2025 Writing Contests
February
Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Suspense, and Thriller
The Emerging Author Dagger is an international competition for unpublished crime novelists. It accepts submissions of a crime novel opening (max. 3,000 words) and synopsis (max. 1,500 words). The contest is open to those who have never had a publishing contract for a novel and do not have a literary agent when the competition closes.
Top Prize:$500
Additional prizes:
Shortlisted entries shown to agents and publishers
Entry fee: £42
Deadline: 28 February, 2025
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
The competition seeks the best unpublished short mystery story of up to 3,500 words, adhering to Margery Allingham's definition of a great mystery. It is open to both published and unpublished authors worldwide.
Top Prize:£500
Additional prizes:
Two passes to Crimefest & a selection of books
Entry fee: $22
Deadline: 28February, 2025
Genres: Fiction and Novel
The AWP Award Series is an annual competition for the publication of excellent new book-length works. The series is open to all authors writing in English, regardless of nationality or residence. The competition includes various genres, and the James Alan McPherson Prize specifically focuses on novels.
Top Prize:$5,500
Additional prizes:
Publication by the University of Nebraska Press
Entry fee: $30
Deadline: 28 February, 2025
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
The Short Story Competition is organized by Exeter Writers, aiming to encourage and showcase emerging writing talent. This competition invites entries from writers of various backgrounds.
Top Prize:£700
Entry fee: $9
Deadline: 28 February, 2025
Genres: Flash Fiction
FFF Competition Twenty-Six invites entries of flash fiction between 100-300 words on any theme. The contest emphasizes anonymity and fair judging by an editorial team.
Top Prize: £150 and publication of winning story.
Additional prizes:
£60 for 2 Highly Commended, £50 for 3 Shortlisted entries, all receive publication.
Entry fee: $4
Deadline: 23 February, 2025
Genres: Poetry
The Poetry Wales Award is a single-poem competition allowing poets worldwide to submit new, unpublished works. The competition opens on 17th December 2024 and closes on 17th February 2025. The judge for this year is Jeremy Dixon, a prize-winning poet.
Top Prize:
£500
Additional prizes:
First prize gets choice of a course or a writing retreat, one-year subscription to Poetry Wales, publication of winning poem. £100 for second place, £50 for third place, and invitations for ten highly commended poets to read at the award ceremony.
Entry fee: $5
Deadline: 17 February, 2025
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
An open-themed contest accepting all genres, including those written by or for children. Stories must be between 1,000 and 3,000 words with strong characters and plots.
Top Prize:£500
Additional prizes: £200 for 2nd place, £100 for 3rd place
Entry fee: $8
Deadline: 28 February, 2025
Genres: Fiction, Novel, Novella, Romance, and Short Story
The Passionate Plume Contest is aimed at supporting erotic fiction authors, offering various categories for both published and unpublished writers. It encourages creativity and provides a platform for authors to showcase their work.
Top Prize: Engraved award
Additional prizes: Publication in the Passionate Ink Charity Anthology
Entry fee: $40
Deadline: February 14, 2025
Genres: Flash Fiction
The contest invites writers globally to submit flash fiction between 250 and 750 words. It emphasizes creativity with an open prompt and aims to support women writers. Critiques are available for an additional fee.
Top Prize: $400
Additional prizes: 2nd: $300 | 3rd: $200 | 7 runner-ups: $25 Amazon Gift Cards
Entry fee: $10
Deadline: February 28, 2025
Genres: Non-fiction
AWP sponsors the Award Series, an annual competition for the publication of excellent new book-length works. The competition is open to all authors writing in English regardless of nationality or residence, and is available to published and unpublished authors alike.
Top Prize: $2,500
Additional prizes:m Publication by the University of Georgia Press
Entry fee: $30
Deadline: 28 February 28, 2025
Genres: Fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
The 20th Elmbridge Literary Competition invites submissions of short stories and poems on the theme of 'The River' to commemorate RC Sherriff. Open internationally, the competition includes age categories with specific word counts.
