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Reeds in the Wind Literary Prize
The Jane Austen Club of Sardinia
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
The Reeds in the Wind Literary Prize aims to promote the literary legacy of Grazia Deledda. It is open to international participants and accepts submissions in Italian, Sardinian, and English. Stories must explore themes from Deledda's works and have a word count of 5,000 to 7,000 characters. The awards will be presented during a ceremony scheduled for Saturday, 13 September 2025, in the town of Galtellì.
Top Prize:
€500
Additional prizes:
All finalists will have their stories published, and any travel expenses for finalists will be reimbursed.
💰 Entry fee: $0
📅 Deadline: July 20, 2025 (Expired)
The Letter Review Prize for Books
The Letter Review
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Novel
The Letter Review Prize for Books is an annual contest seeking excerpts from unpublished manuscripts across various genres. It aims to support writers at all stages and offers significant publication opportunities.
Top Prize:
$1000 USD shared by 2 to 4 winners
Additional prizes:
Winners may publish extracts of their entries in The Letter Review's anthology. Up to 20 writers are shortlisted.
💰 Entry fee: $30
📅 Deadline: July 29, 2026 (Expired)
Wild Muse Nature Writing Prize
Gabriela Blandy
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
The New Voices Fiction Award
Jitney Books
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
Genres: Fiction and Romance
Join Inkitt’s Reality TV Romance Writing Contest 2025, a free contest where you can win up to $500, a Galatea publishing deal, and a chance for your book to be reviewed for a CandyJar movie adaptation. The theme focuses on romance amidst the drama of reality TV.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
2nd Place: $300 | 3rd Place: $100 | Winner also receives a Galatea publishing deal + potential movie adaptation on CandyJar app.
📅 Deadline: October 26, 2025 (Expired)
Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award
Killer Nashville
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 in mystery, thriller, suspense, action, and romance genres published in the previous year. Entries for the 2026 competition are open now, with winners announced on August 22, 2026.
Additional prizes:
Physical award in each category and increased exposure for winners.
💰 Entry fee: $92
📅 Deadline: April 01, 2026 (Expired)
Money Chronicles: A Story Initiative
Principal Foundation
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
The contest invites writers aged 18 and up to submit short stories about personal finance and money-related experiences. It aims to facilitate discussions on financial matters through storytelling.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Honorarium for the winner and $150 for each of up to 20 finalists. Finalists' works will be published in Short Story Dispensers and considered for international publication.
💰 Entry fee: $0
📅 Deadline: October 12, 2025 (Expired)
The BPA Short Story Award
Blue Pencil Agency
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
The BPA Short Story Award is for unrepresented writers worldwide. Judges include literary agent Corissa Hollenbeck and writer Sussie Anie. Genres are any genre except children’s fiction and non-fiction (YA permitted with adult crossover).
Top Prize:
£1000 + Agent Introduction
Additional prizes:
2nd: £300 | 3rd: £100
💰 Entry fee: $25
📅 Deadline: September 13, 2026
Ascent Novel Prize
Ascent Literary
Genres: Fiction
The Ascent Novel Prize is a prestigious writing contest aimed at unpublished novelists. It encourages new talent by providing a platform to showcase their work.
Top Prize:
$39
Additional prizes:
Top 100 entries win a paragraph of personalised feedback from industry professionals
📅 Deadline: November 01, 2026
Memoir/Fiction Book Contest for IML Publications
Jacqueline Gay Walley
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: October 15, 2025 (Expired)
New Deal Writing Competition
Genesee Valley Council on the Arts (GVCA)
Genres: Christian, Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, LGBTQ, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, and Travel
The New Deal Writing Competition invites writers to create a short story inspired by a specific painting. The current painting is 'Playtime' by Fred Ross. This is the ninth annual contest, intended to celebrate creativity and connect art and writing.
Top Prize:
$200
Additional prizes:
Publication in newsletter
💰 Entry fee: $5
📅 Deadline: March 15, 2025 (Expired)
Ronald Sukenick Innovative Fiction Contest
Fiction Collective 2
Genres: Fiction
The contest is open to US writers who have not previously published with FC2. Works can include novels, novellas, or collections of short stories, with no length requirement. Translations and previously published works are not eligible.
Top Prize:
$3,000
Additional prizes:
Publication by FC2
📅 Deadline: November 01, 2026
The Paul Cave Prize for Literature
Tim Saunders Publications
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult
Established in 2023, this contest is a platform for writers and poets to get their work published. Categories include various forms of poetry and fiction, excluding erotic work. Winners receive feedback and cash prizes, while all approved submissions will be included in the anthology.
