Genres:
Short Story and Fiction
For this special edition contest, write a short story (2,000 to 5,000 words) inspired by the prompt: “Write a story about a character who is haunted by someone or something.”
Top Prize:
$1,500
Additional prizes:
Winner will be considered for publication in a future issue of Reedsy’s literary magazine, Prompted. Runners-up may be awarded $25 USD in credit to use on the Reedsy Marketplace.
💰 Entry fee:
$20
📅 Deadline:
October 31, 2026
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
Henshaw Press Short Story Competition
Henshaw Press
Genres:
Short Story and Fiction
The Henshaw Press Short Story Competition accepts entries of up to 2,000 words on any theme. It is open to writers aged 16 and over.
Top Prize:
£200
Additional prizes:
2nd Prize: £100 | 3rd Prize: £50. | Opportunity to be included in the next Henshaw Anthology.
💰 Entry fee:
$8
📅 Deadline:
September 30, 2026
(Expired)
Ann Press Poetry Award
Red Hen Press
Genres:
Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, Essay, Memoir, and Novel
The Ann Petry Award seeks to publish prose literature by Black authors. It is awarded for a work of previously unpublished prose, either a novel or a collection of short stories or novellas, with a minimum of 150 pages, selected through an annual submission process.
Top Prize:
$3,000
Additional prizes:
Publication by Red Hen Press
💰 Entry fee:
$20
📅 Deadline:
March 31, 2026
(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)
NOWW 27th International Writing Contest
Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop (NOWW)
Genres:
Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
The 26th Annual Writing Contest is currently closed. The next contest will open on January 1, 2025. Categories and further details will be announced later.
Top Prize:
$150
Additional prizes:
2nd place: $100
3rd place: $50
💰 Entry fee:
$7
📅 Deadline:
February 28, 2025
(Expired)
Six Word Wonder Contest
Hebe Publications
Genres:
Memoir, Poetry, and Short Story
Celebrate the art of six-word storytelling by submitting your best six-word story, poem, memoir, or joke. The contest aims to discover impactful micro-stories.
Top Prize:
$96
Additional prizes:
Shortlisted entries will also be published
📅 Deadline:
September 30, 2026
(Expired)
The Bedford Competition
The Bedford Competition
Genres:
Poetry and Short Story
The Bedford Competition runs annual international short story and poetry competitions open to anyone over 17 years. Winning entries are published in an anthology.
Top Prize:
£2000
Additional prizes:
2nd Prize £300 | 3rd Prize £200 | Cygnature Prizes £200 | Bedford Prizes £100
💰 Entry fee:
$11
📅 Deadline:
September 30, 2026
(Expired)
MoonLit Getaway Short Fiction Contest
MoonLit Getaway
Genres:
Fiction and Short Story
The contest invites entries for short fiction with a maximum word count of 2,500 words. All submissions must be original and unpublished. The contest promotes engagement by publishing winning stories in their anthology and on the website.
Top Prize:
$250 CAD
Additional prizes:
Two runners-up will each receive 50 CAD and publication.
💰 Entry fee:
$8
📅 Deadline:
October 12, 2025
(Expired)
A Very Short Fiction Contest
Gotham Writers Workshop
Genres:
Fiction and Short Story
Write a short story in ten words or fewer. Entry is free and must be original and unpublished. Judged on originality, quality, spelling, and grammar.
Top Prize:
Free Gotham class (excluding premium classes)
💰 Entry fee:
$0
📅 Deadline:
June 01, 2026
(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 Writers Cypher
The Writers Cypher
Genres:
Poetry and Short Story
The Writers Cypher is a first year, three-round virtual creative writing competition sponsored by Writers’ Row Publishing House. Participants will compete for cash prizes, including two grand prizes of $1,000 each and an additional $500 for two runners-up. To enter, review the rules and guidelines and submit your first-round entry and $20 registration fee by December 30th.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
$250 for 2x runner-ups
💰 Entry fee:
$20
📅 Deadline:
January 23, 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)
Arizona Authors Literary Contest
Arizona Authors
Genres:
Children’s, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story, and Young Adult
The contest is open to both published and unpublished authors, featuring various categories. Each entry will be judged on literary merit by a panel. Winning entries will be featured in the Arizona Authors Literary Magazine.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
Grand winner: $500 & a ticket to the Arizona Authors Awards Luncheon | 3x 1st: $200 | 3x 2nd: $125 | 3x 3rd: $75 | 3x 4th: $50
💰 Entry fee:
$50
📅 Deadline:
June 01, 2026
(Expired)
Future Scholar Foundation Short Story Competition
Future Scholar Foundation
Genres:
Fiction and Short Story
The competition invites elementary and middle school students to submit short stories (maximum 350 words) based on a monthly theme. Winners receive recognition and prizes, including Amazon gift cards and publication in the Hall of Fame.
