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PEN Canada celebrates literature, defends freedom of expression and aids writers in peril.

New Voices Award

creative writing competitions canada

RBC PEN Canada New Voices Award

The RBC PEN Canada New Voices Award is an annual award that aims to encourage new writing and to provide a space where unpublished Canadian writers can submit short stories, creative nonfiction, journalism, and poetry. The shortlisted submissions are judged by a distinguished jury of Canadian writers. The winning entry receives a $3,000 CAD cash prize and mentorship from a renowned Canadian author.

PAST WINNERS:

2023 Christine Wu 2022 Fareh Malik 2021 Deepa Rajagopalan 2020 Em Dial 2019 Noor Naga 2018 Jaclyn Desforges 2017 Mikko Harvey 2016 Laura Legge 2015 Nadine Sander-Green 2014 Emily Izsak 2013 Claire Battershill

Submissions now closed for 2024

Find eligibility and submission guidelines here . Deadline was May 19, 2024.

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  • CBC Literary Award

CBC Literary Prizes

CBC books

Over the years these awards have brought to the public's attention many talented young people who have since gone on to become established writers.

What is this prize?

The CBC Literary Prizes recognize talented Anglophone writers in three categories: Short Story, Nonfiction and Poetry. The competition is open to amateur and professional Canadian writers.

Prize amount

  • Six prizes of $6,000 and a writing residency at the Banff Centre as well as publication of the winning work in Air Canada’s enRoute magazine and on CBCBooks.ca.
  • $1,000 to every finalist in each category and publication of their works on CBCBooks.ca

How to qualify

Apply to the CBC Literary Prizes program.

For eligibility criteria and further information on this competition, see the CBC Literary Prizes website .

Deadline(s)

See the CBC Literary Prizes website .

Who created this prize?

These prizes were established by a triple partnership, involving CBC/Radio-Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts together with Air Canada’s enRoute magazine, in order to encourage emerging writers.

Additional information

[email protected]

Annual competition

$1,000 - $6,000

Application-based

If you are Deaf, hard of hearing, or a TTY user, please use your preferred MRS (Message Relay Service) or IP service to contact the Canada Council.

creative writing competitions canada

The Canada Council for the Arts can also receive calls from a video relay service (VRS). For more information, visit the VRS Canada website.

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CWCC new cover for 2022

Canadian Writers' Contest Calendar 2022

Available as an EBook here.

Shipping NOW

What is the canadian writers' contest calendar .

First of all, it's a BOOK, not a wall calendar. And since the 2013 edition it is also available in ebook formats. In 2022, we have a new cover. Facebook refused to show the others because there was too much writing on them. We'll see if they like this one better. And we've held the line on pricing, but will likely need a modest increase next year. We'll see.

Started in 1995 by Wordwrights Canada 's Susan Ioannou, who published the issues through 1998, The Canadian Writers' Contest Calendar passed to Mekler & Deahl, Publishers. In 2002, the publication was acquired by White Mountain Publications . In short, each edition contains approximately 80 pages of detailed information on Canadian writing contests, awards and prizes, organized month by month according to their deadline dates. This reference makes much-needed information available for writers and gives them an incentive to polish and disseminate their work. By promoting the contests it also helps our literary magazines to stay afloat.

This is our nineteenth year doing the Contest Calendar.

Please note: Because the site is now set up properly for taxes, the exact total will differ only because of the taxation rate in your province. There was no sane way to do this with the PayPal buttons alone. The shipping rates go by weight, and are very close to the mark. In Canada choose the "01-WMPub shipping by weight" for the most cost-effective rate. We apologize for any confusion this change may cause.

We try to post new contests, or changes in deadline dates on the Updates page through the year. The link for the submission of contest information is here. Choose the most convenient format, or copy the form into the body of an email and send it to us.

Awards for published books have also been listed so that authors and small publishers can consider their entries. Profiling our Canadian Awards can only mean greater importance is placed on them, and a greater understanding of their cultural significance can be obtained from coast-to-coast. A number of the awards programs exist for publishers, not authors, to submit their books for competition. These usually have quite a bit of prestige and cash attached to them. They are listed in the Contest Calendar because, as a writer, you should know about them as well. Many of you are small publishers; some of you have books published by smaller presses. If you think your book may qualify for an award, a quick consultation with your publisher may mean the difference between it being entered or not. And I think it helps for you to know what kinds of awards there are for your goal setting. But to bring the book back down to size, and keep it focused on its usefulness to writers the name of the award, the deadline, the genre and the contact information are the only information printed in the book.

We have added social media account addresses to the contact information this year. If this is at all helpful, please let us know.

If you think that you'd ever have time to write and still know where to find all this information, collect it, and organize it, let me know. There are over 400 database lines to confirm each year, some found very few other places yet. Some contest information is not available on the internet. Geographically, the contests cover Canada from Whitehorse to Windsor, Victoria to St. John's. Every year there contests started and contests discontinued. And by far the changes are the addresses, email, mail and websites. Anyone who says they could compile all of this on their own, has never tried to do it.

There is an exciting diversity of opportunities for Canadian writers. And it's all in one place so you don't have to look for them.

Check out the 2022 edition index here. | Entry Tracking Form

Isbn: 978-1-989615-41-6 | wmpub#1222 | 8½" x 11" | 84 pages stapled | $16.95.

New cover photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash

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» Browse Winning Titles

creative writing competitions canada

An annual, nationwide creative writing contest for grades 4-8

The winning stories are published as books made available for sale online. The proceeds from these book sales are donated to the winner’s charity of choice to foster a sense of philanthropy. Here’re some of the recent donations.

Canadian Cancer Society

$750.98 was donated on behalf of Roy Oborne & Taym Saffar.

Children's Aid Foundation of Canada

$606.34 was donated on behalf of Cora Arvidson & Megan Lam.

Operation Smiles Canada

$639.68 was donated on behalf of Sumac Ashfaq & Olivia Hashem.

Right to Play Canada

$418.08 was donated on behalf of Tvisha Makhani & Brynne Storey.

Participation stats

authors have been discovered

The winning stories are published and can be purchased at Amazon, Apple iBook store, Google, and Overdrive. In addition, some of the youth authors are featured in the news.

students have participated

This annual creative writing contest takes place every October 1st and ends on the following March 31st.  It is completely free to enter and open to students across Canada.

creative writing competitions canada

We are not just publishing stories written by kids. We’re publishing confidence.

Develop confidence.

“I can’t begin to explain how much the KW4K experience has helped with my self-confidence in dealing with new challenges (like starting high school!).”

Olivia Simms

Author of How to be an Abbott

Foster Mentorship

“Advice I give to (young writers) is it doesn’t matter if you’re writing a story or an entry to a journal, writing just about anything will give you experience.”

Christopher Smolej

Author of Escape from the Taco Shop

Cultivate a Career Path

“KW4K has impacted me in many ways. Just basically in boosting my confidence, boosting my skills, I’ve done many public speaking things in my school.”

Author of Why Peacocks Have Colorful Feathers

Share this fabulous opportunity with Grades 4-8 students

Every year, we mail out Call for Entries posters; if your school or library would like to be on our mailing list, sign up.

creative writing competitions canada

YOUTH OF CANADA

Youth are the future.

creative writing competitions canada

Challenge yourself in an enriching competitive experience.

Nature Photographer

PHOTOGRAPHY CONTESTS

Shoot the Face Photo Contests 

Photo Contest Insider

2025 Annual Photo Challenge Mastery of Light Photography

2025 Atlantic Zone Competition

Chromatic Photo Awards 2024

International Photo Contests

2024 Nature Photo Contest

Teacher%20Writing%20a%20Formula%20on%20a

MATH CONTESTS

Caribou Math Contests

Gauss Mathematic Contests

Canadian Senior and Intermediate Mathematics Contests

Canadian Lynx Mathematical Competition

Pascal, Cayley, and Fermat Mathematics 

LinkedKey Mathematics Program

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POETRY/WRITING CONTESTS

Prism International 

Polar Expressions Publishing

King’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction and Fiction

Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest 

Contests for Canadian Writers

Malahat Review Writing Contest

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COMPUTING CONTESTS/HACKATHONS

Beaver Computing Challenge 

Canadian Computing Competition 

LinkedKey Computer Contest 

​ETH Women Hackathon

MLH Hackathons and Competitions

Technovation Girls Challenge

Empower Hacks 2.0

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CHESS CONTESTS

Gems Chess Club

Annual Grand Pacific Open 

Chess Federation of Canada

2025 Ontario Chess Challenge

British Columbia Chess Foundation

AEnB2UqnxE1eZY32oFhSqYG0cAJrve6UdyF60shS

SCIENCE CONTESTS/FAIRS

CDL Apprentice Program

Expo-Science Hydro-Québec 

CYM Medical Tournament

​ Destination Imagination 

Science Fairs

UBC Medical Anthropology: Contemporary Topics

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BUSINESS CONTESTS

Next Canada 

ABORIGINAL YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM (AYEP) 

Startup Canada

4th ANNUAL GLOBAL YOUTH BUSINESS FORUM & EXPO 2024

FBLA Canada

Venture for Canada

University of Toronto Pitch Competitions 

Writing Notes

CREATIVE WRITING/ESSAY CONTESTS

My City, My Home: Short Story Contest 

Ayn Rand Essay Contests

Fraser Institute: Student Essay Contest 

DREAMERS CREATIVE WRITING Flash Fiction and Nonfiction Contest

CNIB 2024 Braille Creative Writing Contest

Write the World Contest 

​ Servicescape Short Story Award 

53-Word Contest ​

National Ink Movement Anthology

POLAR EXPRESSIONS 2024 National Poetry and Short-Story Contest 

McNally Robinson Booksellers Poetry Award, Short Fiction and Creative Non-Fiction Contests  

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VISUAL ARTS CONTESTS

Samantha Bell Art Contests 

Wildlife  Habitat Canada Art Competition

​ Celebrating Art

Art on Paper

Music Class_edited.jpg

MUSIC CONTESTS

Manitoba Music

Emerging Musician Program

Unionville Music Competition

North York Concert Orchestra

International Music Festival and Competition

Chamber Music Competitions

National Magazine Awards

National Magazine Awards

Celebrating Excellence

A Guide to Writing Contests

creative writing competitions canada

The National Media Awards Foundation has compiled a comprehensive list of national and international writing contests that are open to Canadian writers, poets, and creators. There are competitions for everyone—from seasoned, published writers to up-and-coming writers who are just getting started in the industry. Contests cover genres such as poetry, non-fiction, fiction, and line art. For more information on each contest, please click on the contest you’re interested in below.

Would you like your publication’s writing contest included in our guide? Send us an email today indicating the name of your contest, the deadline, entry fee and prizes, and who’s eligible to compete. Publications from around the world can be included in our guide, as long as Canadian creators are eligible to submit to your publication’s contest.

Room ‘s Poetry Contest EXTENDED DEADLINE: August 30th, 2024 First Prize: $1,000 + publication in  Room      Second Prize: $250 + publication in  Room Honourable Mention: $100 + publication on  Room’ s   website Entry fee: $35 for Canadian entry, includes a one-year subscription to  Room ; $7 for each additional entry 2024 Judge: Rafeef Ziadah Submission Guidelines

The Fiddlehead 2024 Fiction Contest Deadline: September 2, 2024 Prize: $2000 CAD for Best Short Story! Entry Fee: $35 CAD. Additional entries $10 CAD. Judges: Zilla Jones Submission Guidelines

Arc Poetry Diana Brebner Prize Deadline: September 4, 2024 Prize: $500 Eligibility: The contest is open to authors who have had their principal home and actual residence in the National Capital Region for at least 6 months immediately prior to the date of submission, and who have not yet pub­lished their poetry in book form. Proof of residency may be required. Entry fee: $25 for 1 or 2 poems; Each entry also entitles the entrant to a 1 year (3 issue) Canadian subscription to  Arc . Submission Guidelines

Surrey International Writers’ Conference Writing Contest Deadline: September 15 First Prize: $1,000 and publication Honourable mention: $150 and publication Eligibility: International Entry fee: $15

Dreamers Creative Writing Flash Fiction and Nonfiction Contest Deadline: Mon, Sep 30, 2024 11:59 PM Prize: $150 CAD and 2 print copies of the Dreamers magazine (1 print, 1 electronic). The winning story will be published online and in print in our fall magazine! We will select up to 3 honourable mentions (at the Editors sole discretion) that will be published online. Each runner-up will be paid our standard $20 CAD honorarium. Entry Fee: $12.50 USD (approximately $15.00 CAD). Submission Guidelines

EVENT Magazine’s Non-Fiction Contest Deadline: October 15, 2024 (submitted online via Submittable, or postmarked) Prizes: $3,000 in total, plus publication in EVENT: $1,500 First Place; $1,000 Second Place; $500 Third Place. Entry fee: $34.95; fee includes a one-year subscription to EVENT All entries are also considered for publication Guest Judge: TBA Length: Up to 5,000 words Submission Guidelines

Portal Magazine ‘s Portent Contest Deadline: October 15, 2024 Prize: $500 and publication in Portal Magazine Eligibility: Canadian citizens and residents Entry fee: $25, includes one-year print subscription to  Portal Length: Maximum 2,000 words Submission Guidelines

Grain’s Kloppenburg Hybrid  Grain  Contest Deadline: The contest is open from August 1 to October 15, 2024. First Prize: $1000 Cash Prize and Publication Second Prize: $750 Cash Prize and Publication Third Prize: Two $500 Cash Prize and Publication Submission Guidelines

Pulp Literature The Raven Short Story Contest Contest Opens: 1 September 2024 Deadline: October 15, 2024 Winner notified: November 15, 2024 Prize: $300 and publication in Pulp Literature Issue 46, Spring 2025 Judge: Kelly Robson Entry fee: $25, includes a 1-year digital subscription to  Pulp Literature Earlybird fee (before 15 September): $15 Editorial critique: $50 Length: Between 250 and 2500 words Judge: Kelly Robson Submission Guidelines

Writing Battle Autumn Short Story — 7 days to write 2000 words Start Writing: Oct 20, 10:00 PM ET Deadline: Oct 27, 10:00 PM ET Prize: $10,000 cash prize pool Entry fee: $18 (10% off); Entry fee increases to $20 on Jul 4 Winners are published Oodles of feedback Submission Guidelines

Contemporary Verse 2 Foster Poetry Prize Early Bird Deadline: Enter by September 1st, 2024, and submit an extra poem at no additional charge. Deadline for all contest entries: November 1st, 2024 at 11:59pm central time. Prize: The Foster Poetry Prize awards $1000 and publication in CV2 Magazine to the author of the winning poem. Second and third place winners and an honourable mention will receive publication in CV2 and $350, $250, and $150 respectively. Length: Your submission may consist of 1-2 poems, and is not to exceed 80 lines total. If you are submitting within the Early Bird Deadline and will be including a third poem, that poem  can  put you over the 80-line limit. However, the extra poem must not be longer than 28 lines. Entry fee: $26 (first entry, includes 1-year subscription), $16 (subsequent entries) Winners of the 2024 Foster Poetry Prize will be notified by email and results will be available on the CV2  website in January 2025. Submission Guidelines

The Malahat Review Open Season Awards (Poetry, Short Fiction, Creative Nonfiction) Deadline: November 1, 2024 at 11:59pm PDT Prize: The winner in each genre will receive a prize of CAD$2,000 and be published in the magazine’s spring 2025 issue #230. Entry Fee: CAD $35 for each entry from Canada *early bird discount until September 30, 2024: CAD $20 . Entrants receive a one-year print subscription to The Malahat Review for the initial entry only (no subscriptions are available for additional entries). Judge: Corinna Chong (fiction), Sadiqa de Meijer (creative nonfiction), Matthew Hollett (poetry) Submission Guidelines

Prairie Fire McNally Robinson Booksellers Poetry Award, Short Fiction and Creative Non-Fiction Contests Deadline: November 30, 2024 Cash prize: One prize of $1250 is awarded in each of the three categories. Winning pieces are published in Prairie Fire’ s summer issue. Entry fee: $34, including a one-year subscription to Prairie Fire Length: One fiction entry consists of one story, maximum 5,000 words; one poetry entry consists of up to 3 poems, maximum 150 lines total; one creative non-fiction entry consists of one piece, maximum 5,000 words. Submission Guidelines Judges: Bola Opaleke , McNally Robinson Booksellers Poetry Award; Lauren Carter , McNally Robinson Booksellers Short Fiction Contest; Dr. Jenny Heijun Wills , McNally Robinson Booksellers Creative Non-Fiction Contest

EXILE Quarterly Short Fiction Competition and Award Deadline: Open for submissions July 15, 2024 through January 31, 2025. Prize: $10,000 for first place, $2,500 for runner-up, and publication in EXILE Quarterly Entry fee: $35, includes one-year subscription to  EXILE Quarterly Length: All genres and styles are considered. A story’s length is not to exceed 5,000 words. Submission Guidelines

EXILE Quarterly Poetry Competition and Award Deadline: Open for submissions July 15, 2024 through January 31, 2025. Prize: $1,500 for Best Suite by an Emerging Writer. $1,500 for Best Suite by a Writer at Any Career Point, and publication in EXILE Quarterly Entry fee: $35, includes one-year subscription to  EXILE Quarterly Length: The total page length of the suite submission is not to exceed 16 pages. It is urged that the suite be a complete body of work, not simply a gathering of unrelated poems. All forms of poetic expression will be considered. Submission Guidelines

The New Quarterly’s Nick Blatchford Occasional Verse Contest Deadline: February 28, 2025 Prize: $1,000 Entry fee: $40 for up to 3 poems, includes a 1-year Canadian subscription or renewal to  The New Quarterly . Additional poems are $5 each. Submission Guidelines

The New Quarterly’s Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest Deadline: March 28, 2025 Prize: $1,000 Entry fee: $40 per essay, includes a 1-year Canadian subscription or renewal to  The New Quarterly Submission Guidelines

The New Quarterly’s Peter Hinchcliffe Short Fiction Award Deadline: May 28, 2025 Prize: $1,000 Entry fee: $40 per work of short fiction, includes a 1-year Canadian subscription or renewal to  The New Quarterly Submission Guidelines

League of Canadian Poets Summer Lovin’ Contests Deadline: Submissions are open annually from June 1 to August 10. Prize: $500 Eligibility: Canadian poets, poets living and working in Canada, as well as Indigenous, Inuit and Métis poets who may not identify as Canadian but live in the region known colonially as Canada Entry fee: $5 Submission Guidelines

PRISM International 2024 Creative Non-Fiction Contest Deadline: There are presently no open calls for submissions. Prizes:  $1,500 grand prize, $600 runner-up, $400 second runner-up Entry fee: $35 for Canadian, $40 for US, $45 for International; all entries include one-year subscription. Max word count: 6,000 words (including title). One piece per entry. Additional entries are available for $5. 

