Serving writers, literary agents, and publishers since 1976

Creative Writing Contests

Updated January 5, 2009

Request Link Exchange
(A link on your site is required in exchange for a link on this page)

(Some hyperlinks open new windows)

$100 Teen Writing Contest. Submit your first-person essay and the Next Step Magazine to win $100 and get published.

$500 Short Story Contest -- Write a short story on why you love your home town. Free entry.

AAAS Science Journalism Awards Competition - Prizes awarded to reporters for excellence in science writing in each of the following 6 categories: large newspaper (over 100,000 daily circulation), small newspaper (under 100,000 circulation), magazine, radio, television, and online. Online entries can come from a variety of digital sources: newspaper, radio, television, and online-only sites. Online entry form must
accompany all submissions. PRIZE: $3,000 in each of 6 categories.

Albedo One -Ireland's magazine of science fiction, fantasy, and horror.

Amy Foundation (The) The Amy Foundation Writing Awards program is designed to recognize creative, skillful writing that presents in a sensitive, thought-provoking manner the biblical position on issues affecting the world today. To be eligible, submitted articles must be published in a secular, non-religious publication and must be reinforced with at least one passage of scripture.

Annual Essay Contest on Ayn Rand’s Novel Atlas Shrugged Essay Annual

Annual Essay Contest on Ayn Rand’s Novel The Fountainhead Essay Annual

Annual Essay Contest on Ayn Rand’s Novelette Anthem Essay Annual

Apex Awards for Excellence in Publication

Arizona Authors Association. Literary.

Arts Awards - Cash/Opportunities for Writers Poets Graduating HS. Awards for young artists.

Ascent Aspirations Magazine. Borderlines. Anthology Four 2007 Poetry/Flash Fiction Contest. Contest runs from October 2006 to March 31, 2007.

Author-Network (mainly UK)

awomanswrite is a quarterly writing contest for women, featuring a critique for every entrant, and a cash prize for the best submission.

Bella Online Contest Listing

Best Free Poetry Contests

Best New Sci Fi and Fantasy

BOOKJOBBER.com Science Fiction Short Story Contest. Writing contest for Science Fiction short stories between 7500 and 15000 words.

Boston Review - A political and literary forum. Short story and poetry contess.

Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest

Cadenza Magazine Short Story Competition - Seeks original, unpublished stories, not exceeding 4,000 words. Open theme (but no children's stories). Cash prizes total 350 English pounds. Entry fee: 5 pounds (or equivalent). Deadline: March 31.

Campbell River Online Story Contest. Two $150 prizes, plus gift packs including books, art, CDs, tours, and gift certificates

Canadian Writer's Journal Semi-annual Short Fiction Contest Short Fiction Semi-annual

Carve Magazine Short Story Contest - The Raymond Carver Short Story Award at Carve Magazine is one of the world's premier fiction awards for original, unpublished short stories. Maximum length: 10,000 words. Prize money totals $2,000. All submissions are considered for publication. International entries welcome. Entry fees: $15 (one), $25 (two), $30 (three). Only three entries per author are permitted. Closes: February 1.

Chistell Writing Contest. Poetry, Short Story. Open to 18 years and older.

Conversely Magazine Antidote Essay Contest Non-fiction essay Annual

Con-Version 20 Short Story Writing Contest -- Held each year in conjunction with the ConVersion science fiction and fantasy convention in Calgary, Alberta (http://www.con-version.org). Previous judges for the at-con live critiquing session of the 6 finalists (top 3 in each category) have included Peter David, Dave Duncan, Ed Bryant and

Diamond Cutters International/Marriage Proposal Essay - No Deadline

DMOZ Open Directory Project: Contests

Earth Vision Nature Writing Contest 2008

Enlisted Essay Contest

Fanstory.com - various contests with varying deadlines.

Florida Freelance Writer's Contest. The contest is open to all writers. You do not have to be a member of Florida Freelance Writers Association (FFWA) or a resident of Florida. Nonfiction, fiction, children's literature, poetry divisions.

Flyway - Fiction, nonfiction (maximum: 4,000 words) and poetry. Reading fee: $18. Deadline March 1st.

Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award - The Munster Literature Centre is pleased to announce it will be offering a prize of 50,000 Euros for the best original collection of Short Stories published in English, anywhere in the world.

Futures Mysterious Anthology Magazine Contest - Futures Mysterious Anthology Magazine seeks short stories in the mystery genre of 5,000 words or less.

George A Birmingham Short Story Competition

GiGi Books LLC, a Children's Audio and Picture Book Publisher, Children's Book Writing Contest. Grand prize: published story and $250. Submissions must be 400 words or less.

