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DIRECTORY

Best Writing Contests in 2026

Showing 468 contests that match your search.

Creative Nonfiction Prize

Indiana Review

Genres: Essay, Fiction, and Non-fiction

The Creative Nonfiction Prize is held annually by Indiana Review, which also publishes various genres including poetry and fiction. It features a $20 entry fee, which includes a subscription to the journal. All entries are considered for publication.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Publication in Indiana Review

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: October 31, 2025 (Expired)

Write By The Sea Memoir/Personal Essay Contest

Write By The Sea Literary Festival

Genres: Essay and Memoir

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)

I Am Writing Competition

I Am In Print Ltd

Genres: Children's, Crime, Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, and Young Adult

The I Am Writing Competition offers multiple categories for writers to showcase their talent, with prizes for various genres including crime, historical, and romance. Each category allows entrants to submit the first 3,500 words of their work along with a synopsis where required.

Top Prize:

£250

Additional prizes:

1st Prize includes a place on the 'How To Be A Happy and Successful Writer' retreat in Greece plus a consultation with the judge. Additional prizes may include consultations and feedback.

💰 Entry fee: $11

📅 Deadline: May 14, 2026 (Expired)

Bridport Flash Fiction Prize

Bridport Arts Centre

Genres: Fiction and Flash Fiction

The Bridport Flash Fiction Prize invites writers to submit stories of up to 250 words. It aims to celebrate the art of brevity in storytelling. The winning entries receive the opportunity for publication and recognition.

Top Prize:

£1000

Additional prizes:

2nd: £1000 | 3rd: £500 | 10 Highly Commended: £100

💰 Entry fee: $12

📅 Deadline: May 31, 2026 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction, Novel, Novella, and Romance

This contest celebrates diverse voices in literature. The winner will receive a 3 month membership with a published author to help them prepare their book for publishing.

Additional prizes:

1st: A 3 month mentorship with a published author. | 2nd: A 2 month mentorship with a published author. | 3rd: A 1 month mentorship with a published author. | 4th – 5th: A one hour coaching session with a published author.

💰 Entry fee: $45

📅 Deadline: July 31, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

The Heroica Poetry Prize is a competition aimed at women and non-binary authors and poets, offering monetary rewards and publication in an anthology.

Top Prize:

£125

Additional prizes:

2nd: £50 | 3rd: £25 | Winning and long-listed poems will be published.

💰 Entry fee: $2

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction and Science Fiction

The Global Thriller Awards seek the best books featuring suspense and thrilling stories that can change the balance of world power. It includes the Lab Lit genre, focusing on stories based on real science.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Grand Prize winners receive exclusive Chanticleer Book Review Packages and author interviews, valued at $795, along with additional prizes.

💰 Entry fee: $99

📅 Deadline: July 31, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction

The contest celebrates the theme of 'Growth,' inviting young writers aged 10-16 to explore various interpretations of the theme through original, unpublished stories. The contest emphasizes creativity and storytelling.

Top Prize:

£50

Additional prizes:

Publication on the Spyder blog and an interview with the Lead Editor.

💰 Entry fee: $3

📅 Deadline: May 25, 2026 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

Writers around the world have three months to compose and refine a single short story (2,000 to 5,000 words) in any genre, in response to one prompt. All submissions will be assessed by the Reedsy team, with longlisted stories reviewed by our guest judge Jon Michael Darga, Literary Agent at Aevitas Creative Management and a Reedsy editor.

Top Prize:

$1,500

Additional prizes:

2nd place: a year-long Reedsy Learning membership | 3rd place: $100 credit for Reedsy Marketplace services | First place also receives feedback from a literary agent and guaranteed publication in our literary magazine, Prompted.

📅 Deadline: May 31, 2026 (Expired)

Genres: Flash Fiction and Fiction

This contest invites submissions of flash fiction and other prose forms, including creative non-fiction. Pieces should focus on critical moments in the protagonist's life, with a maximum length of 750 words. All entries receive consideration for publication, and those selected as winners receive small cash prizes.

Top Prize:

Small cash prizes for 3 to 8 published works.

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: September 02, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Children's and Fiction

The contest aims to elevate culturally relevant children's stories by authors of Asian heritage. It welcomes submissions of original children's books focusing on topics like resilience and identity.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

2nd: $500 | 3rd: $300 | Swag packages from Sambasivan & Parikh and Teacher Created Materials, and a meeting with the founders and an acquisitions editor.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: May 31, 2026 (Expired)

Genres: Fantasy and Fiction

Fantasy may be the oldest form of storytelling. Long before the novel, long before the printing press, humans gathered to share tales of magic, wonder, and the impossible made real. In this contest, build a world of your own. Give it landscapes, creatures, and rules that only you could imagine. Then ask yourself: what truth about our own world are you hiding inside it?

Top Prize:

$100

Additional prizes:

Runner-Up and Best Peer Review will each receive $50.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: July 27, 2026

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: Non-fiction and Essay

The ChallengeUS Future Leaders Competition engages youth globally to advocate for civic ideas, spotlighting promising leaders through scholarship prizes. Participants envision their future by 2050 and can join the Future Leaders Network.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

Publication of submission, biographical article, Certificate of Special Achievement for 1st place winner. | Certificate of Achievement for honorable mentions.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: July 25, 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 Selah Awards

Blue Ridge Mountains Conference

Genres: Christian

The Selah Awards celebrate published works from January 1 to December 31, 2024. Participants must submit a physical entry form alongside their works. The contest is part of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.