Top Prize:
£200
Additional prizes:
Feedback from the publisher + a complimentary copy of the anthology
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: September 30, 2025 (Expired)
Subnivean Awards
Soma Mei Sheng Frazier (Fiction) and Albert Abonado (Poetry)
Genres: Fiction and Poetry
The Subnivean Awards is an international literary competition that seeks outstanding fiction and poetry. The contest aims to highlight innovative works that break conventional molds.
Top Prize:
$150
Additional prizes:
Winner also receives a blurb by the appropriate final judge and publication in the May 2025 issue. Five finalists' works will be published and featured in a virtual event.
📅 Deadline: February 21, 2025 (Expired)
F(r)iction Short Story Contest
Brink Literacy Project
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
The F(r)iction Short Story Contest invites submissions of short stories, poetry, flash fiction, and creative nonfiction. It encourages experimental and boundary-pushing literature.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Up to five finalists will also be considered for publication.
📅 Deadline: May 15, 2026 (Expired)
Dzanc Books Prize for Fiction
Dzanc Books
Genres: Fiction and Novel
The Dzanc Books Prize for Fiction recognizes daring, original, and innovative novels. It is open to all writers, including those with agents. Submissions must be unpublished and include a synopsis, author bio, and contact info.
Top Prize:
$5,000
Additional prizes:
Advance and publication by Dzanc Books
💰 Entry fee: $25
📅 Deadline: January 01, 2025 (Expired)
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
The contest invites 8-16 year olds to write a story on 'the perfect summer day' within 600 words. Participants can gain inspiration from past winning entries.
Top Prize:
£50
Additional prizes:
Publication on the blog & interview with the Lead Editor. Discounts on English Literature Masterclasses and certificates of commendation.
💰 Entry fee: $3
📅 Deadline: August 23, 2026 (Expired)
The Porter Fleming Literary Competition
The Morris Museum of Art
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Script Writing
The Porter Fleming Literary Competition honors the memory of Porter Fleming. It awards $7,000 in cash across four categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and One-Act Play. Winners are invited to a literary program and awards ceremony in Spring 2026.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
2nd place: $500 3rd place: $250 Prizes available in each of the four genre categories
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: March 01, 2026 (Expired)
South Warwickshire Literary Festival Writing Competition 2025
South Warwickshire Literary Festival
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)
Genres: Fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
The Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize celebrates emerging voices in life writing, poetry, and fiction. It supports writers who have not published book-length works and offers a platform for diverse backgrounds. Winners receive a £1,000 cash prize and publication in Wasafiri.
Top Prize:
£1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication in Wasafiri magazine, mentoring through Chapter and Verse or Free Reads, career discussions with The Good Literary Agency, and a one-year print subscription.
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: September 30, 2024 (Expired)
The Lascaux Prize in Flash Fiction
Lascuax Review
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)
Annual Short Story Contest
Flash 500
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:
2nd: £200 | 3rd: £100
💰 Entry fee: $8
📅 Deadline: February 28, 2026 (Expired)
Annual Contest Submissions
So To Speak
Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, LGBTQ, Non-fiction, and Poetry
So to Speak is a feminist literary journal seeking diverse voices, focusing on intersectional feminism. They publish twice a year, accepting submissions of fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and visual art, with a particular emphasis on marginalized perspectives.
Top Prize:
$100
Additional prizes:
All accepted contributions will receive a $100 prize.
💰 Entry fee: $4
📅 Deadline: November 20, 2025 (Expired)
The Big Moose Prize
Black Lawrence Press
Genres: Fiction, Novel, Poetry, and Short Story
The Big Moose Prize awards an unpublished novel, open to all writers. The winner receives publication, a cash award of $1,000, and ten copies of the book.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication of the novel and ten copies
💰 Entry fee: $28
📅 Deadline: January 31, 2025 (Expired)
Romance Through The Ages Contest — Un-Published
Hearts Through History Romance Writers
Genres: Fiction and Romance
The Romance Through the Ages Contest is aimed at unpublished authors, focusing on historical romance set before 1980. The contest promotes the genre and connects writers through the Hearts Through History organization.
Top Prize:
$50
Additional prizes:
1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each category receive a social media badge. All winners will be announced in RWA’s digital Romance Writers Report.
