The list below is an archive of events where the deadline has aleady passed. For a list of all current (upcoming) events, please refer to our main calendar page.

Current Month

February

fri14feb11:11 pm11:11 pmPast DeadlineRhys Davies Short Story CompetitionCategoryShort StoryUnited KingdomEntry Fee:£8 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:£1,000 and publication

sat15feb5:24 pm5:24 pmPast DeadlineMurder Squad Short Story CompetitionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£8 Max word count:1500 Top Prize:£100 cash prize and winner certificate

sun23feb10:00 am10:00 pmPast DeadlineFFF Competition Twenty-SixCategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£3.95 Max word count:300 Top Prize:£150

sun23feb7:05 pm6:00 pmPast DeadlineBook a Break Flash Fiction CompetitionCategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:€8 Max word count:500 Top Prize:Four-night stay for two people in Aix en Provence, France

mon24feb10:58 pm10:58 pmPast DeadlineThe Elmbridge Literary CompetitionCategoryPoetry,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£8 (free for under 18s) Max word count:1500 (short story); 30 lines (poetry) Top Prize:£250

thu27febAll DayPast DeadlineNext Generation Short Story AwardsA not-for-profit international awards program for authors of short stories.CategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:$500 and publication

fri28feb12:00 am11:59 pmPast Deadline7th Annual First Thousand Words Contest by Writerwerx UniversityCategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:1,000 Top Prize:$1,100 in cash and prizes, your book 20,000 book lovers, award badge, winning author featured annually in contest promotions.

fri28feb12:00 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineRigel 2025 Contest for Authors and ArtistsCategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:$5 Max word count:1,500 (short stories); 14 lines (poetry); 6 pages (graphic novels) Top Prize:$100 and publication

fri28feb12:00 pm12:00 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineVoice.club Monthly Flash Fiction ContestCategoryFiction,Flash Fiction,Short Fiction,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:FREE Max word count:350 Top Prize:$25

fri28feb2:14 pm2:14 pmPast DeadlineThe Margery Allingham Short Mystery CompetitionCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£18 Max word count:3,500 Top Prize:£500

fri28feb2:19 pm2:19 pmPast DeadlineEmerging Author Dagger Crime Novel CompetitionCategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee:£42 Max word count:3,000 (novel opening) + 1,500 (synopsis) Top Prize:£500

fri28feb2:52 pm11:59 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineWrite or Flight - The World's First Reality Show For WritersCategoryMemoirInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:2000 Top Prize:$10,000 book advance

fri28feb2:57 pm2:57 pmPast DeadlineAWP Award Series 2025CategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max word count:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize:$5,500 and publication

fri28feb2:58 pm2:58 pmPast DeadlineEdinburgh Essay AwardOpen to writers worldwide and essays on any topicCategoryEssayInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:2,000 Top Prize:£1,000

fri28feb3:03 pm3:03 pmPast DeadlineEdinburgh Short Story Award 2025Open to unpublished writers worldwideCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£11 Max word count:2000 Top Prize: £3,000

fri28feb3:09 pm3:09 pmPast DeadlineEdinburgh Young Adult Fiction PrizeFor Novels and Graphic NovelsCategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee:£25 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:£1,500

fri28feb3:30 pm3:30 pmPast DeadlineSTAR Award for Published Women's Fiction AuthorsCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:$60 Max word count:No limit (60,000 words minumum) Top Prize:$500

fri28feb4:19 pm11:59 pmPast DeadlineCranked Anvil Quarterly Flash Fiction PrizeCategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:500 Top Prize:£100

fri28feb5:00 pm5:37 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineBridge House Annual AnthologyCall for submissionsCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:5000 Top Prize:Publication (24 stories selected)

fri28feb5:28 pm5:28 pmPast DeadlineTHE 2025 NEW ENGLAND READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS CONTESTCategoryNovel,NovellaInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max word count:80,000 Top Prize:Story & Character Development Coaching by Jeannie Moon of Five Harbor Literary

fri28feb6:35 pm11:59 pmPast DeadlineWOW! Winter 2025 Flash Fiction ContestCategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:750 Top Prize:$400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate

fri28feb8:22 pm8:22 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineThe Canterbury Tales Writing CompetitionCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:500 Top Prize:£300 for winner and £1000 for their school library

