Join Our Mailing List
(enter your email address)

Global
Writing Competitions

Global Writing Contests


Writing contests are a great way for poetry and fiction writers to get their work noticed by the literary community. Enclosed is a list of writing contests, including short story writing competions, essay contests and/or poetry contests from writing organizations around the world. All of the contests listed below either a) offer a minimum grand prize of $250 or b) are free to enter.

We make every effort to list only legitimate writing competitions, and try not to list publications that require an additional "purchase" before entrants are eligible to win any award. However, we also take no responsibility for the legitimacy of any of the following writing contests, and as always we recommend you do your own research.

OnceWritten.com
Contests

Current OnceWritten.com Writing Contest Deadlines


OnceWritten.com In the Midnight Hour Halloween Fiction Contest

Short Fiction, horror (unpublished)
Award: $500 & publication; Fee: $15; Deadline: 08/31/2008

OnceWritten.com In the Midnight Hour Halloween Fiction Contest Guidelines

OnceWritten.com Fall Fiction Contest

Short Fiction (5,000 words, max; unpublished)
Award: $1,000; Fee: $15; Deadline: 10/31/2008

OnceWritten.com Fall Fiction Contest Guidelines

OnceWritten.com Annual Poetry Contest

Poetry (unpublished)
Award: $500 & publication; Fee: $15; Deadline: 03/31/2009

OnceWritten.com Annual Poetry Contest Guidelines


May 11, 2008

Bookhabit Unpublished Competition

Book-Length Manuscript (50,000 words, min.; unpublished)
Award: $5,000; Fee: No Fee

Bookhabit Unpublished Competition Guidelines

May 9, 2008

Atlanta Review International Poetry Competition

Poetry (unpublished)
Award: $2,008 & publication; Fee: $5

Atlanta Review International Poetry Competition Guidelines

May 11, 2008

Bookhabit Unpublished Competition

Book-Length Manuscript (50,000 words, min.; unpublished)
Award: $5,000; Fee: No Fee

Bookhabit Unpublished Competition Guidelines

May 14, 2008

New Writing Contest Listing

Boulevard Magazine Poetry Contest for Emerging Poets

Poetry (Three poems, unpublished)
Award: $1,000 & publication; Fee: $15

Boulevard Magazine Poetry Contest for Emerging Poets Guidelines


New Writing Contest Listing

Doug Fir Fiction Award

Short Fiction (nature themed, 5,000 words, max.)
Award: $1,000 & publication; Fee: $15

Doug Fir Fiction Award Guidelines

May 15, 2008

New Writing Contest Listing

Ashland Poetry Press Richard Snyder Publication Prize

Poetry MS (50-80 pages, unpublished)
Award: $1,000 & publication; Fee: $25

Ashland Poetry Press Richard Snyder Publication Prize Guidelines


Blue Lynx Prize for Poetry

Poetry MS (48 pages, min.)
Award: $1,500 & publication; Fee: $25

Blue Lynx Prize for Poetry Guidelines


New Writing Contest Listing

James Laughlin Award

Poetry (second published book)
Award: $5,000; No fee

James Laughlin Award Guidelines


New Writing Contest Listing

Slapering Hol Press Annual Chapbook Competition

Poetry Chapbook (16-20 pages, unpublished)
Award: $1,000 & publication; Fee: $15

Slapering Hol Press Annual Chapbook Competition Guidelines


New Writing Contest Listing

The Idaho Prize for Poetry

Poetry MS (48 pages, min.)
Award: $1,000 & publication; Fee: $25

The Idaho Prize for Poetry Guidelines


New Writing Contest Listing

The Spokane Prize for Short Fiction

Short Fiction MS (98 pages, min.)
Award: $1,500 & publication; Fee: $25

The Spokane Prize for Short Fiction Guidelines


Writer's Digest Annual Writing Competition

Poetry, Fiction, Essay, Scripts
Award: $3,000 & trip to New York; Fee: $10+

Writer's Digest Annual Writing Competition Guidelines

May 18, 2008

New Writing Contest Listing

Alexander Patterson Cappon Prize for Fiction

Fiction (8,000 words, max; unpublished)
Award: $1,500 & publication; Fee: $15

Alexander Patterson Cappon Prize for Fiction Guidelines


New Writing Contest Listing

Dorothy Churchill Cappon Prize for the Essay

Non-Fiction (8,000 words, max; unpublished)
Award: $1,500 & publication; Fee: $15