💰 Entry fee: $25
📅 Deadline: June 30, 2026 (Expired)
Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition
Crime Writers Association
Genres: Fiction, Short Story, and Mystery
An international competition for unpublished short mystery stories up to 3,500 words, inspired by Margery Allingham's definition of a mystery. Open to all writers, published or unpublished.
Top Prize:
£500
Additional prizes:
1-year CWA membership
💰 Entry fee: $25
📅 Deadline: February 27, 2026 (Expired)
Hastings Book Festival Short Story Competition
Hastings Book Festival
Genres: Short Story and Fiction
The Hastings Book Festival Short Story Competition invites entries of original short stories. The competition is open to all writers aged 18 and over, with submissions accepted in English. The judging process is anonymous, and entries must follow specific formatting guidelines.
Top Prize:
£250
Additional prizes:
2nd: £100 | 3rd: £50 | Winners may also be eligible for additional prizes like the Sussex Prize and Founder's Prize.
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: June 30, 2025 (Expired)
39 Steps
Walk Listen Create
Genres: Fiction and Flash Fiction
The contest invites participants to write a micro-flash story of 39 words, inspired by John Buchan’s 'The Thirty-Nine Steps.' Submissions must fit the theme and will be featured in an anthology. Winners will also be showcased in a public online event.
Top Prize:
€100
Additional prizes:
Winner recieves artwork by Alban Low and a copy of the illustrated chapbook. The authors of the 39 selected stories will also receive an invitation to a private Writers’ Circle event.
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: April 22, 2025 (Expired)
Stringybark Open Short Story Award 2026
Stringybark Publishing
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
This is an open-themed award requiring stories to have a link to Australia. Entries are accepted from authors aged 16 and above. The award aims to encourage creative writing with a total prize pool exceeding A$1420.
Top Prize:
$500 AUD
Additional prizes:
2nd: $300 | 3rd: $150 | 4th: $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: February 01, 2026 (Expired)
Seven Hills Literary Contest & Penumbra Poetry & Haiku Contest
Tallahassee Writers Association
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Poetry, and Science Fiction
The contest is open to English-language entries globally. It features categories for Florida Fiction, Fantasy/Science Fiction, Poetry, Prose Poetry, and Haiku, allowing multiple entries per category. First, second, and third place winners receive cash prizes and will be published in the 2026 Seven Hills Review.
Top Prize:
$100 to $300 depending on genre
Additional prizes:
Winners receive electronic certificates and will be published in the 2026 Seven Hills Review, along with a short author bio. First-place winners also get a complimentary copy of the publication.
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: October 30, 2025 (Expired)
The Berkeley Fiction Review Sudden Fiction Contest
Berkeley Fiction Review
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 (Expired)
African Diaspora Award
Kinsman Quarterly
Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
Afro-descendant writers: enter the African Diaspora Award from Kinsman Quarterly. Submit original, unpublished short stories, nonfiction, or poetry that celebrates the voices of the African diaspora. Winners receive cash prizes plus publication in Kinsman Quarterly and the annual anthology, "Africa's Diaspora: Four Corners."
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
Publication in Kinsman Quarterly and the anthology "Africa's Diaspora: Four Corners"
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: December 31, 2026
The StorySloth 500
Story Sloth
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
The StorySloth 500 is a short story writing competition where authors submit stories of up to 500 words without any genre restrictions. The competition encourages original work and has a simple entry process for registered authors.
Top Prize:
£50
Additional prizes:
£50 Amazon voucher & Founding Author badge | 5 entries receive £10 Amazon vouchers.
📅 Deadline: May 03, 2026 (Expired)
2025 STAR Award for Published Women’s Fiction
Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA)
Genres: Fiction
The STAR Award is designed for published women's fiction authors. It has two categories: a general category for all full-length published works and an 'Outstanding Debut' category for authors' first published work. Each category winner receives a $500 prize, along with a trophy and recognition. The contest is limited to the first 50 entries per category.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
Trophy and recognition by WFWA for category winners. For finalists, a digital badge and certificate will also be awarded.
💰 Entry fee: $65
📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025 (Expired)
The Book of the Year Awards
The Independent Author Network
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult, Crime, and Short Story
The 12th Annual 2026 IAN Book of the Year Awards is an international contest open to all authors with 75 categories. Winners are eligible for cash prizes totaling $6,000.
Top Prize:
$2,500
Additional prizes:
Minimum cash prizes of $1,000, $500, and $250 for category winners in fiction and non-fiction. Winners receive a digital award seal, membership benefits, and recognition.
💰 Entry fee: $49
📅 Deadline: August 15, 2026 (Expired)
