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

Writing Competitions in 2023 – Weekly Updates

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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april

sat01aprAll Day3-Minute Story CompetitionUKCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee£6 Max word count500 Top Prize£100

sat01aprAll DayThe 45th Nimrod Literary AwardsInternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee$20 Max word count7500 (fiction); 10 pages (poetry) Top Prize$2,000 and publication

sat01aprAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry ContestInternationalCategoryPoetryEntry FeeFree Max word count250 lines Top Prize$2,000 and publication

sun02aprAll DayVoyage Short Story AwardInternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee$20 Max word count5,000 Top Prize$500 and publication

sun02aprAll DayThe Masters Review AnthologyInternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee$20 Max word count7000 Top Prize$500 and publication

sun02apr2:00 pmsun5:00 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Mysterious Case Writing ContestInternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry FeeFree Max word countNo limit Top Prize€500

mon10apr12:00 ammon12:00 amMy Time: A Fellowship for Parent WritersUSACategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee$35 Max word count10 pages Top PrizeA one week funded residency and a $500 stipend

wed12aprAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Evening Standard Stories CompetitionUKCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry FeeFree Max word count1000 Top PrizeYear mentorship with management and production company; publication in the Evening Standard

fri14aprAll DayNarratively’s Profile PrizeInternationalCategoryNon-fictionEntry Fee$20 Max word count7,000 Top Prize$3,000

sat15aprAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Super Hero Writing CompetitionUKCategoryShort StoryEntry FeeFree Max word count2,000 Top Prize£500

sat15aprAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!CleanAir - Balance - FLASH FICTIONInternationalCategoryFlash FictionEntry FeeFree Max word count350 Words Max Top Prize$50 USD Amazon Gift Card plus Publication - Writers become eligible for yearly prize valued at more than $1500 USD

sun16aprAll DayDesperate Literature Short Fiction PrizeInternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee€20 Max word count2,000 Top Prize€1500, a 7-day stay at the Civitella Ranieri artist’s residency in Umbria, Italy, a manuscript assessment service of up to 60,000 words through The Literary Consultancy, and a consultation with London-based literary agent Charlotte Seymour, of Johnson & Alcock

fri21aprAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Casa África Micro-story Contest - PURORRELATOInternationalEntry FeeFree Max word count1500 Top Prize€750

sat22aprAll DayEco Friendly Writing ContestInternationalCategoryNon-fictionEntry Fee$5 Max word count500 Top Prize$200

sun23aprAll DayFree Flash Fiction Competition FifteenInternationalCategoryFlash FictionEntry Fee£3.50 Max word count300 Top Prize£150

mon24aprAll DayFirst Pages Prize 2023InternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee$20 Max word count1250 Top Prize$2000

mon24aprAll DayABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story PrizeInternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee$30 Max word count5,000 Top Prize$6,000 and publication

mon24aprAll DayBath Short Story Award 2023InternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee£9 Max word count2,200 Top Prize£1,200

wed26aprAll DayBristol Short Story PrizeInternationalCategoryShort FictionEntry Fee£9 Max word count4,000 Top Prize£1,000 and publication

thu27aprAll DayF(r)iction Writing Contests – Spring 2023InternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee$15 (short story); $10 (flash fiction); $10 (poetry); $15 (creative nonfiction) Max word countSee organizer's website for details Top Prize$1,000 and publication

sat29aprAll DayQuill & Ink Literary Festival Writing CompetitionUSACategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee$15 Max word countNo limit Top Prize$1,500

sun30aprAll DayThe Ghost Story Supernatural Fiction AwardInternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee$20 Max word count10,000 Top Prize$1,500

sun30aprAll DayWOW! Women On Writing Creative Nonfiction Essay ContestInternationalCategoryNon-fictionEntry Fee$12 Max word count1000 Top Prize$500

sun30aprAll DayLetter Review Prize for PoetryInternationalCategoryPoetryEntry Fee$15 Max word count70 Lines Top Prize$400

sun30aprAll DayLetter Review Prize for Short StoriesInternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee$20 Max word count3000 Top Prize$600

sun30aprAll DayLetter Review Prize for Flash FictionInternationalCategoryFlash FictionEntry Fee$15 Max word count1000 Top Prize$400

sun30aprAll DayTadpole Press 100-Word ContestInternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee$10 Max word count100 Top Prize$1,000

