The Elegant Literature Prize is a $3,000 cash award presented monthly by Elegant Literature, a digital magazine, to a new, unpublished writer. The award is part of the organizer’s mission to help new talent launch their writing careers by providing financial support and publication opportunities.

This contest invites you to explore Blind Belief, whatever that means to you. Fantasy, contemporary, romance, crime. All genres are welcome.

Submissions close September 30th at 11:59 pm EST. Contest only open to new writers.

Who can enter? New or unpublished authors, from anywhere in the world (excluding Quebec, Canada).

Prizes:

• 1st place: $3,000 USD. Free enrolment in the New Novelist Accelerator.
• 2nd – 10th: 10c/word and publication.
• 11th – 35th: $20 USD and an honorable mention in the magazine.

The judges will choose the winner based on creativity, character, structure and flow, quality of writing.

Find out more about the event and submit your work.

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The Nature Writing Prize is organised by The Nature Conservancy Australia in partnership with Australian Book Review. Now in its eighth instalment, the prize invites Australian writers to help bring the wonder, beauty and fragility of nature to life through storytelling – deepening our collective appreciation for the natural world and inspiring more people to care about its future.

The 2026 theme is “Writing of place”, inviting writers to create essays that reveal the beauty, complexity, and significance of specific landscapes or environments. Entries should demonstrate how storytelling can deepen connections with nature and inspire greater understanding of environmental challenges.

The competition is open to nature writers from around the world. Winning essays will be published in the January/February 2027 issue of Australian Book Review.

Top prize: $8,000 and publication in Australian Book Review. A highly commended writer will receive the Rosina Joy Buckman Award of $1,000.

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The Cranked Anvil Quarterly Play Writing Competition is a new international competition seeking original radio and audio drama scripts for professional broadcast. Run by Cranked Anvil in partnership with Radio Northumberland, the competition runs four times a year, with deadlines at the end of March, June, September, and December.

Scripts should be written for radio or audio broadcast and run approximately 10–20 minutes in length. Any theme, genre, or setting is welcome, and there is no limit on the number of characters. Theatre or film scripts that can be adapted for audio are also eligible. Entries are judged by a panel headed by Cranked Anvil Editor-in-Chief Paul Dunn, who has written and performed for BBC Radio and whose theatre plays have been professionally produced throughout the UK. Entrants may submit up to three plays per quarter.

Beyond the cash prizes of £50 and £35, an unlimited number of Special Mentions are awarded each quarter. All placed and commended scripts, including Special Mentions, are professionally produced as audio recordings, broadcast on Radio Northumberland, made available on demand online worldwide, and guaranteed inclusion in a future playscripts digital anthology published by Cranked Anvil. A selection of short-listed entries may also be considered for recording and anthology inclusion.

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The Henshaw Press Short Story Competition is a quarterly fiction competition currently overseen by Hobeck Books, a small independent publisher based in Staffordshire. It is open to entrants aged over 16, writing short stories on any subject.

Entrants submit a story of up to 2,000 words with no more than five stories accepted from any one writer per round. Entries must be original, previously unpublished, and not AI-generated; author details must be kept on a separate page from the story itself. An optional paid critique of any entered story is available for an additional fee.

Prizes are £200, £100, and £50 for first, second, and third place, and prize-winning stories are published on the Henshaw Press website and offered a place in the next Henshaw Anthology. All profits from the competition go toward buying books for a chosen school each year.

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The Writers’ College Short Story Competition is an annual contest run by The Writers’ College. It is open to emerging writers aged 16 and over from around the world. The competition is specifically designed to support writers who are unpublished or have appeared in print no more than four times; professional journalists, copywriters and anyone who has earned a living from writing are not eligible to enter.

For 2026, the theme is The End of the Line. Entrants must write an original, unpublished story of up to 2,000 words in which the exact phrase “the end of the line” appears somewhere in the text. All genres are welcome, though the organisers note that literary fiction typically performs strongest with the judging panel. Only one entry per writer is permitted, and submissions must be in English.

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The First Page Challenge is an annual writing contest run by The Darling Axe, a Canadian editorial services company. The contest is open to writers of fiction, narrative nonfiction, short stories, and full-length manuscripts, and invites entrants to submit just the opening page of their work – the one that has to make a reader want to keep going.

Entries must be original, unpublished, and unrepresented work. Multiple submissions are accepted, each at the entry fee of $5 CAD. Judging is carried out by editor Michelle Barker, whose sole criterion is how compellingly the first page draws the reader in.

The top three finalists each receive cash prizes ($700, $200, and $100 CAD respectively), publication on The Darling Axe’s Chopping Blog, and a complimentary copy of one of the company’s craft books. An optional feedback add-on is also available for an additional $45 CAD, providing brief notes from the contest screeners, a score out of five, and relevant craft resources delivered after winners are announced.

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The Moth Nature Writing Prize is an international competition run by The Moth Magazine that aims to encourage and celebrate nature writing. The prize is awarded annually to an unpublished piece of prose or poetry that combines literary merit with an exploration of the writer’s relationship with the natural world. Entries are judged anonymously by a single judge each year. Previous judges have included Richard Mabey, Helen Macdonald, Max Porter, Kathleen Jamie and Cal Flyn.

The competition is open to writers worldwide aged 16 and over. Entries may consist of either a single poem of any length or a single prose piece, fiction or non-fiction, of up to 4,000 words. Work must be original, unpublished, written in English, and not previously self-published, published online or broadcast. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but AI-generated work is not eligible. There is no limit on the number of entries.

Although entries may be on any subject, they should reflect concerns about or appreciation for the natural world.

Submissions close on 30 September 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (Ireland time). The entry fee is €16 per poem or prose piece.

Prizes:

• 1st place: €1,000 and a one-week stay at The Moth Retreat in rural Ireland.
• 2nd place: €500.
• 3rd place: €250.

The winning entries are also published online by The Irish Times. Winners are expected to be notified by the end of November, with results announced in December.

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SaveAs Writers is a Canterbury-based writing group running its annual international competition, this year marking 150 years since Alexander Graham Bell’s first telephone call with the theme “Lines of Communication.” The theme is intentionally broad, inviting writers to explore communication in relationships, the internet age, human-AI or human-robot interaction, or between nations and cultures — along with the limits, difficulties, and unintended consequences of communication itself.

