The Comprehensive List of 2024 Writing Contests
- By Kotobee
- on Dec 14, 2023
- in International Writing Events
- Last update: June 25th, 2024
- at 2:04 pm
Anyone who has participated in writing events before–such as NaNoWriMo–knows how effective it can be to write against the clock, and that’s where writing contests come in! These contests can be a great way to develop your skills, challenge yourself against other writers, and, above all else, win an award for your work!
Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, writing contests can be a great way to boost your skills, challenge yourself, and get your work in front of a wider audience. With so many contests to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the top writing contests for 2024. Whether you’re interested in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or children’s writing, there’s sure to be a contest on this list that’s perfect for you. So what are you waiting for? Start writing and get your submissions in!
Eligibility & Restrictions
The contest is open to all writers in English except current or former students or employees of The University of Southern Mississippi. Fiction and non-fiction entries should be 1000-8000 words; poetry entries should be three to five poems, totaling ten pages or less.
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Submit three to five poems totaling up to 10 pages, or a short story or an essay of 1,000 to 8,000 words,
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Send up to three short-short stories per submission. Each short-short should be no more than 500 words. Do not include personal identification information within your submissions.
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Send up to three poems, no more than 10 pages total. Include no more than one poem per page. Do not include personal identification information within your submissions.
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Send essays up to 10 pages. Do not include personal identification information within your submissions.
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Entries must be previously unpublished. Length restrictions: no more than 7,500 words or 25 typed, double-spaced pages for fiction. Each story counts as one entry. Poetry entries can include any number of poems up to 10 pages, but they recommend 5 to 7 poems per submission.
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The submitted poem can be up to 70 lines. The Prize is open to anyone, from anywhere in the world. There are no style or subject restrictions: all poems welcome.
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The submitted short stories can be up to 5000 words. The Prize is open to anyone, from anywhere in the world. There are no theme or genre restrictions: all entries welcome.
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Anyone can enter. Submitted poems can be of any length, subject, or style. Each contestant can submit up to three poems.
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Poets 35 years old and younger who have not previously published a book-length poetry manuscript are eligible. Poets who have previously published chapbooks are welcome to enter. Manuscripts that have been submitted in previous years may be resubmitted.
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Entry must be short prose by African-American writers in North Carolina. Entries may be fiction or creative non-fiction, but must be unpublished, no more than 3,000 words, and concerned with the lives and experiences of North Carolina African-Americans. Entries may be excerpts from longer works, but must be self-contained.
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The Immerse Education Essay Competition is open to entries from young people aged 12-18 interested in all subjects, from Architecture to Medicine, Creative Writing to Film Studies.
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Anyone above 18 can enter. Only previously unpublished work in English can be submitted. Entries should be the work of a single author. For fiction: ONE short story or novel excerpt, maximum 25 (double-spaced) pages per entry. For non-fiction: ONE nonfiction piece or book excerpt, maximum 25 (double-spaced) pages per entry. For poetry: No more than SIX poems per entry, up to 10 pages total.
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A drabble is a flash fiction story that uses 80 words. That is the challenge of this contest. Write a story (on any topic) using 80 words. The title does not count towards the word count. The submitted work must be between 78 – 82 words.
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Anyone can enter. Please send as much poetry or prose of which you are the sole author and that were not written earlier than 1999.
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Essays can be no more than 1,000 words but must be a minimum of 700 words. Citations and bibliography are not included in the word count. Essays must be the original work of the student. Essays must have a minimum of five sources.
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The competition is open to anyone, except Colorado State University students, alumni, and employees. Manuscripts must be at least 48 pages but no more than 100 pages. They may be composed of any number of poems. The theme and style are both open. Manuscripts may consist of poems that have been published, but the manuscript as a whole must be unpublished.
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Submit 3 poems in a single file, any style, any subject, any length. Previously published work and translations are not eligible. Simultaneous submissions are accepted.
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The application requires a project proposal, a biographical statement, and a writing sample of no more than 10 pages. Please submit all materials in one document.
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Each poet may submit 15–30 pages of poems in English only (no translations). Individual poems may be previously published in any format, but the manuscript as a whole must be unpublished as a collection.
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Submitters may send up to five poems in a single document for consideration. Each poem must not exceed sixty lines. Prose poetry, experimental poetry, and poetry with a visual element are all welcome. Any submissions should be written primarily in English.
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The competition is open to any writer who is a legal resident of North Carolina or a member of the North Carolina Writers’ Network. Simultaneous submissions are ok, but please notify them immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere. Each entry must be an original and previously unpublished manuscript of no more than 3,500 words.
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All high-school-age students are invited to submit unpublished, original English-language stories of up to 2,000 words in length for the 9th Annual “Storytellers of Tomorrow” Contest. The sole criterion for earning prizes in this contest is simply overall quality, meaning that well-edited, engaging, and evocative stories have the best chance of winning over the judges.
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The entry should be between 1,000-5,000 words. The work must not have been previously published. Submit works written in English only, no translations.
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Essays must be limited to 500 words or less about a topic of the writer’s choosing. Only one entry per person. Your essay must be your original work. Any essays containing material that is obscene or objectionable will be disqualified. Previously published essays are not eligible for Adult Submissions. Residents of Washington, D.C. and the select counties of Maryland (Montgomery, Prince George’s, Howard and Frederick) and Virginia (Arlington, Fairfax, Alexandria) are eligible. High School entries must be residents or attend a school in Montgomery County, MD or Washington, D.C.