Top Prize:£250
Additional prizes:Cash prizes for adults + book tokens for children's categories
Deadline: 21 February, 2025
Genres: Fiction and Flash Fiction
The Fish Flash Fiction Prize invites submissions of compelling stories in 300 words or less, judged by Tania Hershman. The contest has been held annually since 2004.
Top Prize: €1,000
Additional prizes: 2nd: €300 + Online Writing Course | 3rd: €300
Entry fee: $14
Deadline: 28 February, 2025
Genres: Mystery and Short Story
An annual international competition for unpublished short mystery stories up to 3,500 words. The competition seeks to find the best story that aligns with Margery Allingham's definition of a mystery.
Top Prize:£500
Additional prizes: Potential publication on the CWA website + in the Margery Allingham Society journal
Entry fee: $20
Deadline: 28 February, 2025
Genres: Poetry
The Snowbound Chapbook Award is an open competition for a chapbook-length poetry manuscript. It offers a $1,000 prize, publication by Tupelo Press, 25 copies of the winning title, and a book launch. The award aims to promote exceptional poetry and is judged anonymously.
Top Prize: $1,000
Additional prizes: Publication by Tupelo Press, 25 copies of the winning title, a book launch. Finalists will be considered for publication.
Entry fee: $25
Deadline: 28 February, 2025
Genres: Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Short Story
The Brink Literary Journal Award for Hybrid Writing seeks to recognize writing that is hybrid and cross-genre in nature, integrating multiple mediums to create dynamic, engaging work. The contest emphasizes unique perspectives and voices, prioritizing hybridization over experimental forms.
Top Prize:$1,000
Additional prizes: Publication in the fall issue of Brink Literary Journal and 4 copies of the journal issue.
Entry fee: $25
Deadline: February 28, 2025
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
The contest is open to stories of 1500 words or fewer with a link to Australia. It aims to showcase short stories and has an award pool exceeding $1420 in cash and books, encouraging submissions from all authors aged 16 and above.
Top Prize: $500
Additional prizes: 2nd: $300 | 3rd: $50. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places also get publication + e-book + paperback + choice of any two Stringybark anthologies. 4th place gets publication + e-book.
Entry fee: $15
Deadline: 22 February, 2025
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Novel
The IndieReader Discovery Awards (IRDA) focus on recognizing outstanding self-published books in various genres, providing authors with exposure and opportunities for representation by literary agents. Each entry receives a professional review, and winners gain significant prizes, including cash awards, reviews, and promotional opportunities.
Top Prize: $500
Additional prizes: Cash prizes for second ($250) and third place ($150) winners, prizes for Best First Book and Best Cover Design.
Entry fee: $150
Deadline: 12 February, 2025
Genres: Poetry
The Michael Waters Poetry Prize awards $6,000 and publication by SIR Press for a full-length poetry manuscript written in English
Top Prize:$6,000
Entry fee: $35
Deadline:03 February, 2025
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
The Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction is awarded to an outstanding manuscript of short fiction. It includes a monetary prize, publication, and an introduction by the judge, Ed Park.
Top Prize: $2,000
Additional prizes: Publication by Sarabande Books
Entry fee: $34
Deadline: 15 February, 2025
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
The Rhys Davies Short Story Competition is a prestigious award for writers born or living in Wales. Established in 1991, it recognizes the best unpublished short stories in English, up to 5,000 words.
Top Prize: £1,000
Additional prizes: Publication in short story anthology |
Entry fee: $8
Deadline: February 14, 2025
Genres: Fiction and Flash Fiction
The #GWstorieseverywhere contest invites participants to submit very short stories based on monthly themes. The stories can be fictional or true and must be original and unpublished. The winning entries are featured on Gotham's website.
Additional prizes: Winner receives a free Gotham class of their choosing, excluding premium classes
Entry fee: $0
Deadline: 28 February, 2025
Genres: Fiction
The Dave Williamson National Short Story Competition is open to Canadian writers aged 18 and older, encouraging diversity and inclusion across all communities. Submissions are accepted in any fiction genre, with a word limit between 2,500 and 4,500 words. Winners will be published in the Guild's anthology, _Beyond Boundaries_.
