Menu
Looking to publish? Meet your dream editor, designer and marketer on Reedsy.
Find the perfect editor for your next book
1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them.
The Elegant Literature Award For New Writers
Elegant Media Publishing Corporation
Genres: Fiction, Crime, Fantasy, Romance, Horror, LGBTQ, Science Fiction, Suspense, and Thriller
This contest invites new writers to submit original, unpublished stories based on a monthly theme. The contest promotes emerging talent and awards cash prizes to winners.
Top Prize:
$3,000
Additional prizes:
1st: Free enrollment in New Novelist Accelerator and publication payment at 10c/word | 2nd – 10th: 10c/word and publication | 11th – 35th: $20 USD and an honorable mention in the magazine.
💰 Entry fee: $10
📅 Deadline: February 28, 2026
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)
Storytrade Book Awards
Storytrade
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult
The Storytrade Book Awards celebrate excellence in small and independent publishing, recognizing outstanding books across various categories. The awards aim to provide visibility and recognition to authors and their works.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
$1,000 for each Book of the Year (Fiction & Nonfiction). Medals, book stickers, and digital seals for Winners and Finalists
💰 Entry fee: $75
📅 Deadline: June 30, 2026
Craft your masterpiece in Reedsy Studio
Plan, write, edit, and format your book in our free app made for authors.
Heart Fiction Battle
Writing Battle
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult
f
Top Prize:
$1,500
Additional prizes:
Genre Runner-up (x4): $375 Feedback by industry professionals
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: August 02, 2024 (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)
Romance Through The Ages Contest — Published
Hearts Through History Romance Writers
Genres: Fiction and Romance
This contest focuses on historical romance, aiming to promote both published and unpublished authors. It accepts entries that are historical in nature and emphasizes the romance element central to the narrative. The contest has several categories based on historical time periods.
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: May 31, 2025 (Expired)
Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction
Not Quite Write
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: July 27, 2025 (Expired)
2025 Short Story Competition
Globe Soup
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult
The competition invites short story submissions of up to 8,000 words from writers of all genres. It aims to encourage creativity and provide feedback opportunities. Participants retain ownership of their work, with the winner receiving a cash prize along with chances to win in a bonus draw.
Top Prize:
£2,000
Additional prizes:
2nd: £1000 | 3rd: £500 | £1,500 Bonus Prize Draw shared among multiple winners
💰 Entry fee: $16
📅 Deadline: December 16, 2025 (Expired)
Romantasy Short Story Challenge
Forest & Fawn
Genres: Romance, Fantasy, and Fiction
The Romantasy Short Story Challenge invites writers to craft a 2,000-word story based on the romantasy theme, incorporating specific prompts given at the challenge start. Participants have ten days to create and submit their stories.
Top Prize:
$1,800
💰 Entry fee: $38
📅 Deadline: March 02, 2026
Pocket FM: Crowned in Drama Contest
Pocket FM
Genres: Fiction and Romance
The Crowned In Drama contest focuses on creating original audio series in the romance genre, specifically Historical and Regency Romance. Participants must complete 100k words by the deadline and follow specific guidelines to be eligible for prizes.
Top Prize:
$5,000
Additional prizes:
1st: $5000, certificate, community & social media promotion | 2nd: $2500 | 3rd: $1250, all with similar promotional benefits.
📅 Deadline: November 07, 2025 (Expired)
Oxford Flash Fiction Prize 2025
Oxford Flash Fiction
Genres: Flash Fiction, Fiction, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult
The Oxford Flash Fiction Prize celebrates flash fiction, encouraging new voices and showcasing creativity in under 1000 words. This biannual competition invites writers to submit their stories for the chance to win cash prizes and publication.
Top Prize:
£1000
Additional prizes:
2nd Prize: £200 | 3rd Prize: £100 | New Voice Prize: £200 | Publication in the anthology for shortlisted entrants.
💰 Entry fee: $7
📅 Deadline: August 31, 2025 (Expired)
The Emma Awards Book Contest
RSJ Convention
Genres: Fiction, Novel, Novella, and Romance
The Emma Awards celebrate multicultural excellence in romance and women's fiction, promoting diverse voices and stories. The contest recognizes top entries in various romance subgenres, ensuring inclusion in literature.
Top Prize:
$250
Additional prizes:
Winner also receives the Book of the Year Award. The Emma Crystal Award for Diversity in Publishing and the Reader's Choice Certificate of Recognition will also be distributed.
💰 Entry fee: $60
📅 Deadline: July 31, 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)
Mini Moon Writing Contest
Tadpole Press
Genres: Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult, Children's, Poetry, Romance, Short Story, Suspense, and Travel
The Mini Moon Writing Contest challenges participants to write entries of 10 words or less, with no theme required. The contest is designed to encourage creativity and quick thinking.
Top Prize:
$50
💰 Entry fee: $5
📅 Deadline: February 03, 2026 (Expired)
Maggie Award for Published Writers
Georgia Romance Writers
Genres: Novel and Romance
The Maggie Award for Excellence recognizes outstanding works of romantic fiction. Open to both traditional and self-published authors, the contest emphasizes quality storytelling. The award seeks submissions that showcase excellence in the romance genre.
Top Prize:
Trophy
💰 Entry fee: $40
📅 Deadline: April 06, 2025 (Expired)
The Rubery Prize
Rubery Book Awards
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult, and Romance
The Rubery Prize is an international award for indie writers and self-published authors. It aims to recognize outstanding works and elevate authors' profiles. Authors can submit self-published books or those from independent presses.
