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

Writing Competitions Event Calendar

Opportunities for both experienced and aspiring writers to get published.

Welcome to the most comprehensive list of creative writing competitions, short story competitions, and various events for writers.

Each item on our list includes basic information about max word count, associated fees, submission deadlines, and the maximum prize that can be won. Clicking on an item opens a new page featuring a more detailed description and a link to the organizer’s submission page. Events that are free to enter are highlighted.

The most common type of writing competitions on our list are short story competitions, but we also feature opportunities for poetry, flash fiction, essays, and full manuscripts. We hope there is something here to satisfy every taste :)

We try to keep this list as up-to-date as possible. If you’d like to add any new writing competitions, please submit the details using the event submission form. We appreciate your feedback, so please feel free to message us with any ideas or suggestions. In case of any questions about a particular writing competition, please contact the event organizer.

If you’d like to learn more about the pros and cons of submitting your writing to such events, as well as some practical tips, please read our dedicated blog post on the topic. If you are looking to get some of your existing writing published, it is worth having a look at our curated list of creative writing journals and literary platforms accepting submissions. You may also want to check out our great list of books for writers (about writing).

Join our new Facebook group to get updates first and interact with other indie writers like yourself.

september

24sep1:00 am1:00 amFree to enter!The Bodley Head/Financial Times Essay Prize Competition 2020International Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 3,500 Top Prize: £1,000 and publication

25sep1:00 am1:00 amParkinson’s Art Poetry CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: £2 Max word count: 50 lines Top Prize: Publication + Mystery Prizes

26sep12:00 am11:59 pm9-Word Story CompetitionRaconteur Literary MagazineInternational Entry Fee: $3 Max word count: 9 Top Prize: $100 and a 1-year subscription to Raconteur Literary Magazine

26sep1:00 am1:00 amFree to enter!Style X Black Writers’ Guild Essay CompetitionUK Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 800 words Top Prize: Six months’ worth of mentoring, including a one-off mentoring session with Bernardine Evaristo

27sep1:00 am1:00 amFracturedlit Micro Fiction PrizeInternational Entry Fee: $20 Max word count: 400 Top Prize: $2000 and publication

28sep12:00 am11:45 pmMoved OnlineGrindstone Novel PrizeInternational Entry Fee: £20 Max word count: 3,000 Top Prize: £1000 and publication

30sep12:00 am11:45 pmThe First Page ChallengeInternational Entry Fee: $25 Max word count: a single double-spaced page Top Prize: $200 minimum (each entry contributes to pool; last contest paid out $870)

30sep12:01 am11:59 pmMacQ "RESQ" Writing ChallengeInternational Entry Fee: $3 Max word count: 1,000 Top Prize: $100

30sep1:00 am1:00 amFree to enter!Green Parent Writing CompetitionDo You Have a Story to Tell about Parenting?International Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 2,500 Top Prize: £150 and publication

30sep1:00 am1:00 amFree to enter!Lulu Press 4th Annual Share Your Scare Writing CompetitionUSA Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 1500 Top Prize: Top prize is inclusion in the anthology, photo and bio feature on Lulu's horror landing page and inclusion in a press release announcing contest winners to be distributed nationwide. PLUS Lulu swag!

30sep1:00 am1:00 amThe Galley Beggar Press Short Story PrizeInternational Entry Fee: £10 Max word count: 6,000 Top Prize: £2000

30sep1:00 am1:00 amOwl Canyon Press Short Story HackathonInternational Entry Fee: Free until end of August. Then $25 Max word count: 20 paragraphs Top Prize: $1000 and publication

30sep1:00 am11:59 pmCrowvus Christmas Ghost Story CompetitionUK Entry Fee: £3 (free for children) Max word count: 4,000 Top Prize: £100

30sep1:00 am11:59 pmThe Ghost Story Supernatural Fiction AwardInternational Entry Fee: $20 Max word count: 10,000 Top Prize: $1,000

