Writing Competitions – Weekly Updates

Opportunities for aspiring and experienced writers to win prizes and get published.

Looking for writing competitions and opportunities to get published? Participating in a writing competitition is a great way to practice your writing skills with an opportunity to get feedback for your work, win prizes, gain recognition, and get your work published online or in print!

Our curated list includes basic information about upcoming writing events with detailed descriptions including entry fees, max word limit, submission deadlines, prizes for winners and shortlisted authors. The list is updated on a weekly basis and features many categories of events:

  • short story and flash fiction
  • poetry
  • novel and novella manuscripts
  • essay and non-fiction
  • memoir and screenwriting

Learn more about the pros and cons of writing competitions and why most organizers charge entry fees in this article: Should I pay to enter a writing competition?

Important: We do not host any of the events listed here. If you have any questions about a particular event, please reach out to the event organizer. Always do your own research before submitting your work, especially if participating in the event requires paying an entry fee.

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Featured events

tue01octAll Daythu31This event is FREE to enter! Yay!Talking in Tongues Short Story ContestThe Elegant Literature award for new writersCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry FeeFree (for Elegant Literature members) Max word count2000 Top Prize$3,000, 10 cents per word, and publication

Upcoming events

Current Month

October 2024

sepThe Poetry.com Contest Monthly Poetry ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee$25 Max word count75 lines Top Prize$500 and publication

sun01sep12:54 pmfri01nov12:54 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The 2025 Commonwealth Short Story PrizeCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry FeeFree Max word count5,000 Top Prize£5,000 and publication

octThe Poetry.com Contest Monthly Poetry ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee$25 Max word count75 lines Top Prize$500 and publication

tue01octAll Daythu31This event is FREE to enter! Yay!Talking in Tongues Short Story ContestThe Elegant Literature award for new writersCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry FeeFree (for Elegant Literature members) Max word count2000 Top Prize$3,000, 10 cents per word, and publication

wed23oct1:00 pmwed10:00 pmFFF Competition Twenty-FourCategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee£3.95 Max word count300 Top Prize£150

fri25oct2:23 pmfri2:23 pmThe Dark Poets PrizeCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee£5 Max word count200 Top Prize£500, certificate, t-shirt

sat26oct12:27 amsat12:27 amScratch A4 - The Poet & the EchoCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee£4 Max word count1000 Top Prize Feedback from judges + invitation to read your work in Soho, London on Saturday 7th December

sun27oct5:41 pmsun5:41 pmThe Masters Review Novel Excerpt ContestCategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee$20 Max word count6,000 Top Prize$3,000, online publication; and a consultation with a literary agent

mon28oct7:14 pmmon6:00 pmBozarts' Worlds End Poetry CompetitionCategoryPoetryUK & IrelandEntry Fee£2.50 or £5 Max word countTwo Verses Top Prize£200

thu31octAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Solstice Writing Prize for Young WritersA nature-themed creative writing prize for 7- to 25-year-oldsCategoryPoetry,Short StoryUKEntry FeeFree Max word count500 words (short stories); 40 lines (poetry) Top Prize£100 and publication

thu31octAll DayTrio International Poetry CompetitionCharitable cause - entry fees will be used to build a community school in UgandaCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee£5 Max word count40 lines Top Prize£1,000

thu31octAll DayNovel Opening and Synopsis CompetitionCategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee£10 Max word count3000 Top Prize£500 and publication

thu31octAll DayAnthology Poetry Competition 2024CategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee€18 Max word count40 lines Top Prize€1000

thu31octAll DayBedford Short Story Writing CompetitionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee£8.50 Max word count3000 Top Prize£1500

thu31oct11:59 amthu11:59 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!De LYON WORLD Third Annual Writing CompetitionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry FeeFree Max word count5,000 Top PrizePublication, free copy of the anthology, certificate of achievement

thu31oct12:00 pmthu12:00 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Voice.club Monthly Flash Fiction ContestCategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry FeeFree Max word count350 Top Prize$25 Amazon Gift Card

thu31oct12:05 pmthu12:05 pmTotally Lit Micro Fiction PrizeSupporting The Carers FoundationCategoryMicro FictionAustraliaEntry Fee$20 Max word count500 Top Prize$500

thu31oct11:59 pmthu11:59 pmWOW! Women on Writing Fall 2024 Flash Fiction ContestCategoryFlash FictionUSAEntry Fee$10 Max word count750 Top Prize$400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate

thu31oct11:59 pmthu11:59 pmWOW! Women On Writing Creative Nonfiction Essay ContestCategoryEssayUSAEntry Fee$12 Max word count1,000 Top Prize$500, publication, interview, and gift code good for one item from CreateWriteNow's Store

