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).

july

12jul1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineThe Globe Soup Summer 2020 Short Story CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: £5 ,
Max word count: 5,000 ,
Top Prize: £1000 ,

15jul1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineThe Rattle Poetry PrizeInternational Entry Fee: $25 ,
Max word count: Poems may be any length $ ,
Top Prize: $15,000 ,

15jul1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineFree to enter!John Locke Institute Essay CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: Free ,
Max word count: 2,000 ,
Top Prize: £100, John Locke Institute Junior Fellowship ,

16jul1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineMichael Mullan Cancer Fund Writing CompetitionsInternational Entry Fee: €15 ,
Max word count: 2,000 (short story), 500 (flash fiction), 40 lines (poetry) ,
Top Prize: Publication ,

16jul1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineLedbury Poetry CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: £5.75 ,
Max word count: 40 lines ,
Top Prize: £1,000 ,

20jul12:00 am12:00 amMoved OnlineHi2020 Short Story CompetitionUK Entry Fee: $15 ,
Max word count: 1,500 ,
Top Prize: Publication, radio interview ,

20jul12:00 am12:00 amMoved OnlineFree to enter!Staunch Book PrizeInternational Entry Fee: Free ,
Max word count: 50,000 min no max ,
Top Prize: £1000 ,

20jul12:00 am12:00 amMoved OnlineFree to enter!Staunch Short Story PrizeInternational Entry Fee: Free ,
Max word count: 3,500 ,
Top Prize: £200 ,

20jul12:00 am12:00 amMoved OnlineFree to enter!Staunch Flash Fiction PrizeInternational Entry Fee: Free ,
Max word count: 300 ,
Top Prize: £100 ,

26jul12:00 am11:59 pmThriller TimeInternational Entry Fee: $3 ,
Max word count: 50 ,
Top Prize: $50 ,

27jul1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineThe Primadonna PrizeShort Fiction CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: £8 ,
Max word count: 500 ,
Top Prize: £500 and representation by top literary agent ,

28jul12:00 am11:45 pmMoved OnlineGrindstone Short Story PrizeInternational Entry Fee: £10 ,
Max word count: 3,000 ,
Top Prize: £500 and publication ,

30jul1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineHawk Mountain Short Story Collection AwardInternational Entry Fee: $20 ,
Max word count: No limit ,
Top Prize: $1,000 and publication ,

30jul1:00 am1:00 amFree to enter!Ten Stories to Make a Difference CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: Free ,
Max word count: 3,000 ,
Top Prize: £500 ,

31jul12:00 am11:45 pmMoved OnlineFree to enter!Beechmore Life Writing CompetitionUK Entry Fee: Free ,
Max word count: 1,000 ,
Top Prize: £200 and publication ,

31jul12:00 am11:45 pmMoved OnlineFree to enter!Beechmore Arts Journalism CompetitionUK Entry Fee: Free ,
Max word count: 1,000 ,
Top Prize: £200 and publication ,

31jul12:00 am5:00 pmMoved OnlineWild Atlantic Words Short Story CompetitionIreland Entry Fee: €10 ,
Max word count: 3,000 ,
Top Prize: €500 ,

31julAll DayWOW! Women On Writing Creative Nonfiction Essay ContestInternational Entry Fee: $12 ,
Max word count: 1000 ,
Top Prize: $500, publication, interview, and gift card ,

31jul1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineFree to enter!Foyle Young Poets of the Year AwardInternational Entry Fee: Free ,
Max word count: Any length ,
Top Prize: Publication ,

31jul1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineFree to enter!12th Casa África Essay PrizesInternational Entry Fee: Free ,
Max word count: 20,000 ,
Top Prize: €2,000 ,

31jul1:00 am12:00 pmMoved OnlineFree to enter!The Ruritania Prize for Short FictionInternational Entry Fee: Free ,
Max word count: 4,000 ,
Top Prize: €350 ,

31jul1:00 am1:00 amWinchester Poetry PrizeInternational Entry Fee: 40 lines ,
Max word count: £1,000 and publication ,

31jul1:00 am1:00 amHWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story AwardInternational Entry Fee: £5 ,
Max word count: 3,500 ,
Top Prize: £500, publication ,

31jul1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineSeán O’Faoláin International Short Story CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: €18 ,
Max word count: 3,000 ,
Top Prize: €2,000 and publication ,

august

01aug1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineSydney Hammond Short Story Writing CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: $10AU ,
Max word count: 1,000 ,
Top Prize: $200 and publication ,

01aug1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineInternational Beverly Prize for LiteratureInternational Entry Fee: £25 ,
Max word count: Full manuscript ,
Top Prize: £1,000 and publication ,

08aug11:00 am12:59 pmMoved OnlineFosseway Writers Flash Fiction CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: £5 ,
Max word count: 300 ,
Top Prize: £50 ,

14aug1:00 am1:00 amFree to enter!Rebecca Swift Foundatin Women Poets’ PrizeInternational Entry Fee: Free ,
Max word count: 40 lines ,
Top Prize: £1,000 ,

