2026 First Chapter Challenge
November J. Brown
Genres:
Fiction
Any fiction, any style, any writer. Submit the first chapter of your novel-in-progress, and become eligible for cash prizes & shoutouts from @writesofnovember.
Top Prize:
$1,200
Additional prizes:
2nd place: $500 | 3rd place: $300 | Winners also receive an interview + featured on writesofnovember.com and @writesofnovember social media accounts, along with 1 year subscription to Reedsy Studio premium.
💰 Entry fee:
$30
📅 Deadline:
July 18, 2026
WOW! Spring 2026 Flash Fiction Contest w/Reedsy Learning
WOW! Women On Writing & Reedsy Learning
Genres:
Fiction and Flash Fiction
The WOW! Spring 2026 Flash Fiction Contest invites writers globally to submit original flash fiction. The contest has an open prompt and awards a total of $600 for first place, along with prizes for second and third places, as well as runners-up. Entries must be between 250 and 750 words. A critique option is also available.
Top Prize:
$600
Additional prizes:
2nd: $300 | 3rd: $200 | 7 runner-ups: $25 Amazon Gift Cards | Winner also receives a spot in Reedsy’s How to Write a Novel Course ($499 value) & a 12-month Reedsy Learning Membership ($249 value)
💰 Entry fee:
$10
📅 Deadline:
May 31, 2026
(Expired)
Reedsy Literary Prize
Reedsy
Genres:
Fiction and Short Story
Writers around the world have three months to compose and refine a single short story (2,000 to 5,000 words) in any genre, in response to one prompt. All submissions will be assessed by the Reedsy team, with longlisted stories reviewed by our guest judge Jon Michael Darga, Literary Agent at Aevitas Creative Management and a Reedsy editor.
Top Prize:
$1,500
Additional prizes:
2nd place: a year-long Reedsy Learning membership | 3rd place: $100 credit for Reedsy Marketplace services | First place also receives feedback from a literary agent and guaranteed publication in our literary magazine, Prompted.
📅 Deadline:
May 31, 2026
(Expired)
Reedsy Prompts Contest
Reedsy
Genres:
Fiction and Short Story
Every Friday, Reedsy sends out five writing prompts. Enter your response within a week for a chance at $250. Winners may also be included in a future issue of Reedsy’s literary magazine, Prompted.
Top Prize:
$250
Additional prizes:
Publication on Reedsy Prompts + $25 credit for Reedsy Marketplace services for shortlisted entries
💰 Entry fee:
$5
📅 Deadline:
December 31, 2026
Robinson Jeffers Tor House Prize for Poetry
Robinson Jeffers Tor House Foundation
Genres:
Poetry
The Robinson Jeffers Tor House Prize for Poetry is an annual contest honoring the poet Robinson Jeffers. Established as a living memorial, it aims to recognize outstanding poetry submissions. The prize includes an honorarium and honorable mentions.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
$200 for honorable mention
📅 Deadline:
March 14, 2026
(Expired)
Trio Award for Open Reading Period
Trio House Press
Genres:
Poetry
This contest is for emerging poets submitting their first or second book of poetry, which should contribute innovatively to American poetry. The awards include a $1,000 prize, publication, and twenty copies of the book. Manuscripts must be 48-120 pages long.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication and twenty books
💰 Entry fee:
$25
📅 Deadline:
June 30, 2026
(Expired)
Great American Fiction Contest
Saturday Evening Post
Genres:
Fiction and Short Story
The Great American Fiction Contest celebrates the legacy of American authors through the submission of original short stories. The winning entry will be published in the January/February edition of the magazine.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
The winning story will be published in The Saturday Evening Post.
Five runners-up will each receive $200 and have their stories featured online.
💰 Entry fee:
$10
📅 Deadline:
July 01, 2025
(Expired)
Parsec Short Story Contest
Parsec Inc.
Genres:
Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction, and Short Story
The Parsec Short Story Contest aims to encourage non-professional writers to explore speculative fiction in genres like science fiction, fantasy, and horror. The theme for 2025 is ‘ROOTS’, and submissions should relate to this theme. The contest has no entry fee and supports young writers through a special Youth Story Prize.
