Upcoming Writing Competitions
Calling all novelists, poets, playwrights and everyone in-between! There's something for everyone in this collection of upcoming writing competitions. Many are free to enter, and with so many prizes and accolades up for grabs it would be a shame to miss out. Take a look and enter your favourites!
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Now updated to the end of 2022!
1st Oct
Grindstone International Novel Prize
International
£16
5,000 Words
Novelists
£1000
1st Oct
32nd Annual Jeffrey E. Smith Editors’ Prize
International
$25
Various
Various
$5000 and Publication
2nd Oct
Dillydoun Short Story Prize
USA
$25
8,000 Words
Short Story Writers
$5000 and Publication
2nd Oct
Periscope Literary Flash Fiction Competition
International
£10
900 Words
Flash Fiction Writers
£1500
9th Oct
Bath Flash Fiction Award
International
£9
300 Words
Flash Fiction Writers
£1,000
14th Oct
Closed: Streetcake Experimental Writing Prize
International
Free
Various
Poets and Short Story Writers
See Website
16th Oct
The Galley Beggar Pres Short Story Prize
International
£10
6,000 Words
Short Story Writers
£2,500
19th Oct
Fosseway Writers Short Story Competition
International
£5
2,500 Words
Short Story Writers
£50
30th Oct
The Open Theme Short Story Contest
International
$2
3,000 Words
Short Story Writers
Publication
31st Oct
Letter Review Prize for Short Stories
USA
$20
2,000 Words
Short Story Writers
$650
31st Oct
WOW! Women On Writing Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest
International
$12
1,000 Word
Non Fiction Writers
$500 and Publication
31st Oct
Saveas Writer’ International Writing Competition
UK
£3
Various
Poets and Short Story Writers
£200
31st Oct
Solstice Nature Prize for Writing
UK
Free
Various
Poets and Short Story Writers
£100 and Publication
31st Oct
The Bedford International Short Story and Poetry Awards
International
£7.50
Various
Poets and Short Story Writers
£1000
1st Nov
Commonwealth Short Story Prize
International
Free
5000 Words
Short Story Writers
£5,000
7th Nov
Holiday Anthology Contest: Simple Gifts
USA
$20
3000 Words
Short Story Writers
$599 and Publication
11th Nov
Halloween Horror Short Story Contest
USA
$4.99
5000 Words
Short Story Writers
$250
14th Nov
Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize
International
$12
3000 Words
Short Story Writers
$5,000 and Publication
16th Nov
The Smokelong Quarterly Award for Flash Fiction
USA
$12
1000 Words
Flash Fiction Writers
$2,500
25th Nov
Wenlock Olympian Society Short Story Competition
International
£5
2500 Words
Short Story Writers
£150
30th Nov
Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Competition
International
7 Euros
40 Lines
Poets
2,000 Euros
30th Nov
Six Word Wonder Contest
International
Free
6 Words
Flash Fiction Writers
$100 and Publication
30th Nov
WOW! Women on Writing Fall Flash Fiction Contest
International
$10
750 Words
Flash Fiction Writers
$400 and Publication
30th Nov
Tadpole Press 100 Word Writing Contest
International
$10
100 Words
Flash Fiction Writers
$1,000
30th Nov
East Riding Festival of Words Poetry Competition
International
£4
45 Lines
Poets
£500 and Publication
30th Nov
New Writers Flash Fiction Competition
International
£6
300 Words
Flash Fiction Writers
£700 and Publication
30th Nov
East Riding Festival of Words Poetry Competition
International
Free-£4
See Website
Poets
Various
1st Dec
Orna Ross Green Stories Novel Prize
International
Free
10,000 Words
Novelists
£1,000
16th Dec
Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition
International
Free
At Least 60,000 Words
Novelists
$10,000 and Publication
31st Dec
Story Unlikely’s Short Story Contest
USA
Free
4500 Words
Short Story Writers
$500
31st Dec
The Masters Review Chapbook Open
International
$25
45 Pages
Chapbook
$3,000 and Publication
31st Dec
The Society of Classical Poets Competition
International
$20
108 Lines
Poets
$2,000
