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Writing Competitions in 2022 – 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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october

sun09octAll DayBath Flash Fiction AwardInternationalCategory:Flash FictionEntry Fee:£9 Max word count:300 Top Prize:£1,000

sun16octAll DayThe Galley Beggar Press Short Story PrizeInternationalCategory:Short StoryEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:6,000 Top Prize:£2,500

wed19octAll DayFosseway Writers Short Story Competition (YA theme)InternationalCategory:Short StoryEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:2500 Top Prize:£50

sun30octAll DayThe Open Theme Short Story ContestInternationalEntry Fee:INR 150/- (almost $2.00) Max word count:3000 Top Prize:Publication

mon31octAll DaySaveAs Writers' International Writing Competition 2022UKEntry Fee:£3 Max word count:60 lines (poetry), 3500 (short story) Top Prize:£200

mon31octAll DayWOW! Women On Writing Creative Nonfiction Essay ContestInternationalCategory:Non-fictionEntry Fee:$12 Max word count:$1000 Top Prize:$500, publication, interview, and gift code good for one item from CreateWriteNow's Store

mon31octAll DayAnthology Poetry AwardEntries are now invited for the Anthology Poetry AwardInternationalCategory:PoetryEntry Fee:€10 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:€500 cash prize and the chance to see work published in a future issue of Anthology

mon31octAll DayLetter Review Prize for Short StoriesUSACategory:Short StoryEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:2000 Top Prize:$650

mon31octAll DayLetter Review Prize for PoetryInternationalCategory:PoetryEntry Fee:$20 USD for up to 6 Poems Max word count:70 lines Top Prize:$1000

mon31octAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Solstice Nature Prize for WritingUKCategory:Poetry,Short StoryEntry Fee:Free Max word count:500 (short story), 40 lines (poetry) Top Prize:£100 and publication

mon31octAll DayThe National Poetry CompetitionInternationalCategory:PoetryEntry Fee:£7 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£5,000

mon31octAll DayThe Bedford International Short Story and Poetry AwardsInternationalEntry Fee: £7.50 Max word count: 3000 (short story), 40 lines (poetry) Top Prize:£1000

november

tue01novAll DayCaledonia Novel AwardInternationalCategory:NovelEntry Fee:£25 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:£1,500

tue01novAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Commonwealth Short Story PrizeInternationalCategory:Short StoryEntry Fee:Free Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:£5,000

mon07novAll DayHoliday Anthology Contest: Simple GiftsUSACategory:Short FictionEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:3,000 Top Prize:$599 and publication

fri11novAll DayHalloween Horror Short Story ContestUSACategory:Short StoryEntry Fee:$4.99 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:$250

mon14novAll DayCafé Writers Open Poetry CompetitionInternationalCategory:PoetryEntry Fee:£4 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£1,000

mon14novAll DayNeilma Sidney Short Story PrizeInternationalCategory:Short StoryEntry Fee:$12 Max word count:3000 Top Prize:$5,000 and publication

wed16novAll DayThe SmokeLong Quarterly Award for Flash Fiction 2022USACategory:Flash FictionEntry Fee:$12 Max word count:1000 Top Prize:$2500

fri25novAll DayWenlock Olympian Society Short Story CompetitionN/AInternationalCategory:Short StoryEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:2,500 Top Prize:£150

wed30novAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Six Word Wonder ContestStories, poems, memoirs, and jokesInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:6 Top Prize:$100 and publication

wed30novAll DayGregory O'Donoghue International Poetry CompetitionInternationalCategory:PoetryEntry Fee:€7 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:€2,000, Featured reading at the Cork International Poetry Festival, Publication in Southword Literary Journal

wed30novAll DayWOW! Women on Writing Fall 2022 Flash Fiction ContestInternationalCategory:Flash FictionEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:$750 Top Prize:$400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate

wed30novAll DayTadpole Press 100-Word Writing ContestInternationalCategory:Flash FictionEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:100 Top Prize:$1,000

wed30novAll DayEast Riding Festival of Words Poetry CompetitionInternationalCategory:PoetryEntry Fee:£4 (children free) Max word count:45 lines Top Prize:£500 and publication

wed30novAll DayNew Writers Flash Fiction CompetitionInternationalCategory:Short StoryEntry Fee:£6 Max word count:300 Top Prize:£700 and publication

december

thu01decAll DayChimera Fantasy AwardsInternationalCategory:NovelEntry Fee:£6 Max word count:No lmit Top Prize:£2500

thu01decAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Orna Ross Green Stories Novel PrizeInternationalCategory:NovelEntry Fee:Free Max word count:10,000 Top Prize:£1000 and manuscript appraisal

fri02decAll DaySophomore Book ContestInternationalCategory:PoetryEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:no more than 24 pages Top Prize:$500 and publication

mon05decAll DayMslexia Women's Poetry CompetitionInternationalCategory:PoetryEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:£2,000

thu15decAll DayJoy Bale Boone Poetry PrizeUSACategory:PoetryEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:750

fri16decAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel CompetitionInternationalCategory:NovelEntry Fee:Free Max word count:No less than 60,000 Top Prize:$10,000 and publication

sat31decAll DayMy Writing Journey CompetitionWrite an essay about the best writing tip you ever received!InternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:600 Top Prize:$200

sat31decAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Story Unlikely's Short Story ContestUSACategory:Short StoryEntry Fee:Free Max word count:4500 Top Prize:$500

sat31decAll DayThe Masters Review Chapbook OpenInternationalCategory:ChapbookEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:45 pages Top Prize:$3000, manuscript publication, and 75 contributor copies

sat31decAll DayThe Moth Poetry PrizeInternationalCategory:PoetryEntry Fee:€15 Max word count:? Top Prize:€6,000

sat31decAll DayThe Society of Classical Poets 2023 Poetry CompetitionInternationalCategory:PoetryEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:108 lines Top Prize:$2,000

january

sat14janAll DayThe Colorado Prize for PoetryInternationalCategory:PoetryEntry Fee:$28 Max word count:100 pages Top Prize:$2,500 and publication

sun15janAll DayRattle Chapbook PrizeInternationalCategory:ChapbookEntry Fee:$25 (one year subscription to Rattle poetry magazine) Max word count:30 pages Top Prize:$5,000 and 500 author copies

mon23janAll DayCrime Essays Writing ContestUKCategory:EssayEntry Fee:£3 Max word count:3000 Top Prize:300

tue31janAll DayPulp Fictional - Writing CompetitionFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£9 Max word count:1000 Top Prize:£250

tue31janAll DayThe Writing District PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:3000 Top Prize:$1000 and publication

february

mon27febAll DayThe 18th Elmbridge Literary CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:1500 (short story), 30 lines (poem) Top Prize:£250

tue28febAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!THE CANTERBURY TALES WRITING COMPETITIONInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:500 Top Prize:£300

march

fri31marAll DayThe Fish Poetry Prize 2023InternationalCategory:PoetryEntry Fee:14 Max word count:60 lines Top Prize:€1,000

april

sat01aprAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry ContestInternationalCategory:PoetryEntry Fee:Free Max word count:250 lines Top Prize:$2,000 and publication

june

fri30junAll DayTo Hull And Back - Humorous Short Story CompetitionInternationalCategory:Short StoryEntry Fee:Early 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 count:2,500 Top Prize:£1,200, your head on the To Hull And Back Anthology cover and a trip to Hull on a Harley Davidson.

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