Top Prize:
£2000
Additional prizes:
Category winners receive £200
💰 Entry fee: $60
📅 Deadline: March 31, 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)
Indignor Play House Annual Short Story Competition
Indignor House Publishing
Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult
The competition is open for submissions themed 'The Evolution of Love'. Each entry will be edited, judged based on various writing criteria, and selected works will be published in an anthology.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
2nd: $250 | 3rd: $150
💰 Entry fee: $25
📅 Deadline: March 01, 2025 (Expired)
Genres: Fiction and Romance
This contest invites adult writers to submit original romance stories centered around themes like trust fund babies, hidden heiress scandals, and forbidden love in elite academies. It emphasizes high-drama romance with engaging plots.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
2nd: $300 | 3rd: $100 | Winner receives a Galatea publishing deal + potential movie adaptation on CandyJar app. 2nd + 3rd also receive 1 year of Galatea Unlimited, Instagram feature, & Inkitt VIP Badge
📅 Deadline: November 30, 2025 (Expired)
Passionate Plume
Passionate Ink
Genres: Fiction, Novel, Novella, Romance, and Short Story
The Passionate Plume Contest is aimed at supporting erotic fiction authors, offering various categories for both published and unpublished writers. It encourages creativity and provides a platform for authors to showcase their work.
Top Prize:
Engraved award
Additional prizes:
Publication in the Passionate Ink Charity Anthology
💰 Entry fee: $40
📅 Deadline: February 14, 2025 (Expired)
Avenue Writing Contest
Blake Chasen and Emma Needell
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, and Romance
The Avenue Writing Contest invites participants to create interactive narratives in four categories: Romance, Fantasy, Progression Fantasy + LitRPG, and D&D. Entries are crafted using the Avenue Creator Studio, where participants develop episodes that allow reader choices to influence the story.
Top Prize:
$250
Additional prizes:
2nd: $150 3rd: $100 Winners will also be featured on Avenue’s app, website, and social media. Prizes apply for each category.
📅 Deadline: May 22, 2024 (Expired)
Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors
Grist Magazine
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult
The Imagine 2200 contest invites writers to envision equitable climate progress stories, showcasing creative solutions and community resilience. It emphasizes hope and the potential for positive change through fiction.
Top Prize:
$3,000
Additional prizes:
Second place: $2000 Third place: $1000 Ten $300 awards for finalists. Opportunity for the winner to participate in Oregon State University's Environmental Writing Fellowship and Residency, including a four-week writing residency.
📅 Deadline: June 24, 2024 (Expired)
Edinburgh Short Story Award
Scottish Arts Trust
Genres: Crime, Humor, Romance, and Short Story
The Edinburgh Short Story Award is open to writers worldwide, welcoming stories of any genre. The award offers substantial cash prizes and the opportunity for publication in The Edinburgh Anthology. It emphasizes inclusivity through bursaries for underrepresented writers.
Top Prize:
$3,000
Additional prizes:
2nd: £500 | 3rd: £250 | Publication in the anthology for top twenty stories
💰 Entry fee: $12
📅 Deadline: February 28, 2026
Pocket FM: Werewolf Saga
Pocket FM
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, and Romance
Join the Werewolf Saga contest where passion, power, and packs collide. Only original English language audio series qualify. Stories must meet specified word counts and themes.
Top Prize:
$4,000
Additional prizes:
2nd: $300 | 3rd: $2000 | All winners receive a certificate and social media promotion.
📅 Deadline: November 02, 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)
Story Unlikely Short Story Contest
Story Unlikely
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)
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 | $300 for honorable mentions
💰 Entry fee: $85
📅 Deadline: July 01, 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)
The Christy Award
ECPA
Genres: Christian, Fantasy, Novel, Novella, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, and Young Adult
The Christy Award, established in 1999, celebrates novels that explore themes of faith and their influence on modern culture. Over the years, these awards have become a cornerstone event that brings together writers and publishers within the Christian literary community.
Top Prize:
The Christy Book of the Year Award.
💰 Entry fee: $175
📅 Deadline: March 31, 2025 (Expired)
Indie Author Project Annual Contest
Indie Author Project
Genres: Memoir, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult
gThe Indie Author Project Annual Contest aims to recognize indie authors and provide them visibility through library support. It encourages submissions from indie-published authors in various genres and offers significant prizes.
Top Prize:
$2,500
Additional prizes:
$500 each to two runner-ups in each genre. Opportunity to promote books at libraries, inclusion in a print spread in Library Journal.
📅 Deadline: May 31, 2025 (Expired)
The Leslie Esdaile Banks Aspiring Author Contest
RSJ Convention
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)
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)
Dreambridge 2025 Short Story Anthology Contest
Anastasia Barbato
Genres: Children's, Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, LGBTQ, Mystery, Romance, Thriller, and Young Adult
This is the second annual short story contest by Dreambridge Publishing, featuring the anthology theme 'In My Element' with elements of alchemy. The chosen writers will work with editors to prepare their stories for publication.
Top Prize:
Winners will be published in the anthology.
📅 Deadline: March 31, 2025 (Expired)
Reader Views Literary Awards
Reader Views
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 Literary Awards recognize innovative self-published books, offering visibility and credibility to independent authors. The contest provides thorough book reviews, evaluation forms, and promotional opportunities.
Top Prize:
$1,250
Additional prizes:
Gold: $750 | Silver: $350 | Bronze: $150 | Various sponsored awards and features in newsletters include marketing packages, interviews, and ads.
💰 Entry fee: $89
📅 Deadline: December 15, 2025 (Expired)
Spring Microfiction Battle
Writing Battle
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult
The Spring Microfiction Battle is part of the Writing Battle series, where participants write stories based on prompts. Participants receive feedback from peers and industry judges.
Top Prize:
$1,500
Additional prizes:
Genre Runner-up (x4): $375 Feedback by industry professionals. Various merchandise and opportunities for additional exposure in the community.
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: May 03, 2024 (Expired)
