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DIRECTORY

Best Fiction Writing Contests in 2026

Showing 241 contests that match your search.

Page 7

McNeile Writing Competition

Clapham Writers Ltd

Genres: Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult

A short story competition inviting submissions of an opening section of a short story inspired by the theme "Absent Friends" (interpretable broadly: memory, loss, distance, reunion, nostalgia, etc.). Open to unpublished and self published writers of all levels; entrants must live in the UK.

Top Prize:

£200

Additional prizes:

Second prize: £50; Third prize: £50.

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: September 05, 2026 (Expired)

The Scribes Prize

Fairfield Scribes

Genres: Fiction and Flash Fiction

The Scribes Prize is an annual writing contest open for submissions from July 1 to October 1. It invites stories between 90-110 words, with a focus on various genres of fiction and creative nonfiction. Winners will be published in ScribesMICRO and receive digital award seals.

Top Prize:

$250

Additional prizes:

Silver: $125 Bronze: $60 15 Honorable Mentions: $20 each Publication in ScribesMICRO and digital award seals for winners

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: October 01, 2026

To Hull And Back

www.christopherfielden.com

Genres: Fiction, Humor, and Short Story

A biennial humorous short story competition (10th competition for 2027) with no fixed theme. Stories must be in English, fictional, and humorous in some way (black comedy and dark humour allowed).

Top Prize:

£1,000

Additional prizes:

Publication in the To Hull And Back anthology (print + Kindle) plus an author interview; the winner's face appears on the anthology front cover, and their printed copy is ridden to Hull and back by motorcycle and filmed.

💰 Entry fee: $11

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2027

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

The ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize is an annual competition for short stories. Further details on submission and eligibility are outlined on the main prize page.

Top Prize:

$6000 AUD

Additional prizes:

2nd: $4000 AUD 3rd: $2500 AUD

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: May 05, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Short Story and Fiction

The Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction is an internationally recognized writing contest that supports emerging writers. It offers monetary awards and publication opportunities, celebrating a diverse range of voices.

Top Prize:

$1000 USD shared by 2 to 4 winners.

Additional prizes:

Publication by The Letter Review. Up to 20 writers shortlisted. Publication and consideration for the Pushcart Prize and anthologies.

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: November 27, 2026

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 (Expired)

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. The competition encourages new talent and is managed by Swansea University's Cultural Institute in association with Parthian Books.

Top Prize:

£1,000

Additional prizes:

Publication in short story anthology |

💰 Entry fee: $8

📅 Deadline: February 14, 2025 (Expired)

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:

2nd: $250 | 3rd: $150 | Book-to-film consideration with producer Ram Bergman, professional reviews, consultations with literary PR firms, and promotional features.

💰 Entry fee: $150

📅 Deadline: February 25, 2026 (Expired)

Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards

Cleveland Foundation

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

The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards recognize outstanding works that contribute to our understanding of racism and cultural diversity. Established in 1935 by Edith Anisfield Wolf, it remains the only American book prize focused on these themes.

Top Prize:

$10,000

Additional prizes:

Winners receive $10,000 and are honored at a ceremony in Cleveland.

📅 Deadline: December 31, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction

The John Steinbeck Award recognizes exceptional works of fiction. Submissions are open from June 1 to October 1, with entries limited to 5,000 words. The winning story receives a $1,000 prize.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Entry includes a free copy of the latest edition of Reed.

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: October 01, 2025 (Expired)

The DWRI Romance Book Literary Contest

Diverse Writers and Readers International

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Novel, and Novella

The contest is open to authors who published a romance book in 2024. It focuses on various criteria for judging, including plot creativity, grammar, romantic conflict, and character believability.

Top Prize:

The DWRI Literary Award.

💰 Entry fee: $60

📅 Deadline: July 31, 2025 (Expired)

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

The Not Quite Write Prize for FLESH Fiction invites submissions of erotic stories up to 1,500 words based on the theme 'Making the unsexy irresistible'. The competition is open to adults worldwide, free to enter, and aims to explore creative interpretations of erotic fiction. Judging is blind, and winners will be announced publicly.

Top Prize:

$500 AUS

Additional prizes:

Total prize pool of AU$1,000 plus a range of "spicy" prizes and a chance at print publication.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: August 24, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Novella, and Script Writing

The contest seeks linguistically, intellectually, and emotionally engaging work, aiming for complexity and beauty. It accepts various forms of writing including fiction, poetry, essays, and experimental pieces. The contest emphasizes artistic intent and thematic depth.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

Publication in "AZURE: A Journal of Literary Thought"

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: February 26, 2026 (Expired)

Moment Magazine-Karma Foundation Short Fiction Contest

Moment Magazine and Karma Foundation

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

The Moment Magazine-Karma Foundation Short Fiction Contest invites unpublished stories that focus on themes relating to Judaism or Jewish culture. Established in 2000, it has featured renowned judges and offers cash prizes for outstanding works.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Up to three prizes may be awarded.

