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Writing competitions are a great way to practice your writing skills with an opportunity to get feedback for your work, win prizes, gain recognition, and get your work published either online or in print.

Our curated list includes basic information about upcoming writing events with detailed descriptions including entry fees, max word limit, submission deadlines, and prizes for winners and shortlisted authors. Event listings are updated on a weekly basis and features types of competitions, including:

  • short story and flash fiction
  • poetry
  • novel and novella manuscripts
  • essay and non-fiction
  • memoir, screenwriting, and more!

Browse the event archive you are looking for an older event where the deadline has already past.

Note: We do not host any of the events listed here. If you have questions about a particular event please reach out to the event organizer. Always do your own research before submitting your work. See our FAQ page for answers to common questions about writing competitions.
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ALL FUTURE EVENT DEADLINES:

Current Month

April 2025

tue01aprAll Daywed30 Ghostly Gardens Short Story ContestThe Elegant Literature Award for New WritersCategoryFeatured event,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free (for Elegant Literature members) Max word count:2000 Top Prize:$3,000, 10 cents per word, publication, and free enrollment in the New Novelist Accelerator program

wed30apr12:01 am11:59 pm Tadpole Press 100-Word Writing ContestCategoryOtherInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:100 Top Prize:$2,000

wed30apr10:15 am10:15 amAgnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize 2025CategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:100 pages Top Prize:$5,000 and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press

wed30apr8:20 pm8:20 pmWare Poets 27th annual Open Poetry CompetitionCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:50 lines Top Prize:£800 and publication

wed30apr8:28 pm8:28 pmNew Writers 100-Word Writing Competition 2025CategoryFlash Fiction,Micro Fiction,PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£8 Max word count:100 Top Prize:£500

wed30apr11:13 pm11:13 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Oxford/42 New Writing PrizeCategoryNovel,ScreenwritingInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize:£1500 and agency representation

wed30apr6:42 pm6:42 pmGoldilocks Zone 2025 ContestCategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:$5 Max word count:2,500 (short stories); 24 lines (poetry); 8 pages (graphic novel/script/screenplay) Top Prize:$100 and publication

wed30apr11:57 pm11:57 pmWilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize - New Voices AwardOpportunity for unpublished writersCategoryFictionInternationalEntry Fee:£30 Max word count:First three chapters (no more than 10,000) Top Prize:Mentorship and editorial guidance

wed30apr11:59 pm11:59 pmThe Ghost Story Supernatural Fiction AwardCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:10,000 Top Prize:$1,500

May 2025

thu01may12:01 am11:59 pmTom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction and Essay ContestCategoryEssay,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:6,000 Top Prize:$3,500

wed30apr9:47 pm9:47 pmWOW! CREATIVE NONFICTION ESSAY CONTESTCategoryEssay,Non-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:$12 Max word count:1,000 Top Prize:$500, publication, interview, and gift code good for one item from CreateWriteNow's Store

thu01may8:19 pm8:19 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!ABA Journal / Ross Writing Contest for Legal Short FictionCategoryEssayUSAEntry Fee:Free Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:$5,000

fri02may8:22 pm8:22 pmF(r)iction Writing Contest - Spring 2025CategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize:$1,000 and publication

sun04may11:01 pm11:01 pmMisfit Poems PrizeCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:five pages Top Prize:$2,000 and publication

mon05may1:51 am1:51 amABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize 2025CategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:$6,000 and publication

mon05may7:06 pm7:06 pmWriter’s Digest Annual Writing CompetitionCategoryFull Manuscript,PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max word count:4,000 (short fiction); 40 lines (poetry) Top Prize:$5,000 and publication

wed07may11:44 pm11:44 pmWigtown International Poetry PrizeCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£1500 and publication

sat10may8:13 pm8:13 pmIronclad Creative Short Story CompetitionCategoryShort StoryUnited KingdomEntry Fee:£9 Max word count:6,000 Top Prize:£100

thu15may3:46 pm3:46 pmLenore Marshall Poetry PrizeCategoryPoetryUSAEntry Fee:$75 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$25,000

