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DIRECTORY

Best Fiction Writing Contests in 2026

Showing 241 contests that match your search.

Cai Emmons Short Fiction Contest

Wordcrafters in Eugene

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

The Cai Emmons Short Fiction Contest honors the legacy of Cai Emmons by recognizing new voices in fiction. It encourages themes central to Cai's work, such as interconnectedness, women's issues, grief, and environmental concerns.

Top Prize:

$700

Additional prizes:

Category-specific awards of $200 for Magical Realism, Environmental/Climate, Female Protagonist, Family Dynamics, Experimental Fiction, and Aftermath of Loss.

💰 Entry fee: $7

📅 Deadline: October 30, 2026

Genres: Short Story and Fiction

The Henshaw Press Short Story Competition accepts entries of up to 2,000 words on any theme. It is open to writers aged 16 and over.

Top Prize:

£200

Additional prizes:

2nd Prize: £100 | 3rd Prize: £50. | Opportunity to be included in the next Henshaw Anthology.

💰 Entry fee: $8

📅 Deadline: September 30, 2026 (Expired)

The Raven Short Story Contest

Pulp Literature Press

Genres: Fiction

The Raven Short Story Contest invites submissions of previously unpublished short fiction between 250 to 2500 words. The contest is judged by Kelly Robson, a renowned author.

Top Prize:

$300

Additional prizes:

Publication in Pulp Literature

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: October 15, 2025 (Expired)

Write By The Sea Fiction Short Story Contest

Write By The Sea Literary Festival

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

The Write by the Sea Writing Competition features four categories: Fiction Short Story, Flash Fiction, Poetry, and Memoir/Personal Essay. It includes cash prizes and publication opportunities.

Top Prize:

€500

Additional prizes:

2nd: €300 | 3rd: €200 | Winner also gets a free weekend pass to the Write By The Sea Festival 2026 & publication in the Waxed Lemon Literary Journal.

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: June 07, 2026 (Expired)

Novel Beginnings

ProWritingAid

Genres: Fiction and Young Adult

Novel Beginnings is a writing contest aimed at unrepresented, unpublished fiction writers, encouraging them to submit the first 5,000 words of their work in progress. With a grand prize of $50,000 and additional shortlisted awards, the contest supports early-career authors by providing feedback and mentorship.

Top Prize:

$50,000

Additional prizes:

1st: $50,000 + 45-minute editorial consultation and mentorship | $5,000 each for shortlisted writers, plus written feedback

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2026 (Expired)

Maggie Award for Prepublished Writers

Georgia Romance Writers

Genres: Fiction, Novel, and Romance

The Maggie Award for Excellence aims to encourage and reward the mastery of romance writing by prepublished authors. Each entry receives two critiques from published authors, and finalists are reviewed by industry agents and editors.

Additional prizes:

Maggie Award medallion for highest-scored manuscript in each category; all finalists receive certificates. Critiques returned to all entrants.

💰 Entry fee: $40

📅 Deadline: April 25, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

Inkshift's $1,000 Writing Contest is a free-to-enter short story competition open to writers aged 18 and over worldwide, with a single grand prize of $1,000. All genres are welcome, and entries are judged on storytelling quality, originality, character development and prose.

Top Prize:

$1,000

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: October 31, 2026

Brink Fall 2025 Writing Contest

Brink Literary Journal

Genres: Fiction, Short Story, Flash Fiction, and Poetry

The Brink Fall 2025 Writing Contest invites submissions in multiple genres. Winning entries will be selected and published, emphasizing creative, boundary-pushing literature. The contest encourages diverse voices and innovative storytelling.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

First place prizes include cash awards of $1,000 for short stories, $300 for poetry, and $300 for flash fiction. Finalists will be considered for publication and may receive free edits.

💰 Entry fee: $3

📅 Deadline: November 07, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Children's, Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, LGBTQ, Mystery, Romance, Thriller, and Young Adult

The contest invites submissions for stories fitting the theme of 'Dreams & the Subconscious,' with a prompt to include something that needs to be unlocked. Up to 20 winners will be published in the anthology and receive professional editing.

Top Prize:

Winners will be published in the anthology.

💰 Entry fee: $26

📅 Deadline: April 15, 2026 (Expired)

Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award

Poets & Writers, Inc.

Genres: Fiction and Poetry

Established in 1984, this award connects emerging writers with the New York City literary community, facilitating professional advancement through a network of agents, editors, and authors. The winners receive an honorarium, a public reading, and participation in a residency program.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

Residency at the Jentel Artist Residency Program in Wyoming.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: March 01, 2026 (Expired)

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 (Expired)

NOWW 27th International Writing Contest

Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop (NOWW)

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

The 26th Annual Writing Contest is currently closed. The next contest will open on January 1, 2025. Categories and further details will be announced later.

