The 270+ Best Writing Contests

A successful entry in a writing competition can be a significant boost for an author's career, providing exposure and potentially even leading to a publishing deal. They also provide fantastic motivation to get a work finished, to hone your writing, and to test yourself against your peers. Some also offer cash prizes—always welcome! In this list, we showcase over 270 of the best writing contests out there, in a variety of genres.

Categories

Adventure Writing

Chapbooks

Children's Fiction & Nonfiction

Children's & Young Adult Fiction

Children's Fiction

Creative Nonfiction

Crime Novel

Essay

Fable

Fiction

Fiction & Creative Nonfiction

Fiction & Essay

Fiction & Nonfiction

Flash Fiction

Historical Fiction

Historical Nonfiction

Long Story

Memoir

Nature Writing

Nonfiction

Novel

Novella

Open-Form

Poetry

Query Letters

Science Fiction

Script Writing

Short Story

Thriller

Multiple/All Genres

Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize

Adventure Writing

Adventure Writers Competition

Adventure Writing

Rattle Chapbook Prize

Chapbooks

Black Voices in Children’s Literature Writing Contest

Children's Fiction & Nonfiction

Mslexia Children’s & Young Adult Novel Competition

Children’s & Young Adult Fiction

Searchlight Writing for Children Awards

Children’s & Young Adult Fiction

Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition

Children's Fiction

Bath Children’S Novel Award

Children's Fiction

Cherished Children's Story Contest

Children's Fiction

New Voices Award

Children's Fiction

AAWP Slow Canoe Creative Nonfiction Prize

Creative Nonfiction

Diana Woods Memorial Award in Creative Nonfiction

Creative Nonfiction

WOW! Women on Writing Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest

Creative Nonfiction

Crime Writers Association Debut Dagger Award

Crime Novel

St. Martin’s Minotaur/ Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition

Crime Novel

Brandon Langhjelm Memorial Essay Contest

Essay

Calibre Essay Prize

Essay

Alpine Fellowship Academic Writing Prize

Essay

Kemper Human Rights Education Essay Contests

Essay

KSCPP Essay Contest Essay

NCH Essay Competition

Essay

Biopage Storytelling Writing Contest

Essay

Fable Competition

Fable

Blue Pencil Agency Pitch Prize

Fiction

Breakwater Fiction Contest

Fiction

Bulwer Lytton Fiction Contest

Fiction

Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence

Fiction

Killer Nashville Claymore Award

Fiction

Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award

Fiction

Lucy Cavendish College Fiction Prize

Fiction

Minds Shine Bright Writing Competition

Fiction

Mslexia Adult Novel Competition

Fiction

PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction

Fiction

Ronald Sukenick Innovative Fiction Contest

Fiction

Si Leeds Literary Prize

Fiction

Virginia Prize for Fiction

Fiction

Young Lions Fiction Award

Fiction

Catherine Doctorow Innovative Fiction Prize

Fiction

First Pages Prize

Fiction, Creative Nonfiction

Friends of American Writers Chicago Adult Literature Award

Fiction, Creative Nonfiction

Friends of American Writers Chicago Young People's Literature Awards

Fiction, Creative Nonfiction

SFWP Literary Awards

Fiction, Creative Nonfiction

Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest

Fiction, Essay

Richell Prize for Emerging Writers

Fiction, Nonfiction

Stowe Prize

Fiction, Nonfiction

Book Pipeline Unpublished Contest

Fiction, Nonfiction

Chanticleer International Book Awards

Fiction, Nonfiction

Daisy Pettles Writing Contest

Fiction, Nonfiction

Impress Prize for New Writers

Fiction, Nonfiction

New Media Writing Prize

Fiction, Nonfiction

Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing

Fiction, Nonfiction

Desert Writers Award

Fiction, Nonfiction

Smokelong Quarterly Comedy Prize

Fiction, Nonfiction

Aniko Magazine Flash Fiction Competition

Flash Fiction

Bath Flash Fiction Award

Flash Fiction

Bridport Flash Fiction Prize

Flash Fiction

Cranked Anvil Flash Fiction Competition

Flash Fiction

Fish Flash Fiction Prize

Flash Fiction

Flash 500 Flash Fiction Competition

Flash Fiction

Fusilli Writing Flash Fiction Competition

Flash Fiction

Oxford Flash Fiction Prize

Flash Fiction

PNM Flash Fiction Prize

Flash Fiction

Quantum Shorts Flash Fiction Contest

Flash Fiction

Screw Turn Flash Fiction Competition

Flash Fiction

Voice.Club Flash Fiction Contest

Flash Fiction

WOW! Women on Writing Flash Fiction Contest

Flash Fiction

Bet Tuppi’s Ancient Near Eastern Historical Fiction Prize

Historical Fiction

Saudi Historical Fiction Awards

Historical Fiction

Van Diemen History Prize

Historical Nonfiction

Bridport Memoir Award

Memoir

Fish Short Memoir Prize

Memoir

Mslexia Memoir & Life Writing Competition

Memoir

Lustrous Long Story Contest

Long Story

Moth Nature Writing Prize

Nature Writing

Brooklyn Non-Fiction Prize

Nonfiction

Graywolf Press Nonfiction Prizes

Nonfiction

Marfield Prize (aka National Award for Arts Writing)

