Essay Writing Contests: The Ultimate List of 2024
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Did you know that the very first recorded essay contest can be traced back to the early 16th century, initiated by none other than the renowned philosopher and essayist Michel de Montaigne? In 1580, Montaigne published his collection of essays titled 'Essais,' which not only marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of the essay as a literary form but also contained an implicit challenge to his readers. He encouraged them to engage with his ideas and respond by writing their own essays, essentially laying the groundwork for what we now recognize as essay contests.
Fast forward to the vibrant year of 2024, and this tradition of writing competitions has evolved into a global phenomenon, offering emerging writers from all walks of life a captivating platform to share their thoughts, emotions, and narratives with the world.
In this article, our essay writer will review essay writing contests, presenting you with an exclusive selection of the most promising opportunities for the year ahead. Each of these competitions not only provides a stage to demonstrate your writing prowess but also offers a unique avenue for personal growth, self-expression, and intellectual exploration, all while competing for impressive writing awards and well-deserved recognition.
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Top Essay Writing Contests in 2024
If you enjoy expressing your thoughts and ideas through writing, you're in for a treat. Essay writing competitions in 2024 offer you a chance to do just that and win some great prizes in the process. We've put together a list of contests specially designed for students like you. These contests cover various interesting essay topics , giving you a unique opportunity to showcase your writing skills and potentially earn cash prizes or scholarships. So, let's jump right into these fantastic opportunities.
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2024 International Literary Prize by Hammond House Publishing
The 2024 Writing Competition beckons writers with over £3000 in cash prizes, publication opportunities in anthologies, and a chance to participate in a televised Award Ceremony. Sponsored by the University Centre Grimsby, this annual contest, now in its eighth year, draws entries from approximately 30 countries worldwide. Entrants can vie for prizes across four categories, gaining exposure at the televised award ceremony and receiving expert feedback at the annual literary festival.
And if you're determined to learn how to overcome writer's block for this contest, we have a wealth of expert tips and strategies to guide you through the process!
Deadline: 30th September 2024
- 1st Prize: £1000
- 2nd Prize: £100
- 3rd Prize: £50
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International Voices in Creative Nonfiction Competition by Vine Leaves Press
Vine Leaves Press welcomes writers worldwide, prioritizing voices from marginalized communities such as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and individuals with chronic illnesses or disabilities, among others. Submissions, which must be in English and previously unpublished, are accepted from February 1, 2024, until July 1, 2024. Manuscripts can be either narrative (50,000 – 80,000 words) or experimental (at least 100 pages), adhering to specific formatting guidelines, including anonymity to ensure impartial judging. Each submission requires a $25 entry fee via Submittable, and multiple entries are allowed. Entries will be judged based on originality, creativity, writing quality, and adherence to genre, with finalists announced in October 2024, shortlisted in January 2025, and winners in March 2025.
Deadline: July 01, 2024
- The winner will receive a cash prize of $1000.
- Publication of the winning manuscript will occur in 2026 by Vine Leaves Press.
- Runners-up will also be considered for publication.
Solas Awards by Best Travel Writing
The Solas Awards, continuing a tradition since 1993, celebrate travel stories that inspire. They're looking for engaging tales that capture the essence of exploration, whether funny, enlightening, or adventurous. Winners may get published and join a community of fellow storytellers. Entries in essay, non-fiction, and travel genres are welcome with a $25 submission fee.
Deadline: September 21, 2024
- $1,000 Gold
- $750 Silver
- $500 Bronze
Vocal Challenges by Creatd
Vocal, in partnership with Voices in Minor (ViM), announces a creator-led challenge in celebration of International Women's Day, open to all Vocal creators. Participants are invited to write a 600-800 word piece about a woman who has inspired them for International Women's Day in the Year of the Dragon 2024. Submissions must adhere to specific length criteria and can be of any genre or format. Vocal will review entries and create a shortlist, from which ViM will select two co-grand prize winners and ten runners-up.
Deadline: Mar 12, 2024
- 2 Co-Grand Prizes: $200
- 10 Runners-up: $20
Cambridge Re:think Essay Competition 2024
The Re:think Essay Competition welcomes students aged 14 to 18 worldwide to participate in crafting essays under 2000 words, following MLA 8 citation style, with submissions undergoing plagiarism and AI checks. Essay prompts cover diverse themes, such as the role of women in STEM , provided by distinguished professors from prestigious institutions like Harvard, Brown, UC Berkeley, Cambridge, Oxford, and MIT. To maintain anonymity during review, submissions should be in PDF format without personal details.
Deadline : 10th May, 2024
- Gold: $150 cash, $500 CCIR scholarship, digital certificate, interview, Cambridge invite.
- Silver: $100 cash, $300 CCIR scholarship, digital certificate, interview, Cambridge invite.
- Bronze: $50 cash, $200 CCIR scholarship, digital certificate, interview, Cambridge invite.
The Hudson Prize by Black Lawrence Press
Each year, Black Lawrence Press presents The Hudson Prize, inviting submissions for an unpublished collection of poems or prose. This competition is open to writers at all stages of their careers, offering the winner book publication, a $1,000 cash prize, and ten copies of the published book. Entries are read blind by a panel of editors, requiring manuscripts to adhere to specific formatting guidelines, including pagination and font choice. Poetry manuscripts should be 45-95 pages, while prose manuscripts should range from 120-280 pages.
Deadline : March 31, 2024
- Top prize $1,000
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Irene Adler Prize by Lucas Ackroyd
Introducing The Irene Adler Prize essay writing contest, offering a $1,000 US scholarship to the winner, with up to two $250 awards for honorable mentions. Open to women pursuing bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. degrees in journalism, creative writing, or literature worldwide, regardless of age. Unlike previous years, this year's competition welcomes applicants from any country. The application period runs from January 30, 2024, to May 30, 2024, with no late submissions accepted. Each application requires a 500-word essay on one of five provided prompts and a completed entry form, both submitted via email.
Deadline : May 30, 2024
- 2x honorable mentions: $250
100 Word Writing Contest by Tadpole Press
With a doubled first-place prize of $2,000 USD, participants are invited from all corners of the globe, regardless of age, gender, or nationality. Pen names are accepted, and winning entries will be published under those names. Previously published pieces are also welcome, with no restrictions. Any genre is accepted, with the theme centered around creativity. Each entry must be 100 words or less, including the title.
Deadline : April 30, 2024
- 1st place: $2,000 USD.
- 2nd place: Writing coaching package valued at $450 USD.
- 3rd place: Developmental and diversity editing package valued at $250 USD.
African Diaspora Awards 2024 by Kinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc
The African Diaspora Award 2024 seeks original works from Afro-descendants, including short stories, flash fiction, essays, poetry, or visual art. Winners can earn up to $1000 USD and publication in Kinsman Quarterly and "Black Butterfly: Voices of the African Diaspora." Submissions reflecting cultural themes are due by June 30, 2024. Authors retain copyrights, and entrants must be 18 or older. No plagiarism is allowed, and Kinsman Quarterly employees cannot enter. Various genres are accepted with specific word count limits.
Deadline : June 30, 2024
- Grand Prize: $1000 cash and publication in Kinsman Quarterly & anthology.
- 1st Runner Up: $300 cash and publication
- 2nd Runner Up: $200 cash and publication
- 3rd Runner Up: $50 cash and publication
- Top 6 Finalists: $25 Amazon gift card and publication
- 6 Honorary Mentions: Publication in Kinsman Quarterly & anthology.
Work-In-Progress (WIP) Contest by Unleash Press
The Unleash WIP Award 2024 offers $500, feedback, coaching, and a feature in Unleash Lit to help writers with their book projects in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. All writers can apply. So, if you're looking for resources like free Harvard online courses to hone your writing skills, consider entering this competition. Submissions of the first 25 pages and answers to questions are due by July 15, 2024. Multiple entries are okay, but follow the rules, especially keeping your submission anonymous. Unleash also welcomes previously self-published works.
Deadline : July 15, 2024
- Top prize: $500
- Additional prizes: Coaching, interview, and editorial support
Aurora Polaris Creative Nonfiction Award by Trio House Press
Open to all writers, the poetry manuscripts should be 48-70 pages, and the prose manuscripts should be up to 80,000 words. Submissions must be from U.S. residents and must be original works. AI-generated submissions and translations are not eligible. Manuscripts should be sent as a single Word doc. or docx. file with no identifying information, and a cover letter with bio and contact details should be uploaded separately.
Deadline: May 15, 2024
- $1,000, publication, and 20 books
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Poetry & Spoken Word Competition 2024 by Write the World
Young writers aged 13 to 19.5 are invited to enter this upcoming competition, with submissions of 50 to 500 words. Inspired by Audrey Lorde's words and the power of poetry, participants are encouraged to craft original poems or spoken word pieces advocating for change and self-expression. Winners, including top prizes for written and recorded performances, will be announced on June 14. Malika Booker, a renowned British poet, serves as the guest judge. To enter, writers should sign up on Write the World, respond to the prompt, and submit their final entries before the deadline.
Deadline : May 27, 2024
- Best entry: $100
- Best Peer Review: $50
Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award
The Killer Nashville essay writing contests seek to uncover new talent and recognize outstanding works by established authors, aiming to introduce their works to a broader audience. With numerous fiction and non-fiction categories available, writers have the opportunity to showcase their talent across a wide range of genres. The top prize includes a $250 award, and entry requires a fee of $79. Genres eligible for entry encompass crime, essay, fantasy, fiction, humor, memoir, mystery, non-fiction, novel, poetry, science fiction, script writing, short story, and thriller.
Deadline : June 15, 2024
- Top prize: $250
Journalism Competition 2024 by Write the World
In this upcoming competition, young writers aged 13 to 19.5 are invited to participate, with entries ranging from 400 to 1000 words. Participants are tasked with exploring and reporting on significant events within their own country, fostering a deeper understanding of local issues. Optional draft submissions for expert review are available until July 8, with feedback returned to writers by July 12. Winners will be announced on August 9. To enter, writers must sign up for a free account on Write the World, respond to the prompt, and submit their final entries before the deadline.
Deadline : July 22, 2024
National Essay Contest by U.S. Institute of Peace
This year, AFSA is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the United States Foreign Service. They've been involved in important events throughout history, like making decisions about war and peace, supporting human rights, and responding to disasters. Now, AFSA wants students to think about the future of diplomacy. They're asking students to imagine how diplomats can adapt to the changing world and its challenges. It's a chance for students to explore how diplomacy can continue to make a difference in the world.
Deadline : April 01, 2024
- Top prize: $2,500
- Additional prizes: Runner-up: $1,250
In 2023, the world of writing competitions offers a diverse tapestry of opportunities for writers across the globe. From exploring the depths of nature to delving into the mysteries of microfiction, these competitions beckon with enticing prizes and platforms for your creative voice. So, pick your favorite, sharpen your pen, and embark on a journey of literary excellence!
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7 Essay Writing Contests to Look Out For in 2023
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7-minute read
- 28th December 2022
Essay contests are not only a great way to exercise your essay-writing skills but also an awesome way to win cash prizes, scholarships, and internship or program opportunities. They also look wonderful on college applications as awards and achievements.
In this article, you’ll learn about 7 essay writing contests to enter in 2023. Watch the video below, or keep reading to learn more.
1. Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
Deadline: Now–April 30, 3023
Who may enter:
This is an international contest for people of all ages (except for residents of Syria, Iran, North Korea, Crimea, Russia, and Belarus due to US government restrictions).
Contest description:
● The contest is organized by Winning Writers, located in MA, USA.
● They accept stories and essays on any theme, up to 6,000 words each. This contest defines a story as any short work of fiction and an essay as any short work of nonfiction.
● Your stories and essays must be submitted in English.
● You may submit published or unpublished work.
Entry fee: USD 22 per entry
● Story: First Prize is USD 3,000.
● Essay: First Prize is USD 3,000.
● 10 Honorable Mentions will receive USD 300 each (any category).
● The top 12 entries will be published online.
Official website
Please visit the competition’s official website for more information on judges and submissions.
2. 2023 Calibre Essay Prize
Deadline: Now–January 15, 2023, 11:59 pm
Who may enter: All ages and any nationality or residency are accepted.
● This contest is hosted by the Australian Book Review.
● Your essay must be between 2,000 and 5,000 words.
● You may submit nonfiction essays of all kinds, e.g., personal, political, literary, or speculative.
● You may enter multiple essays but will need to pay separate fees for each one.
● Your essay must be unpublished.
Entry fee: AU 30 for non-members
Prize: AU 7,500
Official website:
For more information on this contest, please visit its official website.
3. John Locke Institute Essay Competition
Deadline: June 30, 2023
● Students from any country.
● Students aged 15 to 18 years by the competition deadline.
● Students aged 14 years or younger by the competition deadline are eligible for the Junior prize.
● The contest is organized by the John Locke Institute.
● Your essay cannot exceed 2,000 words.
● There are seven subjects or categories for essay submissions: Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology, and Law.
Entry fee: Free to enter
● The best overall essay winner receives an honorary John Locke Fellowship, which comes with a USD 10,000 scholarship to attend one or more summer schools or gap year courses.
● There is also a prize for the best essay in each category. The prize for each winner of a subject category and the Junior category is a scholarship worth USD 2,000 toward the cost of a summer program.
● All winning essays will be published on the Institute’s website.
For more information about this competition and the John Locke Institute, please visit the official website . Also, be sure to check out our article on all you need to know about this contest.
4. The American Foreign Service Association 2023 Essay Competition
Deadline: April 3, 2023
● Students in grades 9–12 in any of the 50 states, DC, the US territories, or if they are US citizens or lawful permanent residents attending high school overseas.
● Students attending a public, private, or parochial school.
● Home-schooled students.
● Your essay should be 1,000–1,500 words.
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● You will select a country or region in which the United States Foreign Service has been involved at any point since 1924 and describe how the Foreign Service was successful or unsuccessful in advancing American foreign policy goals – including promoting peace – in this country or region and propose ways in which it might continue to improve those goals in the coming years.
● Your essay should follow MLA guidelines.
● Your essay should use a variety of sources.
● The first-place winner receives USD 2,500, a paid trip to the nation’s capital from anywhere in the U.S. for the winner and their parents, and an all-expense-paid educational voyage courtesy of Semester at Sea.
● The runner-up receives USD 1,250 and full tuition to attend a summer session of the National Student Leadership Conference’s International Diplomacy program.
Please visit the American Foreign Service website for more information.
5. The Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) 2023 Essay Contest
Deadline: Mid-February 2023–June 1, 2023
Who may enter: High school (including homeschooled), college, and graduate students worldwide.
● The 2023 essay contest topic is marriages and proposals.
● High school students may focus on Pride and Prejudice only or bring in other Austen works.
● Undergraduate and graduate students should discuss at least two Austen novels of their choice.
● Your essay must be in MLA format and 6 to 8 pages (not including your Works Cited page).
● Your essay must be written in English.
● First place wins a USD 1,000 scholarship.
● Second place wins a USD 500 scholarship.
● Third place wins a USD 250 scholarship.
● Winners will also receive one year of membership in JASNA, publication of their essays on this website, and a set of Norton Critical Editions of Jane Austen’s novels.
For more information and submission guidelines, please visit JASNA’s official website .
6. 2023 Writing Contest: Better Great Achievements by EngineerGirl
Deadline: February 1, 2023
● Students in Grades 3–12. If international or homeschooled, please select your grade level based on if you were attending a public school in the U.S.
● This contest is organized by EngineerGirl.
● Students should write a piece that shows how female or non-white engineers have contributed to or can enhance engineering’s great achievements.
● You should choose one of the 20 Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century as a topic and explore the technologies developed in the last century and the new ones being developed today. Make sure to follow the specific guidelines for your grade level.
● Essays should be 650–750 words based on your grade level.
● Please visit the contest’s website to see specific requirements based on your grade.
Winners in each grade category will receive the prizes listed below:
● First-place winners will be awarded USD 500.
● Second-place entries will be awarded USD 250 .
● Third-place entries will be awarded USD 100 .
For more information and submission guidelines, please visit the official website .
7. World Historian Student Essay Competition
Deadline: May 1, 2023
Who may enter: Students enrolled in Grades K–12 in public, private, and parochial schools and home-study programs worldwide.
● Your essay must address the following issue: In what way has the study of world history affected my understanding of the world in which I live?
● Your essay should be 1,000 words.
Prizes: USD 500
For more information and submission requirements, please visit the contest’s official website.
Essay contests are a great way to expand your writing skills, discuss a topic that is important to you, and earn prize money and opportunities that will be great for you in the long term. Check out our articles on writing thesis statements, essay organization, and argumentative writing strategies to ensure you take first place every time.
If you need help with your essays and would like to make sure that every comma is in place, we will proofread your first 500 words for free !
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Looking for a Writing Contest to Enter?
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By Hannah Yang
![contest on essay writing Different writing contests](https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/Writing-contests-title.png)
Writing contests can be a useful way to send your work out into the world. With a strong submission and a bit of luck, you can win publication, recognition, and even cash prizes.
This article will give you the inside scoop on the most high-quality writing contests to enter.
Are Writing Contests Worth Entering?
What are some writing contests that are free to enter, how can i increase my chances of winning, where can i find more writing contests.
Entering writing contests can be useful for several reasons:
- They give you a deadline and often even a prompt to write about , which many writers find motivating
- The results can help you get a sense of where you are on your writing journey and how you can improve your craft
- Winning a contest can be a fantastic boost to your journey as a writer
![contest on essay writing The benefits of writing competitions](https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/Benefits-of-writing-competitions.png)
On the other hand, it’s important to keep in mind that it takes a lot of luck to win a contest, since there are usually only a few winners chosen from among hundreds of strong contestants.
If your goal is to get your writing published, you’ll likely fare better by submitting to magazines and anthologies than by entering contests.
If your goal is to make money, you should prioritize freelance writing jobs instead.
With that being said, there are many incredible writing contests out there that can absolutely be worth your while, as long as you enter with realistic expectations.
![contest on essay writing The best option for your writing goal](https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/writing-goals-vs-pursuits.png)
Many writing contests cost fees to enter, since they give out cash prizes and hire guest judges that they need to pay for their time.
Charging an entry fee doesn’t necessarily mean the contest is a scam. It does mean, however, that you need to be judicious about which contests to submit your work to.
Free writing contests are more accessible to all writers, and there’s nothing to lose from giving them a shot.
We’ve compiled a list of legitimate, high-quality writing contests that charge no entry fees.
Prose Weekly Challenge
Prose, a social network for readers and writers, offers weekly challenges meant to spark your creativity. This is a fun, low-stakes challenge, with a small cash prize to sweeten the deal.
Prize: Each week’s winner receives $100. Guidelines: Submit a short piece of writing (up to 500 words) related to the weekly prompt. Deadline: Weekly.
![contest on essay writing Prose Weekly Challenge](https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/Prose-weekly-challenge1.png)
Prime Number Magazine 53-Word Story Contest
Press 53’s Prime Number Magazine hosts a monthly micro-fiction contest based on a theme.
All stories must be exactly 53 words long. There’s no cash prize, but this can be a fun and low-stakes contest to participate in if you’ve got some spare time and are looking for a writing prompt.
Prize: Publication, a free book from Press 53. Guidelines: Submit a 53-word story based on a monthly prompt. Open to writers around the world who write in English. Deadline: Monthly on the 15th of each month.
![contest on essay writing Prime Number Magazine 53-Word Story Contest](https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/Prime-number-magazine1.png)
Dinesh Allirajah Prize for Short Fiction
The Dinesh Allirajah Prize for Short Fiction is an annual short story contest co-hosted by Comma Press and the University of Central Lancashire.
If you live in the UK and are interested in crime stories, this is a great contest to consider, with a £500 for the winner and publication for the runners-up.
Prize: £500 ($692) for first place, and publication for 10 shortlisted authors. Guidelines: Submit a short story (between 2,000 and 6,000 words). The theme for the 2022 Prize is "Crime Stories." Only residents of the UK age 18 or older are eligible. Deadline: October 29, 2021.
![contest on essay writing Dinesh Allirajah Prize for Short Fiction](https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/Dinesh-prize-for-short-fiction1.png)
Commonwealth Short Fiction Prize
The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is an annual short fiction contest administered by the Commonwealth Foundation.
If you’re a short story writer and a citizen of a Commonwealth country, this contest is a fantastic option, with a generous £5,000 cash prize for the winner.
Prize: £5,000 ($6,922) for the overall winner and £2,500 ($3,461) for regional winners. Guidelines: Entrants must be citizens of a Commonwealth country and age 18 or over. Submit a short story (between 2,000 and 5,000 words). As well as English, stories are accepted in the Bengali, Chinese, French, Greek, Kiswahili, Malay, Portuguese, Samoan, Tamil, and Turkish languages. Translated entries from any language into English are also eligible. Deadline: November 1, 2021.
![contest on essay writing Commonwealth Short Fiction Prize](https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/Commonwealth-fiction-prize1.png)
ServiceScape Short Story Award
ServiceScape is a platform that matches freelance writers, editors, and graphic designers with clients. They offer a yearly Short Story Award with a $1,000 prize.
Prize: $1,000 for first place and publication on the ServiceScape blog. Guidelines: Accepts original, unpublished work (5,000 words or fewer) in any genre, fiction or non-fiction. Writers must be age 18 or older. Deadline: November 29, 2021.
![contest on essay writing ServiceScape Short Story Award](https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/Servicescape-award1.png)
The Roswell Award
The Roswell Award is an annual science fiction contest with a $500 prize, co-presented by Sci-Fest L.A. and the Light Bringer Project.
This is a great option if you like using your writing to unite the worlds of science and art.
Prize: $500 for first place, $250 for second place, and $100 for third place. Guidelines: Submit a science fiction story. Open to writers around the world age 16 or older. Writers are encouraged to explore scientific, social, technological, environmental, and philosophical themes in their writing and always, at the core, to master the art of great storytelling. Deadline: December 21, 2021.
![contest on essay writing The Roswell Award](https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/The-roswell-award1.png)
L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest
The Writers of the Future Contest is the most enduring and influential contest in the history of science fiction and fantasy.
The contest is held once every three months, with a generous $1,000 prize.
Prize: $1,000 for first place, $750 for second place, and $500 for third place. Guidelines: Submissions must be short stories or novelettes (up to 17,000 words) in the genre of science fiction or fantasy. Open to new and amateur writers around the world. Deadline: Quarterly on December 31, March 31, June 30, and September 30.
Find Out More
![contest on essay writing L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest](https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/Ron-hubbard's-contest1.png)
Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award
The Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award is an annual contest, co-hosted by the National Space Society and Baen Books, for stories about manned space exploration.
If you’re interested in the role that science fiction plays in advancing real science, this is a great option that pays professional rates.
Prize: Professional paying rates (8 cents per word). The winner’s story will be published as the featured story on the Baen Books main website. The winner will also receive free entry into 2020 International Space Development Conference and a prize package with various Baen Books and National Space Society merchandise. Guidelines: Submit a short story (up to 8,000 words) that shows the near future (no more than about 50-60 years out) of manned space exploration. The judges want to see moon bases, Mars colonies, orbital habitats, space elevators, asteroid mining, artificial intelligence, nano-technology, realistic spacecraft, heroics, sacrifice, and/or adventure. Open to writers around the world who write in English. Deadline: TBD 2022 (the previous year’s deadline was February 1, 2021).
![contest on essay writing Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award](https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/Jim-Baen-Award1.png)
The Fountain Essay Contest
Fountain Magazine holds an annual contest for essays related to the personal challenges you’ve faced in your life.
Challenges can span from moving across the country and starting at a new high school or getting out of bed in the morning while undergoing depression. There are generous cash prizes for the winners.
Prize: $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place, $300 for third place, and $150 each for two honorable mentions. Guidelines: Submit a personal essay (between 1,500 and 2,500 words) on the annual theme. All writers worldwide are eligible. Deadline: TBD 2022 (the previous year’s deadline was March 1, 2021).
![contest on essay writing The Fountain Essay Contest](https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/The-fountain-essay-contest1.png)
The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize
Every year, The Alpine Fellowship awards writing, visual arts, and theater prizes related to an annual theme.
This is an extremely competitive fellowship, with global recognition for the winner and a whopping £10,000 first place prize.
Prize: £10,000 ($13,840) for first place, £3,000 ($4,150) for second place, and £2,000 ($2,770) for third place. Guidelines: Submit a piece of writing related to the annual theme (2021’s was "Untamed: On Wilderness and Civilization"). Entries must be unpublished and a maximum of 2,500 words. Poetry, prose, or non-academic essays welcome. Deadline: TBD 2022 (the previous year’s deadline was April 1, 2021).
![contest on essay writing The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize](https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/The-alpine-fellowship1.png)
Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest
The Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest is a contest for humor poems. This is a really fun contest if you like wordplay and witticisms, and you might even win $2,000.
Prize: $2,000 for first place, $500 for second place, and $100 each to 10 honorable mentions. Guidelines: Writers of all ages can submit an original, humorous poem with 250 lines or less. The poem you submit should be in English. Inspired gibberish is also accepted. Deadline: April 1, 2022.
![contest on essay writing Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest](https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/Wergle-flomp-contest1.png)
Parsec Short Story Contest
Parsec Ink holds an annual contest for science fiction, fantasy, and horror short stories from non-professional writers, with a small cash prize for the winners.
Prize: $200 for first place, $100 for second place, and $50 for third place. Guidelines: Submit a short story (up to 3,500 words) based on the annual theme. The 2022 theme has not yet been announced. (The 2021 theme was "Still Waters, Deep Thoughts"). Deadline: TBD 2022 (the previous year’s deadline was April 15, 2021).
![contest on essay writing Parsec Short Story Contest](https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/Parsec-short-story-contests1.png)
Bacopa Literary Review Contest
Bacopa Literary Review is an international journal published by the Writers Alliance of Gainesville. They hold an annual contest that welcomes fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction.
Prize: $300 for first place and $100 for second place in each of four genres: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, and Prose Poetry. Guidelines: Submit a piece of writing in one of the four genres. You can find detailed guidelines for each genre on the website. Deadline: TBD 2022 (the previous year’s deadline was May 31, 2021).
![contest on essay writing Bacopa Literary Review Contest](https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/Bacopa-literary-review1.png)
Stony Brook Southampton Short Fiction Prize
The Stony Brook Southampton Short Fiction Prize is a short story contest specifically for college students.
If you’re an undergraduate and want to try a writing contest, this is a fantastic option because you have a smaller set of competitors.
Prize: $1,000, a scholarship to the 2021 Southampton Writers’ Conference, and consideration for publication in TSR: The Southampton Review . Guidelines: Only full-time undergraduates in United States and Canadian universities and colleges are eligible. Submissions must be short fiction (7,500 words or less). Deadline: June 1, 2022.
![contest on essay writing Stony Brook Southampton Short Fiction Prize](https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/Stone-brook-prize1.png)
Insecure Writer’s Support Group Annual Anthology Contest
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group holds an annual contest for short stories based on a theme.
There’s no cash prize, but all winning stories are published in their anthology, and you can receive royalties from sales.
Prize: Winning stories will be edited and published, and authors will receive royalties from the anthology. Guidelines: Submit a short story (between 5,000 and 6,000 words) related to the annual theme. Deadline: TBD 2022 (the previous year’s deadline was September 1, 2021).
![contest on essay writing Insecure Writer’s Support Group Annual Anthology Contest](https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/Insecure-writer's-support-group1.png)
Hektoen Grand Prix Essay Contest
Hektoen International, an online journal dedicated to medical humanities, holds an annual contest for essays related to medicine, with a generous $5,000 cash prize.
Prize: $5,000 for the winner and $2,500 for the runner-up. Guidelines: Submit a short essay (up to 1,500 words) on any topic so long as it has a relation to medicine. The essay can include art, history, literature, education, and more. Writers must be age 18 or older. Deadline: TBD 2022 (the previous year’s deadline was September 15, 2021).
![contest on essay writing Hektoen Grand Prix Essay Contest](https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/Hektoekn-grand-prix-contest1.png)
Owl Canyon Press Short Story Hackathon
Owl Canyon Press holds an annual “ hackathon ” for 20-paragraph stories, with a $1,000 prize.
The contest provides the first and last paragraph and the short story writer crafts the rest.
Prize: $1,000 for first place, $750 for second place, and $500 for third place. Publication in a short story anthology for 24 finalists. Guidelines: Writers are invited to create and submit a short story consisting of 20 paragraphs. The contest provides the 1st and 20th paragraphs, and the short story writer crafts the rest. There is no entry fee for submissions received during the first month of the contest. Deadline: TBD 2022 (last year’s deadline was September 30, 2020).
