160+ Writing Competitions Around the World in 2027
- By Kotobee
- on Nov 05, 2026
- in International Writing Events
- Last update: November 5th, 2026
- at 9:25 pm
Entering a writing competition gives your creativity a clear target. Instead of writing aimlessly, you have a deadline to work toward, along with a genre, prompt, or word limit that challenges you to make careful choices. The goal is not only to finish a draft; many contests also offer prizes, publication, constructive feedback, or the chance to share your work with a wider audience.
To help you find your next challenge, we have more than 160 writing competitions scheduled for 2027 around the world. You can narrow down the list by genre, month, and entry fee, then compare deadlines, prizes, and eligibility requirements to find the contests that suit you best.
Eligibility & Restrictions
The contest accepts unpublished, human-written work primarily in English. Fiction and creative nonfiction must contain 600–8,000 words. Poetry entries require three to five poems totaling no more than 10 pages. Translations are ineligible. Current or former University of Southern Mississippi students and employees, and anyone affiliated with Mississippi Review staff, cannot enter. Submit anonymously. Multiple and simultaneous submissions are allowed, with separate fees and prompt withdrawal upon acceptance elsewhere.
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You may submit unpublished poems on any subject, in any style and of any length. Poems posted on personal blogs and translations are welcome. Each entry may contain up to three poems, and you may enter more than once. Poems must be submitted anonymously, with contact details kept separate.
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Writers worldwide aged 18 or above at the deadline may submit anonymous, original English-language narrative prose of up to 100 words, excluding the title. Microfiction and creative nonfiction are welcome. Work must remain unpublished, including online, and unaccepted until results. Only one piece may be considered at once; replacements after rejection are allowed. Work shared on Matt Kendrick’s courses or sent to him for feedback is ineligible. AI, plagiarism, copyright infringement and discriminatory content are prohibited.
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Poets of all ages worldwide may enter an original English-language poem on the theme “Water Is Life.” Each poem may be up to 30 lines and must be unpublished and not currently entered in another competition. The adult category allows up to five poems, while entrants under 18 may submit one. Poems may use any form, but work that does not address the theme may be disqualified. Entries must be anonymous, and AI-generated poems are prohibited.
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Poets worldwide may enter original, unpublished poems in English on any subject. There are no restrictions on length or style. Entries must be anonymous.
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Writers worldwide aged 18 or above may enter if they have published no more than one full-length book; chapbooks do not count. Submit unpublished English-language work by one author. Fiction and nonfiction allow one piece or book excerpt of up to 25 double-spaced pages. Poetry allows up to six poems totaling 18 pages. Multiple and simultaneous submissions are accepted with separate fees and notification of acceptance elsewhere. Previous first-place winners cannot re-enter their winning genre.
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Submit a Tanka poem on any topic. You may use the traditional five-line, 5-7-5-7-7 syllable pattern or a flexible Tanka rhythm, and additional Tanka stanzas are allowed. A paid FanStory membership is required to enter.
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Students aged at least 13 in grades 7–12 must study and live in the US, its territories or military bases, or Canada excluding Quebec. Check regional deadlines. Work must be primarily English, anonymous, credited and AI-free. Flash fiction allows 1,000 words, stories 1,000–3,000, poems 3–100 lines, and essays, journalism, memoir, speculative fiction and scripts 500–3,000 words. Novel excerpts allow 3,000 words including roughly 250-word synopsis. Seniors’ six-work portfolios require 100–500-word writer and personal statements. Guardian agreement is required.
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Entries may contain up to 45 pages of stories, essays, flash fiction, creative nonfiction, hybrid work or graphic narrative. Poetry is not eligible. Graphic narratives must be in black and white, and entries must be anonymous. Pieces previously published in journals or anthologies are welcome, but they must not have appeared in a collection, chapbook or other single-author volume. Simultaneous submissions are allowed, as long as work accepted elsewhere is withdrawn immediately.
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Published and unpublished writers worldwide over 16 at the deadline may enter, except University of Bristol employees and students. Submit an anonymous, original English-language story of up to 4,000 words, excluding the title, on any subject and in any style. AI is prohibited. Stories must not have been broadcast or awarded a prize by July 1, 2027. Multiple and simultaneous submissions are welcome, with prompt notice of acceptance elsewhere.
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Submit an anonymous, unpublished essay under 2,500 words about an innovative classroom creative-writing project already completed. Planned projects, general academic writing and literature instruction are ineligible. Previous winners, runners-up and honorable mentions must wait two years before re-entering. Simultaneous submissions require notification of acceptance elsewhere. AI-generated work is prohibited, except clearly cited material critically examining classroom AI that remains distinguishable from the author’s writing and forms only a minority of the essay.
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The prize is open to entrants aged 18 and over. Submit an original poem responding to “dum spiro, spero,” meaning “as long as I breathe, I hope.” You do not need any knowledge of Latin or Classics to enter, and all kinds of poetic responses are welcome. Poems are judged anonymously. AI tools must not be used to create any part of the poem.
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“US students in grades 9–12, correspondence or GED students under 20, and citizens studying overseas may enter. Submit an anonymous, original 700–1,000-word essay, excluding citations and bibliography, with at least five sources, a bibliography and nominating teacher. Analyze a elected US official’s political courage since 1917. John F., Robert F. and Edward Kennedy, John Lewis and the eight featured senators are excluded. Previous honorees require a different act. Past winners/finalists, sponsor employees and families are ineligible. AI assistance disqualifies.”
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Unagented debut children’s novelists over 18 must live full-time in Yorkshire, North East or North West England and expect to remain another year. No full-length children’s or early-teen novel may be published or contracted; other genres are allowed. Submit an anonymous 3,000–6,000-word extract and synopsis. Longlisted writers need a complete 15,000–65,000-word draft by March 1, 2027. YA, short stories, collections, explicit content and generative AI are excluded. Organizer, Hachette and named supporter employees and trustees are ineligible.
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US students in kindergarten through eighth grade may enter individually or in teams of up to 22. Create an original illustrated book about Local Heroines, with all text and artwork produced solely by the students. The book must contain 20–30 pages, excluding the cover, dedication and back pages, with one page of artwork for each page of text. Each student may enter one book. Each participant and a parent or guardian must sign the entry form.
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The contest has a National award and a Regional award for a Cape Cod-based poet. Submit up to five unpublished poems on any subject and in any style, totaling no more than seven pages. Each poem may occupy at most two pages, and entries must be anonymous. Self-published poems are ineligible, as are poems published elsewhere before December 31, 2026.
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Share a poem about your faith or how faith has affected your life. Any type of poem is welcome. A paid FanStory membership is required to enter.
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Poets worldwide aged 18 or above may submit an anonymous, original English-language collection of 48–100 pages. Individual poems may be published; the collection must not be. Translations and new-and-selected collections are excluded. CSU students, staff and alumni, and judge Juliana Spahr’s friends, colleagues and current/former students, are ineligible. US workers on B1/WB, B2/WT, H-1B or F-1 visas should not enter; J-1 holders require sponsor authorization. AI writing/editing is prohibited; standard spelling/grammar checks are allowed.
