April
tue31mar12:00 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventInception | Sunspot LitCategory:Creative Nonfiction, Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Graphic Novel, Letter, Memoir, Micro Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Prose, Script, Short Fiction, Short Non-fiction, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$5 Max Length:250 (prose); 25 (poetry); first page (graphic novel and comic books) Top Prize:$100 and publication
wed01apr2:08 amthu30(apr 30)11:59 am Online EventThe Elegant Literature Award for New WritersGentle Gravity Short Story ContestCategory:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free (for Elegant Literature members) Max Length:2,000 Top Prize:$3,000, 10 cents per word, publication, and free enrollment in the New Novelist Accelerator program
thu16apr6:58 pm6:58 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOnline EventPURORRELATO Micro-story Contest 2026Category:Flash Fiction, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:1500 Top Prize:€750
fri17apr5:26 pm5:26 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventWriting Fellowship for New ParentsCategory:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max Length:440 Top Prize:$2,000 cash, publication in Dreamers Creative Writing Magazine, and a year of mentorship
tue28apr12:00 am11:59 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventJane Austen Literacy Foundation Short Story Writing CompetitionCategory:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:2000 words Top Prize:Winning stories recorded as an audiobook and published worldwide
May
fri01may9:31 pm9:31 pmOnline EventThe John McGivering Writing PrizePreserving and promoting the work and legacy of Rudyard KiplingCategory:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£8 Max Length:2500 Top Prize:£350
fri08may10:04 pm10:04 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventInternational Jay Yes Short Story ContestCategory:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:4000 Top Prize:Publishing contract with Zero Degree Publishing
fri15may2:07 am2:07 amFREE to enter! Yay!Dear Aliens - A Writing Contest for HumansCategory:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:1000 Top Prize:$2,000
mon18may3:22 pm3:22 pmOnline EventABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story PrizeCategory:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max Length:5,000 Top Prize:AU$6,000 and publication
mon25may12:40 pm12:40 pmOnline EventLondon Independent Story Prize (LISP)Category:Flash Fiction, Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£15 Max Length:300 (flash fiction); 3000 (short story); 40 lines (poetry) Top Prize:£100 and publication
mon25may11:00 pm5:00 pmOnline EventM.F.K. Fisher Emerging Writers ContestCategory:Essay, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$50 (free for youth and children) Max Length:750 (adults); 300-500 (youth and children( Top Prize:$250 and publication
wed27may11:57 pm11:57 pmOnline EventThe Reedsy Literary PrizeA stage for exceptional short fictionCategory:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max Length:5,000 Top Prize:$1,500, publication in Reedsy’s literary magazine Prompted, snf personalised feedback from the guest judge
sun31may12:06 pm12:06 pmOnline EventThe Yeovil Literary PrizeCategory:Children's Literature, Novel, Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Depends on category - check organizer's website Max Length:10,000 (novel); 2,000 (short story); 40 lines (poetry); 3,000 (young adult) Top Prize:£1350
sun31may3:13 pm3:13 pmOnline EventNever Too Late 60+ AwardCelebrating the achievements of writers aged 60 and overCategory:Flash Fiction, Novel, Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£12 - £26 Max Length:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize:£500 and publication
June
mon01jun2:16 pm2:16 pmOnline EventArizona Authors Association Literary ContestCategory:Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, Unpublished BooksInternationalEntry Fee:$40 (members); $50 (non-members) Max Length:50 lines (poetry); 5,000 (short fiction/nonfiction); 25 pages (novels/novellas/plays) Top Prize:$500 and publication in the Arizona Authors Literary Magazine
sun07jun10:00 am6:00 pmOnline EventWrite By The Sea Writing Short Story CompetitionsCategory:Flash Fiction, Memoir, Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:€12 Max Length:2,500 words (short story); 700 words (flash fiction); 40 lines (poetry); 1,000 words (memoir/personal essay) Top Prize:€500
mon15jun1:13 pm1:13 pmOnline EventThe Bridport Prize 2026Category:Flash Fiction, Micro Fiction, Novel, Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£12 - £26 Max Length:42 lines (poetry); 5,000 (short story); 250 (flash fiction); 8,000 (novel); 8,000 (memoir) Top Prize:£1,000 - £5,000 and publication
mon15jun7:36 pm7:36 pmOnline EventThe Moth Short Story Prize 2026Category:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:€17 Max Length:3,000 words Top Prize:€3,000 and publication
wed24jun5:53 pm5:53 pmOnline EventAtwood Gibson Writers’ Trust Fiction PrizeRecognizing the best work of fiction by a Canadian authorCategory:Short StoryCanadaEntry Fee:Free Max Length:Full manuscript Top Prize:$70,000
tue30jun1:00 am12:00 pmOnline EventWells Festival of Literature's International Creative Writing CompetitionsCategory:Children's Literature, Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£8 Max Length:Depends on category Top Prize:£1,000
July
tue07jul9:12 pm9:12 pmOnline EventHG Wells Short Story CompetitionCategory:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 (no entry fees for those aged 21 years) Max Length:5,000 Top Prize:£1,000 (Under 21 category) and £500 (Senior category), plus anthology publication
fri31jul7:41 pm7:41 pmOnline EventAnthology Short Story Competition 2026Category:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:€18 Max Length:1,500 Top Prize:€1,000 and publication
