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The Elegant Literature Award For New Writers
Elegant Media Publishing Corporation
Genres: Fiction, Crime, Fantasy, Romance, Horror, LGBTQ, Science Fiction, Suspense, and Thriller
The contest invites new and unpublished writers worldwide to submit short stories based on a monthly prompt. The current theme is 'After The Ashes.'
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: September 01, 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)
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)
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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)
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)
The IAN Book of the Year Awards
The Independent Author Network
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult
The Independent Author Network presents the 12th Annual 2026 IAN Book of the Year Awards, an international contest open to all authors with 75 fiction and non-fiction categories. Entries must be in English and available for sale or presale/preorder.
Top Prize:
$2,500
Additional prizes:
Grand Prize Book of the Year (minimum cash prize $2,500 USD) plus Platinum membership, digital award seal and award seal stickers for print copies. Category winners receive memberships and seals; finalists receive digital seal and/or stickers.
💰 Entry fee: $54
📅 Deadline: August 14, 2026 (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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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 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)
The Homer Awards
Imagine Press / Homer Awards
Genres: Crime, Fiction, Humor, Mystery, Novel, Romance, and Thriller
The Homer Awards celebrate excellence in Thriller and Greece-set fiction. Nine awards across five categories, including the Penelope Award — a manuscript prize for unagented authors offering a full publishing deal with Imagine Press.
Top Prize:
A full publishing deal with Imagine Press (professional editing, cover design, formatting, and global distribution). Winner retains all rights.
💰 Entry fee: $30
📅 Deadline: December 31, 2026
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 Whirling Prize
Etchings Press
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, and Young Adult
Etchings Press, a student-run publisher at the University of Indianapolis, awards The Whirling Prize each year to two books that demonstrate an excellent and compelling response to a theme that students at the university select. Student judges will welcome recently published books of prose and poetry in response to the theme of "mystery" published since January 2024.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
10 copies of a commemorative postcard available. Each winner will be invited to participate in an episode of a literary podcast with the student judges, which will be recorded and air in 2026.
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: January 23, 2026 (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)
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)
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)
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)
Best Indie Book Award
Best Indie Book Award
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult
The Best Indie Book Award (BIBA) is an international literary contest that recognizes outstanding achievements by independently published authors. Entries are limited to indie published books, including those from small presses and self-published authors, judged on various writing skills.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
A physical trophy or plaque
💰 Entry fee: $65
📅 Deadline: August 01, 2025 (Expired)
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)
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)
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
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)
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)
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)
Reader Views Fiction 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 Fiction Awards recognize outstanding independently published fiction, honoring work by independent authors and small presses. The program offers professional evaluations 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: September 30, 2026
Gutsy Great Novelist Page One Prize
Gutsy Great Novelist
Genres: Fiction, Novel, Young Adult, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, and Thriller
The Page One Prize seeks the best first page of an unpublished novel-in-progress. Open to writers over 18 worldwide, the prize highlights emerging and experienced authors. Winners are announced on the contest website and via email.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
2nd: $500 | 3rd: $250. Honorable mentions may also be awarded.
💰 Entry fee: $20
📅 Deadline: July 16, 2026 (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 (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 (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)
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)
Kinsman Black Box Award
Kinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc. / Kinsman Quarterly
Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Script Writing, Thriller, Children's, and Christian
Kinsman Black Box script submissions are open year-round for one-act and full-length plays, and the programme especially welcomes BIPOC and traditionally underrepresented playwrights. Selected scripts are published globally in the Kinsman Black Box online script database, which licenses work to schools, theatre groups and charitable organisations.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
Selected scripts are published globally in the Kinsman Black Box online script database and are eligible for licensing royalties. Cash prizes of up to $500.
💰 Entry fee: $15
📅 Deadline: December 31, 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)