30sep1:00 am12:00 am12 Christmas TidingsInternational Entry Fee: £10 Max word count: 3,000 Top Prize: £100 and Publication

30sep12:00 pm11:59 pmMoved OnlineHammond House International Literary PrizeUK Entry Fee: £10 Max word count: 5,000 Top Prize: £500

october

01oct12:00 am11:59 pmFree to enter!Perito PrizeInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 2,000 Top Prize: £500

01oct1:00 am1:00 amPeter Porter Poetry PrizeInternational Entry Fee: $25 Max word count: 70 lines Top Prize: $6,000

01oct1:00 am1:00 amSaints & Sinners LGBTQ Fiction ContestTennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary FestivalInternational Entry Fee: $20 Max word count: 7,000 Top Prize: $500 and publication

01oct1:00 am1:00 amThe Aryamati Poetry PrizeInternational Entry Fee: £3 Max word count: 40 lines Top Prize: Publication, books worth £100, and 250 copies of the winning poem printed on limited edition postcards

01oct1:00 am1:00 am30th Annual Jeffrey E. Smith Editors’ PrizeInternational Entry Fee: $25 Max word count: 8,500 words or any number of poems up to 10 pages Top Prize: $5,000 Fiction, $5,000 Nonfiction, $5,000 Poetry

01oct1:00 am12:00 amFree to enter!The Bergen International Essay CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 2,000 Top Prize: €2500 and publication

03oct12:00 am11:59 pmFree to enter!In Focus Contest Prose/Poetry PrizeInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 1,000 Top Prize: $100 and publication

05oct12:00 am11:45 pmMoved OnlineBook Pipeline: UnpublishedInternational Entry Fee: $55 Max word count: 120,000 Top Prize: $15,000

06oct1:00 am1:00 am100-Word ContestCould you tell a complete story in just 100 words?International Entry Fee: $10 Max word count: 100 Top Prize: $1,000 and publication

07oct12:00 am11:59 pmFree to enter!Embracing Our Differences International Art Exhibit Celebrating DiversityInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 20 Top Prize: $1000

10oct10:00 pm11:59 pmFosseway Writers Short Story CompetitionUK Entry Fee: £5 Max word count: 2,500 Top Prize: £50

11oct1:00 am1:00 amFree to enter!The Dream Foundry Short Story ContestInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 10,000 Top Prize: $1000

11oct1:00 am1:00 amBath Flash Fiction AwardInternational Entry Fee: £9 Max word count: 300 Top Prize: £1,000

15oct12:00 am15nov12:00 amFree to enter!ISAAC : Tell a Tech Tale, Spin a Sci-VerseInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 1,500 Top Prize: $400

15oct1:00 am1:00 amFree to enter!UNESCO “World Tales” Short Story CompetitionParticipants must be between 12 and 18 years oldInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 500 Top Prize: iPad and publication

18oct1:00 am1:00 amBrush & Lyre Prize Poetry PrizeAwarded for Artfully Communicated PoetryInternational Entry Fee: $20 Max word count: no limit (?) Top Prize: $3,000

20oct1:00 am1:00 amEyelands Book AwardsInternational Entry Fee: $22 Max word count: Depends on category Top Prize: A five-day holiday in Athens and publication

21oct1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineThe National Poetry CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: £7 Max word count: 40 lines Top Prize: £5,000

23oct1:00 am12:00 amFree to enter!Beartooth Anthony’s Halloween Campfire Story ContestInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: N/A Top Prize: Snow Peak GigaPower Backpacking Stove

23oct1:00 am1:00 amFree to enter!The Dinesh Allirajah Prize for Short FictionUK Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 6,000 Top Prize: £500 and publication

30oct1:00 am1:00 amPort Stephens Literature AwardsAustralia Entry Fee: $10 Max word count: 2,000 Top Prize: $300

30oct1:00 am11:59 pmF(r)iction Writing ContestInternational Entry Fee: $15 Max word count: 7,500 (short stories), 1,000 (flash fiction) , 3 pages (poetry) Top Prize: $1,000

