Writing Competitions – Archive

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Writing Competitions in 2026 and 2027 – Weekly Updates
Writing Competitions – Archive

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.

June

mon01jun7:46 pm7:46 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventThe Canterbury Festival Poet of the Year 2026 Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max Length:60 lines Top Prize:£300, publication, and title of 'Canterbury Festival Poet of the Year'

fri05jun5:37 pm5:37 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOnline EventMeetCute Storyteller CompetitionInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:Unknown - check with organizer Top Prize:£500 and an offer of literary agency representation

sun07jun10:00 am6:00 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventWrite By The Sea Writing Short Story Competitions Category:Flash Fiction, Memoir, Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:€12 Max Length:2,500 words (short story); 700 words (flash fiction); 40 lines (poetry); 1,000 words (memoir/personal essay) Top Prize:€500

mon08jun9:30 am9:00 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOnline EventThe Octo Books Writing Competition Category:FictionUnited KingdomEntry Fee:Free Max Length:800 words Top Prize:Publication, Competition Pencil Case, Competition Pen, Competition T-Shirt Digital Certificate, Recognition On Winner's Reveal

mon15jun9:04 am9:04 amFREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOnline EventThe Paz Prize for PoetryPoetry originally written in Spanish by an American resident Category:PoetryUSAEntry Fee:Free Max Length:No limit Top Prize:$2,000 and publication

mon15jun5:09 pm5:09 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventLenore Marshall Poetry Prize Category:PoetryUSAEntry Fee:$75 Max Length:Full manuscript Top Prize:$25,000, a ten-day residency at Glen Hollow, and distribution of the winning book

mon15jun7:36 pm7:36 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventThe Moth Short Story Prize 2026 Category:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:€17 Max Length:3,000 words Top Prize:€3,000 and publication

mon15jun11:31 pm11:31 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOnline EventAnne Brown Essay PrizeAwards for the best literary essay by a writer in or from Scotland Category:EssayInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:4,000 words Top Prize:£1,500

tue16jun6:00 pmthu16jul6:00 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventGutsy Great Novelist Page One Prize7th Annual Category:Fiction, Novel, Unpublished BooksInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max Length:No limit Top Prize:$1,000

tue23jun5:00 pm10:00 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventFFF Competition Thirty-Four Category:Flash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£4.95 Max Length:300 words Top Prize:£200

wed24jun12:33 pm12:33 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOnline EventHilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction 2026Awarding the top Canadian nonfiction of the year Category:Non-fictionCanadaEntry Fee:Free Max Length:Full manuscript Top Prize:$75,000

wed24jun5:53 pm5:53 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventAtwood Gibson Writers’ Trust Fiction PrizeRecognizing the best work of fiction by a Canadian author Category:Short StoryCanadaEntry Fee:Free Max Length:Full manuscript Top Prize:$70,000

sun28jun11:00 am11:59 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOnline EventRegeneration: Poetry Exploring the Environment Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:100 lines or 750 words (whichever is lower) Top Prize:£200

tue30jun1:00 am12:00 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventWells Festival of Literature's International Creative Writing Competitions Category:Children's Literature, Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£8 Max Length:Depends on category Top Prize:£1,000

tue30jun1:57 am1:57 amPast DeadlineOnline EventThe Poetry.com Monthly Contest Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max Length:75 lines Top Prize:$500 and publication

tue30jun10:48 am10:48 amPast DeadlineOnline EventThe Poetry London Prize Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max Length:80 lines Top Prize:£5,000

tue30jun2:51 pm2:51 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventWeatherglass Novella Prize Category:NovellaInternationalEntry Fee:£20 Max Length:40,000 words Top Prize:£500 and publication

tue30jun3:34 pm3:34 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventMay Sarton New Hampshire Poetry PrizeRecognizing outstanding book-length poetry collections Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max Length:80 pages Top Prize:$1,000, book publication by Bauhan Publishing, 50 author copies, and distribution

tue30jun4:24 pm4:24 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventOzma Book AwardsFantasy Fiction Novel Writing Contest Category:Full ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:$99 Max Length:No limit Top Prize:$1000, a digital badge, a ribbon, and assorted 'goodies'

tue30jun5:00 pm11:59 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventCranked Anvil Playwriting Competition Category:Audio Drama, Playwriting, ScriptwritingInternationalEntry Fee:£12 Max Length:10 - 20 minutes in length Top Prize:£50 cash prize, professional audio recording broadcast on UK radio and online around the world, available on demand from the Cranked Anvil website.