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Write a ghost short story (2000 words max) with a strong male character. Word Limit: 2000 words. It can be set in any time – present day, the past, or even a sci-fi ghost story set in the future.
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There are four rounds of competition. In each round, writers are placed randomly in groups and are assigned a genre, subject, and character assignment. Writers have to write an original story based on the assignment within a given time limit. The word limit decreases in each round, from 2,500 words in the 1st Round to 1,250 words in the 4th Round
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This contest is only open to students who live in Oklahoma. Entries are limited to one per student in each contest.
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Anyone can enter. Share a poem that is about your faith or how faith has impacted your life. Any type of poem accepted.
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Anyone above 16 can enter. Short Story length: Up to 3000 words maximum. It can be about any topic and in any style. Poetry length: Up to 42 lines. They are looking for poetry that is fresh and unexpected.
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Anyone can enter. Write a story that starts with this sentence: The house was empty. You have the option to put it in quotes (for dialogue) and to change the punctuation at the end for proper grammar.
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Submit your first chapter only. International entries are welcome but first chapters must be written in English and can be up to 3,000 words (no minimum word count) and on any theme and subject (except children’s fiction).
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Please submit up to three examples of your creative writing. Your submission should total no more than 3,000 words – this is 3,000 words for all three examples, not 3,000 words each.
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Poems cannot exceed 50 lines in length (including line breaks), and must include all five words listed for the week. A modicum of poetic license is acceptable, as long as the original spelling is intact. Poems should be newly written, during this 7-day period. There is no limit to volume of entries. Entrants should be at least 18 years of age at the date of submission.
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Anyone can enter. Write a poem about a photo you’ve taken.
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All entries must be formatted as a single-spaced word document or PDF. Font: Arial, 12pt. This is to standardise entries so that all stories are treated equally. Only entries that are under the 1000-word limit (not including the title) will be accepted.
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The competition is open to anyone, including non-UK residents, except Magma Poetry Board members and their families. Poems may be on any subject, and must be in English and your own original work. They must not have been published, self-published or accepted for publication in print or online, broadcast, or have won or been placed in another competition at any time.
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All stories to be written in English. Stories must be your own work and not have been published, in any way, online or in print, or won any other competitions. Anyone over the age of 18 can enter. You can enter as many times as you want but must pay each time.
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To enter this contest, simply submit a short story of no more than 2,023 words. Entries must be in English, your own original work, and must not have been published or accepted for publication elsewhere.
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The competition is for anyone aged 16 and over, from anywhere in the world. Poems must be in English, your original work, on any subject, in any style, no longer than 40 lines. Poems should have neither been published elsewhere (including self-published) by 16th April 2024.
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The entries can’t have been previously published. Maximum number of words is 4,000 in English.
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Anyone 16 or above can enter. The story must be exactly 100 words. Entries must be original, unpublished work which is not currently submitted for publication or entered into any other competition or award.
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Both unpublished or self-published books in the English language are eligible for the BookLife Prize. Entries must contain 40,000 to 100,000 words.
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One page—maximum 500 words. Only original, unpublished, unrepresented work may be submitted. Word documents & PDFs are accepted. The winning submissions will be published on the Chopping Blog. All entrants will be notified of winners and shortlist by email.
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Send only one submission per genre at any one time. In other words, submitting a short story and an essay at the same time is fine, but please wait to hear from them before submitting another story. All submissions must be typed and all prose double-spaced.
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Students may enter one piece of writing between 500 and 1,000 words in length, typed, and double spaced. Each entry must be original work of the entrant, and have an out door theme.
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Anyone can enter. Send up to 5 of your best unpublished poems, any style or subject matter, no more than 7 pages in total.
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All entries must be Canadian-authored titles published in English between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023 and available through bookstores and libraries. Only first collections of short fiction are eligible. Co-authored or multi-authored collections are not eligible. Posthumously published works are not eligible.
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Submitted stories should be between 1,000 and 10,000 words in length; please do not send anything longer or shorter than this. Most of the stories published are between about 2,000 and 7,000 words.
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The contest is open to K–12th grade students, ages 5–19. Students must be enrolled in school to be eligible. All entries must be submitted by a parent, guardian, educator, or facilitator unless the student is 18 years old or older. Poems should not exceed 32 lines in length (written) or 3 minutes (signed). For ASL poetry, please include a brief written summary of the poem’s content.
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Anyone can enter. The word limit is 1500 words.The theme for this year’s competition is “The Dilemma” .
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Poems may be on any subject, must be the original work of the entrant, unpublished and not accepted for publication in any medium. They must not have been awarded a prize in any other competition. Poems should be in English and not exceed 40 lines of text, no minimum. Titles, epigraphs, dedications and blank lines are not included in the line count.
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Anyone can enter. Submissions must be in English, unpublished and not concurrently entered for any other competition, and remain unpublished until the results are declared. Submissions should not appear in any print or online publication, social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), or forums as the competition is anonymous. There is no limit on the number of submissions per competitor.
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Entrants should submit a collection of poems. Manuscripts must be previously unpublished. Some or all of the poems in the collection may have appeared in periodicals, chapbooks, or anthologies, but these must be identified. Manuscripts must be at least 48 typed pages. The preferred length is between 60 and 100 pages.
