Menu
Looking to publish? Meet your dream editor, designer and marketer on Reedsy.
Find the perfect editor for your next book
1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them.
Reader Views Fiction Awards
Reader Views
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult
The Reader Views Fiction Awards recognize outstanding independently published fiction, honoring work by independent authors and small presses. The program offers professional evaluations and promotional visibility.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Gold: $1000 | Silver: $350 | Bronze: $150 | Various sponsored awards and features in newsletters include marketing packages, interviews, and ads in our First Chapter Plus magazine.
💰 Entry fee: $89
📅 Deadline: September 30, 2026
Writers of the Future
Writers of the Future
Genres: Fiction, Short Story, Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Horror
The Writers of the Future Contest is an opportunity for new writers of science fiction and fantasy to have their work judged by professional writers. It has been established since 1983 and includes quarterly cash prizes and an annual grand prize.
Top Prize:
$5,000
Additional prizes:
2nd place: $750 | 3rd place: $500 | Trophy and the L. Ron Hubbard Golden Pen Award for the grand prize winner.
📅 Deadline: March 31, 2026 (Expired)
Genres: Fiction, Romance, and Fantasy
The contest invites authors to create stories inspired by mythology, encouraging creativity in retelling or exploring myths through original narratives. It emphasizes global mythological themes.
Top Prize:
$300
Additional prizes:
2nd: $150 | 3rd: $50 | Winner receives 1 year of Galatea Unlimited and CandyJar, Inkitt VIP Badge, Contest Winner badge for your book cover, Instagram feature.
📅 Deadline: January 31, 2026 (Expired)
Story Unlikely Short Story Contest
Story Unlikely
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Suspense, and Thriller
The Story Unlikely Short Story Contest seeks quality stories across all genres. It invites submissions from anyone, without restrictions on age or location. The contest awards prizes totaling $5,000, with publication opportunities for winners.
Top Prize:
$3,000
Additional prizes:
2nd: $1,000 | 3rd: $750 | Reprint category: $250 | Honorable mentions receive certificates, and some finalists may be published in the magazine.
💰 Entry fee: $0
📅 Deadline: January 14, 2026 (Expired)
The Elegant Literature Award For New Writers
Elegant Media Publishing Corporation
Genres: Fiction, Crime, Fantasy, Romance, Horror, LGBTQ, Science Fiction, Suspense, and Thriller
The contest invites new and unpublished writers to submit stories based on a monthly theme and prompt. The current theme is 'Predator & Prey'.
Top Prize:
$3,000
Additional prizes:
1st: Free enrollment in New Novelist Accelerator and publication payment at 10c/word | 2nd – 10th: 10c/word and publication | 11th – 35th: $20 USD and an honorable mention in the magazine.
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: May 31, 2026
Dragons & Wyverns Short Story Challenge
Forest & Fawn
Genres: Fantasy and Short Story
The challenge invites participants to write a short story themed around dragons and wyverns within a ten-day period. Writers of all skill levels can join, and there are prompts provided at the start. The challenge emphasizes creativity and community, including workshops and feedback on submissions.
Top Prize:
$1,800
Additional prizes:
2nd: $900 | 3rd: $400 | 4th-10th: $100
💰 Entry fee: $38
📅 Deadline: April 24, 2026 (Expired)
Parsec Short Story Contest
Parsec Inc.
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction, and Short Story
The Parsec Short Story Contest aims to encourage non-professional writers to explore speculative fiction in genres like science fiction, fantasy, and horror. The theme for 2025 is 'ROOTS', and submissions should relate to this theme. The contest has no entry fee and supports young writers through a special Youth Story Prize.
Top Prize:
$200
Additional prizes:
2nd: $100 | 3rd: $50
💰 Entry fee: $0
📅 Deadline: March 31, 2026 (Expired)
The Whirling Prize
Etchings Press
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, and Young Adult
Etchings Press, a student-run publisher at the University of Indianapolis, awards The Whirling Prize each year to two books that demonstrate an excellent and compelling response to a theme that students at the university select. Student judges will welcome recently published books of prose and poetry in response to the theme of "mystery" published since January 2024.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
10 copies of a commemorative postcard available. Each winner will be invited to participate in an episode of a literary podcast with the student judges, which will be recorded and air in 2026.
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: January 23, 2026 (Expired)
Storytrade Book Awards
Storytrade
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult
The Storytrade Book Awards celebrate excellence in small and independent publishing, recognizing outstanding books across various categories. The awards aim to provide visibility and recognition to authors and their works.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
$1,000 for each Book of the Year (Fiction & Nonfiction). Medals, book stickers, and digital seals for Winners and Finalists
💰 Entry fee: $75
📅 Deadline: June 30, 2026
Lantern Lighters Contest 2026
The Lantern and the Pen
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, and Science Fiction
A writing contest aimed at teen writers, encouraging them to submit stories centered on the theme of belonging. Accepted genres include contemporary, historical fiction, fantasy, and science fiction.
Top Prize:
$50 Amazon Gift Card, editorial feedback, publication on website and social media.
Additional prizes:
2nd: $25 Amazon gift card & publication | 3rd: publication
📅 Deadline: September 01, 2026