Top Prize:
$200
Additional prizes:
2nd: $100 | 3rd: $50
💰 Entry fee:
$0
📅 Deadline:
March 31, 2026
(Expired)
Michael Waters Poetry Prize
University of Southern Indiana
Genres:
Poetry
The Michael Waters Poetry Prize awards $6,000 and publication by SIR Press for a full-length poetry manuscript written in English annually. All entries are considered for publication.
Top Prize:
$6,000
Additional prizes:
Publication by SIR Press
💰 Entry fee:
$35
📅 Deadline:
February 03, 2025
(Expired)
The Global Thriller Awards for High Stakes Suspense
Chanticleer Book Reviews
Genres:
Fiction and Science Fiction
The Global Thriller Awards seek the best books featuring suspense and thrilling stories that can change the balance of world power. It includes the Lab Lit genre, focusing on stories based on real science.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Grand Prize winners receive exclusive Chanticleer Book Review Packages and author interviews, valued at $795, along with additional prizes.
💰 Entry fee:
$99
📅 Deadline:
July 31, 2025
(Expired)
Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowships
Academy of American Poets
Genres:
Poetry
These fellowships are $50,000 awards aimed at honoring poets of literary merit who serve in civic positions. The goal is to support them in creating new work and undertaking impactful projects that enrich local communities through poetry.
Top Prize:
$50,000
Additional prizes:
Awards are $50,000 for the fellowship. The Academy will match up to $10,000 in in-kind or cash contributions for project support.
📅 Deadline:
February 24, 2025
(Expired)
Solstice Owl Battle
Writing Battle, Inc.
Genres:
Fiction, Short Story, Fantasy, and Flash Fiction
The Solstice Owl Battle is a 100 word short story challenge where writers receive 3 prompts to incorporate into their narratives. It fosters a supportive community, allowing participants to share and receive feedback from one another on their stories. Writers retain all rights to their stories, even if they win.
Top Prize:
$15,000 prize pool
Additional prizes:
$1,200 USD prize for 10x Genre Winners; $300 USD prize for 10x Genre Runners-Ups. Winners receive online publication, feedback from industry professionals
💰 Entry fee:
$28
📅 Deadline:
July 19, 2026
The Lascaux Prize in Poetry
The Lascaux Review
Genres:
Poetry
The Lascaux Prize in Poetry invites submissions of previously published or unpublished poems. The winner receives $1,000, a bronze medallion, and publication in The Lascaux Review. There is no limit to the number of entries, and up to five poems can be submitted per entry.
Top Prize:
$1,000
💰 Entry fee:
$15
📅 Deadline:
March 31, 2026
(Expired)
Future Leaders Competition
ChallengeUS
Genres:
Non-fiction and Essay
The ChallengeUS Future Leaders Competition engages youth globally to advocate for civic ideas, spotlighting promising leaders through scholarship prizes. Participants envision their future by 2050 and can join the Future Leaders Network.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
Publication of submission, biographical article, Certificate of Special Achievement for 1st place winner. | Certificate of Achievement for honorable mentions.
💰 Entry fee:
$0
📅 Deadline:
July 25, 2025
(Expired)
Vocal Challenges
Creatd
Genres:
Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Short Story
Vocal Challenges invite writers to enter themed storytelling contests for a chance to win cash, prizes, experiences, and more.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
2nd place: $200, 15 runners-up: $15 each
💰 Entry fee:
$15
📅 Deadline:
January 11, 2025
(Expired)
Bath Flash Fiction Award
Bath Flash Fiction Award
Genres:
Fiction and Flash Fiction
The Bath Flash Fiction Award is an international rolling competition for flash fiction, held three times a year. It encourages writers to submit original works of up to 300 words and offers substantial prizes and publication opportunities.
Top Prize:
£1000
Additional prizes:
2nd: £300 | 3rd: £100 | Two commendations of £30 each. 50 longlisted entrants may also get published in an anthology.
