham Writers WorkshopCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:101 Top Prize:Publication on website + a free Gotham Writing class

sun31aug4:05 pm4:05 pmPast DeadlineEdinburgh Award for Flash Fiction 2025CategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:250 Top Prize:£2,000 and publication

sun31aug4:17 pm4:17 pmPast DeadlineSaveAs Writers’ International Writing CompetitionCategoryPoetry,ProseInternationalEntry Fee:£4 Max word count:60 lines (poetry); 3500 words (prose) Top Prize:£200

sun31aug8:00 pm5:00 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineLetterkenny Cathedral Quarter Literary Festival Non Fiction Writing CompetitionCategoryNon-fictionIrelandEntry Fee:Free Max word count:400 Top Prize:€150

sun31aug9:06 pm9:06 pmPast DeadlineAjuda Foundation Creative Writing CompetitionCategoryMemoir,Poetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize:£100 and publication

sun31aug11:00 pm11:00 pmPast DeadlineWOW! Summer 2025 Flash Fiction ContestCategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:750 Top Prize:$400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate

September

mon01sep3:03 pm3:03 pmPast DeadlineGinosko Flash Fiction ContestCategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:1000 Top Prize:$500 and publication

fri05sep12:00 pm12:00 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineInclusive Voices Short Story CompetitionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:550 Top Prize:Echo Dot

sun07sep3:21 pm3:21 pmPast DeadlineVirtual EventFrontier Poetry 2025 Myths & Fables PrizeCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:no more than three poems (five pages) Top Prize:$3000 and publication

sun07sep7:38 pm7:38 pmPast DeadlineSummer Short Story Award for New WritersCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:6000 Top Prize:$3,000 and publication

sun07sep11:57 pm11:57 pmPast DeadlineSoutham Book Festival Flash Fiction Competition 2025CategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£3 Max word count:100 Top Prize:£60

mon15sep9:00 am9:00 pmPast DeadlineVirtual EventWild 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 pmPast DeadlineVirtual Event2025 Best in Rural Writing ContestCategoryFiction,Non-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:7,000 Top Prize:$500

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

thu25sep6:59 pm6:59 pmPast Deadline2025 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 pmPast DeadlineVirtual EventPoetry 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!Past DeadlineMichael Round PrizeFrom Croydon WritersCategoryFictionInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:1,200 Top Prize:£100

tue30sep3:47 am3:47 amPast DeadlineTHE 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 pmPast DeadlineAnthology Flash Fiction Competition 2025CategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:€12 Max word count:250 Top Prize:€300

tue30sep12:00 am11:59 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineVirtual EventNightmare on Story Street100 Word Horror ContestCategoryFiction,Flash Fiction,Micro Fiction,Short FictionInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:100 Top Prize:$100

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

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

tue30sep12:12 pm12:12 pmPast Deadline2025 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 pmPast DeadlineThe 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 pmPast DeadlineSouthword 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 pmPast DeadlineThe 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 pmPast DeadlineThe 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 pmPast DeadlineHenshaw Press Short Story CompetitionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max word count:2,000 Top Prize:£200 and publication

tue30sep8:49 pm8:49 pmPast DeadlinePudding 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 pmPast DeadlineVirtual EventThe Letter Review Prize for NonfictionCategoryNon-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:$333

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

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

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

October

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

wed01oct9:51 am9:51 amPast DeadlineVirtual EventJohn Steinbeck Award for FictionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:$1,000 and publication in Reed Magazine

wed01oct3:24 pm3:24 pmPast Deadline35th 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 pmPast DeadlineDzanc 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 pmPast DeadlineVirtual EventJoy 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 pmPast DeadlineVirtual EventWhat the Wild Carries PrizeCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:$2,000 and publication