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Writers worldwide may submit an anonymous, unpublished poetry collection of 15–30 pages, excluding contents and acknowledgments. Poems must be primarily in English; translations are allowed only of your own work. Individual poems may have appeared elsewhere but cannot have appeared in, or be under consideration at, Rattle. Acknowledge previous publications. Multiple and simultaneous submissions are allowed, with separate fees and immediate withdrawal if accepted elsewhere.
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The contest is open to anyone and has no set theme. You may submit up to five unpublished poems in one anonymous document, with each poem limited to 60 lines. Poems must be written primarily in English, and translations and AI-generated work are not accepted. Prose poetry, experimental and visual poetry, and collaborations are welcome. Simultaneous submissions are allowed, as long as work accepted elsewhere is withdrawn.
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Submit unpublished fiction written in English. The suggested length is 1,000–5,000 words, and translations and AI-generated work are not accepted. Entries must be anonymous. Simultaneous submissions are welcome, as long as you withdraw stories accepted elsewhere.
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Eligible books are single-author collections of original poetry in English, published in North America in 2026. They must contain at least 50 pages and may cover any topic or poetry style. Manuscripts, chapbooks, self-published books, videos and CDs are not eligible. Books that have already won an award are excluded, although pre-publication awards from the publishing press are allowed. Friends, close colleagues, students and former students of the final judge, Ron Smith, cannot enter.
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Adults aged 18 or above must live in DC, Montgomery or Prince George’s counties, or Arlington, Alexandria or Fairfax. Grades 9–12 students must live or study in DC or Montgomery County. Those in high school at 18 on March 12, 2027 use the student category. Submit one original essay within 500 words; adult entries must be unpublished. AI and obscene/objectionable content are prohibited. Current/former BUP personnel, immediate families, and judges’ current students, relatives or close friends are ineligible.
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US public-school seniors aged 21 or under, graduating in spring 2027 and entering eligible further education that fall, may submit one original, unpublished English-language work of up to 10 pages. Fiction, poetry, spoken word, memoir/personal essay and graphic novels qualify. Freedom of Expression entries explain a banned book’s personal impact. Spoken word requires audio. Class assignments, college essays, previously submitted work, prior contest entries/winners, and Bertelsmann/PRH affiliate employees and families are excluded. Applications may close at 1,000.
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Write a poem about a photo and include the image with your entry. The photo may be one you took or found elsewhere, and the poem can explore any subject. A paid FanStory membership is required to enter.
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Writers worldwide may compete online; entrants under 18 need emailed parental or guardian consent. Original stories must be written during the competition using the assigned genre, subject and character. Round one allows 2,000 words in eight days. Later rounds allow 1,750 words in three days, 1,500 in two days and 1,250 in 24 hours. Submit anonymous, text-only manuscripts. Teams must be declared before the competition begins.
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Write a poem on any topic using exactly three lines, with five syllables in the first line, seven in the second and five in the third. A paid FanStory membership is required to enter.
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Writers aged 13–19 worldwide may submit an opinion essay supported by evidence and addressing opposing views. Previously shared work is accepted from small local audiences but must be removed from other online writing platforms. AI may support brainstorming, but all wording must be your own. AI translation requires the original English text alongside it; Clara is prohibited. The full prompt and word limit will be released at opening.
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Writers worldwide may submit an anonymous story of up to 500 words, excluding the title, substantially in English and using all three prompts from one team. Human co-authors are welcome. Under-18s are asked for guardian permission. Write during the contest window; work substantially prewritten, created for another purpose, sold or published before results is ineligible. AI-generated text is prohibited, though research, idea workshopping and basic grammar/syntax editing are allowed. Judges’ immediate families and household members cannot receive cash prizes.
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Writers worldwide aged 18 or above may answer “Who gains from saving nature?” in English. Submit up to 3,000 words, plus a book outline and justification of up to 1,000 words each. Fiction must fully address the question through research, evidence and experience. Each author may enter once, individually or jointly. Generative AI is prohibited. Foundation trustees, prize board members and their families are ineligible. Applicants in UK-sanctioned countries may enter, with payment subject to additional checks.
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Writers worldwide aged 18 or above on January 1, 2027 may submit an original, unpublished English-language mystery of up to 3,500 words. It must feature crime, mystery, enquiry and a satisfying conclusion, in that order. Translations of published stories, AI-generated work, previous competition winners and stories previously shortlisted for this award are ineligible. Enter anonymously as an individual. Judges, administrators and their close relatives cannot enter. Multiple entries are allowed.
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Unagented writers may submit an English-language adult or YA crime-novel opening up to 3,000 words and a 1,500-word synopsis. Entrants must never have contracted or sold prose fiction, except up to three anthology stories with other authors. Nonfiction authors qualify; CWA members need exclusively nonfiction publications or qualifying Emerging Author membership. Up to three co-authors may enter if eligible. Previously shortlisted novels and AI writing are excluded. Submit anonymously and withdraw upon a fiction publishing contract before the award.
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Publishers may nominate living African writers over 18 who hold African nationality or have an African parent by birth or nationality. Submit one 3,000–10,000-word fictional story per author, published in English or English translation between October 24, 2023 and October 24, 2026. Self-published, unpublished, children’s and previously entered stories are ineligible, as are nonfiction, academic essays, plays, poetry, autobiography, biography and novels. The publisher must be independent of the author and have their consent.
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Writers over 18 worldwide may enter, including published and self-published authors, provided they have no literary agent. Submit an anonymous English-language novel opening of up to 10,000 words and a synopsis of up to 500 words. Unfinished and self-published novels are accepted. Young Adult and New Adult fiction qualify; middle grade does not. Multiple novels may be entered separately. Work generated wholly or partly by AI is prohibited.
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Submit poems of 11–50 lines for the Judge’s Prize or poems of up to 10 lines for the Editors’ Prize. Titles, epigraphs, dedications and blank lines do not count toward the limit. Poems must not have been published, self-published, accepted for publication or broadcast, or won or placed in another competition. Keep all names and identifying details off your submission. You may enter both categories.
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Writers of any nationality may submit an anonymous memoir in English of up to 4,000 words on any theme. Entries must be unpublished, except translations of work published in another language. Multiple entries are allowed, but only one memoir per writer may appear in each Fish Anthology. Writers with two memoirs in previous Fish Anthologies must wait three years after the second publication. Previous first-prize winners may re-enter but cannot win first prize again.
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Writers worldwide may enter, whether or not they belong to the British Haiku Society. Submit unpublished haiku, tanka or haibun in English, with each haibun limited to 500 words including its title and haiku. Work must not be entered in another competition or appear in print, online, on social media or in forums before results are announced. There is no limit on entries. Current BHS trustees and judges are ineligible.
