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Your Ultimate Guide to Writing Contests for 2024 / 2025

Because you just never know....

I first published a writing competition guide in 2022 and it was so popular, I've updated it for 2024 for this week's blog post. If you're a planner like me, I love outlining my year ahead, not just in term of writing goals but also for literary events, writing competitions, authors I'd like to meet and so on. (Yes, I know we're only in September but what can I say...I love having stuff to look forward to!)

Writing competitions are an incredible opportunity to get your work in front of industry professionals so in this week’s blog post I’ve curated a list of contests - most of which are an international competition - that you may want to consider as part of your author journey.

In fact you may (or may not) know that my own author career started as a result of winning a writing competition in 2016 which led to a 3-book deal. While it can be nerve-wracking to submit your work, the benefits far outweigh any discomfort, helping you understand where you need to improve, who the competition is, and what the publishing industry is looking for.

If you win, there’s often a cash prize along with the prestige that comes from winning first place. However, even if you're not a grand prize winner taking home prize money, coming in second place, third place, or having an honorable mention in a literary magazine is a fantastic confidence boost. Imagine how good it would feel to share your winning story on social media!

So if you’re serious about your writing and becoming a published author , check out my round up of upcoming writing competitions, many of which have submissions open now . As many of you are from all around the world these are not just United States based; the majority of these are open to international entries .

While this blog mainly focuses on adults entrants, for writing contests for college students, high school students, and young writers , I would suggest looking at the New York Times student contest calendar . There are lots of student writing contests to choose from, many of which are open to young people all around the world and they cover lots of submission types including personal essay contests, short story competitions, science fiction, letters, flash fiction, diary entries, songs, raps, and even visuals such as graphic novels and illustrations. Check out this link to see which might work best. The competitions covered below mainly focus on a work of fiction although in some cases you can compete with non-fiction or a poetry collection. Most writing contests require unpublished work and I'm sure I don't need to add that it must be your original work! When reviewing these competitions, please do check the terms and conditions carefully , focusing on requirements such as word count, minimum and maximum length, and what contact information should be added and where it should be included (usually, judges of an annual contest prefer to read submissions anonymously.) I've added entry fees in local currency and there are often options for fee reductions depending on your circumstances.

1. The Commonwealth Short Story Prize

Prize : There will be five winners, one from each region (Africa, Asia, Canada and Europe, Caribbean, Pacific).

The overall winner will receive £5,000 and the remaining four regional winners £2,500.

Entry fee : Free

Submission Opening: September 1, 2024

About : The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is an annual award for unpublished short fiction administered and funded by the Commonwealth Foundation . The story should be adult fiction and entrants must be citizens of a Commonwealth country . Submissions are accepted in English, Bengali, Chinese, Creole, English, French, Greek, Malay, Maltese, Portuguese, Samoan, Swahili, Tamil, and Turkish.

2. Writer's Digest Annual Fiction Competition

Prize : $5,000 in cash. There are also cash prizes for second, third, and fourth places.

Entry fee : Early-Bird $30, Final $35

Final Deadline: June, 3, 2024

About : Writer’s Digest has been shining a spotlight on up-and-coming writers in all genres through its Annual Writing Competition for over 90 years. Enter the 93rd Annual Writing Competition for your chance to win and have your work be seen by editors and agents. Almost 500 winners will be chosen.

3 . Unleash Work-In-Progress

Prize : $500 to supplement costs to aid in the completion of a book-length work of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry

Entry fee : $35

Deadline : July 15, 2024

About : The Unleash WIP Award offers writers holistic support to aid a book-length work of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or hybrid. Writers will receive editorial feedback, a coaching call, $500 US, and an excerpt/interview feature in Unleash Lit. This contest is designed to support writers who are just starting or have been toiling away but need a little boost to keep going. The Unleash Board of Directors will select the winner. 

4 . First Novel Prize

Prize : 1st place: £1000, Shortlist Prize: £500

Entry fee : £25

Deadline : Submissions open May 31, 2024

About : The First Novel Prize aims to discover a powerful new voice in fiction writing, across the English language world. Prizes are available for unpublished or independently published novelists. The submission should be over 50,000 words and of an adult genre.

5. The Caledonia Novel Award

Prize : £1,500 top prize; £500 for Highly Commended novel; free place on a writing course at Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre for the writer of the best novel from the UK and Ireland.

Entry Fee : £28

Deadline : October 15, 2024

About : In its 11th year of competition, this Edinburgh-based, international award for unpublished and self-published novelists in all genres for adults and YA. This year's judge is Alice Lutyens, literary agent at Curtis Brown. Entrants should send their first 20 pages plus 200-word synopsis.

6 . The Disquiet Prize

Prize : a full scholarship, accommodation, and travel stipend to attend the tenth annual DISQUIET International Literary Program in Lisbon (June 23-July 5, 2024). Genre winners will receive a tuition waiver for DISQUIET 2024 in addition to publication. Winners who are unable to attend the progam in Lisbon may elect to receive a $1000 cash prize in lieu of the tuition waiver.

Submission opening : September, 2024

Entry fee : $15

About : The DISQUIET Prize is open for submissions in fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. ​

As more annual awards are announced, I will add the details to this post so do check back occasionally and in the meantime, I would urge you to work on your unpublished manuscript - you just never know, your idea could be a winning entry and lead you to becoming one of the many published authors who have cemented their writing career this way.

Best of luck!

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Reader – writer – curated resources – & more, 50 writing contests in july 2024 – no entry fees – by erica verrillo…, on publishing … and other forms of insanity:.

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15 Creative Writing Competitions for High School Students

By Eric Eng

Creative writing competitions for high school students offer a unique platform to hone their writing skills, express their creativity, and gain recognition. These contests serve as a valuable opportunity for young writers to challenge themselves, explore different genres, and potentially earn awards or scholarships.

1. Ocean Awareness Student Contest

• Location : Online
• Cost : Free
• Contest Date : November 2024
• Application Deadline : June 10, 2024
• Eligibility : Students aged 11-18 from all over the world can join the contest in the Junior Division (11-14) or Senior Division (15-18) based on their age at entry.

The 2024 Ocean Awareness Contest, aptly themed “Tell Your Climate Story,” invites young individuals aged 11-18 from across the globe to articulate their personal encounters with climate change. This 13th edition of the contest serves as an educational and expressive platform, encouraging participants to delve into the impacts of the climate crisis on both a personal and communal level. Participants are encouraged to convey their insights, experiences, and perceptions of the evolving climate reality through creative mediums such as art, writing, performance, film, or multimedia. Submissions can range from fiction, like short stories, to creative nonfiction, including personal narratives and journalistic pieces.

The contest not only fosters an understanding of environmental issues but also enhances skills in communication, critical thinking, and creativity. It’s a chance for young creators to grow their portfolios, gain recognition through global exhibitions and publications, and earn cash awards up to $1,000. Participants also become part of Bow Seat’s extensive global community, contributing to significant environmental conservation and advocacy efforts. The contest aligns with the interests of prospective college students, offering an opportunity to showcase commitment to environmental issues and creative expression in their college applications.

2. River of Words Poetry and Art Contest

• Location : Saint Mary’s College of California
• Contest Date : Early April 2024
• Application Deadline : February 29, 2024
• Eligibility : Open to students aged 5 to 19 enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade

One of the widely-known creative writing competitions for high school students is the River of Words Poetry and Art Contest. It is an esteemed international youth competition, motivating students to articulate their environmental observations through art and poetry. Organized by River of Words® (ROW), a part of The Center for Environmental Literacy at the Kalmanovitz School of Education, the contest encourages participants to delve into themes that resonate with them, be it a specific aspect of nature, an ecosystem, or reflections of their cultural experiences. Each participant can submit up to 10 entries, with a maximum of five each for poetry and art. These entries are categorized and judged across four age-based groups, ranging from kindergarten to 12th grade.

Approximately 100 finalists in both art and poetry categories are chosen for publication, alongside the Grand Prize winners. Participating in the River of Words Contest not only nurtures creative expression and environmental consciousness but also offers significant benefits for college applications. It aids students in building a robust portfolio and developing skills like critical thinking and global awareness, which are invaluable in college and future career paths.

3. Thespy Playwriting

• Cost : Varies (per chapter)
• Contest Date : June 23-28, 2024 (International Thespian Festival)
• Application Deadline : May 8, 2024 (for Final Round qualification)
• Eligibility : Participants must be active Thespians (grades 9-12) and Junior Thespians (grades 6-8) in chartered Thespian troupes.

The Thespy Playwriting (formerly Thespian Playworks ), a highlight of the Educational Theatre Association’s International Thespian Excellence Awards, offers an exceptional platform for young playwrights. As part of a broader program that acknowledges outstanding achievements in school theatre, both in performance and technical aspects, this competition specifically focuses on the art of playwriting. It invites high school Thespians to submit original short plays, emphasizing the importance of authentic storytelling and deep personal connection to the themes and characters.

Participants who achieve an overall Superior rating gain special recognition, with the top scorers in each category being announced live during a showcase event. What sets this program apart is its emphasis on educational development and the substantial rewards it offers. High achievers can earn a share of over $40,000 annually, a significant incentive that underscores the value placed on artistic excellence. For students aspiring to pursue theatre or writing in college, participation in the Thespy Playwriting competition can be a formidable addition to their college applications. It demonstrates their dedication to their craft, their ability to engage in complex creative processes, and their capacity for original thought – all qualities that are highly regarded in higher education and beyond.

4. Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest

• Location : Hollins University
• Contest Date : March 2024
• Application Deadline : October 31, 2023 (Passed)
• Eligibility : Young women who are US citizens and are sophomores or juniors in high school or preparatory school.

The 60th Annual Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest, sponsored by Hollins University, offers a unique opportunity for young women in their sophomore or junior year of high school to gain recognition and scholarships for their poetic talents. This contest encourages participants to submit up to two of their best and unpublished poems, with the promise of substantial rewards for the winners. The first-place winner not only receives a $350 cash prize and publication in Hollins’ acclaimed literary magazine, “Cargoes,” but also ten copies of the magazine, a renewable scholarship of up to $5,000 per year for four years if they enroll at Hollins University, and free tuition and housing for the university’s Hollinsummer creative writing program. 

The second-place winner also enjoys the prestige of being published in “Cargoes,” along with two copies of the magazine, a renewable scholarship of up to $1,000 per year for four years at Hollins, and a $500 scholarship for the Hollinsummer program. Participation in this contest not only bolsters a student’s portfolio for college applications but also offers a glimpse into Hollins University’s vibrant writing community. Winning or participating in the Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest can be a significant advantage for college admissions, demonstrating a student’s creative abilities and potential for literary achievement.

5. Princeton University Writing Contests

• Location : Princeton University
• Contest Date : June 2024 (Ten-Minute Play Contest); April 2024 (Leonard L. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry)
• Application Deadline : April 1, 2024 (Ten-Minute Play Contest); November 26, 2023 (Leonard L. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry)
• Eligibility : The contests are open exclusively to U.S. and international students who are in the eleventh grade.

Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts annually sponsors prestigious writing contests for high school students, supported by generous donations from alumni and friends of the Arts. The Leonard L. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry Prize, judged by poets from Princeton’s own Creative Writing faculty, celebrates exceptional poetry by student writers. Contestants may submit up to three poems, with the opportunity to win substantial cash prizes: $1,500 for first place, $750 for second, and $500 for third. Similarly, the Ten-Minute Play Contest provides an exclusive opportunity for 11th graders to demonstrate their playwriting skills. Each year, a notable guest playwright judges the submissions. Students can submit one play, competing for prizes of $500, $250, and $100 for first, second, and third place, respectively. 

Winning or even participating in creative writing competitions for high school students can significantly bolster a student’s college application, highlighting their creative abilities and showcasing their affiliation with a prestigious institution like Princeton University, which is known for its excellence in the arts. Participating in these contests displays students’ commitment to their craft and ability to compete at a high level, qualities that are highly valued in the competitive college admissions process.

6. Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

• Cost : $10 per individual entry; $30 per portfolio
• Contest Date : January (Regional Awards); March (National Awards)
• Application Deadline : December–January (varies by region)
• Eligibility : Participants must be students in grades 7-12, at least 13 years old, and reside in the United States, U.S. territories or military bases, or Canada.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have fostered creativity in American teens for over a century. This prestigious program allows young artists and writers to explore a wide range of topics freely, encouraging bold and original ideas. Initially, students compete regionally, with the potential to earn various awards. At the national level, winners are celebrated at a star-studded ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City, with past guests including prominent figures like Oprah Winfrey and Amy Schumer. The national stage not only recognizes their talent but also showcases their work in regional and travelling exhibitions. Outstanding works are also featured in the annual art catalog and writing anthology, with all National Medalists listed in the Yearbook.

National Medalists are eligible for scholarships up to $12,500, highlighting the program’s commitment to supporting young talent financially. Full-tuition scholarships are also available for recognized teens to attend summer art or writing programs. Additionally, designated scholarships in partner colleges and universities emphasize the program’s influence on higher education. Participation in this program can significantly enhance a student’s college application, demonstrating their dedication and talent in the arts. The opportunity to earn scholarships and recognition at national and regional levels provides a substantial advantage in the competitive college admissions process, setting these young artists and writers apart.

7. The Adroit Prizes for Poetry and Prose

• Cost : $15 (submission fee)
• Contest Date : Unspecified (for 2024)
• Application Deadline : Unspecified (for 2024)
• Eligibility : All high school and college students, including those from other countries and those who finished school a semester early, can participate in the contests.

The Adroit Prizes, presented by The Adroit Journal , a literary and arts nonprofit organization established in 2010 by poet Peter LaBerge, stands as a prestigious recognition in the literary world. The journal annually awards two students of secondary or undergraduate status. These students are typically emerging writers from high school or college whose exceptional works make them stand out. Participants are allowed to submit up to five pieces across poetry and prose categories. For poetry, each submission can include up to six poems, not exceeding ten single-spaced pages. In contrast, prose submissions can contain up to three pieces of fiction or creative nonfiction, with a combined word limit of 3,500 words, including excerpts.

Winners of The Adroit Prizes receive $200 each, and their work, along with that of the runners-up, is featured in The Adroit Journal. Additionally, runners-up and finalists are gifted a copy of their judges’ latest book. This recognition sets the program apart among creative writing competitions for high school students as it not only offers financial rewards but also provides significant exposure and publication opportunities for young writers . Being recognized by a well-regarded journal like The Adroit can be a valuable asset in the competitive college admissions process, highlighting a student’s creative abilities and potential for success in higher education and beyond.

8. The Claudia Ann Seaman Award for Young Writers

• Cost : $5 submission fee (for Fall, Winter, and Summer Contests ONLY)
• Contest Date : Varies (depends on Reading Periods and Seasonal Contests)
• Application Deadline : Varies (depends on Reading Periods and Seasonal Contests)
• Eligibility : High school students worldwide aged 14 to 18, are eligible to participate.

The Claudia Ann Seaman Awards for Young Writers, established in memory of a young poet by the Seaman family, celebrate and acknowledge excellence in teen writing across poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Each year, the editorial staff selects nominees from works accepted for publication, and a panel of professional, published authors then chooses a winner in each of the three genres. Winners receive a $200 cash award, and two honorable mentions are also recognized in each genre.