💰 Entry fee:
$9
📅 Deadline:
October 05, 2025
(Expired)
Hayden’s Ferry Review Fiction & Poetry Contest
Hayden’s Ferry Review
Genres:
Fiction, Flash Fiction, and Poetry
The contest welcomes submissions for fiction and poetry. Winners will be published and receive monetary prizes. Judges include established authors.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Winner also receives publication in Hayden’s Ferry Review. $250 for runners-up in each genre and publication
💰 Entry fee:
$15
📅 Deadline:
February 28, 2026
(Expired)
C.D. Wright Prize for Poetry
Arkansas International
Genres:
Poetry
The C.D. Wright Prize for Poetry honors innovative poetry and is open to poets who have not published a full-length book. The winner receives $1000 and publication in the Arkansas International.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication in the Arkansas International
📅 Deadline:
October 31, 2025
(Expired)
Clevedon LitFest Flash Fiction Award
Clevedon Literary Festival
Genres:
Flash Fiction
The Clevedon LitFest Flash Fiction Award invites entries of original short stories of no more than 500 words. The competition emphasizes evocative writing and a compelling story arc within strict word limits.
Top Prize:
£300
Additional prizes:
2nd: £100 | 3rd: £50
💰 Entry fee:
$6
📅 Deadline:
August 22, 2026
The Peseroff Prize
Breakwater Review
Genres:
Poetry
The Peseroff Prize honors Joyce Peseroff’s contributions to poetry and literature. It is an annual contest that invites submissions of previously unpublished poems.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication in spring issue
💰 Entry fee:
$10
📅 Deadline:
April 15, 2026
(Expired)
J. Michael Samuel Prize for Emerging Writers Over 50
Lambda Literary
Genres:
LGBTQ
This award honors emerging LGBTQ writers over the age of 50, aiming to support those who have not yet been published in book form. It emphasizes that writers who start later can be just as accomplished.
Top Prize:
$5,000
📅 Deadline:
February 20, 2026
(Expired)
Bridport Flash Fiction Prize
Bridport Arts Centre
Genres:
Fiction and Flash Fiction
The Bridport Flash Fiction Prize invites writers to submit stories of up to 250 words. It aims to celebrate the art of brevity in storytelling. The winning entries receive the opportunity for publication and recognition.
Top Prize:
£1000
Additional prizes:
2nd: £1000 | 3rd: £500 | 10 Highly Commended: £100
💰 Entry fee:
$12
📅 Deadline:
May 31, 2026
(Expired)
Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize
University of Pittsburgh Press
Genres:
Poetry
The Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize, established in 1981, is awarded for a first full-length book of poems. The prize includes a cash award and publication as part of the Pitt Poetry Series.
Top Prize:
$5,000
Additional prizes:
Publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press
💰 Entry fee:
$25
📅 Deadline:
April 30, 2025
(Expired)
Leave Your Mark: Teen Contest
Gotham Writers Workshop
Genres:
Script Writing, Fiction, and Poetry
Participants are invited to write about a scar, real or fictional, in any format (story, song, script, poem) with a limit of 250 words. The contest encourages creativity and personal expression.
Top Prize:
$400 Gotham credit, a $50 gift certificate to Bookshop, and publication on the Gotham Writers website.
Additional prizes:
Two runner ups wll receive a free Gotham class of their choice and publication.
📅 Deadline:
December 15, 2025
(Expired)
Bacopa Literary Review Annual Writing Contest
Writers Alliance of Gainesville
Genres:
Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
The Bacopa Literary Review is an annual international print journal seeking engaging and original submissions across multiple genres. The contest includes various categories with specific guidelines to encourage diverse forms of writing.
Top Prize:
$200
Additional prizes:
$100 Honorable Mention in each of six categories
💰 Entry fee:
$3
📅 Deadline:
June 01, 2025
(Expired)
The Plough Prize
The Plough Arts Centre
Genres:
Poetry
The Plough Prize is an international poetry competition open for poems in English, limited to 40 lines on any subject. The contest emphasizes anonymity in judging, with a focus on quality.
Top Prize:
£1,000
Additional prizes:
2nd place: £500
3rd place: £250
Highly Commended poems may be recognized.