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Books must have been published for the first time in 2026. Fiction, nonfiction, poetry and children’s books are eligible when their authors live or are based in Northern California, which includes Fresno and Big Sur. For children’s picture books, this requirement applies to the text’s author; illustrators may live anywhere. Translated books qualify when their translators are based anywhere in California. Authors and publishers may nominate books.
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Submit only the opening chapter of an unpublished YA or adult novel written in English, up to 3,500 words. Any fiction genre is welcome apart from children’s fiction. The work must be original and created without AI, and self-published novels are ineligible. Prologues, multiple chapters and identifying information in the manuscript or submission title result in disqualification. Multiple entries are allowed.
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Poets aged 18 or above may submit an anonymous, original 48–100-page collection. Individual poems may be previously published, including in self-published books, if copyright is retained and publications acknowledged. Translations, collaboration, artwork, photographs and generative AI are excluded. Employees and volunteers of Regal House Publishing, Pact Press, Fitzroy Books or The Regal House Initiative, their partners, spouses and immediate families, and the judge’s immediate family are ineligible. Multiple and simultaneous submissions require notification of acceptance elsewhere.
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The prize recognizes US writers whose original poems evoke a connection to place. That place may be literal, imagined, or metaphorical, with historical, cultural, political, or personal significance. Simultaneous submissions are accepted. The full submission instructions, including poem limits and prior-publication requirements, have not yet been confirmed for 2027.
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Emerging writers of any age or citizenship may submit innovative English-language short fiction or nonfiction of up to 15,000 words and 100 pages. Work must be unpublished or published since April 2026. Entrants must not have published a prose book exceeding either limit. Published poets should reconsider their emerging status. Authors may nominate two works; editors, programme directors and creative-writing faculty/advisers may nominate three with author consent, without preventing additional self-nominations.
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Submit an original English-language short story of up to 2,027 words, excluding the title, with no minimum length. Stories must not have appeared in print or on a third-party website, or have been accepted for publication elsewhere. However, publication on the writer’s own blog or social media does not make a story ineligible. There is no limit on entries, but each story must be submitted separately online. Manuscripts must be anonymous and free of AI-generated content.
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Poets worldwide aged 16 or above may submit original English-language poems on any subject and in any style, up to 40 lines each. Poems must remain unpublished, including through self-publishing, until April 21, 2027. They must not be entered in another competition whose results will be announced before that date. Any number of poems may be submitted, and entries must be anonymous. Poems written, co-written, or generated using AI will be disqualified.
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Publishers may nominate a Canadian author’s first short-fiction collection published in English during 2026 and available nationally through bookstores and libraries. Authors need Canadian citizenship or permanent residency at publication. Only first-edition bound books with an ISBN qualify. English translations are accepted. Co-authored, posthumous, electronic-only and children’s books, and AI-generated text, are excluded. Authors and agents cannot submit directly. Publishers must primarily publish multiple authors and distribute nationally through bookstores.
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Poets of any age from anywhere in the world may enter unpublished poems in English on any topic. Each poem must be no more than 60 lines, and there is no limit on the number of entries. Entries must be anonymous and contain no illustrations. Withdraw work accepted for publication elsewhere. Plagiarized work is disqualified, while any use of AI must be explained in the submission form and approved by the judge.
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Submit a group of previously unpublished poems totaling 8–10 pages, with no more than one poem on each page.
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Writers worldwide may submit one anonymous, original, unpublished English-language science-fiction story of up to 8,000 words about human space exploration within roughly 50–60 years. Poetry, lyrics, screenplays, non-standalone excerpts, AI and others’ characters/settings are excluded. Paranormal stories, UFO abductions, zombies, galactic empires and portrayals of technology or space travel as evil are prohibited. Baen Books/NSS employees and previous grand-prize winners are ineligible; previous second- and third-place winners may enter.
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Authors and publishers may submit a published poetry collection of at least 48 pages that appeared in 2026.
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Poets over 18 must live full-time in Yorkshire, North East or North West England and expect to remain another year. Entrants need a published or self-published full-length collection and a new collection in progress. Submit anonymously up to 30 poems or equivalent sequences and a 250-word project description. Individual published poems require acknowledgment; the collection must be unpublished and solely authored. Generative AI is prohibited; non-generative assistance requires declaration. New Writing North and named major supporter employees/trustees are ineligible.
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Debut poets over 18 must live full-time in Yorkshire, North East or North West England and expect to remain another year. Entrants cannot have published, self-published or contracted a full collection; pamphlets and individual poems are allowed. Submit anonymously up to 30 poems or equivalent sequences from an unpublished work, plus a 250-word project description. Acknowledge published poems. Work must be solely authored, without generative AI; declare non-generative assistance. New Writing North and named major supporter employees/trustees are excluded.
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Grades 3–12 students worldwide need guardian approval. Submit one anonymous narrative and matching 4–10-panel storyboard for “How to Train Your Robot,” showing AI learning safely and fairly in a real learning environment. Limits are 800 words for grades 3–4, 1,000 for 5–6 and 1,200 for 7–12. References are optional for 5–6, required for 7–12 and excluded from limits. AI cannot create entries. Previous cash winners cannot repeat age groups; National Academies employees, immediate families and household members are ineligible.
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US students in grades 9–12, including homeschooled students, may submit one or two original poems in a single document. Poems may use any accepted poetic form and must not exceed 40 lines each. Previously published work is ineligible.
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Submit up to five unpublished poems for consideration. Entries must be anonymous and should not imitate Allen Ginsberg’s work.
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Authors aged 30 or younger on February 2, 2027 must be Australian citizens or have held Australian permanent residency for two years. Submit up to two complete stories or essays published or accepted within the preceding 12 months, with confirmation. Self-published work is ineligible, and authors must hold copyright. Applicants owing Creative Australia money or having outstanding earlier-grant obligations are excluded. Entries may close early when the application limit is reached.
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Applicants aged 30 or under on February 2, 2027 must be Australian- or UK-born or Australian citizens, and have lived in Australia for 12 months. Nominate yourself with one novel or novella published or accepted within the preceding two years, supported by an ISBN or publisher confirmation. Authors must hold copyright. Applicants owing Creative Australia money or having an unacquitted grant are ineligible. Entries may close once the application limit is reached.
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Share a poem exploring what faith means to you or how it has touched your life. All forms of poetry are welcome, whether the faith described is spiritual, shaped by experience or found in unexpected places. A paid FanStory membership is required to enter.
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Submit a poem that is clearly about love. All poetic forms are accepted, and the poem may be fictional or nonfictional, humorous or serious. A paid FanStory membership is required to enter.
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Women and non-binary writers aged 18 or above must live full-time in the UK, Ireland or Channel Islands throughout the contest. Entrants must remain unagented in all genres through judging. Unpublished, unaccepted novels qualify, including text-based middle grade and YA. Picture books, short stories and co-authored novels are excluded. Submit anonymously. AI writing/editing is prohibited; standard word-processing and spellchecking are allowed. Current Lucy Cavendish staff, Fellows and full-time students are ineligible.