thu15may8:13 pm8:13 pmPloughshares Emerging Writer’s ContestCategoryPoetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max word count:6000 (short story); 3-5 pages (poetry) Top Prize:Publication in the Winter 2025-26 issue of Ploughshares

fri16may11:30 pm11:30 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!A Nightclub for the Newly DepartedDually Noted Group Writing ProjectCategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:No limit Top Prize:Publication

mon19may2:56 pm2:56 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Creative Future Writers’ Award 2025CategoryFiction,Non-fiction,PoetryUnited KingdomEntry Fee:Free Max word count:50 lines (Poetry); 2,000 (fiction and non-fiction) Top Prize:£20,000 of prizes in training, mentoring, assessment and coaching

mon26may7:49 pm7:49 pmIronbridge Festival Poetry CompetitionCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£4 Max word count:35 lines Top Prize:£300

sat31may12:00 am11:59 pmCranked Anvil Press Quarterly Flash Fiction PrizeCategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:500 Top Prize:£100

sat31may4:10 am4:10 amGoldfinch Books Novel AwardCategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:Full manuscript Top Prize:£500 cash prize plus an invitation to join the Goldfinch writer community

sat31may9:22 am9:22 am2025 RockPaperPoem Poetry PrizeCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:Two pages per poem Top Prize:$300 and publication

sat31may10:20 am10:20 amThe Never Too Late 60+ AwardThe Bridport Writing CompetitionCategoryFlash Fiction,Novel,Poetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Max word count:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize:£5,000

sat31may3:15 pm3:15 pmPeggy Chapman-Andrews First Novel AwardCategoryNovelUK & IrelandEntry Fee:£24 Max word count:8,000 taken from the opening chapter Top Prize:£1,500, manuscript appraisal, publication

sat31may3:26 pm3:26 pmThe Yeovil Literary Prize 2025CategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:£10 - £18.50 Max word count:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize:£1350

sat31may6:06 pm6:06 pmThe Bridport Prize 2025Award for Poetry, Short Story, Flash Fiction, and NovelCategoryFlash Fiction,Novel,Poetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£11 - £24 Max word count:Depends on category. Check with organizer. Top Prize:£5,000

sat31may7:59 pm7:59 pmBlue Pencil Agency First Novel Award 2025Open to unrepresented writersCategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee:£25 Max word count:20,000 Top Prize:£1,000 + agent Introduction

sat31may8:04 pm8:04 pmThe Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant WritingCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Top Prize:$10,000, admission to writing residency program, and publication by Restless Books

sat31may8:28 pm8:28 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Irene Adler Prize$1,000 Scholarship for Women WritersCategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:Check with organizer for details Top Prize:$1,000

sat31may11:06 pm11:06 pmMinds Shine Bright Places Writing CompetitionCategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:5000 Top Prize:$1500 and publication

sat31may11:06 pm11:06 pmThe BeaconFlash Story CompetitionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£3 Max word count:500 Top Prize:£75 plus up to 5,000 words critique

sat31may6:55 pm6:55 pmBuckham Fine Arts Project of Flint Michigan - Horror AnthologyAn Open Call for Horror Themed LiteratureCategoryFiction,Poetry,Short StoryUSAEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:4,000 (short story); 50 lines (poetry) Top Prize:$25

June 2025

sat31may9:24 pm9:24 pmWOW! Spring 2025 Flash Fiction ContestCategoryFiction,Flash Fiction,Short FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:750 Top Prize:$400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate

sun01jun3:48 pm6:00 pmPeriscope Paired Fiction AwardCategoryFictionInternationalEntry Fee:£16 Max word count:1000 Top Prize:£400

mon02jun2:50 pm2:50 pmThe Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition 2025CategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee:£20 Max word count:80,000 Top Prize:£10,000 and a publishing contract

mon02jun3:55 pm3:55 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Jane Austen Society of North America Essay ContestCategoryEssayInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:8 pages Top Prize:$1,000 scholarship and two nights’ lodging for JASNA’s Annual General Meeting

mon02jun11:02 pm11:02 pmCanterbury Festival Poet of the Year 2025InternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:60 lines Top Prize:£300