The competition runs two parallel categories: poetry (up to 60 lines) and short stories (up to 3,500 words), each judged separately and each carrying its own prize purse. Entries are welcomed from both UK and international writers.

The Poetry category awards the Canterbury Christ Church University Poetry Prize, judged by Derek Sellen and Mary Anne Smith Sellen, while the Prose category awards the Canterbury Festival Fiction Prize, sponsored by Canterbury Festival and judged by Emma May Cruickshank. Both categories offer identical prize tiers: £200 for first place, £100 for second, and £50 for third.

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The Anthology Nature Writing Competition 2026 is organised by Anthology Magazine, a lifestyle and creative publication based in Ireland that runs periodic writing awards. This competition invites writers to craft original, nature-themed non-fiction essays or creative reflections that explore aspects of the natural world, from close-to-home observations to broader environmental ideas.

Submissions must be original, previously unpublished works written in English with a maximum length of 1,500 words. There is no specified minimum word count beyond being a complete piece, and writers may submit multiple entries, each with a separate entry form and fee. Themes are open within the broad remit of nature and the environment; there is no fixed prompt. Entries must not have been published before in any other format.

The competition is international and open to writers of any age, nationality, or country of residence. Anthology magazine will judge entries and select the winner based on creativity, insight, and engagement with the natural world. The winning piece is eligible for publication in a future issue of Anthology.

The first-place winner receives €300 and publication in Anthology magazine.

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The Anthology Flash Fiction Award 2026 is organised by Anthology Magazine, an Ireland-based creative and lifestyle publication that hosts international writing competitions. The award seeks original, previously unpublished flash fiction pieces, offering writers a platform to showcase concise storytelling with strong narrative impact.

Submissions must be written in English, original, and unpublished in any format. Each story should be up to 250 words and can explore any theme or subject. Writers may submit multiple entries, with a separate entry fee for each submission.

The competition is international, open to writers of all ages and nationalities. Entries are judged by the editorial team at Anthology Magazine, with winners selected for their originality, narrative skill, and engagement within the flash fiction form.

The first-place winner receives €300 and publication in Anthology Magazine. Runners-up may receive recognition or publication at the discretion of the organisers.

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The Dzanc Books Prize for Fiction is an annual competition organised by Dzanc Books, an independent non-profit literary publisher, recognising daring, original, and innovative novels. Contest fees support both the prize fund and Dzanc’s broader literary programmes, including its Writers-in-Residence programme in public schools and low-cost workshops for writers.

Entrants must submit a full, previously unpublished novel-length manuscript (generally over 40,000 words, though there is no hard minimum) along with a brief synopsis, author bio, and contact information. Simultaneous submissions are permitted. Children’s books and YA fiction are not eligible, nor are previously released or self-published titles. Active and former Dzanc authors and employees are not eligible.

Submissions are open from 1 March to midnight on 30 September. Finalists are selected in-house before being passed to a panel of judges; the winning submission and a shortlist are announced on the Dzanc website in November. The 2026 judges are Alyssa Quinn, Alan Michael Parker, and Ruyan Meng.

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The Miller Williams Poetry Prize is organised by University of Arkansas Press in honor of the late poet and press cofounder Miller Williams. The prize recognises outstanding unpublished full-length poetry manuscripts and offers emerging and established poets the opportunity for professional publication.

Eligible submissions are full-length poetry manuscripts between 60 and 90 pages, previously unpublished as a book. Individual poems may have appeared in journals, chapbooks, or anthologies. Work in translation is not accepted. Manuscripts are judged anonymously, and each author may submit only one manuscript per year. The competition is international, open to poets worldwide, provided the work is in English.

The prize is judged by series editor Patricia Smith, with the assistance of screeners. Three manuscripts are selected for publication in the Miller Williams Poetry Series; from these, one winner receives the $5,000 Miller Williams Poetry Prize. Winners benefit from full professional editing, design, and production by the press.

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The Six Word Wonder Contest is an annual microfiction competition run by Doug Weller, author and storyteller. The contest is free to enter and open to anyone aged 16 or over worldwide.

Now in its 2026 edition, the contest invites writers worldwide to craft a complete story, memoir, poem, or joke in exactly six words, with over 30,000 entries submitted across previous rounds. Each entrant may submit up to five entries. All entries must be original, unpublished work written in English. Judging is blind, and entries are assessed on creativity, originality, and impact.

The winner is awarded $100 cash and the title of Six Word Wonder 2026; shortlisted entries are also published in a future volume of the Six Word Wonder book series. Writers retain copyright of their work.

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The Scribes Prize is an annual micro-fiction competition run by Fairfield Scribes, the team behind the magazine ScribesMICRO. It welcomes any genre of fiction, creative nonfiction, or prose poetry (but not line poetry) written in 90–110 words. Entrants may submit up to three stories, each accompanied by its own $5 entry fee.

Reprints and simultaneous submissions are permitted as long as the author retains publishing rights. Winning entries must be available for publication in ScribesMICRO Issue 64. Use of generative AI at any stage of writing or editing results in disqualification.

Submissions are judged in two rounds: an initial read by first-round judges, followed by a blind read of finalists by a panel of ScribesMICRO editors once the window closes on 1 October 2026. Every entrant receives an email update on their story’s status within 2–4 weeks, along with 1–2 sentences of feedback.

Prizes: Gold: $250, Silver: $125, Bronze: $60, plus 15 Honorable Mentions at $20 each. Winners and honorable mentions are published in ScribesMICRO’s Issue 64 (November 2026) with a full-page bio, photo, and interview, plus a digital award seal for personal use.

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The Writer’s Digest Personal Essay Awards is an annual personal essay competition hosted by Writer’s Digest magazine. This year’s top winners are chosen by Special Guest Judge William Kenower, Editor-in-Chief of Author magazine.

Entries must be original personal essays of 2,000 words or fewer, written in English, and not previously published in print, digital, or online publications. Self-published blog or social-media posts are allowed. Entrants must be 18 or older. Grand-prize winners from this or other Writer’s Digest competitions are ineligible for three years after winning.

The grand prize winner receives $2,500 in cash, an interview and published essay feature in Writer’s Digest magazine’s May/June 2027 issue and on WritersDigest.com, a paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference including a pitch session with editors or agents, a one-year Writer’s Digest subscription, and a 20% discount at Writer’s Digest University. Second place receives $1,000, third place $500.