31oct1:00 am11:59 pmSentinel Literary Quarterly Poetry CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: £5 Max word count: 50 lines Top Prize: £250

31oct1:00 am11:59 pmFree to enter!Pressfuls 2020 Fantasy Short Story ContestInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 5,000 Top Prize: $50 and publication

31oct1:00 am1:00 amCBC Short Story PrizeCanada Entry Fee: $25 Max word count: 2,500 Top Prize: $1,000 and publication

31oct1:00 am1:00 amBlack River Chapbook CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: $15 Max word count: Full manuscript (16-36 pages) Top Prize: $500 and publication

31oct1:00 am1:00 amBenjamin Franklin House Literary PrizeUK Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 1,500 Top Prize: £750 and publication

31oct1:00 am1:00 amThe Barbellion PrizePromoting ill and disabled voices in writingInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: no limit (?) Top Prize: £600

31oct1:00 am1:00 amFree to enter!The PEN/Faulkner Foundation Award for FictionInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: Full manuscript Top Prize: $15,000

31oct1:00 am1:00 amBenjamin Saltman Poetry AwardInternational Entry Fee: $25 Max word count: Full manuscript Top Prize: $3,000 and publication

31oct1:00 am1:00 amWenlock Olympian Society Flash Fiction CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: £5 Max word count: 1,000 Top Prize: £150

31oct1:00 am1:00 amFree to enter!Go Green Prize Short Story ContestInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 10,000 Top Prize: $100 and publication

31oct1:00 am1:00 amThe ALCS Tom-Gallon Trust AwardInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 5,000 Top Prize: £1,000

31oct1:00 am1:00 amMinds on Fire Open Book PrizeInternational Entry Fee: $25 Max word count: 90 pages Top Prize: $1,500, publication, and 30 author copies

31oct1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineCranked Anvil Short Story CompetitionQuarterly Writing CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: £5 Max word count: 1,500 Top Prize: £150 and publication

31oct1:00 am1:00 amOvacome Writing CompetitionOvarian Cancer Support SocietyUK Entry Fee: £5 Max word count: 2,000 Top Prize: £250

31oct1:00 am1:00 amWOW! Women On Writing Creative Nonfiction Essay ContestInternational Entry Fee: $12 Max word count: 1.000 Top Prize: $500, publication, interview, and gift card good for one item from CreateWriteNow's Store

31oct1:00 am1:00 amCinnamon Press Literature AwardInternational Entry Fee: £16 Max word count: 5,000 (prose), 50 lines (poetry) Top Prize: Publication

31oct1:00 am1:00 amGinkgo Prize for EcopoetryInternational Entry Fee: £7 Max word count: No limit Top Prize: £5,000

november

15oct12:00 am15nov12:00 amFree to enter!ISAAC : Tell a Tech Tale, Spin a Sci-VerseInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 1,500 Top Prize: $400

01nov12:00 am12:00 amMoved OnlineSeventh Drapers Guild Short Story ContestUSA Entry Fee: $15 Max word count: No limit Top Prize: $100

01nov1:00 am1:00 amJohn Steinbeck Award for FictionInternational Entry Fee: $20 Max word count: 5,000 Top Prize: $1,000

01nov1:00 am1:00 amFree to enter!Commonwealth Short Story PrizeInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 5,000 Top Prize: £5,000 and publication

01nov1:00 am1:00 amEdwin Markham Prize for PoetryInternational Entry Fee: $20 Max word count: no limit (?) Top Prize: $1,000

01nov1:00 am12:00 amFree to enter!Flash fiction challenge: Visioning a Better World Beyond the PandemicInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 1,250 Top Prize: €300

01nov1:00 am1:00 amCatherine Doctorow Innovative Fiction PrizeUSA Entry Fee: $25 Max word count: No limit Top Prize: $15,000 and publication

01nov1:00 am1:00 amGotham Book PrizeInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: Full manuscript Top Prize: $50,000