sun30aprAll DayBerkshire Prize for a First or Second Book of PoetryInternationalCategoryPoetryEntry Fee$30 Max word count88 pages Top Prize$3,000

sun30aprAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Author of Tomorrow – Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize 2023InternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry FeeFree Max word count5000 Top Prize£1,000

sun30aprAll DayTom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay ContestStories and Essays InternationalCategoryEssay,Short StoryEntry Fee$22 Max word count6,000 Top Prize$3,000

sun30aprAll DayThe Scratch A4 CompetitionInternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee£4 Max word count1000 Top PrizePublication, editorial feedback

sun30aprAll DayAgnes Lynch Starrett Poetry PrizeInternationalCategoryPoetryEntry Fee$25 Max word count100 pages Top Prize$5,000 and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press

sun30aprAll Day'The Outsiders' Short Story CompetitionInternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee£5 Max word count2,500 Top Prize£100 and publication

may

mon01mayAll DayThe 2023 Bloom Writing ContestCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee€3 Max word count2500 Top Prize500 Euros

mon01mayAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Heartland Review Press Spring Contests: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction & PoetryUSACategoryMultiple categoriesEntry FeeFree Max word count5000 Top PrizePublication

mon01may1:00 ammon11:59 pmThe Heartland Review 2023 Poetry Chapbook ContestUSACategoryPoetryEntry Fee$20 Max word count30 pages Top Prize$500.00

mon08mayAll DayNextTribe Short Story Contest for Women Over 45USACategoryShort StoryEntry Fee$25 Max word count5,000 Top Prize$500 and publication

sun14mayAll DayThe 2023 Ink Across Borders PrizeCategoryShort FictionEntry Fee€2 Max word count1500 Top Prize€200

sun14mayAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Creative Future Writers’ Award 2023UKCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry FeeFree Max word countCheck organizer's website for details Top PrizePublication and mentorship

mon15mayAll DayPloughshares Emerging Writer's ContestInternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee$24 Max word count6000 (fiction and non-fiction); 5 pages (poetry) Top Prize$2,000 and publication

tue16mayAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Field Nature Writing CompetitionUKCategoryNon-fictionEntry FeeFree Max word count1,000 Top Prize£750, a pair of CL Companion 8×30 binoculars (worth £1,110), an invitation to lunch at The Game Fair, with the Editor

wed31mayAll DayThe Synopsis Skirmish - A WRITING CONTEST FOR QUERYING AUTHORSInternationalCategorySynopsisEntry Fee$5 Max word count500 Top Prize$700

wed31mayAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Auroras and Blossoms Haiku AnthologyInternationalCategoryPoetryEntry FeeFree Max word countN/A Top Prize1% royalties per published piece

wed31mayAll DayWomen on Writing Spring 2023 Flash Fiction ContestInternationalCategoryFlash FictionEntry Fee$10 Max word count750 Top Prize$500

wed31may1:00 amwed11:00 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Folly Journal Open Short Story PrizeInternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry FeeFree Max word count2000 Top Prize$1000

wed31mayAll DayMTP 2023 Short Story CompetitionUKCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee£8 Max word count3,000 Top Prize£2,000

wed31mayAll DayThe Bridport PrizeInternationalEntry Fee£11-£24 Max word countDepends on category Top Prize£5,000

wed31mayAll DayThe Yeovil Literary PrizeInternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee£5-14.50 (depends on category) Max word countDepends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize£1250

wed31mayAll DayThe Writing District PrizeInternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee$15 Max word count3000 Top Prize$1000 and publication

june

thu01junAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!INTERNATIONAL PEACE ESSAY CONTEST FOR UKRAINE WARInternationalCategoryEssayEntry FeeFree Max word count3,000 Top Prize$100

thu01junAll DayThe 2023 Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction CompetitionInternationalCategoryNovelEntry Fee£20 Max word count80,000 Top PrizeWorldwide publishing contract with a royalty advance of £10,000

thu01junAll DayGeri Digiorno PrizeInternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee$5 Max word countVaries (check organizer's website for details) Top Prize$300 and publication

mon05junAll DayWriter's Digest Annual Writing Competition 2023InternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee$20-$30 Max word countCheck organizer's website for details Top Prize$5,000

fri09junAll DayA Blind Play of Social ForcesUSACategoryScriptEntry Fee$30 Max word count40 pages (approx 10K words) Top Prize$300 plus full audio production and distribution on our fiction podcast

