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ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize
Australian Book Review
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)
Catherine Doctorow Innovative Fiction Prize
Fiction Collective 2
Genres: Fiction
The Catherine Doctorow Innovative Fiction Prize is designed for writers with at least three books published. It encourages innovative fiction that challenges dominant narratives. Submissions must be in English and can include various forms of long fiction. The contest aims to support diverse voices in literature.
Top Prize:
$15,000
Additional prizes:
Publication by FC2, an imprint of the University of Alabama Press, with an Introduction by the final judge.
📅 Deadline: November 01, 2025 (Expired)
GWG Literary Prize 2025
Geneva Writers Group
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry
The GWG Literary Prize 2025 invites writers to explore hope and resilience through candid writing. Categories include fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry, all reflecting the theme of hope.
Top Prize:
$100
Additional prizes:
1st: 100CHF, 2nd: 50CHF, 3rd: 25CHF. Each winner and runner-up also receives 1 free workshop each.
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: March 03, 2025 (Expired)
Gulf Coast Writers Association Writing Contest
Gulf Coast Writers Association
Genres: Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry
The Gulf Coast Writers Association (GCWA) organizes an annual writing contest to celebrate and recognize talented writers across various genres. Participants can submit original works in Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Poetry. The contest promotes writers' creativity and provides valuable feedback from experienced judges.
Top Prize:
$200
Additional prizes:
Second place: $75 Third place: $50 For each category
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: June 30, 2025 (Expired)
Inkitt: Love at First Kick
Inkitt
Genres: Fiction and Romance
The Love at First Kick Writing Contest invites authors to create soccer-themed romances where soccer is not just a backdrop but the heartbeat of the story. Stories can feature romantic rivalries, teammates, or journalists involved with players.
Top Prize:
$300
Additional prizes:
2nd: $150 | 3rd: $50 | All winners receive 1 year of Galatea Unlimited and GalateaTV, Inkitt VIP Badge, Contest Winner badge for book cover, and an Instagram feature.
📅 Deadline: December 31, 2025 (Expired)
Inkspot 2025 Short Story Competition
Inkspot Publishing
Genres: Short Story
The competition encourages original submissions from writers worldwide, with no age limit. It promotes quality writing and is open to both amateurs and professionals.
Top Prize:
£1000
Additional prizes:
2nd: £250 | 3rd: £100 | Top 12 stories will feature on FictionJunkies.com.
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: May 17, 2026 (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)
Colorado Gold Writing Contest for Unpublished Writers
Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers
Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult
The Colorado Gold Rush Literary Awards Contest is aimed at unpublished writers of novel-length fiction, offering feedback and exposure to literary agents and editors. It encourages diverse voices and celebrates various genres.
Top Prize:
$150
Additional prizes:
Winner receives official certificate, trophy, and reading during the conference luncheon. Three finalists receive $50, certificate, and pitch session with agents.
💰 Entry fee: $25
📅 Deadline: May 01, 2025 (Expired)
New England Readers' Choice Awards
New England Romance Writers
Genres: Romance and Fiction
The contest recognizes excellence in published romance fiction and is judged by fans, including librarians and booksellers. The grand prize includes coaching from Jeannie Moon, and winners will receive a web badge and printed certificate.
Top Prize:
Two hours of Story & Character Development Coaching by Jeannie Moon; web badge and printed award certificate for winners.
Additional prizes:
Web badge and printed certificate for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each category.
💰 Entry fee: $30
📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025 (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)
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: $20
📅 Deadline: October 31, 2025 (Expired)
Ann Press Poetry Award
Red Hen Press
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, Essay, Memoir, and Novel
The Ann Petry Award seeks to publish prose literature by Black authors. It is awarded for a work of previously unpublished prose, either a novel or a collection of short stories or novellas, with a minimum of 150 pages, selected through an annual submission process.
Top Prize:
$3,000
Additional prizes:
Publication by Red Hen Press
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 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)
Dream Quest One Writing Contest
Andre L. West
Genres: Short Story
The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest aims to inspire and encourage writers and poets to showcase their talents. The contest accepts entries in the forms of poems (up to 30 lines) and short stories (up to 5 pages) on any subject or theme.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
First Writing Prize: $500, Second Writing Prize: $250, Third Writing Prize: $100.
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: April 06, 2025 (Expired)
Genres: Poetry
The competition runs for 42 weeks from April 9, 2024, to January 28, 2025. Each week, five words will be provided for poem submissions, which must incorporate all the words.
Top Prize:
€750
Additional prizes:
€500, €250
💰 Entry fee: $5
📅 Deadline: January 28, 2025 (Expired)
Genres: Script Writing
The Scriptation Showcase competition circulates winners' scripts to Hollywood professionals, providing exposure and feedback. It aims to connect writers with industry talent.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
$500 for top prizes in each category and additional features | 1 Year Scriptation Showcase, 1 year industry pro access
💰 Entry fee: $64
📅 Deadline: July 19, 2026
Stan and Tom Wick Poetry Prize
Kent State University
Genres: Poetry
The Stan and Tom Wick Poetry Prize is awarded annually for a poet's first full-length book of poetry. The prize includes $2,500 and publication by Kent State University Press. The winner will also participate in a reading at Kent State with the judge.