Top Prize: $1,000 CAD
Additional prizes: 2nd: $600 CAD | 3rd: $400 CAD
Entry fee: $15
Deadline: 15 February, 2025
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
The Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction awards $5,500 and publication by Mad Creek Books, an imprint of The Ohio State University Press. It is part of the AWP Award Series open to all authors writing in English. The prize celebrates outstanding book-length works and is judged anonymously.
Top Prize: $5,500
Additional prizes: Publication by Mad Creek Books
Entry fee: $30
Deadline: 28 February, 2025
Genres: Crime, Humor, Romance, and Short Story
The Edinburgh Short Story Award is open to writers worldwide, welcoming stories of any genre. The award offers substantial cash prizes and the opportunity for publication in The Edinburgh Anthology. It emphasizes inclusivity through bursaries for underrepresented writers.
Top Prize: $3,000
Additional prizes: 2nd: £500 | 3rd: £250 | Publication in the anthology for top twenty stories
Entry fee: $12
Deadline: February 28, 2025
Genres: Flash Fiction
Submit stories of 500 words or less.
Top Prize: £100
Additional prizes: £25 for the runner-up; £25 for the best fiction featuring Farnham.
Entry fee: $5
Deadline: 09 February, 2025
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, Essay, Memoir, and Novel
Established in 2018, the Women's Prose Prize honors previously unpublished, original prose work including novels, short story collections, memoirs, and essay collections. It is open to all women writers, with a fair evaluation process ensuring anonymity during judging.
Top Prize: $1,000
Additional prizes: Publication by Red Hen Press
Entry fee: $25
Deadline: 28 February, 2025
Genres: Fiction and Flash Fiction
An international rolling flash fiction competition that runs three rounds annually, offering substantial cash prizes and opportunities for publication in anthologies.
Top Prize:£1000
Additional prizes: £300 for 2nd, £100 for 3rd
Entry fee: $10
Deadline: 02 February, 2025
Genre: Open to Emerging writers with no Theme. Accepts Short Stories up to 6000 words
Prizes: First: $US 3,000, online publication and agency review, Second: $US 300, online publication and agency review, Third: $US 200, online publication and agency review
Entry Fee: $US 20
Deadline: 14 February 2025
Genre Short story up to 3000 words Open to Citizens of Australia and New Zealand or Australian permanent residents with a Theme of Island or Island-resonant
Entry Fee: $20
Prize: $500 plus publication, Finalists: Publication
Deadline: 14 February 2025
Genre: Theme of fiesta. Short Story of 2000 words or Poem up to 25 lines.
Prizes: First: $500, Second: $150
Entry Fee: $5
Dealine: 25 February 2025
Genre: None. Open to all
Accepts: Flash Fiction up to 250 words
Entry Fee: EARLY BIRD: €10, REGULAR: €12
Prize: €300
Deadlineline: EARLY BIRD: 28/02/2025 STANDARD: 30/09/2025
Genre: Personal unique life experience - Memoir. Open to all.
Size: 1,500 words
Entry Fee: EARLY BIRD: €12, REGULAR: €15
Prizes: First: €500
Deadline: EARLY BIRD: 28/02/2025 REGULAR: 31/08/2025
Genre: Essay on the theme of Nature Writing. Open to all.
Size: 1,500 words
Entry Fee: VERY EARLY BIRD: €10, EARLY BIRD: €12, REGULAR: €15
Prizes: First: €500
Deadline: VERY EARLY BIRD: 30/11/2024 EARLY BIRD: 28/02/2025 REGULAR: 31/08/2025
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Silver Brumby Poetry Award - Serious
Size: 120 lines
Entry Fee: $10 (plus $10 for critique)
Prizes: First: $150 & trophy, Second: $70, Third: $30
*
Accepts: Corryong Larrikin Award - Humorous
Size: 120 lines
Entry Fee: $10 (plus $10 for critique)
Prizes: First: $150 & trophy, Second: $70, Third: $30
*
VBPMA Overall Written Champion: $1,000
VBPMA Novice Written Champion: $50
​
Deadline: 28th February 2025
Genre: multiple categories with stry categories up to 5000 words
Entree Fee: $25
Deadline 27th February 2025.