Riddle Fence’s Fiction and Poetry Contests Deadline: 2024 Contest has closed First Prize: $1000 GRAND PRIZE & PUBLICATION IN RF #53 Entry fee: Canada $25, Free entry! for BIPOC contest submissions. Just self-identify upon entry. Length: One short-fiction submission is one story, maximum 5000 words. One poetry submission is up to 3 poems; no more than 100 lines per poem. Submission Guidelines

Dave Williamson Canadian National Short Story Competition Deadline: 2024 contest has ended First Place: $1,000 Second Place: $600 Third Place: $400 Short prose in English, 2,500-5,000 words in any fiction genre Entry Fee: $20

FreeFall Annual Prose & Poetry Contest Deadline: 2024 contest has closed 1st Prize: $500 2nd Prize: $250 3rd Prize: $125 Honourable Mention: $75 Entry fee: $25, additional entries $5 (at the time of original entry only), includes one-year subscription Length: 3000 words prose, or 3 poems per entry

Geist PolterGeist Writing Contest Deadline: 2024 contest has closed First Prize: $500 and publication in Geist  and on geist.com Second Prize: $250 and publication in Geist  and on geist.com Third Prize: $150 and publication in Geist  and on geist.com Entry fee: $25, $5 for additional entires, includes a one-year subscription to  Geist Length: Maximum 500 words

Grain’s Short Grain Contest Deadline: 2024 Submissions are closed First Prize: $1,000 and publication in Grain Second Prize: $750 and publication in Grain Third Prize: $500 and publication in Grain Entry fee: $40 for Canadian entrants for a maximum of two entries in one category

2024 gritLIT Short Story Contest This year’s theme is MILESTONES Deadline: 2024 Contest has ended Entry Fee: $25 Prize: Winners receive $500 (First Place) or $150 (Two Honourable Mentions) PLUS all winners will be invited to read at gritLIT 2024 in April. Winning stories will be published on the gritLIT website. Submission Instructions

The Writers’ Union of Canada Short Prose Competition Deadline: 2024 contest has closed Prize: $2,500 Eligibility: Writers must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada Length: Up to 2,500 words

Canthius Priscila Uppal Memorial Award for Poetry Deadline: There are presently no open calls for submissions. First Prize: $500 + publication in Canthius Runner-up: $250 + publication in Canthius Entry Fee: $25 (paid through Submittable); Entry fee includes a one-year subscription to Canthius, beginning with Issue 13.  Guidelines

The Ex-Puritan Austin Clarke Prize in Literary Excellence Deadline: 2023 contest has ended 1st Prize (Fiction & Poetry): $1,000 Runner-Up (Fiction & Poetry): $200 In addition to the prize money, the prize winners and runners-up in both categories will be published in the fall issue. Winners will be announced online when the fall issue is released. Entry fee: All submissions must be accompanied by a $20 entry fee, which can be paid through Submittable. 2023 Judges: Cody Caetano (Fiction) and Billy-Ray Belcourt (Poetry) Submission Guidelines

Postcard Fiction Contest Deadline: 2023 contest has ended 1st Prize: $300 and publication in Counterflow Magazine 2nd Prize: $200 and publication in Counterflow Magazine 3rd Prize: $100 and publication in Counterflow Magazine Entry fee: $25, $5 for Wordstorm members Length: 250 words or less

Open Minds Quarterly’s Annual BrainStorm Poetry Contest Deadline: 2023 contest has ended First Prize: $250, publication, and a contributor copy Second Prize: $150, publication, and a contributor copy Third Prize: $75, publication, and a contributor copy Entry fee: $12 for up to three poems Length: 30 lines or less

The Vallum Award for Poetry Deadline: 2023 contest has ended First Place Prize: $750 and publication in Vallum Finalist: $250 and publication in Vallum Entry fee: $25 for Canadian entrants, includes a 1-year subscription to Vallum Magazine Judge: Erín Moure

Did we miss one? Send us a note or message us on Twitter @MagAwards . We’ll update this post as more contests are announced!

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  • Join the CNFC

Creative Nonfiction Collective

  • What is Creative Nonfiction?
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CNF contest

The Humber Literary Review (HLR) and the Creative Nonfiction Collective Society (CNFC) have joined forces to bring you a Canada-wide creative nonfiction contest. Special thanks to this year’s contest judge,   Lisa Bird-Wilson.  Winners were announced on May 23, 2024 via Zoom. See the contest drop-down menu to learn more about this year’s winners.

2024 CNFC-HLR creative nonfiction contest shortlist:

creative writing competitions canada

Mieke de Vries – “How To Give Yourself a Subcutaneous Testosterone Injection”

Mieke de Vries is a queer, nonbinary, trans, disabled, and neurodivergent writer, editor, and musician of Dutch and Danish descent. He lives on the unceded land of the Quw’utsun, MÁLEXEȽ, and W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations. He works as essays editor for  The Ex-Puritan . You can read his work at  miekedevries.com

creative writing competitions canada

Nancy Huggett – “Watershed”

Nancy Huggett is a settler descendant who writes, lives, and caregives on the unceded Territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation (Ottawa, Canada). Her work is in American Literary Review, Event, Prairie Fire, and The New Quarterly. She’s won some awards and a gazillion rejections. She keeps writing.

creative writing competitions canada

Basma Kavanagh – “Km i tkinu/Watanuna: On belongingness and the practice of homeland”

Basma Kavanagh, a multidisciplinary artist and writer, lives and works in Nova Scotia, in Mi’kma’ki. She produces artist’s books, has published three volumes of poetry, and recently completed an MFA in Creative Nonfiction. See more of her work at  www.basmakavanagh.ca

creative writing competitions canada

Murgatroyd Monaghan is an Autistic mother, poet and writer of mixed descent. She tells the true stories of the beautiful and diverse people of northern Turtle Island/Canada. When she isn’t writing or having experiences that she plans to write about, she can be found on her giant fluffy bed discussing Star Trek with her children.

creative writing competitions canada

Erika Thorkelson is a freelance journalist and writer of fiction and creative nonfiction. Her work has appeared in The Walrus, Maisonneuve, and Room Magazine, among others. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of British Columbia and is a lecturer at Emily Carr University of Art + Design.

2024 CNFC-HLR creative nonfiction contest longlist:

Christopher Cameron – “Found Wanting”

Donna Costa – “Seven Forward, Seven Back”

Hanne De Jaegher – “Caring Detectives”

Carmen Farrell – “r/Repeat i/Imagining y/You k/Kindness”

Murgatroyd Monaghan – “The Train”

Jennifer Robinson – “Field Guide to Melissas”

Erika Thorkelson –  “Smoker”

Darryl Whetter – “ This Twenty-Three-Kilogram Marriage”

2024 CNFC-HLR nonfiction contest is now closed.

CONTEST CLOSES Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 11:59pm PST.

First place: $1,000 and publication in The Humber Literary Review

Second place: $300 and publication on CNFC website

At CNFC, we honour diversity and inclusivity without discrimination. We are keen to empower viewpoints from communities that include but are not limited to multiple dimensions of diversity such as race, ethnicity, religion, age, ability, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, class, socio-economic status, and neurodiversity.

WHAT:  Original previously unpublished creative nonfiction – maximum word length 3,000 words (no minimum). Literary journalism, memoir, and the personal or lyric essay—all are welcome. Please take note of the contest rules below.

WHO:  The competition is open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.

WHEN: The competition is open from November 13, 2023 to February 29, 2024.

FEE:  General public $20; CNFC members $15. CNFC members receive a discounted entry fee. You can become a member by registering  here.

HOW:  Submissions will be accepted via CNFC’s event management system.

  • The contest will be judged blind so please DO NOT put your name (first and/or last) or contact information anywhere within the submission.
  • Submit work that is entirely your own. We strongly discourage including the creative work of another (poems, songs, quotes), unless it abides by Canadian copyright law and is essential to the creative element of the submission.
  • Entries must not have been previously published, either in print or online, or been accepted for publication elsewhere.
  • Simultaneous submissions are allowed but please advise us immediately should your work be accepted elsewhere.
  • Multiple entries are allowed; however, each entry must be accompanied by its own $20 or $15 entry fee.
  • Please take note of the word count and ENSURE that your entry is no more than 3,000 words (excluding the title). Include the word count in the top right corner of the first page of your entry (e.g., Word count: 2900).
  • Proper formatting is required. Please ENSURE that your entry is double-spaced, with no less than 1-inch margins, using standard 12-point fonts such as Times New Roman, Garamond, or Arial, and submitted in one of the following file formats: .doc, .docx, .txt, or PDF. 

Submissions that do not meet these rules will be disqualified.

To ensure your entry qualifies, please tick off the following boxes before submitting your entry:

❑ There is zero reference to my name (first and/or last) or my identity anywhere in the submission.

❑ The piece submitted is based on work that is entirely my own.

❑ My submission has not been published previously, nor has it been accepted for publication, either in print or online.

❑ I understand that each entry I submit must be supported by a payment of $15 or $20 depending on whether I am a CNFC member.

❑ I have carried out a word count and confirm that my submission is 3,000 words or less (excluding the title). The exact word count is entered on the top right corner of the first page.

❑ My submission has been checked to ensure that

  • the margins are no less than 1 inch (top, bottom, left, and right),
  • the entire entry is double-spaced,
  • is presented in either Times Roman, Garamond, or Arial, 12-point font, and
  • is submitted in one of the following file formats: .doc, .docx, .txt., or PDF.

The Humber Literary Review , a literary and arts magazine, publishes two print issues a year (fall/winter & spring/summer). Its pages feature personal essays, short fiction, poetry, artwork, and comics by emerging and established Canadian artists. The HLR is distributed by Magazines Canada and can be found in bookstores and on newsstands across the country. Work from the HLR has been featured in Best Canadian Poetry, Best Canadian Essays, and has been nominated for a National Magazine Award.  Find out more.

For the sixth year in a row, the Humber Literary Review (HLR) and the Creative Nonfiction Collective Society (CNFC) will join forces to bring you a Canada-wide creative nonfiction contest. Past contest winners include Raymond Gariepy, Taslim Jaffer, Nancy O’Rourke, Deborah Elderhorst, Margaret Nowaczyk, and Becky Blake.

Past contest news:

How winning the 2015 CNFC contest changed me

Kirsten Fogg is a bilingual Australian-Canadian journalist, editor and award-winning essayist who has been shaped by living in four countries and by the suicide of her 16-year-old brother. Her essays have been published in journals including Creative Nonfiction and The Malahat Review and adapted by ABC Radio National Australia. Her journalism has appeared in various world media. She has an MFA in Creative Nonfiction (2022). Sign up to her newsletter here:  Writer out of Residence and connect with her on…

Interview with 2024 CNFC Contest Judge, Lisa Bird-Wilson

Interview with 2024 CNFC Contest Judge, Lisa Bird-Wilson Volunteer Margaret Lynch interviews 2024 CNFC/HLR Contest Judge, Lisa Bird-Wilson who shares her thoughts on writing, reading, and what she’s looking for in contest submissions. Lisa Bird-Wilson is a Saskatchewan Métis and Cree writer whose work appears in literary magazines, newspapers, and anthologies across Canada. Her most recent book, Probably Ruby (2021), is published internationally and was shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Award for Fiction, for the Amazon First Novel Award,…

2023 Contest Shortlist

Congratulations to the five writers who’ve made the CNFC-HLR nonfiction contest shortlist! Our judge, Donna Morrissey, had some tough choices to make. According to her, the finalist selection process was difficult because the calibre of writing in each of the longlisted pieces was quite high. 2023 CNFC-HLR nonfiction contest shortlist:   Anita Allen – “Funhouse” Raymond Gariepy – “The Unborn and Born Dead are Yet Among Us” Rayyan Kamal – “Departure Lounge” Dhana Musil – “By Association” Laura Ollerenshaw –…

2023 CNFC-Humber Literary Review CNF Contest Longlist

The Creative Nonfiction Collective Society and The Humber Literary Review are pleased to announce the long list for this year’s creative nonfiction contest. Congratulations to the following writers! Anita Allen – Funhouse Carmen Farrell – Closet Full of Monsters Raymond Gariepy – The Unborn and Born Dead are Yet Among Us Rayyan Kamal – Departure Lounge Ivy Lerner-Frank – Mercy Dhana Musil – By Association Laura Ollerenshaw – Of Least Concern Adelle Purdham – Wild Horses Laura Wershler – To…

Interview with Donna Morrissey

Interview with CNFC Contest Judge, Donna Morrissey In December 2022, CNFC volunteer, Nancy O’Rourke, interviewed the 2023 CNFC Contest Judge, Donna Morrissey. Read about Donna’s thoughts on writing, reading, and advice for CNFC contest writers. – Donna Morrissey has published seven national best-selling novels. She has received awards in Canada, the U.S. and England and her novel, Sylvanus Now, was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Prize. Donna’s fiction has been translated into several different languages. She was nominated for a Gemini for her script, The Clothesline…

Getting Your CNF Writing into the Winner’s Circle

Nancy O’Rourke, for the CNFC Blog CNFC member and volunteer, Nancy O’Rourke, a former CNFC contest winner and jury reader, interviewed two jury readers from the 2022 contest, Allyson Latta and Becky Blake. The interview explores how potential contest writers can best prepare their submissions to improve their chances of winning. BECKY BLAKE is a two-time winner of the CBC Literary Prize (for non-fiction in 2017 and short fiction in 2013). More recently, she was the 2021 winner of the CNFC/Humber…

Congratulations to the winner of the 2022 CNFC/HLR Nonfiction Contest!

The Creative Nonfiction Collective Society and The Humber Literary Review are pleased to announce the winner for this year’s creative nonfiction contest. Congratulations to Taslim Jaffer! Her submission Survival “is beautiful through and through, an elevated memoir that goes beyond rich storytelling into universal themes about motherhood and immigration. It takes great skill to weave together entomology and ethnography into a personal narrative, but the writer’s sharp voice and exquisite craft makes it seamless” according to our contest judge, Omar Mouallem…

CNFC and HLR Contest Longlist Announced!

The Creative Nonfiction Collective Society and The Humber Literary Review are pleased to announce the long list for this year’s creative nonfiction contest.

A Man of Many Gifts: Omar Mouallem

Lesley Buxton interviews this year’s CNFC contest judge Omar Mouallem.

Congratulations to the winner of the 2021 CNFC/HLR Nonfiction Contest

The Creative Nonfiction Collective Society and The Humber Literary Review are pleased to announce the winner for this year’s creative nonfiction contest.

A guide to writing prizes for young Canadians

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CBC Books has compiled a list of some of the writing contests open to young Canadians. 

Below, where prizes are listed, the amount cited is for the grand prize — other prizes may be available. Information is subject to change — please see the contest's official site for more details.

Do you run a writing competition that is open to youth in Canada? Email us at  [email protected] to let us know.

