The 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
Solar Flare Contest 2025
Sunspot Literary Journal
Genres:
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
The Solar Flare Contest seeks submissions for a single short story, novel or novella excerpt, artwork, graphic novel, or poem that exhibits a burst of creative energy. All genres accepted, with a maximum word limit of 500 for stories and nonfiction, 12 lines for poetry, and 8 pages for graphic novels.
Top Prize:
$100
Additional prizes:
Publication for the winner; publication offered to runners-up and finalists.
💰 Entry fee:
$5
📅 Deadline:
June 01, 2025
(Expired)
Places Writing Competition
Minds Shine Bright
Genres:
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Poetry, Script Writing, and Short Story
The Places Writing Competition invites stories and poems about places that inspire or challenge writers. It includes various categories like poetry, short stories, and flash fiction, and aims to highlight the significance of places in literature.
Top Prize:
The overall winner receives $1500 AUD and publication in the anthology.
Additional prizes:
Up to $200 for commended entries, $50 for young writers.
💰 Entry fee:
$15
📅 Deadline:
May 31, 2025
(Expired)
HG Wells Short Story Competition
HG Wells Competition
Genres:
Fiction and Short Story
The HG Wells Short Story Competition, founded by Reg Turnill, promotes writing and celebrates HG Wells’ literary legacy. It encourages entries based on this year’s theme: ‘The Fool.’
Top Prize:
Under 21: £1,000
Over 21: £500
Additional prizes:
All shortlisted entries will be published in an anthology. Shortlisted authors receive a copy of the anthology and a certificate.
💰 Entry fee:
$10
📅 Deadline:
July 08, 2024
(Expired)
Lazuli Literary Group Writing Contest
Lazuli Literary Group
Genres:
Essay, Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Novella, and Script Writing
We are not concerned with genre distinctions. Send us the best you have; we want only for it to be thoughtful, intelligent, and beautiful. We want art that grows in complexity upon each visitation; we enjoy ornate, cerebral, and voluptuous phrases executed with thematic intent.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
Publication in “AZURE: A Journal of Literary Thought”
💰 Entry fee:
$15
📅 Deadline:
July 15, 2025
(Expired)
Season Themes
HAVOK Publishing
Genres:
Fantasy, Flash Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Short Story, and Thriller
Season Themes is a flash fiction contest that invites authors to create stories inspired by monthly themes and prompts. Each theme features a specific character prompt that authors must incorporate into their stories, allowing for creative interpretations across various genres.
Top Prize:
$100
Additional prizes:
Publication in an anthology. Potential for larger gift card wins.
📅 Deadline:
January 17, 2025
(Expired)
Reeds in the Wind Literary Prize
The Jane Austen Club of Sardinia
Genres:
Fiction and Short Story
The Reeds in the Wind Literary Prize aims to promote the literary legacy of Grazia Deledda. It is open to international participants and accepts submissions in Italian, Sardinian, and English. Stories must explore themes from Deledda’s works and have a word count of 5,000 to 7,000 characters. The awards will be presented during a ceremony scheduled for Saturday, 13 September 2025, in the town of Galtellì.
Top Prize:
€500
Additional prizes:
All finalists will have their stories published, and any travel expenses for finalists will be reimbursed.
💰 Entry fee:
$0
📅 Deadline:
July 20, 2025
(Expired)
2024 International Literary Prize
Hammond House Publishing
Genres:
Poetry, Script Writing, and Short Story
The 2024 International Literary Prize invites writers to submit entries in four categories: Short Stories, Poetry, Scriptwriting, and Songwriting. The contest emphasizes anonymity in submissions and offers cash prizes, publication opportunities, and feedback options.
Top Prize:
1st prize for Short Story and Poetry: £1000
1st prize for Scriptwriting: £500
1st prize for Song writing: £250
Additional prizes:
2nd and 3rd prizes for all categories: £100 and £50 respectively, along with publication for all shortlisted entries.
💰 Entry fee:
$10
📅 Deadline:
September 30, 2024
(Expired)
TWFest Very Short Fiction Contest
Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival
Genres:
Fiction and Short Story
The TWFest Very Short Fiction Contest is designed to promote new work from emerging writers. Eligible submissions are original short stories up to 1,000 words, written in English, and must be unpublished. The contest offers a grand prize of $500.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
VIP Pass to the Festival ($600 Value), Public reading at the next Festival, Publication in French Quarter Journal. Top finalists will receive a LitPass ($100 value) to the Festival.
💰 Entry fee:
$10
📅 Deadline:
October 15, 2025
(Expired)
Future First Line Contest
Gotham Writers Workshop
Genres:
Fiction, Short Story, and Science Fiction
The Future First Line Contest invites participants to write a captivating first line for a novel set in 2052, inspired by the near future. Entries should encapsulate originality and creativity while hinting at technological or sociopolitical themes.