![contest on essay writing Owl Canyon Press Short Story Hackathon](https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/Owl-canyon-hackathon1.png)
Transitions Abroad Expatriate and Work Abroad Writing Contest
The Transitions Abroad Writing Contest is an annual contest for essays related to your experience abroad. If you’ve ever lived and worked abroad, this is a great contest with a $500 cash prize.
Prize: $500 for first place, $150 for second place, $100 for third place, and $50 for all finalists. Guidelines: Submit a practical and inspiring essay or mini-guide (between 1,200 and 5,000 words) that provides in-depth descriptions of your experience moving, living, and working abroad (including any form of work such as teaching English, internships, volunteering, short-term jobs, etc.). The contest is open to writers from any location around the globe. Deadline: TBD 2022 (last year’s deadline was October 15, 2020).
![contest on essay writing Transitions Abroad Expatriate and Work Abroad Writing Contest](https://marketing.prowritingaid.com/Transitions-abroad-contest1.png)
Writing Battle Summer Flash Fiction
Writing Battle is a quarterly contest where writers are assigned prompts and have 2 days to write 1000 words. You are guaranteed feedback from you writing peers, plus you can win some money
Prize: $5,000 split between the four winners and publication.
Guidelines: Accepts original, unpublished work that matches the prompts and genre assigned. Writers must be aged 18 or older.
Deadline: August 7, 2022
Atlas Shrugged Novel Essay Contest
The Atlas Shrugged novel essay contest is open to all students globally. Atlas Shrugged is a heroic mystery novel written by Ayn Rand. Choose a prompt and write a 800-1,600 word essay in English. First prize: $10,000; 3 second prizes: $2,000; 5 third prizes: $1,000; 25 finalists: $100; 50 semi-finalists: $50.
Prize: First prize: $10,000, 3 second prizes: $2,000, 5 third prizes: $1,000, 25 finalists: $100, 50 semi-finalists: $50.
Guidelines: Choose a prompt and write an 800–1,600 word essay in English. All students globally can apply.
Deadline: Annually on November 6
Each of these contests has different requirements. What works for one probably will not work for another.
But what will increase your chance in every contest is good grammar and a solid structure. This is where ProWritingAid can help.
We may not be able to write your story for you, but we can help you submit your best work.
ProWritingAid’s 25 reports provide personalized, in-depth feedback on everything from grammar and spelling to pacing, word choice, passive voice, and more.
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There are many resources for writers that compile lists of writing contests. You should check these regularly, as different writing contests have different submission periods. Some of my favorite resources include:
With many writers’ sites, you can filter for free contests specifically, and you can also filter by the type of work you want to submit. I usually check these sites once a season (fall, winter, spring, summer) to compile a list of the contests I want to submit to. Do you have a favorite writing contest? Let us know in the comments. FREE WEBINAR: How to Improve Your Chances of Winning the Debut Dagger , Nov 11, 2pm ET / 7pm UK![]() Have you been thinking about entering your story for the CWA Debut Dagger this year? The deadline isn’t until the end of February but we want to help you prepare. We’ve invited Dea Parkin, Secretary of the Crime Writers’ Association, and Leigh Russell, Chair of the Debut Dagger judges, to come and share their insider information. Learn what the judges are looking for and how to give your story the best shot at winning. ![]() Be confident about grammarCheck every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send. Hannah YangHannah Yang is a speculative fiction writer who writes about all things strange and surreal. Her work has appeared in Analog Science Fiction, Apex Magazine, The Dark, and elsewhere, and two of her stories have been finalists for the Locus Award. Her favorite hobbies include watercolor painting, playing guitar, and rock climbing. You can follow her work on hannahyang.com, or subscribe to her newsletter for publication updates. Get started with ProWritingAidDrop us a line or let's stay in touch via : ![]() 50+ Writing Contests in 2024 with Awesome Cash Prizesby Karen MacKenzie on Jan 3, 2024 So you want to compete in writing contests for prizes and recognition? Writing contests are a fun way to evolve your writing skills — and, yes, cash prizes are a nice bonus. But remember, the emphasis is on fun . If cash is your primary goal, you should focus your time and energy on landing freelance writing jobs . However, if you’re looking for writing competitions and an enjoyable way to improve your writing skills , read on. This roundup post includes both writing contests that are free to enter and writing contests with nominal entry fees. Let’s begin! Free Writing Contests with No Entry Fee (i.e. Free to Enter!)Ernest j. gaines award for literary excellence. “The Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence honors Louisiana’s revered storyteller, Ernest J. Gaines, and serves to inspire and recognize rising African-American fiction writers of excellence at a national level. The book award, initiated by donors of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, is now in its 13th year and has become nationally recognized in its role of enhancing visibility of emerging African-American fiction writers while also expanding the audience for this literature. The annual award of a $15,000 cash prize is to support the writer and help enable her/him to focus on her/his art of writing.” Prerequisites for Entrants
Submission Deadline
Who Should Enter This ContestAfrican-American fiction writers who want to inspire kids to develop their own creativity. The award winner will work with students in small creative writing workshops held in Louisiana. 53-Word Story Contest“It’s free, it’s fun, and the winner gets published in Prime Number Magazine and receives a free book from Press 53.” Prerequisites for Contest Entry
Writers who enjoy the challenge of a 53-word short story competition based on a prompt. Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards“The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards recognizes outstanding works that contribute to our understanding of racism and our appreciation of cultural diversity. Awards are given for fiction, poetry and nonfiction.”
Book authors who wish to compete for a generous book award. Your book must be written in English and published and copyrighted in the same year that you enter the contest. Cabell First Novelist Award“The VCU Cabell First Novelist Award honors an outstanding debut novel published in the preceding calendar year. Symbolized by a three-dimensional compass, the award is a tribute to writers who have navigated their way through the maze of imagination and delivered a great read, taking the reader someplace new.”
Novelists who have published a book in the year previous to the contest date, and feel that they have achieved something “notable and enduring.” Short Fiction PrizeStony Brook Southampton is accepting submissions of short fiction (7,500 words or less). “Southampton Arts is a vibrant community within SUNY Stony Brook that gathers together graduate programs in creative writing, children’s lit, podcasting and film. Today’s professional practice as an artist demands well-rounded, independent, imaginative entrepreneurs, ones with the resourcefulness to draw on a range of media, technologies and genres.”
Undergraduate short story fiction writers who want to compete for both cash and a chance to participate in a writers’ conference. The Wallace Stegner Prize in Environmental Humanities“The Wallace Stegner Prize will be awarded to the best monograph submitted to the Press in the broad field of environmental humanities. (…) Preference will be given to projects that discuss issues related to the American West. We welcome book-length manuscripts that emphasize narrative form and draw on the humanities, as well as the particular methods and perspectives of history, geography, natural history, environmental science, creative nonfiction, or related disciplines to consider environmental subjects, broadly defined. These criteria reflect the legacy of Wallace Stegner as a student of the American West, as a spokesman for the environment, and as a teacher of creative writing.”
Writers of monographs (essay or book-length) who have not previously submitted their work for publication. W.Y. Boyd Literary Award for Excellence in Military Fiction“This award honors the best fiction set in a period when the United States was at war. It recognizes the service of American veterans and military personnel and encourages the writing and publishing of outstanding war-related fiction. Donated by William Young Boyd II.”
Writers who have published a novel of war-related fiction. ServiceScape Short Story Award“Calling all short story writers: Are you a short story writer interested in gaining more exposure and a bigger audience for your creative work? Would an extra $1,000.00 USD in your pocket be a great thing right now?”
Short story writers (word count up to 5,000 words) of either fiction or nonfiction who are excited about entering a writing competition for cash and exposure. Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award“Since its early days, science fiction has played a unique role in human civilization. It removes the limits of what “is” and shows us a boundless vista of what “might be.” Its fearless heroes, spectacular technologies and wondrous futures have inspired many people to make science, technology and space flight a real part of their lives and in doing so, have often transformed these fictions into reality. The National Space Society and Baen Books applaud the role that science fiction plays in advancing real science and have teamed up to sponsor this short fiction contest in memory of Jim Baen.”
Grand prize winner:
Second and Third Place winners: Science fiction short story writers who want to see their work in print and who would enjoy the prizes listed above. James Laughlin Award“Offered since 1954, the James Laughlin Award is given to recognize and support a second book of poetry forthcoming in the next calendar year. The award was endowed in 1995 by a gift to the Academy from the Drue Heinz Trust. It is named for the poet and publisher James Laughlin (1914-1997), who founded New Directions in 1936.”
Poets who are working on their second book and want to earn a sweet prize of cash and recognition. L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest“L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest is an opportunity for new writers of science fiction and fantasy to have their work judged by some of the masters in the field and discovered by a wide audience.”
Cash Prizes
Science fiction and fantasy writers who want to write prose up to 17,000 words in length. Note that works intended for children are not eligible. Poetry Foundation Emily Dickinson First Book Award“The Emily Dickinson First Book Award is designed to recognize an American poet of at least 40 years of age who has yet to publish a first collection of poetry. The Poetry Foundation seeks one book-length poetry manuscript to be published as the winner of the Emily Dickinson First Book Award.”
Late-blooming poets who have enough poems in them to fill a book of poetry . Graywolf Press Nonfiction Prize“Graywolf Press publishes about 30-35 books annually, mostly poetry, memoirs, essays, novels, translations, and short stories. Our editors are looking for high quality literary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry that combine a distinct voice with a distinct vision.”
Authors willing to take on a project outside their established genre. If you don’t have one yet, here’s your chance to get started. New Voices Award“New Voices Award is given annually by children’s book publisher Lee & Low Books for a children’s picture book manuscript by a writer of color or Native/Indigenous writer.”
Authors who’d like to write stories to address the needs of children of color and Native nations. The children’s picture book manuscript can be fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Young Lions Fiction Award“Established in 2001, The New York Public Library Young Lions Fiction Award is a $10,000 prize awarded each spring to a writer age 35 or younger for a novel or a collection of short stories. Each year, five young fiction writers are selected as finalists by a reading committee of Young Lions members, writers, editors, and librarians.”
Young writers who want to be recognized for their novel or collection of short stories. PEN/Faulkner Award for FictionOverview “The PEN/Faulkner Foundation celebrates literature and fosters connections between readers and writers to enrich and inspire both individuals and communities.” “The PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction is a national prize that honors the best published works of fiction by American citizens in a calendar year.”
Published authors who believe they can compete with the top writers in the United States. Novels and short story collections are considered. PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers“The PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers recognizes twelve emerging writers each year for their debut short story published in a literary magazine or cultural website and aims to support the launch of their careers as fiction writers. Each of the twelve winning writers receives a cash prize of $2,000 and the independent book publisher Catapult will publish the twelve winning stories in an annual anthology entitled The PEN America Best Debut Short Stories, which will acknowledge the literary magazines and websites where the stories were originally published.”
Debut short story writers who aren’t afraid to ask their editor to enter them in this writing competition. The Jeff Sharlet Memorial Award for Veterans“This creative writing contest for U.S. military veterans and active duty personnel is hosted by The Iowa Review and made possible by a gift from the family of Jeff Sharlet (1942–69), a Vietnam veteran and antiwar writer and activist. The contest is open to veterans and active duty personnel writing in any genre and about any subject matter.”
Any writers who have served in the military and wish to compete in this creative writing contest. Hektoen Grand Prix Essay CompetitionContent announcement: “We invite you to participate in the 2021 Hektoen Grand Prix Essay Competition in honor of Hektoen Institute Board Member Mrs. Hella Mannheimer (1924-2020).”
Creative non fiction writers looking to enter an essay contest by writing on art, history, literature, education, etc. as they relate to medicine. The Fountain Essay Contest“We at The Fountain believe that every voice should be heard, and that every challenge should be respected and can offer insight into our own lives. We all face new challenges in our lives. They can be massive undertakings, such as moving across a country and beginning a new high school. Or sometimes the more routine tasks, such as getting out of the bed in the morning while undergoing depression, can themselves be massive challenges. We want to hear about your challenges and how you mentally, physically, and/or spiritually prepare for them.”
If you are up to the challenge of writing a personal essay between 1,500 and 2,500 words on the topic of “facing challenges,” this essay contest is for you. Tufts Poetry Awards“Any poet will tell you that the only thing rarer than meaningful recognition is a meaningful payday. For two outstanding poets each year, the Kingsley and Kate Tufts awards represent both. The Tufts poetry awards – based at Claremont Graduate University and given for poetry volumes published in the preceding year – are not only two of the most prestigious prizes a contemporary poet can receive, they also come with hefty purses: $100,000 for the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award and $10,000 for the Kate Tufts Discovery Award.”
Published poets who want recognition and a shot at a very generous award that will pay the bills and allow them to write more poetry. The Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing“The ethos of the modern world is defined by immigrants. Their stories have always been an essential component of our cultural consciousness (…) In novels, short stories, memoirs, and works of journalism, immigrants have shown us what resilience and dedication we’re capable of, and have expanded our sense of what it means to be global citizens. In these times of intense xenophobia, it is more important than ever that these boundary-crossing stories reach the broadest possible audience.”
Submission Deadlines
Authors who wish to “address some combination of identity, the meeting of cultures and communities, immigration and migration, and today’s globalized society,” in their first book. St. Francis College Literary Prize“The biennial $50,000 Literary Prize is sponsored by St. Francis College to offer its support and encouragement to the literary community and mid-career authors who have recently published their 3rd to 5th work of fiction.”
Published fiction authors who want to enter a writing competition for a very generous prize. Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest“Now in its 19th year, this contest seeks today’s best humor poems.”
Poets with a sense of humor and a competitive drive to win poetry prizes. Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award“Established in 1984, the Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award introduces emerging writers to the New York City literary community. The prestigious award, which aims to provide promising writers a network for professional advancement, has helped to launch the careers of Sue Monk Kidd (The Invention of Wings, The Secret Life of Bees), Lidia Yuknavitch (The Book of Joan), Bryn Chancellor (Sycamore: A Novel), David Mura (Turning Japanese: Memoirs of a Sansei), and others.”
Poets or fiction writers who live in Oklahoma. The Gabo Prize“Lunch Ticket is honored to host The Gabo Prize for Literature in Translation & Multilingual Texts. The Gabo Prize is funded by writers, translators, and Antioch University Los Angeles MFA Alumni Allie Marini and Jennifer McCharen, who launched the prize to support the work of peer translators.”
Authors and translators of multilingual texts containing either poetry or prose. Transitions Abroad Expatriate and Work Abroad Writing Contest“Professionals and freelancers are encouraged to write non-fiction inspirational and practical articles that describe their experience living, moving, and working abroad. Often your experience is extended and transformed by activities in the host country, so living, working, studying, and traveling abroad are often inextricable — and we are interested in exploring all such organic interconnections.”
Nonfiction writers who have lived and worked abroad who are interested in creating a helpful article about their experiences. Drue Heinz Literature Prize“The Drue Heinz Literature Prize recognizes and supports writers of short fiction and makes their work available to readers around the world. The award is open to authors who have published a book-length collection of fiction or at least three short stories or novellas in commercial magazines or literary journals.”
Previously published short fiction authors looking to enter their latest creation in this writing contest. Brooklyn Nonfiction Prize“The Brooklyn Non-Fiction Prize, a cash award of $500, will be awarded to the best Brooklyn-focused non-fiction essay which is set in Brooklyn and is about Brooklyn and/or Brooklyn people/characters. We are seeking compelling Brooklyn stories from writers with a broad range of backgrounds and ages who can render Brooklyn’s rich soul and intangible qualities through the writer’s actual experiences in Brooklyn.”
Nonfiction writers who have had experiences in Brooklyn, New York to share with the world, and potentially win a prize in the process. VI International Flash Fiction Competition“Once again, the César Egido Serrano Foundation returns to record figures in the call for its famous International Micro-Story Contest, which has been running for five editions.”
Fiction writers who wish to enter an international competition for hefty prize money. John Gardner Fiction Book Award“Sponsored by the Binghamton Center for Writers-State University of New York with support from the Office of the Dean of Binghamton University’s Harpur College of the Arts & Sciences”
Writers who have published either a novel or a book of fiction in 2019 (for the 2020 contest). St. Martin’s Minotaur / Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition“Sponsored by Minotaur Books and Mystery Writers of America (MWA)”
Mystery writers who have finished their first crime novel and want to compete for a publishing contract. Stowe Prize“The Stowe Prize recognizes a distinguished book of general adult fiction or non-fiction that illuminates a critical social justice issue in contemporary society in the United States. (…) The book should apply informed inquiry, be accessible and engaging to a general audience, and promote empathy and understanding. Because Stowe’s writings challenged slavery and promoted women’s education, social issues impacted by racism and gender discrimination will be prioritized. In making this award, the Stowe Center recognizes the value of diversity to strengthen our communities and encourages submissions by authors from populations that have historically faced discrimination or marginalization.”
Fiction or nonfiction authors who have published a book within three years of the contest year. Note: That book must meet the criteria in the “Overview” to be considered for this book award. Steinbeck Fellowships in Creative Writing“The Steinbeck Fellows Program of San José State University was endowed through the generosity of Martha Heasley Cox. It offers writers of any age and background a $15,000 fellowship to finish a significant writing project. Named in honor of author John Steinbeck, the program is guided by his lifetime of work in literature, the media, and environmental activism. Fellowships are currently offered in Creative Writing (excluding poetry) and Steinbeck Studies. Fellows may be appointed in many fields, including literary scholarship, fiction, drama, education, science and the media.”
This program helps writers who have promising work, but who haven’t published extensively. The Roswell Award“Light Bringer Project and Sci-Fest L.A. present two science fiction writing competitions designed to identify and nurture the up-and-coming science fiction writing talent of Los Angeles and worldwide. Science fiction is a uniquely inspiring medium that has enabled many of our great thinkers and scientists to imagine the heights and limits of human achievement, leading to important moral and ethical debate, long range planning for humanity, and scientific innovation. Writers are encouraged to explore scientific, social, technological, environmental, and philosophical themes in their writing and always, at the core, to master the art of great storytelling.”
Science fiction writers in search of writing competitions. There is also a contest for the best feminist-themed science fiction story for an additional $100 prize. Black Orchid Novella Award“An important part of Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe’s opus are novellas. To celebrate this format, the Wolfe Pack and Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine have partnered to sponsor the Black Orchid Novella Award.” Entrant Fee
Mystery fiction writers who wish to write a novella in the tradition of the Nero Wolfe series. Parsec Short Story Contest“The theme for the contest is: Forging. This can be conveyed in the setting, plot, characters, dialogue…the only limit is your imagination. The theme must be integral to the story in some way and not just mentioned in passing. (…) All stories must be of the Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Horror genres.”
Non-professional writers who want to enter a short story contest for the opportunity to win book money. Tony Hillerman Prize“Welcome to the Tony Hillerman Prize for Best First Mystery Set in the Southwest Competition!”
Unpublished mystery novel writers who are looking to compete for a potential publishing contract. Owl Canyon Press Short Story Hackathon“Writers are invited to create and submit a short story consisting of 50 paragraphs. The contest provides the 1st and 20th paragraphs, and the short story writer crafts the rest.”
Short story writers of all genres, as long as you can make your story work with the provided paragraphs! Marfield Prize (a.k.a. National Award for Arts Writing)“Books must be nonfiction titles written in English for a general audience by a single, living author and originally published in the United States during the current calendar year. Books may be about any artistic discipline (visual, literary, performing, or media arts, as well as cross-disciplinary works). We seek art history and criticism, biographies and memoirs, and essays.” Authors who enjoy writing nonfiction regarding artistic disciplines and have a book scheduled to be published in the year of the contest. Writing Contests with Entry Fees (i.e. Costs Money to Enter)Don’t mind having a little skin in the game? Here are writing contests that require an entry fee to enter: Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition“Writer’s Digest has been shining a spotlight on up and coming writers in all genres through its Annual Writing Competition for more than 80 years. Enter our 89th Annual Writing Competition for your chance to win and 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 89th Annual Writer’s Digest Competition Collection.”
Multiple genres are available, so any writer who has a competitive spirit and doesn’t mind paying an entry fee. Desert Writers Award“The Fund supports writing that combines an engaging individual voice, literary sensibility, imagination and intellectual rigor to bring new perspectives and deeper meaning to the body of desert literature. All applications will be reviewed through a peer-panel process.”
Literary nonfiction writers fascinated by the desert. You’ll be submitting a proposal for a writing project based on your travel to and experience in a desert region. The Breakwater Fiction Contest“We are seeking submissions for pieces that breathe freshness to the form. We are interested in previously unpublished prose ranging from 1,000 – 5,000 words, each with a $10 entry fee.”
Fiction and short story writers who are interested in competing for a cash prize plus publication. The Peseroff Prize Poetry Contest“The Peseroff Prize honors Joyce Peseroff’s work as a poet, teacher, editor, innovator, and mentor. She helped found the MFA Program in Creative Writing at the University of Massachusetts Boston, served as its first director, and retired from teaching in 2014.”
Poets with previously unpublished poems with both a competitive drive and $10 for a poetry contest. Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Prize“Beginning December 1, 2019, Marsh Hawk Press is accepting submissions of poetry manuscripts to the annual Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Prizes.“
Poets with a manuscript of poems ready for publication. 2021 Microfiction Contest“Since 1975, River Styx has published an international, award-winning magazine of poetry, fiction, essays, interviews, and art. Work first published in its pages has been included in many editions of The Best American Poetry, Best New Poets, New Stories from the South, and Pushcart Prize anthologies.”
Writers who enjoy writing micro-fiction stories of up to 500 words and who would be interested in subscribing to a literary magazine. Horror Writing Contest“Write a horror or thriller story for this writing contest. Put your readers on edge or terrorize them.”
Writers who are interested in joining a paid community to network with other readers and receive feedback on their stories. Morton and McCarthy Prizes“This contest is open to any short fiction writer of English. (…) Submissions may include a collection of short stories, one or more novellas, or a short novel.”
Short fiction writers who are looking for the opportunity to participate in a writing competition that could get their work published. Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest“For this contest, a story is any short work of fiction, and an essay is any short work of nonfiction. (…) Please submit as many entries as you like. All themes accepted. Entries may be published or unpublished. Length limit: 6,000 words maximum.”
Fiction or nonfiction writers who are willing to spend $20 for a shot at winning the $3,000 prize. Moment Magazine-Karma Foundation Short Fiction Contest“The Moment Magazine-Karma Foundation Short Fiction Contest encourages writers to submit stories related to Judaism or Jewish culture or history.”
Short story writers interested in writing a story of up to 5,000 words with a Jewish theme. K. Maragaret Grossman Fiction Awards“In a world where it is harder than ever for new writers to get a foot in the door of the traditional publishing world, Literal Latté remains committed to finding and nurturing great talents, both on its website and in its new anthology, in book format.”
All subjects and styles are welcome, so any writers with an unpublished story of up to 10,000 words. James Jones First Novel Fellowship“The award is intended to honor the spirit of unblinking honesty, determination, and insight into cultural and social issues exemplified by the late James Jones, author of From Here to Eternity and other prose narratives of distinction. Jones himself was the recipient of aid from many supporters as a young writer and his family, friends, and admirers have established this award of $10,000 to continue the tradition in his name.”
Writers with either unpublished or work-in-progress novels. To enter, you need to submit an outline and the first 50 pages of your novel. WOW! Women On Writing Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest“The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, great writing, and provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants.”
All styles and genres of flash fiction are welcomed. Entries need to be a minimum of 250 words (750 maximum). WOW! Women On Writing Quarterly Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest“The mission of this contest is to inspire creative nonfiction and provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants. (…) Your story must be true, but the way you tell it is your chance to get creative.”
All styles of essay — from personal essay to lyric essay to hybrid essay to critical essay (and beyond) are welcomed. Maximum length of 1,000 words. Common Questions and Answers (and Resources)Why should i enter writing contests (besides the cash prizes). Because entering writing contests gives you a way to practice writing — the best way to improve your skills. You may even get feedback from some of the contests, and of course, the ultimate positive feedback if you win! If you’ve wanted to experiment with different genres or different writing styles, this is your chance to play. The deadlines in writing contests can make the difference between actually writing that next piece and doing it “someday.” Plus, depending on the contest, entering is an automatic win since you’ll be creating another sample for your writing portfolio . And if you win the writing contest, even better! What Happens After I Enter a Writing Contest?Now you get to practice patience and the skill of waiting. Not all contests will contact you to let you know who won. Some only contact the finalists or the winner(s). In the contest instructions, you may find dates for when the finalists or winners will be announced. Add these dates to your calendar so you’ll know that if you aren’t contacted by then, you didn’t win this writing contest. If you do win, and you’ve submitted the same piece of content to multiple contests, you should withdraw your submission(s) from the other contests. And then celebrate! What Are Some Good Resources That’ll Help Me Win Writing Contests?The number one tip to help you win? Pay attention to the details! Ignoring or missing any of the contest rules or requirements could mean instant disqualification. Merely following the rules can give you an edge over the competition. Here’s a collection of blog posts to help you improve your writing skills.
Game on: Time to Enter Writing Contests For Fun and MoneyImagine how you’ll feel as a contest winner. The confirmation of your writing skills. The recognition, the charge of seeing your work published. You could use your winnings towards writing books , courses, or coaching to develop your talent and skills further. A fun part of life is trying new things, and here is your opportunity. So before you close out of this post, pick one contest. Then bookmark it and start working on your contest entry. Karen MacKenzie GET PAID TO WRITEA "cheat sheet" to making 2-5k per month as a writer, even if you're a total beginner .. Written by Karen MacKenzie11 thoughts on “50+ writing contests in 2024 with awesome cash prizes”. This post was so exceptionally useful from start to finish! Fantastic read Thank you! I’m happy you found it helpful. Great roundup, Karen (Hi-five) I’m certain it took you days or weeks to compile such a list. The whooping $10,000 from Young Lion Fiction Award definitely caught my eyes. I now have a go-to guide for the best places to contest with other like-minded writers in the near future, God wiling. The best part is most of them are free so it seems everyone is on a plain level, right? Enjoy your day, Karen! Best, Antony Thanks for sharing this info with, i will participate, also will share this roundup with freelancers. Thank you for share amazing contests in 2020 You wrote this post in a very good manner, you explain each & everything in detail. Thank you for sharing this important information with us. A great blog! Very useful for budding writers seeking more strength and validation! A new topic I learned today by this blog. Thanks a lot for sharing. That is a huge list. Thanks for sharing this information. Wow. Took a quick read at your post and so much information to process and many other links to check. Thanks for sharing all this 🙂 I can’t believe that they provide these big amounts actually! Leave a Comment Cancel replyLatest from the blog. ![]() How to Use the ‘Rule of Three’ to Jazz Up Your Writing (2024)![]() 5 Best Free Blogging Platforms & Sites in 2024 (100% Unbiased)![]() 6 Vignette Examples to Add Depth to Your Writing (+ Definition)![]() With over 300k subscribers and 4 million readers, Smart Blogger is one of the world's largest websites dedicated to writing and blogging. Best of the Blog© 2012-2024 Smart Blogger — Boost Blog Traffic, Inc. Terms | Privacy Policy | Refund Policy | Affiliate Disclosure
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If you have great ideas but struggle to pen them, don’t worry. Almost all poets and writers fail at writing consistently, and we have a solution. We’ve listed the best creative writing contests in 2024! You can go through the list to find any writing competitions in 2024 that inspire you to write. If you aren’t confident in your draft, try looking for some free writing contests! Whether you’re looking for poetry contests, short story writing competitions, or essay contests, we’ve listed them all. So, which one will you enter? Elevate your book, essay, short story, or poem with perfect editing! Learn more Here is a month-wise list of the best writing contests in 2024: January 2024February 2024.