Prose | Poetry

Alberta Champions

Entry period: Spring Eligibility: Grade 4 to 9 students in Alberta Entry fee: Free Prize: $500 Visa gift card and $500 bookstore gift certificate for teachers

Alice Munro Festival Short Story Competition

Entry period: Winter/Spring Eligibility: Canadians up to 19 years of age Entry fee: $10 Prize: $500

Amazon Youth Short Story Competition

Entry period: Winter Eligibility: Canadians between the ages of 13 and 17 Entry fee: Free Prize: $5,000 and a mentorship lunch with editors of The Walrus

CBC's The First Page

Entry period: Fall Eligibility: Grade 7 to 12 students in Canada Entry fee: Free Prize: One-year OwlCrate subscription and 50 books for your school library

Dandelion Press Microfiction Contest

Entry period: Contests are run every few months Eligibility: Open to all ages worldwide Entry fee: Free Prize: Publication on Dandelion Press's website and $100 gift certificate for Dandelion Press merchandise.

Habitat for Humanity's Meaning of Home Contest

Entry period: Winter Eligibility: Grade 4 to 6 students in Canada Entry fee: $10 Prize: $25,000 grant to direct to a local Habitat build of their choosing, an iPad and a pizza party for their classroom

Indigenous Arts & Stories

Entry period: Winter/spring Eligibility: Open to Canadians of Indigenous ancestry between the ages of 6 and 29 Entry fee: Free Prize: $2,000 for the winner of the ages 14-18 category, $100 for the winners of the ages 6-9 and 10-13 categories

James Bartleman Indigenous Youth Creative Writing Awards

Entry period: Spring Eligibility: Indigenous writers under the age of 18 in Ontario Entry fee: Free Prize: $2,500

Submissions can be short stories, poems, essays or songs

Kids Write 4 Kids Contest

Entry period: Fall to spring Eligibility: Grade 4 to 8 students in Canada Entry fee: Free Prize: Winning entry or entries will be published as an e-book, produced at the expense of Ripple Publishing. Proceeds of the sale of the e-book will go to a charity of the writer's choosing.

Lives that Make a Difference Essay Contest

Entry period: Winter Eligibility: Grade 5 to 12 students in Canada Entry fee: Free Prize: $3,000

Martyn Godfrey Young Writers Award

Entry period: Winter/spring Eligibility: Grade 4 to 9 students from Alberta Entry fee: Free Prize: Author visit to school and books

Penguin Random House Canada/First Book Canada

Entry period: October 2019 Eligibility: Grades 5 to 8 classrooms registered with First Book Canada Entry fee: Free Prize: One class in each province or territory will win 40 copies of Greta Thunberg's  No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference

Polar Expressions Short Story Contest

Entry period: Winter Eligibility: Kindergarten to Grade 12 students in Canada Entry fee: Free Prize: $100 for Grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 winners, $80 for Grades 5, 6, 7, 8 winners and $60 for Kindergarten and Grades 1, 2, 3, 4 winners

QWF Prize for Young Writers

Entry period: Spring/summer Eligibility: Quebec residents between 16 and 24 years old Entry fee: Free Prize: $1,000 for first prize

Submissions can be a short story, poem or work of creative nonfiction or narrative journalism written in English and published in a literary publication the previous year.

Rotary Get to Know

Entry period: Spring to fall Eligibility: Canadian residents under 19 Entry fee: Free Prize: The prize amount fluctuates year to year

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

Entry period: Winter Eligibility: Anyone over the age of 13 in Grade 7 to 12 from Canada, the U.S. or a U.S. territory Entry fee: $5 U.S. Prize: Scholarships range from $1,000 to $10,000

There are 29 categories that young writers and artists can enter.

Stephen Leacock Student Humorous Short Story Competition

Entry Period: Spring (deadline March 31) Eligibility: Ontario students aged 14 to 19 Entry Fee: $5.00 Prizes: $1,000, $700 and $300, plus two tickets to the Laugh with Leacock soiree.

Story Studio's National Cli-Fi Writing Contest

Entry period: April 2024 Eligibility: Young authors aged 9-17 Entry fee: Free Prize: Writer's Box ($125 value)

Story Studio's Monthly Writing Contest

Entry period: Monthly Eligibility: Young authors aged 5-13 Entry fee: Free Prize: Books from Orca Book Publishers

Talking Back Awards (Shameless)

Entry period: Fall Eligibility: Open to female/trans-identified writers ages 13-19, internationally Entry fee: $15 Prize: $200

Vancouver Writers Fest Youth Writing Contest

Entry period: Spring Eligibility: Grade 8 to 12 students in B.C. Entry fee: Free Prize: $200

Young Writers Creative Writing Contest

Entry period: Spring Eligibility: Canadians aged 5-18 Entry fee: Free Prize: $250

Eden Mills Writers' Festival Poetry Contest for Teens

Entry period: Spring/Summer Eligibility: Grade 9 to 12 students in Canada Entry fee: Free Prize: $50 and a family pass to the festival

Eden Mills Writers' Festival Poetry Contest for Children

Entry period: Spring/summer Eligibility: Grade 1 to 8 students in Canada Entry fee: Free Prize: $25 and a family pass to the festival

Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award

Entry period: Spring/summer Eligibility: Open world wide to poets aged 11 to 17 Entry fee: Free Prize: The top 15 winners have their poems printed in an anthology & the opportunity to attend a writing residency or receive mentorship from a professional poet

Jessamy Stursberg Poetry Prize

Entry period: Spring Eligibility: Grade 7 to 12 students in Canada Entry fee: Free Prize: $400

Open Ages Poetry

Entry period: Summer Eligibility: Open worldwide to all ages Entry fee: Free Prize: $100

Poetry Prompt Prize

Entry period: New contest every month Eligibility: Any Canadian student enrolled in high school or CEGEP, under the age of 18. Entry fee: Free Prize: The winner is awarded $100 and publication in the journal  Voices/Voix. Additionally, every entrant is considered for publication. If selected, the journal pays $50 per published poem.

Polar Expressions Poetry Contest

Entry period: Fall Eligibility: Kindergarten to Grade 12 students Entry fee: Free Prize: $100 for Grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 winners, $80 for Grades 5, 6, 7, 8 winners and $60 for Kindergarten and Grades 1, 2, 3, 4 winners

Power of the Pen

Entry period: Spring to fall Eligibility: Hamilton residents or residents of a neighbouring city, ages 12 to 18 Entry fee: Free Prize: $100

River of Words

Entry period: Winter Eligibility: Open internationally to writers between the ages of 5 to 19 who are still in school Entry fee: Free Prize: Winning entries are published in the  River of Words anthology, published every other year. Finalists and winners receive free copies of the physical anthology. Winners also receive a prize package that often comes with books, art supplies and a medal.

Entry period: Fall Eligibility: Open worldwide to female/trans-identified writers ages 13-19 Entry fee: $15 Prize: $200

The Betty Award

Entry period: Spring Eligibility: Open worldwide to children aged 8 to 12 Entry fee: $15 U.S. Prize: $300 U.S.

Young Writers Poetry Contest

Entry period: Fall Eligibility: Canadians aged 5 to 18 Entry fee: Free Prize: $60

Related Stories

  • Announcing the 2019 Shakespeare Selfie student writing challenge winners
  • A guide to Canadian literary magazines and journals open to submissions
  • A guide to Canadian writing groups
  • A guide to writing prizes for Canadians

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Canada's Creative Spectrum: Writing Contests

This article will explore some of the best writing contests in Canada and provide you with all the information you need to participate and potentially win.

Aspiring writers are always on the lookout for opportunities to showcase their skills and compete with their peers. Writing contests are a great way to achieve this, and Canada offers a variety of such contests for writers of all levels.

What Is a Writing Contest?

Writing competitions are an excellent platform for aspiring writers and authors to showcase their writing talents and gain recognition. These contests are organized by a variety of organizations, publications, and literary groups, providing participants with the opportunity to compete against other writers while potentially winning prizes.

Similarly, the world of online gambling offers a unique form of entertainment that mirrors cultural narratives. Casino games, especially online slots, often incorporate themes drawn from mythology, adventure, and luxury. These themes engage players by tapping into universal human experiences and societal aspirations. The intersection of these seemingly different domains—writing contests and online gambling—offers a fascinating glimpse into how popular themes resonate across various forms of entertainment .

Benefits Writing Contests Bring

Writing contests can provide a range of benefits. For those who are considering entering one, it's important to understand the potential benefits and how they can help achieve writing goals. In this response, here are key benefits of how they can help you develop as a writer.

  • Recognition . Such contests can bring attention to your writing skills, which can be particularly valuable in a crowded market. Recognition can open doors for aspiring writers and provide them with a platform to share their work with a wider audience.
  • The possibility of winning prizes . Many contests offer a variety of rewards, such as cash prizes, scholarships, or publication opportunities for winners and finalists. These prizes can provide aspiring writers with the financial means to support their writing career or provide them with exposure to larger audiences.
  • Receiving feedback . Feedback from judges or other participants can be valuable in improving writing skills. Feedback can provide writers with insights into their strengths and weaknesses, helping them to identify areas for improvement and develop their craft.
  • Motivation . The sense of competition and the potential for recognition and prizes can help writers stay focused and committed to their writing projects. It can also help writers build confidence and develop their skills as they engage in the writing process. Contests can also provide an opportunity for writers to explore new topics and writing styles.
  • Connecting with other writers . These contests can provide opportunities for writers to connect with other writers, learn from their experiences, and build a sense of community.

Array of Writing Contests in Canada

There are several writing competitions in Canada that offer opportunities for young writers to showcase their work and receive recognition. Here are a few examples:

poetry design concept two

The Claremont Review Writing Contest

The Claremont Review Writing Contest is an annual competition that seeks to recognize and promote exceptional young writers between the ages of 13 and 19. The contest is open to submissions of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction, and winners are awarded cash prizes, publication in The Claremont Review, and a subscription to the magazine.

The Claremont Review is a literary magazine based in Canada, that has been dedicated to showcasing the work of young writers and artists. The Claremont Review Contest is an important part of the magazine's mission to encourage and support young creative talent.

Entries are judged by a panel of professional writers and editors, and winners are announced in the spring of each year. The Claremont Review Contest is highly competitive, with hundreds of submissions received from around the world each year.

Overall, the Claremont Review Writing Contest provides a valuable opportunity for young writers to showcase their talent and gain recognition for their work.

CBC Literary Prize

The CBC Literary Prize is an annual literary competition hosted by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). The competition invites submissions of original, unpublished works of fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction from Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

The prize has two categories: the Short Story Prize, the Non-fiction Prize and the Poetry Prize. The Short Story Prize is awarded to the best original, unpublished short story, while the Non-fiction Prize is awarded to the best original, unpublished work of creative non-fiction. The CBC Poetry Prize celebrates exceptional, unpublished poetry or a series of poems.

The CBC Literary Prize has a long history, having been first awarded in 1979. Over the years, the prize has recognized many talented Canadian writers, including Michael Ondaatje and Alison Pick.

Griffin Poetry Prize

Scott Griffin's vision for the Griffin Poetry Prize has transformed the literary world by recognizing the excellence of poets and translators worldwide. The prize program celebrates the global character of poetry, the significance of translations, and the recognition of past winners, including renowned Canadian poets Anne Carson, Robert Bringhurst, and Karen Solie.

The Griffin Poetry Prize recognizes the excellence of poets worldwide, whether they write in English or have their works translated into English. The new unified category has broadened the scope of the prize, allowing more poets to be eligible for the award. Additionally, the prize program recognizes the significance of translations in poetry. If the winning book is a translated work, the prize money will be divided, with 60% going to the translator and 40% to the original poet.

The Griffin Poetry Prize has had a significant impact on the literary world by recognizing the excellence of poets and translators worldwide. The prize program has helped to elevate the profile of poetry and bring attention to poets whose work may have gone unnoticed otherwise.

Writers' Union of Canada Short Prose Competition

The Short Prose Competition for Emerging Writers was founded in 1993 as a tribute to the Union's 20th anniversary. The objective of this literary competition is to seek out, support, and endorse promising writers of short prose, thus creating opportunities and visibility for budding authors.

A cash prize of $2,500 is presented to the most outstanding Canadian writer for their unpublished work of up to 2,500 words in English. The Union will submit the winning entry and the eleven finalists' submissions to three renowned Canadian magazines for possible publication. Moreover, winners and finalists will receive valuable feedback on their literary pieces.

The Vancouver Writers Fest Writing Contest

In an effort to get people of all ages interested in reading and telling stories, the Vancouver Writers Fest hosts activities all year long with local and visiting authors. One of the largest and most prestigious literary festivals in North America takes place in Vancouver every October, drawing tens of thousands of people to Granville Island and other locations across the city for a week-long celebration of the written word.

Annually during springtime, the Vancouver Writers Fest initiates a youth writing competition, inviting submissions for short stories and personal essays. Esteemed members of the Vancouver literary community evaluate the entries, and the contest bestows four cash prizes along with publication in our newsletter. Several winners have gone on to have their pieces published either by a publisher or in well-known literary journals.

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YouthWrite thinks so! Learn more about writing markets for young people, writing competitions, tutorials on any number of great writerly topics, tips from some of your favourie instructors, helpful links and more!


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YouthWrite Society Canada welcomes every kid, regardless of background, to join us and attend one of our multidisciplinary camps.

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  • 2024 SEP Writing Contests

NEW ARTICLES , Writing Contests

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June 2024 Writing Contests

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31 Themed Submission Calls and Contests for August 2024.  These are themed calls and contests for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Some call themes are: fairy tales; harbinger; vacations; Little Red Flags – Stories of Cults, Cons, and Control; creature features; tumbleweed; secrets of the snow globe; vampires; and Achilles. Some deadlines are approaching quickly. https://authorspublish.com/storm-publishing-accepting-manuscript-submissions/

A WARM MUG OF COZY

Do you like writing short cozy mysteries? If so, we would love to invite you to submit your work for potential inclusion in our second Warm Mug of Cozy Anthology.  Our submission period for Volume 3 will start soon. To be kept in the know, please sign up for our newsletter..  Who can participate: Anyone at least 17 years of age, including emerging authors and never-published writers. Scroll below award to view details. https://warmmugofcozy.com/anthology-submission/

ALMOND PRESS

Welcome to the most comprehensive list of writing competitions available online. Our list includes short story, poetry, and flash fiction competitions, as well as some events for essay writers, screenwriting, and even entire novel manuscripts. Each item on our list includes basic information about max word count, entry fees, submission deadlines, and the first place prize.  Please do your own research before deciding to enter any event. In case of questions about a particular event, please reach out to the event organizer. Scroll down the list for 2024 events. https://dystopianstories.com/writing-competitions-contests/

ASSOCIATION OF WRTERS & WRITING PROGRAMS

  • AWP  Awaard Series – The AWP Award Series is an annual competition for the publication of excellent new book-length works. The prizes are supported by the AWP Award Series Endowments. The competition is open to all authors writing in English regardless of nationality or residence and is available to published and unpublished authors alike. Entries for the 2024 competition may be submitted from January 1–February 28, 2024. We no longer accept submissions by post. https://www.awpwriter.org/contests/awp_award_series_overview
  • AWP Prize for Undergrad Lit Mag s – Formerly the National Program Directors’ Prize, the AWP Prize for Undergrad Lit Mags is awarded annually to one outstanding undergraduate-led journal and two runners-up. The prize celebrates the work of undergraduate student writers and editors, including exceptional content, cohesive design, and innovation. https://www.awpwriter.org/contests/awp_prize_for_undergrad_lit_mags
  • George Garrett Award – Contemporary literature and AWP have benefited from the efforts of many teachers, writers, editors, and administrators who have done their utmost to help the next generation of writers find their way as artists and as literary professionals. In bestowing the annual George Garrett Award for Outstanding Community Service in Literature, AWP recognizes a few of those individuals who have made notable donations of care, time, labor, and money to support writers and their literary accomplishments. https://www.awpwriter.org/contests/george_garrett_award_overview
  • AWP Intro Journals Project – The AWP Intro Journals Project is a literary competition for the discovery and publication of the best new works by students currently enrolled in AWP member programs. Program directors are invited to nominate student work, and winners are selected for publication in participating literary journals. The 2024 journals are Colorado Review, Hayden’s Ferry Review, Iron Horse Literary Review, Mid-American Review, Puerto del Sol, Quarterly West, Reed Magazine, and Tampa Review. https://www.awpwriter.org/contests/intro_journals_project_overview
  • AWP Small Press Publisher Award – AWP’s Small Press Publisher Award is an annual prize for nonprofit presses and literary journals that recognizes the important role such organizations play in publishing creative works and introducing new authors to the reading public. The award acknowledges the hard work, creativity, and innovation of these presses and journals, and honors their contributions to the literary landscape through their publication of consistently excellent work. https://www.awpwriter.org/contests/small_press_publisher_award_overview
  • https://www.awpwriter.org/

