Be sure to check out our → List of Writing Competitions!

Writing Competitions in 2021 and 2022

Opportunities for both experienced and aspiring writers.

Welcome to the most comprehensive and up-to-date list of writing competitions. You will find mainly short story, poetry, and flash fiction competitions, but there are also many events for essay writers, screenwriting competitions, and even prizes for entire novel manuscripts. Each item on our list includes basic information about max word count, entry fees, submission deadlines, and the first place prize. Clicking on an entry opens a more detailed description which includes link to the organizer’s submission page. Events that are free to enter are highlighted.
In case of questions about a particular event, please reach out to the event organizer. We do not run any of the events listed on this page, so we will be unable to answer your questions.
Please do your own research before deciding to enter any event.

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october

20octAll DayEYELANDS BOOK AWARDS 2021InternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max word count:Full manuscript Top Prize:Publication and five-day holiday in Athens

21octAll DayLazuli Literary Group Writing Contest - Fall 2021USAEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:75,000 Top Prize:$500 and publication

21octAll DayNO BARS POETRY COMPETITIONInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:No limit Top Prize:Mentorship

22octAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Failing Writers Podcast Flash Fiction CompetitionHalloween Flash FictionUKEntry Fee:FREE Max word count:666 Top Prize:£100

22octAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Beartooth Anthony’s 4th Annual Halloween Campfire Story ContestHalloween Short Story ContestInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:No limit Top Prize:Eno DoubleNest® Hammock

29octAll DayF(r)iction Writing ContestsF(r)iction Fall Writing Contests 2021InternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:7,500 (short story), 1,000 (flash fiction), 3 pages (poetry) Top Prize:$1000

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

31octAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Fall Fiction Contest - Southern New Hampshire UniversityUSAEntry Fee:Free Max word count:1500 Top Prize:up to $3,000 in scholarships to SNHU

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

31octAll DayThe National Poetry Competition 2021InternationalEntry Fee:£7 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£5,000

31octAll DayCranked Anvil Short Story CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:1500 Top Prize:£150 and publication

31octAll DaySterling Clack Clack October Fiction ContestInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:10,000 Top Prize:a 1965 leather-bound collectors edition of Fifty Best American Short Stories, one hundred dollars, publication on our website, and consideration for our print magazine.

31octAll DayAnthology Poetry Award 2021InternationalEntry Fee:€10 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:€500 and publication

31octAll DaySouthport Writers Circle Annual Open Short Story CompetitionUKEntry Fee:£3 Max word count:2000 Top Prize:£150

31octAll DayDillydoun International Fiction PrizeUSAEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:8,000 Top Prize:$2,000

31oct1:00 am12:00 pmSentinel Literary Quarterly Poetry Competition (October 2021)UKEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:50 lines Top Prize:£250

31oct1:00 am1:00 amAnthology Magazine Poetry PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:€10 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:€500 cash prize and work published in a future issue of Anthology

31oct1:00 am1:00 amThe Bedford CompetitionShort Story and Poetry Competitions UKEntry Fee:£7.50 per entry or 3 entries for £15 . Students £5 or 3 entries for £10 Max word count:Short Stories: 3000 words. Poems: up to 40 lines Top Prize:£1000

november

01novAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Commonwealth Short Story PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:£5,000

06novAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Rain Fiction Podcast Writing Contest: Ghosts of the PastWriting Contest #1: Ghosts of the PastUSAEntry Fee:Free Max word count:2000 Top Prize:$50.00

12novAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!2021 TCK Publishing Reader’s Choice Book Awards ContestInternationalEntry Fee:FREE Max word count:NA Top Prize:Grand Prize Winner will receive a Kindle Fire HD 8 Tablet and a 1-Year Access Pass to Bestseller Ranking Pro

14nov12:00 am11:59 pmSo to Speak Spring 2022 Annual Contest SubmissionsUSAEntry Fee:$9 (fee free for Black and Indigenous Writers and Artists) Max word count:4,000 (prose), 5 poems Top Prize:$500

14novAll DayBlue Pencil Agency Pitch Prize 2021InternationalEntry Fee:£10 (10 free entries for disadvantaged writers) Max word count:500 Top Prize:Agent introductions for up to seven winners to pitch your novel, receive feedback and industry insights

15novAll DaySaudi Historical Fiction AwardsInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:5000 Top Prize:£10,000

15novAll DayWriter's Digest Short Short Story CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:1,500 Top Prize:$1,500 and publication

15novAll DaySmokeLong Quarterly Flash Fiction Comedy PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:$7 Max word count:782 Top Prize:Prize fund is at least $1600

15novAll DayPodcast Short Story CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:$2.50 Max word count:5000 Top Prize:$75