Winners will be notified by December 31, 2026.

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The John Steinbeck Award for Fiction is an annual short fiction contest run by Reed Magazine, the literary journal of San José State University’s Department of English and Comparative Literature. Named in honour of the Nobel Prize-winning author who was born and raised in the region, the award recognises exceptional stand-alone short stories across a wide range of styles, including experimental and literary approaches.

Entrants must submit an original, unpublished short story of up to 5,000 words. Submissions must be stand-alone works and not excerpts or chapters from a longer piece. Multiple entries are permitted as separate submissions, each requiring its own fee. Unsuccessful contest entries may still be considered for publication in the journal or online.

The $25 entry fee includes a copy of the latest edition of Reed Magazine; US-addressed submitters receive a print copy, while those with international addresses receive a digital copy. Results are communicated to entrants by the end of December 2026.

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The Folk Horror Short Story Contest is run by Briar Press NY, a small independent publisher seeking previously unpublished short stories in the folk-horror tradition, set in any time period, place, or culture. The press is explicitly looking for atmospheric, nature-driven, ritual-and-folktale-infused storytelling in the vein of works like The Wicker Man, Rosemary’s Baby, and The Lottery.

Submissions must run 5–30 pages (roughly 2,500–15,000 words) and should be sent in Word or PDF format directly via email, with the author’s name, title, and page numbers on the manuscript, along with a short cover letter noting any prior publishing history and contact details.

Winners will be announced 1 December 2026, with the winning story to be included in Briar Press NY’s upcoming anthology These Rotted Things, released Spring 2027. The prize includes full publishing support — design, formatting, and release in digital and soft-trade paperback — plus promotion via Briar Press’s social media and Goodreads presence, and 3 free copies of the printed book for the author.

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The Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest is organised by Winning Writers, a U.S.-based nonprofit that runs international writing contests for poets and prose writers. This annual competition highlights outstanding poems in any style or genre as well as traditional or rhymed poetry, offering substantial cash prizes and publication opportunities.

Entrants may submit up to three original poems per entry, each poem written in English and no longer than 250 lines. Poems may be previously published or unpublished; all are judged anonymously, and submissions should omit identifying information. The contest is open to writers globally (with some country restrictions due to U.S. government regulations on certain regions).

The competition is international, open to writers of any age and nationality whose work meets the guidelines. Submissions are made via the online entry system during the contest period, and winning poems are published on the Winning Writers website.

Prizes:

The contest awards two top prizes, each $3,500 — one for a poem in any style or genre (the Tom Howard Prize) and one for a poem that rhymes or uses a traditional style (the Margaret Reid Prize). In addition, ten honorable mentions of $500 each are given, and the top 12 entries are published online. Two-year Duotrope gift certificates are also awarded to the top two winners.

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The Solstice Nature Prize for Young Writers is a national, annual writing competition hosted by Writing East Midlands. It invites young writers to explore the natural world, their relationship with it, or the challenges it faces. The event is free to enter.

Entrants submit one short story, blog, or poem responding to the theme of nature, the environment, or climate change. Short stories and blogs are limited to 500 words and poems to 40 lines. Work must be original, unpublished, and not previously placed in another national competition.

There are four age categories (7-11, 12-14, 15-17 and 18-25). Entrants under the age of 18 need the consent of a parent, teacher, or appropriate adult.

Entry is open to UK residents only. UK residents currently living overseas cannot enter.

First-place winners in each age category receive £100 in Amazon vouchers and publication. Five Highly Commended writers per category receive a goody bag and publication online.

Winners are announced on 21 December 2026.

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The Peter Porter Poetry Prize is organised by the Australian Book Review and honours the life and work of the acclaimed Australian poet Peter Porter (1929–2010), who was a long-time contributor to ABR. The prize is one of Australia’s most prestigious and highly awarded poetry competitions, celebrating outstanding contemporary poetry written in English.

The competition invites poets to submit original, previously unpublished poems of up to 60 lines. Entries may explore any subject and use any style, with submissions judged on their literary merit. Poems must be written in English and submitted online through the Australian Book Review website.

The winner will receive AU$6,000, while four shortlisted poets will each receive AU$1,000.

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The Book Pipeline Adaptation Contest is an annual competition run by Pipeline Media Group, seeking published books, graphic novels, comics, and short stories with strong potential for film or television adaptation. Now in its 13th year, the contest is open to writers worldwide and accepts entries across all genres, including fiction, nonfiction, memoir, and horror.

Books and graphic novels must already be published (traditionally or self-published), or due for release before January 2027. Short stories are the exception and may be unpublished. Entries are judged on concept originality, quality of writing, and viability for adaptation in the current marketplace. Fiction and nonfiction entrants should submit approximately the first 5,000 words along with a logline and a 1–3 page synopsis; short story entrants submit the complete story with a brief overview.

The winner receives $5,000 in cash, extensive project development with Pipeline’s in-house team to prepare a script or pitch, and circulation to over 200 production companies, managers, agents, and industry executives. Authors retain all rights to their work regardless of their placement in the contest.

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The Book Pipeline Unpublished Contest is run by Book Pipeline, a division of Pipeline Media Group that has connected writers to publishers, agents, and the film industry since 2014. Now in its 7th year, the contest reviews unpublished manuscripts across ten categories: Comic & Graphic Novel, General Fiction, Horror/Mystery/Thriller, Literary, Middle Grade & Chapter Book, Nonfiction & Memoir, Picture Book, Romance, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, and Young Adult.

Submission requirements vary by category. Fiction, Memoir, and similar categories require the first 5,000 words (approximately) plus a full story synopsis; Comics and Graphic Novels require 20–28 pages of formatted script or manuscript plus a synopsis; Nonfiction requires a full book proposal; Picture Books require the full manuscript plus a brief conceptual overview. A completed manuscript is not required at entry for fiction (though it is recommended for memoir). Entrants retain all rights to their work regardless of placement. International entrants are accepted, and simultaneous submissions elsewhere are permitted.

Entry uses a tiered pricing structure based on submission date, with six deadlines running from a Pre-register tier (30 January 2026, $35) through an Extended tier (15 October 2026, $70).