November 2024

sun01sep12:54 pmfri01nov12:54 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The 2025 Commonwealth Short Story PrizeCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry FeeFree Max word count5,000 Top Prize£5,000 and publication

novThe Poetry.com Contest Monthly Poetry ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee$25 Max word count75 lines Top Prize$500 and publication

sat02nov10:43 pmsat10:43 pmKurt Vonnegut Speculative Fiction PrizeNorth American ReviewCategoryShort FictionInternationalEntry Fee$23 Max word count10,000 Top Prize$1,000 and publication

mon04nov3:15 pmmon3:15 pmEGG+FROG Inspirathlon 2024CategoryShort FictionInternationalEntry Fee£6 Max word count800 Top Prize£100 and publication

mon11nov12:00 pmmon12:00 amF(r)iction Writing ContestsCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee$10 - $15 Max word countVaries (check organizer's website for details) Top Prize1000

fri15novAll DayThe SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest 2024CategoryMicro FictionInternationalEntry Fee$11 Max word count250 Top Prize$1,000 and publication

fri15nov1:41 pmfri1:41 pmThe Creative Writing Ink Short Story Competition 2024CategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee£9 Max word count3,000 Top Prize£1,000, an online creative writing course with Creative Writing Ink, and publication

sat16nov12:00 amsat11:59 pmFosseway Writers Short Story Competition 2024CategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee£5 Max word count2500 Top Prize£50

tue26nov5:34 pmtue5:34 pmNarrative Magazine Fall 2024 Story ContestCategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee$27 Max word count15,000 Top Prize$2,500 and publication

sat30novAll DayGregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Competition 2024CategoryPoetryEntry Fee€7

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

sat30nov6:25 amsat11:59 pmTadpole Press 100-Word Writing ContestCategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee$15 Max word count100 Top Prize$2,000

sat30nov2:35 pmsat2:35 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Eleventh Hour Literary’s Prose ContestCategoryMultiple categoriesUSAEntry FeeFree Max word countCheck organizer's website for details Top Prize$200 and publication

sat30nov3:12 pmsat11:59 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!DE LYON WORLD Fourth Annual Poetry Writing CompetitionCategoryPoetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry FeeFree Max word count40 lines (poetry); 2500 words (short story) Top PrizePublication, free copy of the anthology, certificate of recognition

sat30nov3:34 pmsat3:34 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Safal Kiswahili African Literature PrizeFor writers anywhere in the world who write in Kiswahili (Swahili)CategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry FeeFree Max word countDepends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize$5,000

December 2024

novThe Poetry.com Contest Monthly Poetry ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee$25 Max word count75 lines Top Prize$500 and publication

decThe Poetry.com Contest Monthly Poetry ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee$25 Max word count75 lines Top Prize$500 and publication

tue10dec11:17 pmtue11:17 pmThe Kemper Human Rights Education Foundation Essay ContestCategoryEssayInternationalEntry FeeFree Max word count2500 Top Prize4000

sun15dec9:00 amsun11:59 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Fabuly Writer's ChallengeCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry FeeFree Max word count2000 Top Prize$500 and publication

sun15dec1:00 pmsun1:00 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America Best First Novel CompetitionFirst Crime Novel Competition CategoryFull Manuscript,NovelEntry FeeFree Max word countFull manuscript (check organizer's guidelines for minimum word count) Top Prize$10,000

mon16dec3:23 pmmon3:23 pmGlobe Soup 2024 Short Story CompetitionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee£8 Max word count8,000 Top Prize£2,000

tue31decAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Stories of Inspiration - Non-Fiction EssaysOpen Submissions Throughout 2024CategoryEssay,Non-fictionInternationalEntry FeeFree Max word count2,000 Top PrizePublication

tue31dec12:00 amtue11:59 pmKiller Shorts Horror Short Story CompetitionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee$30 Max word count6000 Top PrizePublication, Career Mentorship Call, Scrivener Writing Software, Book Brush 1 Year Gold Membership, trophy