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The writer must have been born, live or have lived, study or have studied, work or have worked, in Cheshire. Entry must be an original and previously unpublished. You must have your parent’s or guardian’s consent to enter the competition if you are under the age of 18.
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The max length of the story shouldn’t be more than 1,000 words, sent as a Word document. All types of stories are welcome (excluding Children’s and Young Adult Fiction).
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The story cannot be longer than 100 words. Write on one of these topics: bicycles, eclipse, fire, suitcase.
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Entrants must be a high school student or a home-schooled student in grades nine through twelve. Students from anywhere in the United States may enter. Poems may be in rhyme, free verse, Haiku or other accepted poetry forms and of any length, up to a maximum of 40 lines. No entry may have been previously published.
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Elementary school student stories must be no more than 800 words. Middle school student essays must be no more than 1,000 words. High school student essays must be no more than 1,200 words. You must also include a reference list of 8 resources. Each resource should be listed using the APA citation style.
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Essay (max. 2,100 words, excl. abstract, bibliography, and footnotes). Individual work expected, no group work allowed. The essay must be written exclusively for this contest. The idea must be the author’s own.
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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.
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1000 Word limit (not including title page). Name or address cannot be written anywhere. All stories are separated into their respective genres and each compete in a single-elimination tournament specific to its genre.
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For flash fiction genre: Up to 1000 words per flash fiction submission. Microfiction up to 400 words apiece is also accepted. Submit no more than two flashes or micros, up to 1000 words total, in one single document. For poetry genre: Submit 3-5 poems in one document up to 10 pages.
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Anyone above 16 can enter. Entries can be on any theme or subject but must be original and written in English. They must also be for adult or young adult readers. Non-fiction and fiction written for children under 13 years are not eligible. Max length is 300 words. Entries must not have been previously published in print or online, been broadcast or won a prize.
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Write a poem that has exactly 20 syllables in any format.
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All 2024 contest entries must have been published, e-published, broadcast, or issued between February 1, 2023, and January 31, 2024. Entries must be produced by a current high school student or a recently graduated student who produced the work in their senior year after February 1, 2023. Entries must have been professionally published/produced or published/produced by a school or professional publication in a recognized medium for the category such as a school, local or national newspaper, a website, a school, local or national television production and the like.
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The NFPW Communications contest is open to anyone regardless of gender, professional status or location. College students do not have to be 18 to enter any of the categories in the Collegiate Division. High school students may enter the professional contest if they are acting in a professional capacity.
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The work you submit must be unpublished, and must not have been accepted for future publication or self-published. In addition, anyone who has previously had a full-length novel accepted for publication is not eligible to enter. Entrants must be resident in the UK or Ireland.
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Anyone can enter. The poem should have three stanzas. The subject can be anything.
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Living in the North of England at the time of entering and planning to remain there for at least another 12 months. Over the age of 18. A debut author of middle-grade and early teen fiction. Please submit your initial 3000-6000 words and synopsis.
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Living in the North of England at the time of entering and planning to remain there for at least another 12 months. Over the age of 18. Working on a full-length collection of poetry.
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Living in the North of England at the time of entering and planning to remain there for at least another 12 months. Over the age of 18. A debut poet: you may have published a pamphlet and had individual poems in magazines and anthologies but you should not yet have published a full collection.
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Living in the North of England at the time of entering and planning to remain there for at least another 12 months. Over the age of 18. A final-year undergraduate; current postgraduate student or alumni who has graduated from an undergraduate or postgraduate programme at Northumbria University within the last ten years.
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This award is open to young writers aged 11-18 in the North of England. Young writers can submit creative work in any form including prose, poetry, scriptwriting, blogging, songwriting and rap. This award is made possible through New Writing North’s partnership with their lead partner Northumbria University.
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This award is for a young person aged 11-18 based in the North of England. Entrants must be 18 years or under on 12 February 2024 when the awards close. Young writers can submit creative work in any form including prose, poetry, scriptwriting, blogging, songwriting and rap.
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Submit a short story (for adults) of no more than 2,000 words on the theme of ‘risk’.
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Only books that have been either self-published or published by an independent publisher and have an ISBN or ASN can enter.
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The 2024 Next Generation Indie Book Awards is open to all indie book authors and publishers including independent publishers (small, medium or otherwise), university presses, self-published authors, e-book authors, seasoned authors and even first time authors in the U.S., Canada or internationally who have a book, a manuscript, or a galley proof written in English and published in 2022, 2023 or 2024 or with a 2022, 2023 or 2024 copyright date.
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Current and previous apprentices are not eligible. Novelists commercially published (in English) are not eligible. Self published writers are eligible.
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The contest accepts submissions in any genre, as long as they are original, unpublished, and written in English. The submissions must be based on a specific theme developed by the Achievement Awards Advisory Committee. The contest is open to schools in the United States, US territories, Canada, and American Schools Abroad that are US accredited. The submissions are only accepted from teachers; students may not self-nominate
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The contest accepts submissions in any genre, as long as they are original, unpublished, and written in English. The submissions must be based on a specific theme developed by the Achievement Awards Advisory Committee. The contest is open to schools in the United States, US territories, Canada, and American Schools Abroad that are US accredited. The submissions are only accepted from teachers; students may not self-nominate
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U.S. Citizen. Poets are not eligible to apply if they have studied with the judge in full-time accredited courses within the last three years. Works translated into Spanish from another language are ineligible.