sun11junAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Atlas Shrugged Novel Essay ContestInternationalCategoryEssayEntry FeeFree Max word count1600 Top Prize$10,000

tue13junAll DayHousatonic Book AwardsInternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee$25 Max word countVaries (check organizer's website for details) Top Prize$1,000, public reading. in-person workshop, $500 travel stipend and hotel stay

thu15junAll Day17th Annual Mudfish Poetry ContestInternationalCategoryPoetryEntry Fee$20$1,200 Max word countNo limit Top Prize$1,200 and publication

thu15junAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!International Essay Contest for Young PeopleInternationalCategoryEssayEntry FeeFree Max word count700 Top Prize¥100,000

mon26junAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Green Stories Novel PrizeInternationalCategoryNovelEntry FeeFree Max word count95,000 Top Prize£1000

fri30junAll DayNorth Street Book PrizeInternationalCategoryFull ManuscriptEntry Fee$75 Max word count200,000 (full manuscript) Top Prize$10,000

fri30junAll DayTo Hull And Back - Humorous Short Story CompetitionInternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry FeeEarly bird (until 31st March 2023): £13 for 1 story, £21 for 2 stories, £26 for 3 stories. From 1st April 2023 to 30th June 2023, the entry fee is: £15 for 1 story, £24 for 2 stories, £30 for 3 stories. Max word count2,500 Top Prize£1,200, your head on the To Hull And Back Anthology cover and a trip to Hull on a Harley Davidson.

fri30junAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Writers College Annual Short Story CompetitionInternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry FeeFree Max word count2000 Top Prize$1000

fri30junAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!My Writing Journey CompetitionInternationalCategoryEssayEntry FeeFree Max word count600 Top Prize$200

fri30junAll DayWells Festival of Literature's CompetitionsShort Stories, Poetry, Books for ChildrenInternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee£3-£6 Max word countVaries depending on category entered Top Prize£1000

fri30junAll DayPoetry London PrizeInternationalCategoryPoetryEntry Fee£10 Max word count80 lines Top Prize£5,000

fri30junAll DayQueen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize 2023InternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee£10 Max word count3000 Top Prize£1000 and publication in Wasafiri magazine.

fri30junAll DayThe Moth Short Story Prize 2023InternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee€ 15 Max word count3,000 Top Prize€3,000

july

mon10julAll DayHG Wells Short Story CompetitionInternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee£10 Max word count5,000 Top Prize£1,000 and publication

wed12julAll DayNew Writers Poetry CompetitionInternationalCategoryPoetryEntry Fee£10 Max word count40 lines Top Prize£1,000 and publication

sat15julAll DayRattle Poetry PrizeInternationalCategoryPoetryEntry Fee$25 Max word countNo limit Top Prize$15,000

mon31julAll DayThe Writers College Global Novel Writing CompetitionInternationalCategoryNovelEntry FeeFree Max word count6000 Top PrizeWriting course package

mon31julAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Foyle Young Poets of the Year AwardInternationalCategoryPoetryEntry FeeFree Max word countNo limit Top PrizePublication

august

thu31augAll DayUniversity of New Orleans Press Publishing Lab PrizeInternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee$28 Max word countNo limit Top Prize$10,000 advance on royalties and a contract to publish with The University of New Orleans Press

thu31augAll DayAnthology Flash Fiction CompetitionInternationalCategoryFlash FictionEntry Fee€8 Max word count250 Top Prize €300 and publication

thu31augAll DayAnthology Short Story Award 2023InternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee €18 Max word count1500 Top Prize€1000

thu31augAll DayAesthetica Creative Writing AwardInternationalEntry Fee£12-£18 Max word count40 lines (poetry), 2,000 words (short story) Top Prize£2,500 and publication

september

fri01sepAll DayThe Scribes PrizeUSACategoryFlash FictionEntry Fee$5 Max word count110 Top Prize$250

fri01sepAll DayManchester Writing CompetitionInternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee£18 Max word count2500 (short story); 120 lines (poetry) Top Prize£10,000

sat30sepAll DayTom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry ContestInternationalCategoryPoetryEntry Fee$22 Max word count250 lines Top Prize$3,000

october

tue31octAll DayAnthology Poetry Competition 2023InternationalCategoryPoetryEntry Fee€18 Max word count40 lines Top Prize€1000

november

thu30novAll DayAnthology Travel Writing CompetitionInternationalCategoryNon-fictionEntry Fee€10 Max word count1000 Top Prize€500 and publication

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