This opportunity is not just about publication and the cash prize; it’s a chance for young writers to engage with a global literary community, receive valuable feedback from experts, and enhance their writing skills. Furthermore, the recognition from this award can significantly enhance a student’s portfolio, making it a noteworthy addition to college applications. Being selected or even nominated for the Claudia Ann Seaman Awards demonstrates a student’s dedication to their craft and ability to produce work that resonates with a broader audience.

9. National Council of Teachers of English

• Contest Date : May 2024
• Application Deadline : February 15, 2024
• Eligibility : Sophomores and juniors can be nominated by their school’s English department for Achievement Awards in Writing. Eighth-grade students can be nominated by a school committee or department for the Promising Young Writers contest. US-accredited schools in the Schools in the United States, its territories, Canada, and American Schools Abroad are eligible to nominate students.

The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) is dedicated to enhancing the teaching and learning English and language arts at all educational levels. Among its initiatives, the NCTE hosts two significant writing programs for students: the Achievement Awards in Writing for high school students and the Promising Young Writers program for eighth graders. In both competitions, students must create themed writings based on topics set by the respective advisory committees. This approach challenges students to engage with relevant and thought-provoking subjects and helps develop their critical thinking and creativity.

The top-scoring entries in each category are honored with the First Class distinction in the Achievement Awards in Writing or the Promising Young Writers program. All nominated students receive a certificate from their nominating teacher, and those awarded First Class recognition have their names and their schools’ names published on the NCTE website. Being recognized by a national organization like the NCTE can add considerable value to a student’s college application, showcasing their commitment to and excellence in the field of English and language arts.

10. The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers

• Contest Date : February 2024
• Application Deadline : November 30, 2023
• Eligibility : High school sophomores and juniors are eligible to join the contest.

The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers is an esteemed annual contest designed to celebrate and recognize the poetic talents of high school sophomores and juniors. Named to honor Patricia Grodd for her unwavering support of The Kenyon Review and her dedication to education and poetry, the prize stands as a significant opportunity for young poets. The contest’s winners and runners-up earn the honor of having their poems published in The Kenyon Review, one of the most respected literary journals, a testament to the contest’s prestige in the literary world. Additionally, the winner is awarded a full scholarship to the Kenyon Review Young Writers workshop, further nurturing their literary skills.

Being featured in The Kenyon Review is a notable achievement, as it signals a young writer’s entry into the broader literary community and provides substantial exposure. This recognition can be invaluable for a student’s college applications, highlighting not only their talent in poetry but also their ability to achieve at a high level in competitive environments.

11. NaNoWriMo

• Contest Date : February 1-28, 2024
• Application Deadline : February 28, 2024
• Eligibility : Young writers aged 18 years old and under are eligible for NaNoWriMo’s “Now What?” Young Writers Contest.

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), initiated in 1999, presents a formidable yet exciting challenge: writing 50,000 words of a novel within a month. Annually, starting November 1, hundreds of thousands globally embark on this journey, aiming to complete a first draft by month’s end. The Young Writers Program, a vital part of NaNoWriMo, supports writers under 18 and K-12 educators throughout this event and in smaller challenges throughout the year. January and February are designated as “Now What?” months, focusing on revising and polishing the novels aiming towards publication. The program offers grand prizes to one writer aged 14-18 and another prize for writers aged 13 or younger, along with several runner-up prizes. 

Winners are selected by a special guest judge from official finalists and receive recognition on NaNoWriMo’s blog and social media, along with gift certificates for the NaNoWriMo store. In 2022, NaNoWriMo saw the participation of 413,295 writers, including 21,326 young writers, with 51,670 writers meeting their writing goals. Participating in NaNoWriMo can significantly bolster a student’s college application, showcasing their commitment to a substantial project, their ability to meet deadlines, and their creative writing skills.

12. Writopia Lab Worldwide Plays Festival

• Eligibility : The Worldwide Play Festival accepts submissions from playwrights aged 6 to 18.

Writopia Lab, established in New York City in 2007, is a nonprofit organization that offers creative writing workshops and camps for children and teenagers. Since 2010, it has hosted the Worldwide Plays Festival, an annual Off-Broadway event featuring one-act plays written by young playwrights aged 6 to 18. These plays, which range from comedies and musicals to monologues and historical dramas, are brought to life by professional New York City theater artists. Each year, the festival adopts a different theme, with 2023 focusing on “Bravery, MakeBelieve & Language.” Playwrights are invited to write an 8-minute play of any genre, incorporating at least one specified prop or costume.

The standout feature of this festival is the opportunity for young playwrights to see their work produced if selected as winners. This experience not only provides them with a rare chance to engage with theater professionals but also offers a significant boost to their artistic portfolios. Furthermore, participation in the Worldwide Plays Festival can be a pivotal point for college admissions, demonstrating students’ creative abilities and capacity to engage in complex storytelling. Having a play produced at such a prestigious event underscores a young writer’s talent and commitment, making their college applications stand out.

13. YoungArts Program

• Cost : $35 (application fee)
• Application Deadline : October 2024
• Eligibility : Artists aged 15-18 or in grades 10-12 who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or legally able to receive taxable income in the U.S. (documentation required) are eligible to join. Previous National YoungArts Week award winners are not allowed to apply, regardless of discipline or category.

Founded in 1981, YoungArts has been pivotal in identifying and nurturing outstanding young artists, dedicating itself to enhancing their potential and supporting their creative freedom throughout their careers. Unique in its approach, YoungArts is among the few U.S. organizations that support artists across 10 disciplines, including writing, which encompasses creative nonfiction, novels, plays or scripts, poetry, short stories, and spoken word. Participation in YoungArts offers several benefits, including cash awards ranging from $250 to $10,000, which can be a substantial aid for young artists. One of the key aspects of YoungArts is the mentorship provided by accomplished artists, helping award winners navigate and prepare for a career in the arts. 

Additionally, YoungArts award winners have the opportunity to be nominated as U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts, one of the highest honors for high school students in the U.S. This national recognition not only boosts the profile of emerging artists but also significantly enhances their college applications, showcasing their achievements and potential to academic institutions. The prestigious nature of the award and the recognition from respected artists in their field provide a substantial advantage in the competitive landscape of college admissions and artistic endeavors.

14. Young Authors Writing Competition

• Eligibility : Students from grades 9-12, typically aged 14 to 18 years old, are eligible to participate in the competition.

The Young Authors Writing Competition, hosted by the English and Creative Writing Department at Columbia College Chicago, offers a notable platform for young writers to showcase their talents. Participants are allowed to submit up to two works in each of the Creative Nonfiction and Fiction categories, and in the Poetry category, up to two files with 1-5 poems each. This means a total of six files can be submitted across all categories, encompassing a wide range of forms, styles, and subjects. The competition is transitioning to an entirely online and digital format, making it more accessible to a broader range of participants.

Winners of the competition are awarded cash prizes and the opportunity for their work to be published online, providing significant exposure for young writers. What sets this competition apart from popular creative writing competitions for high school students is its affiliation with Columbia College Chicago , a prestigious institution known for its strong writing and creative arts programs. Participating in this competition can significantly enhance a student’s college application, demonstrating not only their writing skills but also their initiative and ability to compete at a high level. Additionally, the chance to have their work associated with a respected college offers young authors a valuable stepping stone in their writing careers, opening doors to further educational and professional opportunities in the literary field.

15. The Bennington Young Writers Awards

• Contest Date : Spring 2024
• Application Deadline : November 2024
• Eligibility : Students in grades 9-12 from the United States and international students are invited to enter the competition.

Bennington College, renowned for its rich literary history that includes twelve Pulitzer Prize winners and three U.S. poet laureates, celebrates this tradition with the Young Writers Award. This prestigious competition is aimed at high school students to foster and recognize exceptional writing skills. Open to both U.S. and international students, participants can enter categories of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction, each with specific guidelines. First-place winners in each category receive $1,000, second-place winners get $500, and third-place winners are awarded $250. Moreover, Young Writers Award finalists and winners who apply, are admitted, and enroll at Bennington College can receive significant scholarships. Finalists are eligible for a $10,000 yearly scholarship for four years, totaling $40,000, while winners can receive a $15,000 annual scholarship over four years, amounting to $60,000.

The Bennington Young Writers Award stands out for its association with a prestigious institution and the opportunities it offers beyond the competition. The scholarships offered to finalists and winners also provide a substantial incentive, easing the financial burden of higher education. For aspiring writers, this award is not just a competition but a gateway to educational advancement and a successful career in the literary field.

Participating in creative writing competitions for high school students enhances writing skills, nurtures creativity, and offers a competitive edge in college admissions. Ultimately, it lays a strong foundation for young writers’ future academic and professional success.

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Galaxy Z Fold 6 half open

For years, I have wished the Galaxy Z Fold series cover screen to be wider so I can at least type on it. I have found the Honor Magic V2 , OnePlus Open, and Vivo X Fold 3 Pro to be more comfortable to type on and interact with apps because of the aspect ratio being closer to a regular slab smartphone.

But Samsung has stuck with the Galaxy Z Fold design language. The company isn’t reinventing the wheel with its design. The 6.3-inch AMOLED cover screen is just 1mm wider than before but combined with the lighter and thinner design, it feels much more comfortable to hold and use than the Galaxy Z Fold 5 . It’s also shorter than before, so typing on it is easier than ever.

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In numbers, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 measures 12.1mm thick when folded (down from 13.4mm on the Fold 5) and weighs 239 grams, which is 3 grams heavier than Vivo and same as the OnePlus foldable. It’s still on the thicker side when compared to the OnePlus and Vivo phones, but for the narrow design, it makes a lot of difference.

The new Samsung foldable is also IP48 rated for dust and water resistance, while phones from Vivo and OnePlus are IPX8 and IPX4 rated, respectively for water resistance and no dust protection. The “4” in IP48 means the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is protected against particles measuring more than 1mm, so don’t take it to the beach, please – sand can still penetrate it.

Comfortable To Hold In The (Right) Hand

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 cover screen

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 feels premium in the hand, unless you’re holding it in the left hand. The edges on the hinge side are the sharpest on a foldable right now, and they dig into the palm inconveniently.

The Samsung foldable has good weight distribution and doesn’t feel top-heavy like the Vivo phone. It’s almost the same height as the OnePlus Open, but the narrow cover screen makes it more handy. However, I find the Open and Magic V2’s cover displays more comfortable to run apps on.

If you are new to foldables and need at least one screen that feels similar to a regular phone, the OnePlus and Honor phones give you that option. That being said, you’ll get used to the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s form factor within hours.

The Most Premium Hinge Quality

Honor Magic V2 Porsche Edition, OnePlus Open, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, Vivo X Fold 3 Pro (from left ... [+] to right)

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 feels more premium than the competition when you’re in the process of unfolding it because of the solid hinge. Both OnePlus and Vivo hinges feel softer to unfold, while the Magic V2 has a slight creak sound to it sometimes. Samsung’s hinge remains the most premium on any foldable.

The tighter hinge comes in handy when I’m watching something or on a call while the phone is kept on the back and half-folded (like a laptop). It might be a minor use case, but I find myself using book-style foldables like this a lot. I can open the Fold 6 to any comfortable viewing angle and be confident that I won’t need to fiddle with it.

By contrast, both the OnePlus Open and Vivo X Fold 3 Pro fall on the hinge or open flat after a certain angle, so I need to reposition them until I get the angle viewable right. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 hinge feels more solid and polished but consuming content on the OnePlus Open, once I figure out the positioning, feels better because of the more natural aspect ratio.

Crease Control

Vivo X Fold 3 Pro, OnePlus Open and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (from top to bottom)

Samsung has finally worked on reducing its crease with the Galaxy Z Fold 6. When compared to the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro and OnePlus Open, it’s still on the deeper side – both companies have done a better job at minimizing the crease on their folding displays. It doesn’t bother me on the Samsung foldable when I’m consuming content, for the most part.

When swiping through the middle (whenever I have to), I realize it’s deeper than the competition but not as bad as the Fold 5. It’s a modest improvement – one I can live with when I’m getting a more solid hinge. However, I expect Samsung to do better, being the pioneer and currently on the sixth generation of book-style foldables.

I also wish Samsung could have brought the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s lowered surface reflection to the Galaxy Z Fold 6. However, that’s a Gorilla Glass Armor feature, which is only meant for solid displays.

All foldables’ inner screens, including Vivo, OnePlus, and Honor devices, retain smudges, which get in the way of the viewing experience outdoors. The Fold 6 now goes up to 2,600 nits peak brightness, but it’s mostly for the supported HDR content. It’s still legible in direct sunlight, but the lower reflection could’ve given it an edge over other foldables.

Uninterrupted Folding Screen

Galaxy Z Fold 6 inner screen

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 features a 7.6-inch folding display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s sharp and bright, but I like it more because of the underscreen camera—not that the punch-hole cameras ever bothered me on other foldables, but I find this display more likely to read on.

However, it’s the same as the Fold 5—both the underdisplay camera quality and the pixels lying on top of it. I don’t think I’d have noticed it much if I was using such a display for the first time. But having past experience with the Galaxy Z Fold series and RedMagic gaming phones, I tend to gaze at it and get stuck staring at the pixels.

I need more pixels on top of the underscreen camera. But the full-screen experience when looking at photos, gaming, or reading is one I appreciate on the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

More Powerful, More AI

Galaxy Z Fold 6 AI in use

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chipset. It’s the same as the Xiaomi 14 Ultra or the Oppo X7 Ultra in terms of prowess. The chipset is paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB/512GB/1TB of storage. Ideally, I would have liked to see base 512GB storage at this price point, like the OnePlus Open and the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro.

In terms of day-to-day use, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 feels snappy and smooth without any issues. I was able to multitask, jump between social media and work apps, navigate while looking at my Twitter feed, watch Reels while replying to WhatsApp texts, and more pretty easily. It features a larger vapor cooling chamber, and I didn’t find it getting warm to the touch. While not all games are tuned to take advantage of the bigger display, you’ll enjoy gaming on this phone.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 runs One UI 6 on top of Android 14, which makes it stand out from other foldables—not because of the AI features but with the seven years of software update promise.

Talking about AI, the new Samsung foldable is supercharged with new software tricks under the Galaxy AI umbrella. But like other AI features in 2024, it remains gimmicky to an extent.

In my two weeks of usage, I have found these Galaxy AI features to be fun and useful:

• Circle to Search (useful): It allows me to circle something on the screen and search for it online. I used it a lot on the Galaxy S24 Ultra and found a similar, frequent use case here.
• Portrait Studio (fun): The feature lets you transform selfies into sketches, 3D cartoons, and more.
• Sketch to Image (fun): It generates images from your sketches and works even on photos you capture. For instance, I can click a selfie, draw flames on my shoulder, and Galaxy AI would add real-looking flames to my image. It’s inconsistent as of now but can be a lot of fun with unexpected additions to images.

Galaxy AI Sketch to Image on the Galaxy Z Fold 6

The first one is useful, while the other two lie under “something I’d use if I had the time for it.” Other on-paper AI features include summarizing notes, translating text right from the Samsung keyboard, erasing objects in images, and using the Fold 6’s cover screen as a display to transcribe while using translation in conversations. The Galaxy AI features remain fun to play with and nice to have extras, with Circle to Search being the only AI feature I use almost daily.