Winners (one per category) receive $2,500 each, plus ongoing development and mentoring from the Book Pipeline executive team, industry circulation to a network of agents, publishers, and editors (a partial list is published on the organiser’s site), consideration for film/TV adaptation where applicable, and invitations to private Symposium events. Book Pipeline states it does not take a percentage of any resulting publication deal or advance, and does not act as the author’s agent or publisher.

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The Tree of Life Fantasy Short Story Contest is an inaugural fantasy fiction competition hosted by Tree of Life Books. The contest seeks adult fantasy short stories across all subgenres, with a particular interest in narratives inspired by community, cultural heritage, and diverse cultural experience. Guest judge and USA Today bestselling author I.V. Ophelia will select the top three winners from a shortlist compiled by the Tree of Life reading team.

Stories must be between 3,000 and 7,500 words. Entrants must be 18 or older. Simultaneous submissions are permitted provided the author withdraws if the story is accepted elsewhere. Entrants may submit multiple stories, though only one per author is eligible for publication or a cash prize.

A selection of standout stories, including all three cash-prize winners and the shortlist, will be published in Tree of Life’s first fantasy short story anthology. The first-place winner also receives editorial feedback and an anthology cover design based on their story; second and third place receive editorial feedback. Tree of Life Books retains first North American serial rights to selected stories, with authors keeping full copyright.

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The Alice James Award is an annual full-length poetry manuscript competition run by Alice James Books, an independent cooperative poetry press based in New Gloucester, Maine. The award welcomes submissions from both emerging and established poets and is committed to publishing work that elevates historically marginalised voices and engages readers on important social issues.

Entrants must submit a full-length, previously unpublished poetry manuscript of 48 to 100 pages (single-spaced), with a numbered table of contents and paginated throughout. Individual poems may have appeared previously in magazines, anthologies, or chapbooks of fewer than 25 pages, but the collection as a whole must be unpublished. Translations, self-published books, and multi-authored collections are not eligible.

All manuscripts are screened anonymously by a minimum of two readers, at least one of whom is a board member. Finalists are then reviewed non-anonymously by the full editorial board, who select the winner. In addition to the winning manuscript, one or more additional manuscripts may be selected as Editor’s Choice for publication.

The competition is open to US residents only.

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The Amazing Writers Flash Fiction Competition is an annual writing competition hosted by The Failing Writers Podcast, a UK-based, award-recognised podcast for aspiring authors. The 2026 edition requires entries to be built around the theme “Birthday.”

Entry is open to writers worldwide aged 18 and over. Submissions must be original, unpublished work not currently entered elsewhere. Entries must include the theme and a special phrase revealed in the podcast episode that launches the competition. Submissions must not exceed 300 words.

The main prize of £500 is paid via PayPal within two weeks of the winner being announced. Runner-up prizes may also be awarded at the organiser’s discretion. Winners are revealed in the podcast episode on 9 November 2026.

Entrants retain copyright in their work, though the podcast retains rights to publish entries online and in the show.

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The Eyelands Book Awards is an international book awards competition hosted by Strange Days Books, based in Greece. It is now in its 9th consecutive year. The competition is open to writers of any nationality, with manuscripts submitted in English.

Writers may enter across twelve award categories. There is a separate short story contest exclusively for entrants under 18. Both published and unpublished books are eligible. Published books must have been published between 20 September 2016 and 20 October 2026. Multiple and simultaneous submissions are allowed. Entries are checked with an AI detection tool.

Grand prize winners in the published-books category receive a five-day stay in Athens to attend the award ceremony, including entry to the Acropolis, a public transport pass, and a return ferry ticket to Aegina. The grand prize winner in the unpublished-books category receives a translation of their book into Greek and publication by Strange Days Books, along with three complimentary copies.

All 24 prize and grand prize winners receive a handmade ceramic award and a certification document, and selected excerpts from prize-winning books are published online and translated into Greek for eyelands.gr.

One euro from every submission is donated to the UNHCR’s Greece office.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction is an international writing event that challenges writers to create an original piece of flash fiction based on two typical writing prompts plus one anti-prompt. Participants will compete for AU$4,000 in cash prizes, including AU$1,500 for the winner, a trophy, and a publishing contract. The competition is open to writers of all levels of experience worldwide.

When the competition kicks-off, the prompts will be announced by email. Entrants will receive details about how and where to submit their entry when the competition opens.

Participants have 60 hours to write up to 500 words in response to 2 prompts and 1 anti-prompt.

There is a total prize pool of AU$4,000 up for grabs in each round of the competition. The top 6 stories are read aloud on the podcast and published on the Not Quite Write website and receive a publishing contract for the Not Quite Write Prize anthology (Print and eBook).

The next round of the competition commences at midday Friday 23 October AEDT (Sydney, Australia time). Entrants have until midnight (11:59PM) Sunday 25 October AEDT to submit a 500-word piece of original fiction in response to the given criteria.

Find out more about the Not Quite Write Flash Fiction Prize here.

Scratch A4 is a bi-annual short story competition hosted by Scratch Books. Thec competition culminates in a live reading event in London. The Winter ’26 edition is judged by Leon Craig, author of The Decadence and Parallel Hells, Mehar Anaokar, an editor at Serpent’s Tail , and Tom Conaghan, publisher at Scratch Books. Entrants submit a story under 1,000 words.

The six shortlisted writers are invited to read their stories at the amazing Scratch A4 final. Scratch A4 Winter ’26 will be held in London on the evening of Saturday 5th December.

The submission window is from September 12 to 24th October 2026.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The Wenlock Olympian Society Short Story Competition is an international short fiction competition hosted by the Wenlock Olympian Society as part of its annual Creative Arts programme. The competition is open to fictional stories on any theme, judged first by a reading panel and then by novelist, poet, and children’s writer Kate Innes, who selects the gold, silver, and bronze medallists.

Entrants must be 16 or older and may submit up to three stories, with discounted fees for multiple simultaneous submissions. Stories must be original, previously unpublished, and not entered elsewhere. There is no minimum word count.

Gold, silver, and bronze medallists receive cash prizes alongside their medals, and will be credited alongside their story if it’s displayed on the Wenlock Olympian Society’s website or social media. All medallists will be invited to a Wenlock Olympian Society social event, with the gold medallist invited to read their story aloud.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The Bedford Short Story and Poetry Competition is an established nonprofit organisation that has run annual short story and poetry competitions since 2012. Open to writers worldwide aged 17 and over, it offers prizes across multiple categories: the main international prize, a Bedford Prize for local residents, and the Cygnature Prize for writers aged 17–25.

