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
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
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
Rule of Law — Your Story
Write the World
Genres:
Essay and Non-fiction
The contest invites young writers aged 13-19 to explore themes of justice and (in)justice through personal narratives, opinion writing, or creative writing. Participants can reflect on moments when laws impacted their lives or communities.
Top Prize:
$100
Additional prizes:
Runner-Up and Best Peer Review each receive $50. Recognition and publication opportunities for finalists.
💰 Entry fee:
$0
📅 Deadline:
October 27, 2025
(Expired)
The Libraro Prize
Libaro Publishing
Genres:
Fiction and Young Adult
The Libraro Prize is a writing competition aimed at discovering new authors. It offers a £50,000 package and a book deal with Hachette UK for the winning entry. The contest also encourages reader engagement, offering two reader prizes worth £10,000 each for engagement and referrals.
Top Prize:
£30,000 advance and £20,000 marketing contribution
Additional prizes:
£10,000 for 2x runner ups
💰 Entry fee:
$0
📅 Deadline:
February 15, 2026
(Expired)
Gulf Coast Writers Association Writing Contest
Gulf Coast Writers Association
Genres:
Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry
The Gulf Coast Writers Association (GCWA) organizes an annual writing contest to celebrate and recognize talented writers across various genres. Participants can submit original works in Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Poetry. The contest promotes writers’ creativity and provides valuable feedback from experienced judges.
Top Prize:
$200
Additional prizes:
Second place: $75
Third place: $50
For each category
💰 Entry fee:
$20
📅 Deadline:
June 30, 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)
Diode Editions Full Length Book Contest
Diode Editions
Genres:
Novel
Open to all poets over 18 years old writing in English. Collaborations, hybrid works, and simultaneous submissions are welcome. Please notify Diode Editions if your manuscript is accepted elsewhere.
Top Prize:
$1,500
💰 Entry fee:
$15
📅 Deadline:
July 15, 2025
(Expired)
Travel Writing Competition: When Things Fall Apart
Intrepid Times
Genres:
Non-fiction and Travel
The contest invites submissions of true travel stories between 1800-2500 words, exploring themes of travel disruptions and personal growth. The winning story will be published and awarded a $500 prize.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
Publication in Intrepid Times. Up to four runners-up will be published at standard rates.
💰 Entry fee:
$0
📅 Deadline:
May 15, 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)
Spring Prose & Poetry Contest
Onyx Publications
Genres:
Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Science Fiction, Short Story, and Thriller
The contest awarded prizes for both prose and poetry categories, with multiple winners for each.
Top Prize:
$500
Additional prizes:
Second place: $150
Third place: $75
Winner also gets publication and author interview on Story Discovery podcast.
💰 Entry fee:
$12
📅 Deadline:
May 05, 2024
(Expired)
Benjamin Saltman Poetry Award
Red Hen Press
Genres:
Poetry
Established in 1998, this award honors poet Benjamin Saltman and is for previously unpublished original poetry collections. The competition is open to all poets.
Top Prize:
$3,000
Additional prizes:
Book publication by Red Hen Press
💰 Entry fee:
$25
📅 Deadline:
November 01, 2025
(Expired)
A Long Winter’s Night Contest
Gotham Writers Workshop
Genres:
Fiction and Short Story
This contest invites participants to write a story about a long winter’s night, limited to 50 words or less. Entries can be true or fictional.
Top Prize:
$0
💰 Entry fee:
$0
📅 Deadline:
February 28, 2026
(Expired)
Reedsy Novel Sprint
Reedsy
Genres:
Novel
The Reedsy Novel Sprint is an annual challenge (every November) where participants aim to write 50,000 original words in our free writing app, Reedsy Studio. With events, resources, and in-app goal tracking, this challenge is designed to help writers finish their first drafts — and get excited about doing it! At the end of the month, those who have written at least 50,000 words in Studio can submit their first chapters to our Reedsy Novel Sprint Contest.
Top Prize:
$5,000 + Literary Agent Intro
Additional prizes:
2nd: $2,500 + Literary Agent Intro
3rd: $1,000 + Literary Agent Intro
💰 Entry fee:
$0
📅 Deadline:
November 30, 2025
(Expired)
Verdant Raven Battle
Writing Battle, Inc.