Top Prize:
Winner receives a free Gotham class of their choosing, excluding premium classes.
💰 Entry fee:
$0
📅 Deadline:
November 30, 2025
(Expired)
Creative Writing Ink Short Story Competition
Creative Writing Ink
Genres:
Short Story
The competition is open for entries, accepting submissions on any theme or genre. All entries are judged anonymously.
Top Prize:
£1000
Additional prizes:
Two runners-up will receive £200 each and a free online course.
Winner will also receive a free online course and publication on the website
💰 Entry fee:
$12
📅 Deadline:
September 30, 2025
(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)
Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition
Writer’s Digest
Genres:
Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
Enter our 91st Annual Writing Competition for the chance to have your work be seen by editors and agents! Almost 500 winners will be chosen. The top winning entries of this writing contest will also be on display in the Annual Writer’s Digest Competition Collection. [$20 for a poetry entry, $30 for a manuscript entry]
Top Prize:
$5,000
Additional prizes:
Grand prize winner receives $5000. In each category: 1st, $1000; 2nd, $500; 3rd, $250; 4th, $100; 5th, $50; 6th through 10th, $25 gift certificate. 1st place winners receive a one year subscription to Writer’s Digest magazine + tutorials.
💰 Entry fee:
$30
📅 Deadline:
May 05, 2025
(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)
The Rhys Davies Short Story Competition
Swansea University
Genres:
Fiction and Short Story
The Rhys Davies Short Story Competition is a prestigious award for writers born or living in Wales. Established in 1991, it recognizes the best unpublished short stories in English, up to 5,000 words. The competition encourages new talent and is managed by Swansea University’s Cultural Institute in association with Parthian Books.
Top Prize:
£1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication in short story anthology |
💰 Entry fee:
$8
📅 Deadline:
February 14, 2025
(Expired)
Ghost & Cryptid Short Story Anthology
Dragon Tomes Publishing
Genres:
Fiction, Horror, Short Story, and Humor
Dragon Tomes Publishing is compiling an anthology of ghost and cryptid stories. They seek short stories up to 6,000 words that explore themes of ghosts or cryptids, welcoming various genres.
Top Prize:
$20
Additional prizes:
Free author copy of the finished anthology.
📅 Deadline:
July 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)
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)
CWA Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition
Crime Writers’ Association
Genres:
Mystery and Short Story
An annual international competition for unpublished short mystery stories up to 3,500 words. The competition seeks to find the best story that aligns with Margery Allingham’s definition of a mystery.
Top Prize:
£500
Additional prizes:
Potential publication on the CWA website + in the Margery Allingham Society journal
💰 Entry fee:
$20
📅 Deadline:
February 28, 2025
(Expired)
Annual Short Story Contest
Flash 500
Genres:
Fiction and Short Story
An open-themed contest accepting all genres, including those written by or for children. Stories must be between 1,000 and 3,000 words with strong characters and plots.
Top Prize:
£500
Additional prizes:
£200 for 2nd place, £100 for 3rd place
💰 Entry fee:
$8
📅 Deadline:
February 28, 2025
(Expired)
Fiction Factory Flash Fiction Competition
Fiction Factory
Genres:
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, LGBTQ, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, and Travel
The competition invites writers to submit short stories of up to 1000 words, excluding children’s and young adult fiction. The entry fee varies based on the number of submissions. Winners will be announced in February 2026.
Top Prize:
£500
Additional prizes:
Publication on the website and free assessment for 2nd and 3rd placed entries.
💰 Entry fee:
$7
📅 Deadline:
November 30, 2025
(Expired)
F(r)iction Short Story Contest
Brink Literacy Project
Genres:
Fiction and Short Story
The F(r)iction Short Story Contest is open for submissions. It celebrates unique and boundary-pushing literature. The winning story will be published in F(r)iction’s print collection or online blog, and the contest encourages experimental writing.
Top Prize:
$1,000
📅 Deadline:
May 02, 2025
(Expired)
Nimrod Literary Awards
Nimrold International Journal of Prose and Poetry
Genres:
Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, and Novel
The Nimrod Literary Awards are hosted by the Nimrod International Journal to honor outstanding writing in fiction and poetry. Each year, the awards feature a first prize of $2,000 and a second prize of $1,000, along with publication opportunities for winners.
Top Prize:
$2,000
Additional prizes:
2nd: $1000 + publication
💰 Entry fee:
$20
📅 Deadline:
April 30, 2025
(Expired)
Not Quite Write Prize for FLESH Fiction
Not Quite Write
Genres:
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story, and Fantasy
The Not Quite Write Prize for FLESH Fiction invites submissions of erotic stories up to 1,500 words based on the theme ‘Making the unsexy irresistible’. The competition is open to adults worldwide, free to enter, and aims to explore creative interpretations of erotic fiction. Judging is blind, and winners will be announced publicly.
