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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The Emerging Author Dagger is an international competition for unpublished crime novelists.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The competition seeks the best unpublished short mystery story of up to 3,500 words, adhering to Margery Allingham's definition of a great mystery. It is open to both published and unpublished authors worldwide.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The Poetry Wales Award is a single-poem competition allowing poets worldwide to submit new, unpublished works.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.

Image by AR

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

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