Genres:
Fiction, Short Story, Fantasy, and Flash Fiction
The Verdant Raven Battle is a 250 word short story contest where writers receive 3 prompts to incorporate into their narratives. It fosters a supportive community, allowing participants to share and receive feedback on their stories. Writers retain all rights to their stories, even if they win.
Top Prize:
$10,000 prize pool
Additional prizes:
$800 USD prize for 10x Genre Winners | $200 USD prize for 10x Genre Runners-Ups | Winners receive online publication, feedback from industry professionals.
💰 Entry fee:
$23
📅 Deadline:
May 10, 2026
(Expired)
The Booby Prize
The Booby Prize
Genres:
Flash Fiction and Fiction
The Booby Prize is a quarterly flash fiction contest supporting the conservation of the Blue-Footed Boobys.
Top Prize:
£500
Additional prizes:
If you include a Blue-Footed Booby in your story, it will automatically be inducted into the Booby Hall of Fame and have a chance to win a booby soft toy.
💰 Entry fee:
$10
📅 Deadline:
October 19, 2025
(Expired)
Genres:
Fiction, Poetry, and Short Story
The Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize celebrates emerging voices in life writing, poetry, and fiction. It supports writers who have not published book-length works and offers a platform for diverse backgrounds. Winners receive a £1,000 cash prize and publication in Wasafiri.
Top Prize:
£1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication in Wasafiri magazine, mentoring through Chapter and Verse or Free Reads, career discussions with The Good Literary Agency, and a one-year print subscription.
💰 Entry fee:
$15
📅 Deadline:
September 30, 2024
(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)
Summer Short Story Award for New Writers
Masters Review
Genres:
Essay, Fiction, and Non-fiction
This bi-annual contest recognizes emerging writers with submissions of previously unpublished fiction or nonfiction up to 6,000 words. Judged by Colin Barrett, it awards $3,000 for first place, $300 for second, and $200 for third, along with agency reviews for finalists.
Top Prize:
$3,000
Additional prizes:
Second place: $300
Third place: $200
Agency review for all finalists
💰 Entry fee:
$20
📅 Deadline:
August 25, 2025
(Expired)
She Named Herself Writing Challenge
Crowdpen
Genres:
Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry
A writing contest encouraging submissions about a woman, real or imagined, who claimed her own identity. The work must be original and unpublished, focusing on a specifically named woman. Eligible genres include fiction, creative non-fiction, personal essay, and poetry.
Top Prize:
$100
Additional prizes:
2 Runners Up: $30 each
📅 Deadline:
March 31, 2026
(Expired)
The Donald Hall Prize for Poetry
Association of Writers & Writing Programs
Genres:
Poetry
The Donald Hall Prize for Poetry awards $5,500 and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press. The prize honors the best unpublished collection of poems and is judged by a prominent poet.
Top Prize:
$5,500
Additional prizes:
Publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press
💰 Entry fee:
$30
📅 Deadline:
February 28, 2026
(Expired)
Emerging Writer’s Contest
Ploughshares
Genres:
Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry
The Emerging Writer’s Contest, held by Ploughshares since 1971, recognizes outstanding work by emerging writers in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Winners are announced in the fall and their works are published in the Winter 2024-25 issue of Ploughshares.
Top Prize:
$2,000
Additional prizes:
Publication in Ploughshares and a conversation with Aevitas Creative Management.
💰 Entry fee:
$30
📅 Deadline:
May 15, 2025
(Expired)
Fish Poetry Prize
Fish Publishing
Genres:
Poetry
The Fish Poetry Prize is an open competition judged by Billy Collins, offering significant monetary prizes and publication opportunities in the Fish Anthology 2025. It has been established since 2006, focusing on poems of any theme, restricted to 60 lines.