tue30jun9:00 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineThe Indie Gold Awards Recognition Contest Category:Multiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:$25 (or $20 early bird before 4/30/26) Max Length:6000 words Top Prize:$500

tue30jun6:58 pm6:58 pmPast DeadlineThe Olga Sinclair Prize Category:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£8 Max Length:2,000 words Top Prize:£300 and publication

July

wed01jul2:22 am2:22 amFREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOnline EventBoardman Tasker Award for Mountain Literature Category:Drama, Fiction, Non-fiction, PoetryUnited KingdomMax Length:Full manuscript Top Prize:£3,000

wed01jul12:00 pm12:00 pmCancelledPast DeadlineOnline EventChaotic Creators Magazine Poetry Contest Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£3 Max Length:42 lines Top Prize:£50 and publication

wed01jul10:18 pm10:18 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventNorth Street Book Prize 2026 Category:Published BooksInternationalEntry Fee:$95 Max Length:No limit Top Prize:$10,000

wed01jul10:55 pm10:55 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventInternational Amy MacRae Award for MemoirSupporting ovarian cancer research Category:MemoirInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max Length:2,000 words Top Prize:$1,000 and publication

tue07jul9:12 pm9:12 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventHG Wells Short Story Competition Category:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 (no entry fees for those aged 21 years) Max Length:5,000 Top Prize:£1,000 (Under 21 category) and £500 (Senior category), plus anthology publication

thu09jul(jul 9)8:00 amfri24(jul 24)11:59 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventAuthor Gold Short Story AwardWelcomes submissions from writers across all genres Category:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$5 Max Length:7000 words Top Prize:$50 cash prize, publication and promotion, a featured author interview, professional editorial feedback, and a one-to-one author coaching session

wed15jul12:00 am12:00 amFREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOnline EventSummer of Story Street Flash Fiction Contest100 Word Writing Contest Category:Micro FictionInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:100 words Top Prize:$100

wed15jul10:00 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventNew Writers Poetry Competition 2026 Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max Length:42 lines Top Prize:£1,000 and publication

wed15jul12:28 pm12:28 pmPast DeadlineOnline Event2026 Rattle Poetry Prize Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max Length:No limit Top Prize:$15,000 USD and publication in the Winter 2026 issue of Rattle

wed22jul6:11 pm6:11 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventWrite Catalyst Annual Short Story Contest Category:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$5 Max Length:5,000 words Top Prize:$100 and publication

wed29jul2:00 pm11:59 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventThe Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction, Poetry, and Books Category:Full Manuscript, Poetry, Short FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max Length:5000 words Top Prize:$3000

fri31jul5:00 am11:59 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOnline EventProtopian Prize Fiction ContestWrite the story of humanity's future... Category:Short FictionInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:6,000 Top Prize:$5,000

fri31jul9:00 am9:00 amPast DeadlineIronclad Short Story Competition Category:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£9.75 Max Length:6000 words Top Prize:£100 and publication

fri31jul11:00 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventPrecocious Prize for Fantasy Category:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£9.75 Max Length:6000 words Top Prize:£100 and publication

fri31jul12:28 pm12:28 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventSeán Ó Faoláin International Short Story Competition 2026 Category:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:€19 Max Length:3,000 words Top Prize:€2,000, a featured reading at the Cork International Short Story Festival, and publication

fri31jul12:39 pm12:39 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventThe Squat Pen Rests Short Story Competition Category:Short FictionUnited KingdomEntry Fee:£5 Max Length:750 words Top Prize:Variable - prize depends on number of entries

