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

Writing Competitions in 2022

Opportunities for aspiring and experienced writers.

Our list of writing competitions and events features short story, poetry, and flash fiction competitions, as well as some events for essay writers, screenwriting competitions, and even prizes for 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.

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january

31janAll DaySentinel Literary Quarterly Poetry Competition (January 2022)InternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:50 lines Top Prize:£250

31janAll DayThe Kent and Sussex Poetry Society Open CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£1,000

31janAll DayOxford Flash Fiction Prize 2022InternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max word count:1000 Top Prize:£1000

31janAll DayEthos Literacy Third Annual Short Short Story ContestUSAEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:100 Top Prize:$250

31janAll DayGinkgo Prize for EcopoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£7 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:£5,000

31janAll DayThe Screw Turn Flash fiction CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:1,000 Top Prize:$1,000

31janAll DayThe Parracombe Short Story Prize 2022InternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:2,022 Top Prize:£100

31janAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Taking Flight New Writing CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:N/A Top Prize:£1000

31janAll DayCranked Anvil Short Story CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:1500 Top Prize:£150 and publication

31janAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!My Writing Journey Essay CompetitionTell us your best writing tip in 600 words!InternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:600 Top Prize:$200

31janAll DayWith Honor and Pride Writing FellowshipA Fellowship for Veteran WritersUSAEntry Fee:$35 Max word count:10 pages, double-spaced Top Prize:A two-week residency at the Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow in Eureka Springs, Arkansas ($1,215 value).

31janAll DayThe Masters Review Winter Short Story Award for New WritersInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:6,000 Top Prize:$3,000

31jan1:00 am1:00 amWOW! Women On Writing Creative Nonfiction Essay ContestInternationalEntry Fee:$12 Max word count:1000 Top Prize:1st Place: $500, publication, interview, and gift code good for one item from CreateWriteNow's Store; prizes for up to 20 winners

31jan1:00 am11:59 pmClash of the Query LettersA writing contest for querying authorsInternationalEntry Fee:$5 Max word count:500 Top Prize:$700

february

01febAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!VISIBLE Poetry and Prose CompetitionCollating experiences to help make invisible disabilities visibleInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:800 Top Prize:Unknown - contact ogranizer for details

01febAll DayThe Tampa Review Prize for PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:100 pages Top Prize:$2,000 and book publication

01febAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Story of the Year Contesthosted by StorysharesInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:15,000 Top Prize:$2,000

01febAll DayBright Film Project - Story to ScreenplayInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:3000 Top Prize:$5000

06febAll DayBath Flash Fiction AwardInternationalEntry Fee:£9 Max word count:300 Top Prize:£1,000

07febAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Adamah Media: Young Writers' CompetitionEntry Fee:Free Max word count:1,500 Top Prize:£200

09febAll DayEuropean Law Essay CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:500 Top Prize:£25 cash prize and certificate of achievement

10febAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Romance Anthology Contest: Love Is BlindUSAEntry Fee:Free Max word count:3,000 Top Prize:$399, and a six-month Elite membership that includes a facilitated writing group and monthly one-on-one coaching sessions with a Bardsy author-educator.

13febAll DayCreate The Future climate writing and solarpunk competition (fiction and poetry)Climate optimism writing competition - solarpunk anthologyInternationalEntry Fee:FREE Max word count:2,000 Top Prize:£50 + eco home bundle

13febAll DayStringybark Open Themed Short Story Award 2022InternationalEntry Fee:$14 Max word count:1500 Top Prize:$350 and publication

14febAll Day2022 Hippocrates Prize for Poetry and MedicineInternationalEntry Fee:£7 Max word count:50 lines Top Prize:£1000

15febAll DayFemmeFluenza 2.0A creative writing contest exclusively for women writersInternationalEntry Fee:Rs. 150/- (equivalent to $2) Max word count:2000 Top Prize:Publication