March

sat01mar11:32 am11:32 amThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlinePilgrimages Travel Writing Competition 2025CategoryMemoir,Non-fiction,Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:1800 Top Prize:$300

sat01mar5:10 pm5:10 pmPast DeadlineEthos Literacy Annual Short Short Story ContestCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:100 Top Prize:$200

sat01mar8:35 pm8:35 pmPast DeadlineWeatherglass Novella Prize 2025CategoryNovellaInternationalEntry Fee:£20 Max word count:40,000 Top Prize:£500 and publication

sat01mar10:53 pm10:53 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineThe Curae Prize 2025A literary award just for writer-carersCategoryNon-fiction,Poetry,Short FictionInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:4,000 (short fiction, non-fiction); 40 lines (poetry) Top Prize:£250, publication, mentoring session with literary agent Jo Williamson

mon03mar12:02 am5:00 pmPast DeadlineGutsy Great Novelist Chapter One PrizeCategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$1000

mon03mar4:49 pm4:49 pmPast DeadlineBardsy’s 2025 Anthology Contest: First ChaptersCategoryNovelUSAEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:2500 Top Prize:$1,000

wed12mar5:00 pm12:00 amThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineLove Letter To My Toxic Trait ChallengeCategoryLetterInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:No limit Top Prize: $85, 1 month African Voices Fellowship Subscription, free Writer’s Handbook, Featured Author Spotlight

sat15mar7:12 pm7:12 pmPast DeadlinePerkoff Prize 2025CategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee: $15 Max word count:Depends on category. Check with organizer. Top Prize:$1,000

mon17mar11:57 pm11:57 pmPast DeadlineThe Brick Lane Bookshop Short Story Prize 2025CategoryShort StoryUnited KingdomEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:£1,000

fri28mar11:48 pm11:48 pmPast Deadline​Red Shed Poetry Competition 2025CategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£3.50 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£100

fri28mar11:56 pm11:56 pmPast DeadlineThe Plough Poetry Prize 2025CategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£1,000

sun30mar10:47 pm10:47 pmPast DeadlineRhina Espaillat Poetry AwardCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$7 Max word count:50 lines Top Prize:$2,000 and publication

mon31mar12:00 am12:00 amPast DeadlineBath Short Story Award 2025CategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£9 Max word count:2,200 Top Prize:£1,000

mon31mar12:00 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineThe E. H. P. Barnard Spring Poetry Prize 2025CategoryPoetryUnited KingdomEntry Fee:£2 Max word count:400 Top Prize:£150 and a poem video, professionally performed and produced

mon31mar12:04 am12:04 amPast DeadlineThe London Magazine Poetry Prize 2025CategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£500

mon31mar1:00 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineFirst Writing Competition Judged by AICategoryFull Manuscript,Unpublished BooksInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max word count:80,000 Top Prize:Publication

mon31mar9:46 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineThe Dark Poets Prize - Edition IIICategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:250 Top Prize:£500

mon31mar2:51 pm2:51 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineDeborah Rogers Foundation Writers Award 2025CategoryFull ManuscriptUK & IrelandEntry Fee:Free Max word count:20,000 Top Prize:£10,000

mon31mar3:28 pm3:28 pmPast DeadlineThe Clay Reynolds Novella PrizeCategoryNovellaInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:50,000 Top Prize:$1,000 advance, a standard royalty contract, and 10 copies of the published book

mon31mar3:33 pm3:33 pmPast DeadlineLouise Bogan Award for Excellence in PoetryCategoryPoetryUSAEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:120 pages of poetry Top Prize:$1000, twenty copies of published book, and assistance in marketing the book

mon31mar8:51 pm8:51 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineThe Tom Grass Writing PrizeCategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:3000 Top Prize:£1,000

mon31mar8:24 pm8:24 pmPast DeadlineInception 2025 ContestCategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:$5 Max word count:250 (prose); 25 lines (poetry) Top Prize:$100 and publication

mon31mar10:32 pm10:32 pmPast DeadlineThe Caterpillar Poetry Prize 2025CategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:€15 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:€1,000, publication, and a week at Circle of Misse in France

mon31mar11:19 pm11:19 pmPast DeadlineLittle Kanawha Reading Series Chapbook ContestCategoryPoetry,ProseUSAEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:25 pages Top Prize:$200, publication, author copies of book, invitation to be a featured reader at the Little Kanawha Reading Series

April

tue01apr2:46 pm2:46 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineThe Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize 2025CategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:1,250 Top Prize:£3,000

tue01apr6:27 pm6:27 pmPast DeadlineThe Rialto Nature and Place Poetry Competition 2025CategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£7 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£1000 and publication

tue01apr6:35 pm6:35 pmPast Deadline2025 Claymore AwardFor best first 50 pages of an unpublished manuscript, play, or screenplayCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:$40 Max word count:50 double-spaced Top Prize:Publishing contract

tue01apr7:11 pm7:11 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineWergle Flomp Humor Poetry ContestCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:250 lines Top Prize:$2,000 plus a two-year gift certificate, and publication

sun06apr8:10 pm8:10 pmPast DeadlineNew2theScene Novel Competition 2025CategoryNovelInternationalEntry Fee:£18 Max word count:3,000 Top Prize:Publication, professional edit of your work, podcast interview, and more