Top Prize:

The Selah Book of the Year is selected from first-place winners

Additional prizes:

The Selah Book of the Year selected from first-place winners

💰 Entry fee: $55

📅 Deadline: January 04, 2026 (Expired)

"Matter" Poetry Contest

Oprelle Publications

Genres: Poetry

The Matter Poetry Contest invites poets to showcase their work. Winners are selected based on the emotional impact and creativity of their submissions. The contest aims to highlight the significance of poetry in personal and societal contexts.

Top Prize:

$100

Additional prizes:

2nd: $100 | 3rd: $50 | Publication in anthology

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: October 31, 2025 (Expired)

Folk Horror Short Story Contest

Briar Press NY Publishers

Genres: Fiction and Horror

Briar Press NY seeks short stories in the Folk Horror tradition, previously unpublished, set in any time period/place/culture. Stories should convey beautiful writing, engaging plots, memorable characters, and an authentic Folk-Gothic atmosphere.

Top Prize:

Publication in Briar Press NY's upcoming Anthology 'These Rotted Things', including marketing assistance and 3 free copies.

📅 Deadline: October 01, 2026

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

This contest invites submissions that explore the theme 'Disability as a Strength', showcasing narratives around managing mental health, disabilities, and chronic illnesses. It is a chance for writers to express how these experiences have fortified their identities.

Top Prize:

$125

Additional prizes:

1st: $125 & online publication | 2nd: $75 | 3rd: $50 | 3 runners-up will also receive online publication.

📅 Deadline: March 01, 2026 (Expired)

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)

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry

The Emerging Writer's Contest, held by Ploughshares since 1971, recognizes outstanding work by emerging writers in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Winners are announced in the fall and their works are published in the Winter 2024-25 issue of Ploughshares.

Top Prize:

$2,000

Additional prizes:

Publication in Ploughshares and a conversation with Aevitas Creative Management.

💰 Entry fee: $30

📅 Deadline: May 15, 2025 (Expired)

First Book Award

Academy of American Poets

Genres: Poetry

The First Book Award is a $5,000 prize for a first book of poetry. The winning manuscript is published by Graywolf Press, with additional benefits like a residency in Italy and extensive promotion.

Top Prize:

$5,000

💰 Entry fee: $35

📅 Deadline: September 01, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Essay and Travel

The competition invites original, unpublished travel articles in English, focusing on authentic travel experiences. Articles should be engaging and convey a strong sense of the destination and local culture, with a maximum length of 1,000 words.

Top Prize:

€300

💰 Entry fee: $12

📅 Deadline: November 30, 2026

Genres: Essay, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, and Short Story

There is no topic relating to technology that brings more discussion than artificial intelligence. Some people think it does wonders. Others see it as trouble. Let us know your opinion about AI in this competition. Include experiences you have had with AI. 300-word limit. Winners will be selected January 1, 2024. Open to anyone, anywhere.

Top Prize:

$100 CA

Additional prizes:

Publication

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: December 15, 2023 (Expired)

The Shelley Awards for Paranormal Fiction

Chanticleer International Book Awards

Genres: Fiction

The SHELLEY Book Awards honor exceptional works in supernatural and paranormal fiction, evaluating based on compelling storytelling, professionalism, and uniqueness. The competition includes multiple categories and offers significant promotional opportunities.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Additional prizes include a Chanticleer Prize Package.

💰 Entry fee: $99

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2025 (Expired)

Write By The Sea Poetry Contest

Write By The Sea Literary Festival

Genres: Poetry

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)

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)

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)

Literary and Photographic Contest

Hispanic Culture Review

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

The contest theme is 'Hecho a mano', focusing on the creativity of handmade works. Categories include photography, poetry, and narrative/essay/academic investigation. Selected works will be published, and winners will receive monetary prizes and certificates of recognition.

Top Prize:

$100

Additional prizes:

Certificate of recognition

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: February 15, 2026 (Expired)

Louise Bogan Award

Trio House Press

Genres: Poetry

The Louise Bogan Award for Artistic Merit and Excellence includes $1,000, publication, and twenty books. The Louise Bogan Award for Artistic Merit and Excellence is open to ALL poets, regardless of publication history.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Publication and twenty copies of the book

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: April 01, 2026 (Expired)

Genres: Essay and Non-fiction

The competition celebrates the beauty of nature and encourages storytelling about environmental themes. Open to all writers, submissions must be original, unpublished, and in English, with a maximum of 1,500 words. Entries can cover various aspects of nature, from wildlife encounters to reflections on environmental challenges.

Top Prize:

€300

Additional prizes:

Publication in Anthology magazine

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: September 30, 2026

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)

Writer's Games

The Writer's Workout

Genres: Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Script Writing, Thriller, and Young Adult

The Writer's Games is a free competition aimed at improving writing skills, offering feedback from judges. The 2024 edition has concluded, and it featured multiple events with winners recognized in an anthology. Registration is necessary to participate.

Top Prize:

Publication in anthology, 72 Hours (26+ spaces)

📅 Deadline: July 22, 2025 (Expired)

Askew's Word on the Lake Writing Contest

Shuswap Association of Writers

Genres: Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

The contest is open for submissions in short fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Entrants can submit original, unpublished works. Prizes include cash awards and festival packages, with winners published in the anthology.

Top Prize:

$200 CAD

Additional prizes:

1st: festival registration package | 2nd: $125 and banquet package | Honourable mention: $100 and banquet package.

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2026 (Expired)

Goldfinch Books Novel Award

Goldfinch Books

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

The Goldfinch Books Novel Award is a competition for emerging novelists. It invites submissions of 3,000 words from completed novels. The winner receives a £500 cash prize and an invitation to join the Goldfinch writer community.

Top Prize:

£500

Additional prizes:

Shortlisted authors receive feedback from judges + Goldfinch membership

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: May 31, 2025 (Expired)

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