01nov1:00 am1:00 amGabriele Rico Challenge for Creative NonfictionInternational Entry Fee: $20 Max word count: 5,000 Top Prize: $1,333

01nov1:00 am1:00 amFree to enter!THE NINA RIGGS POETRY AWARDInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: no limit (?) Top Prize: $1,000

01nov1:00 am1:00 amShooter Poetry CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: £3 Max word count: 100 lines Top Prize: £150 and publication

11nov12:00 am12:00 amHumorous Flash Fiction Writing ContestPakistan Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 1,000 Top Prize: PKR 10,000

15nov1:00 am1:00 amWordsmiths Short Story CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: £10 Max word count: 5,000 Top Prize: £500

16nov1:00 am1:00 amJudith Wright Poetry PrizeInternational Entry Fee: $20 Max word count: 80 lines Top Prize: $6,000

16nov1:00 am1:00 amNeilma Sidney Short Story PrizeInternational Entry Fee: $20 Max word count: 3,000 Top Prize: $5,000 and publication

27nov1:00 am1:00 amFree to enter!The New Media Writing PrizeInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: no limit (?) Top Prize: £1,000

27nov1:00 am1:00 amWales Poetry AwardInternational Entry Fee: £5 Max word count: 70 lines Top Prize: £250 and a place on a residential course at Literature Wales’ Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre

28nov1:00 am1:00 amEast Riding Festival of Words Poetry CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: £4 Max word count: 45 lines Top Prize: £500

30novAll DayMoved OnlineThe Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: €7 Max word count: 40 lines Top Prize: €2,000, publication, a week\'s residency at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre

30nov1:00 am1:00 amThe Somerset Maugham AwardsUK Entry Fee: Free Max word count: Full manuscript Top Prize: £5000

30nov1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineSoundwork Monologue CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: monologue of up to ten minutes Top Prize: Recording by professional actor and production for inclusion on Soundcloud and the Soundwork website

30nov1:00 am1:00 amThe Observer/Anthony Burgess Prize for Arts JournalismInternational Entry Fee: £10 Max word count: 800 Top Prize: £3,000 and publication

30nov1:00 am1:00 amCinematic Short Story Writing CompetitionSeeking great prose stories that have cinematic adaptation potentialInternational Entry Fee: $49 Max word count: 20,000 Top Prize: $1,000

30nov1:00 am1:00 amFree to enter!The Brunel International African Poetry PrizeInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 30 lines Top Prize: £3000

30nov1:00 am1:00 amThe Jacques Maritain Prize for NonfictionInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: no limit (?) Top Prize: $500

30nov1:00 am1:00 amCafé Writers Open Poetry CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: £4 Max word count: 40 lines Top Prize: £1,000

30nov1:00 am1:00 amAnthology Magazine Poetry PrizeInternational Entry Fee: €10 Max word count: 40 lines Top Prize: €500 and publication

30nov1:00 am1:00 amWOW! Women On Writing Fall 2020 Flash Fiction ContestInternational Entry Fee: $10 Max word count: 750 Top Prize: $400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate

december

01dec1:00 am1:00 amFree to enter!Brooklyn Nonfiction PrizeBrooklyn Film & Arts FestivalInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 2,500 Top Prize: $500 and publication

01dec1:00 am1:00 amFree to enter!Language Evolves Short Story CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 2,500 Top Prize: £400 and publication

01dec1:00 am1:00 amTHE LATIN PROGRAMME POETRY PRIZEInternational Entry Fee: £12 Max word count: 40 lines Top Prize: £250

01dec1:00 am1:00 amWomen's National Book Association Writing ContestInternational Entry Fee: $15 Max word count: 3,000 (fiction), 2,500 (creative nonfiction), 750 (flash), 5 pages (poetry) Top Prize: $250 and publication

03dec1:00 am1:00 amInk your Thoughts Global Writing ContestInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: No limit Top Prize: Publication