Entries must be original, previously unpublished work written in English. Short stories must not exceed 3,000 words (title excluded) and must be typed, double-spaced in a readable 12-point font, with nothing that identifies the author. Online entry is available to all international entrants; postal entry is restricted to UK addresses only.

Shortlisted and winning entries are published in an anthology available as both an e-book and a paperback. Results are announced at an annual Presentation of Awards Event.

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Established to recognise and encourage excellence in the craft of poetry writing and to provide a platform for publication, the Anthology Poetry Competition is open to original and previously unpublished poems in the English language.

Entries are invited from poets of all nationalities, living anywhere in the world. There is no restriction on theme or style. Poems submitted should not exceed 40 lines. There is no limit to entries per person. Each submission will require a separate entry form and is subject to a separate entry fee.

Entries are judged anonymously by poet Dr Rachael Hegarty. The winner receives a cash prize and publication in a future issue of Anthology, along with a one-year Reedsy Learning membership. Second and third place receive cash prizes, and all shortlisted entrants receive a Reedsy Learning masterclass. All entrants receive a 10% Reedsy Learning membership discount.

Prizes

• FIRST: The winner will receive a €1,000 cash prize and the chance to see their work published in a future issue of Anthology.
• SECOND: €250
• THIRD: €150

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The New Writers Novel Prize is run by NewWriters.org.uk in association with The Novel Factory, and is open to any theme or genre of novel or novella written for adults or young adults. It is judged by Katja Kaine, author and creator of The Novel Factory writing software.

Entrants submit the opening 500 words of an unpublished novel or novella, written in English, with no author name or other identifying information on the entry. Entries must not have already won a prize in another competition, though shortlisting or longlisting elsewhere is allowed.

The winner receives £1,000 plus lifetime access to The Novel Factory, with £300 and a 12-month Standard subscription for second place and £200 and a 12-month Basic subscription for third. Winning entries are published on NewWriters.org.uk and in the New Writers Anthology. All entrants receive a 30% discount on Novel Factory subscriptions.

10% of entry fee proceeds will be donated to charity, split equally between First Story and The Funzi & Bodo Trust.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The Aluminium Crown Short Story Contest is a themed writing competition run by The Aluminium Crown Contest Collective, a small independent organisation based in Melbourne, Australia. Now in its second year, the contest is built around a speculative prompt tied to a fictional future event — in 2026, a story premise involving Melbourne’s Central Business District being enclosed in a protective structure called the “Central Business Cube.” Entrants must write an original story that engages with this central conceit, though they have creative freedom in setting and approach.

Submissions close 31 October 2026, with one original entry per author (single or multi-authored) accepted, Entrants must be 18 or older, and stories must be unpublished elsewhere (including on blogs or social media). Judging is anonymous: a panel will select a longlist of 20, then a shortlist of three, before choosing a first-place winner by consensus. A separate “Judge’s Prize” story also receives publication but no cash award.

The contest is funded entirely through a container deposit scheme (recycling cans and bottles for cash in Victoria, Australia), with organisers topping up any shortfall to guarantee the AUD$300 minimum prize. Winning stories are published on the contest website, and the organisers are considering a print edition in future years if the contest grows.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The National Poetry Competition is organised by The Poetry Society, which has run the prize annually since 1978. Widely regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious single-poem competitions, it welcomes original, unpublished poems in English on any subject from poets at every stage of their careers. Entries are judged anonymously by a panel of distinguished poets, with the 2026 judges being Niall Campbell, Malika Booker, and Luke Kennard.

Each poem must have a title and be no longer than 40 lines (excluding the title, blank lines, and dedications). Poems must be the entrant’s own original work, must not have been previously published or made publicly available in any form before the winners are announced. There is no limit to the number of poems an entrant may submit.

Top prize: £5,000. Second prize: £3,000. Third prize: £2,000. Seven commended poets receive £500 each. The top three winning poems are also published in The Poetry Review.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The Novel Opening & Synopsis Competition is run by Flash 500, the UK-based writing competition platform. It invites published, self-published, and unpublished novelists to submit the opening of an unpublished novel alongside a compelling synopsis, and is judged by the editorial team at Bookouture, the digital-first commercial fiction publisher.

Entrants submit up to 3,000 words of their novel opening — which may be one or more chapters — together with a synopsis of no more than 750 words, in a single file. If a first chapter runs longer than 3,000 words, the entry should be closed within the word limit with a note that the chapter continues.

The competition is open to writers worldwide and welcomes simultaneous submissions, provided entrants notify Flash 500 if their work is accepted elsewhere. An optional paid critique of the entry and synopsis is available for an additional £35.

First prize is £500 and second prize is £200.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The Ronald Sukenick Innovative Fiction Contest is an annual competition run by FC2 (Fiction Collective 2), an author-run, not-for-profit publisher dedicated to artistically adventurous and non-traditional fiction. The contest seeks manuscripts that push the limits of American publishing – work considered too challenging, innovative, or unconventional for mainstream commercial publishers.

Eligible entries may take the form of a novel, one or more novellas, or a collection of short stories, with no minimum or maximum length requirement. The manuscript must be unpublished as a whole, though individual pieces that have previously appeared in magazines or anthologies may be included in a collection. The contest is open to writers of, from, or in the United States writing in English who have not previously published with FC2.

FC2 particularly encourages submissions from writers who are Black, Indigenous, people of colour, disabled, LGBTQIA+-identifying, immigrant, or otherwise underrepresented in US literary publishing, and offers fee waivers to writers for whom the entry fee would pose a significant barrier.

Manuscripts are judged anonymously; finalists are selected by the FC2 Editorial Board, with the winner chosen by a final judge. The winner receives $3,000 and publication by FC2, an imprint of the University of Alabama Press.

Submissions for the 2027 contest will be open 15 August 2026.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The Ascent Novel Prize is an international competition for unagented writers who have not yet accepted a traditional publishing deal. Open to adult novelists writing in English — including young adult fiction — it welcomes writers of all backgrounds worldwide, with additional highly commended awards reserved for entrants from under-represented areas of the publishing industry.