15febAll DayGuernsey International Poetry CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£4 Max word count:14 lines Top Prize:£250-£1000

28febAll DayWOW! Women On Writing Winter 2022 Flash Fiction ContestInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:750 Top Prize:$400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate

28febAll DayTurn Off The Lights Thriller Contest 2021InternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:10,000 words or more Top Prize:$20,000

28febAll DayScottish Arts Club Short Story AwardInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:2,000 Top Prize:£1,000 and publication

28febAll DayMinds Shine Bright Writing CompetitionAustraliaEntry Fee:$5 Max word count:5000 Top Prize:$1000

28febAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Canterbury Tales Writing Competition 2021/22: Prejudice and DifferenceCanterbury Tales Writing CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:500 Top Prize:£300

28febAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Turn Off The Lights Thriller ContestInkitt Thriller ContestInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:N/A Top Prize:$20,000

28febAll DayBlue Mesa Review Writing CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:$12 Max word count:6000 (fiction), 6000 (non fiction), or 3 poems Top Prize:$500

28febAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Bag of Bones AnthologyInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:206 Top Prize:£150 and publication

28febAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant WritingInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$10,000 and publication

28febAll DayCranked Anvil Flash Fiction CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£ Max word count:500 Top Prize:£100 and publication

28febAll DayThe 17th Elmbridge Literary Competition 2022InternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:1500 Top Prize:£250 & Chapbook

28febAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Evergreen Anthology Bridge House PublishingInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:5000 Top Prize:Publication

28febAll DayThe Charles Causley International Poetry CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£7.50 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£2,000 plus a 1 week writing residency at Cyprus Well, Charles Causley’s former home in Launceston

28febAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!School Champs For Climate ActionOne Day For ClimateIndiaEntry Fee:Free Max word count:300 Top Prize:Certificate

march

01marAll DayArens Fantasy Magazine's The 300UKEntry Fee:£1 Max word count:300 Top Prize:Annual subscription package

01marAll DaySearchlight Awards – Best Short Story for Children or Young AdultsInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:1000 Top Prize:£500

01marAll DayNature and Place Poetry Competition 2022InternationalEntry Fee:£7 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£1000

01marAll DayArena Fantasy Magazine's 2k FlashUKEntry Fee:£2 Max word count:2000 Top Prize:£20.00 and publication

01marAll DayArena Fantasy Magazine's 'Picture This' writing competitionUKEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:4000 Top Prize:50% of the entry pool + pubication

18marAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Never Such Innocence Poetry Competition 2022InternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:Prizes announced later

19marAll DayThe Nelligan Prize for Short FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$17 Max word count:50 pages Top Prize:$2,500 and publication

22marAll DayThe Rhys Davies Short Story Competition 2022UKEntry Fee:£8 Max word count:5000 Top Prize: £1,000 and publication

24marAll DayFIRST PAGES PRIZEOpen to Writers WorldwideInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:1250 Top Prize:$2,000

28mar1:00 am12:00 amWords of WonderA Fellowship for Children's AuthorsUSAEntry Fee:$35 Max word count:? Top Prize:Two winners will receive a two-week residency ($1,215) with food included plus a $400 stipend.

31marAll DayThe George Floyd Short Story CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:5000 Top Prize:$250

31marAll DayClay Reynolds Novella PrizeUSAEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:50,000 Top Prize:$500

31marAll DayThe Fish Poetry PrizeInternationalEntry Fee: €14 Max word count:60 lines Top Prize:€1,000 and publication

31marAll DayThe Plough Poetry PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£1,000

31marAll DayRobert Phillips Chapbook Poetry PrizeUSAEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:50,000 Top Prize:$500

31marAll DayThe Caterpillar Poetry Prize 2022InternationalEntry Fee:€14 Max word count:150 lines Top Prize:€1,000

april

01aprAll Day2022 Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry ContestInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:250 lines Top Prize:$2,000