mon07apr3:57 pm3:57 pmPast DeadlineNew American Voices AwardInstitute for Immigration ResearchCategoryFiction,Non-fictionUSAEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:No limit Top Prize:$5,000

wed09apr7:39 pm7:39 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlinePitch Mag Young Sports Journalist CompetitionShow off your writing skills and sporting know-how.CategoryEssayUnited KingdomEntry Fee:Free Max word count:800 Top Prize:$50 and work experience at Pitch Magazine

sun13apr12:00 am11:59 pmPast Deadline2025 Desperate Literature Short Fiction PrizeCategoryShort FictionInternationalEntry Fee:€20 Max word count:2000 Top Prize: €2000

sun13apr11:08 pm11:08 pmPast DeadlineFractured Lit Ghost, Fable, and Fairy Tales PrizeCategoryFlash Fiction,Micro FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:1,000 Top Prize:$3,000 and publication

tue15apr8:26 pm8:26 pmPast DeadlineBOMB Magazine 2025 Fiction ContestCategoryFictionInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:$1,000

tue15apr10:54 pm10:54 pmPast DeadlineAgha Shahid Ali Prize in PoetryCategoryFull Manuscript,PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:100 pages Top Prize:$1,000 and publication

wed16apr3:20 pm3:20 pmThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlinePurorrelato 2025. Micro-story competitionMicro-stories related to AfricaCategoryMicro FictionInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max word count:1500 Top Prize:€750

fri18apr5:34 pm5:34 pmPast Deadline2025 New American Fiction PrizeCategoryFull ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max word count:No limit Top Prize: $1500, publication, twenty-five copies of published work, and promotional support

sun20apr3:02 pm3:02 pmPast DeadlineEyelands International Short Story Contest 2025CategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:€10 Max word count:3,000 Top Prize:€500 and publication

wed23apr10:48 am10:00 pmPast DeadlineFree Flash Fiction Competition Twenty-SevenSubmit a flash fiction piece of between 100 and 300 words on any theme.CategoryFlash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£3.95 Max word count:300 Top Prize:£150

mon28apr10:22 pm12:00 amThis event is FREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineKSCPP's 17th Nationwide Essay ContestFor middle and high school students in the U.S.CategoryEssayUSAEntry Fee:Free Max word count:825 Top Prize:$500

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

wed30apr10:15 am10:15 amPast DeadlineAgnes 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 pmPast DeadlineWare Poets 27th annual Open Poetry CompetitionCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max word count:50 lines Top Prize:£800 and publication

wed30apr8:28 pm8:28 pmPast DeadlineNew 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!Past DeadlineOxford/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 pmPast DeadlineGoldilocks 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 pmPast DeadlineWilbur 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 pmPast DeadlineThe Ghost Story Supernatural Fiction AwardCategoryShort StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:10,000 Top Prize:$1,500

May

thu01mayAll Daysat31Past DeadlineWishes & Warnings Short Story ContestThe Elegant Literature Award for New WritersCategoryShort 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

thu01may12:01 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineTom 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 pmPast DeadlineWOW! 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!Past DeadlineABA Journal / Ross Writing Contest for Legal Short FictionCategoryEssayUSAEntry Fee:Free Max word count:5,000 Top Prize:$5,000

fri02may8:22 pm8:22 pmPast DeadlineF(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 pmPast DeadlineMisfit Poems PrizeCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max word count:five pages Top Prize:$2,000 and publication

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

mon05may7:06 pm7:06 pmPast DeadlineWriter’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 pmPast DeadlineWigtown International Poetry PrizeCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max word count:40 lines Top Prize:£1500 and publication

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

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

thu15may8:13 pm8:13 pmPast DeadlinePloughshares 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!Past DeadlineA 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!Past DeadlineCreative 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 pmPast DeadlineIronbridge Festival Poetry CompetitionCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£4 Max word count:35 lines Top Prize:£300

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

sat31may4:10 am4:10 amPast DeadlineGoldfinch 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 amPast Deadline2025 RockPaperPoem Poetry PrizeCategoryPoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max word count:Two pages per poem Top Prize:$300 and publication

sat31may10:20 am10:20 amPast DeadlineThe 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

sat31may7:01 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineSolar Flare 2025 ContestCategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:$5 Max word count:500 (short stories or nonfiction); 12 lines (poetry); 8 pages (graphic novels, scripts, or screenplays) Top Prize:$100 and publication

sat31may3:15 pm3:15 pmPast DeadlinePeggy 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 pmPast DeadlineThe 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 pmPast DeadlineThe 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 pmPast DeadlineBlue 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 pmPast DeadlineThe 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!Past DeadlineThe 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 pmPast DeadlineMinds Shine Bright Places Writing CompetitionCategoryMultiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max word count:5000 Top Prize:$1500 and publication

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

sat31may6:55 pm6:55 pmPast DeadlineBuckham 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

View full caledar of events scheduled for this year