Overall, One UI feels more polished than others. While OnePlus’ Open Canvas and Vivo’s Fold-to-Split remain standout features in their own ways, I find One UI more user-friendly and responsive. I don’t get the odd notifications for “app optimization,” or miss any notifications on the Galaxy Z Fold 6, unlike the OnePlus Open. Plus, the seven years of software updates promise seems compelling enough to opt for a Samsung foldable over others.

Could’ve Used A Few More Upgrades

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 camera module

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 sports a triple rear camera setup. It remains similar to the Fold 5, which means you get a 50MP primary camera, a new 12MP ultrawide-angle lens, and a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. You get Samsung colors, which are rich and vivid, but the hardware feels like it's falling behind compared to the competition.

1x (normal) and 3x portrait

The primary camera clicks detailed photos with a good dynamic range and a vibrant look in daylight. I would pick the Fold 6’s photos over the OnePlus Open and Vivo in some daylight scenarios.

However, the Samsung phone captures noisy images in low light, and my shots from the OnePlus Open looked better. The Samsung telephoto camera also falls short when compared to the competition. For instance, the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro does better while clicking moving subjects and portraits. Vivo has done an excellent job with the cameras on its foldables this year with its flexible zoom lens and good portraits.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 1x and ultrawide image samples

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 can click social media-worthy photos up to 3x optical zoom and starts getting noise with digital zoom after that. I like the new ultrawide-angle camera, which shoots good-looking photos, and the colors remain consistent with the primary sensor.

The 10MP cover screen camera and 4MP under-display camera are good for video calls, but I recommend clicking selfies with the rear cameras on all foldables.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6’s camera UI is less confusing than others, especially when I want to use the primary camera system with the cover screen on for selfies. Somehow, my muscle memory never got used to the way to switch screens for selfies on other foldables, but I got used to the Samsung UI within a few tries.

Same Battery And Charging Tech Like Before

Another aspect that’s the same as the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the battery capacity and charging. Having a 4,400mAh battery with support for 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging seems fine – until you look at the competition.

For comparison, the OnePlus Open features a 4,805mAh battery, while the Honor Magic V2 packs a 5,000mAh battery, and the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro goes a step ahead with a 5,700mAh cell. I was comfortable carrying the Vivo foldable without a power bank, unlike the Fold 6 and OnePlus Open.

However, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 lasted me almost an entire day through my review process. It will last you a full day with average use but I wouldn’t travel without my power bank when using the Fold 6.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Review: Competition And Verdict

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Vivo X Fold 3 Pro

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is eerily similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 5, which was similar to the Fold 4 before that. It feels like a lazy upgrade, till you hold it in your hand. Compared to two years ago, it has come a long way while building on the same design.

However, the competitors are ahead in some aspects. For instance, the OnePlus Open remains the most affordable foldable phone worth buying at $1,700 / 1,40,000 (1,20,000 on sale) Indian Rupees.

When compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 6, it features a better telephoto camera, a more regular phone-like cover screen, a bigger battery with faster charging, and Open Canvas multitasking software but with a generation older processor. On the other hand, the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro remains my pick for the best cameras and all-day battery life on a foldable. I would pick it as my travel phone had it supported eSIM.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 has received a price bump and now starts at $1,900 / 1,65,000 Indian Rupees for the 256GB storage variant. Despite the modest updates, it can still be recommended because the narrow cover screen no longer feels like a downgrade from the competition but rather an option for consumers to choose from.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 offers sharp displays, excellent performance, good ultrawide and primary cameras, and seven years' worth of software updates. It’s handier than ever and feels more polished than other foldables because of the premium hinge and intuitive software – something that’d appeal to the business professionals.

• Thinner and lighter than before
• Cover screen easier to interact with
• Best hinge on a foldable phone
• 7 years of software updates
• Intuitive user interface
• Excellent performance
• Telephoto camera could be better
• Slow charging speeds

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How To Win a Writing Contest

by Joe Bunting | 33 comments

Writing contests are a great way to practice your writing skills and win prizes. Do you want to learn how to win a writing contest? 

If you enter a writing contest, there are a ton of benefits. It's a chance to practice your writing. It motivates you to write more and finish  stories.

And, of course, most writing contests come with grand prize winners and prize money.

In this article, you can learn how to enter a writing contest and how to win one. Read on to learn more!

How NOT to Win a Writing Contest

Before you learn how to become a contest winner, it's worth knowing what will prevent you from winning a contest. Let's get the obvious out of the way.

Submitting a proofed entry that is free of writing errors and follows the contest guidelines is  the minimum requirement you need to meet if you want to win a writing contest.

Here are some common mistakes that prevent writers from winning, entry after entry:

• Don't proofread . Do I really need to tell you to proofread? Personally, I'm lenient when it comes to some typos. If the piece is excellent but has two or three mistakes. I recognize that there is time to fix them before we publish the story. A grammatical error every once in a while won't break your story, but enough that clutters the story will.
• Knowingly or unknowingly break grammar rules . If you want to win, observe proper grammar . Again, I don't really need to tell you this, do I?
• Write 1,000 words more than the word count limit . You will  not  win a writing contest if you submit a 2,500 word story to a writing contest asking for contest entries 1,500 words or less. Don't waste your entry fee.
• Submit a literary fiction masterpiece to a supernatural romance contest . Yes, that's a recipe for failure. Writing contests generally lean toward certain genres. If the genre is not explicitly stated, read previously published stories from the contest to get a sense of what the judges will be looking for.
• If there is a theme, ignore it . Writing contests often ask for pieces that fit a certain theme or even follow a prompt. A good way to lose a writing contest is to ignore the contest theme requirements and write whatever you feel like.

These are  obvious, right? I would like to believe that they are, but I've judged enough writing contests to know that many people  don't  seem to understand these tips.

Now, on to the bulk of this article: how to win a writing contest.

Note: These are just the base requirements. Following them will only ensure that your piece is considered, not chosen as the winner.

How to Write a Winning Short Story Idea

How do you write a story that could win a writing contest? And how do you find a really great short story idea? In this coaching video, Joe gets coached by author Sarah Gribble, the #1 bestselling author of SURVIVING DEATH.

She helps Joe workshop his short story to turn it into what will hopefully be a winning short story. If you've ever wanted to win a writing contest, this is absolutely going to help you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBQXbNje0ec

5 Tips to Win a Writing Contest

When it comes to winning story contests, follow these five tips:

1. Recognize you are human

This may be a strange way to begin a list of tips on how to win a writing contest, but let me explain.

Stephen King once said, “To write is human, to edit is divine.” But instead of the word “edit,” you could substitute the phrase “judge writing contests,” because editors and writing contest judges play a similarly godlike role.

To scrutinize the actions of the judges of a writing contest is impossible.

All writing is subjective. A judge attempts to say, “This story is good,” or “This story is bad,” but really, they are just choosing based on their own idiosyncratic taste. Winning comes down to a judge's experience—and luck.

What is the writer to do, then? Submit your piece, pray it wins, and then go write your next story (and find a new contest to submit to). Nothing else can be done for a creative writing competition.

This is why winning—although ideal (it comes with cash prizes or an honorable mention)—isn't the only reason you should enter a writing contest. There are other benefits like getting constructive feedback and giving yourself a time commitment that will motivate you to finish writing your story.

In a real life writing career, you have to keep writing and submitting based on the guidelines. A contest is great practice. 

2. Your main character must be fascinating

What fascinates humans the most is contrast.

Light vs. Darkness. Good vs. evil. A good character trait for a hero battling the evil in the world. A normal person battling the evil inside themselves. An evil person drawn, despite themselves, to a moment of goodness.

Life vs. death. A woman's struggle against cancer, against a villain that wants to kill her, against the deathly banality of modern life.

Love vs. loss.

Neat vs. messy.

Contrast fascinates readers. Does your main character have contrast? If you want to win a writing contest, they should.

3. Surprise endings

I love surprise endings. All judges do. However, I hate  out of the blue endings.

A good surprise ending can be predicted from the very beginning, but the author skillfully distracts you so that you never expect it (the traditional method of distracting the reader is to use red herrings ).

Bad writing is creating a surprise ending that cannot be predicted and feels like the writer is simply trying to give the reader something they would never expect.

Instead, surprise the reader. Don't make up the most shocking ending without providing the clues to this ending earlier in the story.

4. Repeat with a twist

In the last few lines of your story, repeat something from earlier in the story with a twist. This echoed ending will reverberate with your reader giving closure and emotional power.

For example, you might repeat the opening image . If the snow is falling in the first lines of the story, you might say, “As night closed, the snow continued to fall. He thought it would fall for all his life.”

You might repeat an action . If your character is eating at a diner with his wife in the first scene, perhaps in the last scene he is eating alone at the same diner all alone.

You might  repeat a character . If your heroine has a meet-cute with an attractive man early in the story, you can end the story with him unexpectedly showing up at her workplace.

Repeating with a twist gives your ending an artful sense of unity. It's also really fun!

5. Write what you know (even if what you know never happened)

In one writing contest, I read a story written by a Brazilian writer about American kids driving around, eating hamburgers, and going to prep school.

“Write what you know,” I wrote to her over email. “I'm sure there are fascinating stories where you live. But don't regurgitate stories you see on American television. You will never know that world as deeply as you know your own.”

On the other hand,  Ursula Le Guin said this about the advice to write what you know :

I think it’s a very good rule and have always obeyed it. I write about imaginary countries, alien societies on other planets, dragons, wizards, the Napa Valley in 22002. I know these things. I know them better than anybody else possibly could, so it’s my duty to testify about them.

How to (Really) Win a Writing Contest

There is, of course, no guaranteed way to win a writing contest. All you can do is write your best piece, follow the contest rules and submit. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts.

All that's to say, don't over think this.

If You Want a Little More Help…

In case you're feeling stuck, we offer a free guide to help you come up with better short story ideas, and thus have a better shot at winning writing contests.

You're welcome to download the guide, for free, here:

Click here to get 10 Questions for Better Story Ideas free »

I hope you enjoy the guide, and most of all, I hope you write some really great stories.

Want more tips? Here are a few good resources:

• Upcoming Writing Contests from The Write Practice
• Ten Secrets To Write Better Stories
• How to Write a Short Story With Deep Structure (And Win a Prize for It)
• How do contest judges pick the winners?
• 20 Tips For Winning Writing Contests

Have you ever entered a writing contest? How did it go?  Let us know in the comments section .

As you prepare for your next writing contest, get a free copy of our 1-page guide, 10 Questions for Better Story Ideas here »

Spend fifteen minutes creating two characters with high contrast (see Tip #2). Write one paragraph describing the first character and another paragraph describing the second.

Then, post your two paragraphs in the Pro Practice Workshop . And if you do post, please be sure to give feedback to your fellow writers.

Have fun and happy writing!

Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

Want best-seller coaching? Book Joe here.

Work with Joe Bunting?

WSJ Bestselling author, founder of The Write Practice, and book coach with 14+ years experience. Joe Bunting specializes in working with Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, How To, Literary Fiction, Memoir, Mystery, Nonfiction, Science Fiction, and Self Help books. Sound like a good fit for you?

33 Comments

I haven’t entered many contests before but am trying for the flavor of the month contest on unigo. I am stuck with finding a unique and captivating story idea because it has to be under 250 words.

To win? Yes that is a goal. However, more than that I would absolutely love feedback from the judges. That was one thing that as a swim referree I ALWAYS had to do. If I disqualified a swimmers race, I absolutely had to talk to the swimmer and explain why I called what I called.

I miss that here. I get great feedback from the group, but I would love to hear why my story fell in the place it fell. It’s ok, if it lost the toin coss … uh … coin toss. That means it was close and the next time it might be me. However, if I have a writing habit that will always get my story tossed in the round file, I want to know that, even more so.

I do appreciate always getting published, but I’d love to see the judges crib notes on my submittals.

thank you so much I just got an idea how to end my story while reading this. concerning writing contest to be honest I never did the how to loose rules but didn’t do the how to win either so I need to work on that. thank you again

I’ve never entered a writing contest. One reason is that I haven’t really researched writing contests. I assume that most contests are not in my genre like sci-fi or horror. I guess that’s what make them “Creative Writing” contests. The overlying reason, however, is fear of rejection, and I’ve never submitted anything. When I read literary magazines, I get so envious o what others write, I doubt myself as a writer. I get everyone has their own style and voice. I guess I’m not confident in myself to enter a contest.

I can relate to everything you’re saying here. I entered the Becoming Writer contest (associated with this blog) because the email came to my inbox and it includes 6 weeks access to the critique group forum. (I promise I’m getting no kickback for plugging their contest.)

I haven’t submitted my story yet. They’re not due until the 20th, and we get to workshop them first. I’ll be posting it for feedback today. We’ll see how it goes.

I’ve never entered a competition before, until the short story one you have going now. I’ve written for myself all along though and only in the last year or so have thought of publishing. I love the fact that we can all have critique and be published, no matter who wins. I have no allusions as to winning though, as you say, writing is very subjective so you never know. Not all subject matter is everyone’s ‘cup of tea’

Thanks for all the tips…. Though I’ve written my short story and put it on the site and can’t see any major changes I will make. Next time…….

The United Authors Association has one going this summer. Any genre. Prizes totaling $500. Visit http://www.TheUAA.ORG if you are interested.

Thanks Robert.

I’m doing the Becoming Writer contest largely because I got the email in my inbox. And because it includes 6 weeks access to the critique group forum. I’m more interested in trying out the community, but the contest will be fun too.

Very cool Ric. Have fun!

What’s interesting to me is that I have just signed up for entering this contest. I had mentioned to Joe that I’m so so scared and I am. But, I believe that it’s normal to be scared sometimes and admit this. As long as you confront the fear. At my age, I’ll always remember what Roosevelt said. The only fear that you have is fear itself. KEN Thanks again, JOE

Honestly, I get scared about this kind of thing all the time. The fear tells me it’s important.

The fear is the reason to write even more.Love the quote,it inspires me too!!

I’ve been meaning to do another round of submissions, so this was the kick in the pants I needed! I entered a flash fiction contest run by Tethered By Letters. They had an option for 3 submissions, so I did that.

It always makes me feel vulnerable to enter contests, or to post my writing at all. But being a member of Becoming Writer and having my own blog have helped.

Good luck to all entering the latest BW contest!

Hi..wonderful post,Joe…In fact,speaking for myself,i would not think about writing contests till now..for i have often felt that submitting my pieces of writing would halt the process of my writing projects…but every writer deserves a break–to overcome their writer’s block…For me,the deviation is these opportunities that come by my way.I have submitted my work for some anthologies and have enjoyed the process despite fruitless results.We just need to continue believing in our stories and keep writing!!!

Cheers, Jassie

OKay, Joe, I have emailed you a time or two and I have a story to go. I had the story ready a few hours after paying the fee for the contest.

However, I have been unable to upload to the forum or find a way to get feedback. I have not received an invite and the clock ticks. I request some assistance.

Practice, practice and even more practice. If you are not a wonderkid of some sort you can never expect to excel at anything without a lot of work. Use Help from outsources and from the friends. And start practicing!)

I’ve entered a few writing contests, and I value them the most because of what they teach you. The ones requiring a synopsis have taught me how to format a synopsis and recognize the core points of my plots, and contests with short word count limits taught me how to chop down my writing to what really matters. That’s more important to me than winning anything immediately. It definitely helps writers advance long-term, whether they win or not.

