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. Subscribe to the Writing Deadlines newsletter to receive regular updates on the latest writing competitions and submission opportunties – straight to your mailbox.

Last updated: August 9, 2026
Upcoming deadlines listed: 78
Number of free-to-enter events: 16
All competitions are manually reviewed before inclusion in this directory. If you have questions about a particular event – please reach out to the event organizer. Always do your own research before submitting your work.
Submit an event
Subscribe to newsletter
Join our group
Donate a coffee
Submit an event

ALL FUTURE EVENT DEADLINES:

August 2026

sat01aug2:08 ammon31(aug 31)11:59 am Online EventThe Elegant Literature Award for New WritersHungry HighwaysCategory:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free for Elegant Literature members (or $10) Max Length:2,000 words Top Prize:$3,000, 10 cents per word, publication, and free enrollment in the New Novelist Accelerator program

fri21aug2:44 pm2:44 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventJohn Glassco Translation PrizeFor first book-length literary translationsCategory:Full ManuscriptCanadaEntry Fee:Free Max Length:Full book-length translation Top Prize:$1,500 and a one-year LTAC membership

fri21aug11:59 pm11:59 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventLetterkenny Literary Festival Poetry Competition 2026Category:PoetryIrelandEntry Fee:Free Max Length:30 lines Top Prize:€150

sat22aug1:14 pm1:14 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventInk of Ages Fiction Prize 2027Category:Fiction, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:FREE Max Length:2,000 words Top Prize:$500 cash, publication, story translation into multiple languages, and a lifetime World History Encyclopedia membership

tue25aug11:00 am10:00 pmOnline EventFFF Competition Thirty-FiveCategory:Flash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£4.95 Max Length:300 Top Prize:£200

sat29aug1:00 pm8:00 pmOnline EventThe Summer Holidays Writing CompetitionWriting contest for under-16sCategory:Children's Literature, Unpublished BooksUnited KingdomEntry Fee:£1 Max Length:1,000 words Top Prize:Publication, digital certificate, competition t-shirt, notebook, pen & magnet

sun30aug2:46 pm2:46 pmOnline EventThe Ekphrastic Poetry PrizeCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max Length:Three poems under ten pages Top Prize:$3,000, publication, interview in Palette Poetry

mon31aug12:00 am11:59 pmOnline EventCranked Anvil Quarterly Flash Fiction CompetitionCategory:Flash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max Length:500 words Top Prize:£100, publication online and digital anthology, Professional audio recording made and broadcast on UK radio and online around the world

mon31aug12:00 am12:00 pmOnline EventCharleston Writing ContestSubmit original works about Charleston, South CarolinaCategory:Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max Length:2,500 words (fiction/creative nonfiction); 30 lines (poetry) Top Prize:$500 cash and publication

mon31aug1:46 pm1:46 pmOnline EventTupelo Press 2026 Summer Open Reading PeriodCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$30 (reading feed) Max Length:28–47 pages (chapbook) or 48–90 pages (book-length collection) Top Prize:Publication, $1,000 advance, book launch, national distribution and promotion

mon31aug3:17 pm3:17 pmOnline EventNine Syllables Press Chapbook ContestCategory:ChapbookInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max Length:40 pages Top Prize:$500 and publication

mon31aug3:23 pm3:23 pmOnline EventThe 2026 Oxford Poetry PrizeCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max Length:60 lines Top Prize:£2,000 and publication in Oxford Poetry

mon31aug3:41 pm3:41 pmOnline EventSundress PublicationsFull-Length Poetry Manuscript Reading PeriodCategory:PoetryUSAEntry Fee:$15 Max Length:48–80 pages Top Prize:Publication contract (25 author copies; no cash prize)

mon31aug5:39 pm5:39 pmOnline EventThe St. Lawrence Book AwardFor debut poetry or prose collectionsCategory:Essay, Full Manuscript, Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max Length:95 pages (poetry); 280 pages (prose) Top Prize:$1,000 and publication

mon31aug5:52 pm5:52 pmOnline EventChalk Circle Short Story CompetitionCategory:Flash Fiction, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 (1500); £7 (360) Max Length:1,500 words (short story); 360 words (flash fiction) Top Prize:£200

mon31aug7:19 pm7:19 pmOnline EventAesthetica Creative Writing AwardInternational Literary Prize for Poetry and Short FictionCategory:Poetry, Short FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£18 Max Length:40 lines (poetry); 2000 words (short fiction) Top Prize:£2,500, publication, and many assorted prizes

mon31aug7:33 pm7:33 pmOnline EventAnthology Personal Memoir Competition 2026Category:MemoirInternationalEntry Fee:€15 Max Length:1,500 Top Prize:€500 and publication