Top Prize:
$2,500
Additional prizes:
Publication by Kent State University Press
💰 Entry fee: $25
📅 Deadline: May 01, 2026 (Expired)
Swamp Pink Prizes
Swamp Pink
Genres: Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
The Swamp Pink Prizes celebrate excellence in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Each winner receives $2,000 and publication in an upcoming issue of Swamp Pink. The contest is open for submissions throughout January.
Top Prize:
$200
Additional prizes:
Publication in an upcoming issue of Swamp Pink
💰 Entry fee: $3
📅 Deadline: June 01, 2026 (Expired)
Autumn Voices Poetry Competition 2025: 'Play'
Autumn Voices
Genres: Poetry
The competition theme is 'Play'. It is open for entries from 1st to 30th November 2025. Entrants must be aged 60 or over. Multiple poems are allowed, with a maximum of 30 lines for each poem.
Top Prize:
£220
Additional prizes:
2nd: £110 | Book bundles for commended entries.
💰 Entry fee: $6
📅 Deadline: November 30, 2025 (Expired)
Creative Future Writing Award
Creative Future
Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry
The Creative Future Writers’ Award, founded in 2013, is a free-to-enter annual writing competition for underrepresented writers. It aims to showcase diverse voices and includes cash prizes and development opportunities for poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. Winners receive ongoing support and are celebrated at an awards ceremony.
Top Prize:
Winners receive mentorship, masterclasses, and publication in an anthology.
📅 Deadline: May 05, 2026 (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, 2025 (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
Genres: Non-fiction
The Eunice Williams Nonfiction Prize is an annual contest that invites submissions of true, unpublished nonfiction essays under 5,000 words. It aims to amplify the voices of women identifying and nonbinary writers. The contest features a blind judging process.
Top Prize:
$400
Additional prizes:
2nd: $250 | 3rd: $100. Winner also receives publication + free membership for a year.
📅 Deadline: January 01, 2026 (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)
The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize 2025
The Alpine Fellowship
Genres: Essay, Fiction, and Non-fiction
The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize is awarded for the best piece of writing on the theme of 'Fear.' All genres are accepted, and entries must be in English. The competition aims to discover and support emerging writing talent globally.
Top Prize:
£3000
Additional prizes:
2nd: £1000 | 3rd: £1000
📅 Deadline: April 01, 2025 (Expired)
HG Wells Short Story Competition
HG Wells Competition
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
The HG Wells Short Story Competition, founded by Reg Turnill, promotes writing and celebrates HG Wells' literary legacy. It encourages entries based on this year’s theme: 'The Fool.'
Top Prize:
Under 21: £1,000 Over 21: £500
Additional prizes:
All shortlisted entries will be published in an anthology. Shortlisted authors receive a copy of the anthology and a certificate.
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: July 08, 2024 (Expired)
2025 Narratively Memoir Prize
Narratively
Genres: Memoir and Non-fiction
The Narratively Memoir Prize invites personal essays for a chance to win $3,000, publication on Narratively, and inclusion in a limited print edition. Judged by bestselling author Susannah Cahalan, the contest seeks unique, emotional narratives. Submissions are accepted from October 24 to December 7, 2025.
Top Prize:
$3,000
Additional prizes:
Publication on Narratively and in a limited print edition
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: December 07, 2025 (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)
Romance Through The Ages Contest — Published
Hearts Through History Romance Writers
Genres: Fiction and Romance
The Romance Through The Ages Contest invites authors to submit historical romance manuscripts. Categories are based on time period and author experience (published/unpublished). The contest emphasizes historical accuracy and romance as the central theme.
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
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
Future Scholar Foundation Short Story Competition
Future Scholar Foundation
Genres: Fiction and Short Story
The competition invites elementary and middle school students to submit short stories (maximum 350 words) based on a monthly theme. Winners receive recognition and prizes, including Amazon gift cards and publication in the Hall of Fame.
Top Prize:
$60
Additional prizes:
2nd: $15 Amazon gift card | 3rd: $5 Amazon gift card | All winners are published in the Hall of Fame.
📅 Deadline: October 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)
Novel Fair 2025
Irish Writers Centre
Genres: Fiction and Novel
Novel Fair is an annual competition for unpublished novelists, allowing winners to pitch their novels to publishers and agents. It includes a two-day event with workshops and meetings with industry professionals.
Top Prize:
Present your novel to leading publishers and agents at the Irish Writers Centre
Additional prizes:
Shortlisted applicants receive feedback on their submissions.
💰 Entry fee: $55
📅 Deadline: September 30, 2024 (Expired)
Willow Run Poetry Book Award
Hidden River Press
Genres: Poetry
The Willow Run Poetry Book Award is an annual contest open to poets worldwide. The winner receives a monetary prize of $1,000 and publication by Hidden River Press. Entries should be unpublished collections of poetry, between 75 and 100 pages.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication in Hidden River Press
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: June 30, 2025 (Expired)
Reader Views Non-Fiction Awards
Reader Views
Genres: Non-fiction
The Reader Views Non-Fiction Awards celebrate excellent independently published works across various categories, offering professional reviews 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: March 31, 2027