The new year opens with plenty of poetry competitions but few essay contests and almost no free writing contests. With several mixed contests listed this month, however, we’re sure our poets and writers will be satisfied! Poetry contests 20241. gemini poetry open contest 2024. Gemini Magazine has organized this poetry contest 2024 to offer six finalists with publication in its March/April 2024 issue. The poems may have been uploaded on personal blogs, but previously published poems are ineligible. Word count: 3 poems of any length Prizes: $1,000, $100, four prizes of $25 Entry fee: $9 Closing date: 02 January 2024 2. 2024 Poetry CompetitionThe organizers of this poetry contest seek to honor James Allen, the first person to breed Snowdrops from the wild. This is one of the free poetry contests for children and teens, who can participate through separate categories. Theme: Nature unbound Word count: 30 lines Prize: £300 Entry fee: £4 Closing date: 07 January 2024 3. 2024 William Matthews Poetry PrizeAsheville Poetry Review has organized this contest to offer three deserving poets with publication. Previously published poems and works of translations are not eligible. All entries will be considered for publication! Prizes: $1,000 and $250 Entry fee: $20 Closing date: 16 January 2024 4. Magma 2023/24 Poetry CompetitionThis poetry contest is held in two categories: The judge’s prize and the editor’s prize. Three winners from both categories will be published in Magma . The winners and ten commended poets will be invited to read their poems at a contest event. Category 1: 11–50 lines Category 2: Up to 10 lines Prizes: £1000, £300, £150 per category Entry fee: £5 Closing date: 31 January 2024 5. Kent and Sussex Poetry Society Open Poetry Competition 2024This is one of the poetry competitions that does not allow simultaneous submissions, at least for contests that announce results before 16 April 2024. Winning entries will be published online and included in an annual Folio publication. Word count: 40 lines Prizes: £1000, £300, £100, 4 prizes of £50 Short story writing contests 20246. the not quite write prize for flash fiction . Running between 19–21 January 2024, this unique flash fiction contest challenges authors to break a specific rule of writing. It’s called an anti-prompt, and you’ll have to pair this with two prompts to write your entry in 60 hours. Exciting, isn’t it? Word count: 500 Prizes: $1,000 AUD, $500 AUD, $200 AUD, $100 AUD, 4 prizes of $50 AUD Entry fee: $25 AUD Closing date: 21 January 2024 7. Story Unlikely Short Story Contest [Free writing Contest!]This is one of the best short story competitions that welcome all genres: fantasy, sci-fi, memoir, and even nonfiction! All winning entries are published in the monthly issue of Story Unlikely and the winning entry may be published in the annual print issue. Word count: 4,500 Prizes: $750, $500, $250 Entry: Free! Essay contest 20248. the 2024 calibre essay prize . One of the best essay contests of 2024, this competition promotes nonfiction of all kinds: “personal or political, literary or speculative, traditional or experimental.” You may include illustrations in your essay, but the total file size should be below 3 MB. Word count: 2,000–5,000 Prizes: $5,000 AUD, $3,000 AUD, $2,000 AUD Entry fee: $30 AUD Closing date: 22 January 2024 Book writing contests 20249. 2023 exeter novel prize. This novel writing contest invites non-agented writers to submit a previously unpublished manuscript. Send the first 10,000 words of your novel and include a 500-word synopsis. Self-published writers are welcome to enter! Word count: 10,000 Prizes: £1000, five prizes of £100 Entry fee: £20 Closing date: 01 January 2024 10. Cai Emmons Fiction AwardRed Hen Press has organized this novel writing contest 2024 to honor the late novelist Cai Emmons. All authors who haven’t published a full-length work with Red Hen Press are eligible to enter. Word count: At least 150 pages Prize: $5,000 Entry fee: $25 Closing date: 15 January 2024 11. Desert Writers AwardThe organizers of this award support one deserving writer of creative nonfiction while they work on their book. Make sure to highlight your interest in desert literature in your biographical statement and project description! Word count: 10 pages Entry fee: $15 12. North American Poetry Book AwardThe Poetry Society of Virginia has organized this poetry competition to award one full-length book of poetry. Self-published and audiovisual works are ineligible, but books that have won other pre-publishing awards are allowed. Word count: At least 64 pages Prize: $1,000 Entry fee: $36 13. Bardsy Winter Anthology ContestThis unique fiction writing contest invites authors to send the first chapters of their in-progress novel or memoir. The best thing is, that you receive feedback on your entry and you can revise it accordingly before judging begins! Word count: 2,500–3,000 Prizes: $1000, some prizes of $50 Mixed writing contests 202414. mississippi review writing contest 2024. Mississippi Review has organized this poetry, short story, and essay contest 2024 to award publication to three winners. You can submit online or via post, and the postal entry fee is $15. All the best! Categories: Poetry, fiction, and nonfiction Word count: 3–5 poems (10 pages) for poetry; 1,000–8,000 words for prose Prizes: 3 prizes of $1,000 Entry fee: $16 15. The DISQUIET PrizeThe organizers of this writing competition offer one winner a fully paid trip to attend the DISQUIET International Literary Program in Lisbon. Three additional winners receive fee waivers for the program and they can opt for a cash prize of $1,000 in its stead. Word count: 10 pages for poetry; 25 pages for prose Prizes: A paid trip to Lisbon and other prizes Closing date: 05 January 2024 16. The Winter Anthology ContestThis unique writing competition 2024 welcomes poets and writers to submit any published or unpublished piece of any length! The winner will be published in Volume 14 of The Winter Anthology and finalists will be considered for publication. Categories: Poetry and prose Entry fee: $11 Closing date: 10 January 2024 February features a good balance of poetry and short story competitions, but essay contests are, as always, quite rare. What’s more, we’ve managed to find six free writing contests, perhaps the highest this number has been in a single month! Poetry competitions 20241. yeats poetry prize . WB Yeats Society of NY has organized this poetry competition to honor the “valuable contributions poets and poetry make to human consciousness”. The judge may recognize some honorable mentions aside from the top two prizes. Word count: 60 lines Prizes: $1,000, $500 Entry fee: $15 per poem Closing date: 01 February 2024 2. Claire Keyes Poetry AwardSoundings East , the literary journal of Salem State University has organized this poetry competition 2024. The final judge, Maria Mazziotti Gillan, will select a group of poems that will be awarded with publication in the journal. Word count: 1 page per poem Entry fee: $10 (8–10 poems) Closing date: 01 February 2024 3. Allen Ginsberg Poetry AwardsThis poetry contest awards three poets with publication in Paterson Literary Review . Entries to this contest must be submitted via mail. Although the competition honors Ginsberg, the organizers urge you not to emulate his style in your entry. Word count: 2 pages per poem Prizes: $2,000, $1,000, $500 Entry fee: $18 (3–5 poems) 4. West Chester University Poetry AwardsThese free poetry competitions are open to undergraduate poets enrolled in a US college or university. You can submit up to three poems for each award with the contact information of a referring professor. Word count: Various Prizes: 2 prizes of $1,500, 3 prizes of $1,000, 2 prizes of $500 Closing date: 16 February 2024 5. Heroica Poetry Prize for Women and Non-Binary Authors and PoetsHeroica has organized this poetry competition in 2024 for women and non-binary poets. The prize-winning and longlisted entries will be published in print in the first Heroica Poetry Anthology. Word count: — Prizes: £125, £50, £25 Entry fee: £2 for 1 poem, £5 for 3 poems; £10 for unlimited series Closing date: 29 February 2024 Short story contests 20246. american short(er) fiction prize . American Short Fiction has organized this flash fiction contest to award one writer with a cash prize and publication. Dantiel W. Moniz—writer of the story collection Milk, Blood, Heat —will judge the competition. All entries will be considered for publication! Word count: 1,000 Entry fee: $18 7. Short Short Story ContestThe organizers of this short story contest help immigrants achieve their dreams by teaching them various courses. Alongside one overall winner and four winners for each topic, one prize will be awarded to a teen writer. Themes: bicycle(s), eclipse, fire, suitcase(s) Word count: 100 Prizes: $300, 5 prizes of $100 8. WOW! Winter 2024 Flash Fiction ContestThis women-centric flash fiction contest 2024 offers 17 prizes aside from the top three entries. You can opt for a critique of your work with an entry fee of $20. The entries are limited, so make sure to submit your entry soon! Word count: 250–750 Prizes: $400, $300, $200 Entry fee: $10 Closing date: 28 February 2024 9. Edinburgh Short Story AwardIn its tenth year, this short story competition offers five top prizes and publication to the top 20 (or more) entries. The contest offers free entries to Scottish writers who receive some form of income support. Word count: 2,000 Prizes: £3,000, £500, £250, special prizes of £750 and £300 Entry fee: £10 Closing date: 28 February 2024 10. Imagine Little Tokyo 2024 Short Story Contest [Free Writing Contest!]The Little Tokyo Historical Society has organized this free short story contest in two categories: English and Japanese. These short stories should be set in the Little Tokyo district of Los Angeles and reflect the neighborhood’s culture. Now here’s a worldbuilding challenge like no other! Word count: 2,500 Prizes: 2 prizes of $500 Essay contests 202411. the sarabande prize in essay. One of the rarer essay writing competitions, the winner gets a collection of essays with a publishing contract. You may edit your entry within a week of submission, but not after that. The selected work will undergo the complete book editing process before publication with Sarabande Books. Word count: 100–250 pages Prize: $3,000 Entry fee: $29 Closing date: 15 February 2024 12. Paterson Poetry PrizeThis writing contest awards publication to one poet with the strongest collection of poems. The winner can claim the prize only if they’re available for an in-person or virtual reading at the Poetry Center in Paterson. Word count: At least 48 pages Prize: $2,000 Entry fee: $18 per story 13. Kathryn A. Morton Prize in PoetryThis poetry competition awards one poet with a cash prize and publication with a standard royalty contract. Translations and previously published manuscripts are not eligible. Sarabande Books will consider all finalists for publication! 14. Ambroggio Prize [Free Writing Contest!]This one-of-a-kind free poetry contest awards a manuscript “originally written in Spanish and with an English translation”. Make sure to exclude the “Acknowledgements” page from your entry while submitting! The contest is open to US citizens only. Word count: 48–100 pages 15. Center for African American Poetry and Poetics Book Prize [Free Writing Contest!]Autumn House Press has organized this free writing competition to honor one poet-writer of African descent. The book may be of any genre that “intersects with … poetry, hybrid work, speculative prose, and/or translation.” Word count: 48–168 pages 16. Harold Morton Landon Translation Award [Free Writing Contest!]This free poetry contest 2024 honors a manuscript translated into English from any other language. Collaborations of up to two translators are eligible but self-published works will not be considered. The contest is open to US citizens only. 17. Mary McCarthy Prize in Short FictionThe organizers of this short fiction contest welcome you to submit a collection of short stories, one or more novellas, or a short novel. The manuscript must be unpublished, but individual works may have appeared in magazines or anthologies. Word count: 150–250 pages Closing date: 15 February 2024 Mixed writing competitions 202418. slippery elm prize for poetry and prose . Slippery Elm has organized this writing contest to offer publication to poets and writers in their online and print issues. All entrants will receive a copy of the winning issue and be considered for publication! Word count: None for poetry; 5,000 words for prose Prizes: $500 per category Entry fee: $15 (3 poems; 1 prose entry) 19. Elmbridge Literary Competition 2023–24This contest features four categories for children and teens and only the adult category has an entry fee. Sampson Low will publish the winning entries from all categories together in a chapbook. Categories: Poetry and short story Theme: Fame Word count: 30 lines for poetry; 1,500 words for a short story Prizes: £250, £150, £100 per category Closing date: 23 February 2024 20. 2024 Writing CompetitionThis writing contest is part of the Bournemouth Writing Festival and offers anthology publication to 40 poets and writers. All winners will be invited to the launch party, receive a free copy of the anthology, and get two tickets to a BWF event. Categories: Poetry and flash fiction Theme: Lines in the sand Word count: 30 lines for poetry; 400 words for prose Prize: Anthology publication 21. The Canterbury Tales Writing Competition 2023/24 [Free Writing Contest!]This free writing competition offers young poets and writers prize not only for themselves but also for their school library! There are three age groups and the top three prizes in each group for both, students and their libraries. Exciting, right?! Theme: Being part of a group Prizes: £300, £150, £100 (to the student); 1000, £500, £250 (to the school library) March is overloaded with poetry competitions, perhaps in anticipation of April, the poetry writing month. Short story contests were hard to come by, but we did manage to find some free poetry contests! Poetry contests1. bsfs poetry contest 2024 [free writing contest]. Baltimore Science Fiction Society has organized this poetry competition. You may submit up to three poems exploring themes of science fiction/fantasy/horror/science. The winners also receive convention membership. Prizes: $100, $75, $50 Closing date: 01 March 2024 2. The Alpine Fellowship Poetry Prize 2024 [Free Writing Contest!]This free poetry contest welcomes you to submit a single poem or a collection, as long as all the poems relate to the theme. Prize winners will be invited to attend The Alpine Fellowship’s annual symposium, offering up to £500 as travel expenses. Theme: Language Prizes: £3,000, £1,000, £1,000 Closing date: 01 March 2024 3. The Desmond O’Grady International Poetry Competition 2024The Limerick Writers’ Centre has organized this international poetry contest and invites entries in Irish or English. Poet Arthur Broomfield will judge the English poems while Tomás Ó Coileáin will judge the Irish ones. Prizes: €200, €50 Entry fee: €3.5 Closing date: 16 March 2024 4. The London Magazine Poetry Prize 2024The London Magazine offers cash prizes and publication to three poets through this poetry competition. Students and poets with a low income can submit entries at an entry fee of £5! Prizes: £500, £300, £200 Closing date: 31 March 2024 5. The E.H.P. Barnard Poetry PrizeThis poetry contest, organized by the artist Tom Niell, is open only to UK-based poets. Along with the cash prize, the winner also gets a poem video, performed, produced, and promoted. Exciting, right? Location: UK Theme: Travel Word count: 400 Prizes: £100, £75, £50 Entry fee: £2 Closing date: 31 March 2024 6. The Caterpillar Poetry Prize 2024The Caterpillar has organized this poetry competition with Joseph Coelho as the judge. The winning entries will be published in the Irish Times online and the first prize winner also gets a week at Circle of Misse in France. Prizes: €1,000, €500, €250 Entry fee: €15 7. The Plough Prize 2024In its twenty-first year, this renowned poetry contest will be judged by Roger McGough. There is no restriction on the subject. You may send your entry via post, but make sure it reaches the organizers before the deadline. Prizes: £1,000, £500, £250 8. The Plaza Prose Poetry PrizeThe Plaza Writers has organized this poetry competition to highlight prose poetry. The top ten entries will be selected for anthology publication. Contest judge Carrie Etter is looking for “thrilling experiments with the prose poem form”. Word count: 450 Prizes: £750, £200, £50 Entry fee: £11 9. Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story PrizeThis short story competition has been organized by Symphony Space and sponsored by Selected Shorts. The winning entry will be performed by an actor and published in Electric Literature . Word count: 750 Prize: $1,000 and a 10-week course with Gotham Writers 10. Peter Carey Short Story Awards 2024This short story contest awards two Australian authors with cash prizes, digital publication in Meanjin , as well as the magazine’s standard contributor fee. An additional prize of 500 AUD will be awarded to a writer who lives, works, or studies in Moorabool Shire. Location: Australia Word count: 2,000–3,000 Prizes: 2,000 AUD, 1,000 AUD Entry fee: 15 AUD Closing date: 14 March 2024 11. Indignor House Writing Competition 2024Indignor House Publishing has organized this short story writing contest to support emerging voices in fiction. 25 entries will be selected for publication in an anthology, of which winners will receive a hardcover copy. Theme: Fear Word count: 5,000 Prizes: $500, $250, $150 12. Edna Staebler Personal Essay ContestThis essay contest welcomes you to submit outstanding personal essays. All entries will be considered for publication in The New Quarterly and the organizers will pay an honorarium of $250 upon publication. Location: Canada Entry fee: $40 Closing date: 28 March 2024 13. PFD Queer Fiction Prize back for 2024Peters Fraser + Dunlop, a London-based literary agency, has organized this book writing contest to support emerging queer writers. The submissions do not have to be on LGBTQIA+ experiences as long as the author identifies as such. Categories: Adult and YA/children’s fiction Word count: Three chapters and a synopsis Prize: Agency representation 14. 2024 Airlie PrizeAirlie Press has organized this poetry contest to award one book of poetry with publication. The editors at Airlie Press, previous winners, and guest readers will form the panel of judges. Translated works are not eligible. Word count: 48–90 pages 15. The 2024 Chapter One Prize for NovelistsGutsy Great Novelist has organized this novel writing competition to award three novelists writing in any genre. They have some strict submission guidelines, so make sure you go through them before submitting your entry! Word count: The first chapter Prizes: $1,000, $500, $250 16. The Hazel Rowley PrizeThis contest awards the best book proposal by a first-time biographer. Along with the cash prize, the winner receives agent exposure and publicity for the project through the Biographers International Organization website and newsletter. Word count: 20 pages 17. Raz-Shumaker Book PrizeThis book writing contest awards one poetry and one short story collection with publication by the University of Nebraska Press. Poets and writers are free to enter both contests. Self-published books are not eligible for this contest. Word count: At least 50 pages for poetry; at least 150 pages for fiction Prizes: $3,000 per category Closing date: 15 March 2024 18. Rubery Book AwardsThis book writing competition is for indie writers, self-published authors, and writers who have published with independent presses. The categories for the contest are decided after all submissions have been collected. Prizes: £2,000, some prizes of £200 Entry fee: £45 Mixed writing contests19. wild women contest . Open to poets and writers of all gender identities, this writing competition only requires entries to celebrate the “wild woman spirit”. All submissions will be considered for publication in TulipTree Review and all collaborators will be paid $50. Word count: 5 pages for poetry; 10,000 words for prose Prizes: $1,000 Closing date: 08 March 2024 20. The Screenwriting ChallengeOne of the more interesting writing competitions in 2024, this contest randomly assigns you a genre for round one. The top five from each genre group move on to round two, from which the top three move on to round three. Go check it out! Word count: 12 pages for round 1 Prizes: $4,500, $1,750, $1,000, $500, $350, $250, $225, $200, $175, $150 Entry fee: $55 Contest duration: 15–23 March 2024 21. The 2024 Perkoff PrizeThe Missouri Review has organized this poetry, short story, and essay contest to recognize emerging poets and writers. You may submit your entry online or via post. The entry fee includes a one-year subscription to the magazine. Categories: Poetry, short story, and essay Word count: 10 pages for poetry; 8,500 words for a short story and an essay Prizes: $1,000 per category 22. The Hope PrizeThis short story and essay contest offers anthology publication to the winners and some shortlisted writers. The royalties from the anthology will be donated to Beyond Blue, an Australian mental health charity. Categories: Short story and essay Theme: Hope Prize: 10,000 AUD, 2,000 AUD, 1,000 AUD Entry fee: 22 AUD Closing date: 22 March 2024 23. Seasons Writing Competition 2024This writing contest awards the best pieces of poetry and fiction from the submitted entries and no category prizes are awarded. All shortlisted poets and writers will be published in a contest anthology! Categories: Poetry, short story, flash fiction, script Theme: Light and Shadow Word count: 2,500 words for a short story; 1,000 words for flash fiction Prizes: 500 AUD, 400 AUD, 300 AUD, 200 AUD, some prizes of 100 AUD Entry fee: 5 AUD As if to make up for March, April features a ton of short story writing contests but only two poetry competitions. As always, essay writing contests are few and far between. Don’t worry though, we’ll keep adding to this list every month! 1. Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest [Free Writing Contest!]Unique among free poetry contests, this competition invites you to submit one humorous poem. The winner will receive a Duotrope gift certificate and the top 13 entries will be published online. Both unpublished and previously published works are eligible! Word count: 250 lines Prizes: $2,000, $500, $250, 10 prizes of $100 Closing date: 01 April 2024 2. Nature and Place Poetry Competition 2024The Rialto has organized this poetry contest, inviting poets to dwell on any aspect of nature and place. While judging, Zaffar Kunial will interpret these terms widely. All longlisted entries will be published on The Rialto website. Entry fee: £7 3. Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize 2024The grand prize winner of this short story competition gets a week’s residency at the Civitella Ranieri Foundation, literary feedback, and agent consultation. The contest offers 40 free entries and 60 half-priced entries! Prizes: €2,000, 2 prizes of €1,000 Entry fee: €20 Closing date: 14 April 2024 4. Purorrelato 2024 Micro-Story Contest [Free Writing Contest!]Casa África has organized this micro story writing contest to encourage writers to write about Africa in newer ways. The micro story must relate to Africa in some way and may be written in Spanish, English, French, or Portuguese. Word count: 1,500 characters Prizes: €750, €375, €225 Closing date: 16 April 2024 5. 2024 ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story PrizeOne of the world’s leading short story contests, the Jolley Prize is in its fifteenth year. The three winning stories will be published in the August or September 2024 issue of the Australian Book Review . Prizes: 6,000 AUD, 4,000 AUD, 2,500 AUD Entry fee: 30 AUD Closing date: 22 April 2024 6. SmokeLong Quarterly Award for Flash FictionThis flash fiction contest has been running twice yearly since 2018. The grand prize winner is automatically nominated for The Best Small Fiction, The Pushcart, Best of the Net, and other contests. Prizes: 2,500, $1,000, $500, some prizes of $100. Closing date: 30 April 2024 7. Tadpole Press 100-Word Writing ContestThis short story competition challenges you to pack a punch in 100 words. The second runner-up wins a writing coaching package valued at $450 and the third, a developmental and diversity editing package valued at $250. Prizes: $2,000 and others 8. The Creative Writing NZ Short Story Prize 2024This short story contest accepts only online entries. Lucie Brownlee is the guest judge this year. The winner and runners-up receive a free online course and publication on the Creative Writing NZ website. Location: New Zealand Word count: 3,000 Prizes: $1,000, 2 prizes of $200 9. Short Story CompetitionOrganized by Cranked Anvil Press, this quarterly short story competition welcomes all genres and themes. The winning entries will be published online, and all longlisted entries will be considered for eventual anthology publication. Word count: 1,500 Prizes: £100, £50 Closing date: 30 April 2024 10. Los Angeles NaNo AnthologyThis free short story contest is a golden opportunity for writers worldwide. Writers must submit a story revolving around the theme “Utopia- or is it?” and the prompt “You must include something/someone that gets stuck”. The winning entries will be published in the Los Angeles NaNo Anthology’s 10th edition “Trouble in Paradise”. Wordcount: 4,000 Closing date: 30 April 2024 11. Terry Tempest Williams Creative Nonfiction PrizeNorth American Review has organized this essay contest to offer publication to the winners and honorable mentions. The organizers welcome “the lyric essay, the hermit crab essay, the braided essay, the memoir, the personal essay, literary journalism, and everything in between.” Word count: 500–10,000 Entry fee: $23 Closing date: 02 April 2024 Book writing competitions 202412. self-published book awards . This book writing contest only accepts self-published books that are printed and bound. If you’ve published an eBook, there’s still time enough to print your book through self-publishing services ! The contest accepts entries in seven categories. Prizes: $10,000, 7 prizes of $1,000 Entry fee: $100 13. First Pages PrizeThis book writing contest seeks to support un-agented writers. The top three winners in both categories receive a developmental mentorship and agent consultation via Zoom. Edwidge Danticat will judge both categories. Categories: Fiction and creative nonfiction Word count: 1,250 (First five pages of your book) Prizes: $2,000, $1,500, $1000 per category Closing date: 10 April 2024 14. Jonathan Holden Poetry Chapbook ContestThis poetry competition is open to poets who haven’t yet published a full-length work of poetry. Self-published books are not eligible. All participants receive an eBook copy of the winning chapbook. Word count: 25 to 40 pages Prize: $250 and 10 copies of the printed chapbook Closing date: 10 April 2024 15. Nimrod Literary AwardsAll shortlisted poets and writers for this writing competition will be published and offered a standard publishing rate of $10/page. Poets may submit one long poem or a few short poems within the page limit. Categories: Poetry and fiction (short story or self-contained novel excerpt) Word count: 3–10 pages of poetry; 7,500 words for fiction Prizes: $2,000 and $1,000 per category Entry fee: $20 16. Mairtin Crawford AwardThis writing contest is for poets and writers “working towards their first full collection of poetry, short stories, or a novel.” Both published and unpublished writers are welcome to enter, but they must not have published full-length works. Word count: 3–5 poems for poetry; 2,500 for short story Prizes: £500, 2 prizes of £250 per category 17. F(r)iction ContestsThis is essentially four writing competitions rolled into one. Wole Talabi, Sherrie Flick, C. S. E. Cooney, and Marin Sardy form the panel of judges. All submissions are considered for publication! Categories: Poetry, short story, flash fiction, and essay Word count: 3 pages for poetry, 1,001–7,500 for short story; 1,000 for flash fiction; 6,500 for essay Prizes: $300 for poetry, $1,000 for short story, $300 for flash fiction, $500 for essay Entry fee: $10 for poetry and flash fiction, $15 for a short story and essay As is the trend now, May has made up for the dearth of poetry competitions in April. While there are few short story contests this month, we did find two essay contests. Surprisingly, May features a wealth of book writing competitions! 1. International Poetry ContestAtlanta Review invites you to submit five poems of any length in your entry. Aside from the grand prize winner, 20 poets will be published in the contest issue and 30 more will receive honorable mentions. All 50 poets will receive awards and a free copy of the contest issue. Entry fee: $15 (for five poems) Closing date: 01 May 2024 2. The Letter Review Prize for Poetry [Free Contest!]The organizers of this poetry competition welcome poems of all kinds, with no restrictions on subject or style. Two to four winners are announced, among whom the cash prize is equally distributed. Word count: 70 lines Prize: $1,000 (total prize pool) Closing date: 03 May 2024 3. Montreal International Poetry PrizeOne of the most well-known poetry contests, the Montreal Prize awards one poet each year. The judges will shortlist 60 poems, all of which will be published in The Montreal Poetry Prize Anthology . Translations aren’t allowed unless a poet translates their own work. Prize: $20,000 CAD Closing date: 15 May 2024 4. Stanley Kunitz Memorial PrizeThis poetry competition awards one poem with publication in The American Poetry Review . All entrants receive a copy of the magazine. You may submit up to three poems, as long as the entire entry is no larger than 3 pages. Word count: 3 pages 5. James Laughlin Award [Free Writing Contest!]This poetry competition is for a second book of poetry, to be published in the coming year. Publishers that have previously published at least four books of poetry are welcome to enter. Translated books are not eligible. Location: US Prize: $5,000 6. Lenore Marshall Poetry PrizeThis contest awards a book of poetry published in a standard edition in the previous year (2023). Self-published and translated books are not eligible. Publishers may submit more than one title. Prize: $25,000 Entry fee: $75 7. Guy Owen PrizeSouthern Poetry Review has organized this poetry contest, inviting you to submit three to five poems. You may submit online or via post, and the entry fee includes a one-year subscription to the magazine. Closing date: 31 May 2024 Short story competitions 20248. the letter review prize for short fiction [free contest]. This short story writing contest will shortlist 20 entries, of which 2–4 will be announced as the winners. All entries will be considered for publication, future anthologies, and submission to the Pushcart Prize! 9. Twist in the Tale Writing CompetitionThis interesting short story contest will assign you a genre, a “twisted” subgenre, and an event/character/object/subject. The contest also features weekly challenges and monthly mini-contests. It’s a community experience like no other! Prizes: $1,200, $400, $250, $150, $100, and others Entry fee: $30 Closing date: 13–19 May 2024 (6-day contest) 10. WOW! Flash Fiction ContestOne of the WOW! 2024 writing contests, this is an open-prompt competition, open to women worldwide. You can opt for a critique of your writing at a $20 entry fee. The contest features only 300 entries, so hurry up and submit yours! Prizes: $400, $300, $200, and others 11. The Letter Review Prize for Nonfiction [Free essay writing contest!]One of the few essay contests in May 2024, this competition is open to essayists worldwide. Entries are judged blind and all entrants receive judges’ feedback on their essays. If you’d like to enter more than one essay, the fee is $5 per additional entry. 12. James A. Winn Prize in NonfictionMichigan Quarterly Review has organized this essay contest in memory of English Professor James A. Winn. Ten shortlisted entries will be presented to Judge Elizabeth Goodenough. All entries will be considered for publication. Word count: 1,500–7,000 Prize: $1,500 13. Cheshire Novel PrizeThis international book writing competition invites un-agented authors to submit an excerpt and a 500-word synopsis of their novel. Shortlisted authors will be asked to submit their entire manuscript. Self-published writers are welcome to enter! Word count: The first 5,000 words Prize: £1500 Entry fee: £29 Closing date: 01 May 2024 14. The Backwaters Prize in PoetryThis poetry book contest invites you to submit a collection of poems or a single long poem. The Backwaters Press will offer publication to both winning manuscripts. Only collections with 95% unpublished material are eligible to enter. Word count: 60–85 pages Prizes: $2,000, $1,000 Entry fee: $32 15. The Letter Review Prize for Unpublished Books [Free Contest!]The Letter Review invites poets and writers to submit excerpts of their unpublished books. The organizers may request entire manuscripts only from the winners. Make sure to include a one-page synopsis/abstract and a 200-word bibliography! Word count: The first 15 pages for poetry; the first 5,000 words for prose 16. Leapfrog Global Fiction PrizeThis international book writing contest is open to literary and mainstream fiction, including science fiction. Short story collections are allowed. Self-published books are allowed, as long as they haven’t sold more than 200 copies! Word count: Minimum 22,000 Prize: Publication with Leapfrog Press and $150 for all finalists Entry fee: $35 Closing date: 05 May 2024 17. The Fugere Book Prize for Finely Crafted NovellasRegent House Publishing has organized this novella competition with its panel of editors as the judges. English translations of novellas written in other languages are allowed. Make sure not to send artwork or photographs, however! Word count: 17,000–40,000 18. Goldfinch Novel Award 2024This novel contest invites manuscripts written for adults or young adults. Submit an excerpt of your novel with a one-page synopsis. Along with the cash prize, the winner gets a free Goldfinch membership and a Creative Writing Course worth £150. Location: UK and Ireland 19. Changing Light Prize for a Novel-in-Verse [Free Contest!]This interesting book writing contest combines the forms of poetry and novel. Along with the cash prize, the winner receives 20 copies of their book and a standard royalty contract. The winning manuscript will be published in three formats: trade paper, eBook, and Kindle. Word count: 90–160 pages Prize: $500 Closing date: 25 May 2024 20. The Untold Tales Youth Writing Competition [Free Contest!]The organizers of this writing contest invite poets and writers under 25 years of age to submit entries in English or Spanish. The writing should be “focused on a true, fact-based untold tale celebrating and/or illuminating the importance of human rights.” Categories: Poetry, short story, short narrative Word count: 500 words for poetry; 1,000 words for prose Prizes: $100 per category ![]() 21. Leeway Transformation Award [Free Contest!]Open to women, transgender, and gender-nonconforming artists, poets, and writers, this award isn’t project-based. Rather, it seeks to honor a creative based in Greater Philadelphia who has been working for social change. Categories: Various Prizes: $15,000 22. Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay ContestThis short story and essay contest offers online publication to 12 outstanding writers of fiction and nonfiction. Both published and unpublished entries are welcome. The top two winners receive two-year gift certificates from Duotrope. Word count: 6,000 Prizes: $3,500 per category and 10 prizes of $300 Entry fee: $22 23. Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition 2024This writing contest features nine categories, awarding almost 500 poets and writers with various prizes. As if that wasn’t enough, the names and titles of honorable mentions will be listed on the Writer’s Digest website. Quite the exposure for new writers! Word count: 40 lines for poetry; 4,000 words for a short story, and 2,000 for an essay Prizes: $5,000, 9 prizes of $1,000, $500, $250, $100, and $50 (per category) Entry fee: $20 for poetry; $30 for manuscript Closing date: 06 May 2024 24. The Bridport Prize 2024This esteemed writing competition offers anthology publication, agent consultation, and editorial advice to the winning poets and writers. It also offers other prizes such as the Young Writer Award and the Dorset Award. Categories: Poetry, short story, flash fiction, novel, memoir a. Poetry Contest 2024 Word count: 42 lines Prizes: £5,000, £1,000, £500 Entry fee: £12 b. Short Story Contest 2024 Entry fee: £14 c. Flash Fiction Contest 2024 Word count: 250 d. Novel Contest 2024 Word count: 5,000–8,000 Prizes: £1,500, £750, 3 prizes of £150 Entry fee: £24 e. Memoir Contest 2024 June 2024June is bursting with creative opportunities! From free to paid, there are exciting poetry, short story, and book-writing contests waiting for you. For essay writing enthusiasts, we also managed to find four amazing essay writing contests. Poetry contests 20241. boulevard magazine poetry contest . This poetry contest invites writers to submit a group of 3 poems. The winning group of poems will be published in the Boulevard magazine. Prize: $1000 Entry fee: $18 Closing date: 1 June 2024 2. Dan Veach Prize [Free Writing Contest!]Organized by the Atlanta Review magazine, this is a free poetry contest. Currently accepting submissions from college students aged 18-23, the winning entries will be published in the Atlanta Review’s Fall/Winter issue. Prize: $100 3. Peggy Willis Lyles Haiku Awards [Free Writing Contest!]This free contest welcomes writers to submit a maximum of 2 unpublished haiku poems. Open to haiku poets globally, winners will receive a cash prize and a copy of Red Leaves: Selected Haiku of Peggy Lyles . Prize: $200, $100, $50 4. McLellan Poetry PrizeThis contest invites writers to submit any number of poems on their choice of subject or theme. The poems must be unpublished and not accepted for publication. Word count: 90 lines Prize: £1000, £250 Entry fee: £7 for the 1st poem, £5 per poem for 2nd and subsequent poems Closing date: 2 June 2024 5. Canterbury Festival Poet of the YearAllowing poets to submit poems on any subject, 35 poems will be chosen from all the submitted entries. The shortlisted poems will feature in the Poet of the Year Anthology . Word count: 60 lines Prize: £200, £100, £50 Entry fee: £5 per poem Closing date: 7 June 2024 6. Poetry London prizeJudged by Hannah Sullivan, this contest is open to poets anywhere in the world. The submitted poems must be in English. Winning entries will be published in the Poetry London magazine. Prize: £5000, £2000, £1000 Entry fee: £5 for Poetry London magazine subscribers, £10 for non-subscribers Closing date: 30 June 2024 Short story competitions 20247. defenestrationism contest. This competition is looking for stories that “include an incident of Defenestrationism– the art, or -ism, of throwing people out of windows”. This need not be literal and the incident can be sudden, a violent shift or change. Zombie fiction is discouraged. Prize: $75, $30, $30 Closing date: 2 June 2024 8. Imagine 2200Organized by the American magazine Grist , this contest is looking for “stories rooted in creative climate solutions”. Anyone who is 18 years or older can participate. Word count: 2,500-5,000 words Prize: $3000, $2000, $1000, 9 prizes of $300 Closing date: 24 June 2024 9. Moth Short Story PrizeOpen to any writer over 16 years of age, the winning entries will be published in the Irish Times . Prizes also include a trip to Circle de Misse in France plus open travel stipend! This contest will be judged by Louise Kennedy. Prize: £3000, Circle de Misse trip, £1000 Entry fee: £15 per entry 10. Salamander 2024 Fiction ContestAccepting unpublished stories from writers worldwide, the winning entries will be published in the Salamander magazine. The story submitted must not exceed 30 double-spaced pages in 12-point font. Prize: $1000, $500 Entry fee: $15 11. FFF CompetitionThis flash fiction contest invites writers to submit stories on any theme. The winning entries will be published on the Free Flash Fiction website. Wordcount: 100-300 words Prize: £150, 2 prizes of £50, 3 prizes of £40 Entry fee: £3.95, £2.55 Closing date: 23 June 2024 Essay contests 202412. goi peace foundation international essay contest . Open to anyone who is 25 years old or under, this essay writing contest only accepts one entry per person. Participants can submit their essays written in English, Japanese, or French. Theme: Experience of overcoming conflict Word count: 700 words Prize: 100,000 yen, 50,000 yen Closing date: 15 June 2024 13. Solid essay contestAn amazing opportunity for new writers, the winning essay entries will receive a scholarship. To participate, writers will have to write an essay on technology’s role in shaping the future or select the topic of climate change. Word count: 600-800 Prize: $1000, $700, $500 Closing date: 19 June 2024 14. Hubert Butler Essay prizeTo participate in this essay writing contest, the author must be above 18 and should be a European or UK citizen. The subject for the essay is: “With narratives of conflict currently distorted by misinformation and the substitution of memory for history, what are the chances of reconciliation?” Wordcount: 3,000 Prize: 1 prize of €1,500, 2 prizes of €500 Closing date: 28 June 2024 15. Fountain Essay Contest 2024Open to writers worldwide, interested participants can submit 1 entry per person. While the Chicago Manual of Style is preferred for essay writing, other styles can also be used. Theme: Where is home? Wordcount: 1500-2000 Prizes: $1000, $500, $300, 2 prizes of $150 Book writing contests 202416. the novel prize . This contest rewards unpublished fictional works that “explore and expand the possibilities of the form, and are innovative and imaginative”. The winning entries will be published in North America, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. Prize: $10,000 17. Chicken House PrizeThis contest invites writers to submit a “complete fiction manuscript of any genre for children aged 7 up to YA”. The winner will receive a publishing contract plus an offer of representation. Prize: £7,500 18. Creative Arts Book AwardThis contest allows writers to submit original works of fiction or non-fiction. Poetry books cannot be submitted to this contest. Prize: $25,000, 2 prizes of $250 19. Towson prize for literatureFounded in 1979, this contest accepts manuscript submissions of poetry, fiction, drama, and imaginative non-fiction. Open to Maryland (USA) writers only, the manuscript must be published 3 years before the time of nomination or scheduled for publication within the year it’s nominated. Prize: $1,000 Closing date: 15 June 2024 20. Scotiabank Giller PrizeTo be eligible to participate in this contest, the writer must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada. The book should be a first-edition novel, graphic novel, or collection of short stories published between 1st May and 30th June 2024. Unfortunately, self-published books aren’t eligible. Prize: $10,000, shortlisted translation ($7,000-author, $3,000-translator), (translation wins- $70,000-author, $30,000- translator) Closing date: 21 June 2024 21. Atwood Gibson PrizeOrganized to encourage Canadian writers, this contest awards the best Canadian novel or short story collection. Funded by the Canadian businessman Jim Balsillie, the authors receive a generous cash prize. Prize: $60,000, $5000 Closing date: 25 June 2024 22. Drue Heinz Literature PrizeOpen to writers all over the world, participants can submit a manuscript of short stories, 2 or more novellas, or a combination of novellas and short stories. Winning entries will be published by the University of Pittsburgh Press and receive support in book promotion. Prize: $15000 Mixed writing contests 202423. arizona authors association literary contest . Arizona Literary Magazine has organized this poetry, short story, and essay writing competition in three categories and several subcategories. The 24 winning poets and writers will be published in the magazine. Location: US and Canada Categories: Unpublished poetry, short story, essay, novel; Published books of fiction and nonfiction, others Word count: 50 lines for poetry; 5,000 for short stories and essays; 25 pages for a novel Prizes: $500, 3 prizes of $200, $100, $75, $50 each , 11 prizes of $25 Entry fee: $35 for unpublished and $45 for published poets and writers Closing date: 01 June 2024 24. Questions Writing PrizeThis contest welcomes writers to submit fiction/non-fiction works on any topic. Only young Australian writers, aged 18-30 years are open to participate in this contest. Prize: $3000 Word count: 1,500-2000 25. Manitoba poetry and short story contestInterested participants can either submit 3 poems or 1 story to participate in this exciting contest. The winning entries will be published on the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba website and winners will be given cash prizes. Prize: $125, $75, $50 26. International Wizard of Oz Club ContestThis contest has 3 categories: fiction, non-fiction, and art. All the entries must be about the land of Oz created by Frank Baum in the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz . Prize: $100, $50 Word count: 10,000 words 27. Wells Festival of LiteratureOrganized as a part of the Wells Festival of Literature, this contest awards amazing fictional works of poetry and prose. The winners will receive amazing cash prizes and will be invited to the celebratory event of the festival on 25th October 2024. Categories: Open Poetry, Short Story, Book for Children, Young Poets a. Wells Festival Open Poetry Contest 2024 The poems can be on any subject. Each poem submitted must not exceed more than 35 lines of text in length. Multiple submissions are allowed. Prize: £1000, £500, £250 Entry fee: £6 b. Wells Festival Short Story Contest 2024 You can submit 1 or more short stories on any topic of your choice to participate in this content. Make sure to mention the story’s word count on the first page! Prize: £750, £300, £200, £100 Entry fee: £6 per story c. Wells Festival Book for Children Contest This competition requires you to submit either the first two chapters or the first 20 pages of the children’s book you’ve written. You also need to attach your book’s synopsis. Prize: £750. £300, £200 Entry fee: £6 per book d. Young Poets Contest Open to writers aged 16-22 years old, this contest allows participants to submit poems on any subject. The poems must not exceed 35 lines of length. Prize: £200, £150, £100 Entry fee: £3 per poem 28. Writers’ Trust Prize for Non-FictionThis contest rewards the best Canadian non-fiction of the year. Participants can submit a biography, memoir, or non-fiction book of essays, commentary, and criticism. Prize: $75,000, $5,000 29. Writers of the future contestWriters who have not professionally published “a novel or short novel, or more than one novelette, or more than three short stories, in any medium” are eligible to participate. Manuscripts belonging to the genres of science fiction, fantasy, and dark fantasy are also accepted. Prize: $5000, $1000, $750, $500 July 2024July is the perfect month to let your creativity soar! We’ve found exciting poetry, book, and short story competitions for you! As always, essay writing competitions are scarce. Don’t worry though, we’ll keep adding to this list every month! 1. Local Word Poetry PrizeIn its second year, this contest is open to Australian residents who are 16 years or older. The winning entry will be published on the Geelong Regional Library Corporation (GRLC) website. Wordcount: 75 lines Prize: $2,000, $250 Entry fee: Free! Closing date: 1 July 2024 2. Ledbury Poetry Competition 2024A part of the Poetry Ledbury Festival, this contest is open to writers who are 18 years or older. Judged by Maya C. Popa this year, participants can submit unpublished poems up to 40 lines. Location: UK Prize: £1000, £500, £259 Entry fee: £6 Closing date: 8 July 2024 3. Vice Chancellor’s International Poetry PrizeInterested participants can submit 1-6 poems. 60 longlisted poems will be published in an online prize anthology. Prize: AUD$15,000, AUD$5,000, AUD$5,000 Entry fee: $AUD25 Closing date: 14 July 2024 4. Rattle poetry prizeWelcoming writers worldwide to participate, this contest accepts poems primarily written in English. Participants can send 4 poems per entry on any topic of their choice. Prize: 1 prize of $15000, 1 prize of $5000, 10 prizes of $500 Entry fee: $30 Closing date: 15 July 2024 5. The Tenth Gate PrizeTo participate, writers must have two previously published full-length poetry collections. The winning entry will be published. Entry fee: $25 6. Muriel Craft Bailey Poetry ContestJudged by Charles Rafferty, this contest accepts original, unpublished submissions. The winning entry will be published in the Comstock Review . Prize: $1.000, $250, $100 Entry fee: $27.50 (per submission) 7. Red Wheelbarrow Poetry PrizeJudged by Kim Addonizio, this contest is open to writers worldwide. The top 5 finalists’ entries will be published in the Red Wheelbarrow Literary Magazine . Prize: $1,000, $500, $250 Closing date: 31 July 2024 8. Winchester Poetry Prize 2024Judged by Clare Shaw, this contest encourages poets worldwide to submit poems on any subject. The results will be announced on 5th October 2024 and winning entries will be published in a competition anthology. Wordcount: Not more than 40 lines Entry fee: £6 for the 1st poem, £5 for each subsequent poem 9. Experimental Poetry ContestThis exciting contest allows participants to submit poems of any form and style. The winning entry will be published in the Connecticut River Review. 10. HWA Short Story AwardTo participate in this contest, writers must submit a story that is set atleast 35 years in the past. The stories of 6 shortlisted writers will be published together in an eBook. Wordcount: 3,500 words Prize: £500 Closing date: 1 July 2024. 11. HG Wells short story competitionFree for writers 21 years or under, this contest accepts original, unpublished short stories. The winning entries will be published in the HG Wells Short Story Competition Anthology. Theme: The Fool Prize: £1,000 Entry fee: £10 for writers over 21, £5 for writers with a student ID 12. The Paul Cave Prize for Teenage FictionOrganized to encourage teenage fiction, writers can submit stories about a murder mystery, science, technology, sports, etc. Winning entries will be published on the contest website and in the Paul Cave Prize for Teenage Fiction 2024 book. Prize: £100, £50, £25 Entry fee: £30 (1 entry), £40 (2 entries) Closing date: 30 July 2024 13. Seán Ó Faoláin International Short Story Competition 2024Funded by the Munster Literature Centre, this contest invites writers of all nationalities to submit their stories. The selected stories will be published in the literary journal Southward. Word count: 3,000 Prize: €2,000, €500, €250 14. Inspiring Fiction ContestThis contest is seeking submissions for “thrilling and thought-provoking short stories”. To participate, writers will have to explore the theme of freedom through genres like crime, fantasy, and speculative fiction. Wordcount: 1000-2500 Prize: £100 15. Fiction Factory CompetitionThis competition welcomes all stories except those related to children and young adult fiction. Stories must be submitted in a MS Word document. Wordcount: 3000 words Prize: £500 Entry fee: £7.00 (1 story), £13 (2 stories), £18 (3 stories) 16. Anthology Short Story CompetitionOpen to writers worldwide, this short story competition welcomes submissions on any theme or style. The winning entry will be published in the future issue of Anthology. Word count: 1,500 words Prize: €1000, €250, €150 Entry fee: €18 per entry 17. Forum Essay Prize 2024This contest is seeking submissions of “bold, visionary, and persuasive essays”. The winning essay will be published in the issue of Forum for Modern Language Studies. Theme: The Art(s) of Delight Wordcount: 6000-8000 words Prize: £500, £200 18. Wasifiri New Writing PrizeThis contest is open to all writers who have not yet published a book. The winning entries will be published in the Wasafiri magazine. Prize: £1000 Entry fee: £12 (single entry), £16 (double entry) 19. The St. Laurence Book AwardThis contest rewards an unpublished collection of poetry or prose. The winning entry will be published and the author will receive 10 copies. Prize: $1.000 Entry fee: $14 20. Press 53 AwardRewarding “outstanding, unpublished collection of poems”, this contest welcomes submissions of writers 18 years or older. The participant must reside in the United States. 21. Kingsley Tuft Poetry AwardInterested participants must submit their first book of poetry published between 1st July 2023 and 30th June 2024. Make sure to mail 8 copies of the book and the entry form before the deadline! Prize: $100,000 22. North Street Book PrizeTo participate, writers must submit self-published/hybrid published books. Winning writers will also receive a $500 credit at the self-publishing platform BookBaby and book cover consultation from Laura Duffy Design. Categories: mainstream/literary fiction, romance, mystery, thriller, young adult, science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, poetry, children’s picture books, middle grade, art books, creative non fiction, graphic novels, and memoirs Prize: $10,000, $1,000, $300 Entry fee: $79 per book 23. Marystina Santiestevan First Book PrizeEvery year, this contest awards a poet who hasn’t yet published a full-length poetry book. Interested poets must submit an unpublished manuscript of 48-90 pages. Prize: $1,500 Closing date: 7 July 2024 24. Petrichor PrizeOpen to writers 18 years or older, participants can submit more than 1 manuscript. The winning entry will be published by Regal House Publishing. 25. Bellevue Literary Review PrizeThis contest is currently accepting submissions in 3 categories: poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. Simultaneous submissions are accepted. Wordcount: 5,000 words Prize: $75 (poetry), $150 (prose) Entry fee: $5 26. Robert and Adele Schiff AwardsSimultaneous submissions of fiction and non-fiction works are accepted by this contest. Writers can submit 8 pages of poetry (5 poems), a 10,000-word fictional work or a 5,000-word work of literary non-fiction. Prize: $1,000 (per category) 27. Work-in-Progress ContestThis contest supports writers to complete a book of fiction, nonfiction or poetry. Winning writers will also get guidance from editors and their interview will be featured in Unleash Lit . Prize: $500 August 2024Ready to unleash your creativity and showcase your talent? We’ve found amazing poetry, book, and short story competitions for you. Although there aren’t many essay writing competitions, we’ll continue updating this list every month. 1. Coniston PrizeOpen to female poets worldwide, this contest awards a group of exceptional poems. The poems of all winners and finalists will be published in the October Coniston’s Prize issue. Prize: $1,000, $175 for 10 finalists Closing date: 1 August 2024 2. Waterford Poetry Prize (Free poetry writing contest!)Only writers staying in Ireland are eligible to participate in this contest. This concept accepts unpublished poems in PDF/Word format. Wordcount: 40 lines max Prize: €400, €300, €200 Closing date: 12 August 2024 3. Grayson Books Poetry ContestAccepting electronic submissions only, this contest looks for poetry submissions of 50-90 pages. The winning entry will be published by Grayson Books. Entry fee: $26 Closing date: 15 August 2024 4. Cantor PrizeJudged by Juan Morales, this contest is open to Colarodo writers and global writers submitting a poem about Colorado. Previously published poems and simultaneous submissions are allowed. Prize: $1,000, $100 each (5 prizes) Entry fee: 1 poem ($10), 2 poems ($20), 3 poems, (25), 4 poems ($35) Deadline: 31 August 2024 5. Oxford Poetry PrizeJudged by Rachel Long, this contest rewards a single poem written in English. The winning poems will also receive the opportunity for publication in Oxford Poetry . Wordcount: 50 lines (maximum) Prize: £1000, £200, £100 Closing date: 31 August 2024 6. Off the Grid Poetry PrizeOpen to poets 60 years or older, manuscripts submitted for this contest must be of atleast 50 pages. The winner will also receive additional services of book promotion, book printing, audiobook creation. 7. Richard-Gabriel Rummonds Poetry PrizeOpen to writers residing in the United States, entrants need to be 18 or older to participate. The winning entry will secure publication by Ex Ophidia Press. 8. Eugene Paul Nassar Poetry Prize (Free poetry contest!)Only New York residents who have published a poetry collection between 1st July 2023 and 30th June 2024 are eligible to participate in this contest. The winner will get an opportunity to read their poetry and teach at Utica University in April 2025. 9. George Dila Flash Fiction ContestThis contest welcomes submissions of unpublished flash fiction works. Three winning stories will be published in September 2024’s contest issue. Wordcount: Less than 1,000 words Prize: 3 prizes of $100 Entry fee: $6 per entry 10. Free Flash Fiction CompetitionWriters who are16 years or older are eligible to participate in this contest. Welcoming submissions of fiction works on any theme, the winning entry also secures publication. Word count: 100-300 words Prize: £150, £50.00 (2 prizes), £40.00 (3 shortlisted stories) Entry fee: £2.55 via BACS, £3.95 via PayPal or Stripe Closing date: 23 August 2024 11. Summer Short Story AwardInviting submissions of unpublished fiction or creative nonfiction, this contest will be judged by Colin Barrett. Simultaneous and multiple submissions are allowed. The winning entry will secure an agency review and online publication. Word count: Less than 6000 words Prize: $3000, 2 cash prizes for finalists ($200, $300) Entry fee: $20 per entry Closing date: 25 August 2024 12. Gemini Flash Fiction PrizeThis flash fiction contest invites writers to submit literary works on any subject and style. The maximum word-limit is 1,000 words. Prize: $1,000, $100, $25 each (4 honorable mentions) Entry fee: $8 13. Edinburgh Flash Fiction AwardAccepting stories in all genres, this contest is open to writers worldwide. The authors of the top 20 stories will secure publication in an anthology. This contest also rewards one writer living in Scotland with the Golden Hare award and a bizarre, quirky story with the Write Mango Flash Award. Wordcount: Up to 200 words Prize: £2,000, £300, £150, £500 for Golden Hare award, £300 for Write Mango Flash award Entry fee: £10.00 per story 14. Summer Flash Fiction ContestHosted by WOW!, this quarterly writing contest accepts submissions in any style and genre. The winning entry will be published. Top 10 entries will each receive a $25 Amazon gift certificate. With this, 10 honorable mentions will each get a $20 Amazon gift certificate. Prize: $600, $300, 200, $25 worth Amazon gift certificates to 7 runner-ups, Wordcount: 250-750 words Entry fee: $10 Essay writing contests 202415. creative non fiction essay contest . Judged by Safiya Sinclair, this contest seeks submissions of creative, non-fiction essays of 5,000 words. Every entry must include a cover letter, an essay manuscript, and the entry fee. Closing date: 2 August 2024 16. Platt Family Essay Contest (Free essay contest!)Under-graduate students who are currently enrolled in an American University or college during the Spring semester are eligible to participate in this contest. Make sure to include a works cited page or bibliography with the essay! Prize: $1,000, $500, $250 17. Aspen Words Literary PrizeThis prize is annually given to “an influential work of fiction that illuminates a vital contemporary issue”. Welcoming writers worldwide, works about violence, religion, race, immigration, or any other social issues are eligible for submission. Prize: $35,000 Entry fee: $105 per book Closing date: 7 August 2024 18. Other Futures AwardThis contest rewards a manuscript that “challenges conventions of genre and language, content and form”. The chosen manuscript will secure publication by FuturePoem, a standard royalty contract and 25 author copies. Entry fee: $28, ($18, $9 need-based fees), $35 to sponsor someone’s fees 19. Open Poetry Book ContestAccepting only online submissions, this contest is open to writers worldwide. The winning entry is published and the winner gets 20 printed copies. Entry fee: $30 per entry Closing date: 16 August 2024 20. Book of the Year Awards ContestIn its tenth year, this contest welcomes authors to submit fictional/non-fictional books. The entries must be already published and available for sale/presale on Amazon or other online publishing platforms. Prize: $2,500, $1,000 each (2 prizes), $500 each (2 prizes) $250 each (2 prizes) (totaling to $6000) Entry fee: $49 (1st category), $35 (additional category) 21. Kenneth Patchen AwardTo participate, writers can submit a manuscript of any length in Word or PDF format. The winning entry will be published by the Journal of Experimental Fiction. 22. Granum Foundation Prize (Free writing contest!)This contest invites submissions of poetry books, essay collections, short story collections, novels, and memoirs. Additionally, the Granum Foundation Translation Prize will be awarded to a work translated in English. Open to US-based writers, only one entry per person is allowed. Prize: $5.000 (Granum Foundation prize), $1500 or more (Granum Foundation Translation Prize), $500 or more (3 finalists) 23. Stories That Need to Be ToldThis contest welcomes submissions of poetry and prose works. Five additional prizes will be given to stories related to humor, passion, depth, or any form of love. Wordcount: Poetry (5 pages per poem), prose (10,000 words) Prize: $1,000, $200 each (5 prizes), $200 (wild card) Closing date: 9 August 2024 24. Gulf Coast PrizeThis prize rewards a novel or short story collection that “illuminates a vital contemporary issue”. Writers can submit a literary work that explores violence, religion, race, or any other social issue. Only 4 submissions are allowed per publishing house. Entry fee: $26 per entry 25. Lab PrizeTo participate, writers can submit their unpublished novel or short story collection on any topic. The winning entry will be published by The University of New Orleans Press. Entry fee: $28 26. SaveAs Writers International Writing CompetitionOrganized to pay a tribute to climbers U.K.’s 1924 Everest expedition climbers, this contest accepts poetry and short story submissions. Judged by Frances Knight, the entry needs to be centered around the theme “Risking All”. Wordcount: 60 lines max (poems), 3,500 (short stories) Entry fee: £4 per poem, £10 for 3 poems, £5 for a short story, £12 for 3 short stories 27. Northwind Writing Award (Free writing contest!)This contest includes the following categories: prose poetry, poetry, short fiction, nonfiction/essay/memoir. Only writers residing in the US, Canada, U.K., and Canada are eligible to participate. Prize: $ 100 per category September 2024This September, gear up for some exciting writing contests and showcase your creativity! We’ve discovered amazing poetry, essay, book, and short story contests, both free and paid. Dive in, participate, and stay tuned: We’ll continue updating this list as we find new contests! 1. Miller Williams Poetry PrizeCurrently accepting poetry manuscript submissions, this contest only allows one entry per author. The winning entry will also secure publication. Wordcount: 60-90 pages Closing date: 30 September 2024 2. Stories Out of School Contest (Free short story contest!)Open to adults who are 18 years or older, this contest is seeking submissions of original, unpublished works. The story’s protagonist or narrator must be a K-12 teacher. Wordcount: 6-499 words Closing date: 1 September 2024 3. SIWC Writing ContestOrganized as a part of the Surrey International Writing Conference, this contest invites writers from all over the world to submit their stories. Allowing authors to submit stories in any genre, every entry must also include an attached cover letter. Wordcount: 2,500-5000 words Prize: $1,000, $150 (honorable mention) Closing date: 15 September 2024 4. Mslexia Women’s Short Story CompetitionJudged by Leone Ross, this contest is open to all female writers worldwide. The entries of the winner and top 3 finalists will be published in December 2024’s Mslexia edition. They’ll also be included in the eBook anthology Best Women’s Short Fiction 2024 . Prize: £3,000, £100 (3 prizes) Entry fee: £12.00 Closing date: 23 September 2024 5. Anthology Flash Fiction AwardThis contest welcomes writers of all nationalities to submit unpublished flash fiction works on any theme or genre. Seeking “clever and unique writing”, the winning entry will be published in the future issue of Anthology . Prize: €300 Entry fee: €12 Essay Writing Contests 20246. immerse education essay competition (free essay contest) . Students who are 13-18 years old are eligible to participate in this essay contest. 10 winners and runner-ups will get scholarships to pursue their education with Immerse. Closing date: 12th September 2024 Book Writing Contests 20247. first book award. To be eligible to participate, the entrant must reside in the US or must have been a US resident 10 years before the submission deadline. The winner will also receive a 6-week paid trip to Civitella Ranieri Center Italy where they’ll join a group of artists, writers, and publishers. Entry fee: $35 Mixed Writing Contests8. dogwood literary awards. Every year, this contest rewards an outstanding story, essay, or poem. Make sure to include a brief bio and contact information in the attached cover letter! Wordcount: 22 pages (fiction/ non-fiction prose works), 10 pages max. (poetry) Prize: $1000 per category Entry fee: $12 Closing date: 5 September 2024 9. Aesthetica Creative Writing AwardInviting submissions of poetry and short fiction on any theme, this contest is “looking for the best new writing talent”. Multiple submissions are allowed. The winning entry will be published by Aesthetica. Wordcount: Poetry (40 lines max.), short fiction (up to 2,000 words) Prize: £5000 Entry fee: £12 (poetry), £18 (short fiction) Closing date: 8 September 2024 10. Dreamquest Poetry and Writing ContestOpen to all writers worldwide, this contest invites submissions of poems and short stories. The literary work can be in any style and theme. Wordcount: 30 lines or less (poetry), 5 pages max (prose) Prize: Poetry ($250, $125, 50), Prose ($500, $250, $100) Entry fee: $10 (per short story), $5 (per poem) 11. The Paul Cave PrizeThis contest welcomes submissions of poetry, flash fiction, short stories, and novellas from writers all over the world. The winning entry will be published in the Paul Cave Prize for Literature 2024 book. Wordcount: 30 lines max (poetry), 300 words max (flash fiction), 1,000 words max (short stories), 10,000 words max (novellas) Prize: £150 (novella), £75 (short story), £35 (flash fiction), £35 (best poem) Entry fee: £13 (1 short story), £20 (2 short stories), £26 (1 novella), £42 (2 novellas), £10 (up to 3 poems/ flash fiction), £20 ( up to 8 poems/flash fiction) Other writing contests1. personal essay awards. Writer’s Digest welcomes all essayists to submit their best work. The top ten entries will be published in the magazine’s May/June 2024 issue. The grand prize winner also receives a paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference! Prizes: $2,500, $1,000, $500, 7 prizes of $100 Entry fee: $25 (early bird deadline)/ $30 Closing date: 03 September 2024 (early bird deadline)/01 October 2024 2. Litmag’s Emily Dickinson AwardTo participate, writers can submit 1-3 poems. The winning entry will secure publication in LitMag and receive an agency review by Amy Bishop-Wycisk. Prize: $1,500, $100 each (for 3 finalists) Closing date: 1 October 2024 3. Dzancs Book Prize for FictionThis contest has 3 categories: fiction novels, poetry, and short story collection. The winning entries will secure publication Prize: $5000 (fiction novels), $2500 (short story collection), poetry ($1000) 4. Peter Porter PrizeThis contest invites writers of all nationalities to submit unpublished poems. Each entry must be a poem written by a single author of not more than 60 lines. Prize: AU$6000, $1000 each (4 shortlisted poets) Entry fee: $20 (current Australian Book Review subscriber), $30 (standard/non subscriber) Closing date: 7 October 2024 5. Eyelands Book AwardsOne of the rare contests based in Greece, this international book writing contest accepts submissions of novels, poetry, novellas, short story collections, YA books, historical fiction, memoirs, and graphic novels. Prize: 5-day trip to Athens, video promotion, publication of unpublished books Word count: 250.000 words (all categories of published books), 150.000 words (unpublished text), 250 pages (text/poetry collection by a single author Entry fee: 40 euros ($ 45), Early bird submission 30 euros ($ 35) till 1 September 2024 Closing date: 20 October 2024 6. Bennington Young Writers Award (Free writing contest!)This international writing contest encourages students from the 9th-12th grades to participate. Students can submit their creative works in 3 categories: poetry, fiction (short story), and nonfiction (essays). Wordcount: Poetry (a group of 3 poems), short story and essay (1,500 words or less) Closing date: 1 November 2024 7. Edwin Markham Poetry PrizeThis contest accepts unpublished works in any form and style. Writers can submit up to 5 poems per submission. Make sure to include a 50-word bio with your submission! 8. James Hearst Poetry PrizeTo participate, writers can submit up to 5 poems per submission. All winning entries, runner-ups, honorable mentions, and finalists will be offered publication in North American Review’s spring issue. Entry fee: $23 Closing date: 2 November 2024 9. Servicescape Short Story AwardThis contest awards original works of short fiction and non-fiction. Writers can submit a story on any theme and genre. Word count: 5,000 or lower Closing date: 30 November 2024 10. Lascaux PrizeCurrently, this contest is open for submissions for two categories: Creative Non Fiction and Short Fiction. Interested participants can submit memoirs, chronicles, personal essays, humorous perspectives, literary journalism, or short stories of any genre. Closing date: 31 December 2024 We’ll keep updating this list every month, adding more paid and free writing contests in 2024. If you’d like us to look for some specific types of contests, feel free to let us know in the comments! As providers of expert self-publishing services , it’s our duty to help you out and we take it very seriously! Want to stick around and read more about writing? Here are some articles to begin with:
Frequently Asked QuestionsWho is eligible to participate in writing contests, can i submit previously published work to writing contests, what genres are typically covered in free writing competitions, where can i get updates on the results of the contest, what are the submission guidelines for free writing contests. Found this article helpful? 11 comments on “ Writing Contests 2024: Cash Prizes & Free Entries! ”Thank you for this list. I will try a few. Please, keep me updated on single poetry contests. Because I have not written enough for a book as of yet! We’ll keep updating the list. i liked your list! Greatly appreciated This is a fantastic list! 🙂 What is the best way to submit a contest to the list? Thanks Alex, You can check the contest submission guidelines on the website. Keep reading for the upcoming writing contests! It is awesome! Thank you for the list 😉 Great opportunity to get my feet wet; I will try a couple Thank you to give opportunity to teenagers. Cool paper true 👍 Leave a Comment: Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Your vs. You’re: When to Use Your and You’reYour organization needs a technical editor: here’s why. Subscribe to our Newsletter Get carefully curated resources about writing, editing, and publishing in the comfort of your inbox. How to Copyright Your Book? If you’ve thought about copyrighting your book, you’re on the right path. © 2024 All rights reserved
![]() Your Ultimate Guide to Writing Contests Through 2024Regardless where you are on your writing journey, you can benefit from entering contests. The right contest can tell you:
And you could win cash. That’s why my team researched a wide range of high-quality contests. We’ve included free competitions and also many with modest entry fees.