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Public, private and home-schooled high-school students enter through participating state affiliates or at-large where no state contest exists. Overseas Department of Defense students may enter at-large. Membership is unnecessary. Work must appear in recognized school or professional outlets between February 10, 2026 and February 10, 2027; social media is excluded. Recent graduates may enter qualifying senior-year work. Writing categories include editorials, opinion, news, features, sports, columns/blogs, reviews and yearbook copy.
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Entrants worldwide of any age or professional status may submit work published, printed or broadcast during 2026. Enter through participating state affiliates, or at-large without a state contest or from overseas. Missouri, Nebraska and North Dakota require affiliate and NFPW membership; most states accept nonmembers. First-place entrants need NFPW membership by March 19, 2027 to advance nationally. Professionally working high-school students qualify. Books close January 27, 2027; other categories close February 10, 2027.
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Independent authors and publishers worldwide may enter English-language books, manuscripts or galleys released or copyrighted in 2025–2027. First-time, self-published and ebook authors qualify. Multiple categories are allowed; additional titles require separate entries. Series entries require a separate submission with three books, including one meeting eligible dates. Substantive AI writing and plagiarism are prohibited. AI visuals are allowed in writing categories but disqualify books from cover, design and illustration categories.
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The competition is open to everyone and accepts original plays, stories and songs in English, including previously published work. Entries must suit a family audience. Stories may contain no more than 500 words, while plays should be simple to stage with a small cast. Entries must be anonymous, and songs must include an audio recording. Generative AI cannot create or develop ideas, structure, wording or other creative content, but background research and spelling, grammar and factual checks are allowed.
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High school sophomores and juniors may be nominated by their school’s English department. Eligible schools are US-accredited schools in the United States, US territories or Canada, and American schools abroad. Students cannot nominate themselves, and each school’s nomination allowance depends on enrollment. Submit no more than 10 pages responding to “The Meaning of Literacy Today.” Personal narratives, poetry collections, screenplays and photo essays are among the accepted forms. The writing must not identify the school.
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Eighth-grade students may be nominated by an educator through their school. Eligible schools are US-accredited schools in the United States, US territories or Canada, and American schools abroad. Self-nominations are not accepted, and each school’s nomination limit depends on its eighth-grade enrollment. Submit up to 10 pages responding to “Becoming Good Ancestors.” Personal narratives, poetry collections, screenplays and photo essays are among the accepted forms. The writing must not identify the school.
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Translators may enter if they are US citizens, have lived in the United States for the 10 years before the deadline, or hold DACA, TPS, lawful permanent resident status or comparable recognized protections. Submit a poetry collection translated into English from any language and published in the United States in 2026. The book must be a standard edition of at least 48 pages. Collaborations of up to two translators are welcome, but self-published books are ineligible.
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US veterans, active-duty military personnel and immediate families, including spouses, partners, siblings, parents and children, may enter an unpublished memoir, nonfiction essay collection or creative-nonfiction manuscript of up to 90,000 words. Entrants cannot have published a full-length manuscript or story collection. Military subject matter is optional; posthumous submissions qualify. Syracuse University faculty/staff are ineligible, and entrants should lack personal/professional ties to the judge. Submit anonymously and withdraw simultaneous submissions accepted elsewhere.
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Students who attended grades 11–12 during 2026 and currently enrolled college students under 25 without four-year degrees compete separately. Submit one original 500–1,000-word prose piece about the outdoors, written during 2026; organized sports are excluded. Published work and previous contest winners qualify if copyright is retained. Writing must be unpaid except for contest prizes. AI-generated writing is prohibited. Entrants under 18 need parental or guardian permission.
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UK secondary students aged 16–18 on February 18, 2027 may enter. Higher-education students and close relatives of Christ Church employees are ineligible. Submit one anonymous, original English-language poem of up to 48 lines on “The Deep”; occasional other languages or dialects are allowed. Work must not have been published, broadcast or submitted to another competition. Co-authorship, generative AI and substantial wording supplied by advisers are prohibited.
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Undergraduate poets enrolled at a US college or university may submit up to three original, unpublished poems in traditional meter, rhyme or established forms.
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Undergraduate students enrolled at a US college or university may enter up to three original, unpublished sonnets.
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Undergraduate students at US colleges and universities may enter up to three original, unpublished villanelles.
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Undergraduate students enrolled at a US college or university may submit up to three original, unpublished haiku.
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Undergraduate poets enrolled at a US college or university may enter up to three poems, either original Spanish poems accompanied by English translations or English poems translated into Spanish.
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Poets who have not published a full-length collection may enter, including those who have already published chapbooks. Submit an 18–24-page chapbook, with no more than half consisting of translations for which permission has been secured or that are in the public domain. Include an anonymous copy for judging.
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US public, private and home-school students in grades 9–12 may submit one original English-language essay of 300–500 words, excluding title, bibliography and footnotes. International students and previous national SPJ/JEA winners are ineligible. Entries must address the 2027 topic, released in December 2026, and cite referenced sources. Writing must be the student’s own with minimal outside guidance. Plagiarism and wholly or partly AI-generated writing disqualify.
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“Submit anonymous literary fiction of about 150–300 double-spaced pages or 37,500–75,000 words, including stories, flash, novellas, novels or combinations. Individual pieces may be published, but the book must be unpublished. Genre fiction, YA and children’s literature are excluded; genre elements are allowed. Simultaneous submissions qualify. Creative AI, including brainstorming and revision, is prohibited; standard spelling/grammar tools are allowed. Former press employees/interns and judges’ or editors’ friends, relatives and former students are excluded; brief residencies/fellowships do not establish student relationships.”
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Writers worldwide may submit original short stories in English of 1,000–3,000 words on any theme. All genres are welcome, including work written by or for children. Adult content is accepted as long as it serves the story and is not gratuitous. Stories must not have been published or accepted elsewhere, including on blogs or personal websites, although private, password-protected peer-review sites are allowed. Simultaneous submissions are welcome if you notify the organizer of acceptance elsewhere. Entries must be anonymous.
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The awards are open to self-published African American authors born in the United States. Submit an original fiction or poetry ebook in English for which you own the rights, using a PDF or EPUB file. There is no publication-date restriction, and you may enter more than one ebook.
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Submit one packet of one to three unpublished humorous poems, with a maximum of 40 lines per poem. Previously published work, including work on blogs or other websites, is ineligible. Simultaneous submissions are allowed if you report acceptance elsewhere. AI or large language models may not be used wholly or partly to create the work.
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Writers of any nationality may submit anonymous English-language flash fiction of up to 300 words, excluding the title, on any theme. Work must be unpublished, except translations published in another language. Multiple entries are allowed, but only one story per writer may appear in each Fish Anthology. Writers with two flash stories in previous Fish Anthologies must wait three years after the second publication. Previous first-prize winners may re-enter but cannot win first prize again.