AUTUMN HOUSE PRESS

2025 Autumn House Rising Writer Prize Is Now Open –  The submission period closes on November 15, 2024 (Eastern Time). We will announce the contest’s finalists and the winner by March 15, 2025.  The winner will receive book publication, a $1,000 honorarium, and a $1,000 travel/publicity grant to promote their book https://www.autumnhouse.org/submissions/rising-writers-prize

BAEN BOOKS PUBLISHING

What it is: Baen Books has been publishing science fiction and fantasy for decades.  The Writer’s Center says: If you’re looking for a science fiction/fantasy small publisher that does it all—hardcover, paperback, and ebook—Baen is for you. https://www.baen.com/contests

BECOME A WRITER TODAY

Contests:  https://becomeawritertoday.com/writing-contests/ Writing Jobs: Information available on Calendar https://becomeawritertoday.com/writing-jobs/

BOOK PIPELINE

The 2024  Book Pipeline: Unpublished contest is exclusively for unpublished manuscripts across six categories of fiction and nonfiction:  Literary Mystery / Thriller, Sci-Fi / Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Nonfiction  Deadline SEP 5, 2024 https://bookpipeline.com/shop/unpublished-contest

Booksie is a free online writing site that provides the tools for writers to publish their work and connect with readers from across the world. You can post poems, short stories, books, articles and more. Over the past ten years, tens of thousands of writers have posted hundreds of thousands of short stories, novel, poems, articles and more. Tens of millions of readers have gained access to some of the best up-and-coming writing talent and supported writers who have gone on to become best-sellers. Join Booksie and tell your story. 2024 contests. https://www.booksie.com/writing-contests

BOULEVARD MAGAZINE

Boulevard strives to publish only the finest in fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. While we frequently publish writers with previous credits, we are very interested in less experienced or unpublished writers with exceptional promise. If you have practiced your craft and your work is the best it can be, send it to Boulevard. Nonfiction contest for Emerging Writers deadline Oct 1, 2024 – scroll to bottom of page. https://boulevard.submittable.com/submit

BRIDGEPORT PRIZE

We are committed to discovering and championing new writers in poetry, short story, flash fiction, novel and memoir. Our alumni read like a Who’s Who of the literary world: Kate Atkinson MBE, Gail Honeyman and Kit de Waal. Judges have included Roger McGough, Monica Ali and Zoe Heller. Our patron is Fay Weldon. Trust us with your words and it really could be your name up here next year. Submission Guidelines: https://thebridportprize.submittable.com/submit Poetry, Short Story, Novel Award, Memoir Award, Flash Fiction Categories List:  https://bridportprize.org.uk/the-competition/

CANADIAN AUTHORS

Do you feel you’ve written the next great Canadian short story, novel, or poem? We have compiled a list of writing contests open to Canadians that include fiction and non-fiction contests, short story contests, and poetry contests. Our listing of writing competitions appear in order of deadline dates and, because there are hundreds upon hundreds of contests, we have separated them by month. Please remember to check out the details for all writing competitions at the websites provided — most sites have additional information, including submission guidelines and rules. Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of competitions — we can only include those we are aware of. 2024 Contests listed by month : ALL CONTESTS:  https://canadianauthors.org/national/links/awards-competitions/ AUGUST 2024: https://canadianauthors.org/national/links/awards-competitions/contests-competitions-august-deadlines/

CHANTICLEER INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS 2022

Fiction Genere Divisions • Fiction Genere • Multiple Non-Fiction Divisions – A large list of contests for 2034-2025 by various genre. https://www.chantireviews.com/contests/

Inspired by the mission and role of the town common, an egalitarian gathering place,  The Common  aims to foster the global exchange of diverse ideas and experiences. As such, we welcome and encourage submissions from writers who are Black, Indigenous, people of color, disabled, LGBTQIA+-identifying, immigrant, international, and/or otherwise from communities underrepresented in U.S. literary magazines and journals.  We seek stories, essays, poems, and dispatches that embody a strong sense of place: pieces in which the setting is crucial to character, narrative, mood, and language. We receive many submissions about traveling in foreign countries and discourage writers from submitting conventional travelogues in which narrators report on experiences abroad without reflecting on larger themes.  READING PERIODS STORIES, ESSAYS and POETRY: March 1-June1, September 1 – December 1, Subscribers may submit all year-round for free. https://www.thecommononline.org/submit/

COMPETITIONS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD

2024 A list of available writing contest for all genre. https://intercompetition.com/writing

CREATIVE WRITING CONTESTS

Name: Creative Writing Ink Short Story Competition 2024 Country: UK (open to entries worldwide)  Closing date:  November 15th, 2024 at 4pm (GMT) Results announced by December 15th, 2024  – 1st prize: £1000, a free creative writing course of the winners choice and publication on our website.  Runners-up: £200 each.  Entry fee: £9  Word count: 3000 words maximum.  Open theme/subject/genre https://creativewritingink.co.uk/creative-writing-ink-short-story-competition-2024/

EMBARK JOURNAL

We accept submissions year-round. Those received by September 1, 2024, will be considered for our twenty-first issue, which will be released in October 2024.issions year-round. Those received by March  1, 2024,  will be considered for our twentieth issue, which will be released in April 2024. https://embarkliteraryjournal.com/submissions/

EXPOSITION REVIEW

Mark your calendars – on June 4, our next round of Flash 405 will open for submissions! Our Flash 405 writing contest is a celebration of short-form narratives, accepting work in multiple genres, from prose to poetry to hybrid and experimental forms. This round, we are looking for flash work inspired by the theme “Persona.” The theme was chosen by Expo Associate Editor Madeline Grimm, who will be serving as judge for our June contest. https://expositionreview.com/2024/05/call-for-entries-flash-405-june-2024-persona/

Several contests listed – scroll for details and deadlines https://www.fanstory.com/contestsall.jsp

FLORIDA WRITERS ASSOCIATION

Writing Contests – The Florida Writers Association offers two writing contests annually: Collection and Royal Palm Literary Awards.  Both contests open to submissions on February 1 and close on April 30. You must be an FWA member to enter. Not a member? Join here!. Both cross broad areas of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, and both are open to adults and youth who are judged separately. https://www.floridawriters.org/writing-contests

FREE YOUR PEN

2024  Writing Competitions. These competitions are for unpublished or self-published novels and novellas for international writers, plus a few for UK or US residents only. It’s a long list and accurate as far as possible, updated monthly, so bookmark this page. I can’t vouch for all these comps personally, but if you have experience of them, let us know in the comments. https://jesdavidson.wordpress.com/2021/01/30/novel-writing-competitions-list/

FREEDOM WITH WRITING

Check out their Lastest listings page for various types of contests and Calls for Submission.  Magazines, Anthologies, Editors looking for pitches, Remote Jobs, Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry and more. https://www.freedomwithwriting.com/freedom/

For our print magazine, we accept short fiction, flash fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry—regardless of genre, style, or origin. To get an idea of the kind of work we look for and the ethos behind what we do, please check out this page from our editors detailing what we look for in our submissions and this CLMP Member Spotlight article. And please note that we strongly encourage you to check out a past issue of F(r)iction, available in our shop. Submissions are accepted year-round. https://frictionlit.org/about/submit/

FUNDS FOR WRITERS

2024 Writing contests provide steps up for a writer – especially a struggling writer. A portfolio that contains contest wins means more than many clips. Can’t afford the entry fees? Consider entering one contest a quarter or something more amiable to your pocketbook. A few are free. Contests provide prizes, prestige and usually publication with many offering book contracts. Denouncing contests from your writing repertoire is like discounting an entire genre or refusing to eat yellow vegetables. You’re giving up something valuable that may serve you and your career well.  Variety of Genres. https://fundsforwriters.com/contests/

GLOBAL SOUP

The next free Update: The next free 7 Day Story Writing Challenge will begin on 26th Feb. But before that, why not try our… 2024 PRIMAL FEARS HORROR SHORT STORY CHALLENGE   now open.  WE WILL ACCEPT ALL KINDS OF HORROR STORIES FOR THIS CHALLENGE, FROM THE SLIGHTLY CHILLING TO THE OUTRIGHT HORRIFYING.  PRIZE: £1,000 – DEADLINE: 23:59 (UK time) 19th Feb, 2024 Words: 5,000 (max) https://www.globesoup.net/horror-short-story-challenge-2024

https://www.globesoup.net/writing-competitions Free Editing Checklist download.

HARLEQUIN ROMANCE

Harlequin is looking or story submissions from debut romance writers in underrepresented communities for a chance to have your debut novel published.

  • Love Inspired Suspense  is actively seeking submissions! Check out our editors’ wishlist. If you have a contemporary inspirational romantic suspense of about 55,000 words, we invite you to submit.
  • Harlequin Romance is  actively seeking  contemporary romance   submissions of 50,000 words! If you have a story idea or romance novel you think would be a good fit, we’d love to see it.
  • Our editors are acquiring stories for a new romance line coming to Harlequin  –  Afterglow Books!  Aimed at a broad readership, including the under-35 romance reader, we’re looking for spicy romances grounded in relatable character journeys. Everyone deserves a love story that’s true to who they are.
  • Harlequin is also looking to publsih more  romance stories by authors in underrepresented communities . https://www.writeforharlequin.com/submission-calls/

INDIANA WRITERS

Several opportunities for writers listed for May 2024 https://www.indianawriters.org/blogs/news/opportunities-for-writers-april-2024-2/

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS

2024 A listing of competitions around the world. https://intercompetition.com/writing

KENYON REVIEW

2024 The Short Fiction Contest. The contest is open to all writers who have not yet published a book of fiction. Submissions must be 3000 words or fewer. The final judge will be acclaimed author Danielle Evans. The Review will publish the winning short story, and the author will be awarded a scholarship to attend the Kenyon Review Writers Workshop. Additional info on the Writers Workshops is available here.   We plan to continue running the contest annually from November 1 through November 30.  CHECK THE MAIN MENU FOR VARIOUS CONTESTS. https://kenyonreview.org/submit/

KOTOBEE BLOG

2024 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! Select Genre and Month. https://blog.kotobee.com/writing-contests-2024/

MACMILLIAN PUBLISHERS

2024 Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America Best First Novel Competition –Rules for the 2024 Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition,  Only electronic submissions, uploaded through this entry form, will be considered; do not mail or e-mail manuscript submissions to Minotaur Books. To be considered for the 2025 competition, all submissions must be received by 11:59pm EST on December 15th, 2024. Contact:  https://us.macmillan.com/minotaurbooks/writing-competitions. https://us.macmillan.com/minotaurbooks/submit-manuscript/

Agents Seeking Submissions https://medium.com/curiosity-never-killed-the-writer/9-new-agents-seeking-memoirs-kidlit-romance-sff-nonfiction-and-more-4a6284fb47e6 11 Dark Fiction and Horror Publications Open for Submissions NOW — Paying markets https://curiosityneverkilledthewriter.com/11-dark-fiction-and-horror-publications-open-for-submissions-now-paying-markets-67582048ccd9

NEW PAGES BLOG

NewPages is the Portal of Independents! Founded in the early 1970s as a print publication, NewPages provides online news, information, and guides to literary magazines, independent and university publishers, graduate and undergraduate creative writing programs, independent bookstores, alternative periodicals and newsweeklies, writing conferences and events, and more. A variety of completions listed.  Use the filters to narrow down to search. https://www.newpages.com/submission-opportunities/writing-contests/

NOTHING IN THE RULE BOOK

For this quarter’s free writing contest, we want your best flash fiction on the theme “Back to Life”. This is an opportunity to prove your work, and the winner will receive a $100 Amazon gift card and have their story published to the School of Kingdom Writers website.  We’re giving you a little more breathing room this time. The maximum word count for this contest is 1,500 words. Short stories of all types, genres, and styles are welcome, but it should be narrative in nature (a story, not poetry, lyrics, etc.) https://nothingintherulebook.com/media-submit-your-work/media-submit-your-work/

THE NOVEL FACTORY

Many of these novel writing competitions are very prestigious, and highly likely to lead to agent representation and / or publication. We have not included any competitions that do not present a satisfactory level of credibility and authority. https://www.novel-software.com/novel-writing-competitions/

THE NOVELRY

Writing contests are a great way to practice your skills, hone your craft and get your name out there among fellow fiction writers. They’re also fantastic opportunities for those working in creative nonfiction, poetry, scripts and sometimes even hybrid writing or multimedia projects. https://www.thenovelry.com/blog/writing-competitions-2023#strongwriting-competitions-2024strong

NYC MIDNIGHT

  • 🔴The Ryming Story Challenge  Deadline SEP 20, 2024 https://www.nycmidnight.com/rhyme
  • 🔴250 Word Microfiction Challenge  – kicks off NOV 2824 https://www.nycmidnight.com/250

2024 Free-entry International Writing Contests   The listed competitions are open to individuals, worldwide, or are restricted to a specific region. They may be targeted to individuals from the age of 18 (or 16) and above, or to those who haven’t attained the legal age (from 17 and below). https://owlcation.com/humanities/Free-International-Fiction-and-Non-Fiction-Entry-Contests

Not yet updated to 2024,  Writing competitions give poets and writers a great opportunity to hone their skills. Along with exciting prizes, they offer a wide variety of themes and challenges to help you write in newer, bolder ways.  At PaperTrue, we’ve always believed that writing competitions are more than just about winning. It’s a community experience where you can interact with fellow participants and learn from each other’s work. After all, a supportive network is extremely important to all poets and writers who want to make a career out of writing. https://www.papertrue.com/blog/writing-contests-2024/

PENCRAFT AWARD

PenCraft Book Awards is $500 cash. Two other cash prizes of $200 will also be awarded – one for best fiction and best nonfiction. Plus, each major winner receives a personalized award certificate and a high-resolution digital version of their PenCraft Book Award’s seal for their book or other marketing materials, as well as a web-optimized graphic version of the seal for websites, blogs, and social networking sites. A special national press release will be published about the top three winners. https://www.pencraftaward.com/authors-support/contest-entry-form/

POETS & WRITERS

2024 Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we’ve published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it. Ours is the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.  Large database, sortable. https://www.pw.org/grants

PUBLISH DRIVE

Free and paid19  writing contests for 2024.  Scroll down and check them out.  Unfortunately they don’t put the deadlines on the blurbs. Winning the competition is going to get your writing published. That is to say, it grants you a meeting with prospective readers, supports you in gathering momentum, and it is up to you how that opportunity is magnified. https://publishdrive.com/free-and-paid-writing-contests.html

PUBLISHERS ARCHIEVE

Find a publisher looking for authors. https://publishersarchive.com/

PUBLISHING… AND OTHER FORMS OF INSANITY

This January there are more than three dozen writing contests calling for every genre and form, from poetry, to creative nonfiction, to completed novels. Prizes range from $100,000 to publication. None charge entry fees. Publishers Accepting Unsolicited Manuscripts: Agents Seeking Clients: https://publishedtodeath.blogspot.com/p/agents.html Writing Contests https://publishedtodeath.blogspot.com/p/free-contests.html https://publishedtodeath.blogspot.com/p/calls-for-submissions.html

PURE IN HEART STORIES

Pure in Heart Stories is a literary and art magazine for families, with a Christian worldview. Here you can find short stories, poetry, photography and art by adults, teens, and children—for readers 6 years old and beyond. Check submission guides for deadlines and publication dates. https://pureinheartstories.com/submissions/?fbclid=IwAR3_junzhFSXTwKnF995OXK9Zmt1g1ih_83lSnMwwrsIS0aza-EYfEiuYKU

REEDSY BEST WRITING CONTESTS

2024 Several contests listed keep scrolling.  Use the search option to find the most recent contests, and deadlines. https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-contests/

SAN FRANCISCO WRITERS

The 2024 Writing Contest opens on Feb.19th.   The contest submission window is from February 19 – June 30, 2024. The entry form is here. The entry fee is $35 per entry and includes a copy of the 2024 SFWC Writing Contest Anthology that will feature the winning work. Entries must fit into one of the following categories: https://www.sfwriters.org/2024-writing-contest-overview/

SEJONG CULTURAL SOCIETY

https://sejongculturalsociety.org/writing/current/index.php

SMART BLOGGER

Listings for  2024. So you want to compete in writing contests for prizes and recognition?  Writing contests are a fun way to evolve your writing skills — and, yes, cash prizes are a nice bonus.  But remember, the emphasis is on fun.  If cash is your primary goal, you should focus your time and energy on landing freelance writing jobs. FREE CONTESTS  https://smartblogger.com/writing-contests/#free-writing-contests CONTESTS WITH FEES  https://smartblogger.com/writing-contests/#writing-contests-with-fees

SOLSTICE A MAGAZINE OF DIVERSE VOICES

Solstice: A Magazine of Diverse Voices, is currently open for general submissions in all categories. Our guidelines are below.  Suspending submissions please check in a few weeks. https://solsticelitmag.submittable.com/submit

2024 How to Submit Creative Writing and Art to Stone Soup.  Stone Soup welcomes submissions from around the world by writers and artists ages 13 and younger. CONTESTS: https://stonesoup.com/contests/ Submissions:: https://stonesoup.com/how-to-submit-writing-and-art-to-stone-soup/

