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Writing Competitions in 2022

Opportunities for aspiring and experienced writers.

Welcome to the most comprehensive list of writing competitions available online. Our list includes short story, poetry, and flash fiction competitions, as well as some events for essay writers, screenwriting, and even entire novel manuscripts. Each item on our list includes basic information about max word count, entry fees, submission deadlines, and the first place prize.

Please do your own research before deciding to enter any event. In case of questions about a particular event, please reach out to the event organizer.

Use our online form to submit a new event to our list.

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june

27junAll DayNarratively’s Spring 2022 Memoir PrizeUSAEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:7,000 Top Prize:$3,000 and publication

29junAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Sir Peter Ustinov Television Scriptwriting AwardInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$2,500

30junAll DayBlackwater Press Short Story ContentINKInternationalEntry Fee:$5 Max word count:none! Top Prize:$150 and publication

30junAll DayThe Moth Short Story PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:€15 Max word count:4,000 Top Prize:€3,000

30junAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Drue Heinz Literature PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:300 pages Top Prize:$15,000 and publication

30junAll DayQueen Mary Wasafiri New Writing PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:3,000 Top Prize:£1,000 and publication

30junAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Bulwer Lytton Fiction ContestInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:60 Top Prize:Publication (and bragging rights)

30junAll DayPoetry London PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:£8 Max word count:80 lines Top Prize:£5,000

30junAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Beagle North Short Story CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:2500 Top Prize:£20 (or equivalent) Amazon voucher + publication

30jun12:19 am12:19 amBoston Review 2022 Writing Contests - Poetry and Short StoriesInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:10 pages (poetry), 5,000 words (short story) Top Prize:$1,000 and publication

30junAll DayRigel - Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, or ArtUSAEntry Fee:$6 Max word count:5,000 (prose), 10 pages (poetry), 10 pages (graphic novel) Top Prize:$250

30junAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!As Bright As The Moon ContestUSAEntry Fee:Free Max word count:3,000 Top Prize:$600

30junAll DayThe Henshawpress Short Story CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max word count:2000 Top Prize:£200

30junAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Virtual EventThe Aleph Writing PrizeUKEntry Fee:Free Max word count:10,000 Top Prize:a limited edition handmade publication to the best piece of fiction

30junAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Lindisfarne Prize for Crime FictionInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count: 10,000 Top Prize:£2500 to support the completion of work and funding towards a year’s membership of both the Society of Authors (SoA) and the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi)

30junAll DayWriting Magazine Grand PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:£15 Max word count:2,000 Top Prize:£1,000

july

01julAll DaySaudi Historical Fiction AwardsInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:5,000 (short story), 150,000 (novel) Top Prize:£10,000

08julAll DayPeriscope Flash Fiction Contest - Season SixFlash Fiction: Imposter InternationalEntry Fee:£9 Max word count:900 Top Prize:£2000

10julAll DayMcLellan Poetry CompetitioInternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max word count:80 lines Top Prize:£1,300

11julAll DayLiterary Taxidermy Writing CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:$10 (20% goes to Ukraine) Max word count:2000 Top Prize:$500 and publication in this year's anthology

11julAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!HG Wells Short Story CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:£1,000 and publication

15julAll DayThe Rattle Poetry PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$15,000

15julAll DayTHE PAGE ONE PRIZE FOR NOVELISTSUSAEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$1000

15julAll DayThe Screw Turn Flash Fiction CompetitionUSAEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:1,000 Top Prize:$1,000

15julAll DayTales By Moonlight Novelle Writing CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:40,000 Top Prize:$1000

16julAll DayVOICE.CLUB - BLUE EYES - MICRO FICTIONInternationalEntry Fee:$3 Max word count:100 Top Prize:$25 Amazon Gift Card

18julAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Writers & Artists Working Class Writers' PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count: 2,000 Top Prize: £200, mentorship and development

21jul9:09 pm9:09 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Green Stories Short Story CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:3000 Top Prize:£500

24julAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Black Voices in Children's Literature Writing ContestUSAEntry Fee:Free Max word count:800 words Top Prize:$1,000 and a meeting with Strive and Free Spirit editors

30julAll DayNorth Street Book Prize for Self-Published Books8th year sponsored by Winning WritersInternationalEntry Fee:$70 Max word count:200,000 Top Prize:$8,000 plus additional benefits

30julAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Speculative Fiction/Horror Shorty StoriesInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:1,500 Top Prize:$200 and publication

31julAll DayWinchester Poetry PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£1,000

31julAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Polar Expressions National Poetry and Short Story ContestCanadaEntry Fee:Free Max word count:48 lines (poetry), 750 workds (short story) Top Prize:$500

31julAll DayHastings Book Festival Poetry CompetitionHastings Book Festival - Poetry Competition InternationalEntry Fee:£7 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£250

31julAll DayHastings Book Festival Short Story CompetitionHastings Book Festival - Short Story CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£7 Max word count:2500 Top Prize:£250

31julAll DayWOW! Women On Writing Creative Nonfiction Essay ContestInternationalEntry Fee:$12 Max word count:1000 Top Prize:$500, publication, interview, and gift code good for one item from CreateWriteNow's Store

31julAll DayDillydoun Flash Fiction PrizeUSAEntry Fee:$18 Max word count:1,000 Top Prize:$2,000 and publication

31julAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Growing Pains - Texts about growing up with different backgroundsGrowing PainsInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:1500 Top Prize:Publication

31julAll DayThe Seán Ó Faoláin Short Story CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:€19 Max word count:3,000 Top Prize:€2,000, publication in the Southword literary journal, a week-long residency at Anam Cara Writer's and Artist's Retreat.

31julAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Foyle Young Poets of the Year AwardInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:No limit Top Prize:Publication and residential writing course

31julAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Dead of Summer - Horror/Thriller Novel ContestInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:No limit Top Prize:Publishing contract and promotion

31julAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Summer Fling Novel ContestInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:No limit Top Prize:Publishing contract and promotion

august

01augAll DayMONO POETRY PRIZEInternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:£500 and publication

01augAll DayChinese Writing ContestInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:1000 Top Prize:One year subscription of a Chinese graded reader

01augAll DayThomas Merton Poetry of the Sacred ContestContemplative poetry that seeks to connect with the sacredInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:1,000 Top Prize:500

15augAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Yale Drama SeriesCompetition for emerging playwrightsInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:No limit (minimum of 65 pages) Top Prize:$10,000 and publication by Yale University Press

22augAll DaySearchlight Awards – Best Novel OpeningInternationalEntry Fee:£14 Max word count:1,200 Top Prize:£1000 and publication

24augAll DayLedbury Poetry Festival Poetry CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£1000

31augAll DayANTHOLOGY SHORT STORY AWARDInternationalEntry Fee:€15 Max word count:1,500 Top Prize:€500 and publication

31augAll DayWillesden Herald Short Story CompetitionFor a place in our book series New Short Stories #12InternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:7000 Top Prize:£300

31augAll DayAesthetica Creative Writing Award 2022InternationalEntry Fee:£8-£12 Max word count:40 lines (poetry), 2,000 words (short fiction) Top Prize:£2,500 and publication

31augAll DayHysteria Flash Fiction Writing CompetitionUKEntry Fee:£3 Max word count:250 Top Prize:£300 and publication

31augAll DayHysteria Poetry Writing CompetitionUKEntry Fee:£3 Max word count:12 lines Top Prize:£300 and publication

31augAll DayOxford Flash Fiction PrizeWrite yourself into history and become one of the greats with the Oxford Flash Fiction Prize. InternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max word count:1000 Top Prize:£1000

31augAll DayWOW! Women on Writing Summer 2022 Flash Fiction ContestInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:750 Top Prize: $400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate

31augAll DayJ.New Books/Malcolm Lowry 3rd Annual Literary Novel ContestUSAEntry Fee:$30 Max word count:500,000 Top Prize:$500 and a publishing cotract

31augAll DayHysteria Short Story Writing CompetitionUKEntry Fee:£3 Max word count:1,000 Top Prize:£300 and publication

31augAll DayFool for Poetry International Chapbook CompetitionIrelandEntry Fee:€19 Max word count:16 - 24 pages Top Prize:€1000, chapbook publication, featured festival reading

31augAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Immerse Education Summer School Essay CompetitionUKEntry Fee:Free Max word count:Check website for details Top Prize:Take your chance to win a 100% academic scholarship to our Cambridge Summer School.

31augAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Kindle Storyteller AwardInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:No limit Top Prize:£20,000, book launch merchandising package on Amazon.co.uk

31augAll DayTHE EDINBURGH AWARD FOR FLASH FICTIONSCOTTISH ARTS TRUST STORY AWARDSInternationalEntry Fee:£7 Max word count:250 Top Prize:£2,000 and publication

31augAll DayUniversity of New Orleans Press Publishing Lab PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:$28 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$10,000 advance on royalties and publishing contract

31augAll DayGolden Hare Award for Scottish Flash FictionUKEntry Fee:£7 Max word count:250 Top Prize:£2,000

31augAll DayOxford Brookes International Poetry CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:50 lines Top Prize:£1,000

31augAll DayPigeon Review Flash Fiction CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:$5 Max word count:1,000 Top Prize:$100 and publication

september

01sepAll DaySoldiers’ Arts Academy International Poetry CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£4 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£50 in cash and a collection of poetry books

04sepAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Face Project - Story Competition28 Stories / 28 Weeks / 28 Paintings / 1 PublicationInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:1000 Top Prize:Feature in an unique art and literature publication

15sepAll DayThe Moth Nature Writing PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:€15 Max word count:4,000 Top Prize:€1,000 and a week at Circle of Misse in France. The winning piece will be published in the winter issue of The Moth.

19sepAll DayMslexia Women’s Short Story CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£12 Max word count:3,000 Top Prize:£3,000 and publication

24sepAll DayThe Booksie 2022 Short Story CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:$5.99 Max word count:5000 Top Prize:$500 and a professional review

26sepAll DayTroubadour International Poetry PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:45 lines Top Prize:£2,000

30sepAll DayMiller Williams Poetry PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:$28 Max word count:90 pages Top Prize:$5,000 and publication

30sepAll DayTom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest20th year, sponsored by Winning Writers and DuotropeInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:250 lines Top Prize:$3,000

30sepAll DayCreative Writing Ink Short Story CompetitionUKEntry Fee:£9 Max word count:3000 Top Prize:£1000

30sepAll DayOne Page Poetry ContestUSAEntry Fee:$95 Max word count:400 Top Prize:$2,000

30sepAll DayOlga Sinclair PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:£9 Max word count:2000 Top Prize:£500

30sepAll DayCrowvus Christmas Ghost Story CompetitionNow in its 6th YearUKEntry Fee:£3 Max word count:4000 Top Prize:£100

30sepAll DayDreamers Flash Fiction and Nonfiction ContestEntry Fee:$12.50 Max word count:1000 Top Prize:$150 and publication

30sepAll DayThe Ovacome Writing CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:1,500 Top Prize:£250

october

01octAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Essential Queer Voices of U.S. PoetryUSAEntry Fee:Free Max word count:No limit Top Prize:Publication

01octAll DayGrindstone International Novel PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:£16 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:£1,000

01octAll Day32nd Annual Jeffrey E. Smith Editors’ PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:8,500 or any number of poems up to 10 pages Top Prize:$5,000 and publication

02octAll DayDillydoun Short Story PrizeUSAEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:8,000 Top Prize:$5,000 and publication

31octAll DayAnthology Poetry AwardEntries are now invited for the Anthology Poetry AwardInternationalEntry Fee:€10 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:€500 cash prize and the chance to see work published in a future issue of Anthology

31octAll DayLetter Review Prize for Short StoriesUSAEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:2000 Top Prize:$650

31octAll DayThe National Poetry CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£7 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£5,000

31octAll DayThe Bedford International Short Story and Poetry AwardsInternationalEntry Fee: £7.50 Max word count: 3000 (short story), 40 lines (poetry) Top Prize:£1000

november

01novAll DayCaledonia Novel AwardInternationalEntry Fee:£25 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:£1,500

30novAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Six Word Wonder ContestStories, poems, memoirs, and jokesInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:6 Top Prize:$100 and publication

30novAll DayTadpole Press 100-Word Writing ContestInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:100 Top Prize:$1,000

december

31decAll DayMy Writing Journey CompetitionWrite an essay about the best writing tip you ever received!InternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:600 Top Prize:$200

april

01aprAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry ContestInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:250 lines Top Prize:$2,000 and publication

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