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School-age students may enter an original English-language story, poem or character description of up to 500 words inspired by “Transformations.” The age groups are 5–10, 11–14 and 15–18, based on age on February 28, 2027; students still in school at 19 are also eligible, but those who have begun higher education are not. Only one individual entry is allowed. Previously published work, work under consideration for publication and entries in other competitions are ineligible.
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The 2027 award accepts memoirs, essay collections, narrative nonfiction and literary journalism by authors with a Kansas connection through birth, education, employment, residence or another significant link. Books must have an original publication or copyright date in 2024, 2025 or 2026. Authors, publishers or other interested nominators may submit one book per author. Include a statement explaining the author’s Kansas connection. Previous winners may submit a new book.
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Unpublished fiction writers in Scotland, over 16, must enter Edinburgh Short Story Awards and select Isobel Lodge. Paid fiction or competition-won book/magazine publication excludes entrants; self-publishing and commercial nonfiction may qualify. Submit anonymous, original adult fiction or narrative poetry of up to 2,000 words, excluding title. Work cannot have been published, broadcast or prize-winning. Withdraw simultaneous entries shortlisted, published or awarded elsewhere. AI permits limited language checks only, without generating content or altering voice, plot, continuity or pacing.
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Write a poem addressed to a loved one using three lines with either a 5-7-5 or 5-7-7 syllable pattern. Rhyme is optional. A paid FanStory membership is required to enter.
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Writers of any age and nationality may enter an original short story of up to 750 words on any theme. The story must have a title and must not have been published in print, online or any other medium. Translations and AI-generated entries are ineligible. Multiple stories are allowed.
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Oklahoma residents may submit one anonymous poem of up to 30 lines; previous winning poems are ineligible. Adults may celebrate any Oklahoma subject. Students must use grade-specific symbols. Kindergarten–sixth require, respectively, strawberry, common raccoon, redbud, collared lizard, Golden Driller, European honeybee and Indian blanket. Seventh–twelfth require watermelon, rose rock, scissortail flycatcher, buffalo/bison, mistletoe and black swallowtail, respectively. Rhymed and unrhymed work qualifies.
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Scotland-based writers may submit anonymous, original, unpublished work for ages 3–13: five fiction/nonfiction chapters or complete picture-book text up to 1,000 words, a 100–300-word synopsis and separate 1,000–3,000-word piece using an official prompt. YA is excluded. One entry is allowed, without simultaneous submissions during judging. Previously entered work or work reviewed by Floris staff, Floris employees/close relatives, past winners and published Kelpies authors are ineligible. AI permits background research/basic language checks only, not ideas, characters, plots or wording.
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Northern England writers aged 11–18 at March 15, 2027 enter the 11–14 or 15–18 group and should expect another year in Yorkshire, North East or North West England. Submit up to 2,000 words or five poems, including prose, scripts, blogs, songs or rap. Self-applications or adult nominations, written or recorded, qualify. Writing extracts must be anonymous. Published books and contracted work are ineligible. Generative AI is prohibited; declare permitted non-generative/accessibility assistance.
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Writers aged 14 or above worldwide may submit original English-language prose of up to 100 words, excluding the title, on “The Moon,” “After the Storm,” “Amazement” or “Secrets.” Multiple stories are allowed with separate fees. Numerals count as words, and incorrectly hyphenated words count separately. Poetry is ineligible. Ethos staff, board members and judges, and their parents, siblings, spouses and children, cannot enter.
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Writers aged 11–18 at the deadline, living full-time in Yorkshire, North East or North West England, may apply if health, family, financial or cultural-access barriers have limited writing opportunities. Submit up to 2,000 words or five poems, including prose, scripts, blogs, lyrics or rap. Writers may apply directly or through adult nomination. Extracts must be anonymous and solely authored. Generative AI is prohibited; declare permitted non-generative assistance.
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Anyone writing in English may enter unpublished fiction, nonfiction or poetry. Prose must not exceed 1,500 words, while poems may contain up to 40 lines. Multiple entries are allowed, and entries must be anonymous.
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Submit a poetry chapbook of 28–36 manuscript pages, with each poem starting on a new page and single-spaced. Individual poems may have appeared elsewhere, but the collection as a whole must be unpublished. Entries must be anonymous.
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US citizens and permanent residents with Green Cards who have never published a novel may submit its first 50 pages and a two-page outline/synopsis in one file. The novel must be unpublished and in progress; individually published chapters are allowed. Self-published novels, linked stories, collections, nonfiction, memoir and poetry are ineligible, as are James Jones Literary Society officers. Identify yourself only in the cover letter. Withdraw if a publisher accepts the novel before the winner is announced.
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Poets worldwide of any publication history may submit an original English-language chapbook of 25–40 pages. The collection must be unpublished. Poems may have appeared in journals or multi-author anthologies, but not in the author’s own books or pamphlets, including self-published editions. Current/former Wolfson staff, board members and volunteers, Indiana University students/employees, and friends, family or students of the press director or judge are ineligible.
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US citizens, ten-year US residents before January 1, and residents with DACA, TPS, Legal Permanent Status or similar recognized status may submit anonymous, predominantly English poetry collections. Individual published poems qualify; complete books must be unpublished. Length is flexible, with 48–64 pages suggested. Prose poems qualify; translations, chapbooks, self-published books, hybrid work and other prose do not. Exclude artwork, acknowledgments and personal statements. Previous winners must skip three cycles. Notify the organizer of acceptance elsewhere.
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Writers aged 13–19 worldwide may submit storytelling song lyrics, with an optional recording for the performance category. Work shared with small local audiences qualifies but must be removed from other online writing platforms. AI may support brainstorming, but all wording must be your own. AI translation requires the original English text alongside it; Clara is prohibited. The full prompt and length requirements will be released at opening.
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Write a poem in any style with a rhyme scheme of your choice. A paid FanStory membership is required to enter.
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Students in the eleventh grade in the US or its international equivalent may submit one play in English of no more than 10 pages, intended to run for about ten minutes. Joint authorship is allowed if both writers meet the grade requirement. Any subject is welcome, and a previously written play may be entered. AI-generated plays are prohibited. The competition closes when it receives 250 entries or on March 31, 2027, whichever comes first.
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Independent publishers, university presses and self-published authors may enter English-language print books or ebooks published in 2025–2026 or by March 31, 2027, available for sale by the deadline. Print editions require an ISBN. Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin, Random House and Simon & Schuster books are excluded. Winning/finalist editions cannot re-enter the same category. Disclose textual AI use; grammar/research assistance is allowed, but undisclosed generated content can disqualify.
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Authors and publishers worldwide may enter English-language books from self-publishing, independent or university presses. Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, children’s and hybrid books qualify regardless of publication date if still in print. Unpublished manuscripts are ineligible. Multiple entries require separate fees. Individually published works cannot be combined as one omnibus entry. AI use is currently unrestricted, but entrants must hold all necessary rights.