We publish personal essays, short stories, poems, and black-and-white photography in print and online in our monthly magazine.  We’re looking for narrative writing and evocative photography from all over the world. Send us work that maps the human landscape, where the light catches on the faintest joy, where darkness sometimes threatens to overwhelm, and where ✗ never marks the spot because the truth is never so simple. Essays, Fiction, Poetry https://www.thesunmagazine.org/submit/essays-fiction-poetry

TADPOLE PRESS

Amber Byers is an award-winning author and head judge of the Tadpole Press 100-Word Writing Contest. As the founder and CEO of Tadpole Press, Amber delights in celebrating creativity and connecting with a worldwide community of writers. 100 Word Writing Contest  SUBMISSIONS CLOSED. All Contests: https://www.tadpolepress.com/contest

WAXING AND WANING

Submissions open year-round – 1 online / 1 print release per year – Simultaneous submissions accepted (please let us know, however) – Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction,  & Short Films submissions $5 – Screenplays/Plays submissions $7 – Graphic Stories submissions $3 – Art submissions FREE- All submissions must be in proper manuscript format https://www.waxingandwaning.org/submit/

WEEKEND NOTES

2024. If you write short stories then you are a writer. Competitions are a great way to move from being a writer to being a published writer. I read once that there are more than 3,000 writing competitions offered across the world every year.  Enter something you’ve already written or pen something new over the Christmas holidays.  The following listings are summaries only and it is imperative that you always check the rules and terms and conditions on the competition website to ensure both you and your story are eligible to enter. For example most competitions exclude previously published or awarded stories and some have regional or age limits. https://www.weekendnotes.com/adelaide/competitions/

WINNING WRITERS

2024. Poetry, Fiction & Essay, and Self Published Book contests  Deadlines vary. https://winningwriters.com/our-contests

WILLIAM FAULKNER LITERARY COMPETITION

William Faulkner was born on September 25, 1897, on Jefferson Street in New Albany, Mississippi. Some of his notable awards were the 1949 Nobel Prize for Literature, the 1955 and 1963 Pulitzer Prizes for Fiction and the 1951 and 1955 National Book Awards. Recognizing the significance of being the birthplace of one of the most celebrated writers in American Literature generally and Southern Literature specifically, we are proud to provide the William Faulkner Literary contest for aspiring writers. Deadlines vary: July 2024 https://williamfaulknerliterarycompetition.com/about/ Contest info:  https://williamfaulknerliterarycompetition.com/

WISCONSIN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, ARTS & LETTERS

Deadline March 2024 . The Wisconsin People & Ideas Fiction Contest. First-place winners in the Wisconsin People & Ideas Fiction Contest will receive a one-week artist residency at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts in Mineral Point. Winners will receive $500 (first place), $250 (second place), and $100 (third place) and read their work at the 2023 Wisconsin Book Festival. First- through third-place winning stories will also be published in print and online issues of Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine. First-place winners in the Wisconsin People & Ideas Fiction Contest will receive a one-week artist residency at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts in Mineral Point. Submissions: https://www.wisconsinacademy.org/magazine/submissions Contests open 1/15/20024 : https://www.wisconsinacademy.org/content/writing-contests

WRITE OR DIE MAGAZINE

Currently open for essays and interviews. Fiction submissions are closed. https://www.chillsubs.com/writeordie/submission-guidelines

WRITE THE WORLD

A list of upcoming competitions.  Scroll to the bottom for the latest and upcoming. https://writetheworld.org/#/competitions

THE WRITER MAGAZINE

Dear Readers: Jazztimes, Birdwatching, The Writer, and Diabetes Self-Management will be on hiatus until 2024 as we continue to transition these titles to streaming on The BeBop Television Network. You may enjoy available issues through digital download and Video On Demand below. https://www.writermag.com/contests/

THE WRITERS COLLEGE

2024 If you are looking to take your writing to the next level, then entering a writing competition often provides that extra impetus to refine your work.  This is by no means a full list of competitions. Some writing competitions require an entry fee. Others don’t. This seems to be the norm these days and there are credible competitions that require an entry fee. Always check that you are comfortable with sending money to the organizers if this is the case.  Click on More details here (link almost the same color as text) Scroll down for current contests https://www.thewriterscollege.com/short-story-writing-competitions

WRITER’S DIGEST

(must join to see all posts) Writers Digest is also running a contest for self-published authors in a variety of genres. Submissions accepted until April 4th All contests:  https://www.writersdigest.com/wd-competitions Annual Competitions:  https://www.writersdigest.com/wd-competitions/annual-competition

WRITERS OF THE FUTURE

ENTER THE WRITER CONTEST – 4th Quarter 2024 Deadline: September 30, 2024 https://writersofthefuture.com/enter-writer-contest/

WRITERS-EDITORS.COM

2024 A variety of contests and genres https://www.writers-editors.com/Writers/Contests/contests.htm

WRITING COMPLETIONS.NET

2024 Several contests, mixed genre, by various sponsors https://writingcompetitions.net/

WRITING CONTESTS.WORDPRESS.COM

2024 Listings updated regularly.  Scroll to CATEGORY in the left menu bar and then use the drop-down to select your category.   There is a really long list of categories. https://writingcontests.wordpress.com/

WRITING COMPETITIONS.net

2024 All the top writing contests.. A large list of writing contests. https://writingcompetitions.net/

WRITING DISTRICT

2024 Various contests listed. Scroll the page. https://thewritingdistrict.com/contests/

WRITING WORKSHOPS

https://writingworkshops.com/

YORICK RADIO PRODUCTIONS

Prose Fiction and Non-Fiction (4000 word limit) Flash fiction (1000 word limit) Poetry (up to 6 Poems of no more than 6 pages) Radio Play Scripts (20 pages) https://yorickradioproductions.com/submissions/

ADVENTURE WRITERS COMPETITION

Get ready to enter the 2025 AWC January 1 through April 30, 2025. https://adventurewriterscompetition.com/

CLEAR WATER PRESS

Student Novel Contest Deadline: 11:59 p.m. CDT, August 15, 2024 Every year, we run a free novel contest for our students. Any One Year Adventure Novel student under 20 who has a valid curriculum license and who finishes a novel that meets the course requirements can submit. We don’t obligate students to enter, but writing contests for teens are great way for young writers to start sharing their writing with others—and stay motivated to finish their novel! We post every novel entry on the student forum for other students to read (unless the student requests to be omitted). https://clearwaterpress.com/oneyearnovel/events/young-writers-novel-contest/

Novel Writing Competitions List FOR 2024. These competitions are for unpublished or self-published novels and novellas for international writers, plus a few for UK or US residents only. It’s a long list and accurate as far as possible, updated monthly, so bookmark this page! I can’t vouch for all these comps personally, but if you have experience of them, let us know in the comments. https://jesdavidson.wordpress.com/2021/01/30/novel-writing-competitions-list/

NCTE – NATIONAL COUNCIL OF TEACHERS OF ENGLISH

Now accepting submissions for Promising You Writers – Deadline FEB 1, 2024 https://ncte.org/awards/promising-young-writers/

The Best Children’s Writing Contests of 2024-2025– Writing competitions curated by Reedsy https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-contests/children-s/

How to Submit Creative Writing and Art to Stone Soup.  Stone Soup welcomes submissions from around the world by writers and artists ages 13 and younger. All submissions must come to us via Submittable. We do not accept submissions by email or by post. https://stonesoup.com/how-to-submit-writing-and-art-to-stone-soup/

TCK PUBLISHING

Kids have big imaginations, and when it comes to creating stories or poetry, it’s that bold creativity that can even give them an advantage over their adult counterparts. They also tend to be braver when it comes to sharing their work. LIST OF WRITING CONTESTS FOR KIDS https://www.tckpublishing.com/?s=contest

WE ARE TEACHERS

A list of the Best Student Writing Contests for 2024-2025  Help your students take their writing to the next level.  When students write for teachers, it can feel like an assignment. When they write for a real purpose, they are empowered! Student writing contests are an easy and inspiring way to try writing for an authentic audience—a real panel of judges—and the possibility of prize money or other incentives. We’ve gathered a list of student writing contests below. From poetry to plays, essays to science fiction, there is something for everyone. See if any of them suit your curriculum, and get prepared to see some motivated students. Contests: https://www.weareteachers.com/student-contests-competitions/

18 Children’s publishers accepting submissions. https://writingworkshops.com/blogs/news/no-agent-required-11-literary-fiction-publishers-accepting-direct-submissions

Writing is one of 10 artistic disciplines in YoungArts’ national competition. This discipline encompasses creative nonfiction, novel, play or script, poetry, short story and spoken word. T he 202 5  YoungArts application opens in June 202 4 . https://youngarts.org/discipline/writing/

YOUNG WRITERS

2024 Listings.  Young Writers was established in 1991 in a small warehouse in Eastern England and has blossomed into a worldwide brand! Today, Young Writers is still a modest family-run business, but on a much bigger scale than its humble beginnings.  We pride ourselves on encouraging young writers to read, write and enjoy poetry as well as creative writing. Having work published boosts confidence, nurtures creative talent and showcases creativity. https://www.youngwritersusa.com/contests

The 2024 Book Pipeline: Unpublished contest is exclusively for unpublished manuscripts across six categories of fiction and nonfiction:  Literary, Mystery / Thriller, Sci-Fi / Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Nonfiction EARLY Deadline: SEP 5, 2024 Various contests. https://bookpipeline.com/shop/unpublished-contest

PUBLISHERS ARCHIVE

Check the genre in the left margin. https://publishersarchive.com/scifi-fantasy-contests

QUARKNDAGGER.COM

We’ve put together a list of writing contests or places to publish short works. These channels are ideal for young adults (teens), especially those interested in writing sci-fi and fantasy. Scroll through, put it in your calendar and get writing. If you have any you’d like to add to the list, comment below. https://quarkndagger.com/19-writing-contests-and-publication-outlets-for-young-adults/ 

Fantasy writing contests https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-contests/fantasy/

FLASH FICTION

15 flash fiction is a short fiction story, written with utmost brevity. Not more than 1000 words, and still offers characters, plots, settings, style and themes. With the access of the internet, flash fiction is becoming more popular, as many journals and online magazines are dedicated to the style. Link says 2021 but listings are 2024 https://www.henryharvin.com/blog/top-15-flash-fiction-contest-2021/

CHRISTOPHER FIELDEN

2024 This page lists flash fiction, micro fiction, sudden fiction, twitterage, twitterature, dribble, drabble, minisaga, nanotale, micro-story and very short fiction competitions, prizes and awards. Please read and make sure you fully understand the rules and the terms & conditions of each competition listed before entering. https://www.christopherfielden.com/short-story-tips-and-writing-advice/flash-fiction-competitions.php

Flash 405 is Exposition Review’s multi-genre flash competition , awarding prizes and online publication to the winners! The contest runs every other month during our “off” season (January-August), when regular submissions are closed: February 4–March 5   •   April 4–May 5   •   June 4–July 5   •   August 4–September 5 https://expositionreview.com/flash-405/ https://expositionreview.submittable.com/submit

FISH PUBLISHING

Closed https://www.fishpublishing.com/competition/flash-fiction-contest/

2024 PRIMAL FEARS HORROR SHORT STORY CHALLENGE -PRIZE: £1,000 | CLOSES: 19th Feb, 2024

For this short story challenge, all participants will be randomly assigned a horror sub-genre* and will receive a list of 20 primal fears. All participants will receive the same 20 primal fears. As soon as you receive your randomly assigned sub-genre and the list of primal fears, you’ll have until the closing time to write and submit a short story of any length up to 5,000 words. Your story should fit the sub-genre you were assigned and should be underpinned by one of the primal fears from the list. You get to choose the primal fear that will underpin your story. Contests: https://www.globesoup.net/writing-blog/best-flash-fiction-contests

Since 2002, NYC Midnight has hosted hundreds of inspiring competitions for storytellers around the world.  Participants are challenged to create original stories, screenplays, or films using assigned elements under time constraints.  If you enjoy a creative challenge, check out our upcoming competitions. • Short Story Challenge • Screenwriting Challenge • Flash Fiction Challenge • Microfiction Challenge/ • Short Screenplay Challenge http://www.nycmidnight.com

Several contests for listed. https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-contests/

STREETLIGHT

STREETLIGHT’S 2023 SUMMER FLASH FICTION CONTEST Up to 500 of your best, previously unpublished words. Any subject.  Multiple submissions are fine — one work per entry. This is a blind contest. Please remove all personal information from the story pages. We encourage simultaneous submissions but if your piece is accepted elsewhere, inform us. Link says 2023 but lists are 2024  Deadline SEP 2, 2024 https://streetlightmag.com/2023-flash-fiction-contest/

The TCK Publishing Contest is an international short story contest established in 2021. Each year’s prizewinner receives a $1,000 honorarium and publication of his or her short story on the TCK Publishing website. https://www.tckpublishing.com/submission-guidelines/

WOW! Women On Writing Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest

WE NOW HAVE TWO CONTESTS – WOW ! Women On Writing hosts two quarterly contests: one for fiction writers and one for nonfiction writers. We’ve hosted the flash fiction contest since 2006, and the essay contest since 2017. We look forward to reading your work. https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest Quarterly Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest

AMERICAN SHORT FICTION

We are thrilled to announce that the brilliant Dantiel W. Moniz—author of the acclaimed story collection Milk, Blood, Heat—will judge our 2024 American Short(er) Fiction Prize. The prize recognizes extraordinary short fiction under 1,000 words. The first-place winner will receive a $1,000 prize and publication. Previous winners of the Short(er) Fiction Prize have gone on to be anthologized in places such as The Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses. All entries will be considered for publication. https://americanshortfiction.org/submityourwork/the-shorter-fiction-prize/

Short Fiction Contest for Emerging Writers is “To Believe in the Ubiquity of Animation” by Mary Elizabeth Dubois. Congratulations also to our runner-up, “Saints of Missouri” by Cole Chamberlain and honorable mention “Such Lush, Lyrical Prose” by Zehra Nabi. The 2024 contest will open for submissions on September 1, 2024. https://www.boulevardmagazine.org/short-fiction-contest

CHANTICLEER BOOK REVIEWS

Various listed contests for 2024 https://www.chantireviews.com/category/contests/

MY FIRST BOOK

Looking for the very best writing competitions? Want to win cash prizes, agent introductions and even publishing contracts? Then check out the list of 29 incredible contests below. https://myfirstbookdeal.com/2024/02/01/best-writing-competitions-2024/

Several contests for listed, use the search options. https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-contests/fiction/

The 2024 Writing Contests  Deadline June 20, 2024.  The contest submission window is from February 19 – June 30, 2024. The entry form is here. The entry fee is $35 per entry and includes a copy of the 2024 SFWC Writing Contest Anthology that will feature the winning work. Entries must fit into one of the following categories: https://www.sfwriters.org/2024-writing-contest-overview/

THE SATURDAY EVENING POST

2025 Great American Fiction Contest – Deadline July 1, 2024  In its two centuries of existence, The Saturday Evening Post has published short fiction by a who’s who of great American authors, including Ray Bradbury, William Faulkner, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Louis L’Amour, Sinclair Lewis, Jack London, Joyce Carol Oates, Edgar Allan Poe, Anne Tyler, and Kurt Vonnegut, among so many others. “This contest is a tribute to the Post’s legacy of featuring the most renowned American fiction writers,” says Steven Slon, editorial director and associate publisher for The Saturday Evening Post. “Our goal is to continue the tradition of finding and featuring compelling stories and the authors behind them.” The winning story will be published in the January/February 2023 edition of The Saturday Evening Post, and the author will receive $1,000. Five runners-up will each receive $200 and will also have their stories featured online. https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/fiction-contest/

HISTORICAL FICTION

2024 HISTORICAL FICTION SHORT STORY CHALLENGE – PRIZE: £1,000 DEADLINE : 23:59 (UK time) 16th Sept, 2024 Story Length: any length up to 4,000 words.  For this short story challenge, all participants will be randomly assigned one of 6 periods in history. As soon as you receive your assignment, you’ll have until the closing time to research, write, and submit a short story of no more than 4,000 words, set during this historical period.  All we ask is that your story (or a significant portion of your story) be set in your assigned historical period. How much the actual history of that time influences the plot is up to you.  You can use real historical figures as characters, you can use completely fictional characters, or you can use a combination of both.  Your story can be centred around an actual historical event, have a historical event as the backdrop, or you can simply set your story during your assigned period.  Want to mix genres? That’s fine too! You can write a historical horror story, a historical romance, a historical drama, or any kind of historical fiction story you want! The possibilities are endless. https://www.globesoup.net/historical-fiction-challenge-2024