Top Prize:
€1000
Additional prizes:
2nd: €300 + Fish Writing Course | 3rd: €300
💰 Entry fee:
$14
📅 Deadline:
March 31, 2026
(Expired)
Annual Flash Fiction Competition
Flash 500
Genres:
Fiction, Short Story, and Flash Fiction
The Flash Fiction Competition invites writers to submit stories of up to 500 words. It’s a quarterly competition with prizes awarded for the top three entries each quarter. Winning entries are published on the website.
Top Prize:
£300
Additional prizes:
2nd: £200 | 3rd: £100
💰 Entry fee:
$7
📅 Deadline:
December 31, 2026
Frome Festival Short Story Competition
Claire Fuller
Genres:
Short Story
The Frome Festival Short Story Competition invites entries of 150-2000 words. The 2026 competition is currently open for submissions.
Top Prize:
£400
Additional prizes:
2nd: £200 | 3rd: £100 | Additional prizes for local authors.
💰 Entry fee:
$8
📅 Deadline:
May 31, 2026
Joy Bale Boone Poetry Prize
The Heartland Review Press
Genres:
Poetry
The contest honors the legacy of Joy Bale Boone, an influential American poet and activist. All entries must be original works in English, with a submission window from July 1 to October 1, 2025, for publication in Spring 2026. The winners will be announced before Christmas 2025.
Top Prize:
$400 gift card
Additional prizes:
2nd: $240 gift card | 3rd: $100 gift card
💰 Entry fee:
$10
📅 Deadline:
October 01, 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
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
Jade Ring Writing Contest
Wisconsin Writers Association
Genres:
Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry
The Jade Ring Contest is a prestigious annual competition celebrating exceptional writing in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Now in its 76th year, this contest offers writers a chance to shine, with cash prizes, publication opportunities in Creative Wisconsin Magazine, and a coveted residency at Write On, Door County for first-place winners.
Top Prize:
$250
Additional prizes:
1st: $250, a Jade Ring, a writing residency, and publication. | 2nd: $200 + publication. | $150 + publication. | Honorable Mentions: one year membership (or gift card for lifetime members) to WWA, publication. Prizes apply to each category.
💰 Entry fee:
$30
📅 Deadline:
June 01, 2025
(Expired)
The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize 2025
The Alpine Fellowship
Genres:
Essay, Fiction, and Non-fiction
The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize is awarded for the best piece of writing on the theme of ‘Fear.’ All genres are accepted, and entries must be in English. The competition aims to discover and support emerging writing talent globally.
Top Prize:
£3000
Additional prizes:
2nd: £1000 | 3rd: £1000
📅 Deadline:
April 01, 2025
(Expired)
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
Hastings Book Festival Poetry Competition
Hastings Book Festival
Genres:
Poetry
The Hastings Book Festival Poetry Competition is an annual event inviting submissions from poets worldwide. The contest aims to celebrate new poetry and provides an opportunity for both established and emerging writers.
Top Prize:
£250
Additional prizes:
2nd: £100 | 3rd: £50 | Publication for winning poems. Winners may also be eligible for additional prizes like the Sussex Prize and Founder’s Prize.
💰 Entry fee:
$10
📅 Deadline:
June 30, 2025
(Expired)
The Ozma Awards for Fantasy Fiction
Chanticleer Book Reviews
Genres:
Fiction
The Ozma Awards for Fantasy Fiction seeks to discover the best fantasy works featuring magic, mythical beings, and imaginative worlds. The competition invites novels from various fantasy sub-genres, including Epic Fantasy and Steampunk, and rewards excellence in storytelling.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Exclusive Chanticleer Book Review Package and Author Interview.
💰 Entry fee:
$99
📅 Deadline:
June 30, 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:
2nd: £200 | 3rd: £100
💰 Entry fee:
$8
📅 Deadline:
February 28, 2026
(Expired)
TCK Publishing Poetry Awards Contest
TCK Publishing
Genres:
Poetry
The TCK Publishing Poetry Awards Contest is an international poetry contest established in 2021. The contest invites writers from all backgrounds to submit poems. The winner receives a $1,000 honorarium and publication on the TCK Publishing website.
Top Prize:
$1,000
Additional prizes:
Publication on TCK Website
💰 Entry fee:
$5
📅 Deadline:
June 30, 2026