September 2026

tue01sep2:23 pm2:23 pmOnline EventPlough Short Fiction ContestCategory:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max Length:5,000 words Top Prize:$2,000 and publication

tue01sep5:00 pm11:59 pmOnline EventBest in Rural Writing ContestCategory:Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Non-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max Length:7,000 words Top Prize:$500 and publication

tue01sep5:06 pm5:06 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventThe Climate Playwriting Prize 2026Category:PlaywritingUnited KingdomEntry Fee:Free Max Length:300 word synopsis Top Prize:£15,000, dramaturgical support on developing the play, support on next steps to produce the play

tue01sep5:45 pm5:45 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventDemocracy School Essay CompetitionPresented by TWoA and Bard College BerlinCategory:EssayInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:1,000 words Top Prize:€200 and publication

tue01sep11:05 pm11:05 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventLantern Lighters ContestA contest for teen writersCategory:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:1,000 words Top Prize:$50 Amazon gift card, editorial feedback, and publication

thu03sep3:29 pm3:29 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventYoung Lions Fiction AwardFor US fiction writers aged 35 and underCategory:Graphic Novel, Novel, Short StoryUSAEntry Fee:Free Max Length:No limit Top Prize:$10,000

sat05sep9:00 am9:00 pmThe McNeile Writing CompetitionCategory:Short StoryUnited KingdomEntry Fee:£5 Max Length:1000 words Top Prize:£250

sat05sep12:00 pm12:00 amOnline EventSoutham Book Festival Flash Fiction CompetitionFlash Fiction CompetitionCategory:Flash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£3 Max Length:100 words Top Prize:£60

sun06sep11:00 am11:00 amOnline EventCheltenham Poetry Festival International Poetry Prize 2026Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£4 Max Length:50 lines Top Prize:£300 and publication

sun06sep5:00 pm11:00 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventIntrepid Voices Fund: Spooky Speculative Fiction Short Story ContestCash prizes for emerging speculative fiction writersCategory:Short Fiction, Short StoryUSAEntry Fee:FREE Max Length:2000 words Top Prize:$1250

mon07sep3:12 pm3:12 pmOnline EventTerrain.org 17th Annual ContestCategory:Fiction, Non-fiction, PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max Length:7 pages (poetry, 1–5 poems); 5,000 words (fiction/non fiction) Top Prize:$1,000 and publication

sun13sep5:00 pm11:59 pmOnline EventBPA Short Story AwardCategory:Fiction, Short Fiction, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£22 Max Length:2,500 words Top Prize:£1,000 and agent introduction

mon14sep10:00 am5:00 pmOnline EventWild Muse Nature Writing Prize 2026Share your journey of nature's guidance, healing and transformationCategory:Short Fiction, Short Non-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:£10.36 Max Length:2000 words Top Prize:£750

wed23sep9:00 am5:00 pmOnline EventThe Nature Writing PrizeEssays that reveal the beauty, complexity, and significance of specific landscapes or environmentsCategory:EssayAustraliaEntry Fee:$30 Max Length:5,000 words Top Prize: $8,000 and publication in Australian Book Review

wed30sep12:00 am11:59 pmOnline EventCranked Anvil Playwriting CompetitionCategory:Audio Drama, Play, Playwriting, ScriptwritingInternationalEntry Fee:£12 Max Length:scripts should be 10 - 20 minutes in length Top Prize:£50 cash prize, professional audio recording broadcast on UK radio and online around the world, available on demand from the Cranked Anvil website.