THE HISTORICAL FICTION COMPANY

ENTER THE HFC 2024 BOOK AWARDS — No erotica.  check deadlines    YES, you can submit an unpublished manuscript to the contest! Guess what else you can do? You can now self-publish with our ALL-INCLUSIVE self-pub package OR use our hybrid publishing package under our imprint to publish your manuscript. At Historium Press, our submissions process is a two-tiered process which gives you feedback to get your project ready for publication—from reviewers who are in the business, as well as our internal editorial staff. If your novel is ready, we’ll give you the go ahead. If it is not ready, the evaluation will detail weaknesses and suggest the next steps to ensure a quality manuscript. We are looking for manuscripts in the following genre: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Biography, Historical Literary, Historical Time Travel/Time Slip, Historical Fantasy, Historical YA/Teen, Historicals for Children, Altenate Historical, Cozy Historicals, Historical Non-Fiction  Deadline November 29, 2024 https://www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com/book-awards/award-submission

THE WALTER SCOTT PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL FICTION

Honouring the achievements of the founding father of the historical novel, the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary prizes in the world. The winner receives £25,000 and shortlisted authors each receive £1,500. Since it was founded fourteen years ago by the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, the Prize has awarded over £300,000 to writers and brought over 150 great novels to wider public attention.  Deandline October 31, 2023 https://www.walterscottprize.co.uk/

Listings updated regularly.  Scroll to CATEGORY in the left menu bar and then use the drop-down to select your category.  There is a really long list of categories. https://writingcontests.wordpress.com/category/historical-fiction/

MAGAZINE BC

Please only submit or pitch to a magazine after you have read and met the submission requirements and have judged your piece or idea to be a good fit for the magazine’s usual content. Submitting or pitching to any and all magazines, a.k.a. the shotgun approach, just marks you out as lazy and annoys the editors.  Scroll for daealines. https://magsbc.com/?s=contest

MYSTERY - SUSPENSE

Do you like writing short cozy mysteries? If so, we would love to invite you to submit your work for potential inclusion in our second Warm Mug of Cozy Anthology.  Who can participate: Anyone at least 17 years of age, including emerging authors and never-published writers. Information below contest award image. https://warmmugofcozy.com/anthology-submission/

Listed by genre: https://writingcontests.wordpress.com/category/mystery-suspense-romance-thriller/

2024. Select publishers and agents get first look at the top selection for each category, including Katherine Tegen Books, Creative Artists Agency, and Verve Publishing.  Early Deadline SEP 25, 2024. Literary, Mystery / Thriller, Sci-Fi / Fantasy, Romance / Women’s Fiction, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Picture Books, Nonfiction.    htps://bookpipeline.com/shop/unpublished-contest

2024. 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. https://blog.kotobee.com/writing-contests-2024/

2025 Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America Best First Novel Competition – Welcome to the 2023 Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America Best First Novel Competition.  Please read all of the rules and guidelines before submitting your entry. You can find the complete rules and guidelines at us.macmillan.com/minotaurbooks/writing-competitions.  To enter, you must complete this form and upload an electronic file of your Manuscript. – Only electronic submissions, uploaded through this entry form, will be considered; do not mail or e-mail manuscript submissions to Minotaur Books.  Deadline: DEC 15, 2024 https://us.macmillan.com/minotaurbooks/submit-manuscript/

“The Mysterious Case”. We chose this theme because it’s broad enough to include all genres and fuel your creativity. To respect the theme of the contest, the main character or characters of your entry must have a suspenseful investigation with a mystery in the plot. This event must occur in the story before the end of the fourth chapter and must be mentioned in your book description.Deadline April 2, 2023 https://neovel.io/contest/the-mysterious-case-contest

Mystery – Suspense Contests Listed for 2024 – more may be added. https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-contests/suspense/

2024 Autumn House Nonfiction Prize Is Now Open.  The submission period closes April 30, 2024 (Eastern Time). We will announce the finalists and the winner of the contest by August 1, 2024. The winner will receive book publication, a $1,000 honorarium, and a $1,500 travel/publicity grant to promote their book. https://www.autumnhouse.org/submissions/nonfiction/?mc_cid=eb8172a50c&mc_eid=f81dd88185

​Nonfiction Contest for Emerging Writers – $1,000 and publication in Boulevard awarded to the winning essay by a writer who has not yet published a book of fiction, poetry, or creative non-fiction with a nationally distributed press. We open submissions for the 2024 nonfiction contest on June 1, 2024.  Deadline: September 30, 2024 https://www.boulevardmagazine.org/nonfiction-contest

CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL

Check the list for what they are currently accepting and deadlines. https://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics

2024 Below are tables listing various essay contests and other non-fiction writing competitions, prizes and awards. Some are academic, some offer scholarships and others are just for fun.  Please read and make sure you fully understand the rules and the terms & conditions of each competition listed before entering. https://www.christopherfielden.com/short-story-tips-and-writing-advice/essay-contests-and-non-fiction-writing-competitions.php

CNFC – CREATIVE NONFICTION COLLECTIVE

2024 CNFC-HLR nonfiction contest.  Closes February 2024 The Humber Literary Review (HLR) and the Creative Nonfiction Collective Society (CNFC) have joined forces to bring you a Canada-wide creative nonfiction contest. Winners will be announced in the spring of 2024. https://creativenonfictioncollective.ca/cnf-contest/

Inspired by the mission and role of the town common, an egalitarian gathering place, The Common aims to foster the global exchange of diverse ideas and experiences. As such, we welcome and encourage submissions from writers who are Black, Indigenous, people of color, disabled, LGBTQIA+-identifying, immigrant, international, and/or otherwise from communities underrepresented in U.S. literary magazines and journals. We seek stories, essays, poems, and dispatches that embody a strong sense of place: pieces in which the setting is crucial to character, narrative, mood, and language. We receive many submissions about traveling in foreign countries and discourage writers from submitting conventional travelogues in which narrators report on experiences abroad without reflecting on larger themes.   STORIES, ESSAYS, POETRY, and TRANSLATIONS: – March 1 – June 1 • September 1 – December 1 • Subscribers may submit year-round for free https://www.thecommononline.org/submit/

Newfound Prose Prize – The Newfound Prose Prize is awarded annually to a chapbook-length work of exceptional fiction or creative nonfiction. The work may be in the form of a long story or essay or a collection of short pieces (60 pages max). Other than the page limit, the only formal requirement is that some aspect of the work must inform or explore how place shapes identity, imagination, and understanding.  Submission:  1 5 SEP 2022 thru 15 MAR 2023 https://newfound.org/prose-prize/

REEDY.COM/ NON FICTION CONTESTS

A large list of non-fiction contests for 2024. https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-contests/non-fiction/

The 2024 Writing Contest opens on Feb.19th.   The contest submission window is from February 19 – June 30, 2024 . The entry form is here. The entry fee is $35 per entry and includes a copy of the 2024 SFWC Writing Contest Anthology that will feature the winning work. Entries must fit into one of the following categories: https://www.sfwriters.org/2024-writing-contest-overview/

Welcome to the most comprehensive list of creative writing competitions, short story competitions, and various events for writers. Each item on our list includes basic information about max word count, associated fees, submission deadlines, and the maximum prize that can be won. Clicking on an item opens a new page featuring a more detailed description and a link to the organizer’s submission page. Events that are free to enter are highlighted.  Scroll to view contests. https://dystopianstories.com/writing-competitions-contests/

AUSTRALIAN BOOK REVIEW

The 2025 Peter Porter Poetry Prize will be open for entries from 1 July 2024 and will close on 7 October 2024 . It will be the twenty-first Porter Prize. Poetry: https://www.australianbookreview.com.au/prizes-programs/peter-porter-poetry-prize The  2025 Peter Porter Poetry Prize  is now open for entries and will close at midnight on 7 October 2024 AEST. It is the twenty-first Porter Prize.

For the 2024 contest, the Autumn House staff as well as select outsider readers serve as the preliminary readers, and the final judge is Kazim Ali. The winner receives publication of their full-length manuscript and $2,500. The submission period opens May 1, 2024, and closes June 30, 2024 (Eastern Time). We will announce the finalists and the winner of the contest by October 1, 2024. https://www.autumnhouse.org/submissions/poetry/?mc_cid=d67a73259d&mc_eid=f81dd88185

Boulevard strives to publish only the finest in fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. While we frequently publish writers with previous credits, we are very interested in less experienced or unpublished writers with exceptional promise. If you have practiced your craft and your work is the best it can be, send it to Boulevard. Poetry Deadline June 1, 2024 https://boulevard.submittable.com/submit

Inspired by the mission and role of the town common, an egalitarian gathering place, The Common aims to foster the global exchange of diverse ideas and experiences. As such, we welcome and encourage submissions from writers who are Black, Indigenous, people of color, disabled, LGBTQIA+-identifying, immigrant, international, and/or otherwise from communities underrepresented in U.S. literary magazines and journals. We seek stories, essays, poems, and dispatches that embody a strong sense of place: pieces in which the setting is crucial to character, narrative, mood, and language. We receive many submissions about traveling in foreign countries and discourage writers from submitting conventional travelogues in which narrators report on experiences abroad without reflecting on larger themes. https://www.thecommononline.org/submit/

CREATIVE WRITING INK POETRY PRIZE

The Creative Writing Ink Poetry Prize 2023 is open to writers across the globe, until May 31st 2023 at 4pm (GMT).  Poems do not need to follow any particular theme or genre, but must be written in English.  Poetry should not exceed 42 lines. https://creativewriting.ie/competitions/

DREAM QUEST ONE – POETRY & WRITING CONTEST

Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest – SUMMER 2024 –  Deadline: September 30, 2024 –  All poems must be written or translated into the English language, 30 lines or fewer, and must be neatly hand printed or typed, using single or double line spacing, on any subject, theme, style, shape, or form. All entries must be original works. https://www.dreamquestone.com/rules/enter-now

HAMMOND HOUSE INTERNATIONAL

Our 2023 Writing Competition offers over £2000 in cash prizes, a televised Award Ceremony and the opportunity to be published in our annual anthologies. Sponsored by the University Centre Grimsby, this annual writing competition, now in its seventh year, attracts entries from up to 30 countries around the world.  Submission Deadline: 30th September 2023      RULES       CATEGORIES :    Short Story – Poetry – Scriptwriting – Songwriting 2024 International Literary Prize Opens Feb 24, 2024 – Closes Sep 30, 2024 https://www.hammondhouse.org.uk/2024-literary-prize

2024 The Short Fiction Contest. The contest is open to all writers who have not yet published a book of fiction. Submissions must be 3000 words or fewer. The final judge will be acclaimed author Danielle Evans. The Kenyon Review will publish the winning short story, and the author will be awarded a scholarship to attend the Kenyon Review Writers Workshop. Additional info on the Writers Workshops is available here.    Every Year Jan 1 through Jan 31 Short Fiction Contest: https://kenyonreview.org/contests/short-fiction/ Short NonFiction Contest: https://kenyonreview.org/submit/short-nonfiction-contest/ Short Poetry Contest: https://kenyonreview.org/submit/poetry-contest/

300+ Writing Contests You Need to Enter in 2021 – If there’s one thing we need these days, it’s consistency. Something that proves not everything has changed. Something that gives you a bout of comfort given the current circumstances. So what better way to do that than to know 2021 comes with a host of writing contests for people of all ages from all around the world? Sort by Genre and Month https://blog.kotobee.com/writing-contests-2024/

THE ANZALDUA POETY PRIZE The Gloria E. Anzaldúa Poetry Prize is awarded annually to a poet whose work explores how place shapes identity, imagination, and understanding. Special attention is given to poems that exhibit multiple vectors of thinking: artistic, theoretical, and social, which is to say, political.  Deadline 15 SEP 2023 https://newfound.org/poetry-prize/

Since 2002, NYC Midnight has hosted hundreds of inspiring competitions for storytellers around the world.  Participants are challenged to create original stories, screenplays, or films using assigned elements under time constraints.  If you enjoy a creative challenge, check out our upcoming competitions. • Short Story Challenge • Screenwriting Challenge • Flash Fiction Challenge • Microfiction Challenge/ • Short Screenplay Challenge http://www.nycmidnight.com 

POETRY MAMA

20 2024 Free poetry contests to enter..  Looking for online publishers, poetry contests or magazine for submissions is quite a monotonous and tiresome process in itself , let alone the chances of finding relevant info. But not anymore.  Here you’ll find monthly updated contests and submission portals that’ll help you grow as beginners and support your writing career at the same. Every contest is provided with all the information you need to know before submitting to it. Poets from all nationalities can take part in the poetry contests without worrying about submission fee. So, go writers. https://poetrymama.com/poetry-contests/

POETS & WRITERS WRITING CONTESTS, GRANTS & AWARDS

The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we’ve published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it. Ours is the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.  Sort by Genre, date, etc., using their filter https://www.pw.org/grants?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_Y29xan-5QIVGKSzCh3cQwAmEAMYAiAAEgJXqvD_BwE

Several contests listed. https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-contests/poetry/

TCK PUBLISHING SHORT STORY CONTEST

The TCK Publishing Flash Fiction Contest is an international short story contest established in 2021. Each year’s prizewinner receives a $1,000 honorarium and publication of his or her short story on the TCK Publishing website. List of contests:  https://www.tckpublishing.com/2024-poetry-awards-contest/ general submissions: https://www.tckpublishing.com/submission-guidelines/

Welcome to the 22nd annual Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest. Submit published or unpublished work. $10,000 in prizes. Please submit during April 15-October 1, 2024. https://winningwriters.com/our-contests/tom-howard-margaret-reid-poetry-contest

Several contests listed…. scroll to find them. https://www.writermag.com/contests/

WOC THIS WAY FOR POETRY

Submissions for the Summer, 2024 issue open April 15 – June 15, 2024 https://wocthiswayforpoetry.wordpress.com/guidelines/

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE WRITERS

As the name suggests, we are a group of writers from around the world who love – and write – contemporary romance and contemporary romantic fiction of all sorts. Our members write all contemporary sub-genres from spicy to inspirational, young adult to adult, real-world to paranormal, and more. Contemporary Romance written or published in the previous calendar year.  Unpublished and Published Divisions, Categories include:Contemporary Romance (Long, Mid, Short), Romantic Suspense, Women’s , Fiction/Chick Lit, Young Adult/New Adult, Erotica, Contemp. Speculative Romance (Fantasy, Paranormal, Sci-Fi)  DEADLINE MARCH 31. 2003 https://contemporaryromance.org/2023-stiletto-contest/

L ove Inspired Suspense  is actively seeking submissions! Check out our editors’ wishlist. If you have a contemporary inspirational romantic suspense of about 55,000 words, we invite you to submit.

Our editors are acquiring stories for a new romance line coming to Harlequin in January 24 –  Afterglow Books!  Aimed at a broad readership, including the under-35 romance reader, we’re looking for spicy romances grounded in relatable character journeys. Everyone deserves a love story that’s true to who they are.

Harlequin is looking to publish more romance stories by authors in underrepresented communities,  We welcome all writers to the Harlequin community and want readers to see themselves reflected in the romantic stories we publish. Use https://www.writeforharlequin.com/submission-calls/

LEAGUE OF ROMANCE WRITERS

The League of Romance Writers would like to announce our upcoming Romance Writing Contest, The 2023 Emily. The contest will open for submissions on September 1, 2023, and close on October 2, 2023.  Finalists will be decided by our First Round judges, and we have an awesome line-up of agent and editor judges, who will decide the winner in each category. The winners will be announced at a fun ceremony in February 2023, at which winners receive Emily Pins and learn if an agent or editor has requested to see more of their manuscript.   Opens September 1, 2024 https://leagueromwriters.com/theemily/contest-information/

NEW JERSEY ROMANCE WRITERS

​The Golden Leaf is awarded annually for excellence in published romantic fiction. All published authors are welcome to enter books published opens June 1, 2024 – August , 2024 You do not have to be a member of NJRW to take part. https://www.njromancewriters.org/golden-leaf-2024.html

ORANGE COUNTY ROMANCE WRITERS

OCRW is very excited that the Book Buyers Best contest is running in 2023. However, we are greatly saddened that the Orange Rose Contest for unpublished authors will be on hiatus for 2023. The Orange Rose has been an exemplary contest providing authors with valuable feedback and contacts for many years. We are hopeful that 2024 will see a resurgence of energy and put the Orange Rose back on target! See below for our 2022 finalists. https://ocromancewriters.org/contests/orange-rose-contest/

PACIFIC NORTHWEST WRITERS ASSOCIATION

Writing contest with several genre, for both published and non-published authors.  Site is a little hard to read and some items are underlined that are not links, however some bold items are actually hyperlinks.  Online registration is available until: 4/15/2024 https://www.pnwa.org/page/writingcontest

2024 CONTESTS. Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult

https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-contests/romance/

ROMANCE WRITERS OF AMERICA

NHRA’s 2024 Romance Novel Blurb Contest Sponsor: New Hampshire Romance Writers of America Chapter How and When to Enter: On or after March 15, 2024, submit an application that includes a PDF of your blurb and a fee of $20 per contest submission (maximum of two; fee is $15 for New Hampshire Romance Writers of America members) Dates: March 15- April 30, 2024 More information:  https://nhrwa.wordpress.com/special-events/2024-blurb-contest/

Other Events:  https://www.rwa.org/Online/Events/Chapter_Events.aspx

SCIENCE FICTION - HORROR

The 2024 Book Pipeline: Unpublished contest is exclusively for unpublished manuscripts across six categories of fiction and nonfiction: https://bookpipeline.com/shop/unpublished-contest

THE LIGHT BRINGER PROJECT

Submissions Closed The Omega Sci-Fi Project invites Los Angeles County high school students to submit their short science fiction stories to The Tomorrow Prize. The Tomorrow Prize encourages young writers to use sci-fi to explore the diverse issues humanity wrestles with, spark creative solutions, and unite the worlds of art and science. https://www.lightbringerproject.org/science-fiction-competitions

The 28th annual Parsec Short Story Contest will open on January 1st and close on March 31st, 2024. The 2024 Contest theme is “AI mythology” We ask that authors try and incorporate both concepts into their speculative work. This can be conveyed in the setting, plot, characters, dialogue; the only limit is your imagination. The theme must be integral to the story in some way and not just mentioned in passing. https://parsec-sff.org/short-story-contest/

Here you can find a large list of publishers as well as a list of awards and contests. https://publishersarchive.com/scifi-fantasy-contests

So far 58 science fiction Fantasy contests listed. https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-contests/science-fiction/

ENTER THE WRITER CONTEST – 3rd Quarter 2024 – Deadline: June 30, 2024 This Contest will run from April 1, 2024, through June 30, 2024.  Deadline is 11:59 p.m. June 30, 2024 Pacific Standard Time. https://www.writersofthefuture.com/enter-writer-contest/

SCREENWRITING

La screen play awards.com.