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This contest is open to any short fiction writer of English. Employees and board members of Sarabande Books, Inc. are not eligible. Works that have previously appeared in magazines or in anthologies may be included. Translations and previously published collections are not eligible. Length: between 150-250 pages.
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The contest is open to Alaska residents. College students who maintain Alaska residency may enter. All judges, editorial or administrative employees of Anchorage Daily News, faculty or administrative employees of the University of Alaska and board members of the Alaska Center for the Book, and their immediate family are ineligible. Work published previously in any copyrighted newspaper, magazine, book or other medium is ineligible. Writing for school publications may be entered. Entries must be original. Contestants may enter one work of fiction (not to exceed 5,000 words), one work of non- fiction (not to exceed 5,000 words), and up to three poems. A contestant may enter all categories in his or her age group.
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You must be at least 18 years old. There are no location restrictions, but you must comply with your local laws regarding online competitions and prize money. Word Count: 500 – 1,500.
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U.S. Citizens. Only books published in the United States during 2023 are eligible for the 2024 prize. Books must be published in a standard edition (48 pages or more). Collaborations by up to two translators are eligible.
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Contestants must be current high school seniors at a public high school in the United States graduating Spring of 2024; 21 years of age and under; plan to enroll in an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or approved vocational-technical school Fall 2024.
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The length of any entry into any category should not exceed three minutes in performance, and you are advised to time the entry’s performance before submitting. The maximum word count for a story entry is 500 words.
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Original, unpublished fiction or nonfiction up to 2,500 words in the English language. Writers who have had no more than one book published (traditionally or self-published) in any genre or language and who are not currently under contract for a second book. Writers not published in book format are also eligible. Writers must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada.
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Anyone can enter. It has to be a nonet, but it can be on any subject and rhyming is optional.
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Entrants must be at least 16 years of age, and under 19 years of age, on 23 February 2024. Entrants must be in full or part-time education at a school, college or other educational institution in the United Kingdom. Students enrolled on higher education courses are not eligible to enter the competition. Entries for the Tower Poetry Prize 2023 must be on the designated theme. Entries must be written in English, and be no more than 48 lines in length.
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Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Short stories must be in English, previously unpublished and a maximum length of 1000 words (8-13 years) or 1500 words (14+). Poems must be in English, previously unpublished and a maximum length of 30 lines typed, using a standard, legible font, double-spaced on single sides of A4 paper.
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Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. The contest accepts entries in the genre of horror or thriller
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Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. In this contest you are challenged to write a poem that tells a story and also rhymes.
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Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Maximum number of words is 300. The title is not included in the word limit. The winning stories must be available for the Fish Anthology, and therefore must not have been published previously. Fish holds publishing rights for one year after publication, after which publishing rights revert to the author
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Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Entrants must be Canadian (citizen or resident). Submissions must be unpublished, nor can they have been accepted for publication elsewhere. Submissions are accepted online only.
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Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
The word limit for criticism and fiction is 1500 words. The limit for poems is 25 lines. The limit for screenplays is 8 pages. Essays you have written at school are eligible for entry. To enter you must be in year 12 or 13.
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Entry Fee
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Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
25,000 word minimum, 80,000 word maximum. Entries will be accepted via Submittable only. The award is open to all women writers with the following exceptions: Authors who have had a full-length work published by Red Hen Press, or a full-length work currently under consideration by Red Hen Press, employees, interns, or contractors of Red Hen Press, and relatives of employees or members of the executive board of directors.
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Entry Fee
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Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
All women can enter. Entries should be creative non-fiction in English. Maximum words: 750. Minimum words: 250.
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Entry Fee
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Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Send a maximum of 5,000 words of your First Chapter only. (If your opening chapter is longer, send the entire chapter but clearly mark the 5,000 word point). In the same document, send a one page synopsis (not included in the word-count).
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Entry Fee
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Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
This competition is open to original English language works in the genres of Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction. The submission must be an unpublished work. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable.
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Entry Fee
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Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
The international competition is open to all – both published and unpublished authors from all over the world – and is for short stories of up to 3,500 words. The story cannot have been previously published anywhere, or shortlisted for this competition.
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Entry Fee
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Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Stories should range between 1,000 and 3,000 words, with strong characters, a well-crafted plot and realistic dialogue (where used).
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Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
They welcome submissions of up to four poems . If your work has been selected from an unsolicited submission and published in Southword before, they will ask that you please don’t submit for one year before submitting again.
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Entry Fee
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Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
The competition is open to all students of school age including not only those in schools and college communities, but also students who are home educated and in any other young people’s community organisations. The maximum word count is 500 words. There is no minimum word count.
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Entry Fee
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Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
The Scottish Arts Club Short Story Competition is open to all writers worldwide, published and unpublished. You do not have to be Scottish to enter the competition. Word limit: 2,000 words (not including the title)
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Entry Fee
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Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
The international competition, open to anyone in the world writing in English, is for the opening of a crime novel (max. 3,000 words) and synopsis (max. 1,500 words). The crime novel – of any subgenre; including but not limited to thriller, noir, cosy mystery, suspense, police procedural; spy story and crossover of any kind – should be suitable for adults or young adults. Entries are eligible from writers who have never had a contract for a full-length novel of any kind and who don’t have an agent when the competition closes at the end of February. Entrants may not have self-published their entry, and must not have self-published any novel over 20,000 words in the five years preceding the deadline.