Dorothy Churchill Cappon Prize for the Essay Guidelines


New Writing Contest Listing

New Letters Prize for Poetry

Poetry (3-6 poems, unpublished)
Award: $1,500 & publication; Fee: $15

New Letters Prize for Poetry Guidelines

May 30, 2008

Gival Press Novel Award

Novel (30,000-100,000 words, max; unpublished)
Award: $3,000 & publication; Fee: $50

Gival Press Novel Award Guidelines

May 31, 2008

A Woman's Write Query Letter Contest

Query Letter
Award: $25 and critique; Fee: $12

A Woman's Write Query Letter Contest Guidelines


New Writing Contest Listing

Elixir Press Fiction Award

Fiction MS (120-500 pages, unpublished)
Award: $4,000 & publication; Fee: $35

Elixir Press Fiction Award Guidelines


Elizabeth Simpson Smith Contest

Short Fiction (1,500-4,000 words, max., unpublished)
Award: $500; Fee: $20

Elizabeth Simpson Smith Contest Guidelines


New Writing Contest Listing

River Styx International Poetry Contest

Poetry (3 poems, 14 pages, max.)
Award: $1,500 & publication; Fee: $20

River Styx International Poetry Contest Guidelines


New Writing Contest Listing

Sheldon Currie Fiction Prize

Short Fiction (20 pages, max., unpublished)
Award: $600 & publication; Fee: $25

Sheldon Currie Fiction Prize Guidelines


New Writing Contest Listing

St. Louis Poetry Center Best Poem Contest

Poetry (3 poems, 60 lines, max.; unpublished)
Award: $2,000 & publication; Fee: $15

St. Louis Poetry Center Best Poem Contest Guidelines


University of Georgia Press Flannery O'Connor Awards

Fiction (200-275 pages)
Award: $1,000 & publication; Fee: $20

University of Georgia Press Flannery O'Connor Awards Guidelines


Winning Writers War Poetry Contest

Poetry (1-3 poems, war themed)
Award: $2,000 & publication; Fee: $15

Winning Writers War Poetry Contest Guidelines

June 1, 2008

Boston Review Poetry Contest

Poetry (5 poems, max; unpublished)
Award: $1,500 & publication; Fee: $20

Boston Review Poetry Contest Guidelines


New Writing Contest Listing

Howard Frank Mosher Short Fiction Prize

Short Fiction (10,000 words, max.; unpublished)
Award: $1,000 & publication; Fee: $15

Howard Frank Mosher Short Fiction Prize Guidelines


The Unsung Writer's Contest

Short Fiction (Paranormal aspect, 600-1,500 words)
Award: $500; Fee: $15

The Unsung Writer's Contest Guidelines

June 7, 2008

New Writing Contest Listing

Literal Latte Short Shorts Awards

Short short fiction (2,000 words max; unpublished)
Award: $500 & publication; Fee: $10

Literal Latte Short Shorts Awards Guidelines

June 15, 2008

New Writing Contest Listing

The Chelsea Award for Short Fiction

Short Fiction (7,500 words, unpublished)
Award: $1,000 & publication; Fee: $15

The Chelsea Award for Short Fiction Guidelines


New Writing Contest Listing

The Frances Locke Memorial Poetry Award

Poetry (5 poems, max.)
Award: $1,000 & publication; Fee: $10

The Frances Locke Memorial Poetry Award Guidelines


The William Stafford Award for Poetry

Poetry (3-6 poems, unpublished)
Award: $1,000 & publication; Fee: $10

The William Stafford Award for Poetry Guidelines

June 17, 2008

New Writing Contest Listing

New Millenium Writings Award

Fiction, Poetry, Non-Fiction (6,000 words, max.; unpublished)
Award: $1,000; Fee: $17

New Millenium Writings Award Guidelines

June 20, 2008

New Writing Contest Listing

Great Blue Heron Poetry Contest

Poetry (150 lines, max.)
Award: $600 & publication; Fee: $25

Great Blue Heron Poetry Contest Guidelines


New Writing Contest Listing

StoryMash Mash for Cash

One-chapter story continuation
Award: $300; No Fee

StoryMash Mash for Cash Guidelines

June 27, 2008

Gival Press Oscar Wilde Award

Poem (unpublished)
Award: $100 & publication; Fee: $5

Gival Press Oscar Wilde Award Guidelines

June 30, 2008

New Writing Contest Listing

Arc Poetry Magazine Poem of the Year Contest

Poetry (2 poems, max., 100 lines each)
Award: $1,500 & publication; Fee: $23 (CDN)