Top Prize:
$60
Additional prizes:
2nd: $15 Amazon gift card | 3rd: $5 Amazon gift card | All winners are published in the Hall of Fame.
📅 Deadline:
October 28, 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)
Inkshift $1,000 Writing Contest
Inkshift Inc.
Genres:
Fiction and Short Story
Inkshift’s $1,000 Writing Contest is a free-to-enter short story competition open to writers aged 18 and over worldwide, with a single grand prize of $1,000. All genres are welcome, and entries are judged on storytelling quality, originality, character development and prose.
Top Prize:
$1,000
💰 Entry fee:
$0
📅 Deadline:
October 31, 2026
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)
Fish Short Memoir Prize
Fish Publishing
Genres:
Memoir, Non-fiction, and Short Story
The Fish Short Memoir Prize invites entries of personal memoirs, with the aim of being published in the Fish Anthology 2025. It’s open to writers of any nationality and no prior publication is needed.
Top Prize:
€1,000
Additional prizes:
2nd and 3rd: Online writing course + €300 | 3rd: €300
💰 Entry fee:
$18
📅 Deadline:
January 31, 2026
(Expired)
Plough Short Fiction Contest
Plough
Genres:
Fiction and Short Story
Plough’s inaugural annual short fiction contest is open to writers anywhere in the world. Submissions should be short fiction that honors the mysterious nature of reality and finds transcendence and redemption in unexpected places; the contest is not limited to magical realism or a traditional “tale” voice.
Top Prize:
$2,000
Additional prizes:
Up to three finalists receive $250 each and publication in Plough (print and/or online).
💰 Entry fee:
$10
📅 Deadline:
September 01, 2026
(Expired)
Askew’s Word on the Lake Writing Contest
Shuswap Association of Writers
Genres:
Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
The contest is open for submissions in short fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Entrants can submit original, unpublished works. Prizes include cash awards and festival packages, with winners published in the anthology.
Top Prize:
$200 CAD
Additional prizes:
1st: festival registration package | 2nd: $125 and banquet package | Honourable mention: $100 and banquet package.
💰 Entry fee:
$15
📅 Deadline:
January 31, 2026
(Expired)
Exeter Writers Short Story Competition
Exeter Writers
Genres:
Fiction and Short Story
The Short Story Competition is organized by Exeter Writers, aiming to encourage and showcase emerging writing talent. This competition invites entries from writers of various backgrounds.
Top Prize:
£700
💰 Entry fee:
$9
📅 Deadline:
February 28, 2026
(Expired)
Jerboa Lit 250 (Mini-Contest)
Jerboa Lit
Genres:
Fiction, Flash Fiction, and Short Story
The Jerboa Lit 250 is a weekend-long mini-flash fiction contest where participants write a story of 250 words based on a prompt given 48 hours prior. The contest encourages creativity within genres and includes specific character requirements. Winners are announced within a month after submission.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
2nd: $300 | 3rd: $200
💰 Entry fee:
$15
📅 Deadline:
April 26, 2026
(Expired)
The Lascaux Prize in Short Fiction
The Lascaux Review
Genres:
Fiction and Short Story
The Lascaux Prize in Short Fiction accepts both previously published and unpublished stories, allowing simultaneous submissions. The winner receives $1,000, a bronze medallion, and publication in The Lascaux Review.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication in The Lascaux Review
💰 Entry fee:
$15
📅 Deadline:
December 31, 2026
Eyelands Book Awards
Strange Days Books
Genres:
Fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
The Eyelands Book Awards are international awards aimed at recognizing talent among published and unpublished authors. The contest is based in Greece and encourages submissions across various literary genres.