💰 Entry fee:
$5
📅 Deadline:
March 31, 2025
(Expired)
Swamp Pink Prizes
Swamp Pink
Genres:
Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
The Swamp Pink Prizes celebrate excellence in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Each winner receives $2,000 and publication in an upcoming issue of Swamp Pink. The contest is open for submissions throughout January.
Top Prize:
$200
Additional prizes:
Publication in an upcoming issue of Swamp Pink
💰 Entry fee:
$3
📅 Deadline:
June 01, 2026
(Expired)
The Heartland Review Open Calls
The Heartland Review
Genres:
Poetry, Fiction, and Non-fiction
The Heartland Review invites submissions for fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry during open calls. Works accepted are published in the spring issue of the journal. The contest emphasizes original, unpublished works, and submissions must adhere to specific formatting guidelines.
Additional prizes:
1 contributor copy for published authors; gift cards for poetry prize winners ($400 for first, $240 for second, $100 for third)
💰 Entry fee:
$10
📅 Deadline:
August 01, 2025
(Expired)
Medieval Horror Novella Contest!
Briar Press NY
Genres:
Fiction and Horror
Seeking novellas or novelettes in the Early Gothic tradition, set from after the Fall of Rome to 1500. Submissions should showcase excellent writing, engaging plots, and authentic historical settings.
Top Prize:
Publication by Briar Press NY and Royalties
💰 Entry fee:
$0
📅 Deadline:
June 15, 2026
(Expired)
The Loraine Williams Poetry Prize
The Georgia Review
Genres:
Poetry
The Loraine Williams Poetry Prize is awarded annually for the best poem submitted. The winner receives $1,500 and publication in The Georgia Review, while three finalists receive $200 each. The contest opens on March 1 and closes on May 15.
Top Prize:
$1,500
Additional prizes:
$200 for each of the three finalists | Publication in The Georgia Review
💰 Entry fee:
$3
📅 Deadline:
May 15, 2026
(Expired)
Inciting Incident Writing Contest
FilmFreeway
Genres:
Script Writing
Inciting Incident Script Competition aims to help writers discover if their work is engaging enough to captivate the Hollywood gatekeeper to receive the elusive “Recommend.”
Top Prize:
$300
Additional prizes:
2nd: $50 US | 3rd: Written feedback
💰 Entry fee:
$47
📅 Deadline:
May 25, 2026
(Expired)
Folk Horror Short Story Contest
Briar Press NY Publishers
Genres:
Fiction and Horror
Briar Press NY seeks short stories in the Folk Horror tradition, previously unpublished, set in any time period/place/culture. Stories should convey beautiful writing, engaging plots, memorable characters, and an authentic Folk-Gothic atmosphere.
Top Prize:
Publication in Briar Press NY’s upcoming Anthology ‘These Rotted Things’, including marketing assistance and 3 free copies.
📅 Deadline:
October 01, 2026
Annual Novel Opening Competition
Flash 500
Genres:
Fiction and Novel
The Annual Novel Opening Competition welcomes entries of up to 3,000 words for a novel opening, along with a synopsis (max 750 words). The contest is open to all novelists, provided the work is unpublished.
Top Prize:
£500
Additional prizes:
2nd Place: £200
💰 Entry fee:
$13
📅 Deadline:
October 31, 2026
The Philip Hoare Competition
University of Southampton
Genres:
Non-fiction and Short Story
The Philip Hoare Prize is an international competition for the best non-fiction writing, established in 2025, seeking vivid and original narratives that blend personal, historical, and natural themes.
Top Prize:
£300
Additional prizes:
2nd: £100 | 3rd: £50 | Winner also receives publication in the University of Southampton’s annual Avenues Creative Writing anthology.
💰 Entry fee:
$0
📅 Deadline:
July 31, 2025
(Expired)
Mofic 10 Chapter Contest
Mofic
Genres:
Fiction
Upload 10 chapters of any story (each chapter length at least 1800 words) to enter.
Top Prize:
$700
Additional prizes:
2nd: $400 | 3rd: $200 | 2x notable entries: $20. Winners may receive editorial and publishing support.
📅 Deadline:
August 20, 2025
(Expired)