Great American Fiction Contest Prize: 1st: $1,000, publication in The Saturday Evening Post Runners-up (5): $200 Entry Fee: $10 Deadline: TBD 2024 (Annual Contest) Sponsor: The Saturday Evening Post From Website: “Unpublished short stories of 1,500 to 5,000 words in any genre touching on the publication’s mission, “Celebrating America—past, present, and future.” No extreme profanity or graphic sex. Work published on a personal website or blog is still eligible.” SiWC Writing Contest Prize: 1st: $1,000 plus publication Honorable Mention: $150 Entry Fee: $15 Deadline: September 15, 2024 Sponsor: Surrey International Writers’ Conference From Website: “Short stories in any genre must be 2,500-4,000 words. All submissions must contain original material and may not have been previously published, accepted for publication, or have been a winner in another contest prior to the deadline.” WOW / Women On Writing Quarterly Flash Fiction Competition Prize: 1st: $400, $25 Amazon gift certificate 2nd: $300, $25 Amazon gift certificate 3rd: $200, $25 Amazon gift certificate Runners-up (7): $25 Amazon gift certificate Honorable mentions (10): $20 Amazon gift certificate Entry Fee: $10 (or $20 with feedback) Deadline: Quarterly (next deadline February 2, 2024) Sponsor: WOW / Women On Writing From Website: “Runs four times a year and is open to all styles and genres. Closes each quarter after 300 entries have been received, or at the deadline. WOW also runs a quarterly nonfiction essay competition with cash prizes.” Bristol Short Story Prize Prize: 1st: £1,000 (~$1,242) 2nd: £500 (~$621) 3rd: £250 (~$310) Shortlisted (17): £100 (~$124) Entry Fee: £9 (~$11) Deadline: TBD 2024 Sponsor: Bristol Short Story Prize From Website: “Open to all published and unpublished writers 16 and up. No geographical restriction, but all entries must be in English. Maximum length 4,000 words (not including title). No minimum length. Stories can be on any subject.” Aesthetica Creative Writing Award Prize: £2,500 (~$3,105) Winners also receive further non-monetary prizes including publication in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual. Entry Fee: £18 (~$22) (Poetry Category entry fee is ~$15) Deadline: August 31, 2024 Sponsor: Aesthetica Magazine From Website: “Fiction entries should be no more than 2,000 words. Works published or entered elsewhere are accepted. Any theme accepted. You may enter as many times as you wish, however, each work requires a separate fee and submission form.” The Lascaux Prize Prize: $1,000 Finalists receive $100 Deadline: June 20, 2024 Sponsor: The Lascaux Review “Flash Fiction and Creative Nonfiction categories. Flash fiction entries should not exceed 1,000 words. All genres and styles welcome. From Website: “Creative nonfiction entry length must not exceed 10,000 words. All topics welcome but should be written in a nonacademic style. May include memoirs, chronicles, personal essays, humorous perspectives, literary journalism—anything the author has witnessed, experienced, learned, or discovered.” The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize Prize: First place: £3,000 cash grant (~$3,726) Second place: £1,000 travel expense (~$1,242) Third place: £1,000 travel expense (~$1,242) Entry Fee: Free Deadline: March 1, 2024 Sponsor: The Alpine Fellowship From Website: “Entries must fit the annual theme. Maximum of 2,500 words. All genres of writing are permitted, including fiction, non-fiction, and non-academic essays. Open to all nationalities but must be written in English. Stories must not have been published, self-published or accepted for publication in print or online. No entries that have won or been placed in another competition at any time.” ServiceScape Short Story Award Deadline: November 29, 2024 Sponsor: ServiceScape From Website: “All entries must be original, unpublished works of short fiction or nonfiction, up to 5,000 words in length. Any genre or theme accepted.” Bacopa Literary Review Contest Prize: $200 Award $100 Honorable Mention in each of six categories Sponsor: The Writers Alliance of Gainesville From Website: “Awards in 6 categories (contestants may submit to only ONE category). Fiction (up to 2,500 words), Creative Nonfiction (up to 2,500 words), Humor (up to 2,000 words), Formal Poetry (1-3 poems), Free Verse Poetry (1-2 poems), Visual Poetry (1 poem).” Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award Prize: $.08 per word and publication Deadline: February 1, 2024 Sponsor: National Space Society and Baen Books From Website: “Write a short story of no more than 8,000 words, that shows the near future (no more than about 50-60 years out) of manned space exploration. What they want to see: Moon bases, Mars colonies, orbital habitats, space elevators, asteroid mining, artificial intelligence, nano-technology, realistic spacecraft, heroics, sacrifice, and adventure.” Parsec Short Story Contest Prize: First place: $200 and publication in the Confluence program book. Second place: $100 Third place: $50 Best Youth Story: $50 Deadline: March 31st, 2024 Sponsor: Parsec, Inc. From Website: “Each annual contest is based on a theme provided. This can be conveyed in the setting, plot, characters, and dialogue; the only limit is your imagination. The theme must be integral to the story in some way and not just mentioned in passing. No minimum word count, no more than 3500 words. The 2024 Contest theme is ‘AI mythology.’” The Raymond Carver Short Story Contest Prize: First place: $2000 Second place: $500 Third place: $250 Two Editor’s Choice: $125 Entry Fee: $18 Deadline: May 15, 2024 Sponsor: Carve Magazine From Website: “One short story per entry. No limit to entries. Must be previously unpublished (including online) with a 10,000 maximum word count. We accept entries from anywhere in the world, but the story must be English-language. No genre fiction (romance, horror, sci-fi); literary fiction only.” Blurred Genres Flash Contest Prize: First Place: $750 Second Place: $350 Third Place: $150 Publication of Top Five Sponsor: Invisible City (University of San Francisco) From Website: “Based on a theme (for example last year’s theme was “Levity”) that can be interpreted through prose, poetry, or some combination of the two. All genres and themes are welcome. Contest submissions must be 750 words or less and can be flash fiction/nonfiction, prose poetry, or some unique combination of the three. Submissions must be the original work of the submitter and unpublished (and not slated for future publication).” Imagine 2200: Write the future Prize: First Place: $3,000 Second Place: $2,000 Third Place: $1,000 An additional nine finalists will each receive $300 All winners and finalists will have their stories published in an immersive collection on Grist’s website Sponsor: Grist From Website: “Imagine 2200 is an invitation to writers from all over the globe to imagine a future in which solutions to the climate crisis flourish and help bring about radical improvements to our world. 3,000 to 5,000 word stories envisioning a world where we prioritize our well-being, work to mend our communities, and lead lives that celebrate our humanity.” The Elegant Literature Award For New Writers Prize: First place: $3,000 and 10c/word and publication. Free enrollment in the New Novelist Accelerator. Second – Tenth: 10c/word and publication. Eleventh – Thirty-fifth: $20 and an honorable mention in the magazine Entry Fee: Requires Elegant+ Membership ($9.99 a month) Deadline: Ongoing (monthly) Sponsor: Elegant Literature Magazine From Website: “Write a story involving annual theme. New or unpublished authors may enter. Word count is 500-2000. All genres are welcome as long as it involves the theme.” F(r)iction Contests Prize: $300.00 and consideration for publication in F(r)iction Entry Fee: $10 for a single entry, $12 for three entries Deadline: April 30, 2024 Sponsor: F(r)iction From Website: “Competitions in several categories, short stories (1,001 – 7,500 words), flash fiction (up to 1,000 words), and Poetry (up to three pages per poem). Entries are accepted regardless of genre, style, or origin. Experimental, nontraditional, and boundary-pushing literature is strongly encouraged. Their guidelines include the phrase ‘Strange is good.’” Manchester Fiction Prize Prize: £10,000 (~$12,420) Entry Fee: £18 (~$22) 100 reduced-price (£10 or ~$13) entries are available to entrants who might not otherwise be able to take part in the competition. Sponsor: Manchester Metropolitan University From Website: “The Manchester Fiction Prize asks for a short story of up to 2,500 words in length. Stories submitted should be new work, not previously published elsewhere. The Prize is open internationally to those aged 16 or over.” Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition Prize: Grand Prize $5000, an interview with them in Writer’s Digest (Nov/Dec 2023 issue) and on WritersDigest.com, a paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, including a special trophy presentation at the keynote, a coveted Pitch Slam slot at the Writer’s Digest Conference where the winner will receive one on one attention from editors or agents, and publication of their winning piece on WritersDigest.com First Place: $1,000 and publication of their winning piece on WritersDigest.com Second Place: $500 Third Place: $250 Fourth Place: $100 Fifth Place: $50 Sixth through Tenth Place: $25 gift certificate for writersdigestshop.com. Entry Fee: $20-30 (varies depending on category) Deadline: May 6, 2024 Sponsor: Writer’s Digest From Website: “Only original works that have not been published (at the time of submission) in print, digital, or online publications will be considered. Self-published work in blogs, on social media, etc. will be considered. For the script category, only unproduced scripts will be considered. Entries in the Nonfiction Essay or Article category may be previously published. All entries must be in English. Memoirs/Personal Essay, Nonfiction Essay or Article, and Children’s/Young Adult Fiction: 2,000 words maximum. Mainstream/Literary Short Story, Genre Short, Story, and Humor: 4,000 words maximum. Inspirational Writing: 2,500 words maximum. Rhyming Poem and Non-rhyming Poem: 40 lines maximum.” Emerging Writer’s Contest Prize: Publication, $2,000, review from Aevitas Creative Management, and a 1-year subscription for one winner in each of the three genres Entry Fee: Free for subscribers to Ploughshares, $24 for nonsubscribers Sponsor: Ploughshares (Emerson College) From Website: “The contest is open to writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry who have yet to publish or self-publish a book. Fiction and Nonfiction: Under 6,000 words. Poetry: 3-5 pages.” Wells Festival of Literature Short Story Competition Prize: First Place £750 (~$932) Second Place £300 (~$373) Third Place: £200 (~$248) Entry Fee: £6 (~$8) Sponsor: Wells Festival of Literature From Website: “Stories may be on any subject and should be between 1,000 and 2,000 words. All entries must be the exclusive and original work of the entrant. At the time of entry, the work submitted must not have been entered into any other Competition and must not have been published in any format or location.” Anthology Short Story Competition Prize: First Place: €1,000 (~$1098), the chance to see their work published in a future issue of Anthology, and a one-year subscription to Anthology Second Place: €250 (~$275) Third Place: €150 (~$165) Entry Fee: Early Bird: €12 (~$13) Standard fee: €18 (~$20) Deadline: July 31, 2024 Sponsor: Anthology Publishing From Website: “Established to recognize and encourage creative writing and provide a platform for publication, the Anthology Short Story Competition is open to original and previously unpublished short stories in the English language by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. There is no restriction on theme or style. Stories submitted must not exceed the maximum of 1,500 words.” The Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize Prize: £1,000 (~$1,246) and publication in Wasafiri’s print magazine Entry Fee: £10 (~$12) for a single entry, £16 (~$20) for a double entry Sponsor: Wasafiri Magazine From Website: “Exceptionally international in scope, the prize supports writers who have not yet published a book-length work, with no limits on age, gender, nationality, or background. No entry may exceed 3,000 words. A single poetry entry can include up to three poems, which together total no more than 3,000 words.” 2024 Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize Prize: $1000 and a free 10-week course with Gotham Writers Entry Fee: $25 Sponsor: Gotham Writers and Selected Shorts From Website: “This long-running series at Symphony Space in New York City celebrates the art of the short story by having stars of stage and screen read aloud the works of established and emerging writers. Selected Shorts is recorded for Public Radio and heard nationally on both the radio and its weekly podcast.” Robert and Adele Schiff Awards Prize: $1,000 All entries will be considered for publication in The Cincinnati Review Entry Fee: $20 Sponsor: The Cincinnati Review (University of Cincinnati) From Website: “Writers may submit up to 8 pages of poetry, 40 pages of a single double-spaced piece of fiction, or 20 pages of a single double-spaced piece of literary nonfiction, per entry. Previously published manuscripts, including works that have appeared online (in any form), will not be considered. There are no restrictions as to form, style, or content; all entries will be considered for publication. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable under the condition that you notify us if your manuscript is accepted elsewhere.” Salamander 2024 Fiction Prize Prize: First Place: $1,000 and Publication Second Place: $500 and Publication Deadline: TBD 2024 Sponsor: Salamander Magazine From Website: “All entries will be considered for publication and will be judged anonymously. Each story must not exceed 30 double-spaced pages in 12-point font. Previously published works and works accepted for publication elsewhere cannot be considered. Salamander’s definition of publishing includes electronic publication.” BOA Short Fiction Prize Prize: $1,000 and publication by BOA Editions, Ltd. Deadline: May 31, 2024 Sponsor: BOA Editions, Ltd. From Website: “Entrants must be U.S. citizens, legal residents of the U.S., or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), or Legal Permanent Status (LPS). Entrants must be at least 18 years of age. Minimum of 90 pages; maximum of 200 pages. Manuscript text should be at least 12 pt. font, double-spaced. As with all BOA fiction titles, our prize-winning short story collections are more concerned with the artfulness of writing than the twists and turns of plot. It is our belief that short story writing is a valuable and underserved literary form that we are proud to support, nurture, and celebrate.” Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest Prize: First Place: $3,000 Entry Fee: $22 Deadline: May 1, 2024 Sponsor: Winning Writers (Co-sponsored by Duotrope) From Website: “For this contest, a story is any short work of fiction, and an essay is any short work of nonfiction. All themes accepted. Entries may be published or unpublished. Length limit: 6,000 words maximum. No restriction on the age of the author.” Gabriele Rico Challenge for Nonfiction Prize: $1,333 Deadline: November 1, 2024 Sponsor: Reed Magazine From Website: “C reative nonfiction, such as personal essays or narratives, not scholarly papers or book reviews. All works should be stand-alone essays, not chapters of a longer work. Previously published work is not eligible. Up to 5,000 words.” 53-Word Story Contest Prize: Publication in Prime Number Magazine and a free book from Press 53. Deadline: Ongoing. 15th of each month Sponsor: Prime Number Magazine From Website: “New prompt each month. Judges are looking for stories with a surprising approach to the prompt, something unusual and creative. Stories must be 53 words—no more, no less. Stories with fewer than or more than 53 words will be disqualified. Send only stories; poetry with line breaks will not be considered.” Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction Prizes: Three Winners are announced who are published and share in the $1000 USD total prize pool. Twenty writers are Longlisted. All entries considered for publication, and for submission to the Pushcart Prize and other anthologies. Deadline: Awarded every two months Sponsor: Letter Review From Website: “Word Length: 0 – 5000 words. Open to anyone in the world. There are no genre or theme restrictions.” Letter Review Prize for Nonfiction Entry Fee: $20. From Website: “0 – 5000 words. Open to anyone in the world. We welcome all forms of nonfiction including: Memoir, journalism, essay (including personal essay), fictocriticism, creative nonfiction, travel, nature, opinion, and many other permutations.” University of New Orleans Press Lab Prize Prize: $10,000 advance on royalties and a contract to publish with the University of New Orleans Press Entry Fee: $28 Sponsor: University of New Orleans From Website: “Entries must be unpublished novels or short story collections. The work does not have to be regionally focused. There is no word limit. There is no restriction on subjects covered. The contest is open to all authors from around the world, regardless of publishing history. Works of fiction (novels and short story collections) only. Submissions must be your entire manuscript.” The Bath Novel Awards Prize: Two £3,000 (~$3738) prizes are awarded annually for the best manuscript as judged by literary agents All shortlistees win feedback on their full manuscript. Entry Fee: £29 (~$36) Deadline: May 31st 2024 Sponsor: The Bath Novel Award (co-sponsored by Cornerstones Literary Consultancy and Professional Writing Academy) From Website: “Submit the opening 5,000 words plus one-page synopsis of novel manuscripts for adults or young adults. Completed works must be over 50,000 words. Novels can be for adult or young adult readers and any genre. Must be your original work and submitted in English. Novels can be unpublished, self-published, or independently published.” The Times/Chicken House Competition Prize: First Place: worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House with a royalty advance of £10,000 (~$12,459), plus an offer of representation by this year’s agent judge, Davinia Andrew-Lynch of Curtis Brown. Second Place: Lime Pictures New Storyteller Award. A publishing contract with a royalty advance of £7,500 (~$9,344) plus an offer of representation by Davinia Andrew-Lynch. Entry Fee: £20 (~$25) Deadline: June 1, 2024 Sponsor: The Times and Chicken House From Website: “To enter, you must have written a completed full-length novel suitable for children/young adults aged somewhere between 7 and 18 years. A minimum of 30,000 words and a maximum of 80,000 words suggested.” The Dzanc Books Prize for Fiction Prize: $5,000 advance and publication by Dzanc Books Deadline: September 30, 2024 Sponsor: Dzanc Books From Website: “The Dzanc Books Prize for Fiction recognizes daring, original, and innovative novels (generally over 40,000 words, but there is no hard minimum). The contest is open to new, upcoming, and established writers alike. Agented submissions are also eligible, and we ask that you include all agency contact information with the application. All submitted works must be previously unpublished novel-length manuscripts and should include a brief synopsis, author bio, and contact information.” Claymore Award Prize: Discounted admission to Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference, with introductions to agents/editors (And probably publishing contract) Entry Fee: $45 (Full critique included for $125) Deadline: April 1, 2024 Sponsor: Killer Nashville From Website: “The contest is limited to only the first 50 double-spaced pages of unpublished English-language manuscripts containing elements of thriller, mystery, crime, or suspense NOT currently under contract. These can include Action Adventure, Comedy, Cozy, Historical, Investigator, Juvenile/YA, Literary, Mainstream/Commercial, Mystery, Nonfiction, Sci-fi/Fantasy, Short Story Collections, Southern Gothic, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, and Western manuscripts, and any of their derivatives. (Self-published manuscripts are considered already published and are not eligible.)” St. Martin’s Minotaur / Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition Prize: Publication and a $10,000 advance Sponsor: Minotaur Books and Mystery Writers of America From Website: “Open to any writer, regardless of nationality, aged 18 or older, who has never been the author of any published novel and is not under contract with a publisher for publication of a novel. All Manuscripts submitted must be original works of book length (no less than 220 typewritten pages or approximately 60,000 words), written in the English language, written solely by the entrant, and must not violate any right of any third party or be libelous. Murder or another serious crime is at the heart of the story.” The Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing Prize: $10,000 advance and publication Sponsor: Restless Books From Website: “Created in 2015 to honor outstanding debut literary works by first-generation immigrants, awarded for fiction and nonfiction in alternating years. Fiction manuscripts must be complete. Nonfiction submissions must consist of either a complete manuscript or a sample of at least 25,000 words and a detailed proposal that includes a synopsis and an annotated table of contents. All submissions must be in English (translations welcome). Fiction candidates must not have previously published a book of fiction in English. Nonfiction candidates must not have previously published a book of nonfiction in English.” New American Fiction Prize Prize: $1,500 and a book contract, as well as 25 author’s copies and promotional support Deadline: January 15, 2024 Sponsor: New American Press From Website: “Manuscripts should be at least 100 pages, but there is no maximum length. All forms and styles of full-length fiction manuscripts are welcome, including story collections, novels, novellas, collections of novellas, flash fiction collections, novels in verse, and other hybrid forms.” Your Next Best Read Prize: First Place (Fiction & Nonfiction): $100 Cash Price, 6-month Advertising Package, Press Release, Editorial Review, Newsletter Announcement, Promotional Creatives Second Place Awards (Fiction & Nonfiction): 6-month Advertising Package, Editorial Review, Newsletter Announcement Third Place (Fiction & Nonfiction): 3-month Advertising Package, Editorial Review, Newsletter Announcement Deadline: May 5, 2024 Sponsor: Excalibre Publishing From Website: “ The contest is open to writers of all backgrounds, ages, and nationalities. Both published and unpublished works are welcome. We encourage submissions in various/ALL genres – fiction, non-fiction, poetry (submit in nonfiction), and short stories. No specific wordcount requiered. Submissions must be in English.” Letter Review Prize for Manuscripts Prizes: Three Winners are announced who have a brief extract published, receive a letter of recommendation from our Judges for publishers, and share in the $1000 USD total prize pool. Twenty writers are Longlisted. Entry Fee: $25. Deadline: Awarded Every two months From Website: “Please submit the first 5000 words of your manuscript, whether it be prose or poetry. Open to anyone in the world. The entry must not have been traditionally published. We are seeking all varieties of novels, short story collections, nonfiction, and poetry collections. We will accept manuscripts which are unpublished, self published, and some which are indie published. Review full entry guidelines for further details.” 2nd place in fiction & non-fiction $750 cash prize and trophy 3rd place in fiction & non-fiction $500 cash prize and trophy Winner of each of the 80+ categories $100 cash prize and gold medal Stan and Tom Wick Poetry Prize Prize: $2,500 plus publication Entry Fee: $30 Sponsor: Kent State University Press From Website: “Offered annually to a poet who has not previously published a full-length collection of poems. The winner and the competition’s judge will give a reading together on the Kent State campus. The competition is open to poets writing in English who have not yet published a full-length collection of poems (a volume of 50 or more pages published in an edition of 500 or more copies).” Blue Lynx Prize for Poetry Prize: $2,000 plus publication Sponsor: Lynx House Press From Website: “Awarded for an unpublished, full-length volume of poems by a U.S. author, which includes foreign nationals living and writing in the U.S. and U.S. citizens living abroad. Manuscripts may include poems that have appeared in journals, magazines, or chapbooks. Poems that have previously appeared in full-length, single-author collections, are not eligible.” Ó Bhéal Five Words International Poetry Competition Prize: First Place: €750 ($890) Second Place: €500 ($590) Third Place: €250 ($295) Entry Fee: €5 ($6) Deadline: Every Tuesday at 12pm (Irish time) from April 11, 2023 – January 30, 2024 Sponsor: Ó Bhéal From Website: “Five words will be posted on this competition page. Entrants will have one week to compose and submit one or more poems which include all five words given for that week. Entry is open to all countries. Poems cannot exceed 50 lines in length (including line breaks), and must include all five words listed for the week.” Letter Review Prize for Poetry Prizes: Three Winners are announced who are published and share in the $800 USD total prize pool. Twenty writers are Longlisted. All entries considered for publication, and for submission to the Pushcart Prize and other anthologies. Entry Fee: $15. From Website: “70 lines max per poem Open to anyone in the world. There are no style or subject restrictions.”