Glacier Press Fiction Writing Contest - Invites entries (maximum: 20,000 words) to a number of categories, including Short Story, Novel/Novella, and Children's Works. Prize: $500, plus publication. Deadline: April 30. Entry fee: $25.

Glimmer Train Awards for Fiction - Glimmer Train Press offers a number of awards for literary short fiction each year. The prize money for short stories less than 2,000 words, for example, totals $2,000. A reading fee of $10 is required. The Press is also open for submissions where no upfront fees are charged.

Google: Writers' Contests

Highlights for Children Fiction Contest -- We are seeking funny stories for children from 2 to 12. No crime, violence, or derogatory humor. Work from both published and unpublished authors is welcome. All submissions must be
previously unpublished.

HOLLIS SUMMERS POETRY PRIZE COMPETITION - The competition is open to both those who have not published a book-length collection and those who have. Entry fee: $15. The winning manuscript will be published by Ohio University Press the following year and will be awarded a cash prize of $500. Deadline: October 31.

Intergeneration Foundation's Annual Storytelling Contest - Open to all ages, this short story contest is designed to promote intergenerational understanding. Maximum length: 750 words. Cash prizes total $700. No entry fees.

International Annual Fish Short Story Prize Original, unpublished short stories, less than 5,000 words, on any theme, are sought. Deadline: November 30, each year. Entry fees: $16 for one, $11 each additional. First Prize: $2,500. The best eighteen short-listed stories will be published in an anthology, read by leading literary agents.

JBWB Competition Several Genres Quarterly

JMW Publishing Poetry Monthly

Katherine Anne Porter Prize in Short Fiction - Seeks manuscripts, between 27,500 and 50,000 words, made up of short stories and/or novellas. Prize: $1,000, plus publication. Entry fee: $20. Deadline: August 29.

Kids Can Do It - Ongoing essay contest. Kids, win $50.00, an autographed book from Sandra Humphrey and an award to hang in your room. In 300 words or less, tell us your true story about the most difficult decision you've had to make between right and wrong. A new winner will be picked every six months.

KIDSPEAK WRITING CONTEST. The American Dream Group offers a variety of contest to encourage people to pursue their dreams. We are currently offering a kids writing contest that can be found at http://kidspeak.home.att.net and a children's story writing contest that can be accessed through our main contest site at http://achieve-the-dream.net/contests.htm.

Literati Writing Competition - Realistic fiction, non-fiction, fiction, horror/paranormal.

Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition - An annual contest for original, unpublished stories up to 3,000 words in length, open to writers who have not yet achieved major market success. Cash prizes total $2,000. Entry fee: $10. Deadline mid-May.

Love Poems and Quotes Contest Monthly

MARGARET REID POETRY CONTEST FOR TRADITIONAL VERSE - Fifth year. Fourteen cash prizes totaling $5,250. Top prize $2,000. Submit poems in traditional verse forms, such as sonnets and free verse. Winning entries published online. Both published and unpublished work accepted. Entry fee is $6 for every 25 lines, payable to Winning Writers. Postmark deadline: June 30. Judges: J.H. Reid, D.C. Konrad. Submit online or mail to Winning Writers, Attn: Margaret Reid Poetry Contest, 351 Pleasant Street, PMB 222, Northampton, MA 01060. Winning Writers is proud to be one of "101 Best Websites for Writers" (Writer's Digest, 2005-2007). More information and past winning poems: www.winningwriters.com/margaret

Marine Corps Essay Contest

Marlene Awards Washington Romance Writers

Mixed Stories Contests. Short stories about being biracial or multiracial.

Momaya Press - The Momaya Annual Review seeks original short stories on any theme. Limit: 2,500 words. Deadline July 1. Prizes total $300. Entry fee: $10

Munster Literature Centre - Details the Sean O'Faolain Short Story Competition with two thousand Euros in prizes. Limit: 3,000 words. Deadline: July 31.

My Romance Story - Are you good at trivia? Do you like to write? Start playing today at MyRomanceStory.com to win cash & prizes .

National Novel Writing Month

National Writing Contest - Fountainhead Productions -- submit full-length novel manuscripts.

NATJA Awards Travel Journalism Annual

Never Ending Story Contest Fiction Monthly

New Century Writer Awards -- annual screenwriting, playwriting and fiction writing competition.

New Millennium Writings - Semi-annual. Eight $1000 prizes awarded per year

Painted Bride. Quarterly. Fiction.

Park Publications UK - The short story magazine. Fiction, articles, and poetry.

Photo Review International Photography Competition

Playwriting Contest - Annual contest seeks original, unproduced plays, open in theme, but suitable in both subject, and language, for family-oriented amateur groups. The winner receives a $1,000 royalty advance, and publication.