Ya I agree. It’s really annoying when a writing contests is so huge and there are so many people joining it, that I don’t even know if my story will get read. It would actually be nice to get feedback even if I didn’t win, ya know? But I heard from a friend about a writing contest that has limited entry. They only allow 100 people in the contest so that people have a better chance of winning and you get feedback, even if you don’t win. Do you think they’re legit?

:/ I can never find any fantasy novel writing contests most of them are everything else and almost always for novelettes, short stories or poems. XP Except for Wattpad, that’s over now to. (Lost.)

I lost the Wattpad, Wattys 2016 so after eating much chocolate I’m trying to figure out why. I didn’t make any of the mistakes listed here. So, now what? Does my writing just plain suck donkey flop? *Sigh*

I wouldn’t look at it like that. Losing definitely doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer. Instead, get to work on your next story (and your next contest), and use what you learned from the last to practice for the next one. It’s less about winning and losing and more about getting better as a writer.

(Try #2, fixing typos.)

Okay I will ^;^ What also made it hard what that they also to the number of reads, comments and votes into account so I guess that had a part in it too. They said that it wouldn’t decide if a book won or not, but I’m thinking that that stuff plays a bigger part than they are letting on.Ooh well, I joined to get help with my writing and get feedback, so it’s all good.

Yes, I want to grow and get better at this.

I’ll just wait for next years Wattys; when it comes to contests most just want short stories. I don’t know how to do those yet. Or even worse are a scam. ;-; No thanks, I don’t need that kind of a headache.

(Try #3 fixing typos, I’m not that great at typing comments for some reason.)

Okay, I will ^;^ What also made it hard was that they also take into account the number of reads, comments and votes a book has. Mine only had 14k reads when the ones that won have millions. X.X They said that you could still win even if you don’t have many reads and such, but I’m thinking that that stuff plays a bigger part than they are letting on. Oh well, I joined to get help with my writing and get feedback, so it’s all good.

And thanks for replying. ^^

Agree with everything you said here. And you’re right about twists. They must be set up properly, and not just done out of the blue for shock value. I’d also like to say that your advice here is good for all submissions, not just contests. Great post!

Could this be anymore blatant clickbait? Claims to be about advice for winning contests, instead lists obvious do not points then says “git gud go write”

Every time I open “Upcoming Writing Contests,” I get this message: “This site is not private. Someone may be trying to hack into …” I don’t get this message for the other 4 links, only for the list of contests. Is this happening to others?

The best advice I’ve ever had is to write what I know. I once tried to write a story pretending I lived in a town in America. I got it all wrong; descriptions of people, their clothing, dialogue, descriptions of the street, bars, diners. Everything. Then I was stuck. I won’t try writing about being in line at Starbucks. I’ve never been to Starbucks and don’t know a thing about it, except that they serve coffee. Anything that is fantasy is easier for me because I have a gift for creating fantasy, of places and happenings which no one has ever seen. I must strive to be convincing and make the story unputdownable. Joe, I’m at a stage where I don’t dream of being a winner. I want to participate, have somebody read my story and give feedback, and read stories members submit for the contest. Sorry that I’m not active on TWP as much as I’d like to be, but I have a time limit now due to health issues. Cheers everybody. Happy writing.

Not sure if I should ask this, but since I´m not an English native can I send a copy of my work to any contest? If so, one of my works are not done yet.

I am working on a story for a while for a contest this helped a lot but can you give me a list of what they look for?

this is the very first time,I’ve ever gotten the gallantry to actually press the dreaded submit button for a writing contest without the wrath of inhibition drown me in regret of what could have been ! honestly, i have never been more relieved, then i have today! thank you for the amazing pointers , they have been put into action, i hope!

and now, i shall wait heh

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Mastering Writing Competitions: Insider Tips from a Two-Time Winner

06 Apr, 2024 | Blog Articles , English Language Articles , Get the Edge , Humanities Articles , Writing Articles

V. Community and networking

Participating in writing competitions can allow students to connect with fellow writers, mentors and professionals in the literary community. Joining writing groups, workshops or clubs through competitions can provide you with opportunities to share ideas and receive support. 

This not only provides the chance to learn from professionals, but can also help you to feel part of literary circles. Building relationships with experienced writers, editors and publishers fosters guidance and mentorship for you in your writing endeavours. These connections could also help you find and gain access to future opportunities.

Discover More

Thanks for signing up, 12 insider tips to ace a writing competition.

1. Make a list of the requirements

This first one may sound obvious, but it’s easy to accidentally stray from the guidelines set by the competition. Some things to bear in mind include: 

• Minimum and/or maximum word count . This is very important as your entry could be disqualified if it fails to keep within this.
• Form . Is it meant to be a poem, a short story, an essay, a script or something else?
• Prompt material. A question, statement, title, quote or photograph, for example.
• Suggested approaches . This might be a character perspective, line of argument, or particular image or theme.

By keeping a clear list of exactly what is asked of you, you can reference it as you work and ensure your writing meets the requirements. After all, you don’t want to finish your work only to realise that it needs to be partly or fully rewritten.

2. Plan out the timescale

While a competition may have a seemingly-distant deadline, you don’t want to fall into the trap of leaving it to the last minute and having to rush. Note down the deadline on your calendar or in your planner, then schedule in some time to work on your entry. 

You might want to set a few personal goals based on how much needs to be done, and by when. For example, you could set a date for having completed a plan, and another date to have finished a first draft. Make sure you leave enough time to edit and proofread.

3. Seek inspiration

It’s best to give yourself some time to think about the different ways you could approach the topic/question/theme set by the writing competition. For example, you could consider any ideas you may have had in the past, such as storylines, poetic images, characters or arguments, and see if any of them can be adapted to fit the competition’s requirements. 

Alternatively, you may need to seek out material you haven’t encountered before. This might involve reading books or news articles, visits to new or familiar places, or even something as simple as a walk. However, try not to put too much pressure on yourself, and go about your daily routine – it’s often while doing ordinary tasks that you’ll have a eureka moment.

4. Do your research

This is especially important for essay competitions, but applies to any kind of writing competition. For example, for both of my winning entries (a poem from the perspective of Queen Joanna I of Castile, and a short story inspired by a painting by Goya, a Spanish artist), I had to carefully research the historical context in which I was setting my narratives. This not only helped to inform what I was writing, but also provided great material to enrich my work and bring the stories and characters to life.

Sources might include books, websites, podcasts, articles, blogs, images and much more.

When essay-writing, backing up your ideas and arguments with evidence and research is essential to making your work convincing. When reading, it’s good to constantly ask yourself what you think about a particular line of thinking, whether you agree or disagree, or if you feel you could provide a more nuanced perspective. Including this in your essay will help make your work stand out to the judges.

Competitions often require referencing in your work, so make sure you use reliable sources and keep a note of where you’re finding each idea or piece of information. That way it’s easier for you to add any necessary footnotes, a list of sources or a bibliography to your entry.

5. Collect and brainstorm ideas before structuring

Try not to worry too much about the structure of your entry at first, and start by collecting any ideas, themes, images and descriptions you come up with, and any information and arguments you’ve read about. Jotting all of this down in mind-maps, lists or posters for example (whichever works best for you), can help you visualise your work. This makes it easier to find the best way to structure your work later on.

6. Take some time to plan

While it might be tempting to dive straight into writing, and this can be helpful when you have the momentum to write a particular part of your entry, it’s still important to plan. This helps to ensure your work is coherent and each section leads smoothly into the next one. 

For example, you may come up with a few stanzas of a poem or paragraphs of a story or essay before planning. However, it’s always good to take a step back and plan exactly where they’ll fit best within your piece, based on other content you want to include.

7. Play with form

Don’t be afraid to experiment with the form set by the competition. For example, you could research different types of poems, narrative types or ways to structure an essay. Sometimes competitions are more specific – for example, if it should be written in first or third person – but there’s always scope to find your personal approach.

Often, the best entries are those that creatively engage with the possibilities and constraints of the form they’re written in.

8. Experiment with imagery

For more descriptive pieces, it can be helpful to research literary devices and techniques. 

You might want to choose certain motifs or literary images to recur throughout the piece, which can help to provide stylistic unity to your work. Exploring the possibilities of a particular set of images or concepts to be presented in different ways can help to develop your work and showcase your creativity and imagination. 

For example, in my poem about Joanna ‘The Mad’ of Castile, I explored the weight of the charge of ‘madness’ and what it implied about illness, suffering, suppression and control.

Alternatively, using lots of different ways to describe the subject at hand can highlight your versatility and creative potential as a writer.

These tips can also be applied to essay writing, as particular case studies, anecdotes and imagery can help to anchor the focus of your work, highlighting your personal take on the subject.

9. Pay attention to tone

It’s important to bear in mind the tone you want to set for your piece. Will it be light-hearted and humorous, bitterly ironic, serious, dramatic or tragic (or something else entirely)? Think about which approach works best for the competition requirements, and try to be consistent with your tone. 

If you want to change the tenor of the piece as it develops – starting off more light-hearted but ending with a serious note, for example – make sure you’re purposeful with the way the tone changes.

10. Don’t give up!

Everyone suffers from writer’s block sometimes, and it’s normal to get a bit stuck at some stage in the writing process. Try not to get disheartened, and instead take a break and come back to working a bit later. You might feel the need to seek out a new source of inspiration, or your brain may simply be tired and you may need a break to gather your thoughts.

11. Take breaks when you need them

You might get into the ‘zone’ and want to blitz your way through the essay at once, but often we need to take a few breaks to get the cognitive juices flowing and persevere through any bouts of writer’s block as mentioned above.

Exercising, listening to music, playing an instrument, reading for pleasure, and meeting up with friends are just some of the ways that you can take a healthy break. The most important thing is to pay attention to how you’re feeling and do what’s best for you.

12. Proofread, proofread and proofread again!

Once you’ve finished your first draft, take a break and come back to proofread and edit where necessary. Pay attention to spelling, punctuation and grammar, and potentially consider alternative ways of phrasing sentences or structuring your ideas. 

Once you’ve gone through your work once or twice, it’s a good idea to ask for a second (and third) pair of eyes to check for typos and give some feedback. A competition may limit the input of the help of others such as teachers, but as long as you keep within the guidelines, asking for others’ responses is a good way to refine your work and get a feel for how others may respond to your writing. This way, you can ensure everything makes sense and is as effective as possible.

Writing competitions are an amazing opportunity for your personal and academic development, as a way of practising and improving your writing skills, encouraging your creativity and interest, and connecting you to the literary community. 

I hope these tips will guide and encourage you with your writing competition applications. Just remember to have fun and let your creativity shine through!

Costas is currently studying a BA in History and Spanish at the University of Oxford, specialising mainly in medieval history and literature. His interests include reading widely, creative writing, and playing and listening to music.

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• Writing Prompts

32+ Olympic Writing Prompts: Gold Medal-Worthy Ideas

If you’ve ever felt inspired by the grandeur and intensity of the Olympic Games, these Olympic writing prompts are the perfect way to channel that energy into your creative projects. The thrill of competition, the dedication of athletes, and the spirit of global unity offer a wealth of material to explore in your writing.

Our collection of 32+ Olympic writing prompts provides gold medal-worthy ideas to spark your creativity. Whether you’re looking to craft compelling fiction, develop insightful articles, or delve into character studies, these prompts will help you capture the essence of the Games. Use them to explore dramatic moments, personal journeys, and the dynamic world of Olympic sports in your next writing endeavour.

32+ Olympic Writing Prompts

Dive into the excitement of the Olympic Games with these 32+ Olympic writing prompts. They’re designed to ignite your creativity and help you craft stories that capture the essence of athletic triumph and international camaraderie.

• Imagine you’re a sports journalist at the Olympics. Write an article detailing an unexpected upset in the final round of a major event.
• Describe the emotional journey of an athlete who has trained for years but fails to qualify for the finals. Explore their thoughts as they watch the competition from the stands.
• Write a fictional story about a young, underdog athlete who surprises everyone by winning a gold medal. Highlight the challenges they overcame and their background.
• Create a dialogue between two athletes from different countries who are competitors but also friends. Discuss their strategies and support for each other.
• Draft a letter from a coach to their star athlete before the final event. Convey encouragement, advice, and the weight of the moment.
• Imagine the Olympic opening ceremony from the perspective of a first-time attendee. Describe their awe and the grandeur of the event.
• Write a profile piece on an athlete who has achieved remarkable success but has faced significant personal struggles. Explore their story of resilience and triumph.
• Craft a scene where a coach gives a pep talk to their team just before a critical match. Capture the tension and motivation in the air.
• Describe the intricate preparation and rituals an Olympic athlete goes through before a major competition. Include both physical and mental aspects.
• Write a reflective essay from the point of view of a retired Olympic athlete looking back on their career. Discuss their legacy and what the Olympics meant to them.
• Imagine you are an Olympic athlete who has just won a silver medal. Reflect on the mixed emotions of achieving a podium finish but falling short of gold.
• Create a narrative about the intense rivalry between two Olympic athletes in the same event. Explore their background, competition, and personal stakes.
• Write about the role of family and support systems in an athlete’s journey to the Olympics. Illustrate how their presence influences the athlete’s performance.
• Describe a dramatic Olympic moment where an athlete defies the odds to secure a win. Capture the excitement and the reactions of those witnessing the event.
• Write a dialogue between two fans discussing their favorite Olympic sports and athletes. Explore their differing opinions and personal connections to the games.
• Imagine a future Olympics with a new, unconventional sport added to the roster. Describe the excitement and challenges surrounding its debut.
• Draft a speech for an Olympic athlete who is being honored at a post-competition ceremony. Include reflections on their journey and gratitude for their support network.
• Write a short story about an Olympic athlete’s journey from humble beginnings to the world stage. Focus on their determination and the impact of their success.
• Describe the atmosphere and emotions in the Olympic Village during the final days of the Games. Highlight the camaraderie and rivalry among the athletes.
• Create a fictional account of a dramatic injury during an Olympic event and how the athlete copes with it. Discuss their recovery process and future aspirations.
• Write a profile of an Olympic volunteer who plays a crucial role in the smooth running of the Games. Explore their motivations and experiences.
• Imagine a behind-the-scenes look at the preparations for the Olympic closing ceremony. Describe the organization, rehearsals, and the final celebration.
• Draft a motivational speech from an Olympic athlete addressing a group of young aspiring athletes. Share insights on perseverance and achieving dreams.
• Write a story about a major scandal or controversy that breaks out during the Olympics. Explore its impact on the athletes, the games, and public perception.
• Describe the rigorous training regimen of an Olympic athlete leading up to the Games. Include both the physical training and mental preparation.
• Imagine a world where Olympic athletes are replaced by advanced robots. Discuss the implications for the spirit of the Games and human competition.
• Write a scene from the perspective of an Olympic judge during a high-stakes event. Capture their concentration and the weight of their decisions.
• Create a dialogue between an Olympic athlete and their sports psychologist. Explore the mental challenges and strategies for overcoming them.
• Draft a story about an athlete who becomes an unlikely hero during the Olympics by helping a fellow competitor. Highlight the themes of sportsmanship and friendship.
• Describe the journey of an Olympic athlete who competes in a sport traditionally dominated by another country. Explore their motivations and challenges.
• Write about the cultural exchange that happens during the Olympics. Focus on an interaction between athletes from different countries sharing their traditions and stories.
• Imagine a documentary being filmed about the life of an Olympic athlete. Write a scene where the athlete discusses their daily routine and personal struggles.
• Draft a fictional account of a legendary Olympic athlete’s last competition. Reflect on their career, the significance of their final performance, and their retirement.
• Write a story about an Olympic athlete’s first experience in the Games and their initial reactions to the scale and intensity of the event.
• Describe the legacy of an Olympic event that introduced a new record or groundbreaking performance. Reflect on how it changed the sport and inspired future athletes.