Nonfiction

A Woman's Write Annual Writing Competition

Novel

Bath Novel Award

Novel

Betty Trask Prize

Novel

Big Moose Prize

Novel

Blue Pencil Agency First Novel Award

Novel

Booksie First Chapter Novel Contest

Novel

Bridport Novel Award

Novel

Caledonia Novel Award

Novel

Exeter Novel Prize

Novel

First Novel Prize

Novel

Flash 500 Novel Opening & Synopsis Competition

Novel

Grindstone International Novel Prize

Novel

Inkitt's Writing Contest

Novel

James Jones First Novel Fellowship

Novel

McKitterick Prize

Novel

Meet Me at 19th Street’s Competition

Novel

New Voices Competition

Novel

Spotlight First Novel Award

Novel

VCU Cabell First Novelist Award

Novel

Black Orchid Novella Award

Novella

Bath Novella-in-Flash Award

Novella

Exisle Academy "Passed Down" Writing Competition

Open-Form

Academy of American Poets First Book Award

Poetry

Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize

Poetry

Alpine Fellowship Poetry Prize

Poetry

Anthology Poetry Award

Poetry

Arts Queensland Val Vallis Award for Unpublished Poetry

Poetry

Black Ink Poetry Competition

Poetry

Blake Poetry Prize

Poetry

Blue Mountain Arts Poetry Contest

Poetry

Bridport Poetry Prize

Poetry

Brotherton Poetry Prize

Poetry

Cave Canem Poetry Prize

Poetry

Colorado Prize for Poetry

Poetry

Donald Hall Prize for Poetry

Poetry

Fish Poetry Prize

Poetry

Fool for Poetry International Chapbook Competition

Poetry

Ginkgo Prize Ecopoetry

Poetry

Guernsey International Poetry Competition

Poetry

Hippocrates Prize for Poetry and Medicine

Poetry

Jack Grapes Poetry Prize

Poetry

James Laughlin Award

Poetry

Joan Eardley Centenary Poetry Competition

Poetry

Judith Wright Poetry Prize

Poetry

Kent and Sussex Poetry Society Open Competition

Poetry

Live Canon International Poetry Competition

Poetry

Luschei Prize for African Poetry

Poetry

Magma Poetry Competition

Poetry

Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Prize

Poetry

Michael Waters Poetry Prize

Poetry

Miller Williams Poetry Prize

Poetry

Moth Poetry Prize

Poetry

Mslexia Women's Pamphlet Competition

Poetry

Mslexia Women's Poetry Competition

Poetry

Nature and Place Poetry Competition

Poetry

Never Such Innocence Poetry Competition

Poetry

Ó Bhéal Five Words International Poetry Competition

Poetry

Oxford Brookes International Poetry Competition

Poetry

Parkinson’s Art Charity Poetry Competition

Poetry

PenFluenza Short Story Contest

Poetry

Peseroff Prize Poetry Contest

Poetry

Plough Poetry Prize

Poetry

Poetry d’Amour Love Poetry Contest

Poetry

Poetry London Prize

Poetry

River Styx International Poetry Contest

Poetry

Robyn Mathison Poetry Prize

Poetry

Ros Spencer Poetry Prize

Poetry

SAETA Spring Poetry Festival Contest

Poetry

Sentinel Literary Quarterly Poetry Competition

Poetry

Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival Poetry Competition

Poetry

Tampa Review Prize for Poetry

Poetry

The Caterpillar Poetry Prize

Poetry

Third Wednesday Annual Poetry Contest

Poetry

Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest

Poetry

Trio Award for First or Second Book

Poetry

Tufts Poetry Awards

Poetry

Tusculum Review Poetry Chapbook Prize

Poetry

Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest

Poetry

Willow Run Poetry Book Award

Poetry

Winchester Poetry Prize

Poetry

Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry

Poetry

Clash of the Query Letters

Query Letters

Roswell Award & Feminist Futures Award