fri31jul1:21 pm1:21 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventThe International Dark Poets Prize Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max Length:250 words per poem Top Prize:Share of a £1,800 total cash prize fund, official winner certification, a Dark Poets Club T-shirt, and publication

fri31jul4:54 pm4:54 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOnline EventGrateful American Book Prize Category:Full ManuscriptUSAEntry Fee:Free Max Length:No limit Top Prize:$13,000, lifetime membership to the New-York Historical Society, silver medallion

fri31jul5:00 pm11:59 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventCranked Anvil Quarterly Short Story Competition Category:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max Length:1500 words Top Prize:£100, publication online, inclusion in future digital anthology, professional audio recording made, broadcast on UK radio and around the world online

fri31jul7:41 pm7:41 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventAnthology Short Story Competition 2026 Category:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:€18 Max Length:1,500 Top Prize:€1,000 and publication

fri31jul9:04 pm9:04 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventWinchester Poetry Prize 2026 Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£7 Max Length:40 lines Top Prize:£1,000 and publication

August

sat01aug2:46 pm2:46 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventPrairie Schooner Summer Creative Nonfiction Contest Category:Creative NonfictionInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max Length:5,000 words Top Prize:$1,000 and publication

mon10aug1:00 pm1:00 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventWriteFluence Short Story ContestTheme: 'Revival' Category:FictionInternationalEntry Fee:₹199 Max Length:2,000 Top Prize:Publication

fri21aug2:44 pm2:44 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOnline EventJohn Glassco Translation PrizeFor first book-length literary translations Category:Full ManuscriptCanadaEntry Fee:Free Max Length:Full book-length translation Top Prize:$1,500 and a one-year LTAC membership

fri21aug11:59 pm11:59 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOnline EventLetterkenny Literary Festival Poetry Competition 2026 Category:PoetryIrelandEntry Fee:Free Max Length:30 lines Top Prize:€150

sat22aug1:14 pm1:14 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOnline EventInk of Ages Fiction Prize 2027 Category:Fiction, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:FREE Max Length:2,000 words Top Prize:$500 cash, publication, story translation into multiple languages, and a lifetime World History Encyclopedia membership

tue25aug11:00 am10:00 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventFFF Competition Thirty-Five Category:Flash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£4.95 Max Length:300 Top Prize:£200

sat29aug1:00 pm8:00 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventThe Summer Holidays Writing CompetitionWriting contest for under-16s Category:Children's Literature, Unpublished BooksUnited KingdomEntry Fee:£1 Max Length:1,000 words Top Prize:Publication, digital certificate, competition t-shirt, notebook, pen & magnet

sun30aug2:46 pm2:46 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventThe Ekphrastic Poetry Prize Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max Length:Three poems under ten pages Top Prize:$3,000, publication, interview in Palette Poetry

mon31aug12:00 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventCranked Anvil Quarterly Flash Fiction Competition Category:Flash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max Length:500 words Top Prize:£100, publication online and digital anthology, Professional audio recording made and broadcast on UK radio and online around the world

mon31aug12:00 am12:00 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventCharleston Writing ContestSubmit original works about Charleston, South Carolina Category:Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max Length:2,500 words (fiction/creative nonfiction); 30 lines (poetry) Top Prize:$500 cash and publication

mon31aug1:46 pm1:46 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventTupelo Press 2026 Summer Open Reading Period Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$30 (reading feed) Max Length:28–47 pages (chapbook) or 48–90 pages (book-length collection) Top Prize:Publication, $1,000 advance, book launch, national distribution and promotion

mon31aug3:17 pm3:17 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventNine Syllables Press Chapbook Contest Category:ChapbookInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max Length:40 pages Top Prize:$500 and publication

mon31aug3:23 pm3:23 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventThe 2026 Oxford Poetry Prize Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max Length:60 lines Top Prize:£2,000 and publication in Oxford Poetry