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Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Poems can be in any style or form, but must be in English, and written for adults. Maximum 60 lines. Enter the correct version of your work. If you make a mistake, entry fees will not be refunded.
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Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
You can submit as many individual stories as you wish, each as a separate entry. All entries must be accompanied by an entrance fee, which is paid via the PayPal button on the entry form. Simultaneous submissions are not allowed. Stories must have neither been previously published nor won a prize in any other competition.
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Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Entries should address the themes of science fiction/fantasy/horror/science. Limit: 3 poems/person, maximum 60 lines each.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Submissions must be unpublished. They accept submissions of up to 3 poems
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Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Blue Mesa Review accepts previously unpublished work in Fiction (up to 6,000 words).
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Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Blue Mesa Review accepts previously unpublished work in Nonfiction of up to 6,000 words.
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Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Applicants must be aged 18 or above at the time of entry. All entries must be written in English. Submissions must be standalone and cannot be extracts from a larger piece. A maximum of 2,500 words per entry.
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Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. Write exactly 300 words. Title does not count in word count. Fiction or non-fiction welcomed.
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Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. Write a 2-4-2 syllable poem. The subject can be anything.
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Entry Fee
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Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
This prize is open to all writers over 18 years of age who live in Victoria. Each writer can submit a single biographical story between 1000 and 3000 words in length.
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Eligibility & Restrictions
This prize is open to all poets over 18 years of age who live in Victoria. Each poet can submit up to two poems with a maximum length of 30 lines each.
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Entry Fee
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Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
This prize is open to writers between 14 and 18 years of age who live, work or study in the western suburbs of Melbourne. Each writer can submit a single story that is no more than 1000 words in length.
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Entry Fee
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Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. Share a true story from your life. Write a story that shares a moment, an object, a feeling, etc. This does not have to be a profound memory, but should allow readers insight into your feelings, observations and/or thoughts. Use at least 100 words. No poetry.
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Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Send no more than five poems in a single PDF or Word file. Each poem should appear on its own page.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
In addition to feature-length essays of up to 7000 words, Full Bleed publishes shorter, recurring columns of approximately 1000 to 2000 words.
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Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Full Bleed typically publishes one to two pieces of short fiction in each issue. Given the dearth of journals that consider long-form fiction, thry will consider submissions up to 7000 words in length, though their tendency has been to select stories under 3000 words.
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Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Entrants must have never published a novel, are U.S. citizens or permanent residents of America with Green Cards, and may have published any other type of work including non-fiction articles and short stories. A two-page (maximum) outline or synopsis of the entire novel and the first 50 pages of the novel-in-progress are to be submitted. A specific format for the outline or synopsis is not required.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, essays, philosophical ruminations, experimental pieces, stage plays, fragments, and excerpts are all acceptable. You may submit multiple pieces as long as each is accompanied by a separate entry fee. One poetry submission may include up to 5 unrelated (or related) poems. Page limit for any type of submission: 150 pages.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Entrants must be Canadian (citizen or resident). Submissions must be unpublished, nor can they be accepted for publication elsewhere. Submissions are accepted online only.
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Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Only Oklahoma residents are eligible to enter. Poems will be judged in 4 categories: K-4th, 5th-8th, 9th-12th, and Adult. The maximum length for poems is 30 lines. Poems can be rhymed or unrhymed. One poem per person.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
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Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Each entry must be original, unpublished fiction or poetry written by the submitting author and included the theme of Light and Shadow in some way. No brand references are allowed. The word limit for each entry is 2500 words.
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Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Poetry Contest entries may be written on any subject, theme, style, or form. All poems must be 30 lines or fewer and either neatly handwritten or typed, using single or double-line spacing.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Writing Contest entries may be written on a maximum of (5) pages, either neatly handwritten or typed, with single or double line spacing, on any subject or theme.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Your entry must either be self published or published by an independent press. Authors and publishers can enter books.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. Poem length is restricted to 60 lines. The title is not included in the word limit, and it must be in English. The winning poem must be available for the Fish Anthology and, therefore, must not have been published previously. Fish will hold publishing rights for one year only after publication.
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Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
All entries are judged anonymously. Entries will be disqualified if they are over the 50 line limit, and there will be no refund. Entries must be entirely your own work.
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Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Submissions shall be no more than 2,500 words in length. Contestants shall be no younger than 14 and no older than 18 years of age as of May 29 in the contest year and shall reside or attend school in Maryland.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. Any length, any subject, any style
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Poems must have a title and must be no more than 40 lines, excluding the title, and be typed in black ink on one side of A4. Poems must be the original work of the entrant and must not have been published, self-published or published online or broadcast. Poems are judged anonymously so the poet’s name, address, etc., MUST NOT appear on the poem.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. Length limit: 250 lines maximum. Authors from all countries eligible except Syria, Iran, North Korea, and Crimea (due to US government restrictions). The poem you submit should be in English.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
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.
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Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Students whose parents are not in the Foreign Service are eligible to participate if they are in grades nine through twelve in any of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories, or if they are U.S. citizens/lawful permanent residents attending high school overseas.