Top Prize:
A five-day stay in Athens
Additional prizes:
Winner also receives translation into Greek and publication. Handmade ceramics for winners in each category.
💰 Entry fee:
$45
📅 Deadline:
October 20, 2025
(Expired)
Summit Series Contest
CMICH Press
Genres:
Fiction, Novel, Novella, and Short Story
The CMICH Press Summit Series is a not-for-profit publisher that selects one book-length manuscript each year to publish through an open contest. The theme changes annually: this edition is open to fiction (a story collection, novella or novel) by writers from, or who have lived in, a Midwestern Great Lakes state (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio or Wisconsin). The winning manuscript is chosen by the Summit Series Editorial Board and a final judge.
Top Prize:
Publication by CMICH Press
💰 Entry fee:
$25
📅 Deadline:
January 01, 2027
Dragons & Wyverns Short Story Challenge
Forest & Fawn
Genres:
Fantasy and Short Story
The challenge invites participants to write a short story themed around dragons and wyverns within a ten-day period. Writers of all skill levels can join, and there are prompts provided at the start. The challenge emphasizes creativity and community, including workshops and feedback on submissions.
Top Prize:
$1,800
Additional prizes:
2nd: $900 | 3rd: $400 | 4th-10th: $100
💰 Entry fee:
$38
📅 Deadline:
April 24, 2026
(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)
Moment Magazine-Karma Foundation Short Fiction Contest
Moment Magazine and Karma Foundation
Genres:
Fiction and Short Story
The Moment Magazine-Karma Foundation Short Fiction Contest invites unpublished stories that focus on themes relating to Judaism or Jewish culture. Established in 2000, it has featured renowned judges and offers cash prizes for outstanding works.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Up to three prizes may be awarded.
💰 Entry fee:
$25
📅 Deadline:
November 01, 2025
(Expired)
BBC National Short Story Award
BBC Radio 4 and Cambridge University
Genres:
Fiction and Short Story
The BBC National Short Story Award aims to celebrate and promote the short story form, providing a prestigious platform for both established and emerging writers. The award includes a significant monetary prize and recognition through BBC broadcasts.
Top Prize:
£15,000
Additional prizes:
4x shortlisted stories: £600
💰 Entry fee:
$0
📅 Deadline:
March 18, 2024
(Expired)
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
(Expired)
Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition
Hemingway Days Festival
Genres:
Short Story
The Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition is dedicated to supporting new voices in short fiction. It has a history of over 43 years and emphasizes original, unpublished stories. Winners are highlighted on the competition’s website.
Top Prize:
$1,500
Additional prizes:
2nd | $500 | 3rd: $500 | Publication of the winning story on the competition website.
💰 Entry fee:
$15
📅 Deadline:
September 01, 2025
(Expired)
The $15,000 Writing Challenge
Storyshares
Genres:
Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Short Story, and Young Adult
The annual Story of the Year contest is back with a new challenge! We’re looking for captivating, diverse stories that are “easy to read and hard to put down” for readers beyond the third grade. There are five categories aimed at young adult readers, and we encourage you to submit as many entries as you like—submission is free and unlimited!
Top Prize:
$15,000
Additional prizes:
Publication in digital and print
💰 Entry fee:
$0
📅 Deadline:
January 13, 2025
(Expired)
Gemini Magazine Short Story Contest 2026
Gemini Magazine
Genres:
Flash Fiction, Short Story, and Fiction
The Gemini Magazine Short Story Contest is an annual contest open to all writers. Entries must be unpublished and can be of any subject, style, or length. The contest aims to discover and publish the best literary works.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
2nd: $100 | 3x honorable mentions: $25. Publication in the Summer 2026 issue of Gemini Magazine.
💰 Entry fee:
$10
📅 Deadline:
March 31, 2026
(Expired)
Write Catalyst Annual Short Story Contest
Write Catalyst
Genres:
Fiction and Short Story
Submit your best short fiction for a chance to win cash prizes, publication on the Write Catalyst blog, and free memberships. Open genre (excluding extreme horror and gratuitous erotica).
Top Prize:
$100
Additional prizes:
2nd: $50 gift card or cash | 3rd: $25 gift card or cash. | All winners also receive publication, promotion, and free membership.
💰 Entry fee:
$5
📅 Deadline:
July 23, 2026
(Expired)