mon31aug3:41 pm3:41 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventSundress PublicationsFull-Length Poetry Manuscript Reading Period Category:PoetryUSAEntry Fee:$15 Max Length:48–80 pages Top Prize:Publication contract (25 author copies; no cash prize)

mon31aug5:39 pm5:39 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventThe St. Lawrence Book AwardFor debut poetry or prose collections Category:Essay, Full Manuscript, Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max Length:95 pages (poetry); 280 pages (prose) Top Prize:$1,000 and publication

mon31aug5:52 pm5:52 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventChalk Circle Short Story Competition Category:Flash Fiction, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 (1500); £7 (360) Max Length:1,500 words (short story); 360 words (flash fiction) Top Prize:£200

mon31aug7:19 pm7:19 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventAesthetica Creative Writing AwardInternational Literary Prize for Poetry and Short Fiction Category:Poetry, Short FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£18 Max Length:40 lines (poetry); 2000 words (short fiction) Top Prize:£2,500, publication, and many assorted prizes

mon31aug7:33 pm7:33 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventAnthology Personal Memoir Competition 2026 Category:MemoirInternationalEntry Fee:€15 Max Length:1,500 Top Prize:€500 and publication

September

tue01sep2:23 pm2:23 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventPlough Short Fiction Contest Category:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max Length:5,000 words Top Prize:$2,000 and publication

tue01sep5:00 pm11:59 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventBest in Rural Writing Contest Category:Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Non-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:$10 Max Length:7,000 words Top Prize:$500 and publication

tue01sep5:06 pm5:06 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOnline EventThe Climate Playwriting Prize 2026 Category:PlaywritingUnited KingdomEntry Fee:Free Max Length:300 word synopsis Top Prize:£15,000, dramaturgical support on developing the play, support on next steps to produce the play

tue01sep5:45 pm5:45 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOnline EventDemocracy School Essay CompetitionPresented by TWoA and Bard College Berlin Category:EssayInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:1,000 words Top Prize:€200 and publication

tue01sep11:05 pm11:05 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOnline EventLantern Lighters ContestA contest for teen writers Category:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:1,000 words Top Prize:$50 Amazon gift card, editorial feedback, and publication

thu03sep3:29 pm3:29 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOnline EventYoung Lions Fiction AwardFor US fiction writers aged 35 and under Category:Graphic Novel, Novel, Short StoryUSAEntry Fee:Free Max Length:No limit Top Prize:$10,000

sat05sep9:00 am9:00 pmPast DeadlineThe McNeile Writing Competition Category:Short StoryUnited KingdomEntry Fee:£5 Max Length:1000 words Top Prize:£250

sat05sep12:00 pm12:00 amPast DeadlineOnline EventSoutham Book Festival Flash Fiction CompetitionFlash Fiction Competition Category:Flash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£3 Max Length:100 words Top Prize:£60

sat05sep12:36 pm12:36 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventF(r)iction Fall 2026 Writing ContestsShort Story, Poetry, and Flash Fiction Category:Flash Fiction, Multiple categories, Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$15 (short story); $10 (poetry); $10 (flash fiction) Max Length:7,500 words (short story); 3 pages (poetry); 1,000 words (flash fiction) Top Prize:$1,000 (short story); $300 (poetry); $300 (flash fiction) + consideration for publication

sun06sep11:00 am11:00 amPast DeadlineOnline EventCheltenham Poetry Festival International Poetry Prize 2026 Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£4 Max Length:50 lines Top Prize:£300 and publication

sun06sep5:00 pm11:00 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOnline EventIntrepid Voices Fund: Spooky Speculative Fiction Short Story ContestCash prizes for emerging speculative fiction writers Category:Short Fiction, Short StoryUSAEntry Fee:FREE Max Length:2000 words Top Prize:$1250

mon07sep3:12 pm3:12 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventTerrain.org 17th Annual Contest Category:Fiction, Non-fiction, PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max Length:7 pages (poetry, 1–5 poems); 5,000 words (fiction/non fiction) Top Prize:$1,000 and publication

