Writing Contests and Competitions – Weekly Updates

Opportunities for aspiring and experienced writers.

Welcome to our comprehensive list of writing contests and competitions. Each item on our list includes basic information about max word count, entry fees, submission deadlines, and the first place prize.

Our list features writing competitions in the following categories:

  • short stories and flash fiction
  • poetry
  • novel and novella manuscripts
  • essays and non-fiction
  • memoirs and screenwriting

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.

We are keen to encourage quality, so suggest writers to check their stories before submitting using Prowritingaid. They have free and paid versions and are the best writing software we know to help improve grammar, readability and check for repetition, ‘sticky’ sentences and suggest alternatives.

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Current Month

July 2024

sun28julAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Future Scholar Foundation Short Story CompetitionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry FeeFree Max word count350 Top Prize$25 Amazon Gift Card

sun28julAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Dear Mother Nature Global Postcard Writing Contest 2024CategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry FeeFree Max word count75-100 Top PrizeGet featured and win a certificate

tue30julAll DayThe Paul Cave Prize for Teenage Fiction 2024CategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee£30 Max word count5,000 Top Prize£100 and publication

tue30jul12:00 pmtue12:00 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Voice.club Monthly Flash Fiction ContestJuly prompt: 'Songs'CategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry FeeFREE Max word count350 Top Prize$25 Amazon Gift Card

wed31julAll DayConnecticut Poetry Society’s Experimental Poetry ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee$15 Max word countNo limit Top Prize$1,000 and publication

wed31julAll DayInspiring Fiction's Special Edition Short Story ContestCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee£5 Max word count2500 Top Prize£100

wed31julAll DaySeán Ó Faoláin International Short Story CompetitionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee€19 Max word count3,000 Top Prize€2,000 and publication

wed31julAll DayWinchester Poetry Prize 2024CategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee£6 Max word count40 lines Top Prize£1000 and publication

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August 2024

thu01augAll DaySydney Hammond Memorial Short Story CompetitionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee$17.50 Max word count1,000 Top PrizeA ticket to the Children and Young Adult (CYA) Conference, membership, publication

thu01augAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The MoonLit Getaway Grand Opening ContestCategoryFlash FictionUSAEntry FeeFree Max word count1000 Top Prize$100

sun04aug4:55 pmsun4:55 pmMorecambe Poetry Festival Poetry Competition 2024CategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee£4 Max word count50 lines Top Prize£300 and publication

wed07augAll DayThe Aurora Prize For WritingCategoryPoetry,Short FictionUKEntry Fee£9 Max word count2,000 (short fiction); 60 lines (poetry) Top Prize£500 cash prize and feedback literary agent or editor

thu08augAll DayThe 21st Annual Gival Press Short Story AwardCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee$25 Max word count15,000 Top Prize$1,000 and publication

sat17augAll DayFosseway Writers Flash Fiction Competition 2024CategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee£5 Max word count300 Top Prize£50

sat17augAll Day150 Word Twisted Micro ContestCategoryShort FictionInternationalEntry Fee$15 Max word count150 Top Prize$1000

mon19aug7:55 pmmon7:55 pmWrite About Walking TogetherCategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee€15 Max word count250 Top Prize€100 euros plus artwork for a poem and a similar prize for a story

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September 2024

sun01sep12:01 amsun11:59 pmThe Scribes PrizeCategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee$5 Max word count110 Top Prize$250

sun01sep9:00 amsun11:59 pmSearchlight’s Best Novel Opening for Children or Young Adults CompetitionCategoryNovelUKEntry Fee£16 Max word count1200 Top Prize£1000 and a one-to-one call with the agent judge

sun01sep12:13 pmsun12:13 pmSearchlight Awards − Best Children’s Picture Book Text 2024CategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee£12 Max word count1000 words + 125 word pitch Top Prize£500 plus one-to-one call with the agent judge

fri06sepAll DayToes in the Sand Romance Story ContestCategoryMultiple categoriesUSAEntry FeeFree Max word count50,000 Top Prize$300 and publication

sun08sep11:48 amsun12:00 pmSoutham Book Festival Flash Fiction Competition 2024CategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee£3 Max word count100 Top Prize£60 and publication

sun15sepAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Ink of Ages Fiction PrizeCategoryShort FictionInternationalEntry FeeFree Max word count2000 Top PrizeCustom artwork, books and goodies

sun15sepAll DayFractured Lit Elsewhere PrizeMicro and flash fictionCategoryFlash Fiction,Short FictionInternationalEntry Fee$20 Max word count1500 Top Prize$3,000 and publication

mon23sep7:47 pmmon7:47 pmMslexia Women's Short Story Competition 2024CategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee£12 Max word count3,000 Top Prize£3,000 and publication

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October 2024

tue01octAll DayTom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee$22 Max word count250 lines Top Prize$3,500

wed02octAll DaySaints & Sinners Short Fiction ContestOpen to LGBTQ+ authors at all stages of their careersInternationalEntry Fee$20 Max word count7,000 Top Prize$500 and publication

mon07octAll DayPeter Porter Poetry Prize 2025CategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee$30 Max word count60 lines Top Prize$6,000

tue15oct3:35 pmtue12:00 amCaledonia Novel Award 2025CategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee£28 Max word countFirst 20 pages and a 200-word synopsis Top Prize£1500

wed16octAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Carol Shields Prize for FictionCelebrating creativity and excellence by women and non-binary writers in Canada and the United StatesCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry FeeFree Max word countFull manuscript Top Prize$150,000

sun20octAll DayEYELANDS BOOK AWARDS 2024International book award based in GreeceCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee€30 Max word countNo limit Top PrizeGrand prize - Five-day stay in Athens, Greece

sun20octAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Letterkenny Literary Festival Flash Fiction competitionCategoryFlash FictionIrelandEntry FeeFree Max word count300 Top Prize€150

mon28octAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Future Scholar Foundation Short Story CompetitionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry FeeFree Max word count350 Top Prize$25 Amazon Gift Card

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November 2024

sat30novAll DayBath Children’s Novel Award 2024CategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee£29.99 Max word count5,000 plus one page synopsis of novel Top Prize£5,000

sat30novAll DayAnthology Travel Writing Competition 2024CategoryNon-fictionInternationalEntry Fee€15 Max word count1000 Top Prize€500

sat30novAll DayTHE BATH NOVEL AWARDSInternational writing competition for novels and children’s booksCategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee£29.99 ( sponsored places for writers on a low income available) Max word count5,000 Top Prize£5,000 and full manuscript feedback

February 2025

thu27febAll DayNext Generation Short Story AwardsA not-for-profit international awards program for authors of short stories.CategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee$25 Max word count5,000 Top Prize$500 and publication

June 2025

mon30jun9:21 pmmon9:21 pmThe 9th To Hull and Back Humourus Short Story CompetitionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee£10 (early bird entry) Max word count2,500 Top Prize£1,000 and publication

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