As you explore these 32+ Olympic writing prompts, we hope you find inspiration to create stories that reflect the spirit and drama of the Games. Whether you’re crafting a narrative about a triumphant athlete or delving into the intricate dynamics of international competition, these prompts are designed to fuel your creativity. We’d love to hear how these ideas have sparked your imagination or if you have any unique Olympic-themed stories of your own. Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below—let’s celebrate the magic of the Olympics together!

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

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• Writing Tips

5 Creative Writing Contests to Look Out For in 2023

4-minute read

• 31st December 2022

Whether you are a published or unpublished writer, creative writing contests are a great way to get your work to a larger audience while also taking home some cash prizes and getting published in top creative writing magazines and websites along the way. 

While there are many options for submitting your creative writing to contests around the globe , this article will look at 5 creative writing contests you can enter your original work into in 2023. 

1. Aesthetica Creative Writing Award 2023 

Deadline: August 31, 2023.

Who may enter: Open to anyone.

Contest description:

●  The competition is organized by the international art and culture magazine Aesthetica .

●  The competition accepts works of fiction and poetry.

●  Fiction entries should be no more than 2,000 words.

●  Poetry entries should be no more than 40 lines.

●  You may submit work on any topic or theme.

●  All work should be in English.

Entry fees:

●  Poetry entries are £12.

●  Short fiction entries are £18.

●  The poetry winner receives £2,500.

●  The short fiction winner receives £2,500.

●  Both winners will have their works published in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual.

Official website:

Please visit the contest’s official website for more information on entry submission and requirements.

2. 2023 Bristol Short Story Prize 

Deadline: April 26, 2023.

Who may enter: Published and unpublished writers over the age of 16.

●  Your short story should be more than 4,000 words.

●  You may write your short story on any subject or theme and in any style.

●  Your short story must be in English.

●  The work you submit must not have been published, whether online or in print, or broadcast, or have won a prize in any other writing competition.

Entry fee: £9.

●  First prize £1,000.

●  Second prize £500.

●  Third prize £250.

●  Each of the 17 remaining shortlisted writers will receive £100.

●  20 stories will be published in the Bristol Short Story Prize Anthology, Volume 16.

For more information on the contest’s submission guidelines and requirements, please visit the official website .

3. The Masters Review Winter Short Story Award for New Writers

Deadline: January 31, 2023.

Who may enter: All emerging writers.

●  The Masters Review , an American literary magazine and book publisher, is the organizer of this contest.

●  There is no theme.

●  Your short story should not exceed 6,000 words.

●  Your work should be unpublished.

●  Your work should be in English.

Entry fee: $20.

●  First place $3,000.

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●  Second place $300.

●  Third place $200.

●  All winners receive publication and agency review.

For more information regarding submission guidelines and requirements, please visit the Masters Review ’s official website .

4. Scottish Arts Club Short Story Competition 

Deadline: February 28, 2023.

●  This contest is organized by the Scottish Arts Club in Edinburgh, Scotland.

●  Your work must be in English.

●  Your submitted work must be unpublished in any format.

Entry fee: £10 per story.

●  First prize £3,000 (open to writers worldwide).

●  Second prize £500 (open to writers worldwide).

●  Third prize £250 (open to writers worldwide).

●  Isobel Lodge Award £750 (open to unpublished writers living in Scotland).

●  Write Mango Award £300 (open to writers worldwide).

●  Publication is offered to authors of the top 20 stories (or more) in the Club’s next anthology.

Please visit the Scottish Arts Trust’s official website for more information.

5. The Bridport Prize 2023 International Creative Writing Competition 

Deadline: May 31, 2022.

Who may enter: Anyone over the age of 16.

●  This contest is organized by the Bridport Arts Centre in Bridport, England.

●  This contest has five categories: poetry, short story, flash fiction, novel, and memoir.

○  Short story entries must be no more than 5,000 words.

○  Flash fiction entries must be no more than 250 words.

●  Your submitted work must be unpublished in any format, and must not have won or been placed in another writing competition.

Short story: £14 per short story.

Flash fiction: £11 per flash fiction.

●  Short story first place receives £5,000.

●  Short story second place receives £1,000.

●  Short story third place receives £500.

●  Highly commended 10 x £100.

●  Flash fiction first place receives £1,000.

●  Flash fiction second place receives £500.

●  Flash fiction third place receives £250.

For more information on all categories and submission guidelines and requirements, please visit the official website .

Be sure to check out Proofed’s writing blog for information on writing novels , poetry and fiction , and how to overcome writer’s block to make sure your writing is ready for submission.

If you need help with proofreading your creative writing, Proofed will proofread your first 500 words for free !

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Top 45 Writing Contests for Authors

Writing contests are a great way to get published, win a cash prize, and add another accomplishment to your resume, making it a valuable tool for authors to gain exposure and notoriety in their chosen niche.

There are as many different types of writing competitions as there are genres of content, from short story and poetry contests to science fiction, picture book, and chapbook competitions. Submitting your best work to a writing contest can help you build your reputation as an author, network with other industry professionals, and build your resume.

Here are the top writing contests to apply for and answers to your most frequently asked questions about writing competitions.

Short Story Contests

Flash fiction contests, novella contests, creative nonfiction writing contests, personal essay contests, children’s books competitions, poetry competitions, writing competitions for young writers, free writing contests, contests for emerging writers, high school writing contests, literary magazine writing contests, full-length book contests, the final word on writing contests, do writing competitions always have a cash prize, how are finalists chosen from contest entrants, what do i need to win a short story award, how do i win a poetry prize, how can i submit my best work to win first prize, what can winning writers expect after becoming a contest prize winner, what are honorable mentions, can fiction writers win a creative writing contest, creative writing contests.

1. The Iowa Short Fiction Award & John Simmons Short Fiction Award by the University of Iowa Press

The  Iowa Short Fiction Award & John Simmons Short Fiction Award  offers two authors of short fiction works under 150 double-spaced pages publication in the University of Iowa Press and in an anthology of winning works that can be purchased.

Application Deadline:  September 2023

Entry Fee:  $0

Grand Prize:  Unknown

First Place Runners Up Prize:  Not applicable

2. Zizzle Literary Flash Fiction Contest

The Zizzle Literary Flash Fiction Contest is open to authors of flash fiction between 500 and 1,200 words or short stories between 2,000 to 4,500 words.

Application Deadline:  March 2023

Entry Fee:  $5

Grand Prize:  $1,000

First Place Runners Up Prize:  $500 second-place prize and $150 third-place prize for three (3) finalists

3. L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest

The  L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest  accepts outstanding science fiction and fantasy novellas and short stories under 17,000 words. New writers are welcome to apply.

Application Deadline:  Every quarter on the last day of the month

Grand Prize:  $5,000 annually

First Place Runners Up Prize:  $1,000. Second and third place winners are awarded $750 and $500, respectively.

4. Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize

The  Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize  is a writing contest sponsored by the long-running New York radio show Selected Shorts. Entries must be less than 750 words and winners will have their work read and recorded by a professional actor for airing on the radio. Writers of any age and from any country are eligible to submit their flash fiction story for consideration.

Application Deadline:  Ongoing

Entry Fee:  $25

Grand Prize:  $1,000 plus access to a 10-week writing course by Gotham Writers

5. The Ernest Hemingway Short Fiction Prize

The  Ernest Hemingway Short Fiction Prize  offers a modest cash award for winning writers who submit flash fiction works under 1,500 words. Authors can submit multiple entries and all will be considered for publishing. Each year, one grand prize winner and three runners up are announced.

Application Deadline:  April 2023

Entry Fee:  $10

Grand Prize:  $200 cash prize and publication in Fiction Southeast

First Place Runners Up Prize:  Publication in Fiction Southeast

6. Drue Heinz Literature Prize

The  Drue Heinz Literature Prize  is a prestigious award from the University of Pittsburgh Press offered to published writers with a minimum of three (3) short stories or novellas printed in literary journals or magazines. Famous authors who have judged works for the Drue Heinz Literature Prize include Joyce Carol Oates , Margaret Atwood, Robert Penn Warren, and more.

Application Deadline:  Annually between May 1 and June 30

Grand Prize:  $15,000

7. The Miami University Press Novella Prize

The  Miami University Press Novella Prize  offers publication and a cash prize to novella authors who submit works between 18,000 and 40,000 words. Entries must not have been previously published online or in print and writers should inform the Miami University Press if their submitted work has been published elsewhere as soon as possible as it will no longer be eligible for award consideration.

Entry Fee:  $25

Grand Prize:  Winning writers receive $750, publication, and 10 copies of their novella

First Place Runners Up Prize:  Not applicable

8. Lazuli Literary Group Writing Contest

The  Lazuli Literary Group Writing Contest  offers nonfiction, fiction, essay, poetry, and play writers $500 and publication. Submission limit is a maximum of 150 pages and authors may submit either published or previously unpublished works.

Application Deadline:  January 2023

Entry Fee:  $15

Grand Prize:  $500

9. Hunger Mountain Creative Nonfiction Prize

The  Hunger Mountain Creative Nonfiction Prize  is an award offered to entrants who submit creative nonfiction works of less than 10,000 words. Both grand prize and runner up winners receive online publication by Hunger Mountain. Submissions are sent via traditional mail and may not be electronically submitted. Authors can submit multiple entries but must notify the publisher if the work is accepted for publication elsewhere during the review process.

Entry Fee:  $20

Grand Prize:  $1,000

First Place Runners Up Prize:  $100

10. The Page Prize from The Pinch Journal

The Page Prize by The Pinch Journal  is a small nonfiction writing competition that offers $1,000 to winning writers who submit flash nonfiction essays with fewer than 1,000 words. Entrants can submit multiple essays.

11. John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest

The  John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest  awards one high school student writer with $10,000 and a trip to Boston, Massachusetts to visit the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Essays must be between 700 and 1,000 words on the topic of a politically courageous act by an elected U.S. official between 1917 and now.

Entry Fee:  $0

Grand Prize:  $10,000

12. Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest

The  Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest  is available for Canadian authors of personal essays. To be considered eligible, works must not be published elsewhere and must fall between 2,000 and 5,000 words.

Entry Fee:  $40 per essay

13. Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest

The  Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest  is one of the top writing contests available for authors of both personal essays and short stories. Entrants can be any age and most countries are eligible, with the exception of North Korea, Iran, Syria, and Crimea. Submissions may be as long as 6,000 words.

Entry Fee:  $20

Grand Prize:  $3,000 each for the winning story and essay

First Place Runners Up Prize:  $200

14. New Millennium Writing Awards

The  New Millennium Writing Awards  offers a moderate cash prize to writers of short content under 7,499 words. Essays are submitted under the awards’ nonfiction category, and there are no restrictions or guidelines on the essay topic or writing style.

Application Deadline:  November 30, 2023

Entry Fee:  $20 for 1 entry, $35 for 2 entries, $45 for 3 entries, $60 for 4 entries, or $80 for 5 entries

15. The Preservation Foundation, Inc. General Nonfiction Contest

The Preservation Foundation, Inc. holds an annual  General Nonfiction Contest  that awards two writers with small cash prizes for outstanding short nonfiction pieces between 1,000 and 10,000 words. Submissions must include a short introduction and the author’s biography at the end of the piece. No editing services are provided.

Application Deadline:  October 31, 2023

Grand Prize:  $200

16. Institute for Children’s Literature Middle Grade Mystery

The  Institute for Children’s Literature  offers a small cash prize for Middle Grade Mystery writers who can captivate their target audience of 8-12 year old children with a one-line summary and the first 1,000 books of their young adult mystery novella. Entries must be unpublished.

Application Deadline:  November 15, 2023

Entry Fee:  $19

Grand Prize:  $650

First Place Runners Up Prize:  Second Prize is $350 and Third, Fourth, and Fifth Place Prizes are $100 each

17. Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards

The  Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards  is an excellent opportunity for children’s book authors to gain notoriety and accolades in their chosen niche. Winning writers do not receive a cash prize, however, they are recognized at Moonbeam’s annual awards ceremony and are provided with a medal, certificate, and title of honor for their work.

Application Deadline:  August 2023

Entry Fee:  $95 in each category

Grand Prize:  A display medal, a personalized award certificate, and an invitation to Moonbeam’s prestigious awards celebration

18. Golden Kite Award

The  Golden Kite Award  is given twice per year to two authors of children’s books in one of seven (7) categories including middle grade and young adult fiction, young adult nonfiction, picture books, and more.

Application Deadline:  July and December

Entry Fee:  Cost of SCBWI membership

Grand Prize:  $2,500 cash prize plus $1,000 paid to a non-profit of the author’s choice

First Place Runners Up Prize:  $500 cash prize plus $250 paid to a non-profit

19. Mom’s Choice Awards

The  Mom’s Choice Awards  reviews products and media for children and selects only the best to boast the Mom’s Choice Awards seal of approval.

Entry Fee:  $500 (nonrefundable)

Grand Prize:  Lifetime rights to the Mom’s Choice Awards seal for marketing, plus advertising materials

20. Cybils Awards Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards

The  Cybils Awards Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards  offers their seal of approval to authors of children’s and young adult books that best marry popularity with literary quality.

Application Deadline:  Annually between October 1st – 15th

Grand Prize:  Lifetime rights to the Cybils Awards seal for marketing

21. Troubadour International Poetry Prize

The  Troubadour International Poetry Prize  is awarded every year to a writer from any country for one poem written in English. Poems must be 45 lines or less and cannot have been published previously. Entries are accepted via email only and writers may submit an unlimited number of poems for consideration.

Entry Fee:  $7

Grand Prize:  $2,830

First Place Runners Up Prize:  $1,415

22. Poetry Nation Prime Poetry Contest

Poetry Nation’s Prime Poetry Contest  awards two poets per year who are over the age of 13 with a generous cash prize and display plaque.

Application Deadline:  Annually between January 1 – June 30 and July 1 – December 31

Grand Prize:  $2,000

23. Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest

The  Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest  award is offered to one poet in any genre and one poet written in a traditional or rhyming style each year, along with ten (10) honorable mentions.

Grand Prize:  $3,000

First Place Runners Up Prize:  Two-year gift certificates to Duotrope

24. Tupelo Press Sunken Garden Chapbook Poetry Prize

Every year, one poet will be awarded the  Tupelo Press Sunken Garden Chapbook Poetry Prize , which offers a cash prize, publication, a poetry book launch with national distribution and press, and 25 copies of the book to the author.

Application Deadline:  Annually between August 1 – October 31

25. Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize

The  Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize , organized by the University of Pittsburgh Press, is offered to one writer of a previously unpublished full-length book of poetry with more than 48 pages.

Application Deadline:  Annually between March 1 – April 30

Grand Prize:  $5,000 and publication in the Pitt Poetry Series by the University of Pittsburgh Press

26. Young Lions Fiction Award

The  Young Lions Fiction Award  from the New York Public Library is offered to young writers under the age of 35. Although authors can be under the age of 18, the work must be written for an adult audience; YA fiction and children’s books are not eligible for this contest.