Entrants submit the first 3,000 words of their novel along with a one-line pitch and a one-page synopsis. All entries are judged anonymously, and the top 100 entrants are guaranteed a personalised paragraph of feedback from the judging panel. Every entrant also receives free access to a membership area featuring videos and craft training.

The prize opens for entries on 1 June and closes on 1 November. The top 100 are announced in December, the longlist in January, the shortlist on 1 February, and the winner on 1 March. Sponsored entry places are available for writers for whom the cost is a barrier, courtesy of independent bookshop Messrs Fletcher and Frost. Multiple entries are permitted, each requiring a separate fee.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The Galley Beggar Press Short Story Prize is an annual short story competition hosted by Galley Beggar Press, an independent publisher based in Norwich, UK. It is open to both published and unpublished writers from anywhere in the world, writing original fiction in English.

Entries must be no longer than 6,000 words and must not have been previously published, online or in print. Translated stories are accepted if clearly marked as such, provided both the original and the translation are unpublished. Entries are submitted online as a Word document or PDF.

The winner receives a cash prize of £3,000. Three shortlisted writers each receive £200, and their stories are printed in pocket-book format and distributed to UK libraries, charities, and literary organisations. Ten longlisted writers each receive £50 in book vouchers plus a four-book subscription to Galley Beggar Press.

Entry costs £11 per story, though a number of free entries are offered each year to low-earners on a first-come, first-served basis. The longlist is announced 22 February 2027, the shortlist 15 March 2027, and the winner 29 March 2027.

Is this competition legit?Unknown - Based on our research it is not clear if this event is legit and if it's hosted by a well established publisher. Please remember to do your own research and read the Terms & Conditions before submitting your work.

FAQ
If you are curious how writing competitions work, or it's your first time entering one, we recommend reading our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page first.

The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest, known as The Mikey, is an annual competition hosted by SmokeLong Quarterly celebrating the best micro fiction and nonfiction online. The grand prize winner is automatically nominated for Best Small Fictions and any other prize the editors deem appropriate.

Entries are limited to 250 words or fewer per micro. Writers may submit up to 2 or up to 4 micros in a single document, depending on entry tier. Fiction, nonfiction, and hybrid narratives that lean poetic are all eligible, though work with line breaks is not considered. Both previously published and unpublished micros are accepted, and simultaneous submissions are allowed.

The grand prize winner receives $1000, with $500 for second place, $300 for third, and $150 for each finalist. All finalists and placers will be published in the December 2026 issue of SmokeLong.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The Tadpole Press 100-Word Writing Contest is run by Tadpole Press, founded and judged by Amber Byers, a children’s book author. The contest has no set theme or genre restriction. Entrants may submit fiction, nonfiction, poetry, memoir, or any combination, provided the piece is 100 words or fewer.

Submissions are judged on creativity, originality, and how the piece captures a new angle or delivers a twist, with a stated preference for stories that show growth rather than dwelling in suffering. Pieces should be nonviolent in nature. The contest is open to writers of all ages, genders, and nationalities. Previously published work is accepted.

The panel includes five judges beyond Amber Byers: Johanna Craven, Creative Director of Compassiviste Publishing; melody kamba, a speculative fiction and lyric essay writer; Zoë Whittall, a private writing tutor; and Mari Mendoza, a writer and creative writing coach.

The winner will receive $1,000 USD (1st place). Further placements 2nd–6th receive publishing, editing, manuscript assessment, or coaching packages from Tadpole Press or Compassiviste Publishing.7th–10th place each receive $50 USD.

Winners are announced at Tadpole Press’s “Celebration of Words” event. A needs-based scholarship is available for the entry fee up to one month before the deadline.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The Cai Emmons Short Fiction Contest celebrates the legacy of Cai Emmons by recognizing and supporting diverse authors from Oregon and Washington, nurturing emerging writers, and promoting storytelling aligned with the themes in Cai’s work.

Submissions must reflect themes central to Cai Emmons’s work, including interconnectedness, grief and loss, family dynamics, environmental/climate concerns, magical realism, and women’s experiences and identities.

Submission Guidelines:

• Writers residing in Oregon and Washington.
• Original, unpublished short fiction.
• 1,000–3,000 words
• One submission per person.
• Simultaneous submissions to other contests are allowed, but you must notify us and immediately withdraw your work from the contest if it’s accepted elsewhere.

Award Categories and Prizes

• Grand Prize – Cai Emmons Short Fiction Contest Winner – $700
• Category Awards – To honor Cai’s commitment to diverse themes and genres, prizes of $200 ($100 for honorable mentions) will also be awarded to category winnerrs.
• Category award winners and honorable mentions receive a 1-year membership ($200 value). The Grand Prize Winner receives a 5-year membership ($1,000 value)

All finalists’ stories will be published by Wordcrafters Press in an anthology (in paperback and e-book), reflecting the contest’s themes and showcasing the best short fiction from the Pacific Northwest. The anthology will be published in April 2027, and all winners will receive a copy of the anthology.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Competition is an annual single-poem prize hosted by the Munster Literature Centre in Cork, Ireland. First held in 2010, it is named in honour of the late Irish poet long associated with the Centre. The judged for 2026 is Shangyang Fang.

The competition is open to original, unpublished and unbroadcast poems in English, 40 lines or fewer, by writers of any nationality living anywhere in the world. Simultaneous submissions are accepted.

A fees-free entry route is available to a limited number of poets who cannot afford the fee and are based in a developing country.

The winner receives a cash prize, a featured reading at the Cork International Poetry Festival with a four-night hotel stay and full board, a feature on the Southword Poetry Podcast, and publication in Southword. Second, third, and ten runner-up prizes are also awarded, each including publication in Southword.

The Munster Literature Centre is a not-for-profit organisation, and all proceeds from the competition go back into supporting writers and writing.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The Anthology Travel Writing Competition is run by Anthology, an Irish luxury lifestyle magazine, and is open to writers of any nationality worldwide. The competition invites original, non-fictional, previously unpublished travel articles written in English, seeking pieces that convey a strong sense of place and local culture with literary merit and originality.

Entrants must submit an article of no more than 1,000 words. Multiple entries are permitted, with each submission requiring a separate entry form and fee. There is no age limit, and AI-generated work is not eligible.