Top Prize:
$500 AUS
Additional prizes:
Total prize pool of AU$1,000 plus a range of “spicy” prizes and a chance at print publication.
💰 Entry fee:
$0
📅 Deadline:
August 24, 2025
(Expired)
Hastings Book Festival Short Story Competition
Hastings Book Festival
Genres:
Short Story and Fiction
The Hastings Book Festival Short Story Competition invites entries of original short stories. The competition is open to all writers aged 18 and over, with submissions accepted in English. The judging process is anonymous, and entries must follow specific formatting guidelines.
Top Prize:
£250
Additional prizes:
2nd: £100 | 3rd: £50 | Winners may also be eligible for additional prizes like the Sussex Prize and Founder’s Prize.
💰 Entry fee:
$10
📅 Deadline:
June 30, 2025
(Expired)
Heart Fiction Battle
Writing Battle
Genres:
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult
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Top Prize:
$1,500
Additional prizes:
Genre Runner-up (x4): $375
Feedback by industry professionals
💰 Entry fee:
$20
📅 Deadline:
August 02, 2024
(Expired)
Ironclad Short Story Competition
Ironclad Creative CIC
Genres:
Fiction and Short Story
The Ironclad Short Story Competition invites both published and unpublished writers to submit original stories responding to the prompt ‘SWITCH.’ Stories up to 6,000 words are accepted. Winning and shortlisted entries will be published in an anthology.
Top Prize:
£100
Additional prizes:
2nd: £50 | 3rd: £25 | Publication for all shortlisted stories.
💰 Entry fee:
$9
📅 Deadline:
October 31, 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)
Winter Flash Fiction Battle
Writing Battle
Genres:
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, and Thriller
The Winter Flash Fiction Battle is an engaging contest where writers compete by creating stories based on given prompts. Participants write a story of up to 1000 words within three days. The contest emphasizes community feedback and professional judging.
Top Prize:
Genre Winner (x4): $$3,400
Additional prizes:
Genre Runner-up (x4): $800 | Genre Semi-Finalist (x8): $400
💰 Entry fee:
$25
📅 Deadline:
February 01, 2025
(Expired)
The Atom Learning Young Author Award
Atom Learning
Genres:
Fiction and Short Story
The Atom Learning Young Author Award encourages children aged 7-11 to express their creativity through writing. The contest invites submissions of up to 500 words based on a specific theme, fostering young authors’ storytelling skills.
Top Prize:
A trip to Disneyland Paris, a Chromebook, a custom-illustrated cover art of the winner’s story, and a subscription to Atom Home.
Additional prizes:
£50 book voucher or one month subscription to Atom Home for 10 runners-up.
💰 Entry fee:
$0
📅 Deadline:
June 25, 2025
(Expired)
Storytrade Book Awards
Storytrade
Genres:
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Script Writing, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult
The Storytrade Book Awards celebrate excellence in small and independent publishing, recognizing outstanding books across various categories. The awards aim to provide visibility and recognition to authors and their works.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
$1,000 for each Book of the Year (Fiction & Nonfiction).
Medals, book stickers, and digital seals for Winners and Finalists
💰 Entry fee:
$75
📅 Deadline:
June 30, 2026
Strength in Stories Contest
FLARE Magazine
Genres:
Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
This contest invites submissions that explore the theme ‘Disability as a Strength’, showcasing narratives around managing mental health, disabilities, and chronic illnesses. It is a chance for writers to express how these experiences have fortified their identities.
Top Prize:
$125
Additional prizes:
1st: $125 & online publication | 2nd: $75 | 3rd: $50 | 3 runners-up will also receive online publication.
📅 Deadline:
March 01, 2026
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)
Creative Writing Award for Short Fiction
Aesthetica Magazine
Genres:
Fiction and Short Story
The Creative Writing Award celebrates outstanding new writing talents in poetry and short fiction, offering a platform for authors globally to showcase their work. It emphasizes innovation in content and form across any theme.
Top Prize:
$2,500
Additional prizes:
Publication in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual
One-year subscription to The London Magazine, Granta, and Mslexia
Consultation with Redhammer Management
Six-week writing short stories course from Curtis Brown Creative
💰 Entry fee:
$18
📅 Deadline:
August 31, 2025
(Expired)
The Hope Prize
Hope Prize
Genres:
Fiction, Non-fiction, and Short Story
The Hope Prize is an international short story competition focused on original stories of hope, open to writers aged 18 and over, with entries accepted in English. The prize encourages bold self-expression and aims to spotlight charities making impactful changes.
Top Prize:
$10 000 AUD
Additional prizes:
2nd: $2000 AUD | 3rd: $1000 AUD | Shortlisted stories will be published in a Simon & Schuster anthology.
💰 Entry fee:
$30
📅 Deadline:
October 31, 2025
(Expired)