01aprAll DayThe 44th Nimrod Literary AwardsInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:7,500 (fiction), 3-10 pages (poetry) Top Prize:$2,000 and publication

01aprAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize 2022InternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:2,500 Top Prize:£10,000

02aprAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Robert Louis Stevenson Fable Competitiona fable for the 21st centuryUKEntry Fee:Free Max word count:350 Top Prize:£500

11aprAll DayBath Short Story Award 2022InternationalEntry Fee:£9 Max word count:2,200 Top Prize:£1,200

15apr1:00 am12:00 amDesperate Literature Short Fiction PrizeShort Fiction ContestInternationalEntry Fee:20€ Max word count:2,000 Top Prize:1,500€, a week at the Civitella Ranieri Foundation Residency, a manuscript assessment with The Literary Consultancy

19aprAll DayBrick Lane Bookshop Short Story PrizeUKEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:£1000 and publication

30aprAll Day30th annual Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay ContestInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:6,000 Top Prize:$3,000

may

01mayAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Rainbow Goddess Writing Competition - Celebrating NeurodiversityInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:2,000 Top Prize:Publication and copy of book

04mayAll DayBristol Short Story PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:£9 Max word count:4,000 Top Prize:£1,000 and publication

14mayAll DayThe Booksie 2022 First Chapter Book ContestUSAEntry Fee:$5.95 Max word count:7,500 Top Prize:$500 cash, free ads on site, featured review, gold badge

15mayAll DayThe Montreal International Poetry PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:$20,000

15mayAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Invictus High School and College Creative Writing ContestThe Invictus Prep Young Writers Creative Writing Contest is an amazing chance for emerging writers to showcase their talents and win prize money! USAEntry Fee:Free Max word count:17,000 Top Prize:$100

31mayAll DayThe Bath Novel Award 2022InternationalEntry Fee:£29 Max word count:£3,000 Top Prize:first 5,000 words of a novel of at least 50,000 words followed by a one page synopsis

31mayAll DayThe Bridport International Creative Writing Competition 2022InternationalEntry Fee:£9 - £20 Max word count:42 lines (poetry), 5000 (short story), 250 (flash fiction), 8000 (novel) Top Prize:£5,000

31mayAll DayThe Yeovil Literary PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:£5-£14.50 Max word count:Various Top Prize:£1250

june

01junAll DayThe Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:80,000 Top Prize:£10,000 and publication

30junAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Bulwer Lytton Fiction ContestInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:60 Top Prize:Publication (and bragging rights)

30junAll DayBlackwater Press Short Story ContentINKInternationalEntry Fee:$5 Max word count:none! Top Prize:$150 and publication

30junAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Drue Heinz Literature PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:300 pages Top Prize:$15,000 and publication

30junAll DayQueen Mary Wasafiri New Writing PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:3,000 Top Prize:£1,000 and publication

july

01julAll DaySaudi Historical Fiction AwardsInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:5,000 (short story), 150,000 (novel) Top Prize:£10,000

30julAll DayNorth Street Book Prize for Self-Published Books8th year sponsored by Winning WritersInternationalEntry Fee:$70 Max word count:200,000 Top Prize:$8,000 plus additional benefits

31julAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Polar Expressions National Poetry and Short Story ContestCanadaEntry Fee:Free Max word count:48 lines (poetry), 750 workds (short story) Top Prize:$500

august

31augAll DayANTHOLOGY SHORT STORY AWARDInternationalEntry Fee:€15 Max word count:1,500 Top Prize:€500 and publication

31augAll DayAesthetica Creative Writing Award 2022InternationalEntry Fee:£8-£12 Max word count:40 lines (poetry), 2,000 words (short fiction) Top Prize:£2,500 and publication

september

30sepAll DayTom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest20th year, sponsored by Winning Writers and DuotropeInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:250 lines Top Prize:$3,000

30sepAll DayMiller Williams Poetry PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:$28 Max word count:90 pages Top Prize:$5,000 and publication

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