wed04jun8:30 pm8:30 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The International Audio Drama Competition 2026CategoryAudio DramaInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:40-50 minutes Top Prize:£2,500 and recording for a world premiere on BBC World Service platforms

fri06jun11:10 pm11:10 pmWrite By The Sea Writing CompetitionCategoryEssay,Flash Fiction,Memoir,Poetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:€10 Max word count:Depends on category Top Prize:€500, publication, and a free weekend pass to the Write By The Sea Festival 2025

sun15jun4:23 pm4:23 pmThe MacGuffin’s 30th Annual Poet Hunt ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:400 lines Top Prize:$500 and publication

wed25jun6:53 pm6:53 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction PrizeAwarding the best Canadian novel or short story collection of the yearCategoryNovelCanadaEntry Fee:Free Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$60,000 (winner); $5,000 (finalists)

mon30jun12:14 am12:14 am2025 Wells Festival of Literature International CompetitionsCategoryPoetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max word count:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize:£1000

mon30jun1:00 am11:59 pmHysteria Writing CompetitionCategoryFlash Fiction,Poetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:1,000 (short story); 250 (flash fiction); 16 lines (poetry) Top Prize:£75 and publication

mon30jun3:40 am3:40 amPoetry London Prize 2025CategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:80 lines Top Prize:£5,000

mon30jun4:03 am4:03 amThe Lascaux Prize in Flash FictionCategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:1,000 Top Prize:$1,000, a bronze medallion, and publication in The Lascaux Review

mon30jun12:17 pm12:17 pmPage Turner International Writing AwardCategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:£40 Max word count:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize:$1,000

mon30jun12:47 pm12:47 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Katherine Anne Porter Prize in Short FictionCategoryShort FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$25 (free option available) Max word count:50,000 Top Prize:$1000 and publication by UNT Press

mon30jun1:00 pm10:00 pmHastings Book Festival Writing CompetitionsCategoryFiction,Multiple categories,Non-fiction,Poetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:2,500 Top Prize:£250 and publication

mon30jun2:31 pm2:31 pmThe International Amy MacRae Award for MemoirCategoryMemoirInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:2000 Top Prize:$1,000

mon30jun4:21 pm11:59 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Rinks and Romance Writing Contest: Showcase Your Best Hockey Love StoryCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$300 USD and a Galatea Publishing Contract

mon30jun4:30 pm11:59 pmCranked Anvil Press Annual Short Story Prize 2025CategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max word count:2500 Top Prize:£300

mon30jun6:45 pm6:45 pmDrue Heinz Literature PrizeCategoryFull ManuscriptEntry Fee:Free Max word count:300 pages Top Prize:$15,000 cash prize and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press

mon30jun8:16 pm8:16 pmSouthword Creative Non Fiction AwardCategoryNon-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:€20 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:€1,000 and publication

mon30jun9:21 pm9:21 pmThe 9th To Hull and Back Humorous Short Story CompetitionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 (early bird entry) Max word count:2,500 Top Prize:£1,000 and publication

mon30jun10:33 pm10:33 pmThe Moth Short Story Prize 2025CategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:€15 Max word count:3,000 Top Prize:€3,000

mon30jun11:34 pm11:34 pmHeroines Women’s Writing PrizeCategoryPoetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:3 pages (poetry), 2500 words (short story) Top Prize:Publication

July 2025

tue01jul12:01 am11:59 pmNorth Street Book PrizeCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:$85 Max word count:200,000 Top Prize:$10,000

tue15jul10:56 pm10:56 pm2025 Rattle Poetry PrizeCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$15,000

wed23jul11:05 pm11:05 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!National Youth Foundation 'I Matter' ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:Check with organizer for details Top Prize:$500

thu31jul4:53 am11:59 pmAnthology Short Story Competition 2025CategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:€18 Max word count:1500 Top Prize:€1000

thu31jul8:52 am8:52 amCreative Writing Ink Short Story Competition 2025CategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£12 Max word count:3,000 Top Prize:£1,000, an online creative writing course, and publication

thu31jul12:58 pm12:58 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Berggruen Prize Essay CompetitionCategoryEssayEntry Fee:Free Max word count:10,000 Top Prize:$50,000

thu31jul11:04 pm11:04 pmThe Winchester Poetry Prize 2025CategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£1000