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Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Recommended length is 5,000 words or less. This contest is open to all members. Past contest winners can join the contest. One entry per person. New entries to the site only. If you already posted a work on FanStory.com that work is not eligible for the contest.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. The Minute Poem is a poem that follows the “8,4,4,4” syllable count structure. It must have 12 lines total and 60 syllables.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. The entry should be exactly 100 words.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. Write an essence poem. The poem should be of two lines with six syllables per line, each containing an internal rhyme and an ending rhyme.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone 16 and above can enter. Poems should not have been published, or accepted for publication, in print or online. They should not have won prizes in other competitions, be simultaneously entered for other competitions or be translations of other poets’ work. Poems must be your own original work and may be on any theme. Length: no longer than 30 lines.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Electronic submissions only. Do not include any preambles, or bios within your submitted manuscript. Manuscripts must have a table of contents. Manuscripts must be typed in a no less than 12-point font, paginated, and 48 – 84 pages in length (single spaced).
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. No restrictions.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Word Limit: 100 words or less per entry. Writers: All ages. All genders. All nationalities. All writers welcome. Genre: Any genre. Theme: Creativity.
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Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Poems should be previously unpublished. All entries will be considered for publication. They accept simultaneous submissions, but please notify Breakwater if submission is accepted elsewhere.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
This contest is international and open to people of all ages. Residents of the following countries are not eligible to enter: Syria, Iran, North Korea, Crimea, Russia, or Belarus (due to US government restrictions).
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Only students enrolled in grades K–12 in public, private, and parochial schools, and those in home-study programs can apply. Past winners may not compete in the same category again. The entry should be approximately 1,000 words.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. The entry should be a 5-7-5 poem that follows the structure of a Haiku but without any limitation to the topic.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
The award is given to honor a second book of poetry forthcoming in the next calendar year. The award is open to any poet who meets one of the eligibility criteria on the date of the application deadline, such as being a U.S. citizen, a resident of the U.S. for the ten-year period prior to the deadline, or having a certain immigration status. The award is open to books under contract with a U.S. publisher and scheduled to be published between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025. The books must be at least 48 pages long and written in English.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. Write a four line poem that has a specific syllable count. The subject can be anything.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. Write a poem with exactly 15 syllables.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. Entry should be exactly 150 words.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
TBA
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Cover page should include the title, but remove any contact information (name, email address, etc.). Logline and genre on the title page as well is preferred. Co-writers are allowed. List each writer’s name when registering your script. Script should be an original pilot. We will not be accepting spec scripts of existing shows.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Entries should not have been published or accepted for publication elsewhere, in print or online, by a mainstream or an independent publisher. Non-fiction and fiction for children are not eligible. Entries must be entirely the work of the entrant and by submitting you are confirming the work is your own. Any evidence to the contrary will result in disqualification. Co-authored work is not eligible.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
5,000 words max. No minimum. Title not included in the word count. You can submit multiple entries to the competition as long as each entry is paid for individually and includes a separate entry form.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
42 lines max. No minimum. Title not included in the line count. Dedications not included in the line count. Lines between text stanzas not counted. You can submit multiple entries to the competition as long as each entry is paid for individually and includes a separate entry form.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
250 words max. No minimum. Title not included in the word count. You can submit multiple entries to the competition as long as each entry is paid for individually and includes a separate entry form.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
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 are welcome. Candidates must be first-generation residents of their country. “First-generation” can refer either to people born in another country who relocated, or to residents of a country whose parents were born elsewhere.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
All women can enter. Entries should be creative non-fiction in English. Maximum words: 750. Minimum words: 250.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Online Entry forms must have the word/line/page count listed where requested. Count refers to all words making up the story (no matter the number of letters in the word). Do not count the title or contact information in the word count.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. Write a script of any size (can be a small script) for any medium on any topic.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. The theme of this poetry contest is “faith”.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Students ages 11-18 from around the world are invited to participate. They must provide the contact information for an Adult Sponsor: a teacher, parent, guardian, mentor, or other supporting adult. Entries submitted previously to the Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest will not be considered in the 2024 Contest. The use of AI-generators, like ChatGPT or DALL-E, is considered plagiarism.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Submissions are accepted only through the electronic submission system. Submissions through postal services or email aren’t accepted. All manuscripts should be in 12-point type, with at least one-inch margins, and sequentially numbered pages. Fiction and nonfiction should be double-spaced. Poetry should be single-spaced.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Submitted stories must: Be between 900 and 5000 words, written in the English language, wholly the original work of the entrant, written solely by the entrant, and the author must own all rights to the story.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Each manuscript should consist of a single essay in a standard 12-point font. Submitted essays may be novelette-length, up to 17,000 words (55 manuscript pages).