19novAll DayYale and YeomanThe Yeoman’s WordInternationalEntry Fee:$7 Max word count:1000 Top Prize:$500

20novAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!In Focus Contest 2021World in Focus' 5th Annual Writing and Arts ContestInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:N/A Top Prize:$100 CAD

22novAll DaySearchlight Awards – Best Novel OpeningInternationalEntry Fee:£11 Max word count:1,200 Top Prize:£500 and 1:1 consultation with judge

25novAll DayArena Fantasy Magazine's Forbidden Friendship CompetitionUKEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:4000 Top Prize:£100 and publication

28novAll DayShooter Poetry CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£3.50 Max word count:100 lines Top Prize:£150 and publication

29novAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Dinesh Allirajah Prize for Short FictionUKEntry Fee:Free Max word count:6000 Top Prize:£500 + publication for all shortlisted authors

30novAll DayTadpole Press 100 Word Writing ContestWhat does abundance look like to you? Tell us in 100 words or less and you might just win $1,000.InternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:100 Top Prize:$1,000

30novAll DayThe Bath Children’s Novel Award 2021InternationalEntry Fee:£28 Max word count:the first 5,000 words of your novel followed by a synopsis of no more than 300 words Top Prize:£3,000

30novAll DayWOW! Women on Writing Fall 2021 Flash Fiction ContestInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:750 Top Prize:$400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate

30novAll DayThe George Garrett Fiction PrizeUSAEntry Fee:$28 Max word count:120,000 Top Prize:$1,000 advance

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

december

01decAll DayArena Fantasy Magazine's 2k Flash competitionUKEntry Fee:£2 Max word count:2000 Top Prize:£20 and publication

06decAll DayMslexia Women's Poetry Competition 2021InternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:no limit (?) Top Prize:£2,000

07decAll DaySleek City Press Winter Fiction PrizePage Potential InternationalEntry Fee:$7 Max word count:5000 Top Prize:Editorial on up to 20,000 words

10decAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Kemper Human Rights Education Essay ContestsInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:2500 Top Prize:$2000

16decAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Quantum Shorts - Centre for Quantum TechnologiesFlash fiction competitionInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:1000 Top Prize:$1500

17decAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!St. Martin’s Minotaur / Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:Full manuscript (60,000 words max) Top Prize:$10,000 and publication

31decAll DayThe Society of Classical Poets 2022 Poetry CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:108 lines Top Prize:$2,000

31decAll DayDo Wha(TS) Write Short Story CompetitionA creative writing competition in support of Tourette CanadaInternationalEntry Fee:$2 Max word count:1000 Top Prize:$200

31decAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Little Thorn Books Writing EventLooking for victoriana, gothic, steam punk, magic realism, supernatural writingInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:35,000 Top Prize:Publication

31decAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Orna Ross Green Stories Novel PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:10,0000 Top Prize:Manuscript appraisal (worth £300-400) for top three entries by established literary consultancy Daniel Goldsmith

31decAll DayWolverhampton Literature Festival Poetry CompetitionUKEntry Fee:£4 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£400

31decAll DayThe Moth Poetry PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:€15 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:€6,000

january

02janAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Essay Contest - Korean Spirit and Culture Promotion ProjectAn introduction to the cultural values of KoreaUKEntry Fee:Free Max word count:two to three pages Top Prize:£500

06janAll DayHenshaw Short Story CompetitionDEcenber Short Story CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max word count:2000 Top Prize:£200

12janAll DayThe Mogford Prize for Food and Drink WritingUKEntry Fee:£15 Max word count:2500 Top Prize:£10,000; an engraved award; publication online and in a linen-bound mini book; a professional audio recording through The Story Player

14janAll DayMagma Poetry CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:10-50 lines Top Prize:£1,000

14janAll DayThe 2022 Colorado Prize for PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$28 Max word count:100 pages Top Prize:$2,500 and publication

15janAll Day2022 Rattle Chapbook PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:15 – 30 pages Top Prize:$5,000 and 500 author copies of the chapbook

25janAll DayFive Words Poetry CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:€5 Max word count:50 lines Top Prize:€750

28janAll DayManchester Writing CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£18 Max word count:2,500 (short story), 120 lines (combined poetry) Top Prize:£10,000

31janAll DayCranked Anvil Short Story CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:1500 Top Prize:£150 and publication

31janAll DayThe Kent and Sussex Poetry Society Open CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£1,000

february

15febAll DayGuernsey International Poetry CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£4 Max word count:14 lines Top Prize:£250-£1000

28febAll DayCranked Anvil Flash Fiction CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£ Max word count:500 Top Prize:£100 and publication

april

01aprAll Day2022 Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry ContestInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:250 lines Top Prize:$2,000

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