March
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult
The First 5 Pages Prize encourages writers to submit the first five pages of their unpublished work.
Top Prize: $1,000
Additional prizes: 2nd and 3rd Prize winners receive event tickets and meetings with agents
Entry fee: $20
Deadline: 1st March, 2025
Genres: Fiction and Novella
Established in 2001, this annual prize awards a novella that excels in the format, offering a $1,000 advance, publication, and 10 copies of the book. Recent judges include notable authors like Steven Dunn and Michael Martone.
Top Prize: $1,000
Additional prizes: Publication and 10 copies of the published book
Entry fee: $20
Deadline: March 31, 2025
Genres: Fiction and Novel
The James Jones First Novel Fellowship, established in 1992, honors the spirit of honesty and insight in modern culture exemplified by James Jones. The fellowship awards a prize for a novel-in-progress by a U.S. writer who has not published a novel.
Top Prize: $12,000
Additional prizes: First runner-up: $3,000; Second runner-up: $2,000.
Entry fee: $33
Deadline: March 15, 2025
Genres: Poetry
The Free Verse Prize is a new poetry prize, which supports the Free Verse Poetry Book and Magazine Fair. The judge is poet and former Poetry Book Fair director, Chrissy Williams. Poems can be on any theme, and should have fewer than 40 lines.
Top Prize: £500
Additional prizes: Publication in Poetry News and the Poetry Book Fair programme
Entry fee: $5
Deadline: March 07, 2025
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult, and Romance
The Rubery Prize is an international award for indie writers and self-published authors. It aims to recognize outstanding works and elevate authors' profiles. Authors can submit self-published books or those from independent presses.
Top Prize:£2000
Additional prizes: Category winners receive £200
Entry fee: $60
Deadline: March 31, 2025
Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, and Short Story
The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize aims to discover and support new writing talent on an annual basis. T
Top Prize: £3,000 cash grant
Additional prizes: 2nd: £1,000 travel expense | 3rd: £1,000 travel expense
Entry fee: $0
Deadline: March 01, 2025
Genres: Fiction, Novel, and Young Adult
The Bath Novel Award is a £5,000 international prize for adult and YA manuscripts across various genres, aimed at unagented writers who are unpublished, self-published, or independently published.
Top Prize: £5,000
Additional prizes: Shortlisted writers receive feedback on their full manuscripts
Entry fee: $38
Deadline: May 31, 2025
The Lascaux Prize in Poetry accepts previously published or unpublished poems. Winning entries receive a cash prize and a medallion, along with publication in The Lascaux Review.
Top Prize: $1,000
Entry fee: $15
Deadline: March 31, 2025
Genres: Poetry. The Trio Award is for emerging poets with less than two books published. It includes a reading fee of $25 and is part of the submissions period from November 1 to March 31 each year. The contest features a judge, Sierra DeMulder for the 2025 award.
Top Prize: $1,000
Additional prizes: Publication and twenty books
Entry fee: $25
Deadline: March 31, 5024
Genres: Flash Fiction, Short Story, and Fiction
The Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction invites submissions of short fiction up to 5000 words. It is open to writers worldwide, with no genre restrictions. Winners are published and share in a total prize pool of $4000 USD per contest round, amounting to $16,000 annually.
Top Prize:$500
Additional prizes: Publication by The Letter Review
Entry fee: $20
Deadline: March 01, 2025
Genre: short stories between 2000 – 3000 words, and is open to all Australian residents.
Top Prize: The winning entry receives $2000 and the runner-up $1000. First and second-placed stories will also be published in the spring 2025 issue of Meanjin.
Entry Fee: $15 per story.
Deadline: 13th March
April
The New Writers 100-Word Writing Competition 2025 is seeking imaginative, thought-provoking stories or poems of up to 100 words.