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

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

wed15oct4:00 pm4:00 pmPast DeadlineCreative 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

wed15oct7:00 pm7:00 pmPast DeadlineTennessee 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 pmPast DeadlineTennessee 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 pmPast DeadlineIML Publications Memoir/Fiction Book ContestCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:$40 Max word count:100,000 Top Prize:$1,000 and publication

wed15oct10:42 pm10:42 pmPast DeadlineVirtual EventCaledonia 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 pmPast DeadlineTennessee 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 pmPast DeadlineTennessee 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 pmPast DeadlineVirtual EventThe Booksie 2025 Poetry ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$6.95 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$1,000

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

fri24oct1:00 am12:00 pmPast DeadlineThe Failing Writers Podcast Flash Fiction CompetitionCategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£4 Max word count:300 Top Prize:£500

fri31oct12:01 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineThe 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!Past DeadlineVirtual EventTogetherintheUK ‘Then & Now’ Writing CompetitionCategoryEssay,Poetry,Short Story,SongwritingInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:1500 Top Prize:£250

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

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

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

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

fri31oct12:35 pm12:35 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineVirtual EventThe Young Walter Scott PrizeCategoryFictionUnited KingdomEntry Fee:Free Max word count:2,000 Top Prize:£500 travel grant, tickets to a UK book festivals, publication in anthology

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

fri31oct1:00 pm11:59 pmPast DeadlineVirtual Event2025 Seven Hills Literary Contest and Penumbra Poetry and Haiku ContestCategoryFiction,Novel,Poetry,ProseUSAEntry Fee:$25 (fiction); $20 (poetry); $10 (haiku) Max word count:7,500 (fiction); 100 lines (poetry) Top Prize:$300 and publication

fri31oct5:22 pm5:22 pmPast DeadlineThe 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!Past DeadlineVirtual EventSolstice 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

sat01nov12:30 pm12:30 pmPast DeadlineVirtual EventCatherine 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

sat01nov4:12 pm4:12 pmPast DeadlineVirtual Event2026 Commonwealth Short Story PrizeCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:£2,500 and publication

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

wed05nov3:09 pm3:09 pmPast DeadlineVirtual EventThe New Writers Historical Flash Fiction CompetitionCategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£8 Max word count:300 Top Prize:£500 and publication

fri07nov12:20 pm12:20 pmPast DeadlineVirtual EventF(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 pmPast DeadlineThe Galley Beggar Press Short Story PrizeCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£11 Max word count:6,000 Top Prize:£2,500

fri14nov6:26 pm6:26 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineVirtual EventThe Happiful Poetry PrizeCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:25 lines Top Prize:£100 and publication

sat15nov3:19 pm3:19 pmPast DeadlineVirtual EventPerugia Press PrizeCategoryFull Manuscript,PoetryUSAEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:85 pages Top Prize:$2,000 and publication

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

mon17nov9:57 am9:57 amPast DeadlineVirtual Event2026 First Chapters Competition - Historical Novel SocietyCategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee:£25 Max word count:3,000 Top Prize:£1,000 and the competition trophy

sun30nov1:57 am1:57 amPast DeadlineVirtual EventThe Poetry.com Monthly ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:75 lines Top Prize:$500 and publication

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

sat29nov10:00 pm11:59 pmPast DeadlineVirtual EventSpeculative Fiction Short Stories - Intrepid Voices FundEmpowering emerging writersCategoryFiction,Short StoryUSAMax word count:2,000 Top Prize:$1,250

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

sun30nov2:19 pm2:19 pmPast DeadlineGregory 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

sun30nov10:00 am11:59 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineVirtual EventBoarding School Romance Writing Contest 2025CategoryFiction,NovelInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:No max word count Top Prize:$500 USD cash prize; Publishing offer with Galatea Stories; Book reviewed for possible CandyJar movie adaptation

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

sun30nov5:09 pm5:09 pmPast DeadlineVirtual EventThe International Dark Poets Prize (Edition IV)CategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max word count:250 Top Prize:£1000 and publication

sun30nov7:19 pm7:19 pmPast DeadlineVirtual EventCambrian Mountains Poetry CompetitionCategoryPoetryEntry Fee:£3.50 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£150

sun30nov10:37 pm10:37 pmPast DeadlineBath 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

View full caledar of events scheduled for this year