wed30sep12:39 am12:39 amOnline EventHenshaw Short Story CompetitionQuarterly UK short story prizeCategory:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max Length:2,000 Top Prize:£200 and publication

wed30sep1:05 am1:05 amFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventThe Writers’ College Annual Short Story CompetitionTheme: The End of the LineCategory:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£8 (free until 31 May 2026) Max Length:2,000 Top Prize:£500 and publication

wed30sep1:25 am1:25 amOnline EventThe First Page ChallengeA writing contest for novelistsCategory:Multiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:$5 Max Length:One page Top Prize:$700 and publication

wed30sep12:13 pm12:13 pmOnline EventThe Moth Nature Writing Prize 2026Category:Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, ProseInternationalEntry Fee:€16 Max Length:4,000 words (prose), No length limit for poetry Top Prize:€1,000 and a one-week stay at The Moth Retreat in rural Ireland

wed30sep12:43 pm12:43 pmOnline EventSaveAs Writers' International Writing CompetitionTheme: 'Lines of Communication'Category:Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee: £4 (poetry); £5 (short story) Max Length:60 lines (poetry); 3,500 words (short story) Top Prize:£200

wed30sep3:11 pm3:11 pmOnline EventAnthology Nature Writing Competition 2026Category:Essay, Non-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:€12 Max Length:1,500 Top Prize:€300 and publication

wed30sep3:22 pm3:22 pmOnline EventAnthology Flash Fiction Award 2026Category:Flash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:€12 Max Length:250 Top Prize:€300 and publication

wed30sep3:30 pm3:30 pmOnline EventDzanc Books Prize for FictionCategory:Fiction, Full ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max Length:Full manuscript (40,000 words and above) Top Prize:$5,000 advance and publication

wed30sep4:37 pm4:37 pmOnline EventMiller Williams Poetry PrizeCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$28 Max Length:90 pages Top Prize:$5,000 and publication

wed30sep11:12 pm11:12 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventSix Word Wonder ContestCategory:Memoir, Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:6 words Top Prize:$100 and publication

October 2026

thu01oct12:00 am11:59 pmOnline EventThe Scribes PrizeCategory:Poetry, Prose, Short Fiction, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$5 Max Length:110 Top Prize:$250 and publication

thu01oct3:01 pm3:01 pmOnline EventWriter’s Digest Personal Essay AwardsCategory:EssayInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max Length:2,000 words Top Prize:$2,500 and publication

thu01oct3:34 pm3:34 pmOnline EventJohn Steinbeck Award for FictionCategory:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max Length:5,000 words Top Prize:$1,000 and a copy of Reed Magazine

thu01oct8:57 pm8:57 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventThe Folk Horror Short Story ContestCategory:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:15,000 words (5–30 pages) Top Prize: Publication in Briar Press NY's anthology "These Rotted Things" (Spring 2027), with marketing support and 3 free author copies

thu01oct10:11 pm10:11 pmOnline EventTOM HOWARD/Margaret Reid Poetry ContestCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max Length:250 lines Top Prize:$3,500 and publication

wed14oct2:38 pm2:38 pmOnline EventPeter Porter Poetry Prize 2027One of Australia’s most prestigious poetry competitionsCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$30 ($20 for current ABR subscribers) Max Length:60 lines Top Prize:$6,000

thu15oct1:18 am1:18 amOnline EventBook Pipeline Adaptation ContestCategory:Graphic Novel, Published Books, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$45–$70 Max Length:No limit Top Prize:$5,000 plus project development and industry circulation

thu15oct1:49 pm1:49 pmOnline EventBook Pipeline Unpublished ContestIndustry circulation for unpublished manuscriptsCategory:Multiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:$60 (regular tier) Max Length:Varies (check on organizer's website) Top Prize:$2,500 per category winner, plus development, mentoring, and industry circulation

fri16oct12:00 am12:00 amOnline EventTree of Life Books Fantasy Short Story ContestCategory:Fiction, Short Fiction, Short StoryUSAEntry Fee:$25 Max Length:7,500 words Top Prize:$250 and publication

fri16oct3:41 pm3:41 pmOnline EventThe 2027 Alice James AwardCategory:Full Manuscript, PoetryUSAEntry Fee:$30 Max Length:100 pages (minimum 48 pages, single-spaced) Top Prize:$2,000, book publication, and distribution