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Poets of any nationality may submit anonymous English-language poems of up to 60 lines, excluding the title, on any theme. Work must be unpublished, except translations published in another language. Multiple entries are allowed, but only one poem per writer may appear in each Fish Anthology. Writers with two poems in previous Fish Anthologies must wait three years after the second publication. Previous first-prize winners may re-enter but cannot win first prize again.
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Writers aged 14–18 on May 29 of the contest year may enter if they live in Maryland or attend school there. Submit a science fiction or fantasy story of no more than 2,500 words, with identifying information on a separate title page. Multiple entries are welcome, but each writer can receive only one prize.
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Writers of any age may submit one English-language humor poem of up to 250 lines, whether published or unpublished. Entrants from Iran, North Korea, Crimea, Russia and Belarus are excluded. Cartoons incorporating a humor poem and inspired gibberish are also accepted, while serious poems are not judged. Omit your name from the entry. AI-generated writing is prohibited, and any permitted AI assistance must be disclosed.
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Submit the first 50 double-spaced pages of an unpublished English-language manuscript, or a play or screenplay in its standard format. Entries must include thriller, mystery, crime, suspense, action or romance elements. Self-published works and manuscripts already under contract when submitted are ineligible. Multiple manuscripts and revised drafts may be entered separately. AI may help develop ideas, but it must not write, rewrite, revise or edit the submitted text.
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Authors worldwide may enter books first released in English during 2026 and available to North American readers in print or digitally, including traditionally published, independent and self-published work. Novels, novellas, collections, anthologies and nonfiction must incorporate mystery, thriller, suspense, action or romance, except nonfiction relevant to writers also qualifies. Audiobooks require release in 2026 alongside the original book. AI may support brainstorming only, without writing, rewriting, revision or editing.
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Write a nonrhyming haiku in three lines that creates a clear image. The familiar 5–7–5 syllable pattern may be used, but a strict syllable count is not required. A paid FanStory membership is required to enter.
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Submit a poem of any type with a rhyme scheme. You may choose how it rhymes. A paid FanStory membership is required to enter.
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Writers aged 13–19 worldwide may submit poetry reflecting on nature through specific details, rhythm or figurative language. Work shared with small local audiences qualifies but must be removed from other online writing platforms. AI may support brainstorming, but all wording must be your own. AI translation requires the original English text alongside it; Clara is prohibited. The complete prompt and length requirements will be released at opening.
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Emerging and established poets may submit an unpublished collection of 48–84 single-spaced pages. Individual poems may have appeared in magazines, anthologies or chapbooks of fewer than 25 pages, but translations and self-published books are ineligible. Entries must be anonymous.
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Norwich Writers’ Circle members may enter humorous poetry for the 2027 Colin Sutton Cup. Entry is free, and nonmembers are not eligible. The competition brief will be introduced on February 2, 2027, with submissions closing on April 30. Full poem limits and the detailed brief have not yet been released.
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Authors and publishers worldwide may enter English-language books published in 2025, 2026 or 2027; FAPA membership and Florida residency are not required. Books must already be published before upload and have a valid registered ISBN and publication year printed inside. eBooks are not accepted under the main guidelines. A title previously entered in these awards cannot be entered again.
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Writers worldwide over 18 at closing may enter original, complete English-language action-adventure novels of 50,000–200,000 words with no more than 10,000 copies distributed. Published, contracted, co-authored and standalone series books qualify; only one per author can advance. Previous nonwinners may return. Grandmaster winners and specified organizer/sponsor/judge affiliates and immediate families are excluded. Science fiction, fantasy, horror, paranormal, dystopia, romance, fan fiction, nonfiction, collections, scripts, comics and books for ages ten or younger are ineligible. AI cannot create story content.
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Poets from any country may enter previously unpublished poems in English of no more than 40 lines. Any subject is welcome, provided the poem is not discriminatory and does not promote hate speech. You may submit as many poems as you wish, with the appropriate fee for each.
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The 2027 nonfiction contest accepts original unpublished or self-published books in English of 40,000–100,000 words. Categories cover memoir and autobiography, self-help, inspirational or spiritual writing, and business or personal finance. Each entry must be submitted to one category, although multiple distinct entries are allowed. Collections, shorter works and AI-generated books are ineligible. BookLife and parent-company employees and their immediate families cannot enter. These requirements and the April deadline apply to nonfiction; fiction and illustrated books have separate submission periods.
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Writers aged 18 and above may submit a complete, original fiction manuscript of 25,000–120,000 words. Entries are judged anonymously, so remove all identifying information from the manuscript. Submit one manuscript per entry; you may enter multiple times with a separate reading fee for each.
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Write a five-line poem on any topic using a 2–2–5–7–5 syllable pattern. A paid FanStory membership is required to enter.
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Unagented writers worldwide aged 16 or above without traditionally published novels/novellas may submit adult fiction or adult-crossover YA. Self-publishing qualifies. Submit an anonymous 5,000–8,000-word opening and 300-word synopsis; shortlisted entrants need 30,000 words. Co-authorship, children’s fiction and nonfiction are excluded. Work cannot be publisher-accepted or placed first–third elsewhere. Commended/listed work qualifies without cash prizes or over 8,000 published words. Withdraw upon representation, publication or a prize during judging. AI permits factual research and spelling/grammar checks only.
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Writers aged 16 and above worldwide may submit an English-language short story of up to 5,000 words. Entries must be unpublished, including online and self-published work, and must not have won or placed in another competition. Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but withdraw the work if it is published or wins a prize before prize giving. Co-authored work is ineligible. Keep the document and filename anonymous. AI may only help with factual research and identifying spelling or grammar issues.
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Poets worldwide aged 16 or above may submit original English-language poems of up to 42 lines on any subject. Work must be unpublished, including online and self-publishing, and cannot have won or placed in another competition. Simultaneous submissions require withdrawal upon publication or a prize before prize giving. Co-authorship is ineligible. Documents and filenames must be anonymous. AI permits factual research and identifying spelling/grammar issues only.
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Writers worldwide aged 16 or above may submit English-language flash fiction of up to 250 words, excluding the title, with no minimum or entry limit. Work must be unpublished, including online/self-publishing, and cannot have won or placed elsewhere. Simultaneous submissions require withdrawal upon publication or a prize before prize giving. Co-authorship is ineligible. Documents and filenames must be anonymous. AI permits factual research and identifying spelling/grammar issues only.
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Writers worldwide aged 18 or above may submit original, unproduced television pilots or series scripts of 20–75 pages in any genre. Co-writing and multiple entries qualify. Existing-show scripts, pitches and features are excluded; short films based on the script are allowed. Screenwriting/TV contest winners, runners-up and finalists since 2025 are ineligible. Submit PDFs without AI writing, rewriting, line-editing or translation. Other contest submissions are allowed; notify the organizer upon sale.