This list includes only a few of the many writing contests you can find online. Here are some tips for looking into options on your own: 1. Narrow your search with details that are relevant to you, for example, “writing contests in Texas,” “writing contests for women authors,” or “writing contests for veterans.” 2. Be genre-specific. 3. Include the year in your search to ensure the most up-to-date results. 4. Carefully read the guidelines and eligibility requirements. 5. Pay attention to the contest sponsor. Only submit to reputable hosts. Worried your writing isn’t quite ready to compete? Take my free writing assessment and see personalized guidance on how to improve your skills. https://jerryjenkins.com/quiz/ ![]() Are You Making This #1 Amateur Writing Mistake?![]() Faith-Based Words and Phrases![]() What You and I Can Learn From Patricia Raybon![]() Before you go, be sure to grab my FREE guide: How to Write a Book: Everything You Need to Know in 20 Steps Just tell me where to send it: ![]() Enter your email to instantly access my ultimate 12-step guide to writing a novel.
FreelanceWriting Established Since 1997 Freelance Writing JobsWriting contests, make money writing, hottest topics, submit a contest, writing contests - poetry, short story, essay, screenwriting & more. On this page, you’ll find the web’s best and most updated selection of writing contests. If you’ve got a way with making your words come to life, try your hand at a poetry contest. If you’re a teen, there’s a special category of teen writing contests just for you. For everybody else, there’s a variety of other ways to test your writing skills, from essay contests to short story contests. Want to submit a contest? Simply click on our “Submit a Contest” button. Good luck everyone, and be sure to read our tips on how to win below! 7 Tips for Winning a Writing ContestAre you interested in entering a writing contest, but don’t know how to win? After reading these seven tips, you’ll become a surefire contender for winning the top prize. 1…. Read more Are you interested in entering a writing contest, but don’t know how to win? After reading these seven tips, you’ll become a surefire contender for winning the top prize. 1. Captivate from your first sentence“The first sentence sets the tone for the entire piece.” You may have heard similar advice many times before, but it really does hold true of trying to produce a memorable piece of writing. Would you be inclined to continue reading a submission if the first line is dull, cliche, or doesn’t convey its intention effectively? The harsh truth is that due to time constraints and the large volume of entries received, many writing contest judges simply flick through the submissions they receive. The golden handful that are read properly are the submissions that capture the reader from the very beginning. Of course, your writing should be captivating from the first word to the last, but especially in the case of a writing contest, it should be one of your top priorities to ensure that the judges give your piece the consideration it deserves. 2. Think outside the boxThink about this: Hundreds or thousands of other people are likely to apply for the same competition as you. This means your goal should be to make your submission stand out . How? Give the judges something to “chew on”. Whether it be a different perspective, an innovative idea or perhaps a controversial topic, your submission should be memorable. Try to consider the given topic from a number of angles. Sure, it’s “safer” to take the usual angle to a topic if you’re confident you can do it well. But once you think about all the other people who took a similar one, it doesn’t seem like such a safe bet after all. Push yourself to take a different perspective. Another important tip is to stay away from cliched phrases or anything that sounds overused and stale. Remember, as long as you can back up what you say and convey your ideas effectively, adopting a unique approach is easy way to make your submission stand out. 3. Be consistentConsistency is a fundamental tenet of solid writing. Without consistency, your piece will be challenging for the judges to read. In order to ensure your submission demonstrates consistency, consider the following areas: Structure Organize your ideas so that there is a clear flow and structure. This rule applies to any type of piece- from a nonfiction essay to a short story or poem. Structure is king. Your argument If you’re writing an essay or analysis, assert your standpoint or message from the beginning and ensure it is evident right through to the end. If you are arguing in favor of something, for example, don’t backtrack on your words later on in the piece. This is a common error of inexperienced writers, who have a tendency to flip flop on their views throughout. Be sure to highlight your standpoint with supporting evidence at all times. Your plot and characters If you’re writing a story, you will need to develop the plot and characters skillfully . It is important that you do not have any plot holes, as this will throw out the whole balance of your story. Your characters should consistently reflect the personality and behavioral characteristics you attached to them in all their actions and dialogue. Editing Your submission should have a uniform style, from punctuation to stylistic features like the font and headings. See Tip 5 and 6 for more information. 4. Emotionally engageOne of the hard and fast rules about writing well is to write in a way that emotionally engages the reader . Whatever topic you write about, try to hone in on an aspect which has the potential to tap into the reader’s experiences or bring about meaningful reaction in them. A judge is far more likely to remember your piece of writing if it prompted them to feel, think, or even reflect or question their own views. Unless the competition calls for it, try not to make your writing too specific to yourself. Try to write in a way which will allow anyone who reads your submission to find something they can identify with, or at least relate to. For instance, instead of writing about the impact a certain policy has on you, write about how it has affected your town, city, or the country as a whole. Everyone likes being able to see themselves in a piece of writing- make sure your piece speaks to everyone. 5. Edit, edit, editAny writer will tell you that writing is only half the battle- editing is where the real beast lies. A simple way to impress the judges of a writing contest is to make sure you have read and reread your article for errors. And no, a quick once-over won’t cut it. You’ll need to be vigilant in your search for typos, punctuation errors, structural weaknesses, cliches, overused words and any other problems. Once you learn how to edit effectively , and become more confident doing it, editing your piece won’t seem nearly as confronting. Even when it’s not explicitly stated in the competition guidelines that editing will be considered, you can be certain that any judge will look more favorably on a well-edited piece than a poorly edited one. You never know, if your piece is running head-to-head with another contestant’s for the top prize, a “simple” mistake could cost you the whole contest. Ignore proofreading at your own peril. 6. Get a fresh set of eyesIt may be daunting to show your submission to someone you’re close to, but having another set of eyes to look over your writing is invaluable. As any writer who has spent hours mulling over their piece will know, it’s difficult to detect your own errors or weaknesses. When you ask someone to edit your work, it’s best to provide them with the competition guidelines so they know exactly what to be on the lookout for. If there is a particular area you are worried about, such as your punctuation or structure, let them know so they can better advise you. Receiving constructive criticism about your writing, and acting on it, is one of the best ways to improve your writing and have a good chance at winning a competition. 7. Mind your mannersMany contests require you to submit your entry by email, and this is where a lot of contestants fail to make a good impression. A surprising amount of participants simply attach the document without anything written in the body of the message. If a contest is by email submission, you need to follow proper etiquette. The following is a simple guide to writing an email to submit your piece to a writing competition:
Here is a sample email: [Email Subject: The Power of Science Competition Submission] To whom it may concern at Sunflower Writing, My name is James West, and I am completing my Bachelor of Science at the University of Pennsylvania. I am writing to submit my entry to your writing competition, “The Power of Science”. My submission answers the question, “Which Scientific Development has had the Greatest Impact on the 21st Century?” Please find my entry attached to this email. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to enter this competition. Kindest, James West. Final wordsSo writers, read over these tips (a few times if you need to!), be confident, and get to it! Writing competitions are a fantastic opportunity to polish your writing skills and get some feedback on your writing. The chance to win some prize money is just the *icing on the cake. *Yep, that’s a cliche there. Good spotting! For those who missed it, it’s back to Tip Number 2 for you! Submit New ContestYou can pick more than one How can people enter your contest? Choose the best option. Thanks for your submission!FreelanceWriting.com hosts some of the most talented freelance writers on the web, so you’ve come to the right place to find contestants. We are proud to post your contest here, free of charge. Please come back and submit a new contest anytime! Submit New JobChoose the best option. We only accept jobs that pay. When posting a job ad, you MUST include a salary, payment terms, or rate, otherwise we will reject your ad. If you want make a change or wish to remove your job ad in the future, please email [email protected] We strive to be the best source of freelance writing jobs on the web, and we maintain our quality thanks to employers like you. Please continue to submit jobs early and often! ![]() Chris The Story Reading Ape's BlogReader – writer – curated resources – & more, 50 writing contests in july 2024 – no entry fees – by erica verrillo…, on publishing … and other forms of insanity:. ![]() Get Full Details HEREIf you enjoyed this article, why not share it with all your friends, online connections and groups - go on - you know you want to, one thought on “ 50 writing contests in july 2024 – no entry fees – by erica verrillo… ”. TOO Many ADs , hate all that scrolling to figure out what I needed was scrolled past DON'T BE SHY - LEAVE A REPLY Cancel replyThis site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed . ![]()
Publishing ... and Other Forms of InsanityErica Verrillo has written seven books and published five. She doesn't know why anyone with an ounce of self-preservation would ever want to publish. But, if you insist on selling your soul to the devil, learn how to do it right: marketing, literary agents, book promotion, editing, pitching your book, how to get reviews, and ... most important of all ... everything she did wrong.
Wednesday, July 24, 202437 writing contests in august 2024 - no entry fees. ![]() Some of these contests have age and geographical restrictions, so read the instructions carefully. If y ou want to get a jump on next month's contests go to Free Contests . Many of these contests are offered annually, so even if the deadline has passed, you can prepare for next year. Good luck! Note: I update this list continually throughout the month, so check back frequently for new contests. (Image: Flickr: Matthew Whitehead) _________________________ No comments:Post a comment. Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment. How to Win Essay Contests: A Step-by-Step Guide10 Steps to Writing Contest-Winning Essays
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Did you know that you can win prizes with your writing skills? Essay contests are a fun way to turn your creativity and your command of the written word into great prizes. But how do you give your essay the edge that gets it picked from among all of the other entries? Here's a step-by-step guide to writing essays that impress judges. Follow these steps for your best chances of winning writing contests. Read the Essay Contest RulesThe first thing that you should do to win essay contests is to read the rules thoroughly. Overlooking one small detail could be the difference between winning the contest and wasting your time. Pay special attention to:
It might help you to print out the sweepstakes rules and highlight the most important elements, or to take notes and keep them close at hand as you write. If you summarize the relevant rules in a checklist, you can easily check the requirements off when you've finished your essay to ensure you haven't overlooked anything. Brainstorm Your Essay IdeasMany people want to jump right into writing their essay, but it's a better idea to take some time to brainstorm different ideas before you start. Oftentimes, your first impulse isn't your best. The Calgary Tutoring Centre lists several reasons why brainstorming improves your writing . According to their article, brainstorming lets you: "Eliminate weaker ideas or make weaker ideas stronger. Select only the best and most relevant topics of discussion for your essay while eliminating off-topic ideas. Or, generate a new topic that you might have left out that fits with others." For a great brainstorming session, find a distraction-free area and settle in with a pen and paper, or your favorite method to take notes. A warm beverage and a healthy snack might aid your process. Then, think about your topic and jot down quick words and phrases that are relevant to your theme. This is not the time to polish your ideas or try to write them coherently. Just capture enough of the idea that you know what you meant when you review your notes. Consider different ways that you can make the contest theme personal, come at it from a different angle, or stand out from the other contest entries. Can you make a serious theme funny? Can you make your ideas surprising and unexpected? Write down all your ideas, but don't judge them yet. The more ideas you can come up with, the better. Select the Essay Concept that Best Fits the Contest's Theme and SponsorOnce you've finished brainstorming, look over all of your ideas to pick the one you want to develop for your essay contest entry. While you're deciding, think about what might appeal to the essay contest's sponsor. Do you have a way of working the sponsor's products into your essay? Does your concept fit the sponsor's company image? An essay that might be perfect for a Budweiser contest might fall completely flat when Disney is the sponsor. This is also a good time to consider whether any of your rejected ideas would make good secondary themes for your essay. Use a Good Hook to Grab the Reader's AttentionWhen it's time to start writing your essay, remember that the first sentence is the most important. You want to ensure that your first paragraph is memorable and grabs the reader's attention. When you start with a powerful, intriguing, moving, or hilarious first sentence, you hook your readers' interest and stick out in their memory when it is time to pick winners. Writer's Digest has some excellent tips on how to hook readers at the start of an essay in their article, 10 Ways to Hook Your Reader (and Reel Them in for Good) . For ideas on how to make your essay unforgettable, see Red Mittens, Strong Hooks, and Other Ways to Make Your Essay Spectacular . Write the First Draft of Your EssayNow, it's time to get all of your thoughts down on paper (or on your computer). Remember that this is a first draft, so don't worry about perfect grammar or if you are running over your word count. Instead, focus on whether your essay is hitting the right emotional notes, how your story comes across, whether you are using the right voice, and if you are communicating everything you intend to. First drafts are important because they help you overcome your reluctance to write. You are not trying to be good yet, you are trying to simply tell your story. Polishing that story will come later. They also organize your writing. You can see where your ideas fit and where you need to restructure to give them more emotional impact. Finally, a first draft helps you keep your ideas flowing without letting details slow you down. You can even skip over parts that you find challenging, leaving notes for your next revision. For example, you could jot down "add statistics" or "get a funny quote from Mom" and come back to those time-consuming points later. Revise Your Essay for Flow and OrganizationOnce you've written the first draft of your essay, look over it to ensure that it flows. Is your point well-made and clear? Do your thoughts flow smoothly from one point to another? Do the transitions make sense? Does it sound good when you read it aloud? This is also the time to cut out extraneous words and ensure you've come in under the word count limit. Generally, cutting words will improve your writing. In his book, On Writing , Stephen King writes that he once received a rejection that read: "Formula for success: 2nd Draft = 1st Draft – 10%." In other words, the first draft can always use some trimming to make the best parts shine. If you'd like some tips on how to improve your first draft, check out these tips on how to self-edit . Keep an Eye Out for "Red Mittens"In her fantastic book, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio , Terry Ryan talked about how her mother Evelyn used "red mittens" to help her be more successful with contest entries. As she put it: "The purpose of the Red Mitten was almost self-explanatory -- it made an entry stand out from the rest. In a basket of mittens, a red one will be noticed." Rhyme, alliteration, inner rhyme, puns, and coined words were some of the red mittens that Evelyn Ryan used to make her entries pop. Your essay's red mitten might be a clever play on words, a dash of humor, or a heart-tuggingly poignant story that sticks in the judges' minds. If your first draft is feeling a little bland, consider whether you can add a red mitten to spice up your story. Put Your Contest Entry AsideNow that you have a fairly polished draft of your essay contest entry, put it aside and don't look at it for a little while. If you have time before the contest ends, put your essay away for at least a week and let your mind mull over the idea subconsciously for a little while. Many times, people think of exactly what their essay needs to make it perfect... right after they have hit the submit button. Letting your entry simmer in your mind for a while gives you the time to come up with these great ideas before it's too late. Revise Your Essay Contest Entry AgainNow, it's time to put the final polish on your essay. Have you said everything you wanted to? Have you made your point? Does the essay sound good when you read it out loud? Can you tighten up the prose by making additional cuts in the word count? In this phase, it helps to enlist the help of friends or family members. Read your essay to them and check their reactions. Did they smile at the right parts? Were they confused by anything? Did they connect with the idea behind the story? This is also a good time to ensure you haven't made any grammar or spelling mistakes. A grammar checker like Grammarly is very helpful for catching those little mistakes your eyes gloss over. But since even computer programs make mistakes sometimes, so it's helpful to have another person — a good friend or family member — read it through before you submit it. Read the Essay Contest Rules One Last TimeIf you've been following these directions, you've already read through the contest rules carefully. But now that you've written your draft and had some time to think things over, read them through one more time to make sure you haven't overlooked anything. Go through your checklist of the essay requirements point-by-point with your finished essay in front of you to make sure you've hit them all. And now, you're done! Submit the essay to your contest, and keep your fingers crossed for the results !
Essay ContestsDare to read, think, speak, and write. Almost from the earliest days of the Naval Institute, its essay contests have been one of its most important functions. On 13 June 1878, with Commander Alfred Thayer Mahan as acting Chair, the Naval Institute adopted rules for the first essay contest — the General Prize Essay Contest. This contest continues to this day. Currently, the Naval Institute sponsors 14 essay contests. Current Essay Contests![]() 2024 Marine Corps Essay Contest![]() 2024 Naval and Maritime Photo Contest![]() 2024 Naval Intelligence Essay ContestEssay contest archives, receive the newsletter. Sign up to get updates about new releases and event invitations. ![]() THE QUEEN'S COMMONWEALTH ESSAY COMPETITIONSince 1883, we have delivered The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition, the world's oldest international schools' writing competition. Today, we work to expand its reach, providing life-changing opportunities for young people around the world. ![]() The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024 is now closed for entries Find out more about this year’s theme 'Our Common Wealth'. ![]() 140 years of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay CompetitionThe Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) is the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools and has been proudly delivered by the Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883. ![]() ABOUT THE COMPETITIONAn opportunity for young Commonwealth citizens to share their thoughts, ideas and experiences on key global issues and have their hard work and achievement celebrated internationally. ![]() Frequently Asked Questions for the Competition. Before contacting us please read these. ![]() MEET THE WINNERSIn 2023 we were delighted to receive a record-breaking 34,924 entries, with winners from India and Malaysia. Read their winning pieces as well as those from previous years. ![]() TERMS AND CONDITIONSTerms and Conditions for entrants to The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition. Please ensure you have thoroughly read them before submitting your entry.
![]() Spirit Week Writing ContestWriting contest guidelines. This Spirit Week's Writing Contest will consist of two categories: essay and poem. Participants may only submit one entry for the entire Writing Contest. Prizes for each category go as follows:
Writing Contest PromptThis year’s Spirit Week theme “Together We Rise” highlights the unique Spirit found at BYU-Idaho. FormerPresident Steven D. Bennion described Ricks College, now BYU-Idaho, as “a unique school where a spirit of teamwork and cooperation is a hallmark.” At BYU-Idaho, it is easy to recognize the spirit of friendliness, caring, and unity as we strive daily to be like Christ as we love, lift, serve, strengthen, and forgive one another. As we come together as students, employees, alumni, and friends of the university, we can follow in His steps, be His hands, and help His institution fulfill its inspired mission and purpose. Together We Rise! Below are some questions that may help you with your submission.
Sign-up for the Spirit Week Writing Contest All Essays should be between 300-800 words. Essays must have a cover page with the following information: essay title, name, phone number, major/department, class, and submission type: alumni, student, or employee. Header ExamplesGrading rubric.
Frequently Asked Questions2023 writing contest winners, 1st place - nathan smith. Download "Finding Truth in All Places" 2nd Place - Jayden DabbDownload "A Beacon of Light" 3rd Place - Jenna JanningDownload "Students Are The Beacon of Light" Honorable Mention - Kaiya HodgeDownload "A Vision of Light" Meet the Winners of the 2024 Essay Contest and Read the EssaysThis year, we asked early-career scientists and health professionals to identify a scientific question that is insufficiently addressed in biomedical research today. The winning essays are published in the July 15th issue of The Journal of Clinical Investigation . ![]() After reading their essays, we were excited to learn more about our winners. Watch the interviews to find out who inspires them, what is the best part of doing research, and what the next big thing in their field will be. ![]() Kevin S. Blake, Washington University in St. LouisKevin received his PhD in biology and biomedical sciences from Washington University in St. Louis in the Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology. His research under Gautam Dantas investigates the diversity and evolution of antibiotic resistance in human and environmental microbiomes. Kevin’s doctoral dissertation and postdoctoral work focus on the sequence-structure-function dynamics of the tetracycline destructase family of antibiotic-inactivating enzymes. He also has a special interest in writing about science for general audiences, on topics including microbiology, genomics, and evolution. In his free time, he enjoys running, reading, and playing with his dog. Essay: Missing microbiomes: global underrepresentation restricts who research will benefit Who inspires you as a scientist? Kevin is inspired by two scientists: Michael Baym and Stephen Jay Gould. What is your favorite part about doing research? Kevin loves doing experiments. What do you think is next in your field, or in what direction do you hope it will go? Kevin shares his hopes for microbiome-based therapeutics. ![]() Catherine M. Bridges, Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia; Medical University of South CarolinaCatherine recently completed the MD/PhD Medical Scientist Training Program at the Medical University of South Carolina, where she was awarded a predoctoral fellowship. For her graduate research, Catherine investigated the role of microglia in a mouse model of the rare neurodevelopmental disorder MEF2C haploinsufficiency syndrome. She is a transitional-year intern at Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia, South Carolina. Catherine matched into residency in diagnostic radiology. Her research interests involve applying radiological techniques in women’s health. In her free time, Catherine enjoys spending time with her husband, playing board games, and gardening. Essay: Illuminating maternal sepsis: a call for improved recognition and prevention When are you inspired as a scientist? Catherine shares how patients inspire her research. What is your favorite part about doing research? Catherine is excited when she sees the results of an experiment. What do you think is next in your field, or in what direction do you hope it will go? Catherine hopes there will be increased attention and broader accessibility to women’s health. ![]() Andrea M. Maxwell, University of Minnesota Medical SchoolAndrea is a sixth-year MD/PhD student at the University of Minnesota. Her thesis work focuses on sex/gender differences in the roles of social support, stress, and brain function in alcohol misuse. She received a Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral National Research Service award from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Andrea plans to pursue clinical training in psychiatry, focusing on addiction and reproductive psychiatry. Outside work, Andrea likes to camp, travel, take care of her backyard chickens, and read and write for fun. She and her husband are welcoming a baby boy in July 2024. Essay: What happens to the brain during pregnancy? Who inspires you as a scientist? Andrea was inspired by Dr. Sylvia Earle, whom she discovered in a book that her parents gave her when she was a child. What is your favorite part about doing research? Andrea enjoys working with an interdisciplinary team and writing about science. What do you think is next in your field, or in what direction do you hope it will go? Andrea explains that deep data collection will help us understand complex pathologies such as substance use disorder during pregnancy. ![]() Subashan Vadibeler, University of Leeds; University of Oxford, UKSubashan is an academic foundation doctor at St. James’s University Hospital, researching health inequities as part of the Child Health Outcomes Research at Leeds team. Born and raised in Malaysia, he attended medical school at the University of Malaya, developing an interest in urban poverty, child health, and the immune system. He later matriculated as a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University, where his research under Eileen Parkes focused on immune evasion mechanisms in cancers and viruses. He aspires to become a clinician–scientist working toward solutions for tropical infectious diseases. He finds balance through long-distance running. Essay: The (unresolved) antibody paradox Who inspires you as a scientist? Subashan shares how the high prevalence of dengue disease in Malaysia directed his research focus. What is your favorite part about doing research? Subashan enjoys being challenged and tackling novel scientific questions. What do you think is next in your field, or in what direction do you hope it will go? Subashan is optimistic that increased attention to tropical infectious diseases will advance the field. ![]() Sarah Voss, Johns Hopkins School of MedicineIn the suburbs of Fort Worth, Texas, Sarah spent her childhood as a nationally ranked springboard diver until she hopped off the diving board and into the research lab. Her undergraduate research experiences catapulted her into PhD work at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in the lab of Joshua Modell, where she studies bacterial defense systems and fundamental phage biology. In her free time, Sarah loves to creatively express herself, whether that’s through the footprints she painted on her living room ceiling, solving a rock-climbing puzzle, or mastering a new yoga move. Essay: The enemy of my enemy is my friend Who inspires you as a scientist? Sarah chose Jane Goodall as a role model. What is your favorite part about doing research? Sarah loves discussing science and sharing ideas with her peers. What do you think is next in your field, or in what direction do you hope it will go? Sarah tells us what is next in phage therapy research. ![]() Looking to publish? Meet your dream editor, designer and marketer on Reedsy. Find the perfect editor for your next book 1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them. Best Non Fiction Writing Contests in 2024Showing 90 contests that match your search. Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay ContestWinning Writers Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Short Story Welcome to the 31st annual Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest. Submit published or unpublished work. $9,000 in prizes. Additional prizes: Two-year gift certificate from Duotrope; 10 Honorable Mentions will receive $300 each 💰 Entry fee: $22 📅 Deadline: May 01, 2024 (Expired) Solas AwardsBest Travel Writing Genres: Essay, Non-fiction, and Travel Extraordinary stories about travel and the human spirit have been the cornerstones of our books since 1993. With the Solas Awards we honor writers whose work inspires others to explore. We’re looking for the best stories about travel and the world. Funny, illuminating, adventurous, uplifting, scary, inspiring, poignant stories that reflect the unique alchemy that occurs when you enter unfamiliar territory and begin to see the world differently as a result. We hope these awards will be a catalyst for those who love to leave home and tell others about it. Publication 💰 Entry fee: $25 📅 Deadline: September 21, 2024 True Story FlashFanStory.com Inc. Genres: Flash Fiction and Non-fiction Share your flash fiction story. But for this contest we aren't looking for fiction. Rather share your true story with only 100 words. Cash prize! 💰 Entry fee: $10 📅 Deadline: June 15, 2024 (Expired) Craft your masterpiece in Reedsy StudioPlan, write, edit, and format your book in our free app made for authors. Learn more about Reedsy Studio . Goldilocks ZoneSunspot Literary Journal Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Script Writing, and Short Story Sunspot Lit is looking for the perfect combination of craft and appeal in stories, CNF, novel or novella excerpts, artwork, graphic novels, poems, scripts/screenplays. Literary and genre accepted. Enter through Submittable or Duotrope. 📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024 (Expired) Shiny Dime Writing ChallengeWrite of Passage Genres: Non-fiction The Shiny Dime is a concept we teach to help people stand out online, and we’ve distilled it into a simple writing challenge. Challenge registrants will participate in a 10 week writing challenge where we request participants to publish once per week. We will choose among the participants who have the most impactful writing and who are the most consistent. Free access to our 5 week writing bootcamp (a $4000 dollar value) 📅 Deadline: February 18, 2024 (Expired) Writing MAGICSadie Tells Stories Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, and Young Adult Are you an author who loves magic? Do you have an idea for a super short story that needs to be shared with the world? If you answered yes to both of those questions this contest is for you! The story can be about anything magical. Maybe it’s something that you’ve experienced in real life or it’s something you’ve created. Maybe it’s the start of a great idea. Maybe it’ll be the thing that inspires you to finally publish your book. 📅 Deadline: April 01, 2024 (Expired) The Letter Review Prize for BooksThe Letter Review Genres: Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult The Letter Review Prize for Books is open to writers from anywhere in the world. Seeking most unpublished (we accept some self/indie published) novels, novellas, story collections, nonfiction, poetry etc. 20 entries are longlisted. $1000 USD shared by 3 winners Flying SouthGenres: Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story All entries will be considered for publication. Winning submissions in each of the three categories (Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Poetry) will be awarded prizes of $400 for First Place, $200 for Second Place, and $100 for a total of $2,100 in prizes. All finalists will be accepted for publication and will receive one copy of the current issue of Flying South. 💰 Entry fee: $15 📅 Deadline: May 31, 2024 (Expired) Work-In-Progress (WIP) ContestUnleash Press Genres: Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Science Fiction, Science Writing, and Young Adult We aim to assist writers in the completion of an important literary project and vision. The Unleash WIP Award offers writers support in the amount of $500 to supplement costs to aid in the completion of a book-length work of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Writers will also receive editorial feedback, coaching meetings, and an excerpt/interview feature in Unleash Lit. Coaching, interview, and editorial support 💰 Entry fee: $35 📅 Deadline: July 15, 2024 (Expired) Environmental Writing 2024Write the World Genres: Essay and Non-fiction The writer and activist Bill McKibben describes Environmental Writing as "the collision between people and the rest of the world." This month, peer closely at that intersection: How do humans interact with their environment? Given your inheritance of this earth, the world needs your voices now more than ever. Best entry: $100 Runner up: $50 | Best peer review: $50 📅 Deadline: April 22, 2024 (Expired) International Voices in Creative Nonfiction CompetitionVine Leaves Press Genres: Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Novel Small presses have potential for significant impact, and at Vine Leaves Press, we take this responsibility quite seriously. It is our responsibility to give marginalized groups the opportunity to establish literary legacies that feel rich and vast. Why? To sustain hope for the world to become a more loving, tolerable, and open space. It always begins with art. That is why we have launched this writing competition. Book publication 📅 Deadline: July 01, 2024 (Expired) The Letter Review Prize for NonfictionGenres: Essay, Memoir, Non-fiction, Crime, Humor, and Science Writing 2-4 Winners are published. We Shortlist 10-20 writers. Seeking Nonfiction 0-5000 words. Judges’ feedback available. Open to writers from anywhere in the world, with no theme or genre restrictions. Judged blind. All entries considered for publication + submission to Pushcart. Publication by The Letter Review 💰 Entry fee: $2 First Pages Prize Genres: Fiction and Non-fiction First Pages Prize invites you to enter your first 5 pages of a longer work of fiction or creative nonfiction. Prizes in both fiction & creative nonfiction. Open to un-agented writers worldwide, the prize supports emerging writers with cash awards, developmental mentoring, & agent consultation. This year our judge is Edwidge Danticat! Opens March 2024! Agent Consultation, Developmental Mentorship 💰 Entry fee: $20 📅 Deadline: April 24, 2024 (Expired) Crossings Travel Writing CompetitionIntrepid Times Genres: Non-fiction, Short Story, and Travel Write an original, factual, first-person travel story that centers on a crossing of some kind. Your travel story should, as always, grow around the context of a place or experience; we want to see the theme being used in a way that enhances both. Editors will be looking for originality, voice, and a satisfying story arc that captures attention and makes use of imagery to pull the reader along at every step. Publication in Intrepid Times Brink Literary Journal Award for Hybrid WritingGenres: Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Science Writing, and Short Story The Brink Literary Journal Award for Hybrid Writing will be administered to the winner of a literary contest designed to champion innovative hybrid and cross-genre work. 