Application Deadline:  Annually in May

27. Bluefire 1,000 Words Writing Contest

The Bluefire 1,000 Words Writing Contest by The Leyla Beban Young Authors Foundation awards a modest cash prize to young authors in 6th through 12th grade.

Application Deadline:  Annually between November 1 and February 1

First Place Runners Up Prize:  $100 cash prize for seven (7) writers and $50 payment for stories accepted for publication in the Bluefire Journal.

28. Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Students over the age of thirteen (13) and who are in grades 7 through 12 can enter the  Scholastic Art and Writing Awards  for fantasy and science fiction writing, scriptwriting, essay writing, and works in a total of 28 categories.

Application Deadline:  December 2023 and January 2023 depending on region

Entry Fee:  $7 per entry or $25 to enter a portfolio

First Place Runners Up Prize:  $1,000

29. Ocean Awareness Contest

The  Ocean Awareness Contest  was developed to help young adults learn about environmental and climate issues facing the world’s oceans today. Submissions are open to students between the ages of 11 and 18.

Application Deadline:  June 13, 2023

Grand Prize:  Junior Division — $1,000 for first place. Senior Division — $1,500 for first place.

First Place Runners Up Prize:  Junior Division — $750 for second place, $250 for third place, and $50 honorable mention. Senior Division — $1,000 for second place, $500 for third place, and $100 honorable mention.

30. Young Writers Awards

The  Young Writers Awards , sponsored by Bennington College, are open to students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 in the genres of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.

Application Deadline:  Annually between September 3 to November 1

Grand Prize:  $500 in each category

First Place Runners Up Prize:  $250 second-place prize, $125 third-place prize

31. St. Francis College Literary Prize

The  St. Francis College Literary Prize  offers mid-career authors with three (3) or more fiction publications under their belt with a cash prize of $50,000 and the opportunity to teach a class or deliver a lecture on their work at the St. Francis College campus in Brooklyn, New York.

Application Deadline:  To be announced for 2023

Grand Prize:  $50,000

32. The Nine Dots Prize

The  Nine Dots Prize  is a free writing contest open to authors of provocative essays under 3,000 words. Entrants must respond to a predetermined question that addresses significant problems faced by society today. The 2021/22 question for the Nine Dots Prize was, “What does it mean to be young in an aging world?”

Grand Prize:  $100,000

33. Center for Fiction NYC Emerging Writer Fellowships

The  Center for Fiction NYC Emerging Writer Fellowship Award  is offered to eligible fiction writers in New York City. In addition to a $5,000 grant, winning writers receive a fellowship opportunity for one year and may have their manuscript edited and revised by an experienced staff member. The Center for Fiction is funded in part by the Amazon Literary Partnership.

Application Deadline:  May 2023

Grand Prize:  $5,000

34. Ploughshares Emerging Writer’s Contest

The  Ploughshares Emerging Writer’s Contest  is open to unpublished writers in the genres of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Entrants may only submit one work in any genre per contest year. Poetry submissions must be between three (3) to five (5) pages and fiction/nonfiction submissions must be under 6,000 words.

Entry Fee:  $0 for subscribers, $24 for nonsubscribers

35. Adroit Prizes for Poetry and Prose

The  Adroit Prizes for Poetry and Prose  offer two students in either high school or college a cash prize of $200. Entries can include up to six (6) poems or up to three (3) works of prose totaling no more than 9,000 words.

Entry Fee:  $13, financial aid available

36. The American Foreign Services Association Essay Contest

The  American Foreign Services Association Essay Contest  awards one writer annually with a cash prize for an outstanding essay on the topic of establishing peace in foreign countries.

Application Deadline:  April 2023

Grand Prize:  $2,500, a Semester at Sea scholarship, and a paid trip to Washington D.C.

First Place Runners Up Prize:  $1,250 and a International Diplomacy Program of the National Student Leadership Conference scholarship

37. We the Students Essay Contest

The Bill of Rights Institute hosts the  We the Students Essay Contest  yearly, awarding one student writer between age 14 and 19 a substantial cash prize. The essay must answer the question, “What essential qualities must a citizen in your community have in 21st century America?”

Grand Prize:  $5,000 and a Constitutional Academy scholarship

First Place Runners Up Prize:  $1,250 for second place, $500 for honorable mention

38. Boulevard Nonfiction Contest for Emerging Writers

Boulevard offers a modest cash prize every year to an unpublished emerging writer in the nonfiction genre. Essays for the  Boulevard Nonfiction Contest for Emerging Writers  must be 8,000 words or less.

Entry Fee:  $16

Grand Prize:  $1,000 and publication in Boulevard

39. Jeffrey E. Smith Editors’ Prize

The Missouri Review awards the  Jeffrey E. Smith Editors’ Prize  to three (3) writers annually with a generous cash prize and publication in The Missouri Review. Entries are limited to poetry, essays, and short stories.

Application Deadline:  October 2023

40. TulipTree Publishing Disrupters Issue Contest

The  Disrupters Issue Contest by TulipTree Publishing  offers poem and prose writers a modest annual award for exceptional work on a provided topic.

Grand Prize:  $1,000 and publication in TulipTree Review

41. Tamaqua Award

The Tamaqua Award is organized by Hidden River Arts and provides one writer with a cash prize and publication for manuscripts of any length. Entries must include a synopsis, biography, and an outline.

Grand Prize:  $1,000 and publication by Hidden River Press

42. North Street Book Prize

The  North Street Book Prize  is a substantial award given to one writer who has self-published a book in the genres of fiction, creative nonfiction, picture books, graphic novels, memoirs, and poetry books. Submissions may not be over 200,000 words, and winners also receive top-level marketing services from industry professionals.

Application Deadline:  June 2023

Grand Prize:  $8,000

Entry Fee:  $70 per book

First Place Runners Up Prize:  $1,000 for the top winning writer in each genre and a $250 honorable mention to the third place winner.

43. The Restless Books Prize For New Immigrant Writing

The  Restless Books Prize For New Immigrant Writing  awards first-generation American immigrants with a $10,000 cash prize and manuscript publication for stories highlighting the immigration experience.

Application Deadline:  September 2023 to March 2023

Grand Prize:  $10,000 and publication by Restless Books

44. Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards

The  Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards  offer one author of a recently published work with a substantial monetary award for exceptional writing that improves society’s understanding of racism and its appreciation of diverse cultures.

Application Deadline:  Annually between September 1 and December 31

Grand Prize:  $10,000 and media appearance opportunities

First Place Runners Up Prize:  Not applicable

45. Creative Writing NZ Short Story Prize 2024

The Creative Writing NZ Short Story Prize 2024 is open for entries from January 30th, 2024! Entries will only be accepted through Duosuma.

Application Deadline:  11.59pm(NZST) on April 30, 2024

Entry Fee:  $9

Grand Prize:  $1,000, a free creative writing course of the winners choice and publication on our website.

Runners Up Prize: $200 each and a free creative writing course of choice.

Word count:  3,000 words maximum.

Open theme/subject/genre

Whether you’re writing a book of poetry, children’s books, a short story collection, a full-length book, or a work of fiction, writing contests can help you establish more secure footing in your chosen niche.

FAQs About Writing Contests

Although most writing contests offer a cash prize to the winning writers, some competitions offer other types of incentives. For example, a prestigious literary journal may offer a writing fellowship to annual contest winners versus a lump sum award.

Typically, finalists are selected from a pool of contest entrants by initially narrowing down the pool of eligible candidates. Applications will be reviewed to determine which do not meet basic eligibility criteria, such as minimum word count or following the assigned writing prompts.

To win an award for an outstanding short story, you must submit your best work to a short story competition in your niche. Depending on the writing contest, you may need to pay an entry fee and submit the entirety of your short story for publication if it wins. If the contest you entered offers a cash prize, you will typically be awarded a check several weeks following the announcement of your win.

A poetry prize is awarded by hundreds of different creative writing contests every year. Some awards are small while others are substantial enough to fund an author’s work for a short period of time. Submit your poem or collection of poems to a poetry contest you meet the eligibility requirements for.

Writing awards are offered to established and emerging writers who have submitted exceptional work in a chosen niche, such as creative writing, creative nonfiction, short fiction, and more.

To earn the top prize in any writing contest, you should proofread your work multiple times and ensure your spelling, English grammar, and formatting are free of errors. Your content should be compelling, engaging, and easy for your target audience to read and identify with.

New writers often want to know what to expect after becoming a contest prize winner before submitting their work for a literary prize. Winning writers should be prepared to quickly grow their social media networks as they gain increased notoriety. Young adults and authors new to the industry should consider working with a professional agency to secure adequate representation.

Writers who are not among the first, second, or third place winners may be given an honorable mention. Honorable mentions are considered excellent works in their own right. Multiple winning writers typically indicates that the competition was stiff and many writers deserved recognition for their work.

There are multiple contests for fiction writers that offer a range of cash prizes to authors that write short fiction, flash fiction, short stories, and other types of fiction. Competition can be stiff for these contests, however, so it’s critical to ensure that the content you submit is award-worthy.

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WEEKLY WRITING PROMPTS

Join (probably?) the world's largest writing contest. Flex those creative muscles with weekly writing prompts.

Showing 2194 prompts

Write a story in the form of a series of thank you cards..

LIVE – Narrative

Write a story about an unsung hero.

LIVE – Character

Write a story about a cynic who has been told to start a "gratitude journal," and does so — begrudgingly.

LIVE – Funny

Write a creative nonfiction piece about something you're grateful for.

LIVE – Nonfiction

Write a story about a character trying to find a way to express their gratitude to someone.

Introducing Prompted , a new magazine written by you!

🏆 Featuring 12 prize-winning stories from our community. Download it now for FREE .

Write a story using the most clichéd twist of all; it was all a dream.

Write a story that includes the line, "i didn't see that one coming.", write a story about someone who realises the story of their life has been pre-determined — until they decide to divert from the expected path., write a story in which a character learns something unexpected about someone they thought they knew well., write a story with a big twist., subscribe to our prompts newsletter.

Never miss a prompt! Get curated writing inspiration delivered to your inbox each week.

Set your story in a world where conversation about one particular topic is banned — but there are ways to get around the rule.

In a small town, a powerful family have a dark secret that nobody wants to discuss. one day, an outsider arrives, who's not happy to simply drop it., write a story that includes the line, "is nobody going to say it"., place your characters in a tough situation, where nobody wants to acknowledge the reality of what's happening., write a story about two people who aren't admitting their true feelings for one another, despite it being obvious to outsiders., a photographer captures an image of something unexplainable. what happens next, start your story with someone who has lost everything but finds solace in photography., write a story where a photograph could change the course of history if it’s delivered to the right (or wrong) person., center your story around two strangers who bond over their shared love of photography., a forgotten photograph tucked away somewhere is the catalyst for an unexpected journey., win $250 in our short story competition 🏆.

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Contest #261 LIVE

Enter our weekly contest.

This week's theme: Gratitude

Prize money

Contest entries, closes at 23:59 - aug 02, 2024 est, recent contests ✍️.

#260 – A Twist in the Tale

#259 – The Elephant in the Room

#258 – Frame of Mind

#257 – Shakespeare

Recent winners 🏆

Christine Foy – read

Rozmarin Ideas – read

Keba Ghardt – read

Melissa Van Rensburg – read

Leaderboard 🥇

#1 Zilla Babbitt

32396 points

#2 Deidra Whitt Lovegren

28764 points

#3 Abigail Airuedomwinya

22425 points

#4 Graham Kinross

14624 points

#5 Scout Tahoe

13199 points

#6 Chris Campbell

11650 points

#7 Thom With An H

10696 points

#8 Rayhan Hidayat

10218 points

#9 Michał Przywara

9961 points

#10 Deborah Mercer

9614 points

Bring your short stories to life

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Creative Writing Prompts

When the idea to start a weekly newsletter with writing inspiration first came to us, we decided that we wanted to do more than provide people with topics to write about. We wanted to try and help authors form a regular writing habit and also give them a place to proudly display their work. So we started the weekly Creative Writing Prompts newsletter. Since then, Prompts has grown to a community of more than 450,000 authors, complete with its own literary magazine, Prompted .  

Here's how our contest works: every Friday, we send out a newsletter containing five creative writing prompts. Each week, the story ideas center around a different theme. Authors then have one week — until the following Friday — to submit a short story based on one of our prompts. A winner is picked each week to win $250 and is highlighted on our Reedsy Prompts page.

Interested in participating in our short story contest? Sign up here for more information! Or you can check out our full Terms of Use and our FAQ page .

Why we love creative writing prompts

If you've ever sat in front of a computer or notebook and felt the urge to start creating worlds, characters, and storylines — all the while finding yourself unable to do so — then you've met the author's age-old foe: writer's block. There's nothing more frustrating than finding the time but not the words to be creative. Enter our directory! If you're ready to kick writer's block to the curb and finally get started on your short story or novel, these unique story ideas might just be your ticket.

This list of 1800+ creative writing prompts has been created by the Reedsy team to help you develop a rock-solid writing routine. As all aspiring authors know, this is the #1 challenge — and solution! — for reaching your literary goals. Feel free to filter through different genres, which include...

Dramatic — If you want to make people laugh and cry within the same story, this might be your genre.

Funny — Whether satire or slapstick, this is an opportunity to write with your funny bone.

Romance — One of the most popular commercial genres out there. Check out these story ideas out if you love writing about love.

Fantasy — The beauty of this genre is that the possibilities are as endless as your imagination.

Dystopian – Explore the shadowy side of human nature and contemporary technology in dark speculative fiction.

Mystery — From whodunnits to cozy mysteries, it's time to bring out your inner detective.

Thriller and Suspense — There's nothing like a page-turner that elicits a gasp of surprise at the end.

High School — Encourage teens to let their imaginations run free.

Want to submit your own story ideas to help inspire fellow writers? Send them to us here.

After you find the perfect story idea

Finding inspiration is just one piece of the puzzle. Next, you need to refine your craft skills — and then display them to the world. We've worked hard to create resources that help you do just that! Check them out:

• How to Write a Short Story That Gets Published — a free, ten-day course by Laura Mae Isaacman, a full-time editor who runs a book editing company in Brooklyn.
• Best Literary Magazines of 2023 — a directory of 100+ reputable magazines that accept unsolicited submissions.
• Writing Contests in 2023 — the finest contests of 2021 for fiction and non-fiction authors of short stories, poetry, essays, and more.

Beyond creative writing prompts: how to build a writing routine

While writing prompts are a great tactic to spark your creative sessions, a writer generally needs a couple more tools in their toolbelt when it comes to developing a rock-solid writing routine . To that end, here are a few more additional tips for incorporating your craft into your everyday life.

• NNWT. Or, as book coach Kevin Johns calls it , “Non-Negotiable Writing Time.” This time should be scheduled into your routine, whether that’s once a day or once a week. Treat it as a serious commitment, and don’t schedule anything else during your NNWT unless it’s absolutely necessary.
• Set word count goals. And make them realistic! Don’t start out with lofty goals you’re unlikely to achieve. Give some thought to how many words you think you can write a week, and start there. If you find you’re hitting your weekly or daily goals easily, keep upping the stakes as your craft time becomes more ingrained in your routine.
• Talk to friends and family about the project you’re working on. Doing so means that those close to you are likely to check in about the status of your piece — which in turn keeps you more accountable.