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. For this contest you are challenged to write a Tanka poem, which follows a specific syllable count.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. The poem has to have a syllable count of either 5-7-5 or 5-7-7. It shouldn’t rhyme. But the poem must address a loved one.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Novels may be Manuscripts, Self-published, Indie Published or Traditionally Published. All published novels must have ISBN/ASIN designation, manuscripts are not required to have this designation at the time of submission. Entries must be in the English language. No erotica. No graphic violence.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. Ebteries must be original and unpublished. Each entry must consist of a single sentence. The entry shouldn’t go beyond 50 or 60 words.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Novels may be Manuscripts, Self-published, Indie Published or Traditionally Published. All published novels must have ISBN/ASIN designation, manuscripts are not required to have this designation at the time of submission. Entries must be in the English language. No erotica. No graphic violence.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter except those from Syria, Iran, North Korea, and Crimea, Russia, and Belarus (due to US government restrictions). Length limit: 200,000 words maximum in English. You may submit a collection of short stories or essays as a single entry.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Each entry must incorporate the theme of Anti-Bullying. One book entry per team. Each book must be between 20 and 30 pages. The cover, dedication and back pages do not count towards this number.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
The Gutsy Great Novelist Page One Prize is awarded for an outstanding opening page of an unpublished novel. The prize is open internationally to anyone over 18 writing a novel in English in any genre for adult or YA readers.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. But it must clearly be a love poem.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. Write a one-stanza, five-line poem.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
All work must be original and will be checked for plagiarism. Entries should not have been previously published. You may enter one poem and/or one short story only! Poems must be 48 lines or less.Contest is open to Canada residents only.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Novels may be Manuscripts, Self-published, Indie Published or Traditionally Published. All published novels must have ISBN/ASIN designation, manuscripts are not required to have this designation at the time of submission. Entries must be in the English language. No erotica. No graphic violence.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Novels may be Manuscripts, Self-published, Indie Published or Traditionally Published. All published novels must have ISBN/ASIN designation, manuscripts are not required to have this designation at the time of submission. Entries must be in the English language. No erotica. No graphic violence.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
To enter, submit an original, unpublished short story, written in English with a maximum of 1,500 words. There is no limit to the number of entries you can submit. Each submission will require a separate entry form and is subject to a separate entry fee.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
All women can enter. Submit 3-5 previously unpublished poems in English. This award recognizes an exceptional group of poems.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. Theme: Detour. Length: maximum 1,000 words. Stories can be a fictional tale or a tale inspired by a true story.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. Entries must adhere to the contest’s syllable specifications. Share a cinquain poem. The format for this type of poem is simple. Each line has a specific number of syllables.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. Write a poem that has a rhyme scheme. How it rhymes is up to you.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. Previously unpublished stories only. Simultaneous and multiple submissions allowed. Emerging writers only (Writers with novels published with a circulation of fewer than 5000 copies can also submit.) Length: under 6000 words.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. Maximum length: 1,000 word. Any subject, any style
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
All women can enter. Entries should be creative non-fiction in English. Maximum words: 750. Minimum words: 250.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Novels may be Manuscripts, Self-published, Indie Published or Traditionally Published. All published novels must have ISBN/ASIN designation, manuscripts are not required to have this designation at the time of submission. Entries must be in the English language. No erotica. No graphic violence.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Novels may be Manuscripts, Self-published, Indie Published or Traditionally Published. All published novels must have ISBN/ASIN designation, manuscripts are not required to have this designation at the time of submission. Entries must be in the English language. No erotica. No graphic violence.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
The competition is open to aspiring novelists in all genres, regardless of location. (Adventures in Fiction has a broad national and international client base.) Novelists commercially published (in English) are not eligible. Current and previous apprentices are not eligible.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Novels may be Manuscripts, Self-published, Indie Published or Traditionally Published. All published novels must have ISBN/ASIN designation, manuscripts are not required to have this designation at the time of submission. Entries must be in the English language. No erotica. No graphic violence,.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Novels may be Manuscripts, Self-published, Indie Published or Traditionally Published. All published novels must have ISBN/ASIN designation, manuscripts are not required to have this designation at the time of submission. Entries must be in the English language. No erotica. No graphic violence.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Novels may be Manuscripts, Self-published, Indie Published or Traditionally Published. All published novels must have ISBN/ASIN designation, manuscripts are not required to have this designation at the time of submission. Entries must be in the English language. No erotica. No graphic violence.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Books must be 40,000 plus words.Books may be Manuscripts, Self-published, Indie Published or Traditionally Published. All published books must have ISBN/ASIN designation, manuscripts are not required to have this designation at the time of submission. Entries must be in the English language. No erotica. No graphic violence.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Novels may be Manuscripts, Self-published, Indie Published or Traditionally Published. All published novels must have ISBN/ASIN designation, manuscripts are not required to have this designation at the time of submission. Entries must be in the English language. No erotica. No graphic violence.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Novels may be Manuscripts, Self-published, Indie Published or Traditionally Published. All published novels must have ISBN/ASIN designation, manuscripts are not required to have this designation at the time of submission. Entries must be in the English language. No erotica. No graphic violence.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Early Readers and Picture Books may be Manuscripts, Self-published, Indie Published or Traditionally Published. All published novels must have ISBN/ASIN designation, manuscripts are not required to have this designation at the time of submission. Entries must be in the English language. No erotica. No graphic violence.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone can enter. Length: Manuscripts must be between sixty and ninety pages. The manuscript must be previously unpublished. Individual poems may have been published in chapbooks, journals, and anthologies. Work in translation is not accepted.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
To enter, submit an original, unpublished flash fiction piece, written in English with a maximum of 250 words. There is no limit to the number of entries you can submit. Each submission will require a separate entry form and be subject to a separate entry fee.