The winner receives €300 and has their article published in a future issue of Anthology magazine. Prize money is paid on publication of the winning piece. Copyright remains with the author, though Anthology reserves the right of first publication.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The Bath Children’s Novel Award is an international prize for children’s fiction by emerging authors — defined as unagented writers who are unpublished, self-published, or independently published without an advance. The award covers a wide range of children’s writing, including YA novels, middle grade, early readers, chapter books, and picture book texts.

Entrants submit the opening of their manuscript (up to 5,000 words) along with a one-page synopsis, in English. Full manuscripts may be of any length. Submissions are judged blind, first by Junior Judges aged 7–17 who select a shortlist, then by a leading children’s literary agent who selects the winner. AI-generated or AI-edited work is not eligible.

The competition is open to writers of any age, nationality, or residency. Sponsored places are available for writers on a low income. The winner is announced in March 2027 and receives £5,000 and a Minerva Trophy. Longlisted writers receive written feedback on their initial submission, and one longlisted writer also wins a free place on an 18-week novel editing course from Cornerstones Literary Consultancy and the Professional Writing Academy, valued at £1,980.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The McNally Robinson Booksellers Poetry, Short Fiction and Creative Non-Fiction Contests are Prairie Fire Press‘s annual writing competitions, sponsored by McNally Robinson Booksellers. The contests have run since 2004 and are judged this year by Patrick Friesen (poetry), tonia laird (short fiction), and Rowan McCandless (creative non-fiction).

Entrants submit to one of three categories. A short fiction or creative non-fiction entry is a single piece of up to 5,000 words. A poetry entry is up to three poems totalling no more than 150 lines. Entries must be unpublished and not simultaneously submitted elsewhere.

Each category awards one cash prize plus an Honourable Mention, and winning pieces are published in Prairie Fire’s summer issue with payment to the author.

The $34 entry fee includes a subscription to Prairie Fire.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The Penelope Award is a category within The Homer Awards, a new English-language literary awards program based in Tolo, Greece. Unlike the program’s other categories, which are reader-nominated awards for already-published books, the Penelope Award is open to unpublished writers, offering a full publishing deal with Imagine Press for the best unpublished thriller manuscript. The award is judged solely by Jonas Saul, a published thriller author (60 novels) and founder of Imagine Press.

Entrants must submit a completed, never-commercially-published thriller manuscript in English with no current literary agent attached, along with a synopsis (max 500 words) and the first three chapters. Jonas Saul longlists 10 manuscripts from the synopses and opening chapters, then requests full manuscripts from the longlisted authors. Three finalists are shared with the “Thriller Book Retreat” reader community before Jonas makes the final decision. The winner is announced live at the Homer Awards gala in Tolo, Greece, on 22 October 2027.

The winning manuscript is published by Imagine Press, the publishing house founded by judge Jonas Saul. Authors retain all rights to their work. Imagine Press takes a royalty for a fixed term in exchange for publishing services, after which all rights revert to the author.

Is this competition legit?Unknown - Based on our research it is not clear if this event is legit and if it's hosted by a well established publisher. Please remember to do your own research and read the Terms & Conditions before submitting your work.

FAQ
If you are curious how writing competitions work, or it's your first time entering one, we recommend reading our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page first.

Got a horror short story? Killer Shorts wants to read it.

Killer Shorts is a premier launchpad dedicated to discovering, championing, and launching the next wave of voices in horror fiction. Founded in 2019, the competition connects emerging authors directly with the industry professionals who actively publish, manage, and option dark fiction for the screen.

To give submissions the highest level of validation, work is evaluated by an elite jury that includes legendary author and producer Tananarive Due (The Twilight Zone, Horror Noire), literary manager John Zaozirny (Bellevue Productions), and genre icon Barbara Crampton.

Winners receive official publication on the Killer Shorts website to guarantee industry eyes on their work, a professional Scrivener software license, and an exclusive one-on-one career consultation with author and screenwriter Chris Hicks, who successfully adapted his own short prose into a major Hollywood film package.

Authors can submit their killer short stories to Killer Shorts today to launch their literary careers.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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Every year, Reneé Bibby (an American flash / short story writer) runs a competition to see who can acquire the most literary rejections in a calendar year. Inspired by Kim Liao’s Lit Hub article “Why you Should Aim for 100 Rejections a Year” the competition reframes rejections as “wins”.

The competition is for literary magazine publication rejections of poetry, essays, creative non fiction, micro fiction, flash, and short stories. Currently this does not support rejections for novels, agent representation, residencies, or writing positions.

The event is open to writers of all levels, all genres, all ages, all over the world.

The competition runs January 1st–December 31st every year.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The Lascaux Prize in Short Fiction is run by The Lascaux Review, an online literary journal. The contest welcomes short fiction in all genres and styles, and stories may be previously published or unpublished, with simultaneous submissions accepted.

Length should not exceed 10,000 words. All entries, win or not, are automatically considered for general publication in the journal. Judging is handled by the journal’s own editors, and writers retain full rights to their work at all times. Submissions are made online via Submittable; postal submissions are not accepted.

The winner receives $1,000 in prize money, a bronze medallion, and publication in The Lascaux Review.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The Ouroborealis Poetry Prize is run by The Columbus Review, a newly launched non-profit experimental literary magazine, for its inaugural issue. Entrants respond to the theme “Metamorphic Outliers,” which the organiser describes as a creative lens rather than a literal subject to write about.

Poems must be previously unpublished, one poem per file per entry, and should fit comfortably on a single page: a minimum of 5 lines and a maximum of 40. Multiple entries are permitted, and simultaneous submissions are accepted provided the organiser is notified promptly if the poem is accepted elsewhere.

The prize pool starts at $50 and grows with each entry fee received. The grand prize winner receives 60% of the pool and the honorable mention 20%, with both winning poems published in the magazine’s next issue.

Winners are notified February 2027. Public announcement March 1, 2027.

Is this competition legit?Unknown - Based on our research it is not clear if this event is legit and if it's hosted by a well established publisher. Please remember to do your own research and read the Terms & Conditions before submitting your work.

FAQ
If you are curious how writing competitions work, or it's your first time entering one, we recommend reading our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page first.

The Amazing Women’s Edition is a youth literacy contest run by the National Youth Foundation (NYF), a US-based nonprofit focused on diverse youth literacy. This year’s theme is “Local Heroines,” inviting student participants to write and illustrate an original book celebrating women who have made a positive impact in their communities.