August 2025

fri01aug6:37 pm6:37 pm2025 Best Indie Book AwardsCategoryPublished BooksInternationalEntry Fee:$75 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$500 (minimum)

thu07aug8:18 pm8:18 pmHG Wells Short Story Competition 2025CategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:£1,000 and publication

sun24aug10:45 pm10:45 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!The Not Quite Write Prize for FLESH FictionErotic fiction competitionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:1,500 Top Prize:$500 and a trophy

mon25aug7:38 pm7:38 pmSummer Short Story Award for New WritersCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:6000 Top Prize:$3,000 and publication

sun31aug4:57 am11:59 pmAnthology Poetry Competition 2025CategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:€18 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:€1000

sun31aug5:05 am11:59 pmAnthology Personal Memoir Competition 2025CategoryMemoirInternationalEntry Fee:€15 Max word count:1500 Top Prize:€500

sun31aug10:07 am10:07 amAesthetica Creative Writing AwardCategoryPoetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£18 Max word count:2,000 (fiction); 40 lines (poetry) Top Prize:£5,000, publication, and a big package of other benefits

sun31aug9:06 pm9:06 pmAjuda Foundation Creative Writing CompetitionCategoryMemoir,Poetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize:£100 and publication

September 2025

thu25sep6:59 pm6:59 pm2025 Book Pipeline Unpublished ContestCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:$45 Max word count:Depends on category (check organizer Top Prize:$25,000, industry circulation, executive development

tue30sep3:47 am3:47 amTHE WRITERS' COLLEGE Short Story CompetitionProudly Supporting Emerging WritersCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free until 30 June. $15 afterwards. Max word count:2,000 Top Prize:$1000

tue30sep4:59 am11:59 pmAnthology Flash Fiction Competition 2025CategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:€12 Max word count:250 Top Prize:€300

tue30sep5:03 am11:59 pmAnthology Nature Writing Competition 2025CategoryNon-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:€15 Max word count:1500 Top Prize:€300

tue30sep12:12 pm12:12 pm2025 Hammond House Publishing International Literary PrizeCategoryPoetry,Scriptwriting,Short Story,SongwritingInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:5000 (short story); 40 lines (poetry); 10 pages (scripts) Top Prize:£1000, publication, and fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts

tue30sep1:08 pm1:08 pmThe One Page Poetry ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:Must fit on a single page Top Prize:$2,000 and publication

tue30sep5:12 pm5:12 pmThe Paul Cave Prize for Literature 2025CategoryFlash Fiction,Novella,Poetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize:£200 and publication

October 2025

wed01oct12:01 am11:59 pmTom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:250 lines Top Prize:$3,500

wed01oct5:07 pm5:07 pmDzanc Books Short Story Collection PrizeCategoryFull Manuscript,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:40,000 Top Prize:$2,500 and publication by Dzanc Books

wed15oct7:11 pm7:11 pmMemoir/Fiction Book ContestCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:$40 Max word count:100,000 Top Prize:$1,000 and publication

fri31oct12:01 am11:59 pmThe Bedford Short Story and Poetry CompetitionCategoryPoetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£8.50 Max word count:3000 (short story); 40 lines (poetry) Top Prize:£2000

fri31oct5:22 pm5:22 pmThe Hope PrizeGet published by Simon & Schuster AustraliaCategoryShort Fiction,Short Non-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:$10,000 and publication Simon & Schuster Australia

November 2025

sun30nov5:01 am11:59 pmAnthology Travel Writing Competition 2025CategoryNon-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:€15 Max word count:1000 Top Prize:€300

February 2026

thu12feb12:00 am11:59 pm2026 Next Generation Indie Book AwardsThe largest international awards program for indie authors and independent publishersCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:$80 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$1500, trophy, social media coverage, and many other prizes

thu26feb12:00 am11:59 pm2026 Next Generation Short Story AwardsAn international awards program for authors of short storiesCategoryMultiple categories,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:5000 Top Prize:$500, trophy, publication

sat28feb9:07 am9:07 amEdinburgh Short Story AwardCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£11 Max word count:2,000 Top Prize:£3,000 and publication

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