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: November 01, 2025 (Expired)

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)

Genres: Fiction

Upload 10 chapters of any story (each chapter length at least 1800 words) to enter.

Top Prize:

$700

Additional prizes:

2nd: $400 | 3rd: $200 | 2x notable entries: $20. Winners may receive editorial and publishing support.

📅 Deadline: August 20, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction, LGBTQ, and Novel

This prize honors LGBTQ-identified authors who have published multiple novels, built a strong reputation, and show promise for future work. It is dedicated to Jim Duggins and supported by the James Duggins, PhD Fund.

Top Prize:

$5,000

📅 Deadline: February 20, 2026 (Expired)

North Street Book Prize

Winning Writers

Genres: Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Children's, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult

The North Street Book Prize focuses on self-published or hybrid-published books, offering significant cash prizes and marketing services to enhance visibility. The contest has been running for 11 years and encourages entries across various genres.

Top Prize:

$10,000

Additional prizes:

$1,000 for top winner in each category | $500 for honorable mentions

💰 Entry fee: $95

📅 Deadline: July 01, 2026 (Expired)

The Adventure Writers Competition

Clive Cussler Collector’s Society

Genres: Fiction, Novel, Thriller, and Young Adult

The Adventure Writers Competition (AWC) is an annual event that recognizes and celebrates adventure writing. It invites unpublished or published writers in the action/adventure genre to participate by submitting original fiction manuscripts.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Two AWC Finalist Awards: $500 | The winner receives a 'Grandmaster Winner' trophy. Runners-up receive trophies and finalists receive a video book trailer and interview.

💰 Entry fee: $75

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2026 (Expired)

The Hudson Prize

Black Lawrence Press

Genres: Fiction and Poetry

The Hudson Prize is awarded annually for an unpublished collection of poems or prose. It is open to new, emerging, and established writers. The winner receives book publication, a $1,000 cash award, and ten copies of the book.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Book publication and ten copies of the book

💰 Entry fee: $30

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2025 (Expired)

UNO Press Publishing Lab

University of New Orleans Press

Genres: Novel and Fiction

The Publishing Laboratory at the University of New Orleans seeks to promote innovative publicity and broad distribution for authors. They accept submissions for unpublished novels and short story collections. A selected author is awarded a $10,000 advance on royalties and a publishing contract.

Top Prize:

$10,000

Additional prizes:

Advance on royalties

💰 Entry fee: $28

📅 Deadline: September 01, 2025 (Expired)

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)

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 Page Turner Writing Award

The Page Turner Awards

Genres: Fiction and Non-fiction

An inclusive writing contest aimed at unpublished writers, offering a platform to showcase their completed manuscripts. The contest provides mentorship and publishing opportunities through a panel of industry professionals. | Use code "26REEDSY40" for free entry!

Top Prize:

Lifetime licenses to book marketing packages, a manuscript critique, one-year memberships to professional associations, and writing mentorships.

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2026 (Expired)

The Libraro Prize

Libaro Publishing

Genres: Fiction and Young Adult

The Libraro Prize is a writing competition aimed at discovering new authors. It offers a £50,000 package and a book deal with Hachette UK for the winning entry. The contest also encourages reader engagement, offering two reader prizes worth £10,000 each for engagement and referrals.

Top Prize:

£30,000 advance and £20,000 marketing contribution

Additional prizes:

£10,000 for 2x runner ups

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: February 15, 2026 (Expired)

Genres: Flash Fiction, Fiction, and Short Story

The WOW! Women on Writing Flash Fiction Contest aims to inspire creativity and recognition for writers. Open to all genres of flash fiction, it has been running since 2006 and has awarded over $100,000 in cash prizes to participants. The contest allows entries globally, and submissions must be in English.

Top Prize:

$400

Additional prizes:

2nd: $300 | 3rd: $200 | 7 runner-ups: $25 Amazon Gift Cards

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: February 28, 2026 (Expired)

The Heartland Review Open Calls

The Heartland Review

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, and Non-fiction

The Heartland Review invites submissions for fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry during open calls. Works accepted are published in the spring issue of the journal. The contest emphasizes original, unpublished works, and submissions must adhere to specific formatting guidelines.

Additional prizes:

1 contributor copy for published authors; gift cards for poetry prize winners ($400 for first, $240 for second, $100 for third)

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: August 01, 2025 (Expired)

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

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)

Genres: Children's and Fiction

This competition invites children's authors to pitch their book concepts. The theme is 'Your Marvellous Mind,' focusing on neurodiversity. Selected winners will have the opportunity to publish with EK Books.

Top Prize:

Letter of intent to publish from EK Books.

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2026 (Expired)

The Betty Award

The Betty Award

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

The Betty Award is a writing contest recognizing young authors aged 8-12. It encourages creativity and imagination with three contests held annually: Fall, Winter, and Spring.

Top Prize:

$300

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: April 01, 2026 (Expired)

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