15aug1:00 am1:00 amTwist & Twain Short Story ContestInternational Entry Fee: $9 ,
Max word count: 4,000 ,
Top Prize: Rs 25,000 ,

15aug1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineFree to enter!The Yale Drama SeriesCompetition for emerging playwrightsInternational Entry Fee: Free ,
Max word count: Full manuscript ,
Top Prize: $10,000 and publication ,

22aug1:00 am1:00 amBuzzwords Open Poetry CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: £4 per poem or 3 poems for £10 ,
Max word count: 70 line ,
Top Prize: £600 ,

30aug1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineTom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry ContestInternational Entry Fee: $15 ,
Max word count: 250 lines ,
Top Prize: $3,000 ,

31aug12:00 am12:00 amMoved OnlineSaveas Writers’ International Writing Competition – ‘Post Apocalypse'UK Entry Fee: £3 ,
Max word count: 60 lines ,
Top Prize: £200 ,

31aug12:00 am12:00 amMoved OnlineExeter Story PrizeInternational Entry Fee: £12 ,
Max word count: 5,000 ,
Top Prize: £500 ,

31aug12:00 am11:45 pmMoved OnlineBook Pipeline: AdaptationInternational Entry Fee: $55 ,
Max word count: N/A ,
Top Prize: $10,000 ,

31aug12:00 am11:45 pmMoved OnlineTeens of Tomorrow Writing ContestInternational Entry Fee: £4 ,
Max word count: 5,000 ,
Top Prize: £200 ,

31aug12:00 am11:45 pmMoved OnlineFree to enter!Under the Hooded Monster ContestUSA Entry Fee: Free ,
Max word count: 10,000 ,
Top Prize: $100 ,

31augAll DayWOW! Women On Writing Summer Flash Fiction ContestInternational Entry Fee: $10 ,
Max word count: 750 ,
Top Prize: $400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate ,

31aug1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineEx Ophidia Press Poetry CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: $25 ,
Max word count: Full manuscript ,
Top Prize: $1,000 and publication ,

31aug1:00 am1:00 amEDINBURGH FLASH FICTION AWARDInternational Entry Fee: £6 ,
Max word count: 250 ,
Top Prize: £600 ,

31aug1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineThe Hysteria Writing CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: Free ,
Max word count: 600 (short story), 100 (flash fiction), 12 lines (poetry) ,
Top Prize: £25 and publication 600 (short story), 100 (flash fiction), 12 lines (poetry) ,

31aug1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineAesthetica Short Fiction AwardInternational Entry Fee: £12 ,
Max word count: 2,000 ,
Top Prize: £1,000 and publication ,

31aug1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineNot So Normal NarratorsDiverse and Unusual Teen VoicesInternational Entry Fee: £4 ,
Max word count: 5000 ,
Top Prize: £200 ,

31aug1:00 am1:00 amChalk Circle Short Story CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: $7 ,
Max word count: 2,000 ,
Top Prize: $240 and publication ,

31aug1:00 am1:00 amFree to enter!The Liberties Press Humorous Short Story CompetitionIreland Entry Fee: Free ,
Max word count: 1,500 ,
Top Prize: €1,000 ,

31aug1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineFree to enter!The Val Wood Prize 2020: The Next ChapterInternational Entry Fee: Free ,
Max word count: 2,000 ,
Top Prize: £100 ,

31aug1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineFree to enter!Kindle Storyteller AwardInternational Entry Fee: Free ,
Max word count: Full manuscript ,
Top Prize: £20,000 ,

31aug1:00 am1:00 amGOLDEN HARE AWARD FOR SCOTTISH FLASH FICTIONInternational Entry Fee: £6 ,
Max word count: 250 ,
Top Prize: £300 and publication ,

september

04sep1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineFree to enter!The Hubert Butler Essay PrizeInternational Entry Fee: Free ,
Max word count: 3,000 ,
Top Prize: £1,000 and publication ,

14sep1:00 am1:00 amSustainable Societies Children’s Novel CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: Free ,
Max word count: 2,500 ,
Top Prize: £200 ,

14sep1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineOxford Brookes University International Poetry CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: £5.00 ,
Max word count: 50 lines ,
Top Prize: £1,000 ,

15sep1:00 am1:00 amFree to enter!The QueryLetter.com Writing ContestInternational Entry Fee: Free ,
Max word count: 100 ,
Top Prize: $500 ,

15sep1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineInaugural Moth Nature Writing PrizeInternational Entry Fee: €15 ,
Max word count: 4,000 ,
Top Prize: €1,000, publication, and a week-long stay at The Moth Retreat in rural Ireland ,

18sep1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineManchester Fiction PrizeInternational Entry Fee: £18 ,
Max word count: 2,500 ,
Top Prize: £10,000 ,

21sep1:00 am1:00 amMoved OnlineMslexia Women’s Short Story CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: £10 ,
Max word count: 3,000 ,
Top Prize: £3,000 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) ,

30sep12:00 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 am12:00 amFree to enter!The Bergen International Essay CompetitionInternational Entry Fee: Free ,
Max word count: 2,000 ,
Top Prize: €2500 and publication ,

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 ,

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

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

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 ,

november

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

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 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 ,

december

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

february

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

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