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Writers worldwide except Syria, Iran, North Korea or Crimea entrants may submit original English-language work. Poetry allows 40 lines; memoir, personal essays, nonfiction articles and children’s/YA fiction 2,000 words; inspirational writing 2,500; stories/humor 4,000. Work must be unpublished, except self-published posts and published nonfiction essays/articles. AI writing/assistance is prohibited. Organizer employees/families, affiliated authors/editors/columnists/instructors and grand-prize winners from the previous three years are excluded. Previously winning entries require substantial rewrites.
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This New Arrival contest welcomes new FanStory members. Submit a three-line haiku; the traditional 5–7–5 syllable pattern is optional, and nature is a common subject. A paid FanStory membership is required to enter.
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Write a horror or thriller story intended to unsettle or frighten the reader. Poetry is not accepted. A paid FanStory membership is required to enter.
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Middle/high-school students worldwide aged 11–18, excluding those who have started college, may enter individually or in groups. Create work during September 2026–June 2027 on “Nature of Truth: Environmentalism in an Age of Disinformation.” Creative writing allows three double-spaced pages for ages 11–14 or five for 15–18; poetry allows one page. Submit anonymous English writing, a separate 100–300-word reflection and an adult sponsor. Under-13s need parental consent. One entry per category is allowed; previous entries and AI-generated work are ineligible.
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Share a true story from your life in at least 100 words, offering readers insight into your feelings, observations or thoughts. Poetry is not accepted. A paid FanStory membership is required to enter.
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Writers aged 13–19 from around the world may enter an original poem or spoken-word piece about what they want the world to hear. Write the World’s general rules allow AI for brainstorming, but the submitted words must be your own. The full 2027 prompt, length limits and any performance requirements will be available by the opening date.
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Authors over 18 may enter an English-language science fiction novel of at least 60,000 words. Unpublished manuscripts and independently or traditionally published books are welcome, but works published before Dec 31, 2022 are ineligible. Published books need an ISBN or ASIN. Erotica, graphic violence and work promoting hatred are excluded. You may enter multiple books or categories, with a separate fee for each entry.
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The award accepts an English-language fantasy novel of at least 60,000 words from authors over 18. Both manuscripts and published books are accepted, although books published before Dec 31, 2022 are ineligible. Published books need an ISBN or ASIN. Erotica, graphic violence and work promoting hatred are excluded. You may enter multiple books or categories, with a separate fee for each entry.
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To enter, you must be over 18 and submit an English-language paranormal, supernatural or horror novel of at least 60,000 words. Unpublished manuscripts and independently or traditionally published books are welcome, but works published before Dec 31, 2022 are ineligible. An ISBN or ASIN is required for published books. Erotica, graphic violence and work promoting hatred are excluded. You may enter multiple books or categories, with a separate fee for each entry.
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Writers worldwide may submit anonymous, original English-language humorous stories in any genre, including children’s fiction. The 2,500-word limit includes the title and uses Microsoft Word’s count. Published work and simultaneous submissions qualify. Poetry and nonfiction are excluded; avoid gratuitous sex or violence. Work must be entirely your own, without AI assistance. Each writer may enter three stories and win only one cash prize.
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Writers worldwide may submit anonymous, unpublished English memoir or personal-essay collections for adults, 100–400 pages; 150–300 double-spaced pages is suggested. Individual published pieces qualify, but not whole reproduced chapbooks. Self-published/out-of-print books, translations, self-help, genre fiction and children’s/YA books are excluded. Hybrid/co-authored work and author artwork qualify if creative writing comprises 75%. Creative AI is prohibited; standard language tools qualify. Judges’/editors’ friends, relatives and former students, and former press staff/interns, are ineligible; brief residencies/fellowships do not establish student relationships.
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New/amateur writers may submit one anonymous English speculative-fiction manuscript per quarter: stories under 10,000 words or novelettes. Professional publication of a novel, over one novelette or over three stories excludes entrants; professional publication requires eight cents per word and 5,000 copies/views. Published work, children’s writing, poetry, scripts, fan fiction, unfinished work and non-speculative mystery/horror are excluded. AI-generated text, including partial generation, is prohibited. Quarterly winners cannot re-enter; unchanged repeat entries are ineligible.
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Authors must have lived legally or physically in North Carolina for three years before the contest period ends. Original books published July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027 may enter one fiction, nonfiction, poetry or young-people’s award. Poetry chapbooks and edited poetry/story anthologies are excluded from poetry/fiction awards. Edited collections require all authors to meet stated residency rules. Self-published/subsidy-published books qualify only for young people’s literature. Technical/scientific works are ineligible. No length limit applies.
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Write a poem on any subject with three stanzas of three lines each. Each stanza must follow a 3-6-9 syllable pattern. A paid FanStory membership is required to enter.
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Write a fiction or nonfiction piece about what faith means to you, how it affects your life or what God means to you. The entry must contain exactly 300 words, excluding the title. A paid FanStory membership is required to enter.
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Write a poem containing exactly 20 syllables. Any poetic format is accepted. A paid FanStory membership is required to enter.
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Write a flash fiction story on any topic using exactly 100 words. Poetry is not accepted. A paid FanStory membership is required to enter.
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Writers aged 13–19 worldwide may submit science fiction or fantasy imagining another world through real emotions or experiences, including hoped-for or feared futures. Work shared with small local audiences qualifies but must be removed from other online writing platforms. AI may support brainstorming, but all wording must be your own. AI translation requires the original English text alongside it; Clara is prohibited. The full prompt and length limit will be released at opening.
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Authors over 18 may enter an English-language cozy or not-so-cozy mystery novel of at least 60,000 words. Unpublished manuscripts and independently or traditionally published books are welcome, but works published before Dec 31, 2022 are ineligible. Published books need an ISBN or ASIN. Erotica, graphic violence and work promoting hatred are excluded. You may enter multiple books or categories, with a separate fee for each entry.
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The award accepts an English-language thriller, suspense or crime book, including nonfiction true crime of at least 60,000 words from authors over 18. Both manuscripts and published books are accepted, although books published before Dec 31, 2022 are ineligible. Published books need an ISBN or ASIN. Erotica, graphic violence and work promoting hatred are excluded. You may enter multiple books or categories, with a separate fee for each entry.
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To enter, you must be over 18 and submit an English-language series of two to five books in fiction, narrative nonfiction or how-to nonfiction. The first book must have been published on or after January 1, 2016. Unpublished manuscripts and independently or traditionally published works are accepted, and published books need an ISBN or ASIN. Erotica, graphic violence and work promoting hatred are excluded. Each category entered requires a separate fee.
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Authors over 18 may enter an English-language high-stakes thriller or science-grounded Lab Lit novel of at least 60,000 words. Unpublished manuscripts and independently or traditionally published books are welcome, but works published before Dec 31, 2022 are ineligible. Published books need an ISBN or ASIN. Erotica, graphic violence and work promoting hatred are excluded. You may enter multiple books or categories, with a separate fee for each entry.
