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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 11th Annual IAN Book of the Year Awards is an international contest open to all authors with 75 fiction and non-fiction categories. Winners share cash prizes totaling $6,000, including a Grand Prize of $2,500.
Top Prize:
$2,500
Additional prizes:
Minimum cash prizes of $1,000, $500, and $250 for first, second, and third places in each category respectively
💰 Entry fee: $49
📅 Deadline: August 16, 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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