Top Prize:

$150

Additional prizes:

2nd place: $100 3rd place: $50

💰 Entry fee: $7

📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, and Short Story

The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize aims to discover and support new writing talent on an annual basis. The prize includes financial support for the best pieces of writing submitted on an announced theme. The contest is open to all writers aged 18 and above, regardless of nationality.

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 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction and Flash Fiction

The Lascaux Prize in Flash Fiction invites submissions of stories that may be previously published or unpublished. True stories are accepted if written in a narrative style. The contest emphasizes the importance of storytelling.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Winner also receives a bronze medallion and publication in The Lascaux Review

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2026 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, and Short Story

The contest invites participants to write a story of exactly 100 words on topics like envy, eyeglasses, nightmares, or turtles. It is open to all ages, including international writers. Winning stories will be published in an e-zine.

Top Prize:

$200

Additional prizes:

Best of Category: writer's gift for four winners; Best Youth Story: writer's gift.

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: March 01, 2026 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction and Flash Fiction

The contest invites participants to submit a flash fiction piece of 100 words or fewer.

Top Prize:

$100

Additional prizes:

$25 for each of the three runners-up. Winner and all runners-up receive publication in the Story Street Review.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025 (Expired)

The Homer Awards

Imagine Press / Homer Awards

Genres: Crime, Fiction, Humor, Mystery, Novel, Romance, and Thriller

The Homer Awards celebrate excellence in Thriller and Greece-set fiction. Nine awards across five categories, including the Penelope Award — a manuscript prize for unagented authors offering a full publishing deal with Imagine Press.

Top Prize:

A full publishing deal with Imagine Press (professional editing, cover design, formatting, and global distribution). Winner retains all rights.

💰 Entry fee: $30

📅 Deadline: December 31, 2026

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Flash Fiction

The competition features an open theme and includes four categories: Fiction, Flash Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction, and Poetry. Each category has a defined maximum word count. Winners will be acknowledged at the festival and have the opportunity to read their entries.

Top Prize:

£75

Additional prizes:

£75 for first prize in each category, plus the opportunity to read the winning entry at the festival. £25 for commended entries in each category.

💰 Entry fee: $4

📅 Deadline: March 28, 2025 (Expired)

Morton and McCarthy Prizes

Sarabande Books

Genres: Fiction, Short Story, Novella, and Flash Fiction

The Mary McCarthy Prize is awarded annually for a full-length manuscript of literary fiction, including short stories, flash fiction, or novellas. The prize includes a cash award and publication.

Top Prize:

$2,000

Additional prizes:

Publication of the work and a standard royalty contract.

💰 Entry fee: $34

📅 Deadline: February 24, 2026 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry

The Unleash WIP Award supports writers in completing significant literary projects, offering $500, editorial feedback, coaching, and a feature in Unleash Lit.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

Editorial feedback, coaching meetings, and an excerpt/interview feature in Unleash Lit.

💰 Entry fee: $35

📅 Deadline: July 15, 2025 (Expired)

Platform Stories Literary Contest

Hyper Creative Studios

Genres: Fiction

A tribute to unpaid caregivers, this international contest invites stories based on personal experiences of caregiving. Emphasizes sensitivity, authenticity, and emotional honesty.

Top Prize:

$300

Additional prizes:

1st: $300 + publication in anthology + audiovisual capsule + certificate | 2nd: $200 + same benefits | 3rd: $100 + same benefits. | 4th to 13th: will receive publication in anthology and honorable mention certificates.

📅 Deadline: May 15, 2026 (Expired)

Emerging Author Dagger

Crime Writer's Association

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Suspense, Thriller, Crime, and Short Story

The Emerging Author Dagger is an international competition for unpublished crime novelists. It seeks submissions of a crime novel opening (max. 3,000 words) and a synopsis (max. 1,500 words) from writers who have never had a publishing contract for a full-length novel. The prize includes a cash prize of £500 and opportunities for shortlisted entrants to showcase their work to agents and publishers.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

Shortlisted entries shown to agents and publishers

💰 Entry fee: $41

📅 Deadline: February 27, 2026 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Novel

High-quality unpublished manuscripts in memoir, fiction, and non-fiction are sought for this competition. The contest is designed to amplify the voices of contemporary writers.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Possible book publication/distribution in ebook and paperback formats

💰 Entry fee: $40

📅 Deadline: December 20, 2026

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: February 21, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Essay, and Poetry

The Wild Muse Nature Writing Prize invites personal stories, poems, and essays that explore our relationship with the natural world. The 2026 theme is 'Nature’s Power to Heal, Guide, and Transform'.