tue20oct2:23 pm2:23 pmOnline EventEyelands Book AwardsInternational awards for published and unpublished booksCategory:Full Manuscript, Published Books, Unpublished BooksInternationalEntry Fee:€40 Max Length:300,000 words Top Prize:Five-day stay in Athens or translation into Greek and publication by Strange Days Books

fri23oct(oct 23)12:00 pmsun25(oct 25)11:59 pmOnline EventNot Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction60 hours, 500 words, 2 teams, 1 winnerCategory:Flash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$28 Max Length:500 words Top Prize:$1,500 cash and the coveted Not Quite Write Trophy

thu29oct11:22 am11:22 amOnline EventWenlock Olympian Society Short Story CompetitionCategory:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max Length:2,500 words Top Prize:£150 and publication online

sat31oct12:01 am11:59 pmOnline EventThe Bedford Short Story and Poetry CompetitionCategory:Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£8.50 Max Length:3000 (short story); 40 lines (poetry) Top Prize:£2000

sat31oct11:00 am11:00 amOnline EventAnthology Poetry Competition 2026Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:€18 Max Length:40 lines Top Prize:€1,000 and publication

sat31oct12:49 pm12:49 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventThe Aluminium Crown Short Story ContestA community-funded speculative fiction contestCategory:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:4,000 words Top Prize:$300 (minimum) and publication

sat31oct1:19 pm1:19 pmOnline EventThe National Poetry Competition 2026Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£9 Max Length:40 lines Top Prize:£5,000 and publication in The Poetry Review

sat31oct6:23 pm6:23 pmOnline EventFlash 500 Novel Opening & Synopsis CompetitionCategory:NovelInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max Length:3,000 words (opening) plus synopsis up to 750 words Top Prize:£500

November 2026

sun01nov1:32 am1:32 amOnline EventRonald Sukenick Innovative Fiction Contest 2027Category:Full ManuscriptUSAEntry Fee:$25 (fee waivers available) Max Length:No limit Top Prize:$3,000 and publication

sun01nov6:18 pm6:18 pmOnline EventAscent Novel PrizeCategory:NovelInternationalEntry Fee:£29 Max Length:First 3,000 words Top Prize:£1,000

sun08nov2:36 pm2:36 pmOnline EventGalley Beggar Press Short Story PrizeCategory:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£11 (free options available for low-earners) Max Length:6,000 words Top Prize:£3,000 and publication

sun15nov3:49 pm3:49 pmOnline EventThe SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest 2026The MikeyCategory:Micro FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$14 Max Length:250 words Top Prize:$1000 and publication

mon30nov12:00 am11:59 pmOnline EventTadpole Press 100-Word Writing ContestClever, uplifting stories in 100 words or lessCategory:Flash Fiction, Micro Fiction, Multiple categories, Poetry, Prose, Short Fiction, Short Non-fiction, SongwritingInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max Length:100 words or less Top Prize:$1,000, publication, manuscript assessment, and other perks

mon30nov12:00 am11:59 pmOnline EventCai Emmons Short Fiction ContestCategory:Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Fiction, Short StoryUSAEntry Fee:$7 Max Length:3,000 words Top Prize:$700

mon30nov8:53 pm8:53 pmOnline EventAnthology Travel Writing Competition 2026Category:Creative Nonfiction, Non-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:€15 Max Length:1,000 words Top Prize:€300 and publication

mon30nov10:37 pm10:37 pmOnline EventBath Children’s Novel Award 2026An international prize for children's fiction by emerging authorCategory:NovelInternationalEntry Fee:£33 Max Length:5,000 words + one-page synopsis Top Prize:£5,000, manuscript feedback, the Minerva Trophy, online novel editing course worth £1,980

