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

Writing Competitions in 2021 and 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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december

10decAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Kemper Human Rights Education Essay ContestsInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:2500 Top Prize:$2000

13decAll DayBardsy Holiday Anthology Contest: The GiftsUSAEntry Fee:Free Max word count:3,000 Top Prize:$399, plus a free Bardsy Elite membership for 9 months

15decAll DayThe Nowhere Fall Travel Writing PrizeUSAEntry Fee:US$20 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:$1,000

15decAll DayPeriscope Literary Flash Fiction Contest‘that might just be crazy enough to work’InternationalEntry Fee:£9 Max word count:800 Top Prize:£8000

15decAll DayYoung Creatives Writing Competition 2021InternationalEntry Fee:50 INR or 5.99 USD Max word count:1200 Top Prize:Global Exposure, The title of 'Young Creatives 2021', Online Portfolio, Free Book Promotion, Certification

16decAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Quantum Shorts - Centre for Quantum TechnologiesFlash fiction competitionInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:1000 Top Prize:$1500

17decAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!St. Martin’s Minotaur / Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:Full manuscript (60,000 words max) Top Prize:$10,000 and publication

20decAll DayNeilma Sidney Short Story PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:$12 Max word count:3,000 Top Prize:$5,000

20decAll DayJudith Wright Poetry PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:$12 Max word count:80 lines Top Prize:$6,000

21decAll DayInterAct Stroke Support Short Story CompetitionUKEntry Fee:£15 Max word count:1000 Top Prize:£1000

30decAll DayJustice Flash FictionCasevac International InternationalEntry Fee:$4 Max word count:500 Top Prize:$100

31decAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Little Thorn Books Writing EventLooking for victoriana, gothic, steam punk, magic realism, supernatural writingInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:35,000 Top Prize:Publication

31decAll DayThe Society of Classical Poets 2022 Poetry CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:108 lines Top Prize:$2,000

31decAll DayWolverhampton Literature Festival Poetry CompetitionUKEntry Fee:£4 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£400

31decAll DayMeet Me @ 19th Street 4th Quarter Competition - "On Transitions"Call for SubmissionsInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:N/A Top Prize:Each of three winners will receive $100, publication in our online literary journal, Meet Me @ 19th Street, and consideration for the Arch Street Prize, which includes $1000, professional editing of the manuscript, a book contract and publication by Arch Street Press.

31decAll DayThe Moth Poetry PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:€15 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:€6,000

31decAll DayGlobe Soup 2021 Flash Fiction CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£12 Max word count:800 Top Prize:£1,000

31decAll DayDo Wha(TS) Write Short Story CompetitionA creative writing competition in support of Tourette CanadaInternationalEntry Fee:$2 Max word count:1000 Top Prize:$200

31decAll DayAmsterdam Open Book PrizeAmsterdam Open Book Prize InternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:80 pages Top Prize:Publication & Copies

31decAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Orna Ross Green Stories Novel PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:10,0000 Top Prize:Manuscript appraisal (worth £300-400) for top three entries by established literary consultancy Daniel Goldsmith

january

02janAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Essay Contest - Korean Spirit and Culture Promotion ProjectAn introduction to the cultural values of KoreaUKEntry Fee:Free Max word count:two to three pages Top Prize:£500

06janAll DayHenshaw Short Story CompetitionDEcenber Short Story CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max word count:2000 Top Prize:£200

12janAll DayThe Mogford Prize for Food and Drink WritingUKEntry Fee:£15 Max word count:2500 Top Prize:£10,000; an engraved award; publication online and in a linen-bound mini book; a professional audio recording through The Story Player

14janAll DayThe 2022 Colorado Prize for PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$28 Max word count:100 pages Top Prize:$2,500 and publication

14janAll DayMagma Poetry CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:10-50 lines Top Prize:£1,000

15janAll Day2022 Rattle Chapbook PrizeInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:15 – 30 pages Top Prize:$5,000 and 500 author copies of the chapbook

25janAll DayFive Words Poetry CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:€5 Max word count:50 lines Top Prize:€750

28janAll DayManchester Writing CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:£18 Max word count:2,500 (short story), 120 lines (combined poetry) Top Prize:£10,000

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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!Turn Off The Lights Thriller ContestInkitt Thriller ContestInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:N/A Top Prize:$20,000

march

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

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

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

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

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

may

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

june

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

july

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

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

september

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

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