Poem Kingdom Poetry Varies

Pomegranate Words - Offering distance learning classes in poetry and fiction, critiquing services, forums, contests, and other resources for teen writers.

Principles of War Essay Contest

Prism Contest (Published Writers) -- Futuristic, Fantasy & Paranormal.

Pronghorn Press Short Story Annual

Prose-n-Poetry

Reaching Common Ground Essay Contest. Open to 16 to 22-year olds., 2,500 words or less. Sponsored by the Institute for Christian & Jewish Studies.

Read my Words. Short fiction. 2,500 words max. $5 reading fee. See site for prizes.

Sally Odger's Contests Varies Regularly

Santa Fe Writers Project - Resources, awards, and support for writers.

Science Fiction Writers of Earth

Screenwriter Showcase

Screenwriting Contest $10,000 in cash. $8,000 in prizes.

Screenwriting Contests and Markets

Scriptapalooza Screenwriting Competition

Shriekfest - Los Angeles International horror/Thriller/Science Fiction Film Festival & Screenplay Competition

Songwriting Contests

Southeastern Writers Association -- The MLB Young Adult Award: True-life fiction (like a fictional journal/play-by-play of somebody's life like the "Adrian Mole" series by Sue Townsend) or Fantasy fiction (like the "Star Shards Trilogy" by Neil Shusterman or the R.L. Stein books). Maximum Word Count: 3000. This contest will be judged by teenaged readers. The Hudson Award For Speculative Fiction: A short story of 3000 words max. For work in SF/Fantasy and related genres, sponsored by Tim and Sheila Hudson. The Jarvis Humor Award: Send a complete manuscript not over 1000 hilarious words to enter this writers contest. The Cappy Award: Southern Regional Literary Fiction. Send a complete short story no more than 3000 words, or the first chapter and a synopsis of a novel. For work in the tradition of O’Connor and Welty. The Harry Rubin Limerick Award: Send three limericks. The Angel Award: Short fiction, poetry or essays of 1200 words maximum
about the Holiday season. NO book length manuscripts. The SWA Best Overall Fiction Award: To be chosen from the first place winners in Novel, Juvenile and Short Fiction categories.

Southword Editions Poetry Chapbook Competition (Entry fee 10 euros by credit card or 10 euros, £10 or US15 by cheque)

SpecFicWorld's Annual Speculative Fiction Contest - Science Fiction, Fantasy and/or Horror stories up to 10,000 words are required. Entry fee: $6. Cash prizes total $325. Deadline: March 15.

Spring into Romance Contest

Teen Ink Contests - Artwork, cartoons, essays, fiction, journalism, photography, plays / screenwriting, poetry.

TenTen Fiction Competition - Annual. Literary fiction. A Short Story in exactly 1,010 words.

Tickled by Thunder - Fiction.

Toasted Cheese Fiction Contests - Toasted Cheese Literary Journal currently offers three short story contests on given themes, each year. No entry fees. Modest prizes. Deadlines vary.

TOM HOWARD/JOHN H. REID POETRY CONTEST - Sixth year. Fourteen cash prizes totaling $5,250. Top prize $2,000. Submit poems in any style or genre. Both published and unpublished work accepted. Winning entries published online. Entry fee is $6 for every 25 lines, payable to Winning Writers. Postmark deadline: September 30. Judges: J.H. Reid, D.C. Konrad. Submit online or mail to Winning Writers, Attn: Tom Howard Poetry Contest, 351 Pleasant Street, PMB 222, Northampton, MA 01060. Winning Writers is proud to be one of "101 Best Websites for Writers" (Writer's Digest, 2005-2007). More information and past winning poems: www.winningwriters.com/tompoetry

Tony Hillerman Mystery Short Story Contest -- We want your best mystery short story, set in the Western or Southwestern United States. The story must include at least one cowboy and/or Native American character. We’re looking for compelling, original, well-written stories that have not been previously published. The contest is jointly sponsored by Cowboys & Indians Magazine and Wordharvest.

The University of New Orleans, the pioneer in writing programs abroad, is pleased to announce the third annual writing contest for study-abroad in Europe, Summer, 2007. Full fee waivers ($4,000.00 value) will be granted to one writer each in the genres of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction. Partial awards and honorable mentions may also be granted. Winners may attend either of UNO’s 2007 study-abroad writing programs:
Madrid Summer Seminars. Writing Workshops in Montpellier. (Please see http://lowres.uno.edu for complete information about the programs.)
Submission Deadline: January 31, 2007 (postmark). Complete Guidelines: http://lowres.uno.edu/contest.cfm

Vestal Review (short stories)
The reading for our first contest begins October 1 and lasts until November 15. Winners will be announced by November 30. The awards will be: $150 for the 1st place, $50 for the 2nd, $20 for 3rd, and $15 to three finalists. $5 fee per entry.