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Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Length limit: 250 lines maximum per poem. No restriction on age of author. Authors from all countries eligible except Syria, Iran, North Korea, Crimea, Russia, and Belarus (due to US government restrictions). Final judge: Michal ‘MJ’ Jones, assisted by Briana Grogan and Dare Williams.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
This contest is for previously unpublished short fiction between 250 and 2500 words in length. Multiple entries are welcomed. Total entries limited to 200.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Submit up to 25 industry standard (double-spaced, 12-point font, pages numbered) pages of a novel. Do not send publication history of the author.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Works may be published on the web or in print or may be non-published. E-pubs accepted. Word Documents and PDFs are accepted. International entries are accepted but they must be written in the English language.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Books may be Manuscripts, Self-published, Indie Published or Traditionally Published. All published books must have ISBN/ASIN designation, manuscripts are not required to have this designation at the time of submission. Entries must be in the English language. No erotica. No graphic violence, please.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Novels may be Manuscripts, Self-published, Indie Published or Traditionally Published. All published novels must have ISBN/ASIN designation, manuscripts are not required to have this designation at the time of submission. Entries must be in the English language. No erotica. No graphic violence.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Novels may be Manuscripts, Self-published, Indie Published or Traditionally Published. All published novels must have ISBN/ASIN designation, manuscripts are not required to have this designation at the time of submission. Entries must be in the English language. No erotica. No graphic violence.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Books may be Manuscripts, Self-published, Indie Published or Traditionally Published. All published books must have ISBN/ASIN designation, manuscripts are not required to have this designation at the time of submission. Entries must be in the English language. No erotica. No graphic violence, please.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Submit an original, unpublished poem, written in English with a maximum of 40 lines. There is no limit to the number of entries you can submit. There is no age limit. All poems are judged anonymously and therefore the poet’s name must not appear on the poem itself. Name and contact details should be on the entry form only.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Novels may be Manuscripts, Self-published, Indie Published or Traditionally Published. All published novels must have ISBN/ASIN designation, manuscripts are not required to have this designation at the time of submission. Entries must be in the English language. No erotica. No graphic violence.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Novels may be Manuscripts, Self-published, Indie Published or Traditionally Published. All published novels must have ISBN/ASIN designation, manuscripts are not required to have this designation at the time of submission. Entries must be in the English language. No erotica. No graphic violence.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Novels may be Manuscripts, Self-published, Indie Published or Traditionally Published. All published novels must have ISBN/ASIN designation, manuscripts are not required to have this designation at the time of submission. Entries must be in the English language. No erotica. No graphic violence.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Novels may be Manuscripts, Self-published, Indie Published or Traditionally Published. All published novels must have ISBN/ASIN designation, manuscripts are not required to have this designation at the time of submission. Entries must be in the English language. No erotica. No graphic violence.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Submissions should be approximately 50 – 80 pages. The book should be previously unpublished. only accept original manuscripts; AI-generated or AI-supported works are not accepted.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Your story must be 53 words—no more, no less—titles are not included in the word count. Stories not meeting this rule will be disqualified. Send only stories; poetry with line breaks will not be considered. Hyphenated words count as one word. One submission per person. There are no age restrictions.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Anyone above 18 can enter. Up to three poems per entry. Submit up to 5,000 words: anything from flash fiction to the long stories. Please submit previously unpublished work only. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, provided they’re notified upon publication elsewhere.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Your story/stories can be any theme or genre, but must be a maximum of 1,500 words (not including the title).
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Stories up to 1,000 words long on any theme/genre are welcomed . Stories must be no longer than 1,000 words excluding title. Stories may be submitted at any time as submissions are open on a rolling basis. Stories can be previously published or unpublished, and writers may submit multiple stories for consideration.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
Eligibility & Restrictions
Under 350 words, follows monthly prompt. With each new prompt centered around a monthly theme. This competition is for elementary and middle schoolers, though high school submissions are accepted.
Genre
Sub-Genre
Entry Fee
Deadline
Prize
There are a variety of writing contests to choose from, so you’ll surely find one that’s a good fit for your skills and interests. Whether you’re a fiction writer, a nonfiction writer, or a poet, there’s a contest right here for you. And if you’re participating in any of them this year, then best of luck to you!
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Sondra Hardy
December 29, 2023I am a self-published author and was wondering if there are any genres for Africa American novels? I wrote one that is a historical romance fiction.
Please Advise & Thank You,
Sondra Hardy
Kotobee
January 28, 2024Hi Sondra Hardy,
Thank you for reaching out and congratulations on being a self-published author! 🙂
While our list doesn’t have any contests for African-American novels, the Jacobs/Jones African-American Literary Prize is for African-American writers in North Carolina writing short prose: https://www.ncwriters.org/programs/competitions/jacobs-jones-african-american-literary-prize/
You can also check out the following contests:
– The Hurston/Wright Legacy Award: https://www.hurstonwright.org/awards/legacy-awards
– The Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence: https://ernestjgainesaward.org
– Phillis Wheatley Book Awards Eligibility
Hope this helps 🙂
Jad Abou Ibrahim
January 29, 2024Greetings,
I hope this message finds you in good health.
I am an aspiring (first-time) author who is about to polish up a Children’s Chapter book. The manuscript is at least 13,600 words and without illustrations.
Which competition would you recommend I enlist in so I can submit my manuscript?
Thank you in advance for your precious time.
Best regards,
Jad Abou Ibrahim
Kotobee
April 21, 2024Hello Jad Abou Ibrahim,
Thank you for reaching out! As a first-time author with a Children’s Chapter book, you have several exciting options for submitting your manuscript to writing contests. Check out the following contest:
The Bath Children’s Novel Award: https://bathnovelaward.co.uk/childrens-novel-award/
Best of luck with your manuscript, and may your writing journey be filled with creativity and success! 📚✨