Entry Fee: £8
Prize: 1st £500, 2nd £200, 3rd £100
Deadline: 30th April 2025
Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Script Writing, and Short Story
The contest invites short stories, novel excerpts, graphic novels, and poems that showcase excellence in craft with reader appeal. It accepts literary or genre works without restrictions on theme.
Top Prize: $100
Additional prizes:
Publication for the winner; publication offered to runners-up and finalists.
Entry fee: $5
Deadline: April 30, 2025
Genres: PoetryThe Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize, established in 1981, is awarded for a first full-length book of poems. The prize includes a cash award and publication as part of the Pitt Poetry Series.
Top Prize:$5,000Additional prizes:Publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press
Entry fee: $25
Deadline: April 30, 2025
Genres: Fiction, Novel, Thriller, and Mystery
The Adventure Writers Competition (AWC) celebrates adventure writing, accepting action/adventure novels. The 2024 contest finalists have been announced, and submissions for the 2025 competition will be open from January 1 to April 30, 2025. The AWC aims to promote and recognise quality adventure writing through a rigorous judging process.
Top Prize: $1,000 Additional prizes: Two AWC Finalist Awards: $500
Entry fee: $50
Deadline: April 30, 2025
Genres: Short Story
The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest aims to inspire and encourage writers and poets to showcase their talents. The contest accepts entries in the forms of poems (up to 30 lines) and short stories (up to 5 pages) on any subject or theme.
Top Prize: $500 Additional prizes: First Writing Prize: $500, Second Writing Prize: $250, Third Writing Prize: $100.
Entry fee: $10
Deadline: April 06, 2025
Genres: Poetry
The Nature and Place Poetry Competition 2024 is a poetry contest organized by The Rialto in association with RSPB, BirdLife International, Cambridge Conservation Initiative, and The University of Leeds Poetry Centre. It invites poets to submit unpublished poems focused on nature and place. Free entries available for writers on low or supported incomes (up to two poems)
Top Prize: £1000 Additional prizes: 2nd prize: £500, 3rd prize: £250
Entry fee: $7
Deadline: April 01, 2025
Genres: Horror and Fiction
The Ghost Story Supernatural Fiction Award is a biannual contest seeking full-length supernatural or magic realist short stories. The winning stories are published on June 1 and Halloween. The award is open to any story with a supernatural theme, not limited to traditional ghost stories.
Top Prize: $1,500 Additional prizes: Publication of the winning story. $300 for each of two Honorable Mentions.
Entry fee: $20
Deadline: April 30, 2025
Genres: Travel
This contest invites participants to share travel experiences through creative nonfiction. It encourages engaging storytelling to connect with readers. The submission window is from November 14, 2024, to April 6, 2025.
Top Prize: $200
Deadline: April 06, 2025
Genres: Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Science Fiction, Script Writing, Short Story, and Thriller. The Silver Falchion Award honors the best books published in 2024 across various genres, including mystery, thriller, suspense, and romance. The competition aims to recognize quality storytelling and is open to all published authors.
Top Prize: $250
Entry fee: $85
Deadline: April 01, 2025
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Poetry, and Science Fiction
The Iridescence Award is a writing contest for BIPOC authors. It focuses on themes like the supernatural, extraterrestrial, or paranormal, encouraging submissions in short stories and poetry. Winners will have their work published in the Iridescence anthology, and cash awards are available. Entries must be original and unpublished, and they should align with the contest guidelines.
Top Prize: $500
Additional prizes: Publication in the Iridescence anthology | 2nd place: $250 | 3rd place: $100
📅 Deadline: April 30, 2025
Genres: Poetry. The Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Prize invites submissions of poetry manuscripts. The prize includes cash awards and publication for the winner. Contest judge for 2025 is Elaine Equi.
Top Prize: $2,000 Additional prizes: Winner gets publication. Robert Creeley Memorial Award ($250), Rochelle Ratner Memorial Award ($250) are also available.