SUBMISSIONS:  This is the only screenplay competition founded by a team of working Hollywood professionals with more than 1,000 produced credits and a century of collective industry experience.  Our roster of Senior Judges includes multiple Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, and WGA Award Winners. Feature Screenplay   https://lascreenplayawards.com/feature-screenplay/ TV Script   https://lascreenplayawards.com/tv-script/ Short Screenplay   https://lascreenplayawards.com/short-screenplay/   https://lascreenplayawards.com/

Screen Writing Competition kicks off March 2024 – register now. CLICK on Challenges in top Menu Bar http://www.nycmidnight.com 

PAGE INTERNATIONAL SCREENWRITING AWARDS

All Contests:   https://pageawards.com/the-contest/

SELF PUBLISHING

Several contests listed.  Use the sorting options to find deadlines. https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-contests/

SELF PUBLISHING:  North Street Book Prize – 10th year. Your self-published or hybrid-published book can win up to $10,000 plus expert marketing services. Mainstream/Literary Fiction – Genre Fiction (e.g. romance, mystery, thriller, young adult, science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, etc.) – Creative Nonfiction & Memoir (definition) – Poetry – Children’s Picture Book – Middle Grade – Graphic Novel & Memoir – Art Book (definition) https://winningwriters.com/our-contests/north-street-book-prize?utm_campaign=north-globesoup-email-2406&utm_medium=email&utm_source=globesoup

SHORT STORY / ESSAY / ANTHOLOGY

Do you like writing short cozy mysteries? If so, we would love to invite you to submit your work for potential inclusion in our second Warm Mug of Cozy Anthology.  Submission deadline for Volume 2 : April 30, 2024. SROLL BELOW 2023 AWARD IMAGE https://warmmugofcozy.com/anthology-submission/

ABR welcomes entries in the 2024 ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize. The Jolley Prize is worth a total of $12,500 and is for an original work of short fiction of between 2,000 and 5,000 words, written in English. This is the fifteenth time the Jolley Prize has run and it is one of the world’s leading prizes for short fiction.  Prize Money: $12,500 (first prize: $6,000, second prize: $4,000, third prize: $2,500)  Dates:  Opens 16 January and closes 22 April https://www.australianbookreview.com.au/prizes-programs/elizabeth-jolley-story-prize/current-prize

Welcome to the most comprehensive list of creative writing competitions, short story competitions, and various events for writers. Each item on our list includes basic information about max word count, associated fees, submission deadlines, and the maximum prize that can be won. Clicking on an item opens a new page featuring a more detailed description and a link to the organizer’s submission page. Events that are free to enter are highlighted. https://dystopianstories.com/writing-competitions-contests/

Essays, Short Stories, Novelettes, and Novellas Chanticleer International Book Awards is seeking the Best New SHORTS in FICTION We have five categories: One solo entry per genre division is $45 (one Short Story, one Novelette, one Novella, or one Essay)  Collections – three categories – an additional $54 per collection ($99 per collection entry) : https://www.chantireviews.com/category/contests/

Below are tables listing various short story competitions. Some are based in the UK, some are global. Some contests are of high renown (like the BBC Short Story Award or the Bridport Prize), offering huge prizes, and some are lesser known, but offer great opportunities for newer writers to become published authors. I will try and keep this list up to date, but please check the rules and dates on the different competition websites before entering.   PLEASE NOTE:  Most of the competitions listed on this page accept entries from writers living anywhere in the world. The country each competition is run from is listed so you know which global market you are submitting to. https://www.christopherfielden.com/short-story-tips-and-writing-advice/book-and-novel-competitions.php

CREATIVE WRITING INK

2024 .  Stories do not need to follow any particular theme or genre, but must be written in English.  Maximum word count is 3000 words.  1st prize: £1000, plus a free creative writing course of the winner’s choice and publication on our site.  2 runners-up: £200 each.  Entry fee: £9.  Final judge: Lucie Brownlee. Various competitions to choose from. https://creativewritingink.co.uk/competitions/ Short Story: https://creativewritingink.co.uk/creative-writing-ink-short-story-competition-2024/

CREATIVE WRITING NZ

The Creative Writing NZ Short Story Prize 2024 is open for entries from January 30th, 2024.  The deadline for receipt of all entries is 11.59pm(NZST) on April 30, 2024.  Entries will only be accepted through Duosuma. https://creativewriting.co.nz/competition/the-creative-writing-nz-short-story-prize-2024/

Gotham always has a writing contest (or two) going. These contests are a great way to stretch your talent and imagination, and we dangle nice prizes to give you extra motivation. Check out our current contests. And it’s worth a look at the winners and finalists in our past contests; the quality of work always amazes us. https://www.writingclasses.com/contests

GOTHAM WRITERS

2024 Writing Contests – Gotham always has a writing contest (or two) going. These contests are a great way to stretch your talent and imagination, and we dangle nice prizes to give you extra motivation. Check out our current contests. And it’s worth a look at the winners and finalists in our past contests; the quality of work always amazes us. https://www.writingclasses.com/contests

CATEGORIES:   Short Story – Poetry – Scriptwriting – Songwriting https://www.hammondhouse.org.uk/writing-competitions

2024 The Short Fiction Contest. The contest is open to all writers who have not yet published a book of fiction. Submissions must be 3000 words or fewer. The final judge will be acclaimed author Danielle Evans. The Kenyon Review will publish the winning short story, and the author will be awarded a scholarship to attend the Kenyon Review Writers Workshop. Additional info on the Writers Workshops is available here.    Every Year Jan 1 through Jan 31 Short Fictipn Contest: https://kenyonreview.org/contests/short-fiction/ Short NonFiction Contest: https://kenyonreview.org/submit/short-nonfiction-contest/ Short Poetry Contest: https://kenyonreview.org/submit/poetry-contest/

KNIGHT WRITING PRESS

We are looking for darker legends of the mermaid. Sirens, womenfolk (fishfolk?) who lure men into the sea. Of the men (or their wives!) who seek revenge for lost loves, lost fortunes, and wrecked ships. We want Tails of Tragedy and Terror, Stories of Sails and Seas an. for how the boy and girl can or should or could interact, even when fictitious and obviously untrue.  DEADLINE AUG, 31,2 024 https://knightwritingpress.com/open-and-upcoming-submissions/

MIRROR WORLD PUBLISHING, SHARON LEDWITH

The 28th annual Parsec Short Story Contest will open on January 1st and close on March 31st, 2024.  The 2024 Contest theme is “AI mythology”  We ask that authors try and incorporate both concepts into their speculative work. This can be conveyed in the setting, plot, characters, dialogue; the only limit is your imagination. The theme must be integral to the story in some way and not just mentioned in passing. https://parsec-sff.org/short-story-contest/

Here you can find a large list of publishers as well as a list of awards and contests. short story contests:  https://publishersarchive.com/short-story-contests https://publishersarchive.com/scifi-fantasy-contests

Several contestsf listed keep scrolling. NEW Enter our short story competition – Submit a short story based on one of 5 weekly prompts. Winners get $50 and will feature on our app! Sign up to get this week’s prompts. https://https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-contests

The TCK Publishing Flash Fiction Contest is an international short story contest established in 2021. Each year’s prizewinner receives a $1,000 honorarium and publication of his or her short story on the TCK Publishing website. Submission close June 30, 2024 List of contests:  https://www.tckpublishing.com/2024-poetry-awards-contest/ general submissions: https://www.tckpublishing.com/submission-guidelines/

H.G.WELLS SHORT STORY COMPETITION

The annual HG Wells Fiction Short Story Competition offers a £500 Senior and £1,000 Junior prize and free publication of all shortlisted entries in a quality, professionally published paperback anthology.  the closing date is Monday 8th July 2024 and entries will be accepted up to 11pm (BST) on that date. https://hgwellscompetition.com/

Currently on hiaitus. https://www.writermag.com/the-writer-contests/500-word-contest-2023/

The Writing District List of Contests https://thewritingdistrict.com/contests/

STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

Building u – student opportunities.

For Students by Students.  A large filterable list of things for students, including writing contests.  THERE IS A CLEAR NEED to identify and address factors that most significantly impact the odds of successful outcomes for high school students as they move forward in their present and make plans for their postsecondary future.  INDEPENDENT RESEARCH in both Canada and the US suggests that the biggest factors contributing to successful postsecondary outcomes are: awareness of and good information around relevant options, and self-determined decision-making and planning. https://building-u.com/opportunities/

KET EDUCATION

The 2024 KET Young Writers Contest will launch on January 1 and run through March 31. If your writers would like to get started ahead of time, the contest categories, rules and rubrics are available below. Need some inspiration? https://education.ket.org/young-writers-contest/

Now accepting submissions for the Promising Young Writers – Deadline FEB 15, 2024 https://ncte.org/awards/promising-young-writers/

Where young writers can find print and online literary magazines to read, places to publish their own works, and legitimate contests. Some publish only young writers, some publish all ages for young readers. For specific submission guidelines, visit the publication’s website. Ages can include elementary, teen, or early college. This is an ad-free resource: publications and writing contests listed here have not paid to be included. This guide is maintained by Editor Denise Hill, a teacher who loves to encourage young writers. Contestes listed for 2024, monthly, updated regularly. Scroll down to DEADLINE DATES and choose month. https://www.newpages.com/young-writers-guide/young-writers-guide-to-contests/

NORTH SOUTH FOUNDATION

The primary goal of NorthSouth Foundation contests is to foster the spirit of competition and learning among the youth. Parents and children should focus on the joy of learning and interacting with other writing participants rather than on the possible outcome of the contest. Specifically, the NorthSouth Foundation Essay contest is intended to encourage writing skills, which demand quick thinking, good organization of ideas and cohesive writing style.  In addition to all the general contest rules stated by North South Foundation, the following rules are applicable for Essay Writing Bee (Leadership In Writing) Competition. There are 3 levels of competition in Essay Bee:Essay Writing Level 1 (EW1): Grades 3, 4 and 5 Essay Writing Level 2 (EW2): Grades 6, 7 and 8 Essay Writing Level 3 (EW3): Grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 https://northsouth.org/public/LandingPage/Contest

ONE YEAR ADVENTURE NOVEL

Deadline: 11:59 p.m. CDT, August 15, 2024  Every year, we run a free novel contest for our students. Any One Year Adventure Novel student under 20 who has a valid curriculum license and who finishes a novel that meets the course requirements can submit. https://clearwaterpress.com/oneyearnovel/events/young-writers-novel-contest/

The Best Children’s Writing Contests of 2024– Writing competitions curated by Reedsy https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-contests/children-s/

A list of the Best Student Writing Contests for 2024-2025.   Help your students take their writing to the next level.  When students write for teachers, it can feel like an assignment. When they write for a real purpose, they are empowered! Student writing contests are an easy and inspiring way to try writing for an authentic audience—a real panel of judges—and the possibility of prize money or other incentives. We’ve gathered a list of student writing contests below. From poetry to plays, essays to science fiction, there is something for everyone. See if any of them suit your curriculum, and get prepared to see some motivated students. https://www.weareteachers.com/?s=CONTESTS

Young Writers was established in 1991 in a small warehouse in Eastern England and has blossomed into a worldwide brand! Today, Young Writers is still a modest family-run business, but on a much bigger scale than its humble beginnings.  We pride ourselves on encouraging young writers to read, write and enjoy poetry as well as creative writing. Having work published boosts confidence, nurtures creative talent and showcases creativity.

  • ELEMENTARY –   https://youngwritersusa.com/contest/elementary
  • MIDDLE & HIGH –  https://youngwritersusa.com/contest/middle-high
  • ALL AGED: –  https://youngwritersusa.com/contest/all-ages

TEENS AND WRITING YOUNG ADULT

The 2024 Book Pipeline: Unpublished contest is exclusively for unpublished manuscripts across six categories of fiction and nonfiction:  Literary Mystery / Thriller, Sci-Fi / Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Nonfiction https://bookpipeline.com/shop/unpublished-contest

New Memoir Award.   We all have a story to tell about ourselves, the good, the bad and the how did I end up there? Our memoir award celebrates the life story, a fragment in time or rear view mirror look at what was and now is. https://bridportprize.org.uk/memoir-award-coming-soon/

COLLEGE TRANSITIONS

Below, we’ve selected twenty-five writing competitions for high school students and sorted them by three general topics: 1) language, literature and arts, 2) STEM, environment and sustainability, and 3) politics, history and philosophy. It’s never too soon to begin thinking about your future college prospects, and even if you are a freshman, many of these writing competitions for high schoolers will be open to you. https://www.collegetransitions.com/blog/writing-competitions-for-high-school-students/

GIRLS WRITE NOW

Contest sources for youth.  Scroll down for 2024 contests. https://girlswritenow.org/resource/writing-contests/

HANGING LOOSE MAGAZINE

(Year Round)  This magazine invites high school students to submit their poetry or short stories for publication as well as payment if selected. This is open to high school students ages 9-12. Visit their page for more information https://www.hangingloosepress.com/submissions/

Where young writers can find print and online literary magazines to read, places to publish their own works, and legitimate contests. Some publish only young writers, some publish all ages for young readers. For specific submission guidelines, visit the publication’s website. Ages can include elementary, teen, or early college. This is an ad-free resource: publications and writing contests listed here have not paid to be included. This guide is maintained by Editor Denise Hill, a teacher who loves to encourage young writers. Sort Deadline by Month: Scroll down and select Month. https://www.newpages.com/writers-resources/young-writers-guide-to-contests

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

Not yet updated to 2024.  STUFF FOR THE TEEN AGE, FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, FOR TEACHERS 25 Writing Contests and Publication Opportunities for Teens  by Marianna Vertsman, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL) Have to scroll down the page to see the Contests. https://www.nypl.org/blog/2020/10/26/writing-competitions-young-adults

PUBLICATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEENS

  • TEEN INK : is one of the most popular and diverse writing spaces to get published in high school. The broad categories for publication reflect the diversity of writing that this lively online magazine celebrates. Some publication categories include: community service, travel and culture, the environment, health, reviews of TV shows and video games, and college essays, among the more traditional poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. https://www.teenink.com/submit
  • AGNI : Not yet updated to  2024  is Boston University’s well-respected journal. It appears in both print and online. AGNI submissions are not limited to high school writers, but the journal is known to accept and publish lots of work by new writers. Get published in high school at AGNI and you’ve taken an important step to becoming a writer in the real world! Find them online at: http://www.bu.edu/agni/submit.html
  • THE ADROIT JOURNA L: CLOSED FOR SUBMISSIONS. is run by high school students, college students, and emerging writers. Adroit publishes within “over 21” and “under 21” categories, so your writing will appear alongside great work by writers of any age. Adroit publishes fiction and poetry, and includes art and photography. http://www.theadroitjournal.org/
  • EMBER : CLOSED FOR SUBMISSIONS  only published twice a year, but this beautiful and dreamy journal of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction appeals to all age groups. Although it doesn’t exclusively publish young writers, submissions from writers and artists ages 10 to 18 are strongly encouraged. Submissions open in February of 2021. For more details, visit them online at: http : //emberjournal.org/
  • POLYPHONY LIT :  invites submissions of poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction from high school students worldwide. Student editors provide feedback to all submissions, including the ones not accepted for publication. Scroll down for 2024 dedlines. https://www.polyphonylit.org/copy-of-submit

The Best Children’s Writing Contests of 2022 – Writing competitions curated by Reedsy https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-contests/children-s/

The 2024 Writing Contest opens on Feb.19th.   Deadline June 30, 2024 The contest submission window is from February 19 – June 30, 2024. The entry form is here. The entry fee is $35 per entry and includes a copy of the 2024 SFWC Writing Contest Anthology that will feature the winning work. Entries must fit into one of the following categories: https://www.sfwriters.org/2024-writing-contest-overview/

SCHOLASTIC ART & WRITING AWARDS

Are you a visionary? Are you an original thinker? The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards has been empowering young talent since 1923. This competition is  open for grades 7th –12th and has a submission period from September – December. http://www.hotdishmagazine.com/submit.html

The 2024 Writing Competition – Deadline: February 29, 2024 (11:59pm CDT) – Essay category – Focusing on introducing students and young adults to Korean culture and history through literature, our essay category utilizes folk tales and contemporary literature to explore Korean culture, past and present. https://sejongculturalsociety.org/writing/current/index.php

SELECT YOUTH CONTESTS

  • HOT DISH MAGAZINE , an online journal serving up a bubbling mixture of poetry and fiction by teens (grades 9–12), wants your voice to be heard! We award cash prizes for fiction, poetry, and the Hot Dish Challenge. Our submission period is October-January. Visit us at http://www.hotdishmagazine.com/submit.html
  • GIRLS RIGHT THE WORLD  is a literary journal inviting young, female-identified writers and artists, ages 14–21, to submit work for consideration for the fourth annual issue. We believe girls’ voices transform the world for the better. We accept poetry, prose, and visual art of any style or theme. We ask to be the first to publish your work in North America; after publication, the rights return to you. Please include a note mentioning your age, where you’re from, and a bit about your submission. Send your best work, in English or English translation, to [email protected] between September 1 and December 31. https://www.girlswritenow.org/contests/
  • THE LUMIERE REVIEW – CLOSED  is a literary magazine dedicated to shining the light on all voices (particularly young creatives) through poetry, prose, and art. We’ll be running our first annual writing contest for poetry and prose, which will be open for submission from December 1st to January 15th. Updates will be made on our social media accounts (@lumierereview on twitter and instagram). https://lumierereview.com/contest.