07dec1:00 am1:00 amMslexia Poetry CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: £10 Max word count: No limit Top Prize: £2,000

15dec1:00 am1:00 amFree to enter!International Competition for an Illustrated Children’s Book ProjectInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 5,400 Top Prize: €2,500

15dec1:00 am1:00 amThe Monadnock Essay Collection PrizeInternational Entry Fee: $30 Max word count: Full manuscript (50,000 to 60,000 words) Top Prize: $1,000

15dec1:00 am1:00 amThe Roswell Award International Short Science Fiction Story CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 1,500 Top Prize: $500

15dec1:00 am11:59 pmFree to enter!Page Turner's Short Story ContestUSA Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 15,000 Top Prize: $50

20dec1:00 am1:00 amCodhill Press Pauline Uchmanowicz Poetry AwardInternational Entry Fee: $30 Max word count: Full manuscript (48-70 pages) Top Prize: $1000 and 25 copies of book

31dec1:00 am11:59 pmITS Groups Children’s Fiction and Novel CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: £10 Max word count: 500 Top Prize: Book illustration (£600 value) + video animation of the story (£3000 value)+ £200 + Publication

31dec1:00 am1:00 amThe Tampa Review Prize for PoetryInternational Entry Fee: $25 Max word count: Full manuscript (100 pages) Top Prize: $2,000 and publication

31dec1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineFree to enter!Anisfield-Wolf Book AwardsInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: Full manuscript Top Prize: $10,000

31dec1:00 am1:00 amGriffin Poetry Prize - One of the most generous poetry prizes in the worldOne of the most generous poetry prizes in the worldInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: Full manuscript Top Prize: $65,000

31dec1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineThe Moth Poetry PrizeInternational Entry Fee: €15 Max word count: No line limit Top Prize: €6,000

31dec1:00 am1:00 amDevon and Cornwall International Novel PrizeInternational Entry Fee: £15 Max word count: 5,500 Top Prize: £2000, a trophy and online publishing contract

31dec1:00 am1:00 amWrite From The Heart Micro Fiction CompetitionA monthly Micro Fiction Competition with a differenceInternational Entry Fee: $2 Max word count: 100 Top Prize: A share in total prize pool

january

01jan1:00 am1:00 amFree to enter!St. Martin’s Minotaur/ Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: Full manuscript Top Prize: Publishing contract with a $10,000 advance

17jan1:00 am1:00 amFree to enter!Women's Prize Trust Novel Discoveries PrizePrize for women who have started a novelUK Entry Fee: Free Max word count: First 10,00 words of your novel + synopsis Top Prize: £5,000

20jan1:00 am1:00 amMagma Poetry CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: £5 Max word count: 50 lines Top Prize: £1000

26jan1:00 am1:00 am8th Ó Bhéal Five Words International Poetry CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: $5 Max word count: 5 Top Prize: $750 and publication

31jan1:00 am1:00 amCranked Anvil Short Story CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: £5 Max word count: 1,500 Top Prize: £150 and publication

31jan1:00 am1:00 amFirst Chapter CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: £10 Max word count: 3,500 Top Prize: Submission package (cover letter, synopsis and first three chapters) review and feedback from judge Sam Jordison

31jan2:01 pm2:01 pmFree to enter!Caine Prize for African WritingInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 10,000 Top Prize: £10,000

february

01feb1:00 am11:59 pmAccenti Magazine Writing ContestCanada Entry Fee: $30 Max word count: 2000 Top Prize: $1000

14feb1:00 am1:00 amHippocrates Prize for Poetry and MedicineInternational Entry Fee: £7 Max word count: 50 lines Top Prize: £1000

april

01apr1:00 am1:00 amWergle Flomp Humor Poetry ContestInternational Entry Fee: Free Max word count: 250 lines Top Prize: $2,000

may

31may1:00 am1:00 amTo Burn the Cloth Essay ContestUSA Entry Fee: Entry requires purchase of book - $5.99 Max word count: 2,000 Top Prize: $1,000

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