January 2025

janThe Poetry.com Contest Monthly Poetry ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee$25 Max word count75 lines Top Prize$500 and publication

mon13jan4:43 pmmon4:43 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Discoveries 2025 Women’s Novel PrizeCategoryNovelUK & IrelandEntry FeeFree Max word count10,000 + synopsis Top Prize£5,000 and offer of representation from Curtis Brown Literary Agency

tue14jan4:05 pmtue4:05 pmThe 2025 Colorado Prize for PoetryCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee$28 Max word count100 pages Top Prize$2,500 honorarium and publication by the Center for Literary Publishing

wed15jan10:23 amwed12:00 amThe Bournemouth Writing Prize 2025CategoryPoetry,Short StoryUKEntry Fee£10 Max word count30 lines (Poetry); 3000 words (short story) Top Prize£500 and publication

wed15jan2:50 pmwed2:50 pmStoryBottle Co. Short Story ContestCategoryShort StoryUSAEntry Fee$15 Max word count10,000 Top Prize$1000

fri17jan11:59 pmfri11:59 pmJerboa Lit's Inaugural 48-Hour Flash Fiction CompetitionCategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee$20 Max word count500 Top Prize$1,000

tue28jan3:41 pmtue3:41 pmThe 12th Ó Bhéal Five Words International Poetry CompetitionCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee€5 Max word count50 lines Top Prize€750

fri31jan3:17 pmfri3:17 pmSmall Harbor Publishing Laureate PrizeCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee$25 Max word count80 pages Top Prize$500, publication, and 20 copies of book

fri31jan5:29 pmfri5:29 pmMagma Poetry CompetitionCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee£5 Max word count50 lines Top Prize£1,000

fri31jan11:23 pmfri11:23 pmNew Writers Flash Fiction Competition 2025CategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee£10 Max word count300 Top Prize£1,100 and publication

fri31jan11:29 pmfri11:29 pmStory Unlikely's Annual Short Story ContestCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry FeeFree Max word count4,000 Top Prize$1,500 and publication

February 2025

febThe Poetry.com Contest Monthly Poetry ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee$25 Max word count75 lines Top Prize$500 and publication

mon03feb11:11 pmmon11:11 pmMichael Waters Poetry PrizeCategoryPoetryUSAEntry Fee$30 Max word count100 pages Top Prize$6,000 and publication

thu13feb12:00 amthu11:59 pmNext Generation Indie Book AwardsCategoryFull ManuscriptCanadaEntry Fee$75 Max word countNo limit Top Prize$1500

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

fri28feb2:14 pmfri2:14 pmThe Margery Allingham Short Mystery CompetitionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee£18 Max word count3,500 Top Prize£500

fri28feb2:19 pmfri2:19 pmEmerging Author Dagger Crime Novel CompetitionCategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee£42 Max word count3,000 (novel opening) + 1,500 (synopsis) Top Prize£500

fri28feb2:58 pmfri2:58 pmEdinburgh Essay AwardOpen to writers worldwide and essays on any topicCategoryEssayInternationalEntry Fee£10 Max word count2,000 Top Prize£1,000

fri28feb3:03 pmfri3:03 pmEdinburgh Short Story Award 2025Open to unpublished writers worldwideCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee£11 Max word count2000 Top Prize £3,000

fri28feb3:09 pmfri3:09 pmEdinburgh Young Adult Fiction PrizeFor Novels and Graphic NovelsCategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee£25 Max word count5,000 Top Prize£1,500

fri28feb8:22 pmfri8:22 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Canterbury Tales Writing CompetitionCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry FeeFree Max word count500 Top Prize£300 for winner and £1000 for their school library

March 2025

febThe Poetry.com Contest Monthly Poetry ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee$25 Max word count75 lines Top Prize$500 and publication

sun30mar10:47 pmsun10:47 pmRhina Espaillat Poetry AwardCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee$7 Max word count50 lines Top Prize$2,000 and publication

April 2025

tue01apr7:11 pmtue7:11 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry FeeFree Max word count250 lines Top Prize$2,000 plus a two-year gift certificate, 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

July 2025

wed23jul11:05 pmwed11:05 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!National Youth Foundation 'I Matter' ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry FeeFree Max word countCheck with organizer for details Top Prize$500

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