Science Fiction

Tomorrow Prize & Green Feather Award

Science Fiction

Taking Flight 2022 New Writing Competition

Script Writing

Moment Magazine-Karma Foundation Short Fiction Contest

Short Story

Nelligan Prize for Short Fiction

Short Story

Stony Brook $1,000 Short Fiction Prize

Short Story

Drue Heinz Literature Prize

Short Story

Mary Mccarthy Prize In Short Fiction

Short Story

CWA Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition

Short Story

53-Word Story Contest

Short Story

AlburyCity Short Story Award

Short Story

Anthology Short Story Award

Short Story

Bath Short Story Award

Short Story

Blackwater Press Short Story Contest

Short Story

Bridport Short Story Prize

Short Story

Bristol Short Story Prize

Short Story

City Academy Short Story Writing Competition

Short Story

Cranked Anvil Short Story Competition

Short Story

Djillong Short Story Competition

Short Story

Écrire! Words Alike Short Story Competition

Short Story

Ethos Literacy Annual Short Short Story Contest

Short Story

Exisle Academy ‘Undiscovered Gems’ Writing Competition

Short Story

Fish Short Story Prize

Short Story

Flash 500 Short Stories Competition

Short Story

George Floyd Short Story Competition

Short Story

Grindstone International Short Story Prize

Short Story

Henshaw Short Story Competition

Short Story

Jane Austen Literacy Foundation Writing Competition

Short Story

Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition

Short Story

Mary River Press Services Short Story Competition

Short Story

Masters Review Winter Short Story Award for New Writers

Short Story

MiNDFOOD Short Story Competition

Short Story

Mogford Prize for Food and Drink Writing

Short Story

Moth Short Story Prize

Short Story

Mslexia Short Story Competition

Short Story

Olga Masters Short Story Award

Short Story

Parracombe Prize

Short Story

Parsec Short Story Contest

Short Story

PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers

Short Story

Rhiza Edge Short Story Competition

Short Story

River Styx Microfiction Contest

Short Story

Science-me a Story

Short Story

Scottish Arts Club Short Story Competition

Short Story

Seán O'Faoláin International Short Story Competition

Short Story

ServiceScape Short Story Award

Short Story

Shimmering Short Story Contest

Short Story

Shooter Flash Competition

Short Story

Shooter Short Story Competition

Short Story

Southport Writers’ Circle Short Story Competition

Short Story

Stories Through The Ages - Baby Boomers Plus

Short Story

Stringybark Times Past Short Story Award

Short Story

Val Wood Prize

Short Story

Wenlock Writers-on-the-Edge Short Story Competition

Short Story

Swoop Books Writing Competitions

Short Story

Do Wha(TS) Creative Writing Contest

Short Story

Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award

Short Story

Story of the Year Contest

Short Story

To Hull And Back Humorous Short Story Competition

Short Story

Turn Off The Lights Thriller Contest

Thriller

Unleash Press Book Prize

Novel, Short Story, Personal Essays, Reimagined Fairytales, Narrative Nonfiction

Yeovil Literary Prize

Novel, Short Story, Poetry, Prose

Pen Nib International Writing Competition

Poetry, Essay

Orison Prizes in Poetry & Fiction

Poetry, Fiction

Manchester Writing Competition

Poetry, Fiction

Lascaux Prizes in Poetry and Flash Fiction

Poetry, Flash Fiction

Black River Chapbook Competition

Poetry, Prose

Boroondara Literary Awards

Poetry, Prose

SaveAs Writers' International Writing Competition