sun13sep5:00 pm11:59 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventBPA Short Story Award Category:Fiction, Short Fiction, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£22 Max Length:2,500 words Top Prize:£1,000 and agent introduction

mon14sep10:00 am5:00 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventWild Muse Nature Writing Prize 2026Share your journey of nature's guidance, healing and transformation Category:Short Fiction, Short Non-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:£10.36 Max Length:2000 words Top Prize:£750

wed23sep9:00 am5:00 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventThe Nature Writing PrizeEssays that reveal the beauty, complexity, and significance of specific landscapes or environments Category:EssayAustraliaEntry Fee:$30 Max Length:5,000 words Top Prize: $8,000 and publication in Australian Book Review

wed30sep12:00 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventCranked Anvil Playwriting Competition Category:Audio Drama, Play, Playwriting, ScriptwritingInternationalEntry Fee:£12 Max Length:scripts should be 10 - 20 minutes in length Top Prize:£50 cash prize, professional audio recording broadcast on UK radio and online around the world, available on demand from the Cranked Anvil website.

wed30sep12:39 am12:39 amPast DeadlineOnline EventHenshaw Short Story CompetitionQuarterly UK short story prize Category:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max Length:2,000 Top Prize:£200 and publication

wed30sep1:05 am1:05 amPast DeadlineOnline EventThe Writers’ College Annual Short Story CompetitionTheme: The End of the Line Category:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£8 Max Length:2,000 Top Prize:£500 and publication

wed30sep1:25 am1:25 amPast DeadlineOnline EventThe First Page ChallengeA writing contest for novelists Category:Multiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:$5 Max Length:One page Top Prize:$700 and publication

wed30sep12:13 pm12:13 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventThe Moth Nature Writing Prize 2026 Category:Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, ProseInternationalEntry Fee:€16 Max Length:4,000 words (prose), No length limit for poetry Top Prize:€1,000 and a one-week stay at The Moth Retreat in rural Ireland

wed30sep12:43 pm12:43 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventSaveAs Writers' International Writing CompetitionTheme: 'Lines of Communication' Category:Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee: £4 (poetry); £5 (short story) Max Length:60 lines (poetry); 3,500 words (short story) Top Prize:£200

wed30sep3:11 pm3:11 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventAnthology Nature Writing Competition 2026 Category:Essay, Non-fictionInternationalEntry Fee:€12 Max Length:1,500 Top Prize:€300 and publication

wed30sep3:22 pm3:22 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventAnthology Flash Fiction Award 2026 Category:Flash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:€12 Max Length:250 Top Prize:€300 and publication

wed30sep3:30 pm3:30 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventDzanc Books Prize for Fiction Category:Fiction, Full ManuscriptInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max Length:Full manuscript (40,000 words and above) Top Prize:$5,000 advance and publication

wed30sep4:37 pm4:37 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventMiller Williams Poetry Prize Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$28 Max Length:90 pages Top Prize:$5,000 and publication

wed30sep11:12 pm11:12 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOnline EventSix Word Wonder Contest Category:Memoir, Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:6 words Top Prize:$100 and publication

October

thu01oct12:00 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventThe Scribes Prize Category:Poetry, Prose, Short Fiction, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$5 Max Length:110 Top Prize:$250 and publication

thu01oct3:01 pm3:01 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventWriter’s Digest Personal Essay Awards Category:EssayInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max Length:2,000 words Top Prize:$2,500 and publication

thu01oct3:34 pm3:34 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventJohn Steinbeck Award for Fiction Category:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max Length:5,000 words Top Prize:$1,000 and a copy of Reed Magazine

thu01oct8:57 pm8:57 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOnline EventThe Folk Horror Short Story Contest Category:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:15,000 words (5–30 pages) Top Prize: Publication in Briar Press NY's anthology "These Rotted Things" (Spring 2027), with marketing support and 3 free author copies

thu01oct10:11 pm10:11 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventTOM HOWARD/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max Length:250 lines Top Prize:$3,500 and publication

