WOW! Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest

The WOW! Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest is organised by WOW! Women on Writing, an established online writing platform that supports writers through competitions, publication opportunities, and educational resources. This quarterly contest invites personal essays based on real-life experiences, encouraging honest, engaging storytelling across a wide range of topics.

There is no fixed theme, but entries should reflect the core principles of creative nonfiction—truthful narratives told with literary flair. The mission of this contest is to reward bravery in real-life storytelling and create an understanding of our world through thoughtful, engaging narratives.

Submissions must be original, unpublished, and written in English, with a maximum length of 1,000 words. The competition is open internationally, and while WOW! focuses on supporting women writers, the contest itself is open to all. Winning and shortlisted entries are published on the WOW! website, offering visibility alongside cash prizes.

Limit: 300 entries.

Top prize: $500, publication, interview, and gift code good for one item from CreateWriteNow’s Store

Is this competition legit?YES! – Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any event, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work.

FAQ
If you are curious how writing competitions work, or it’s your first time entering one, we recommend reading our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page first.