Arm yourself against writer’s block. Writer’s block will inevitably come, no matter how much story ideas initially inspire you. So it’s best to be prepared with tips and tricks you can use to keep yourself on track before the block hits. You can find 20 solid tips here — including how to establish a relationship with your inner critic and apps that can help you defeat procrastination or lack of motivation.

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Explore more writing prompt ideas:

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Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

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Winter Writing Prompts ⭢

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Find details about every creative writing competition—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators, and more—that we’ve published in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it in the Writing Contests database, the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.

Find a home for your poems, stories, essays, and reviews by researching the publications vetted by our editorial staff. In the Literary Magazines database you’ll find editorial policies, submission guidelines, contact information—everything you need to know before submitting your work to the publications that share your vision for your work.

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Writing Contests, Grants & Awards

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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.

Red Wheelbarrow

Poetry prize.

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Red Wheelbarrow is given annually for a single poem. The winner also receives 20 copies of a letterpress broadside of the winning...

Award for Poetry

A prize of $1,000, publication by Press 53, and 53 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Tom Lombardo will judge. Submit a manuscript of 50 to 120 pages with...

Anthology Magazine 

Short story competition.

A prize of €1,000 (approximately $1,088) and publication in Anthology Magazine is given annually for a short story. Using only the online submission system, submit a...

Connecticut Poetry Society

Experimental poetry contest.

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Connecticut River Review is given annually for an innovative poem. Claire Donato will judge. Using only the online submission system...

Spring Story Contest

A prize of $2,500 and publication in Narrative is given annually for a work of flash fiction, a short story, a graphic story, an essay, a memoir, or an excerpt from a...

Sewanee Review

Fiction, poetry, and nonfiction contest.

Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Sewanee Review are given annually for a single poem or group of poems, a short story, and a creative nonfiction essay....

Radar Poetry

Coniston prize.

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Radar Poetry is given annually for a group of poems by a poet who identifies as a woman. Using only the online submission system,...

Granum Foundation

Granum foundation prizes.

A prize of $5,000 is given annually to a poet, fiction writer, or creative nonfiction writer to support the completion of a manuscript-in-progress. Up to three finalists will...

Delaware Division of the Arts

Individual artist fellowships.

Established Professional Fellowships of $8,000 each and Emerging Artist Fellowships of $5,000 each are given annually to at least four poets, fiction writers, and creative...

PEN America

Pen/bare life review grants.

Two grants of $5,000 each will be given annually for poetry, fiction, and nonfiction works-in-progress “by immigrant and refugee writers, recognizing that the literature of...

Prairie Schooner

Summer creative nonfiction contest.

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Prairie Schooner will be given annually for an essay. Submit an essay of up to 5,000 words with a $20 entry fee by August 1. Visit...

PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grants

Ten grants of $3,000 to $4,000 each are given annually to support the translation of book-length works of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction that have not previously...

PEN/Jean Stein Grants for Literary Oral History

Two grants of $15,000 are given annually for nonfiction works-in-progress that “use oral history to illuminate an event, individual, place, or movement.” Using only the online...

Aspen Words

Literary prize.

A prize of $35,000 is given annually for a book of fiction published in the current year that “illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power...

Gival Press

Short story award.

A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Gival Press website is given annually for a short story. Submit a story of 5,000 to 15,000 words with a $25 entry fee by August 8....

Literary Arts

Oregon literary fellowships.

Fellowships of $3,500 each are given annually to aid Oregon writers in initiating, developing, or completing literary projects in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction....

TulipTree Publishing

Stories that need to be told contest.

A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a poem, a short story, or an essay that “tells a story that needs to be told.” The winner also receives a two-year subscription to the...

Grayson Books

Poetry contest.

A prize of $1,000, publication by Grayson Books, and 10 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Chase Twichell will judge. Using only the online submission...

Other Futures Award

A prize of $1,000, publication by Futurepoem, and 25 author copies is given annually for a book of innovative poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or hybrid work “that...

Omnidawn Publishing

Open poetry book contest.

A prize of $3,000, publication by Omnidawn Publishing, and 20 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Katy Peterson will judge. Using only the online...

Masters Review

Summer short story award for new writers.

A prize of $3,000 and publication in Masters Review is given annually for a short story by an emerging writer. Writers who have not published a book, self-published...

Louisville Review

National poetry book contest.

A prize of $1,000, publication by Fleur-de-Lis Press, and 25 author copies will be given triennially for a debut poetry collection. Jeanie Thompson will judge. Using only the...

Prize in Translation

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Gulf Coast is given in alternating years for a group of poems or a prose excerpt translated from any language into English. The 2024...

Oxford Poetry

Oxford poetry prize.

A prize of £1,000 (approximately $1,268) and publication in Oxford Poetry will be given annually for a single poem. Submit a poem of up to 50 lines with a £10 (...

University of New Orleans Press

A prize of $10,000 and publication by University of New Orleans Press is given annually for a short story collection or novel. Using only the online submission system, submit a...

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Looking for a Writing Contest to Enter?

By Hannah Yang

Writing contests can be a useful way to send your work out into the world. With a strong submission and a bit of luck, you can win publication, recognition, and even cash prizes.

This article will give you the inside scoop on the most high-quality writing contests to enter.

Are Writing Contests Worth Entering?

What are some writing contests that are free to enter, how can i increase my chances of winning, where can i find more writing contests.

Entering writing contests can be useful for several reasons:

• They give you a deadline and often even a prompt to write about , which many writers find motivating
• The results can help you get a sense of where you are on your writing journey and how you can improve your craft
• Winning a contest can be a fantastic boost to your journey as a writer

On the other hand, it’s important to keep in mind that it takes a lot of luck to win a contest, since there are usually only a few winners chosen from among hundreds of strong contestants.

If your goal is to get your writing published, you’ll likely fare better by submitting to magazines and anthologies than by entering contests.

If your goal is to make money, you should prioritize freelance writing jobs instead.

With that being said, there are many incredible writing contests out there that can absolutely be worth your while, as long as you enter with realistic expectations.

Many writing contests cost fees to enter, since they give out cash prizes and hire guest judges that they need to pay for their time.

Charging an entry fee doesn’t necessarily mean the contest is a scam. It does mean, however, that you need to be judicious about which contests to submit your work to.

Free writing contests are more accessible to all writers, and there’s nothing to lose from giving them a shot.

We’ve compiled a list of legitimate, high-quality writing contests that charge no entry fees.

Prose Weekly Challenge

Prose, a social network for readers and writers, offers weekly challenges meant to spark your creativity. This is a fun, low-stakes challenge, with a small cash prize to sweeten the deal.

Prize: Each week’s winner receives $100. Guidelines: Submit a short piece of writing (up to 500 words) related to the weekly prompt. Deadline: Weekly.

Prime Number Magazine 53-Word Story Contest

Press 53’s Prime Number Magazine hosts a monthly micro-fiction contest based on a theme.

All stories must be exactly 53 words long. There’s no cash prize, but this can be a fun and low-stakes contest to participate in if you’ve got some spare time and are looking for a writing prompt.

Prize: Publication, a free book from Press 53. Guidelines: Submit a 53-word story based on a monthly prompt. Open to writers around the world who write in English. Deadline: Monthly on the 15th of each month.

Dinesh Allirajah Prize for Short Fiction

The Dinesh Allirajah Prize for Short Fiction is an annual short story contest co-hosted by Comma Press and the University of Central Lancashire.

If you live in the UK and are interested in crime stories, this is a great contest to consider, with a £500 for the winner and publication for the runners-up.

Prize: £500 ($692) for first place, and publication for 10 shortlisted authors. Guidelines: Submit a short story (between 2,000 and 6,000 words). The theme for the 2022 Prize is "Crime Stories." Only residents of the UK age 18 or older are eligible. Deadline: October 29, 2021.

Commonwealth Short Fiction Prize

The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is an annual short fiction contest administered by the Commonwealth Foundation.

If you’re a short story writer and a citizen of a Commonwealth country, this contest is a fantastic option, with a generous £5,000 cash prize for the winner.

Prize: £5,000 ($6,922) for the overall winner and £2,500 ($3,461) for regional winners. Guidelines: Entrants must be citizens of a Commonwealth country and age 18 or over. Submit a short story (between 2,000 and 5,000 words). As well as English, stories are accepted in the Bengali, Chinese, French, Greek, Kiswahili, Malay, Portuguese, Samoan, Tamil, and Turkish languages. Translated entries from any language into English are also eligible. Deadline: November 1, 2021.

ServiceScape Short Story Award

ServiceScape is a platform that matches freelance writers, editors, and graphic designers with clients. They offer a yearly Short Story Award with a $1,000 prize.

Prize: $1,000 for first place and publication on the ServiceScape blog. Guidelines: Accepts original, unpublished work (5,000 words or fewer) in any genre, fiction or non-fiction. Writers must be age 18 or older. Deadline: November 29, 2021.

The Roswell Award

The Roswell Award is an annual science fiction contest with a $500 prize, co-presented by Sci-Fest L.A. and the Light Bringer Project.

This is a great option if you like using your writing to unite the worlds of science and art.

Prize: $500 for first place, $250 for second place, and $100 for third place. Guidelines: Submit a science fiction story. Open to writers around the world age 16 or older. Writers are encouraged to explore scientific, social, technological, environmental, and philosophical themes in their writing and always, at the core, to master the art of great storytelling. Deadline: December 21, 2021.

L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest

The Writers of the Future Contest is the most enduring and influential contest in the history of science fiction and fantasy.

The contest is held once every three months, with a generous $1,000 prize.

Prize: $1,000 for first place, $750 for second place, and $500 for third place. Guidelines: Submissions must be short stories or novelettes (up to 17,000 words) in the genre of science fiction or fantasy. Open to new and amateur writers around the world. Deadline: Quarterly on December 31, March 31, June 30, and September 30.

Find Out More

Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award

The Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award is an annual contest, co-hosted by the National Space Society and Baen Books, for stories about manned space exploration.

If you’re interested in the role that science fiction plays in advancing real science, this is a great option that pays professional rates.

Prize: Professional paying rates (8 cents per word). The winner’s story will be published as the featured story on the Baen Books main website. The winner will also receive free entry into 2020 International Space Development Conference and a prize package with various Baen Books and National Space Society merchandise. Guidelines: Submit a short story (up to 8,000 words) that shows the near future (no more than about 50-60 years out) of manned space exploration. The judges want to see moon bases, Mars colonies, orbital habitats, space elevators, asteroid mining, artificial intelligence, nano-technology, realistic spacecraft, heroics, sacrifice, and/or adventure. Open to writers around the world who write in English. Deadline: TBD 2022 (the previous year’s deadline was February 1, 2021).

The Fountain Essay Contest

Fountain Magazine holds an annual contest for essays related to the personal challenges you’ve faced in your life.

Challenges can span from moving across the country and starting at a new high school or getting out of bed in the morning while undergoing depression. There are generous cash prizes for the winners.

Prize: $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place, $300 for third place, and $150 each for two honorable mentions. Guidelines: Submit a personal essay (between 1,500 and 2,500 words) on the annual theme. All writers worldwide are eligible. Deadline: TBD 2022 (the previous year’s deadline was March 1, 2021).

The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize

Every year, The Alpine Fellowship awards writing, visual arts, and theater prizes related to an annual theme.

This is an extremely competitive fellowship, with global recognition for the winner and a whopping £10,000 first place prize.

Prize: £10,000 ($13,840) for first place, £3,000 ($4,150) for second place, and £2,000 ($2,770) for third place. Guidelines: Submit a piece of writing related to the annual theme (2021’s was "Untamed: On Wilderness and Civilization"). Entries must be unpublished and a maximum of 2,500 words. Poetry, prose, or non-academic essays welcome. Deadline: TBD 2022 (the previous year’s deadline was April 1, 2021).

Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest

The Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest is a contest for humor poems. This is a really fun contest if you like wordplay and witticisms, and you might even win $2,000.

Prize: $2,000 for first place, $500 for second place, and $100 each to 10 honorable mentions. Guidelines: Writers of all ages can submit an original, humorous poem with 250 lines or less. The poem you submit should be in English. Inspired gibberish is also accepted. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

Parsec Short Story Contest

Parsec Ink holds an annual contest for science fiction, fantasy, and horror short stories from non-professional writers, with a small cash prize for the winners.

Prize: $200 for first place, $100 for second place, and $50 for third place. Guidelines: Submit a short story (up to 3,500 words) based on the annual theme. The 2022 theme has not yet been announced. (The 2021 theme was "Still Waters, Deep Thoughts"). Deadline: TBD 2022 (the previous year’s deadline was April 15, 2021).

Bacopa Literary Review Contest

Bacopa Literary Review is an international journal published by the Writers Alliance of Gainesville. They hold an annual contest that welcomes fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction.

Prize: $300 for first place and $100 for second place in each of four genres: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, and Prose Poetry. Guidelines: Submit a piece of writing in one of the four genres. You can find detailed guidelines for each genre on the website. Deadline: TBD 2022 (the previous year’s deadline was May 31, 2021).

Stony Brook Southampton Short Fiction Prize

The Stony Brook Southampton Short Fiction Prize is a short story contest specifically for college students.

If you’re an undergraduate and want to try a writing contest, this is a fantastic option because you have a smaller set of competitors.

Prize: $1,000, a scholarship to the 2021 Southampton Writers’ Conference, and consideration for publication in TSR: The Southampton Review . Guidelines: Only full-time undergraduates in United States and Canadian universities and colleges are eligible. Submissions must be short fiction (7,500 words or less). Deadline: June 1, 2022.

Insecure Writer’s Support Group Annual Anthology Contest

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group holds an annual contest for short stories based on a theme.

There’s no cash prize, but all winning stories are published in their anthology, and you can receive royalties from sales.

Prize: Winning stories will be edited and published, and authors will receive royalties from the anthology. Guidelines: Submit a short story (between 5,000 and 6,000 words) related to the annual theme. Deadline: TBD 2022 (the previous year’s deadline was September 1, 2021).

Hektoen Grand Prix Essay Contest

Hektoen International, an online journal dedicated to medical humanities, holds an annual contest for essays related to medicine, with a generous $5,000 cash prize.

Prize: $5,000 for the winner and $2,500 for the runner-up. Guidelines: Submit a short essay (up to 1,500 words) on any topic so long as it has a relation to medicine. The essay can include art, history, literature, education, and more. Writers must be age 18 or older. Deadline: TBD 2022 (the previous year’s deadline was September 15, 2021).

Owl Canyon Press Short Story Hackathon

Owl Canyon Press holds an annual “ hackathon ” for 20-paragraph stories, with a $1,000 prize.

The contest provides the first and last paragraph and the short story writer crafts the rest.

Prize: $1,000 for first place, $750 for second place, and $500 for third place. Publication in a short story anthology for 24 finalists. Guidelines: Writers are invited to create and submit a short story consisting of 20 paragraphs. The contest provides the 1st and 20th paragraphs, and the short story writer crafts the rest. There is no entry fee for submissions received during the first month of the contest. Deadline: TBD 2022 (last year’s deadline was September 30, 2020).

Transitions Abroad Expatriate and Work Abroad Writing Contest

The Transitions Abroad Writing Contest is an annual contest for essays related to your experience abroad. If you’ve ever lived and worked abroad, this is a great contest with a $500 cash prize.