Top Prize:

£750

Additional prizes:

2nd: £300 | 3rd: £150

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: September 14, 2026 (Expired)

The Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction

Association of Writers & Writing Programs

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: February 28, 2026 (Expired)

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, and Young Adult

The 2025 Book Pipeline Unpublished Contest aims to discover unpublished manuscripts across ten categories. Winners receive $25,000, industry circulation, and executive development opportunities. It is open to writers aged 18 and older, with specific submission guidelines based on categories.

Top Prize:

$2,500

Additional prizes:

Winners receive additional development and mentoring, industry circulation to agents and publishers, and consideration for film/TV adaptations.

💰 Entry fee: $45

📅 Deadline: October 15, 2026

Write By The Sea Flash Fiction Contest

Write By The Sea Literary Festival

Genres: Fiction and Flash Fiction

The Write by the Sea Writing Competition features four categories: Fiction Short Story, Flash Fiction, Poetry, and Memoir/Personal Essay. It includes cash prizes and publication opportunities.

Top Prize:

€500

Additional prizes:

2nd: €300 | 3rd: €200 | Winner also gets a free weekend pass to the Write By The Sea Festival 2026 & publication in the Waxed Lemon Literary Journal.

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: June 07, 2026 (Expired)

Weatherglass Novella Prize 2027

Weatherglass Books

Genres: Fiction and Novella

The Weatherglass Novella Prize 2027 invites submissions of novellas between 20,000 to 40,000 words. The winning novella(s) will be published by Weatherglass Books in 2027, with entries read by the Weatherglass Editorial team and shortlisted by Ali Smith.

Top Prize:

£500

Additional prizes:

Winning novellas will be published by Weatherglass Books

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2026 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction

The contest awards a $1,500 prize for the best short story, publication in The Tusculum Review’s 21st volume (2025), and a limited edition chapbook with original art. Stories must be 2,000-7,000 words and unpublished.

Top Prize:

$1,500

Additional prizes:

Creation of a limited edition stand-alone chapbook with original art and consideration for Publication in The Tusculum Review.

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: June 15, 2025 (Expired)

HOLT Medallion Contest

Virginia Romance Writers

Genres: Fiction and Romance

The HOLT Medallion Contest honors outstanding romantic fiction, evaluating entries through a panel of romance readers. It has been held annually since 1995, recognizing both published and unpublished authors. The winners receive a pewter medallion and a certificate.

Top Prize:

Winners receive a certificate and a pewter HOLT Medallion

💰 Entry fee: $35

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction

The New Voices Fiction Contest seeks bold and original short fiction from both emerging and established writers across all genres. It encourages submissions that challenge, entertain, and linger in the reader’s mind.

Top Prize:

$2,000

Additional prizes:

1st: $2000, publication of the winning story &featured author interview | 2nd: $500 | 3rd: Publication.

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: December 15, 2026

The Iowa Review Awards

The Iowa Review

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

The Iowa Review Awards is an annual writing contest accepting submissions in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. It has been held every January since 2003, and winners are published in the December issue.

Top Prize:

$1,500

Additional prizes:

First runners-up receive $750

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, and Young Adult

The Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction invites writers to break traditional writing rules while crafting compelling stories. Participants have 60 hours to produce a story of up to 500 words in response to prompts. The contest is held quarterly, with cash prizes totaling AU$4,000 each round.

Top Prize:

$1,500 AUD

Additional prizes:

Winner receives AU$1,500 and the Not Quite Write Trophy. | 2nd place: AU$500 | 3rd place: AU$200 | Additional cash prizes for other positions.

💰 Entry fee: $35

📅 Deadline: April 26, 2026 (Expired)

John Estey Student Writing Competition

American Writers Museum

Genres: Children's, Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry

The John Estey Student Writing Competition is open to elementary, middle, and high school students. To be considered for this award, please fill out the intent to participate form and submit a 1,000 word or less piece discussing the prompt quote, "It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”—Ursula K. Le Guin, The Left Hand of Darkness. Submissions are accepted via a submission link that is provided to teachers ONLY. Please make sure that you provide a valid teacher contact.

Top Prize:

$2,000

Additional prizes:

Three winners from each category will be awarded the following prizes: $500 for elementary school; $1000 for middle school; $2000 for high school.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: May 23, 2025 (Expired)

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