Entry fee: $30
Deadline: April 30, 2025
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
The contest welcomes submissions of previously unpublished short stories of 1000 words or fewer. It encourages simultaneous submissions and offers publication for finalists in their journal.
Top Prize:$150
Additional prizes: 2nd place: $100 3rd place: $50 Honorable mentions: $25 Publication in the journal for top finalists.
Entry fee: $5
Deadline: April 01, 2025
Genres: Essay and Non-fiction. The Native Voices Award 2025 invites Indigenous storytellers from various communities to submit original, unpublished works in genres such as short stories, flash fiction, essays, scripts, or poetry. The contest focuses on themes rich in cultural depth.
Top Prize: $500. Additional prizes: 2nd: $200, 3rd: $100, 4th: $50. Subsequent 6 finalists receive a $25 amazon gift card. 1st place also gets publication in Kinsman Quarterly and the anthology Native Voices, Vol. 2.
Entry fee: $0
Deadline: April 30, 2025
Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, and Short Story
The competition is open globally, with a deadline of April 30, 2024. The top prize is £1,000, with additional prizes for second (£300) and third (£200) places. Entry fees are £10 for one entry, £19 for two, and £27 for three, with £1 from each entry donated to the charity First Story. Winning entries will be published online and in an anthology.
Top Prize: £1,000 2nd: £300 | 3rd: £200
Entry fee: $10
Deadline: April 30, 2025
Genre: Short story. Suitable for children up to 15 years old. 1,500 words
Entry Fee: Nil
Prize: $250 & published on website
Deadline: 4th April, 2025.
Open to: Debut fiction writers. Accepts Fiction or Nonfiction
Size: 6,000 words
Entry Fee: $US 20 (Nil for up to 50 writers from historically marginalize or underrepresented groups)
Prizes: First: $US 3,000, 2-year subscription to Dutrope, license for Scrivener and a copy of Best Emerging Writers, Second: $US 300, license for Scrivener and a copy of Best Emerging Writers, Third: $US 200, license for Scrivener and a copy of Best Emerging Writers
Deadline: 6th April 2025
Theme: Adult Genre*
Accepts: 8 to 18 years old and unpublished in book format in adult genre
Size: First 5,000 words, pitch and 600 word synopsis
Entry Fee: Nil
Prizes: First: $100, Second: $60, Third: $40
*
Accepts: Aspiring Writer (Check website for eligibility)
Size: First 5,000 words, pitch and 600 word synopsis
Entry Fee: $26.50
Prizes: First: $100 and 15-minute video consultation with final judge, Second: $75, Third: $50, Submission of short listed entries to at least one publisher of adult books
*
Accepts: Published Writer (More than two books published within this section’s genre)
Size: First 12,500 words, pitch and 600 word synopsis
Entry Fee: $47.50
Prizes: First: $100 and 15-minute video consultation with final judge, Submission of short listed entries to at least one publisher of adult books
​
Deadline: 13th April 2025
Genre: Fiction up to 2000 words.
Prizes: A prize of €2,000 (approximately $2,059), publication in the Desperate Literature prize anthology, and a weeklong residency at the Civitella Ranieri Foundation’s castle in the Umbria region of Italy is given annually for a work of short fiction. Winners also receive a consultation with literary agent Ed Wilson (Johnson & Alcock Literary Agency), an editorial meeting with the Literary Consultancy, and the opportunity to give readings at Desperate Literature in Madrid and Burley Fisher Books in London.
Entry Fee: 20 Euro
Deadline 14th April 2025.
May
Genres: Fiction, Novel, and Young Adult
The Bath Novel Award is a £5,000 international prize for adult and YA manuscripts across various genres, aimed at unagented writers who are unpublished, self-published, or independently published.
Top Prize: £5,000
Additional prizes: Shortlisted writers receive feedback on their full manuscripts
Entry fee: $38
Deadline: May 31, 2025
Genres: Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
The Flying South contest invites submissions in three categories: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, and Poetry. Each entry should be original and previously unpublished. Winners are awarded cash prizes, and all finalists are published in the annual issue.