sat10oct12:55 pm12:55 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOnline EventThe Solstice Nature Prize for Young WritersNature-themed writing for ages 7–25 Category:Poetry, Short StoryUnited KingdomEntry Fee:Free Max Length:500 words (short story); 40 lines (poetry) Top Prize:£100 Amazon vouchers and publication

wed14oct2:38 pm2:38 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventPeter Porter Poetry Prize 2027One of Australia’s most prestigious poetry competitions Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$30 ($20 for current ABR subscribers) Max Length:60 lines Top Prize:$6,000

thu15oct1:18 am1:18 amPast DeadlineOnline EventBook Pipeline Adaptation Contest Category:Graphic Novel, Published Books, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$45–$70 Max Length:No limit Top Prize:$5,000 plus project development and industry circulation

thu15oct1:49 pm1:49 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventBook Pipeline Unpublished ContestIndustry circulation for unpublished manuscripts Category:Multiple categoriesInternationalEntry Fee:$60 (regular tier) Max Length:Varies (check on organizer's website) Top Prize:$2,500 per category winner, plus development, mentoring, and industry circulation

fri16oct12:00 am12:00 amPast DeadlineOnline EventTree of Life Books Fantasy Short Story Contest Category:Fiction, Short Fiction, Short StoryUSAEntry Fee:$25 Max Length:7,500 words Top Prize:$250 and publication

fri16oct3:41 pm3:41 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventThe 2027 Alice James Award Category:Full Manuscript, PoetryUSAEntry Fee:$30 Max Length:100 pages (minimum 48 pages, single-spaced) Top Prize:$2,000, book publication, and distribution

mon19oct12:00 am12:00 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventThe Amazing Writers Flash Fiction CompetitionSponsored by Scrivener Category:Flash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£4 Max Length:300 words Top Prize:£500 and your story brought to life by professional voice actors and sound engineers

tue20oct2:23 pm2:23 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventEyelands Book AwardsInternational awards for published and unpublished books Category:Full Manuscript, Published Books, Unpublished BooksInternationalEntry Fee:€40 Max Length:300,000 words Top Prize:Five-day stay in Athens or translation into Greek and publication by Strange Days Books

fri23oct(oct 23)12:00 pmsun25(oct 25)11:59 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventNot Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction60 hours, 500 words, 2 teams, 1 winner Category:Flash FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$35 Max Length:500 words Top Prize:AU$1,500, publication, and trophy

mon26oct1:53 pm1:53 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventScratch A4 Short Story Competition Category:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£4 Max Length:1,000 words Top Prize:Six shortlisted writers are invited to read their stories at a live event

thu29oct11:22 am11:22 amPast DeadlineOnline EventWenlock Olympian Society Short Story Competition Category:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max Length:2,500 words Top Prize:£150 and publication online

sat31oct12:01 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventThe Bedford Short Story and Poetry Competition Category:Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£8.50 Max Length:3000 (short story); 40 lines (poetry) Top Prize:£2000

sat31oct11:00 am11:00 amPast DeadlineOnline EventAnthology Poetry Competition 2026 Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:€18 Max Length:40 lines Top Prize:€1,000 and publication

sat31oct11:00 am11:59 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventNew Writers Novel Prize Category:Novel, NovellaInternationalEntry Fee:£12 Max Length:500 words Top Prize:£1,000 and lifetime Access to The Novel Factory

sat31oct12:49 pm12:49 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Past DeadlineOnline EventThe Aluminium Crown Short Story ContestA community-funded speculative fiction contest Category:Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:4,000 words Top Prize:$300 (minimum) and publication

sat31oct1:19 pm1:19 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventThe National Poetry Competition 2026 Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£9 Max Length:40 lines Top Prize:£5,000 and publication in The Poetry Review

sat31oct6:23 pm6:23 pmPast DeadlineOnline EventFlash 500 Novel Opening & Synopsis Competition Category:NovelInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max Length:3,000 words (opening) plus synopsis up to 750 words Top Prize:£500

View full caledar of events scheduled for this year