TAMPA BAY TIMES

An Annual Writing Contest For T ampa Bay Area High Schools – he Tampa Bay Times Newspaper in Education Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing Award seeks to nurture and recognize the creativity and talent of young writers in the Tampa Bay area. It was established to encourage aspiring authors to explore the genres of science fiction and fantasy and to experiment with the short story format.  Entries are judged by a panel of experts including professional fantasy and science fiction authors and Tampa Bay Times staff. https://clients.tampabay.com/2024/writing-contest/home/index.html

WOMEN WRITING THER WEST BLOG

– We welcome any content, written by real writers who show an understanding and expertise in a chosen topic. – Submissions must be useful for building stronger writing platforms, practical or technical, that readers can use immediately or tag for future. – Previously published work relating a specific topic from the suggested list, is acceptable. – WWW cannot work with agency writers and cannot accept submissions that include political or religious views. https://womenwritingthewest.wordpress.com/about-2/www-blog-submission-guidelines/

⭐ ADDED AFTER MAILOUT

Resources-tips, agents & editors.

  • Agents: Knowing When To Hold One and When To Fold
  • Getting Offers from Multiple Literary Agents

Literary Agents List

  • Preditors and Editors
  • Publishing, Writing Terms, Acronyms
  • Tips for a Successful Editor Appointment
  • Want More? Here’s How to Get It
  • What NOT to Do When Beginning Your Novel
  • Windup for the (Story) Pitch
  • Write the Perfect Book Proposal

CALLS FOR SUBMISSION

2024 sep calls for submission.

  • 2024 AUG Calls for Submission
  • 2024 JUL Calls for Submission
  • 2024 JUN Calls for Submission
  • 2024 MAY Calls for Submission
  • 2024 APR Calls for Submission
  • 2024 MAR Calls for Submission
  • 2024 FEB Calls for Submission
  • 2024 JAN Calls for Submission
  • 2023 DEC Calls for Submission
  • 2023 NOV Calls for Submission
  • 2023 OCT Calls for Submission
  • 2023 SEP Calls for Submission

COMPUTER TIPS

  • ASCII Characters
  • Building Your Web Site and Doing It Right
  • Don’t Be a Victim-Scams, Identity Theft, Urban Legends
  • Don’t Spread Scams
  • How to Annoy Your Website Visitors
  • Internet Safety: Guide to Keep Your Information Safe Online
  • Knowing Your Target Audience
  • Stopping Viruses from Propagating Through Your Email
  • The Top 10 Email Errors
  • Word Processors Through Time: Before MS Word & Google Docs

FORMATTING & GRAMMAR

Achieving 250 words / 25 lines per page.

  • And Sammy, too? Oh, No!
  • Changing Double Hyphens to EM Dashes in Word
  • Edit Easier
  • High Hopes–Avoiding Common Mistakes
  • Misused Words
  • Navigating In Your Novel

Proofreaders Marks

Research links.

  • Rules for Writers
  • Slang and Jargon Souces
  • Tightening Your Manuscript and Trimming the Word Count

INSPIRATION-MOTIVATION

  • A Dream Realized
  • Beyond the Basics
  • Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work
  • Finding Time to Write
  • Five Ways to Promote Yourself
  • How Not to Procrastinate
  • How to Quit Writing and End up on the Bestseller Lists
  • Ideas Escape Me
  • Keeping an Idea Book
  • Love to Write: Here Is How You Can Build Your Career
  • Making Time for Self-Care While Running a Business
  • Moving Up the Rejection Ladder
  • Pop Quiz: Who Are You?
  • The 8 Habits of Highly Successful Young-Adult Fiction Authors
  • The Art of Being Rejected–475 Words
  • The Juggling Act
  • The Literary Food Chain
  • Various Types of Writing for Young Writers
  • Why Article Writing Should Be A Part Of Your Career Development Strategy
  • Write Better Naked
  • Writer’s Conferences Do You Really Need To Attend?
  • Writing By Moonlight
  • 35 Online Work Ideas to Earn Good Money Whilst Studying
  • An Interview with Holly Ambrose
  • Copyright Primer, Know Your Rights
  • EBooks-Fears to Possibilities
  • Finding Markets Fiction and Nonfiction
  • Freelance Writing 101
  • How To Be a (Shiver) Reporter
  • How To Market Your Book After You’ve Written It
  • How to Write a Novel Synopsis
  • How To Write Your Own Press Releases
  • Magazine Links
  • Making Money As a Corporate Freelancer
  • Market News–All Genres
  • Need a Clip? Open a Newspaper
  • Newspaper Writing Resources
  • Path to Self-Publishing Success
  • Science Writing Organizations
  • Selling to Children’s Markets
  • Submission Tracking
  • Submitting to UK Markets
  • Syndication 101
  • To Specialize, or Not to Specialize?
  • Ultimate Guide to Being a Freelancer 2023 Update
  • What Are Your Chances of Getting Published?
  • Why E-Books?
  • Write Your Way to $1000 a Month
  • Writing Groups List
  • Youth Writing Markets

ONLINE SAFETY

  • Online Safety for Kids and Teens
  • Publisher’s Websites
  • The Great Limbo Mystery Question

VIDEO & STREAMING LINKS

  • Video-Streaming-Podcasts

WRITING TOOLS - APPS

  • Finding Your Writing Compass: A Guide to Freelance Adventures
  • Free AI Tools That Can Be Used In Business Writing
  • Helpful Books
  • Reconsider Hand Writing
  • Unblocking Your Muze
  • Working with a Critique Group
  • You Can Write A Short Story Part 1 The Story Idea
  • You Can Write A Short Story: Part 2 The Meat of the Story
  • You Can Write A Short Story: Part 3 The Climax

WRITER'S LIFE

  • A Writers Dream-The Home Office
  • Affirm All You Want
  • Keep a Clipping File
  • Mommy’s Muse
  • Moving Mountains
  • Teach Yourself to Write
  • The Art of Procrastination
  • Writing Conferences-Educating and Inspiring

WRITING CONTESTS

  • 2024 AUG Writing Contests
  • 2024 JUL Writing Contests
  • 2024 JUN Writing Contests
  • 2024 MAY Writing Contests
  • 2024 APR Writing Contests
  • 2024 MAR Writing Contests
  • 2024 FEB Writing Contests
  • 2024 JAN Writing Contests
  • 2023 DEC Contests, Workshops, Webinars
  • 2023 NOV Contests, Workshops, Webinars
  • 2023 OCT Contests, Workshops, Webinars
  • A Guide to Assessing Writing Contests

⭐ Posted 09-1-2024

Proofreaders marks from the Chicago Manual of Style online.  A must for all writers.

Find places to research for any genre or topic, resources, dictionaries, and more. New: POETRY New: BLOGS

Achieve the Ideal format for novel submission, fonts and margins.

A growing alphabetical  list of new literary agents actively seeking writers, books, and queries.

⭐ The 2024 Guide to Manuscript Publishers

Subscribe: Monthly Mailouts

IMAGES

  1. 2019 Canadian Magazine Writing Contests: The Ultimate Guide

    creative writing competitions canada

  2. Writing Competitions 2024 Canada

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  3. 2022-2023 Creative Writing Competition

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  4. Creative Writing Competition

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  5. 12+ Creative Writing Courses in Canada

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  6. 10 Canadian Writing Contests in 2019

    creative writing competitions canada

VIDEO

  1. Highlights from the 2022 Canadian Music Class Challenge

  2. Miss and Miss 👑👸Teen Multicultural Beauty 2023 Talent Competition

  3. Nova Scotia’s Jacy Grant with commanding win in women’s C-1 1000m canoe kayak at Canada Summer Games

  4. MiMc Music Awards 2024 Prizes

  5. 2023 Canadian Championships

  6. Creative writing competition at K2 institute I #K2institute #learnwithK2institute #shorts #cbse

COMMENTS

  1. Contests for Canadian Writers

    Contests for Canadian Writers

  2. Contests & Competitions

    Contests & Competitions

  3. Writing Contests and Awards in Canada

    The Feme Sole Award is a $1000 scholarship offered annually to 4 creative writing or publishing students who are Canadian, residing in Canada, and over 21 years old. Free Fall Magazine's Annual Prose and Poetry Contest. This contest, offered by Free Fall, offers a top prize of $500. The cost to enter is $25.

  4. Contests & Competitions

    Deadline: November 15, 2024, at 4:00 pm GMT. Prize: First prize of £1,000, a free creative writing course of the winners choice, and website publication; runner-up prizes of £200 each. Description: Open to entries worldwide. Word count of 3,000 words maximum. Open theme/subject/genre.

  5. Contests & Competitions

    Room Magazine's 2024 Poetry Contest. Genre: Poetry. Entry Fee: $35 CAD if you reside in Canada, $45 CAD if you reside in the US, and $55 CAD if you reside outside of North America, plus $7 CAD for each additional entry (includes a one-year subscription to Room) Deadline: August 31, 2024, at 3:00 am ET.

  6. RBC PEN Canada New Voices Award

    The RBC PEN Canada New Voices Award is an annual award that aims to encourage new writing and to provide a space where unpublished Canadian writers can submit short stories, creative nonfiction, journalism, and poetry. The shortlisted submissions are judged by a distinguished jury of Canadian writers. The winning entry receives a $3,000 CAD ...

  7. CBC Literary Award

    The CBC Literary Prizes recognize talented Anglophone writers in three categories: Short Story, Nonfiction and Poetry. The competition is open to amateur and professional Canadian writers. Prize amount. Six prizes of $6,000 and a writing residency at the Banff Centre as well as publication of the winning work in Air Canada's enRoute magazine ...

  8. Canadian Writers' Contest Calendar 2022

    The Canadian Writers' Contest Calendar. Available Nov 2021 for the year 2022. Lists Canadian writing contests and book awards throughout the year. Indexed to cross-reference the contests and sponsors with the deadline dates. Brought to you since 2003 by White Mountain Publications.

  9. CBC Literary Prizes

    The 2025 CBC Short Story Prize is open! You could win $6,000, a writing residency and have your work published on CBC Books. The deadline to submit is June 1, 2024 at 4:59 p.m. ET.

  10. Kids Write 4 Kids

    An annual, nationwide creative writing contest for grades 4-8. The winning stories are published as books made available for sale online. The proceeds from these book sales are donated to the winner's charity of choice to foster a sense of philanthropy. Here're some of the recent donations. 2024.

  11. 15 Canadian Creative Nonfiction Contests

    2) CBC Nonfiction Prize: The CBC Canada Writes series of literary prizes are highly prestigious. It is sometimes said that winning one of these can make your career as a writer. Winners receive $6000 and a 10-day writing residency. The CBC Nonfiction Prize opens in January. The entry fee is $25. Maximum length is 1800 words.

  12. Contests & Competitions

    4th Annual Wine Country Writers' Festival Writing Contest. Genre: Short Fiction, Short Nonfiction, Poetry. Entry Fee: $15 CAD per entry or $25 CAD for 2 entries. Deadline: June 2, 2024, at 11:59 pm PT. Prize: First prize of $200 CAD, free registration for the 2024 Festival, and publication in and copy of the 2024 Anthology; second prize of ...

  13. Contests

    CNIB 2024 Braille Creative Writing Contest. Write the World Contest. Servicescape Short Story Award. 53-Word Contest . National Ink Movement Anthology. POLAR EXPRESSIONS 2024 National Poetry and Short-Story Contest. McNally Robinson Booksellers Poetry Award, Short Fiction and Creative Non-Fiction Contests.

  14. A Guide to Writing Contests

    The National Media Awards Foundation has compiled a comprehensive list of national and international writing contests that are open to Canadian writers, poets, and creators. There are competitions for everyone—from seasoned, published writers to up-and-coming writers who are just getting started in the industry. Contests cover genres such as poetry, non-fiction, fiction, and line art.…

  15. CNF contest

    CNF contest. The Humber Literary Review (HLR) and the Creative Nonfiction Collective Society (CNFC) have joined forces to bring you a Canada-wide creative nonfiction contest. Special thanks to this year's contest judge, Lisa Bird-Wilson. Winners were announced on May 23, 2024 via Zoom. See the contest drop-down menu to learn more about this ...

  16. A guide to writing prizes for Canadians

    Entry fee: $15 Canadian. Prize: Three prizes of $200, plus a gift certificate of $600 value for online Simon Fraser University writing course, $125, $100 for top entries in fiction, nonfiction ...

  17. A guide to writing prizes for young Canadians

    Entry fee: Free. Prize: $2,000 for the winner of the ages 14-18 category, $100 for the winners of the ages 6-9 and 10-13 categories. James Bartleman Indigenous Youth Creative Writing Awards. Entry ...

  18. Contests & Competitions

    James Bartleman Indigenous Youth Creative Writing Awards. Genre: Creative Fiction and Nonfiction (Ages 12 - 18) Entry Fee: None Deadline: 2024 contest details to be announced Prize: Up to six prizes of $2,500 CAD each Description: This award recognizes up to six Indigenous students for their creative writing talent. The three geographic ...

  19. Writing Contests in Canada: Guide to the Creative Spectrum

    The objective of this literary competition is to seek out, support, and endorse promising writers of short prose, thus creating opportunities and visibility for budding authors. A cash prize of $2,500 is presented to the most outstanding Canadian writer for their unpublished work of up to 2,500 words in English.

  20. YouthWrite Society Canada

    Learn more about writing markets for young people, writing competitions, tutorials on any number of great writerly topics, tips from some of your favourie instructors, helpful links and more! Learn More. Celebrating 28 Years. YouthWrite Society Canada, a non-profit and charitable arts organization, ...

  21. Canadian Children's Art Foundation

    CCAF Creative Writing Contest 2024 January 1 - March 30, 2024. Join the CCAF Creative Writing Contest—a celebration of young storytellers! As a distinguished art foundation, we believe in limitless creativity. We invite all young writers in Canada to share their extraordinary tales on paper. ... Since our mission is developing art education ...

  22. Contests and Opportunities

    Contest Calendar. The Canadian Writers' Contest Calendar, edited by Deborah Ranchuk. Available from: White Mountain Publications. 50 Silver Street, Box 620, Cobalt, ON P0J 1C0. 1-800-258-5451. 705-679-5555.

  23. 2024 SEP Writing Contests

    2024 Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we've published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. ... INDEPENDENT RESEARCH in both Canada and the US suggests that the ...

  24. Contests & Competitions

    Deadline: Early Bird deadline of March 31, 2024; final deadline of July 31, 2024. Prize: First prize of €1,000 and publication in a future issue of Anthology: second prize of €250; third prize of €150. Description: Established to recognise and encourage creative writing and provide a platform for publication.