Arc Poetry Magazine Poem of the Year Contest Guidelines


New Writing Contest Listing

Finishing Line Press Open Chapbook Competition

Poetry Chapbook (26 pages, max)
Award: $1,000 & publication; Fee: $15

Finishing Line Press Open Chapbook Competition Guidelines


Margaret Reid Poetry Contest

Poetry (traditional verse; unpublished)
Award: $3,000 & publication; Fee: $6 per 25 lines

Margaret Reid Poetry Contest Guidelines


New Writing Contest Listing

Red Hen Press Short Fiction Award

Short Fiction (25 pages, max)
Award: $1,000 & publication; Fee: $15

Red Hen Press Short Fiction Award Guidelines


New Writing Contest Listing

The Akron Poetry Prize

Poetry MS (100 pages, max)
Award: $1,000 & publication; Fee: $25

The Akron Poetry Prize Guidelines


New Writing Contest Listing

The Bridport Prize

Short Fiction, Poetry (5,000 words, 42 lines, unpublished)
Award: £5,000; Fee: $13 (USD)

The Bridport Prize Guidelines


New Writing Contest Listing

The Writer 2008 Mystery Short Story Contest

Short Fiction (2,000 words, max; unpublished)
Award: $1,000 & publication; Fee: $10

The Writer 2008 Mystery Short Story Contest Guidelines


New Writing Contest Listing

The Writer's Bureau Poetry & Short Story Competition

Poetry & Short Stories (2,000 words, 40 lines, max., unpublished)
Award: £1.000 & publication; Fee: $9 USD

The Writer's Bureau Poetry & Short Story Competition Guidelines

July 1, 2008

New Writing Contest Listing

Baltimore Review Poetry Competition

Poetry (4 poems, max.; unpublished)
Award: $300 & publication; Fee: $15

Baltimore Review Poetry Competition Guidelines


Kiwi Publishing Thin Threads Story Contest

Non-Fiction (1,000 words, max.)
Award: $500 & publication; No Fee

Kiwi Publishing Thin Threads Story Contest Guidelines


New Writing Contest Listing

The Muriel Craft Bailey Memorial Award

Poetry (40 lines, max.; unpublished)
Award: $1,000 & publication; Fee: $4

The Muriel Craft Bailey Memorial Award Guidelines

July 15, 2008

New Writing Contest Listing

Glimmer Train's Fiction Open

Fiction (20,000 words, max.; unpublished)
Award: $2,000 & publication; Fee: $20

Glimmer Train's Fiction Open Guidelines


New Writing Contest Listing

Literal Latte Poetry Awards

Poetry (2,000 words max; unpublished)
Award: $1,000 & publication; Fee: $10

Literal Latte Poetry Awards Guidelines

July 31, 2008

Ascent Aspirations Contest

Poetry, Flash Fiction (Erotica-themed)
Award: $100 & publication; Fee: $5-$10

Ascent Aspirations Contest Guidelines


Chapter/Excerpt of the Year

Chapter Excerpt (10,000 words, max.)
Award: $1,000 & marketing package; Fee: $15

Chapter/Excerpt of the Year Guidelines


Dreamquestone.com Poetry Contest

Poetry (30 lines, max.)
Award: $250 & publication; Fee: $5

Dreamquestone.com Poetry Contest Guidelines


Dreamquestone.com Writing Contest

Short Stories (5 pages, max.)
Award: $500 & publication; Fee: $10

Dreamquestone.com Writing Contest Guidelines


New Writing Contest Listing

Glimmer Train's Very Short Fiction Award

Fiction (3,000 words, max.; unpublished)
Award: $1,200 & publication; Fee: $15

Glimmer Train's Very Short Fiction Award Guidelines

August 1, 2008

New Writing Contest Listing

Memoirs, Ink Fifth Annual Writing Contest

Personal Essay (3,000 words, max.; unpublished)
Award: $1,000 & publication; Fee: $15

Memoirs, Ink Fifth Annual Writing Contest Guidelines

August 8, 2008

Gival Press Short Story Award

Short Fiction (5,000-15,000 words, max; unpublished)
Award: $1,000 & publication; Fee: $25