The Vocabula Well-Written Writing Contest
Eligibility: The Vocabula Well-Written Writing Contest is open to all.
Write 200 to 500 words of readable, well-written, even beautiful writing. Along with your submission, you must include your name, address, and email address. Selection: We accept nonfiction submissions only. Entries are judged on readability, beauty, and creativity -- in that order. Submissions not meeting the word count requirements are disqualified.
Prizes: First prize is $200 and your choice of any three $40 Special Offer books.
Second prize is $100 and your choice of any one $40 Special Offer book.
Winning entries will also be published in The Vocabula Review and may be considered for publication in a forthcoming anthology.
Everyone who submits an entry will receive the PDF version of 101 Elegant Paragraphs, a $10 value.
Fees: There is a $20 entry fee.
Copyrights: The author retains the copyright to his or her writing.
Notification: Winners are announced every August 30 (beginning in 2008). Winners are notified by email.

Voices Anthology Poetry, haiku and short story Quarterly

WAR POETRY CONTEST - Seventh year. Fifteen cash prizes totaling $5,000. Top prize $2,000. Submit 1-3 unpublished poems on the theme of war, up to 500 lines in all. Winning entries published online. Sponsored by Winning Writers. $15 entry fee, payable to Winning Writers. Postmark deadline: May 31. Judge: Jendi Reiter. Include cover sheet with contact information. No name on poems. Submit online or mail to Winning Writers, Attn: War Poetry Contest, 351 Pleasant Street, PMB 222, Northampton, MA 01060. Winning Writers is proud to be one of "101 Best Websites for Writers" (Writer's Digest, 2005-2007). More information and past winning poems: www.winningwriters.com/war

Warren Adler: Show Me The Funny. The Summer 2008 Warren Adler Short Story Contest Suggested by the recent publication of Warren Adler's latest novel, Funny Boys, the theme for the Summer 2008 Warren Adler Short Story Contest is humor. We're looking for humorous stories in all their varied forms. From satire to farce, from the whimsical to the uproarious, all writers looking to get a laugh (in a good way!) should enter. We are looking for the subtle and the pungent, the black and dark, the sporty, the salty, the waggish, or whatever can spark a knowing smile, a sly chuckle, or a hysterical belly laugh. In other words, anything goes, just as long as it falls into this category, however one stretches its elastic boundaries.

Whim's Place Flash Fiction Contests -- We're seeking the next MAJOR nonfiction writing talent who lives WEST of the Mississippi!

Whisper Stories - sponsored by Purple Pen. All genre except adult. $15 entry. Completion of a story for which the opening line is already provided.

Whisper Stories Contests - Promotes writing contests in which authors are asked to complete a story from a set opening sentence. Current deadlines: January 31 and April 30. Prize money: $500 and $5,500 respectively. Entry fees: $5 and $15 respectively.

Wild Violet Writing Contests

William Saroyan International Prize for Writing - newly published books.

Women Writers of the Desert

Word Smitten Flash Fiction Competition - Word Smitten offers a Flash Fiction Contest of 500 words or less. Prize: $150.

Words Magazine - Seeks original short stories for various themed contests throughout the year. Limit: 2,000 words. Accepts IRCs for entry fees.

WOW! Women On Writing Winter 2008 Flash Fiction Contest, sponsored by W. W. Norton & Company. Open prompt--open to any style and genre, 250-500 words. Entry fee: $5. Awards: $200, $150, $100 plus gift certificates and W.W. Norton goodie bags. Winners will be published on WOW!, free downloadable e-book. Deadline: February 29, 2008.

Write Angle Playwriting Contest Play writing Monthly

Writers Digest Contests - Ongoing

Writer's Nook Contest Page

Writers Notes Annual Writing Contest. Fiction and nonfiction.

Writers of the Future L Ron Hubbard site. Science Fiction / Fantasy Quarterly

Writers' Spot Short Story Semi-annual

WriterSpace Book Contests - Ongoing

WritersWeekly 24-Hour Short Story Contest - Ongoing quarterly contests require entrants to submit a short story within 24 hours of the topic's notification. $5 entry fee. Cash prizes total $750 for first, second and third places.

Writing Competitions - An opening sentence is provided.

Zoetrope: Literary Short Fiction Contest - All entries must be unpublished; no longer than 5,000 words; postmarked by October 1; accompanied by a $15 entry fee per story. 1st Prize: $1,000. 2nd Prize: $500. 3rd Prize: $250.