December 2026

mon30nov12:00 am11:59 pmOnline EventTadpole Press 100-Word Writing ContestClever, uplifting stories in 100 words or lessCategory:Flash Fiction, Micro Fiction, Multiple categories, Poetry, Prose, Short Fiction, Short Non-fiction, SongwritingInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max Length:100 words or less Top Prize:$1,000, publication, manuscript assessment, and other perks

mon30nov12:00 am11:59 pmOnline EventCai Emmons Short Fiction ContestCategory:Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Fiction, Short StoryUSAEntry Fee:$7 Max Length:3,000 words Top Prize:$700

thu31dec1:16 pm1:16 pmOnline EventThe Penelope AwardSearching for the Best Unpublished Thriller ManuscriptCategory:Full Manuscript, NovelInternationalEntry Fee:€30 Max Length:Synopsis up to 500 words, plus first three chapters Top Prize:Publishing deal with Imagine Press

thu31dec7:00 am12:00 amOnline EventKiller Shorts Horror Short Story CompetitionTHE PREMIER WRITING CONTEST FOR EMERGING GENRE WRITERSCategory:Short Fiction, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max Length:6000 words Top Prize:Publication, Career Mentorship, Industry Circulation, Scrivener Writing Software, and a Skull-Shaped Typewriter Trophy.

thu31dec5:12 pm5:12 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventRejection CompetitionA competition to see who can acquire the most literary rejections in a calendar yearCategory:Creative Nonfiction, Essay, Flash Fiction, Micro Fiction, Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:No limit Top Prize:Publication online and bragging rights

thu31dec8:52 pm8:52 pmOnline EventThe Lascaux Prize in Short FictionCategory:Short FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max Length:10,000 words Top Prize:$1,000, a bronze medallion, and publication in The Lascaux Review

January 2027

mon11jan12:58 pm12:58 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventAmazing Women's Edition ContestA K–8 student book-writing contest from the National Youth FoundationCategory:Full ManuscriptUSAEntry Fee:Free Max Length:20–30 pages (book format, text and illustrations combined) Top Prize:Publication of the winning book by the National Youth Foundation

February 2027

fri12feb12:00 am11:59 pmOnline EventNext Generation Indie Book AwardsThe largest international awards program for indie authors and independent publishersCategory:Multiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:$80 Max Length:No limit Top Prize:$1,500

thu25feb12:00 am11:59 pmOnline EventNext Generation Short Story AwardsA not-for-profit awards program for authors of short storiesCategory:Multiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max Length:5000 words Top Prize:$500

sun28feb12:52 pm12:52 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventCanterbury Tales Writing Competition 2026/7Create a poem or story that reflects the theme of “Transformations”Category:Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:500 words Top Prize:£300 in each age category, plus £1,000 for the winning entrant’s school library

March 2027

wed31mar11:16 pm11:16 pmOnline EventReader Views Literary AwardsCategory:Published BooksInternationalEntry Fee:$89 - $109 Max Length:No limit Top Prize:$1,000 + a wide range of sponsored awards

April 2027

thu01apr2:47 pm2:47 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Online Event2027 Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry ContestFree-to-enter humor poetry prizeCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:250 lines Top Prize:$2,000 and publication

June 2027

wed30jun5:06 pm5:06 pmOnline EventTo Hull And Back Humorous Short Story CompetitionCategory:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 (early-bird fee until 1st April 2027) Max Length:2,500 words Top Prize:£1,000 cash, plus the winner's face on the anthology cover (depicted riding a flaming motorcycle) and their book copy ridden to Hull and back on a Harley-Davidson

RSS Feed for our events

COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT WRITING COMPETITIONS

How do you decide which competitions to include?

Every competition on this page is manually reviewed before we add it. We check for a clear set of rules, a legitimate organizer, and reasonable terms before including any event. However, we still encourage you to do your own research before sharing your work with anyone or submitting it to an event, no matter how ‘legitimate’ it may seem.

Are these writing competitions legitimate?

Most competitions you’ll find online, including the ones we list, are run by established, trustworthy organizers. That said, always be cautious and watch for vague rules, unrealistic prizes, or requests to give up copyright, and research any organizer before entering. See our full FAQ page to learn more about what to look out for.

Are there free writing competitions on this list?

Yes. There are usually several free-to-enter competitions included in the list (the exact count is shown at the top of this page). Free events are less common than paid ones, so it’s worth checking back often or subscribing to our newsletter for updates.

How do I add a writing competition to this list?

Anyone can suggest a competition for this list, whether you’re the organizer or you just came across one you think should be included. Submit event details using this form.

See our full FAQ page for more answers to common questions about writing competitions.