Top Prize: $400
Additional prizes: 2nd Place: $200 3rd Place: $100 All finalists receive one copy of the current issue.
Entry fee: $15
Deadline: May 31, 2025
Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, Poetry, Script Writing, and Short Story
The Places Writing Competition invites stories and poems about places that inspire or challenge writers. It includes various categories like poetry, short stories, and flash fiction, and aims to highlight the significance of places in literature.
Top Prize: The overall winner receives $1500 AUD and publication in the anthology.
Additional prizes: Up to $200 for commended entries, $50 for young writers.
Entry fee: $15
Deadline: May 31, 2025
Genres: Poetry
The Bridport Poetry Prize is a prestigious competition open to poets worldwide, encouraging original and unpublished works. It features significant cash prizes and opportunities for publication in an anthology.
Top Prize: £5000
Additional prizes: £1000 for 2nd, £500 for 3rd
Entry fee: $15
Deadline: May 31, 2025
Genres: Poetry
The F(r)iction Poetry Contest invites submissions of original poetry. The contest is open to writers globally, focusing on unique and experimental literature. The contest promotes creativity and individuality in submissions.
Top Prize:$300
Entry fee: $0
Deadline: May 02, 2025
Genres: Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Script Writing, and Short Story
A solar flare is short-lived but has a huge amount of energy. Sunspot Lit is looking for a noteworthy flare of creative energy through short stories, poems, or graphic novels.
Top Prize: $500
Additional prizes:Publication for the winner; publication offered to runners-up and finalists.
Entry fee: $10
Deadline: May 31, 2025
Genres: Crime, Mystery, and Novella
The Black Orchid Novella Award celebrates the novella format, encouraging original, unpublished works that conform to the mystery genre's traditional forms, specifically inspired by the Nero Wolfe series. The contest is designed to highlight the novella, requiring submissions that are tight and engaging, devoid of explicit content.
Top Prize:$1,000
Additional prizes:Publication in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine
Deadline: May 31, 2025
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry
The Emerging Writer's Contest, held by Ploughshares since 1971, recognizes outstanding work by emerging writers in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Winners are announced in the fall and their works are published in the Winter 2024-25 issue of Ploughshares.
Top Prize:$2,000
Additional prizes: Publication in Ploughshares and a conversation with Aevitas Creative Management.
Entry fee: $30
Deadline: May 15, 2025
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
Enter our 91st Annual Writing Competition for the chance to have your work be seen by editors and agents! Almost 500 winners will be chosen. The top winning entries of this writing contest will also be on display in the Annual Writer’s Digest Competition Collection. [$20 for a poetry entry, $30 for a manuscript entry]
Top Prize: $5,000
Additional prizes: Grand prize winner receives $5000. In each category: 1st, $1000; 2nd, $500; 3rd, $250; 4th, $100; 5th, $50; 6th through 10th, $25 gift certificate. 1st place winners receive a one year subscription to Writer's Digest magazine + tutorials.
Entry fee: $30
Deadline: May 05, 2025
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novel, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult
The Goldfinch Books Novel Award is a competition for emerging novelists. It invites submissions of 3,000 words from completed novels. The winner receives a £500 cash prize and an invitation to join the Goldfinch writer community.
Top Prize:£500
Additional prizes:Shortlisted authors receive feedback from judges + Goldfinch membership
Entry fee: $10
Deadline: May 31, 2025
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Short Story
Welcome to the 31st annual Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest. Submit published or unpublished work. $9,000 in prizes.
Top Prize: $3,000
Additional prizes: Two-year gift certificate from Duotrope; 10 Honorable Mentions will receive $300 each
Entry fee: $25
Deadline: May 01, 2025
Genres: Poetry
Established in 1975, this prize recognizes the most outstanding book of poetry published in the U.S. in the previous calendar year. It includes a $25,000 award, a residency at Glen Hollow, and distribution of the winning book to Academy members.
Top Prize: $25,000
Entry fee: $75
Deadline: May 15, 2025