📅 Deadline: February 16, 2024 (Expired) Indignor Play House Annual Short Story CompetitionIndignor House Publishing Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult Indignor House Publishing is proud to announce that our annual writing competition (INDIGNOR PLAYHOUSE Short Story Annual Competition) is officially open with expected publication in the fall of 2024. Up to 25 submissions will be accepted for inclusion in the annual anthology. 2nd: $250 | 3rd: $150 📅 Deadline: March 01, 2024 (Expired) Annual Student Essay ContestOklahoma City National Memorial & Museum For this year’s Essay Contest, we are asking students to think about why the story of the Oklahoma City bombing is important today. 📅 Deadline: March 04, 2024 (Expired) Artificial Intelligence CompetitionNew Beginnings Genres: Essay, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, and Short Story There is no topic relating to technology that brings more discussion than artificial intelligence. Some people think it does wonders. Others see it as trouble. Let us know your opinion about AI in this competition. Include experiences you have had with AI. 300-word limit. Winners will be selected January 1, 2024. Open to anyone, anywhere. 💰 Entry fee: $5 📅 Deadline: December 15, 2023 (Expired) AWP Prize for Creative NonfictionAssociation of Writers & Writing Programs AWP sponsors the Award Series, an annual competition for the publication of excellent new book-length works. The competition is open to all authors writing in English regardless of nationality or residence, and is available to published and unpublished authors alike. Publication by the University of Georgia Press 💰 Entry fee: $30 📅 Deadline: February 28, 2024 (Expired) Anthology Travel Writing Competition 2024Anthology Magazine The Anthology Travel Writing Competition is open to original and previously unpublished travel articles in the English language by writers of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. We are looking for an engaging article that will capture the reader’s attention, conveying a strong sense of the destination and the local culture. Max 1000 words. 💰 Entry fee: $16 📅 Deadline: November 30, 2024 Storytrade Book AwardsGenres: 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 recognizes excellence in small and independent publishing. Open to all indie authors and publishers including self-published authors, university presses, and small or independent presses, our annual awards program spotlights outstanding books in a number of fiction and nonfiction categories. Medal, Book Stickers, Digital Seal 💰 Entry fee: $75 📅 Deadline: June 30, 2024 (Expired) Stories of InspirationKinsman Avenue Publishing, Inc Nonfiction stories of inspiration wanted (between 500 to 2,000 words). Submissions should highlight the struggle and resilience of the human spirit, especially related to cultures of BIPOC or marginalized communities. Stories must be original, unpublished works in English. One successful entry will be awarded each month from April 2024 and will be included within Kinsman Quarterly’s online journal and digital magazine. Successful authors receive $200 USD and publication in our digital magazine. No entry fee required. Publication in Kinsman Quarterly's online magazine 📅 Deadline: December 31, 2024 The Restless Books Prize For New Immigrant WritingRestless Books The Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing was created in 2016 to honor outstanding debut literary works by first-generation immigrants, awarded for fiction and nonfiction in alternating years. The winner receives $10,000 and publication by Restless Books. Publication by Restless Books 📅 Deadline: May 31, 2025 Hispanic Culture Review Contest 2022-2023Hispanic Culture Review Genres: Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Story, and Flash Fiction As the Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano once said, "the best that the world has is in the many worlds that the world contains." Therefore, this year we invite you to reflect on the following questions: How do you or your community celebrate these connections? How do you value those experiences with those people who leave a mark on your life? 1 work will be awarded in each category: 1) photography & visual arts, 2) poetry, and 3) narrative/essay/academic investigation. $100 for photography, poetry, and essay winners 💰 Entry fee: $0 📅 Deadline: February 01, 2023 (Expired) To Hull and Back Humorous Short Story ContestChristopher Fielden Genres: Fiction, Humor, Non-fiction, and Short Story July 2022 saw the launch of the 8th To Hull And Back Short Story Competition, a biennial short story contest with a humorous twist that celebrates the most imaginative and amazing short stories from writers all over the world. 2nd Prize: £600 | 3rd Prize: £300 | 3 x Highly Commended: £150 | 14 x Shortlisted: £75 📅 Deadline: June 30, 2025 Creative Nonfiction PrizeIndiana Review Genres: Essay, Fiction, and Non-fiction Send us one creative nonfiction piece, up to 5000 words, for a chance at $1000 + publication. This year's contest will be judged by Lars Horn. 📅 Deadline: March 31, 2024 (Expired) J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress AwardsColumbia Journalism School Two J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Awards, in the amount of $25,000, are given annually to aid in the completion of significant works of nonfiction on topics of American political or social concern. Recognizing that a nonfiction book based on extensive research often overtaxes the resources available to its author, the project envisions the Awards as a way of closing the gap between the time and money an author has and the time and money that finishing a book requires. 📅 Deadline: December 07, 2023 (Expired) Memoir/Fiction Book Contest for IML PublicationsGenres: Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Novel We are a boutique publishing company that is dedicated to amplifying the voices of contemporary writers who are nomads and explorers of language, form, and the psyche. High-quality “unpublished” manuscript submissions of memoir, fiction and non-fiction entrusted to us will be read, sorted and pondered by our esteemed author, Jacqueline Gay Walley. Possible publication 📅 Deadline: October 01, 2024 The Iowa Review AwardsThe Iowa Review Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story Each January since 2003, The Iowa Review has invited submissions to The Iowa Review Awards, a writing contest in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Winners receive $1,500; first runners-up receive $750. Winners and runners-up are published in each December issue. 📅 Deadline: January 31, 2024 (Expired) NOWW 26th International Writing ContestNorthwestern Ontario Writers Workshop (NOWW) Genres: Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story Open to all writers in four categories: poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction, and critical writing. 2nd: $100 | 3rd: $50 💰 Entry fee: $7 📅 Deadline: February 29, 2024 (Expired) The Porter Fleming Literary CompetitionThe Morris Museum of Art Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Script Writing Welcome to the 2024 Porter Fleming Literary Competition, now in its twenty-ninth year of recognizing outstanding writing and writers. The competition honors the memory of Porter Fleming, one of Augusta, Georgia’s leading citizens and foremost philanthropists. The competition is administered, with the support of the Porter Fleming Foundation, by the Morris Museum of Art, the first museum in the country to focus on the art and artists of the American South. Writers, ages 18 and older, who reside in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington, D.C are invited to apply. 1st place in each genre category: $1,000 2nd place: $500 & 3rd place: $250 in each of the four genre categories 100 Word Writing ContestTadpole Press Genres: Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult, Children's, Poetry, Romance, Short Story, Suspense, and Travel Can you write a story using 100 words or less? Pieces will be judged on creativity, uniqueness, and how the story captures a new angle, breaks through stereotypes, and expands our beliefs about what's possible or unexpectedly delights us. In addition, we are looking for writing that is clever or unique, inspires us, and crafts a compelling and complete story. The first-place prize has doubled to $2,000 USD. 2nd: writing coach package Killer Nashville Silver Falchion AwardKiller Nashville Genres: Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Science Fiction, Script Writing, Short Story, and Thriller The Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award is committed to discovering new writers, as well as superlative books by established authors and, upon discovery, sharing those writers and their works with new readers. There are a large number of both fiction and non-fiction categories you can enter. 💰 Entry fee: $79 Journalism Competition 2024What are the most important issues taking place close to home? Perhaps a rare bird sighting near your town? Or a band of young people in your province fighting for access to higher education? This month, immerse yourself in a newsworthy event inside the borders of your own country, and invite us there through your written reporting. 📅 Deadline: July 22, 2024 (Expired) North Street Book PrizeGenres: Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Children's, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult Submit a self-published or hybrid-published book, up to 200,000 words in length. One grand prize winner will receive $10,000, a marketing analysis and one-hour phone consultation with Carolyn Howard-Johnson, a $300 credit at BookBaby, three months of Plus service (a $207 value) and a $500 account credit from Book Award Pro, and 3 free ads in the Winning Writers newsletter (a $525 value) $1,000 for top winner in each category | $300 for honorable mentions Related Resources:
Join a community of over 1 million authors Reedsy is more than just a blog. Become a member today to discover how we can help you publish a beautiful book. ![]() Save your shortlistEnter your email address to save your shortlist so that you don't lose it! By continuing, you will also receive Reedsy's weekly publishing tips and access to our free webinars. ![]() We sent over your shortlist. Thank you for using Reedsy's Writing Contest Directory, happy publishing! 🙌 ![]() Join our weekly contestGet 5 new writing prompts every Friday. Write and submit a story for a chance to win $250. ![]() 1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them.Enter your email or get started with a social account: Fern Academy Prize![]() Fern Press and How To Academy , in association with Tortoise , are delighted to announce that Gabriela Denise Frank has won the inaugural Fern Academy Prize with her essay, ‘A Self She Can Continue Living With’. ![]() Frank’s essay is one of 140 entries the prize received and one of four that were shortlisted by the prize judges Margaret Busby (Chair), Mark O’Connell, Laurence Laluyaux and Keith Blackmore. The other shortlisted writers are: ‘Bury Me Standing Up’ by Hannah Sargeant ‘Sunana/My Name Is’ by Zahrah Nesbitt-Ahmed ‘Close to the World of Other People’ by Georgia Wall As part of her prize, Frank wins:
Gabriela Denise Frank is an American literary artist, editor and educator. Her work has appeared in BOMB Magazine , Channel , Northwest Review , Bayou , The Rumpus and elsewhere. An advocate for public art and working artists, Gabriela serves as an arts commissioner for the City of Burien, a youth mentor in creative non-fiction and as creative non-fiction editor of Crab Creek Review . Michal Shavit, Publishing Director at Fern Press , says: ‘The Fern Academy Prize was set up to find and nurture unpublished and unagented authors from around the world and to celebrate essay writing, in all its forms. The winning essay by Gabriela beautifully captures the spirit of the prize in its ability to speak to our times and to bend and challenge our expectations of form. It is the work of a very gifted and natural writer.’ Of the prize, Chair of Judges Margaret Busby says: ‘It has been exciting to discover new writing that dares to challenge our preconceptions about form, and a real privilege to have shared with my fellow judges the experience of choosing our standout winner: Gabriela Denise Frank’s ‘A Self She Can Continue Living With’. Of the winning essay, author Mark O’Connell says: ‘Gabriela Denise Frank’s “A Self She Can Continue Living With” is a wonderful essay: funny, perceptive and original. Its subject, the alienation and futile drudgery of life in a large corporation, is one that is surprisingly rare in contemporary essays, and Frank handles it with lightness and style. I felt from the opening sentences that I was in the presence of a real writer.’ Gabriela Denise Frank , the winning writer, says: ‘The encouragement I feel from receiving the Fern Academy Prize can’t be overstated: I'm gobsmacked and deeply grateful. To know that my work resonated and that the judges see promise in me among a field of exceptionally talented writers – that’s the best any artist can hope for. This prize not only confers the kind of practical support and literary representation that can truly change a working writer’s life, it is a door swung open, making possible everything that comes after.’ Read Gabriela Denise Frank’s winning essay, ‘A Self She Can Continue Living With’ here . In association with : ![]() For more information, please contact [email protected] . * The winner will be solely responsible for arranging all travel and paying all travel costs to and from the writing course (including flights if applicable) offered as part of the prize. Any passport, travel documents or VISA requirements to attend the course will be the winner’s responsibility to organise.
Advertisement Supported by Summer Reading Contest, Week 8: What Got Your Attention in The Times This Week?To participate, submit your response here by Aug. 2 at 9 a.m. Eastern. This week’s winners will be announced by Aug. 14. ![]() By The Learning Network Welcome to the eighth week of our 15th Annual Summer Reading Contest . Every week for 10 weeks this summer we’re asking students “What got your attention in The New York Times this week? Why?” To participate in Week 8, choose something to read, watch or listen to in The Times and submit a response that answers those questions by 9 a.m. Eastern on Aug. 2. You can choose anything that was published in the print paper or on nytimes.com in 2024, including articles, photos, essays , videos , podcasts or graphics . We hope you’ll click around to find your own great pieces, but we also know that not everyone who participates has a Times subscription so, each week, you’ll find dozens of free links to interesting articles, features and multimedia below. Students are invited to submit responses in the form of a 250-word comment OR a 90-second video. Please see the requirements for each type of response below and read the full rules and guidelines in our contest announcement before making your submissions. Your responses will be read by New York Times journalists and staff, as well as educators from around the world. We’ll choose at least one favorite answer to feature on our site each week. Winners from Week 8 will be announced by Aug. 14. 1. Choose a New York Times piece.What did you read, watch or listen to in The Times this week? You can respond to anything that was published online at nytimes.com, including all the sports coverage in The Athletic , or in the print paper in 2024, but, if you don’t have a subscription, here are some stories you can access through this page for free: This week you may have read front-page news articles like …Thousands protest netanyahu’s address to congress, prime minister benjamin netanyahu of israel forcefully defended israel’s military campaign in gaza during his address to a joint meeting of congress on wednesday.. “This is not a clash of civilizations. It’s a clash between barbarism and civilization. Our enemies are your enemies. Our fight is your fight, and our victory will be your victory. Give us the tools faster and we’ll finish the job faster.” “Netanyahu you can’t hide.” “You’re committing genocide.” “When the I.C.C. is likely going to be issuing warrants for Netanyahu’s arrest that we are welcoming him in D.C., you know, shutting down the entire city — I mean, think about all the money that is being spent providing security to a war criminal for him to basically give a propaganda speech in front of Congress. This is just absurd.” “Many anti-Israel protesters, many choose to stand with evil. They stand with Hamas. They should be ashamed of themselves.” ![]() Netanyahu Delivers a Forceful Defense of Israel to Applause in Congress Biden Says It Is Time to Step Aside for a Fresh, Younger Voice Summer Reading Contest Written Submission Form, Week 8We are having trouble retrieving the article content. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in . Want all of The Times? Subscribe . Jump to navigation Skip to content Search form
Find details about every creative writing competition—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators, and more—that we’ve published in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it in the Writing Contests database, the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere. Find a home for your poems, stories, essays, and reviews by researching the publications vetted by our editorial staff. In the Literary Magazines database you’ll find editorial policies, submission guidelines, contact information—everything you need to know before submitting your work to the publications that share your vision for your work. Whether you’re pursuing the publication of your first book or your fifth, use the Small Presses database to research potential publishers, including submission guidelines, tips from the editors, contact information, and more. Research more than one hundred agents who represent poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers, plus details about the kinds of books they’re interested in representing, their clients, and the best way to contact them. Every week a new publishing professional shares advice, anecdotes, insights, and new ways of thinking about writing and the business of books. Find publishers ready to read your work now with our Open Reading Periods page, a continually updated resource listing all the literary magazines and small presses currently open for submissions. Since our founding in 1970, Poets & Writers has served as an information clearinghouse of all matters related to writing. While the range of inquiries has been broad, common themes have emerged over time. Our Top Topics for Writers addresses the most popular and pressing issues, including literary agents, copyright, MFA programs, and self-publishing. Our series of subject-based handbooks (PDF format; $4.99 each) provide information and advice from authors, literary agents, editors, and publishers. Now available: The Poets & Writers Guide to Publicity and Promotion, The Poets & Writers Guide to the Book Deal, The Poets & Writers Guide to Literary Agents, The Poets & Writers Guide to MFA Programs, and The Poets & Writers Guide to Writing Contests. Find a home for your work by consulting our searchable databases of writing contests, literary magazines, small presses, literary agents, and more. ![]() Poets & Writers lists readings, workshops, and other literary events held in cities across the country. Whether you are an author on book tour or the curator of a reading series, the Literary Events Calendar can help you find your audience. Get the Word Out is a new publicity incubator for debut fiction writers and poets. Research newspapers, magazines, websites, and other publications that consistently publish book reviews using the Review Outlets database, which includes information about publishing schedules, submission guidelines, fees, and more. Well over ten thousand poets and writers maintain listings in this essential resource for writers interested in connecting with their peers, as well as editors, agents, and reading series coordinators looking for authors. Apply today to join the growing community of writers who stay in touch and informed using the Poets & Writers Directory. Let the world know about your work by posting your events on our literary events calendar, apply to be included in our directory of writers, and more. ![]() Find a writers group to join or create your own with Poets & Writers Groups. Everything you need to connect, communicate, and collaborate with other poets and writers—all in one place. Find information about more than two hundred full- and low-residency programs in creative writing in our MFA Programs database, which includes details about deadlines, funding, class size, core faculty, and more. Also included is information about more than fifty MA and PhD programs. Whether you are looking to meet up with fellow writers, agents, and editors, or trying to find the perfect environment to fuel your writing practice, the Conferences & Residencies is the essential resource for information about well over three hundred writing conferences, writers residencies, and literary festivals around the world. Discover historical sites, independent bookstores, literary archives, writing centers, and writers spaces in cities across the country using the Literary Places database—the best starting point for any literary journey, whether it’s for research or inspiration. Search for jobs in education, publishing, the arts, and more within our free, frequently updated job listings for writers and poets. Establish new connections and enjoy the company of your peers using our searchable databases of MFA programs and writers retreats, apply to be included in our directory of writers, and more. ![]()
Each year the Readings & Workshops program provides support to hundreds of writers participating in literary readings and conducting writing workshops. Learn more about this program, our special events, projects, and supporters, and how to contact us. The Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award introduces emerging writers to the New York City literary community, providing them with a network for professional advancement. Find information about how Poets & Writers provides support to hundreds of writers participating in literary readings and conducting writing workshops. ![]() Bring the literary world to your door—at half the newsstand price. Available in print and digital editions, Poets & Writers Magazine is a must-have for writers who are serious about their craft. View the contents and read select essays, articles, interviews, and profiles from the current issue of the award-winning Poets & Writers Magazine . Read essays, articles, interviews, profiles, and other select content from Poets & Writers Magazine as well as Online Exclusives. View the covers and contents of every issue of Poets & Writers Magazine , from the current edition all the way back to the first black-and-white issue in 1987. Every day the editors of Poets & Writers Magazine scan the headlines—publishing reports, literary dispatches, academic announcements, and more—for all the news that creative writers need to know. In our weekly series of craft essays, some of the best and brightest minds in contemporary literature explore their craft in compact form, articulating their thoughts about creative obsessions and curiosities in a working notebook of lessons about the art of writing. The Time Is Now offers weekly writing prompts in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction to help you stay committed to your writing practice throughout the year. Sign up to get The Time Is Now, as well as a weekly book recommendation for guidance and inspiration, delivered to your inbox. Every week a new author shares books, art, music, writing prompts, films—anything and everything—that has inspired and shaped the creative process. Listen to original audio recordings of authors featured in Poets & Writers Magazine . Browse the archive of more than 400 author readings. Ads in Poets & Writers Magazine and on pw.org are the best ways to reach a readership of serious poets and literary prose writers. Our audience trusts our editorial content and looks to it, and to relevant advertising, for information and guidance. Start, renew, or give a subscription to Poets & Writers Magazine ; change your address; check your account; pay your bill; report a missed issue; contact us. Peruse paid listings of writing contests, conferences, workshops, editing services, calls for submissions, and more. Poets & Writers is pleased to provide free subscriptions to Poets & Writers Magazine to award-winning young writers and to high school creative writing teachers for use in their classrooms. Read select articles from the award-winning magazine and consult the most comprehensive listing of literary grants and awards, deadlines, and prizewinners available in print. ![]()
G&A: The Contest BlogApplications open for whiting creative nonfiction grants. The Whiting Foundation is accepting applications for the 2024 Whiting Creative Nonfiction Grants until April 23. Up to ten writers working on “complex, imaginatively composed” nonfiction books will receive a grant of $40,000 each. The grantees will be announced in December. Eligible writers will have already made significant progress on their books, which should be multiyear, original projects that involve deep and significant amounts of research and writing. Given at a “crucial point mid-process,” the grants are intended to provide “an extra infusion of support” that can meaningfully improve the quality of the books. To be considered, projects must be under contract with a U.S., Canadian, or U.K. publisher. In acknowledgment of “additional structural hurdles to securing institutional resources to support such projects, “writers of color in particular are encouraged to apply.” Recipients of the 2023 grants were Nicholas Boggs for James Baldwin: A Love Story , Eiren Caffall for The Mourner’s Bestiary , Sarah Chihaya for Bibliophobia , Alexander Clapp for Waste Wars: A Journey Through the World of Globalized Trash , Kendra Taira Field for The Stories We Tell , Molly O’Toole for The Route: The Untold Story of the New Migrant Underground , Dom Phillips with collaborators for How to Save the Amazon: Ask the People Who Know , Carrie Schuettpelz for The Indian Card: A Journey Through America’s Native Identity Problem , Sonia Shah for Special: The Rise and Fall of a Beastly Idea , and Reggie Ugwu for Brilliance Is All We Have: Black Filmmakers and the Fight for the Soul of America . To learn more, visit whiting.org/writers/creative-nonfiction-grant/about . The Whiting Foundation hosted two online information sessions to answer questions and offer guidance on applying for the grant; a recording of an info session is available here . Writers may submit an application via the online form by 11:59PM ET on April 23. Deadlines for Five April Contests Are Fast ApproachingApril Fool’s Day may be just around the corner, but your writing deserves to be taken seriously. Consider submitting your poems, essays, and short stories to these prizes and fellowships, all with April 14 and 15 deadlines (and one with no entry fee). Don’t forget to carefully read the contest guidelines before entering, and good luck! Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize A prize of €1,500 (approximately $1,628), publication in the Desperate Literature prize anthology, and a weeklong residency at the Civitella Ranieri Foundation’s castle in the Umbria region of Italy is given annually for a work of short fiction. Winners also receive a consultation with literary agent Charlotte Seymour (Johnson & Alcock Literary Agency), an editorial meeting with the Literary Consultancy, and the opportunity to give readings at Desperate Literature in Madrid and Burley Fisher Books in London. Megan McDowell, Ottessa Moshfegh, Samanta Schweblin, and Alejandro Zambra will judge. Entry fee: €20 (approximately $22). Florida Review Editor’s Prizes Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Florida Review are given annually for a poem or group of poems, a short story, and an essay. The editors will judge. All entries are considered for publication. Entry fee: $25 (which includes a subscription to Florida Review ). New Ohio Review Literary Prizes Three prizes of $1,500 each and publication in New Ohio Review are given annually for a poem or group of poems, a short story, and an essay. All entries are considered for publication. Entry fee: $22 (which includes a subscription to New Ohio Review ). Poetry Foundation Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowships Five fellowships of $27,000 each are given annually to U.S. poets between the ages of 21 and 31. Entry fee: None. University of Arkansas Press Etel Adnan Poetry Prize A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Arkansas Press is given annually for a first or second poetry collection by a writer of Arab heritage. Series editors Hayan Charara and Fady Joudah will judge. Entry fee: $25. Visit the contest websites for complete guidelines, and check out the Grants & Awards database and Submission Calendar for more contests in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and translation. Jaded Ibis Press Accepting Submissions From Historically Marginalized Writers for Uplift Voices Nonfiction Book Award Until March 31Jaded Ibis Press is currently accepting submissions of book-length creative nonfiction manuscripts, including memoir, essays, and reporting, for its Uplift Voices Nonfiction Book Award, given to a writer who identifies as a historically marginalized voice. The deadline to enter the contest, which awards $1,500 and publication by Jaded Ibis Press, is March 31 . Using only the online submission system, submit 45,000 to 75,000 words of prose with a $20 entry fee. Myriam Gurba, whose most recent book is the essay collection Creep: Accusations and Confessions (Avid Reader Press, 2023), will judge. All entries will be considered for publication. jaded_ibis_pres.png![]() Jaded Ibis is a feminist press committed to publishing socially engaged literature with an emphasis on the voices of people of color, people with disabilities, and other historically silenced and culturally marginalized voices. Recently published titles include Mei-Mei Holland’s poetry and prose collection Year of the Cicada and Nada Samih-Rotondo’s memoir, All Water Has Perfect Memory , both of which were acquired by Jaded Ibis acquisitions editor Lisa Pegram, who says she’s interested in “submissions from authors who have a distinctive voice and write books that explore the lives and concerns of those who identify as women and/or people of color.” About the Uplift Voices Nonfiction Book Award, the editors say it “is more than a literary contest; it’s an opportunity have your book lovingly edited, designed, produced as both an e-book and print edition, marketed, and submitted to eligible literary awards and prizes.” They add: “Join us in amplifying voices that need to be heard, and submit your manuscript for a shot at making a powerful impact. Your story matters, so let it be uplifted!” Visit the website for more information. The Grants & Awards database includes details about every writing contest that we’ve published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it, making the Grants & Awards database the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere. Two Weeks Left to Enter One of Six Contests Offering Cash Prizes and PublicationSeeking the recognition you deserve—as well as a little extra cash—for an unpublished poem, story, or essay? Hoping to circumvent the tedious process of finding a publisher for a book-length manuscript? Consider submitting to one of the following six contests that offer generous cash prizes on top of publication by a highly reputed journal, press, or competition website, all with a deadline of April 1. Remember to carefully read the guidelines before you enter—and good luck! Gemini Magazine Short Story Contest A prize of $1,000 and publication in Gemini Magazine is given annually for a short story. The editors will judge. Entry fee: $8. Nimrod International Journal Nimrod Literary Awards Two prizes of $2,000 each and publication in Nimrod International Journal are given annually for a poem or a group of poems and a work of fiction. A runner-up in each category receives $1,000 and publication. The winners and runners-up will also participate in a virtual awards ceremony and conference in the fall. All entries are considered for publication. Entry fee: $20 (which includes a subscription to Nimrod International Journal ). North American Review Terry Tempest Williams Creative Nonfiction Prize A prize of $1,000 and publication in North American Review is given annually for an essay. Lyric essays, memoir-style essays, and literary journalism are eligible. All entries are considered for publication. Entry fee: $23 (which includes an issue of North American Review ). Orison Books Prizes in Poetry and Fiction Two prizes of $1,500 each and publication by Orison Books are given annually for a poetry collection and a book of fiction. Ellen Bass will judge in poetry and Kaveh Akbar will judge in fiction. Entry fee: $25. Saturnalia Books Poetry Prize A prize of $1,500, publication by Saturnalia Books, and 20 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Carmen Giménez will judge. All entries are also considered for the Alma Book Awards, which offer two prizes of $1,000 each and publication. Entry fee: $30 entry. Winning Writers Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest A prize of $2,000, a gift certificate for a two-year membership to the literary database Duotrope, and publication on the Winning Writers website is given annually for a humorous poem. A second-place prize of $500 is also awarded. Jendi Reiter will judge. Unpublished and previously published works are eligible. Entry fee: None. Arts & Letters Prizes in Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction Are Just Around the CornerThis year’s Arts & Letters Prizes mark a quarter century for the contest in which three decorated judges select a group of poems, a short story, and an essay. The deadline for the twenty-fifth annual contest is March 31 . The prize awards $1,000 and publication in Arts & Letters , a journal that has attracted both emerging and established writers such as Donald Hall, Sonja Livingston, and Xu Xi. arts_letters_prizes.jpeg![]() Using only the online submission system, submit up to four poems of any length or up to 25 pages of prose with a $20 entry fee. All entries are considered for publication. Chelsea Rathburn will judge in poetry, Tiphanie Yanique will judge in fiction, and Beth Ann Fennelly will judge in nonfiction. Visit the website for more information. Founded by Martin Lammon