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Submit a true story, anecdote or reflection on life, including a spiritual or political perspective. Poetry is not accepted. A paid FanStory membership is required to enter.
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Write a three-line poem on any subject, with two syllables in the first line, four in the second and two in the last. A paid FanStory membership is required to enter.
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Write a free verse poem in your own voice, without a fixed rhyme scheme or meter. Lines and rhythm may vary, and the contest page gives no length limit. A paid FanStory membership is required to enter.
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Writers aged 13–19 from around the world may share a personal narrative drawn from their own life. The 2027 overview asks for a specific experience told through vivid details, scenes, dialogue and developed characters. AI may help with brainstorming, but the submitted words must be your own. The full prompt and length limit will be published by the opening date.
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Writers of all ages and nationalities may enter an original, unpublished English-language story of up to 1,500 words on any theme. Reworked versions of previously published material are ineligible. Multiple entries and simultaneous submissions are allowed, but each entry requires its own fee and must be withdrawn if accepted elsewhere. Generative AI is prohibited. Entries must be anonymous.
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The award accepts an English-language narrative nonfiction book about overcoming adversity of at least 60,000 words from authors over 18. Both manuscripts and published books are accepted, although books published before Dec 31, 2022 are ineligible. Published books need an ISBN or ASIN. Erotica, graphic violence and work promoting hatred are excluded. You may enter multiple books or categories, with a separate fee for each entry.
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To enter, you must be over 18 and submit an English-language historical novel set after the 1750s, including Georgian, Victorian and later periods of at least 60,000 words. Unpublished manuscripts and independently or traditionally published books are welcome, but works published before Dec 31, 2022 are ineligible. An ISBN or ASIN is required for published books. Erotica, graphic violence and work promoting hatred are excluded. You may enter multiple books or categories, with a separate fee for each entry.
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Authors over 18 may enter an English-language uplifting nonfiction book, including memoir, advice, inspiration or humorous nonfiction of at least 60,000 words. Unpublished manuscripts and independently or traditionally published books are welcome, but works published before Dec 31, 2022 are ineligible. Published books need an ISBN or ASIN. Erotica, graphic violence and work promoting hatred are excluded. You may enter multiple books or categories, with a separate fee for each entry.
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The award accepts an English-language wartime historical novel set in the twentieth or twenty-first century of at least 60,000 words from authors over 18. Both manuscripts and published books are accepted, although books published before Dec 31, 2022 are ineligible. Published books need an ISBN or ASIN. Erotica, graphic violence and work promoting hatred are excluded. You may enter multiple books or categories, with a separate fee for each entry.
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To enter, you must be over 18 and submit an English-language historical novel set before the 1750s, including ancient, medieval and early modern settings of at least 60,000 words. Unpublished manuscripts and independently or traditionally published books are welcome, but works published before Dec 31, 2022 are ineligible. An ISBN or ASIN is required for published books. Erotica, graphic violence and work promoting hatred are excluded. You may enter multiple books or categories, with a separate fee for each entry.
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Authors over 18 may enter an English-language Western, pioneer, Civil War or First Nations novel of at least 60,000 words. Unpublished manuscripts and independently or traditionally published books are welcome, but works published before Dec 31, 2022 are ineligible. Published books need an ISBN or ASIN. Erotica, graphic violence and work promoting hatred are excluded. You may enter multiple books or categories, with a separate fee for each entry.
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The award accepts an English-language investigative, journalistic, biographical or research-based nonfiction book of at least 20,000 words from authors over 18. Both manuscripts and published books are accepted, although books published before Dec 31, 2022 are ineligible. Published books need an ISBN or ASIN. Erotica, graphic violence and work promoting hatred are excluded. You may enter multiple books or categories, with a separate fee for each entry.
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Write a five-line ABC poem on any subject. The first four lines must begin with consecutive letters of the alphabet, while the fifth may begin with any letter. Additional stanzas are allowed as long as each follows the same ABC format. Line lengths may vary, and rhyme and meter are optional. A paid FanStory membership is required to enter.
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Authors over 18 may enter English-language picture books, bedtime stories, early readers and other books for young children, including educational and interactive books. Works published before December 31, 2022 are ineligible, and published books need an ISBN or ASIN. The 2027 page does not state a word-count limit. Erotica, graphic violence and work promoting hatred are excluded. Separate category entries require separate fees.
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Authors over 18 may enter English-language middle grade fiction, including the first–third grade reader category. Unpublished manuscripts and independently or traditionally published books are welcome, but works published before December 31, 2022 are ineligible. Published books need an ISBN or ASIN. Erotica, graphic violence and work promoting hatred are excluded. Multiple books or categories may be entered.
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The award accepts an English-language young adult novel of at least 40,000 words from authors over 18. Both manuscripts and published books are accepted, although books published before Dec 31, 2022 are ineligible. Published books need an ISBN or ASIN. Erotica, graphic violence and work promoting hatred are excluded. You may enter multiple books or categories, with a separate fee for each entry.
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To enter, you must be over 18 and submit an English-language business, technology, finance or professional how-to nonfiction book of at least 20,000 words. Unpublished manuscripts and independently or traditionally published books are welcome, but works published before Dec 31, 2022 are ineligible. An ISBN or ASIN is required for published books. Erotica, graphic violence and work promoting hatred are excluded. You may enter multiple books or categories, with a separate fee for each entry.
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Authors over 18 may enter an English-language instructional or insight-based nonfiction book, such as a travelogue, reference guide or self-development book of at least 20,000 words. Unpublished manuscripts and independently or traditionally published books are welcome, but works published before Dec 31, 2022 are ineligible. Published books need an ISBN or ASIN. Erotica, graphic violence and work promoting hatred are excluded. You may enter multiple books or categories, with a separate fee for each entry.
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Writers of any age or nationality, living anywhere in the world, may enter original flash fiction in English of no more than 250 words. Any theme or genre is welcome, but previously published work and adapted or revised versions of it are ineligible. Generative AI is not permitted. You may enter multiple pieces, each with its own form and fee. Entries must be anonymous and contain no photographs.
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Poets of any age may submit published or unpublished English-language poems of up to 250 lines. Iran, North Korea, Crimea, Russia and Belarus entrants are excluded. Each submission allows three poems; multiple submissions qualify. Tom Howard accepts any style; Margaret Reid requires rhyme or formal style. Work previously recognized by Winning Writers is ineligible. AI-generated text is prohibited; disclose permitted AI assistance.
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Entering a writing competition isn’t just about winning. It can motivate you to complete a piece you’ve been working on, challenge you to try something new, and give you experience submitting your work for consideration. Even if you don’t win, you’ll have taken another step forward as a writer.
As you explore the list, shortlist a few competitions that interest you. Before entering, be sure to visit each organizer’s official website to confirm the latest eligibility requirements, deadlines, entry fees, and submission guidelines.
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