Poetry, Prose

VISIBLE Poetry and Prose Submissions

Poetry, Prose

Aesthetica Creative Writing Award

Poetry, Short Fiction

Prime Number Magazine Awards for Poetry & Short Fiction

Poetry, Short Fiction

Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest

Poetry, Short Story

Hudson Prize

Poetry, Short Story

Polar Expressions National Poetry and Short-Story Contest

Poetry, Short Story

St. Lawrence Book Award

Poetry, Short Story

Bedford Writing Competition

Poetry, Short Story

Well’s Festival of Literature

Poetry, Short Story, Children's Book

AWP Award Series

Poetry, Short Story, Creative Nonfiction, Novel

Create the Future Writing Competition

Poetry, Short Story, Creative Prose

Red Hen Press Women’s Prose Prize

Prose

Joe O’Sullivan Writers Prize

Prose, Fiction, Nonfiction

L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest

Science Fiction, Fantasy

Globe Soup Writing Competitions

Short Memoir, Flash Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, Travel Writing

F(r)iction’s Writing Contest

Short Story, Flash Fiction, Poetry

Accenti Writing Contest

Short Story, Nonfiction, Creative Nonfiction

Narrative Prize

Short Story, Novel, Poetry, Literary Nonfiction

Writing Magazine Grand Prize Short Story and Poetry Writing Competition

Short Story, Poetry

Cinnamon Literature Award

Short Story, Poetry, Novel

Fall Travel Writing Prize

Travel Writing, Narrative Nonfiction, Fiction, Essay, Poetry

City of Fremantle Hungerford Award

Adult fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Narrative Nonfiction

Fogarty Literary Award

Adult fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Narrative Nonfiction

What's Your Story? Writing Competition

Adult Short Story, Adult Poetry, Children's Story, Teen's Story

Green Stories Writing Competitions

Adult Short Story, Children's Short Story

North Street Book Prize

Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Memoir, Poetry, Children's Book, Graphic Novel & Memoir

Bacopa Literary Review Contest

Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Prose Poetry

Deborah Rogers Foundation Writers Award

Fiction, Nonfiction, Children Story, Short Story

Port Writers Open Literary Competition

Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry

Southeast Review Writing Contest

Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry

Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award

Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry

Wild Words Competition

Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry

Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition

Nonfiction Essay, Short Story, Literary Short Story,

Poetry, Script, Children’s/Young Adult Fiction

Write the World Monthly Competitions

Poetry, Fantasy, Sports Journalism, Flash Fiction

Eyelands Book Awards

Poetry, Novellas, Short Story Collections, Novels, Children's Books, Historical Fiction/Memoir, Graphic Novels

Mississippi Review Contest

Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction

Black Caucus of ALA (BCALA) Self-Publishing Literary Awards

Fiction, Poetry

Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award

Fiction, Poetry

Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize

All Genres

Anansi Archive Writing Awards

All Genres

Fanstory Writing Contests

All Genres

Gulf Coast Writers Association Writing Contest

All Genres

Jhalak Prize

All Genres

​Rubery Book Award

All Genres

Tadpole Press 100 Word Writing Contest

All Genres