in 1999 and operating out of Georgia College & State University’s MFA program in creative writing ever since, Arts & Letters has for nearly a decade been headed by its second editor, Laura Newbern, who’s also an associate professor in English at GCSU and a recipient of the 2010 Writer’s Award from the Rona Jaffe Foundation. And for those wondering if this contest is the right fit, the editorial board welcomes both formal and experimental work—even writing that otherwise “defies classification”—so long as, in the board’s words, the submission “doesn’t try too hard to grab our attention, but rather guides it toward the human voice and its perpetual struggle into language.” If you’re still not sure, you might find inspiration in the judges’ latest book in their respective category; that is, Rathburn’s Still Life With Mother and Knife (LSU Press, 2019), Yanique’s How to Escape From a Leper Colony (Graywolf Press, 2010), and Fennelly’s Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs (Norton, 2017). Contests With a March 15 DeadlineWhat more fitting time than the arrival of spring to imagine growing an audience for your writing? Fortunately there are a number of writing contests with a March 15 deadline to consider. Prizes include $15,000 for a debut novel published during the current year (six finalists receive $1,000 each); $10,000 for a novel-in-progress by a debut author (a first and second runner-up receive $3,000 and $2,000, respectively); and five prizes of $10,000, plus publication by one of five participating trade, university, or small press publishers, for poetry collections by U.S. poets. Nine other awards offer publication and prizes ranging from $500 to $3,000 for work in various genres. Best of luck! Bellingham Review Literary Awards Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Bellingham Review are given annually for works of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. The 49th Parallel Award for Poetry is given for a poem or group of poems. The Tobias Wolff Award for Fiction is given for a short story or a work of flash fiction. The Annie Dillard Award for Creative Nonfiction is given for an essay or a work of flash nonfiction. All entries are considered for publication. English translations of works originally written in another language are accepted. Entry fee: $15. Broadside Lotus Press Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award A prize of $500 and publication by Broadside Lotus Press is given annually for a poetry collection by an African American poet. Entry fee: None. The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize A prize of $15,000 is given annually for a debut novel by an American citizen published in the United States during the current year. Six finalists receive $1,000 each. Self-published works, books published exclusively in e-book editions, and novels previously published in other countries are not eligible. Small independent publishers may apply for a fee reduction. Entry fee: $100. Fourth Genre Steinberg Memorial Essay Prize A prize of $1,000 and publication in Fourth Genre is given annually for an essay. Sarah Viren will judge. All entries are considered for publication. Entry fee: $20. Indiana Review Poetry and Creative Nonfiction Prizes Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Indiana Review are given annually for a single poem and an essay. Entry fee: $20 (includes a subscription to Indiana Review ). James Jones Literary Society First Novel Fellowship A prize of $10,000 is given annually for a novel-in-progress by a U.S. writer who has not published a novel. The first runner-up receives $3,000 and the second runner-up receives $2,000. Entry fee: $33. National Poetry Series Open Competition Five prizes of $10,000 each and publication by participating trade, university, or small press publishers are given annually for poetry collections by U.S. poets. Entry fee: $35. Prairie Schooner Raz-Shumaker Book Prizes Two prizes of $3,000 each and publication by University of Nebraska Press are given annually for a poetry collection and a story collection. Kwame Dawes will judge. Entry fee: $25. Robinson Jeffers Tor House Foundation Poetry Prize A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a single poem. Sun Yung Shin will judge. Entry fee: $10. Trio House Press Louise Bogan Award A prize of $1,000, publication by Trio House Press, and 20 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection by a poet living in the United States. Oliver de la Paz will judge. Entry fee: $25. Trio House Press Trio Award for First or Second Book A prize of $1,000, publication by Trio House Press, and 20 author copies is given annually for a first or second poetry collection by a poet living in the United States. Jessica Q. Stark will judge. Entry fee: $25. Verse Tomaž Šalamun Prize A prize of $1,000 and publication by Factory Hollow Press is given annually for a poetry chapbook. The winner also receives a monthlong residency in a private apartment at the Tomaž Šalamun Centre for Poetry in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in summer 2025. Prose poetry, hybrid works, and translations of works of poetry by living writers from any language into English (with the relevant permission) are also eligible. Shane McCrae will judge. Entry fee: $17 ($13 for students). The Word Works Washington Prize A prize of $1,500 and publication by the Word Works is given annually to a U.S. or Canadian poet for a poetry collection. Entry fee: $25. Deadline Nears for the Wild Women Story ContestPoets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers with work that illustrates “the wild woman spirit”—the creative agency and power women display in shaping the world—may want to consider submitting to TulipTree Publishing’s Wild Women Story Contest by March 8 . The annual prize awards $1,000 and publication in TulipTree Review for a single poem, a short story, or an essay “whose main characters embody” this “feminine spirit.” tuliptree_publishing.jpg![]() Submit up to five pages of poetry or up to 10,000 words of prose with a $20 entry fee. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines. With an application period closing on International Women’s Day, the Wild Women Story Contest recognizes work that honors the convictions of feminist historian Stephanie Camp, who believed that “[w]omen’s history does not merely add to what we know; it changes what we know and how we know it.” A selection of poems, stories, and essays submitted to the prize are gathered in TulipTree Review’ s annual Spring/Summer Wild Women Issue, and both the grand prize winner and one honorable mention are nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Last year’s nominees were fiction writer Amy Soscia for “Life on the Ledge” and essayist Hannah Hindley for “Heat Map.” Upcoming Contest DeadlinesThanks to the extra fraction of a calendar day it takes Earth to orbit the sun each year, you have this leap year’s compensation day to apply to awards with deadlines on February 28 and February 29 ! Use that temps perdu to submit to contests offering prizes including $22,000 and publication for a nonfiction manuscript-in-progress that “emphasizes innovation in form and content”; $3,000, publication, and 20 author copies for a first or second poetry collection; and two prizes of $2,000 for a poetry e-book and a fiction e-book that depict “cultural, historical, and sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora.” Best of luck! Association of Writers & Writing Programs Award Series Three prizes of $5,500 each and publication by a participating press are given annually for a poetry collection, a short story collection, and a novel. A prize of $2,500 and publication by a participating press is also given annually for an essay collection or a memoir. Deadline: February 28 . Entry fee: $30 ($20 for AWP members). Austin Community College Balcones Prizes Two prizes of $1,500 each are given annually for a poetry collection and a book of fiction published during the previous year. English translations of works originally written in another language are accepted. Deadline: February 28 . Entry fee: $25 for poetry and $30 for fiction. Black Caucus of the American Library Association Self-Publishing Literary Awards Two prizes of $2,500 each are given annually for a poetry e-book and a fiction e-book self-published during the previous year by an African American writer. The awards honor books that depict “cultural, historical, and sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora.” Deadline: February 28 . Entry fee: None. Graywolf Press Nonfiction Prize A prize of $22,000 (comprised of a $20,000 advance and a $2,000 research stipend) and publication by Graywolf Press will be given biennially for a nonfiction manuscript-in-progress that “emphasizes innovation in form and content” by a writer who is not yet established in the genre of nonfiction. The editors will judge. Deadline: February 28 . Entry fee: None. Little Tokyo Historical Society Imagine Little Tokyo Short Story Contest Two prizes of $500 each and publication in Rafu Shimpo and on the Discover Nikkei and Little Tokyo Historical Society websites are given annually for short stories that take place in the Little Tokyo district of Los Angeles and “capture the cultural spirit” of the neighborhood. One prize is given for a story written in English; the other is given for a story written in Japanese. Deadline: February 29 . Entry fee: None. Omnidawn Publishing First/Second Poetry Book Contest A prize of $3,000, publication by Omnidawn Publishing, and 20 author copies is given annually for a first or second poetry collection. Desirée Alvarez will judge. Deadline: February 29 . Entry fee: $35. Red Hen Press Women’s Prose Prize A prize of $1,000 and publication by Red Hen Press is given annually for a book of fiction or nonfiction by a writer who identifies as a woman. Laila Halaby will judge. Deadline: February 28 . Entry fee: $25. Tupelo Press Snowbound Chapbook Award A prize of $1,000, publication by Tupelo Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry chapbook. All entries are considered for publication. Deadline: February 28 . Entry fee: $25. Deadline Approaches for the CAAPP/Autumn House Press Book PrizePoets of African descent sitting on a first or second collection (including work that intersects with poetry, such as hybrid text, speculative prose, and translation) should not miss out on the chance to submit to the Center for African American Poetry and Poetics/Autumn House Press Book Prize. This year’s deadline is February 15 . The annual prize awards $3,000 and publication to a writer “embodying African American, African, or African diasporic experiences.” Using only the online submission system, submit 48 to 168 pages of poetry or poetry-adjacent work. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines. 2024_caapp_book_prize.jpeg![]() Founded in 1998, Autumn House Press publishes books in all genres with the belief “that literature is an affirmation of the deep and elemental range of our human experience” and that “our need for it is crucial now more than ever.” Over the years, the press has met this commitment by putting out debut poetry collections such as Ada Limón’s Lucky Wreck (2006), Danusha Laméris’s The Moons of August (2014), Cameron Barnett’s The Drowning Boy’s Guide to Water (2017), and Eric Tran’s The Gutter Spread Guide to Prayer (2020). This year’s CAAPP Book Prize judge, Aracelis Girmay, is a hybrid genre poet whose most recent work is the chapbook and was a flower (Center for Book Arts, 2023), made in collaboration with book artist Valentina Améstica. Don’t let your writing life become a version of Groundhog Day , the 1993 film in which a disgruntled weatherman—played by Bill Murray—must relive, seemingly ad infinitum, the eponymous holiday. Change things up by submitting your work to a new contest! Nine awards have a deadline of February 15 or February 16 , offering prizes that include $3,000 and publication for collections of poetry, fiction, and essays; $1,000 for a poetry collection translated from any language into English; and five prizes of $1,000 to $1,500 for a single poem “composed in the traditional modes of meter, rhyme, and received forms.” Good luck, writers! Academy of American Poets Ambroggio Prize A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Arizona Press is given annually for a poetry collection originally written in Spanish by a living writer and translated into English. Norma Elia Cantú will judge. Deadline: February 15 . Entry fee: None. Academy of American Poets Harold Morton Landon Translation Award A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a poetry collection translated from any language into English and published in the United States during the previous year. Valzhyna Mort will judge. Deadline: February 15 . Entry fee: None. Arrowsmith Press Derek Walcott Prize for Poetry A prize of $2,000 is given annually for a poetry collection published in English during the previous year by a writer who is not a citizen of the United States. English translations of works originally written in another language are accepted. Deadline: February 15. Entry fee: $20. Center for African American Poetry and Poetics/Autumn House Press Book Prize A prize of $3,000 and publication by Autumn House Press is given annually for a first or second poetry collection (or a work that intersects with poetry, including hybrid text, speculative prose, and translation) by a writer of African descent. Aracelis Girmay will judge. Deadline: February 15 . Entry fee: None. Finishing Line Press Open Chapbook Competition A prize of $1,500 and publication by Finishing Line Press is given annually for a poetry chapbook. Manuscripts written in a language other than English are accepted when accompanied by an English translation. Deadline: February 15 . Entry fee: $20. Furious Flower Poetry Center Furious Flower Poetry Prize A prize of $1,500 and publication in Obsidian , the literary journal of Illinois State University, is given annually for a group of poems that explore Black themes. The winner also receives a $500 honorarium to give a reading at James Madison University. Poets who have published no more than one poetry collection are eligible. Roger Reeves will judge. Deadline: February 15 . Entry fee: $15. Omnidawn Publishing First/Second Poetry Book Contest A prize of $3,000, publication by Omnidawn Publishing, and 20 author copies is given annually for a first or second poetry collection. Desirée Alvarez will judge. Deadline: February 16 . Entry fee: $35. Sarabande Books Morton, McCarthy, and Sarabande Prizes Two prizes of $3,000 each and publication by Sarabande Books are given annually for collections of poetry and fiction; in 2024, a new prize of $3,000 and publication will also be given for a collection of essays. For the Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry, Hanif Abdurraqib will judge. For the Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction, Lauren Groff will judge. For the Sarabande Prize in the Essay, Alexander Chee will judge. Deadline: February 15 . Entry fee: $29. West Chester University Poetry Awards Five prizes of $1,000 to $1,500 will be given annually for a single poem “composed in the traditional modes of meter, rhyme, and received forms” (Iris N. Spencer Poetry Award); a single poem written in haiku form (Myong Cha Son Haiku Award); a single poem written in sonnet form (Sonnet Award); a single poem written in villanelle form (Villanelle Award); and a single poem written in Spanish and accompanied by the English translation or translated into Spanish and accompanied by the English original (Rhina P. Espaillat Award). Second-place prizes of $500 will also be awarded for the Iris N. Spencer Poetry Award and the Myong Cha Son Haiku Award. Only undergraduate students who are enrolled in a United States college or university are eligible. Ernest Hilbert will judge. Deadline: February 16 . Entry fee: None. ![]() A business journal from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania Knowledge at Wharton PodcastWhat does your writing style say about you, july 23, 2024 • 15 min listen. Wharton’s Jonah Berger explains how writing style can predict future success. ![]() Listen to the podcast. Wharton marketing professor Jonah Berger discusses his published study, “ Topography of Thought ,” which was co-authored with Olivier Toubia , business professor at Columbia Business School. The paper examines how someone’s writing style can be indicative of their future success, and where generative AI might come into the picture. Read an edited transcript below. Studying How Successful People ThinkAngie Basiouny: Give us an overview of this paper by way of explaining your title. What is topography of thought? Jonah Berger: I don’t have to tell you that we all use language all the time. We write emails, make presentations, and submit job applications. We use language all the time. And language, in some sense, is a fingerprint. It reveals or reflects things about the people who produce it. You can predict how extraverted someone is, for example, based on the words they use. But beyond the individual words people use, might the pattern of ideas they put out there, the way they organize their ideas, reveal something interesting about them and their likelihood of future success?” I think it’s important to talk about what I mean about the pattern of ideas. When someone talks about something, they can cover a small amount of ground or a large amount of ground. If you ask someone about their work history, for example, they can talk about a variety of things they’ve done or a smaller set of things they’ve done. They can cover a lot of ground or a little bit of ground. If you want to use an analogy here, you can almost think about going for a run. Someone can go for a run and go all the way around the city, or they can go for the same number of miles, but just go around the block a number of times. In both cases, they did the same distance, but they covered more ground in one than the other. So, one way we express ideas is the amount of ground we cover. We cover more ground with our ideas, or less. We can talk about more ideas, more topics, more themes, more things that are disparate from one another, or things that are related to one another. But it’s not just that. It’s also the speed with which we move between adjoining ideas. Imagine a movie. It can cover more or less ground across the course of the movie, but it can also move faster or slower between ideas. If a movie has one scene, for example, that’s at the beginning of a wedding, if the next scene is the later part in a wedding, that’s related to the first part. Different things may happen, but it’s pretty closely related. But if you jump from a wedding to an action scene, that would be really different sorts of ideas. They’re not very related. They’re moving further across those two points. We wondered if these two ideas, how much ground someone covers, and how quickly they move between ideas, might tell us something about their likelihood of future success. Basiouny: You’re not talking about the length of the piece of writing. You’re not talking about whether it’s a 500-word essay or 1,000-word essay. It’s really about how they use that space to move through their ideas. Correct? Berger: Yes, great point. It’s not about the length. It’s about the ground covered. Are they covering a lot of ground in their hundred or thousand words, whatever it is? Or are they covering less ground? Someone talking about their vacation could share 1,000 words, but they could use those words to talk just about the food they ate, or also to talk about the sights they saw and the places they visited. The former would cover less ground while the latter would cover more. Basiouny: How did you go about studying this? Berger: The same ideas can be applied to any type of content, but here we looked at college applications. In other work we’ve looked at online reviews, and in related work we looked at books, movies, and TV shows. We took 40,000 college application essays from a variety of folks who were applying to school, and we looked at what they wrote and the topography of thought of what they wrote — how much ground they covered in that essay. Again, similar length, but how much ground they covered, and how quickly they moved between ideas. And we looked at their future success. How well did they do in school? What was their GPA once they got there? We were interested in seeing whether, not just the individual words they use, but the way they express ideas might that reveal something or predict how likely they are to be successful in the future. The Essay Writing Style That’s Linked to Greater SuccessBasiouny: What did you find? Berger: We found two very important things. First, covering more ground, that notion of covering a broad range of things in the same amount of length, was linked to greater success. But doing so while moving rather slowly, was also important. Think about the numbers arrayed on a circular clock. You could cover a lot of ground by moving in a circle, (e.g., going from 12 to 1 to 2 to 3 to 4) or by traversing the same ground but going from like 12 to 6 to 1 to 7 to 3 to 11. You’ve covered the same amount of ground, but you’ve taken a much longer route between each individual point. What we found is that folks who are successful in school are able to blend these two things that might seem mutually exclusive. It might seem like covering a lot of ground requires moving really quickly between points to get there. But folks that end up doing well in school figure out a way to cover that ground really efficiently. They’re able to do so by moving slowly between these points, and they don’t have to take a lot of big jumps along the way. Basiouny: In this paper, you controlled for some socioeconomic factors. Can you talk about that a little bit? Berger: Yes, so someone could wonder, “OK, so you’ve found that people did well in school, and you’re using writing as a way to indicate how they think. But does it indicate something else?” Maybe it’s just that people who do better on the SAT also have higher grades and also tend to write a certain way. Maybe it’s that people who have parents who are more educated tend to write a certain way and also do better in school. Or maybe people who have parents who are more educated can afford to pay for an essay consultant who helps them write a certain way and also helps them do better in school. So, we controlled for a variety of different things. We controlled for what they wrote about. Maybe certain types of people tend to write about certain types of things, rather than other types of things. Maybe it’s not about how they write, it’s about what they wrote about — the topics or themes they discussed. No, it wasn’t that. Maybe it’s parents’ education. No, we controlled for that. Maybe it’s SAT scores. No, we can control for that. What this suggests is that the topography of thought goes beyond things related to just socioeconomic factors or family background. It’s not just that people who might have had wealthier families, for example, tend to write a certain way or have application consultants and do better in school because they get tutoring. No, it really suggests that writing reveals something about the way we think, which can reveal or predict our likelihood of being successful in the future. Implications Beyond College Essay WritingBasiouny: There are other critical forms of writing that we do every day in business, like cover letters, resumes, a press release, communications to the C-suite. Can you take this research and translate it into a business context? Berger: What I find fascinating about these ideas is yes, we looked at the case of college application essays, but it doesn’t have to be only about application essays. These same ideas should apply more broadly to a variety of contexts, whether it’s a cover letter that someone writes, whether it’s an online review that someone puts together, whether it’s the emails they write at the office — all these things provide insight into who people are and what they’re likely to do in the future. I think on a previous episode that you had me on, I talked about a paper I loved recently, where they can tell whether someone is going to default on the loan or not by the language they use in their application. Similarly, you can predict whether someone is going to get promoted or fired or leave a job for a better opportunity elsewhere based on the language they use in their email. Most of this work that I just mentioned is using individual words, but I think what our work suggests beyond the individual words someone used, you can get insight into who they are, how they think, and how well they’re going to do in the future, based on the pattern of ideas that they have or their topography of thought. Basiouny: As a manager, it gives you an indication of how they might move through their physical work or their knowledge work, right? Berger: Yes, one thing we’re looking at right now is, as people learn more, does that change the way their topography of thought looks? Obviously, as we gain more knowledge in a given domain, we may talk differently. We may think about ideas differently. One thought we have is, “Hey, if people who are able to cover a lot of ground really efficiently by moving slowly between points, how did they get there? Are they naturally that way?” Probably not. They may have gained more knowledge along the way that allows them to represent their ideas differently. One thing we’re doing right now is looking at online forums where people write multiple reviews over time. Someone, for example, might write hundreds of wine reviews over the years. They’ve learned more about wine years later. We’re looking at how do they represent ideas differently as they gain knowledge? And that may help us understand why people who represent ideas certain ways end up doing better. Humans Still Write Better than ChatGPT and Gen AI — For NowBasiouny: ChatGPT and artificial intelligence have entered the conversation. People have access to these free tools that can help them perfect their cover letters and written business communication. How does this change things? We can’t really tell how good someone’s topography of thought is if they have an AI-assisted piece of writing. What do we do? Berger: Yes, so I’d say a couple of things. I agree with much of what you said, except one word. I’m not sure they allow you to “perfect” your writing. At least at the moment. What they do is allow you to write something pretty good quickly and easily. You give it a prompt, and it produces content that’s pretty interesting, does a pretty good job of doing something that might have been difficult for you to do. And to a degree it uses your own content somehow. Like you could say, “Take my CV and use it to put together a cover letter based on my past experiences.” So that is based on you, and someone else’s might look different, to the degree that their CV is different, but I wouldn’t say it necessarily perfects anything. At least at the moment. Certainly, tools like ChatGPT and others have made the production of content much easier, and I can imagine a time down the road where we do use them for many tasks, rather than writing ourselves. But I still think there is a lot to be understood about how language reflects the people that produce it and how to write more effective content, based on understanding what makes language impactful. More From Knowledge at Wharton![]() Vera Bradley CEO: Company Rebrands Need to Reset the Brand Health![]() Ciara Dilley, VP of Marketing for Global Brands at PepsiCo![]() Marketplace Dignity: The Hidden Driver of Customer EngagementLooking for more insights. Sign up to stay informed about our latest article releases. ![]() |
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Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story. Bacopa Literary Review's 2024 contest is open from March 4 through April 4, with $200 Prize and $100 Honorable Mention in each of six categories: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Flash Fiction, Free Verse Poetry, Formal Poetry, and Visual Poetry.
The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we've published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it.
15. Biopage Storytelling Writing Contest. There's no denying it: social media is a huge part of our modern-day lives. It's easy to get used to limiting our communications to 280-character and emoji-strewn snippets, which is why this marketing firm is hosting an essay writing contest to "remind people of the benefits of writing."
Add to shortlist. Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Script Writing, Short Story, and Novella. Geminga is a neutron star so small it was difficult to detect. With Geminga: $500 for Tiny Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, or Art, Sunspot Lit honors the power of the small.
Each submission requires a $25 entry fee via Submittable, and multiple entries are allowed. Entries will be judged based on originality, creativity, writing quality, and adherence to genre, with finalists announced in October 2024, shortlisted in January 2025, and winners in March 2025. Deadline: July 01, 2024.
The Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition provides a platform for young, ambitious high school students to exercise their writing skills and compete with students from all over the world! This competition encourages students to challenge themselves and explore different writing styles to ultimately strengthen their writing skills.
Deadline: Mid-February 2023-June 1, 2023. Who may enter: High school (including homeschooled), college, and graduate students worldwide. Contest description: The 2023 essay contest topic is marriages and proposals. High school students may focus on Pride and Prejudice only or bring in other Austen works.
Personal essay competitions are a great way to break into getting your work in print — and many great contests are coming up in 2024. The competitions help build a writing resume to help with future publication; grants and fellowships; even MFA applications.Also, most competitions bestow cash awards.
The Roswell Award is an annual science fiction contest with a $500 prize, co-presented by Sci-Fest L.A. and the Light Bringer Project. This is a great option if you like using your writing to unite the worlds of science and art. Prize: $500 for first place, $250 for second place, and $100 for third place.
Weekly Writing Contests. Enter to win $250 in our weekly writing competition. LIVE until 23:59 - Jul 26, 2024 EST #260: A Twist in the Tale. 327 contest entries / 125 stories View contest. ENDED at 23:59 - Jul 19, 2024 EST #259: The Elephant in the Room. 311 contest entries / 146 stories ...
Prerequisites for Contest Entry. Essays should be under 1,500 words; Submission Deadline. September 15; Cash Prizes. $5,000 for the winner; $2,500 for the runner-up; Who Should Enter This Contest. Creative non fiction writers looking to enter an essay contest by writing on art, history, literature, education, etc. as they relate to medicine.
Essay contests 2024 11. The Letter Review Prize for Nonfiction [Free essay writing contest!] One of the few essay contests in May 2024, this competition is open to essayists worldwide. Entries are judged blind and all entrants receive judges' feedback on their essays. If you'd like to enter more than one essay, the fee is $5 per additional ...
The seven winning essays from our 2020 contest and eight essays from our 2019 contest. Three annotated essays — "Pants on Fire," "Speechless" and "Cracks in the Pavement" — and ...
Prize: 1st: $1,000, publication in The Saturday Evening Post. Runners-up (5): $200. Entry Fee: $10. Deadline: TBD 2024 (Annual Contest) Sponsor: The Saturday Evening Post. From Website: "Unpublished short stories of 1,500 to 5,000 words in any genre touching on the publication's mission, "Celebrating America—past, present, and future.".
Writing Contests - Poetry, Short Story, Essay, Screenwriting & More. On this page, you'll find the web's best and most updated selection of writing contests. If you've got a way with making your words come to life, try your hand at a poetry contest. If you're a teen, there's a special category of teen writing contests just for you.
on Publishing … and Other Forms of Insanity: This July there are more than four dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. . Prizes this month range from $100,000 to publication. . None charge entry fees. . Some of these contests have age and geographical restrictions, so read the…
Winners will be announced in our Nov/Dec 2024 issue. Writer's Digest has been shining a spotlight on up-and-coming writers in all genres through its Annual Writing Competition for over 90 years. Enter our 93rd Annual Writing Competition for your chance to win and have your work be seen by editors and agents! Almost 500 winners will be chosen.
Preservation Foundation Biographical Nonfiction Contest. Restrictions: The contest is open to writers whose creative writing has never produced revenues of over $250 in any single year. Genre: Biographical Nonfiction. Prize: First prize is $200. Runners-up will receive $100. Finalists will receive $50. Deadline: August 31, 2024.
The first thing that you should do to win essay contests is to read the rules thoroughly. Overlooking one small detail could be the difference between winning the contest and wasting your time. Pay special attention to: The contest's start and end dates. How often you're allowed to enter. The word or character count. The contest's theme.
Almost from the earliest days of the Naval Institute, its essay contests have been one of its most important functions. On 13 June 1878, with Commander Alfred Thayer Mahan as acting Chair, the Naval Institute adopted rules for the first essay contest — the General Prize Essay Contest. This contest continues to this day.
Since 1883, we have delivered The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition, the world's oldest international schools' writing competition. Today, we work to expand its reach, providing life-changing opportunities for young people around the world.
This Spirit Week's Writing Contest will consist of two categories: essay and poem. Participants may only submit one entry for the entire Writing Contest. Prizes for each category go as follows: ... Essays must have a cover page with the following information: essay title, name, phone number, major/department, class, and submission type: alumni ...
Ten challenges that invite teenagers to engage, experiment, reflect and create — via writing, photography, audio, video and more.
He also has a special interest in writing about science for general audiences, on topics including microbiology, genomics, and evolution. In his free time, he enjoys running, reading, and playing with his dog. Essay: Missing microbiomes: global underrepresentation restricts who research will benefit
Geminga: $250 for Tiny Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, or Art. Sunspot Lit. Add to shortlist. Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Poetry, Script Writing, Short Story, and Novella. Geminga is a neutron star so small it was difficult to detect. With Geminga: $500 for Tiny Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, or Art, Sunspot Lit ...
Michal Shavit, Publishing Director at Fern Press, says: 'The Fern Academy Prize was set up to find and nurture unpublished and unagented authors from around the world and to celebrate essay writing, in all its forms.The winning essay by Gabriela beautifully captures the spirit of the prize in its ability to speak to our times and to bend and challenge our expectations of form.
2. Whatever caught your eye, tell us about it in writing or video. Once you've chosen a Times piece, tell us what it is and why it got your attention in the form of a written comment OR a video.
The contest encourages South Carolina high school juniors and seniors to write a 500-word essay about a different topic annually. ... Writing contest winners were: Madison Wright, Williston-Elko ...
Find details about every creative writing competition—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators, and more—that we've published in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it in the Writing Contests ...
Implications Beyond College Essay Writing Basiouny: There are other critical forms of writing that we do every day in business, like cover letters, resumes, a press release, communications to the ...