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Writing Competitions in 2023 – 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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june

thu01junAll DayRigel 2023: $500 for Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Art, or Graphic NovelInternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee$10 Max word countCheck website for details Top Prize$500

thu01junAll DayThe 2023 Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction CompetitionInternationalCategoryNovelEntry Fee£20 Max word count80,000 Top PrizeWorldwide publishing contract with a royalty advance of £10,000

thu01junAll DayGeri Digiorno PrizeInternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee$5 Max word countVaries (check organizer's website for details) Top Prize$300 and publication

fri02junAll DayCanterbury Festival Poet of the Year CompetitionInternationalCategoryPoetryEntry Fee£5 Max word count60 lines Top Prize£200

mon05junAll DayWriter's Digest Annual Writing Competition 2023InternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee$20-$30 Max word countCheck organizer's website for details Top Prize$5,000

thu08junAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Inkitt's 10 year Decade of Discovery ContestInternationalCategoryNovelEntry FeeFree Max word count10,000 Top PrizeA Galatea publishing contract and exclusive book cover design

fri09junAll DayA Blind Play of Social ForcesUSACategoryScriptEntry Fee$30 Max word count40 pages (approx 10K words) Top Prize$300 plus full audio production and distribution on our fiction podcast

sat10junAll DayMcLellan Poetry CompetitionInternationalCategoryPoetryEntry Fee£8 Max word count90 lines Top Prize£1,000

sun11junAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Atlas Shrugged Novel Essay ContestInternationalCategoryEssayEntry FeeFree Max word count1600 Top Prize$10,000

tue13junAll DayHousatonic Book AwardsInternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee$25 Max word countVaries (check organizer's website for details) Top Prize$1,000, public reading. in-person workshop, $500 travel stipend and hotel stay

tue13jun11:33 pmtue11:33 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Imagine 2200 – Climate Fiction Short Story Contest 2023InternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry FeeFree Max word count5,000 Top Prize$3,000

thu15junAll DayMr. and Mrs. Rosewood – A Short Story ContestInternationalCategoryShort Fiction,Short StoryEntry Fee$2 Max word count3000 Top PrizePublication

thu15junAll Day17th Annual Mudfish Poetry ContestInternationalCategoryPoetryEntry Fee$20$1,200 Max word countNo limit Top Prize$1,200 and publication

thu15junAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!International Essay Contest for Young PeopleInternationalCategoryEssayEntry FeeFree Max word count700 Top Prize¥100,000

thu15junAll DayThe Sappho Prize for Women PoetsInternationalCategoryPoetryEntry Fee$20 Max word countCheck with event organizer Top Prize$3000, publication, and a brief interview in Palette Poetry

sat17junAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Neovel Stronger Together ContestInternationalCategoryShort FictionEntry FeeFree Max word countCheck with event organizer Top Prize500

tue20junAll DayFirst Chapter ContestCategoryNovelEntry Fee$20 Max word count3,000 Top Prize$1,000 and anthology publication

fri23junAll DayFFF Competition SixteenInternationalCategoryFlash FictionEntry Fee£3.75 Max word count300 Top Prize£150

mon26junAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Green Stories Novel PrizeInternationalCategoryNovelEntry FeeFree Max word count95,000 Top Prize£1000

fri30junAll DayTo Hull And Back - Humorous Short Story CompetitionInternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry FeeEarly 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 count2,500 Top Prize£1,200, your head on the To Hull And Back Anthology cover and a trip to Hull on a Harley Davidson.

fri30junAll DayNorth Street Book PrizeInternationalCategoryFull ManuscriptEntry Fee$75 Max word count200,000 (full manuscript) Top Prize$10,000

fri30junAll DayLetter Review Prize for Flash FictionInternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee$15 Max word count999 Top Prize$400

fri30junAll DayLetter Review Prize for Short StoriesInternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee$20 Max word count3000 Top Prize$600

fri30junAll DayMany Planets Fiction ContestInternationalCategoryShort FictionEntry FeeFree Max word count500 Top Prize£50

fri30junAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Writers College Annual Short Story CompetitionInternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry FeeFree Max word count2000 Top Prize$1000

fri30junAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!My Writing Journey CompetitionInternationalCategoryEssayEntry FeeFree Max word count600 Top Prize$200

fri30junAll DayLetter Review Prize for PoetryInternationalCategoryPoetryEntry Fee$15 Max word count70 Lines Top Prize$400

fri30junAll DayWells Festival of Literature's CompetitionsShort Stories, Poetry, Books for ChildrenInternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee£3-£6 Max word countVaries depending on category entered Top Prize£1000

fri30junAll DayPoetry London PrizeInternationalCategoryPoetryEntry Fee£10 Max word count80 lines Top Prize£5,000

fri30junAll DayQueen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize 2023InternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee£10 Max word count3000 Top Prize£1000 and publication in Wasafiri magazine.