Gival Press Short Story Award Guidelines

August 15, 2008

New Writing Contest Listing

The Fourth Annual Camber Press Poetry Chapbook Award

Poetry Chapbook (24 pages, max)
Award: $1,000 & publication; Fee: $15

The Fourth Annual Camber Press Poetry Chapbook Award Guidelines

August 31, 2008

2008 Paradigm Novel Contest

Novel (35,000 words, min.)
Award: $500 & publication; Fee: $20

2008 Paradigm Novel Contest Guidelines


OnceWritten.com In the Midnight Hour Halloween Fiction Contest

Short Fiction, horror (unpublished)
Award: $500 & publication; Fee: $15

OnceWritten.com In the Midnight Hour Halloween Fiction Contest Guidelines

September 1, 2008

Evolve Beyond Violence Non Fiction Essay Award

Essay (800 words, max.)
Award: $1,000 & publication; Fee: $15

Evolve Beyond Violence Non Fiction Essay Award Guidelines

September 30, 2008

Charles B. Wheeler Prize in Poetry

Poetry Manuscript (48 pages min., unpublished)
Award: $3,000 & book contract; Fee: $25

Charles B. Wheeler Prize in Poetry Guidelines

October 1, 2008

Boston Review Sixteenth Annual Short-Story Contest

Short Fiction (4,000 words max; unpublished)
Award: $1,500 & publication; Fee: $20

Boston Review Sixteenth Annual Short-Story Contest Guidelines

October 15, 2008

So To Speak Annual Non-Fiction Contest

Non-Fiction (4,000 words, max.)
Award: $500 & publication; Fee: $15

So To Speak Annual Non-Fiction Contest Guidelines


So To Speak Poetry Contest

Poetry (2-5 poems)
Award: $500 & publication; Fee: $15

So To Speak Poetry Contest Guidelines


Earth Vision Nature Writing Contest

Nature themed writing
Award: $500; Fee: $12

Earth Vision Nature Writing Contest Guidelines


Inspired Alms Writing Contest

Poetry, Short Story
Award: $500; Fee: $6

Inspired Alms Writing Contest Guidelines

October 31, 2008

OnceWritten.com Fall Fiction Contest

Short Fiction (5,000 words, max; unpublished)
Award: $1,000; Fee: $15

OnceWritten.com Fall Fiction Contest Guidelines

March 31, 2009

New Writing Contest Listing

OnceWritten.com Annual Poetry Contest

Poetry (unpublished)
Award: $500 & publication; Fee: $15

OnceWritten.com Annual Poetry Contest Guidelines

May 1, 2009

The Malahat Review Far Horizons Fiction Contest

Short Fiction (3,500 words, max.; unpublished)
Award: $500 (CAD) & publication; Fee: $25

The Malahat Review Far Horizons Fiction Contest Guidelines

June 1, 2009

New Writing Contest Listing

Fred Bonnie Memorial Award for First Novel

MS Fiction (unpublished)
Award: $1,500 advance; Fee: $40

Fred Bonnie Memorial Award for First Novel Guidelines

June 7, 2020

Arts & Letters Prizes

Short Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Essay (unpublished)
Award: $1,000; Fee: $15

Arts & Letters Prizes Guidelines

Free Writing
Contests

No Fee Contest Book If you are interested only in free writing contests, you should pick up a copy of Hope Clark's The No Fee Contest Book. In her research, as editor of FundsforWriters.com, she's identified more than 250 writing competitions that don't charge anything for contest submissions. For just $7.95, you can immediately download the e-book that contains contest listings, respective online links, and Hope's advice on entering writing competitions. 

Order The No Fee Contest Book now.


Free Writing Contest Website Content



All webmasters know the importance of creating "sticky" content, information that keeps your readers returning to your website, time and time again. OnceWritten.com provides you with the opportunity to provide your website or blog visitors with updated writing contest content, absolutely free.

Find out how you can put a self-updating Writing Contests Graph on your website, absolutely FREE!.


Random Read

No Experts Needed: The Meaning of Life According to You
Louise Lewis

The author narrates the true story of her four-year journey of following messages received from Spirit... messages that led her to a new life of meaning. Her story weaves through a vast collection of spontaneous 'meaning of life' answers and inspirational stories from everyday...

Send this Page
to a Friend

Help Spread the Word


Want to foward the information on this page to a friend? Click the Global Writing Contests page link now for an easy way to e-mail your friends a link back to this page.

(Please note this link opens in a new window, so please make sure your pop-up blocker is deactivated.)

Related
Websites