Entrants must be students in grades K through 8 living in the United States, working either individually or in teams of up to 22 students. Each entry is a self-made illustrated book of 20–30 pages (excluding optional cover, dedication, and back pages), submitted by post on 8½”×11″ or 9″×12″ paper along with a signed entry form (requiring both student and parent/guardian signatures). Both text and artwork must be created solely by the students, and only one book entry is allowed per person.

The prize structure isn’t stated in cash terms; rather, based on past testimonials on the organiser’s page, winning students have their book published by the National Youth Foundation and featured in the NYF Library of past winners, with past student participants describing becoming “a published artist” as the reward.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The Next Generation Indie Book Awards is currently accepting published books, unpublished manuscripts, galley copies, and advanced reader copies which have a copyright/release date of 2025, 2026, or 2027 from independent publishers and authors for the 2027 awards year.

The entry fee is $80 for the first category entered and $65 for every additional category entered for the same title. 80 categories across fiction and non-fiction are offered.

Winners in each of the 80 categories receive cash prizes, gold medals, possible representation by a leading literary agent, complimentary stickers, social media coverage and website exposure. Three Grand Prize Winners will be selected from all entries received and will be awarded cash prizes of $1,500, $750, and $500 based on their order of win. All Winners are invited to attend the Indie Book Awards gala reception.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The Writers’ & Artists’ Short Story Competition is an annual short story contest hosted by Writers & Artists, the publisher behind the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook. Entrants submit an original, unpublished short story for adults on the theme of celebration. The competition is open to all ages, professions, and nationalities. Entrants must not have an existing publishing contract or agent representation for the submitted work.

This year’s competition is judged by Daisy Johnson, author of Fen, Everything Under, and Long Wave, and the youngest person ever shortlisted for the Booker Prize. The winning story and two runners-up will be announced on the Writers & Artists blog. Entrants must have a free account on the Writers & Artists website to submit work.

The winner receives a place on an Arvon Residential Writing Week, an annual subscription to the Writers & Artists online listings service, a W&A masterclass of their choice, and a copy of the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2027. Second and third place winners each receive a masterclass and an annual online listings subscription. Shortlisted writers receive a 6-month online listings subscription. The winning and shortlisted entries will also be published on the Writers & Artists site.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The Next Generation Short Story Awards is accepting unpublished short stories and poems of less than 5,000 words for the 2027 awards year. It is open to all authors worldwide, including first-time writers, who have an original, previously unpublished short story written in English.

The entry fee is $25 for the first category and $20 for every additional category entered for the same story. 30 categories across fiction, non-fiction and poetry are offered.

Winners in each of the 30 categories receive cash prizes, gold medals, story published in an Anthology of Winners along with a complimentary copy, digital promotional stickers, social media coverage, and website exposure. Three Grand Prize Winners will be selected from all entries received and will be awarded cash prizes of $500, $300, and $200 based on their order of win, exposure in a Press Release, and an invitation to attend the Next Generation Indie Book Awards gala reception.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The Canterbury Tales Writing Competition 2026/7 is organised by the Chaucer Heritage Trust and is open to school-age students, including those in schools, colleges, home education, and youth community organisations. The annual competition is inspired by the works of Geoffrey Chaucer and invites young writers to create a poem or story that reflects the theme of “Transformations”.

Entrants can write about a transformation, change that leads to surprising consequences, or a character who transforms from good to evil or evil to good. Entries should capture the spirit of The Canterbury Tales, be written in English, and may use everyday language and colloquialisms where appropriate. The competition has three age categories: Junior (5–10), Intermediate (11–14), and Senior (15–18).

Choose ONE of the following:

• Write a poem or story about a transformation
• Write a poem or story about change that leads to surprising consequences
• Write a description of a character who transforms from evil to good or from good to evil

Top prize: £300 for the winning entrant in each age category, plus £1,000 for the winning entrant’s school library.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The Reader Views Literary Awards, founded in 2005, honour excellence in independent publishing. The programme is open to self-published authors and those published through small presses, hybrid publishers, or university presses worldwide, provided the submitted work is in English and carries a copyright date within the last five years. Books from major traditional publishing houses are not eligible.

The awards operate in two seasonal tracks: the Fiction Programme (open March–September 2026, winners announced late November 2026) and the Non-Fiction Programme (open September 2026–March 2027, winners announced late May 2027). Poetry and all children’s titles are evaluated within the Fiction track.

Every entry receives a full professional editorial review and a detailed 20-point evaluation, which authors may use for promotional purposes.

Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards are presented in each genre category, with additional Finalist designations based on scoring. Grand Prize cash awards, starting at $1,000 (Gold), $350 (Silver), and $150 (Bronze) are selected from category winners and may increase based on entry volume. A range of sponsored awards are also available, including prizes from Dabble, AutoCrit, and others, covering categories such as debut fiction, historical fiction, debut poetry, and children’s books.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest is a free humor poetry competition hosted by Winning Writers. Now in its 26th year, it seeks the best humor poems from writers of all ages, judged by Jendi Reiter, vice president of Winning Writers, assisted by Lauren Singer.

Entrants submit one humor poem of up to 250 lines, written in English. Both published and unpublished work is accepted. Cartoons incorporating a humor poem, or “inspired gibberish,” are also accepted formats.

The contest awards $5,100 in total prizes. First prize is $2,000 plus a two-year Duotrope gift certificate and five years of Chill Subs’ Best plan. Second prize is $500, third prize is $250, and there are 10 honorable mentions of $100 each. The top entries are published online.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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The To Hull And Back Humorous Short Story Competition is a biennial contest run by author Christopher Fielden, now in its 10th edition. It invites writers worldwide to submit an original humorous short story in English, with no restriction on genre or theme beyond containing some element of humour. Stories may have been previously published elsewhere.

Entrants may submit up to three stories each, though only one cash prize can be won per author. Stories are read and shortlisted, then scored independently by a panel of up to ten judges.

Alongside the £1,000 top prize, £200 goes to second place, £100 to third, £70 each to three highly commended entries, and £35 each to fourteen shortlisted entries, for a total prize pot of £2,000. All winning and shortlisted stories are published in the To Hull And Back Anthology (print and Kindle), with author profiles and, for the winner, a published interview. The anthology is expected 31 October 2027, with the “ride to Hull” video following in spring 2028.

Is this event legit?YES! - Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer's website and carefully read the terms and conditions!

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