fri30junAll DayThe Moth Short Story Prize 2023InternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee€ 15 Max word count3,000 Top Prize€3,000

july

sun09julAll DayInternational Amy MacRae Award for MemoirInternationalCategorymemoirEntry Fee$25 Max word count2000 Top Prize$1,000

mon10julAll DayHG Wells Short Story CompetitionInternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee£10 Max word count5,000 Top Prize£1,000 and publication

mon10julAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Weekly Writing CompetitionInternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry FeeFree Max word count700-1000 for stories. 150 lines maximum for poetry. Top Prize$100-150

wed12julAll DayDoris Gooderson Short Story CompetitionInternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee£5 Max word count1200 Top Prize£200 and publication

wed12julAll DayNew Writers Poetry CompetitionInternationalCategoryPoetryEntry Fee£10 Max word count40 lines Top Prize£1,000 and publication

fri14julAll DayHastings Book Festival Writing Competition - FICTIONUKCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee£7.50 Max word count2500 max Top Prize£250

fri14julAll DayHastings Book Festival Writing Competition - POETRYUKCategoryPoetryEntry Fee£7.50 Max word count40 Lines Top Prize£250

sat15julAll DayRattle Poetry PrizeInternationalCategoryPoetryEntry Fee$25 Max word countNo limit Top Prize$15,000

sun16julAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Not Quite Write Prize for Flash FictionInternationalCategoryFlash FictionEntry FeeFREE Max word count600 Top Prize$300 AUD for first place and publication on the Not Quite Write podcast

mon17julAll DayReal People, Real Struggles, Real StoriesWriting About Mental IllnessInternationalCategorymemoirEntry Fee$35 Max word countCheck organizer's website for details Top PrizeTwo-week Residency

thu20julAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Pathfinder PrizeInternationalCategoryNon-fictionEntry FeeFree Max word countNo limit Top Prize$15,000 to fund global expedition

mon31julAll DayThe Writers College Global Novel Writing CompetitionInternationalCategoryNovelEntry FeeFree Max word count6000 Top PrizeWriting course package

mon31julAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Universe of Threats Essay ContestInternationalCategoryEssayEntry FeeFree Max word count2,500 Top Prize$10,000

mon31julAll DayThe Winchester Poetry PrizeInternationalCategoryPoetryEntry Fee£6 Max word count40 lines Top Prize£1000

mon31julAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Foyle Young Poets of the Year AwardInternationalCategoryPoetryEntry FeeFree Max word countNo limit Top PrizePublication

mon31julAll DaySeán Ó Faoláin International Short Story CompetitionInternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee€19 Max word count3,000 Top Prize€2,000, publication in the Southword literary journal, a week-long residency at Anam Cara Writer's and Artist's Retreat.

mon31julAll DayCreative Writing Ink Short Story CompetitionInternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee£9 Max word count3000 Top Prize£1000

mon31julAll DayTHE WASHBURN CHAPBOOK PRIZEInternationalCategoryChapbookEntry Fee$10 Max word countCheck organizer's website for details Top Prize$200 and publication Harbor Review

august

tue01augAll DaySydney Hammond Memorial Short Story CompetitionInternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee$16.50 Max word count1000 Top PrizeA ticket to the CYA Festival valued at $410 (if the winner can’t attend in person, they can join online (airfares and accommodation not included). 12-month membership to QLD Writers Centre (valued at $79). If the winner is already a member, their membership will be extended a year. The published anthology includes the top 40 stories and the cover design will be based on the winner's story.

thu31augAll DayUniversity of New Orleans Press Publishing Lab PrizeInternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee$28 Max word countNo limit Top Prize$10,000 advance on royalties and a contract to publish with The University of New Orleans Press

thu31augAll DayAnthology Flash Fiction CompetitionInternationalCategoryFlash FictionEntry Fee€8 Max word count250 Top Prize €300 and publication

thu31augAll DayAnthology Short Story Award 2023InternationalCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee €18 Max word count1500 Top Prize€1000

thu31augAll DayAesthetica Creative Writing AwardInternationalEntry Fee£12-£18 Max word count40 lines (poetry), 2,000 words (short story) Top Prize£2,500 and publication

thu31augAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Kindle Storyteller AwardInternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry FeeFree Max word countNo limit Top Prize£20,000

september

fri01sepAll DayThe Scribes PrizeUSACategoryFlash FictionEntry Fee$5 Max word count110 Top Prize$250

fri01sepAll DayManchester Writing CompetitionInternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee£18 Max word count2500 (short story); 120 lines (poetry) Top Prize£10,000

sat16sepAll DayOvacome Writing Competition 2023UKCategoryShort StoryEntry Fee£8 Max word count1,500 Top Prize£250

sat30sepAll DayTom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry ContestInternationalCategoryPoetryEntry Fee$22 Max word count250 lines Top Prize$3,000

sat30sepAll DayHAMMOND HOUSE INTERNATIONAL LITERARY PRIZE 2023UKCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee£10 Max word countVaries (check organizer's website for details) Top Prize£1000

sat30sepAll DayThe Paul Cave Prize for LiteratureCelebrating new writing talentInternationalCategoryMultiple categories,NovelEntry Fee£8-£25 Max word count10,000 Top Prize£100

october

sun01octAll DayThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Chilling Pen AwardChilling Pen Horror Writers AssosiationInternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry FeeFree Max word count1,000 Top Prize$500

tue31octAll DayThe Bedford CompetitionInternationalCategoryMultiple categoriesEntry Fee£9 Max word count3000 (short story); 40 lines (poetry) Top Prize£1500

tue31octAll DayAnthology Poetry Competition 2023InternationalCategoryPoetryEntry Fee€18 Max word count40 lines Top Prize€1000

november

wed15novAll DayThe Joy Bale Boone Poetry PrizeInternationalCategoryPoetryEntry Fee$10 Max word countNo limit Top Prize$750

wed15nov12:00 pmwed12:00 pmCurious Curls Fiction Contest 2023USACategoryShort FictionEntry Fee$2.50 Max word count10,000 Top Prize$250

thu30novAll DayAnthology Travel Writing CompetitionInternationalCategoryNon-fictionEntry Fee€10 Max word count1000 Top Prize€500 and publication

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