Prize: $500 for first place, $150 for second place, $100 for third place, and $50 for all finalists. Guidelines: Submit a practical and inspiring essay or mini-guide (between 1,200 and 5,000 words) that provides in-depth descriptions of your experience moving, living, and working abroad (including any form of work such as teaching English, internships, volunteering, short-term jobs, etc.). The contest is open to writers from any location around the globe. Deadline: TBD 2022 (last year’s deadline was October 15, 2020).

Writing Battle Summer Flash Fiction

Writing Battle is a quarterly contest where writers are assigned prompts and have 2 days to write 1000 words. You are guaranteed feedback from you writing peers, plus you can win some money

Prize: $5,000 split between the four winners and publication.

Guidelines: Accepts original, unpublished work that matches the prompts and genre assigned. Writers must be aged 18 or older.

Deadline: August 7, 2022

Atlas Shrugged Novel Essay Contest

The Atlas Shrugged novel essay contest is open to all students globally. Atlas Shrugged is a heroic mystery novel written by Ayn Rand. Choose a prompt and write a 800-1,600 word essay in English. First prize: $10,000; 3 second prizes: $2,000; 5 third prizes: $1,000; 25 finalists: $100; 50 semi-finalists: $50.

Prize: First prize: $10,000, 3 second prizes: $2,000, 5 third prizes: $1,000, 25 finalists: $100, 50 semi-finalists: $50.

Guidelines: Choose a prompt and write an 800–1,600 word essay in English. All students globally can apply.

Deadline: Annually on November 6

Each of these contests has different requirements. What works for one probably will not work for another.

But what will increase your chance in every contest is good grammar and a solid structure. This is where ProWritingAid can help.

We may not be able to write your story for you, but we can help you submit your best work.

ProWritingAid’s 25 reports provide personalized, in-depth feedback on everything from grammar and spelling to pacing, word choice, passive voice, and more.

Sign up for a free account to see how ProWritingAid can help you.

There are many resources for writers that compile lists of writing contests. You should check these regularly, as different writing contests have different submission periods. Some of my favorite resources include: Poets & Writers Winning Writers With many writers’ sites, you can filter for free contests specifically, and you can also filter by the type of work you want to submit. I usually check these sites once a season (fall, winter, spring, summer) to compile a list of the contests I want to submit to. Do you have a favorite writing contest? Let us know in the comments. FREE WEBINAR: How to Improve Your Chances of Winning the Debut Dagger , Nov 11, 2pm ET / 7pm UK Have you been thinking about entering your story for the CWA Debut Dagger this year? The deadline isn’t until the end of February but we want to help you prepare. We’ve invited Dea Parkin, Secretary of the Crime Writers’ Association, and Leigh Russell, Chair of the Debut Dagger judges, to come and share their insider information. Learn what the judges are looking for and how to give your story the best shot at winning. Be confident about grammar Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send. Hannah Yang Hannah Yang is a speculative fiction writer who writes about all things strange and surreal. Her work has appeared in Analog Science Fiction, Apex Magazine, The Dark, and elsewhere, and two of her stories have been finalists for the Locus Award. Her favorite hobbies include watercolor painting, playing guitar, and rock climbing. You can follow her work on hannahyang.com, or subscribe to her newsletter for publication updates. Get started with ProWritingAid Drop us a line or let's stay in touch via : Share full article Advertisement Supported by Our 2024-25 Student Contest Calendar Ten challenges that invite teenagers to engage, experiment, reflect and create — via writing, photography, audio, video and more. By The Learning Network Our annual Contest Calendar is probably the single most powerful thing we publish all year. Teachers tell us they plan their classes around our challenges, and tens of thousands of teenagers around the globe participate by creating narratives, reviews, videos, opinion pieces, podcasts, illustrations, photo essays and more. For us, these contests are an honor and a joy to host. We love learning from young people — about what moves them and makes them mad, what intrigues and confuses and delights and defines them. This year, we are bringing back some recent and longtime favorites, as well as introducing a few new challenges. To begin, we have two options this fall in response to the U.S. election, though students around the globe are welcome. In September, we open with a series of special forums that invite teenagers to have thoughtful conversations about their civic and political identities, values and beliefs. Then, if they choose, they can work alone or with others to make something in response — whether in writing, video, audio or visual art. (Students can participate in one or both challenges, and we have a related invitation for educators .) In the spring, we’re offering “My List,” a twist on our long-running review contest. This time, students can choose any collection of three to five works of art or culture to group in some way and then tell us why we should — or shouldn’t — check them out. We’ll be posting the full rules and guidelines for each contest here when it opens. but for now you can look at the related resources we’ve provided, as well as last year’s rules, which will largely remain the same for our returning contests. We are having trouble retrieving the article content. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber?  Log in . Want all of The Times?  Subscribe . Mandarin (普通话) Cantonese (廣東話) Arabic (عربى) Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) Oromo (Afaan Oromoo) Somali (Soomaali) Spanish (Español) Bahasa Indonesia Italian (Italiano) Punjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ) Hindi (हिंदी) Sinhala (සිංහල) Filipino (Tagalog) Urdu (اردو) Turkish (Türkçe) Melbourne News Suggestions expression of interest Lord Mayor's Creative Writing Awards Run every two years, the Lord Mayor’s Creative Writing Awards encourage emerging writers living in Victoria and celebrates Melbourne’s status as a UNESCO City of Literature. About the Awards In addition to giving support and recognition to emerging Victorian writers, The Lord Mayor's Creative Writing Awards promote the City of Melbourne and its libraries as a place of ideas and creativity. City of Melbourne’s Libraries is proud to present the Lord Mayor’s Creative Writing Awards 2024 and announce the five competition categories: Short story (set in Melbourne) The Dorothy Porter Award for Emerging Poets Narrative non-fiction Life Writing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Feature Category: Stories by Trans and Gender Diverse Writers Submissions closed at midnight on Monday 3 June. Feature category  Every Lord Mayor’s Creative Writing Awards has a special category for the award year outside of the four permanent categories.   This featured category exists to invite and welcome underrepresented or marginalised writing communities. While we encourage diverse voices and styles in all categories, by including the feature category each award cycle, we promote wider inclusion and intersectionality. With this approach the awards can be responsive to new and emerging genres, styles, perspectives and lived experiences. Our aim is to champion these writers, giving them a bigger platform to share their stories, fostering a more vibrant and representative literary landscape. In 2024, the award’s Feature Category will be: Stories by Trans and Gender Diverse writers.  This year’s wildcard award category is co-presented by Seahorse Victoria and the City of Melbourne. We are proud to embrace the diversity and richness of voices within the writing community by providing a platform dedicated to honouring the unique experiences, perspectives, and narratives of all writers. Join us in celebrating the vibrant tapestry of self-expression, as we amplify the voices that deserve to be heard. Lord Mayor's Creative Writing Awards Terms and Conditions Lord Mayor's Creative Writing Awards FAQs [email protected] our acknowledgement The City of Melbourne respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land we govern, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin and pays respect to their Elders past and present.  We acknowledge and honour the unbroken spiritual, cultural and political connection they have maintained to this unique place for more than 2000 generations. We accept the invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and are committed to walking together to build a better future.  +1 (603) 932 7897 [email protected]. 5 Tips to Stand Out in a Writing Competition Last modified 2024-06-07 Published on 2021-02-23 Judges from writing competitions have been reading and evaluating submissions for years. Reading hundreds of pieces on a single subject can be grueling, especially if the submissions have similar topics, a similar tone of voice, and a similar writing style. Unsurprisingly, similar submissions will, unfortunately, be forgotten, and won’t be chosen as winners. But being a winner isn’t hard: you don’t need a piece full of articulate words or complicated construction to win.    Here are 5 tips for evaluating your piece of writing and boosting your chance to stand out in a writing competition in writing competition. Tip 1: A balance between vivid descriptions and “cut to the chase.” In the book 1Q84, Murakami used almost the last third of the book to describe the characters’ daily lives, from reading books, to looking out the window, or nervously walking around in their apartments waiting for the NHK subscription collectors to leave. The book has been controversial for readers, some enjoy living in the characters’ world and following along with their lives, but some get bored out and constantly long for what will happen next. The beauty of writing is in words, because it reflects the author’s conscious intention of word choice. However, as a young writer without much professional experience, you need to understand the thin line between overly and underly describing something. Depending on the word limit, as you edit, challenge yourself to cut as much backstory, florid description, and adverbs as possible. You should save your words for events that will move your plot forward or fuel the plot with a surprising revelation.  Tip 2: To stand out in a writing competition, students should write a strong opening that hooks the right audience Before writing a strong opening, you should consider what audience is reading your story, and how you want to impress them with your submission. Young writers often fall into the trap of writing something in a school setting. Since all writing competition participants are currently in school, talking about school seems like the most straightforward way to start your piece of writing. The more you look beyond the walls of schools and friendship, the more novel and unexpected ideas will come in.    In multiple essay contests, Another way that students typically start with is the weather.    “It was a bright, sunny day… It was a dark and stormy night… It was rather chilly with a brisk easterly and a 50% chance of precipitation…”    Lovely warm weather is similar to “once upon a time”, a story for kids, not for a writing competition. According to Joe Craig, author of the Jimmy Coates spy series and judge of the National Short Story Week young writer competition, students should start with one of two things, and preferably both: People and conflict, because those two are the essence of any story.   The first sentence of your story is like the first impression when you meet someone new, you will either enjoy the conversation or just be thinking about ways to leave as soon as possible. A powerful, intriguing, and unexpected first line, or first paragraph will hook the audience into curiosity and make them more interested in your story.    Tip 3: Create a clear goal or purpose for your character and your story Keep in mind the 3 C’s of excellent creative writing: clear, concise, and coherent in writing contests for high school students. These C’s are the most important factors when you consider your story and character. Clear in character goal, concise in plot, and coherent in storytelling are what our teachers always recommend to students who are taking our creative writing class.    Make sure that your character has a goal, or a mission that they are pursuing. Taking the novel “Around the World in Eighty Days,” for example. Phileas Fogg is a rich gentleman living a solidarity life, and he got into an argument about whether it’s possible to travel the world in 80 days. He determined to prove his belief and discovers different parts of the world, with ups and downs (we won’t tell you the end of the story, whether he made it or not). The story embarks on a globe-spanning adventure, and the character has a strong sense of purpose.    The novel is only 188 pages long, but it entails meaningful conversations and stories about adventure, friendships, hardships, and love. The reason behind this success is because of three C’s: clear in character goal, concise in the plot, and coherent in storytelling.    Therefore, make sure your character has a goal they’re pursuing that won’t leave readers to struggle to find meaning or wonder why they read the story at all. Finding ways to show the story rather than just telling readers what to know is an essential factor that differentiates great writers from poor writers.  Tip 4: A turning point, the moment of crisis, where is it? Storytelling, especially the turning point moment, is where you can fuel the plot and make the reader wonder what will happen next. Every decision a character makes has good results and consequences, it either paid off or made the character encounter failure. A writer should know how to lead readers into the story and reveal the changes that make readers wonder about different decisions, the consequences that might happen, and feel curious about the character’s choice at that time.    Even a folktale as simple as Cinderella has a turning point where she wants to escape from the hell of her stepmother and stepsisters, and she decided to marry the prince. Whatever the case, something must be different as a result of their choice.  Tip 5: Nail the ending The story only ends if you, a writer, put an end to it. Entering a writing competition requires you to write a story, regardless of your writing piece being a short story or longer work of fiction, you need an ending. We understand that it’s very challenging to write the perfect ending, because a conclusion needs to “tie up the loose ends neatly, but not too tightly.” It’s frustrating for judges to come across excellent short stories and longer fiction works, but are left hanging with a half-finished story. They don’t know what will happen with the character in the end, and how the stories will finally unfold. Writers have space to express their creative selves freely, and readers should have a feeling of completion and contentment after reading the story.    The great film director Alexander Mackendrick said, “If you’ve got a beginning, but you don’t yet have an end, then you’re wrong. You don’t have the right beginning.” He also said, “There are no wrong endings, only wrong beginnings.”   In planning your story, you should have a strong beginning and an as-strong ending, and the whole process of getting from point A to point Z. Endings are hard, but in the end, they’re all worth it.  Those five tips will help you with writing competitions for high school students, and will prepare you for potential writing awards. There’re multiple writing contests every year, Princeton Ten Minute Play Contest, Scholastic Art and Writing Awards in the United States, just to name a few.  We’re launching Writing Competition Preparation program , where s tudents will improve their writing and submit pieces for the following competitions: The New York Times Editorial Contest Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction and Essay Contest Ocean Awareness Contest Aralia’s writing tutors are inspired teachers and professors who are committed to student success. They are recognized in their field or are currently teaching at top high schools and colleges/universities in the US.  Students will learn the nuances of language, including figurative language, effective structuring, and specific forms to apply to their own piece(s). Students will work directly with both literary and media texts to plan and write their piece(s). This class will also help the students write with an aim for an audience as their submission for nation-wide and international writing competitions that are timely with the course schedule.  Competitions , Writing Competition Aralia Education is an innovative online education platform for ambitious middle and high school students worldwide. Aralia’s instructors propel students forward by helping them build a strong foundation in traditional academic courses. They also actively engage and guide students in exploring personal interests beyond their school curriculum. With this holistic approach, Aralia ensures its students are well-prepared for college and equipped for success in their future careers. 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A2Z Champs THE A2Z CHAMPS dedicated to nurturing a child's creativity through the arts and minds competitions. On the principle that there exists within each child a creative energy which must not lie dormant. Rather, this creativity must be channeled to radiate light. We must create and facilitate a safe environment for children to explore and engage ... Your Ultimate Guide to Writing Contests for 2024 / 2025 Enter the 93rd Annual Writing Competition for your chance to win and have your work be seen by editors and agents. Almost 500 winners will be chosen. 3. Unleash Work-In-Progress. Prize: $500 to supplement costs to aid in the completion of a book-length work of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Entry fee: $35. 50 Writing Contests in July 2024 on Publishing … and Other Forms of Insanity: This July there are more than four dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. . Prizes this month range from $100,000 to publication. . None charge entry fees. . Some of these contests have age and geographical restrictions, so read the… The Ultimate List of Writing Contests in 2024 • Win Cash Prizes! Work-In-Progress (WIP) Contest. Genres: Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Science Fiction, Science Writing, and Young Adult. We aim to assist writers in the completion of an important literary project and vision. The Unleash WIP Award offers writers support in the amount of $500 ... 15 Creative Writing Competitions for High School Students Cost: Free. Contest Date: Early April 2024. Application Deadline: February 29, 2024. Eligibility: Open to students aged 5 to 19 enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade. One of the widely-known creative writing competitions for high school students is the River of Words Poetry and Art Contest. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Review: A Story Of Subtle Refinements Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 cover screen. Prakhar Khanna. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 feels premium in the hand, unless you're holding it in the left hand. The edges on the hinge side are the sharpest on a ... The Poets & Writers Guide to Writing Contests Find details about every creative writing competition—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators, and more—that we've published in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it in the Writing Contests ... How to Win a Writing Contest 5 Tips to Win a Writing Contest. When it comes to winning story contests, follow these five tips: 1. Recognize you are human. This may be a strange way to begin a list of tips on how to win a writing contest, but let me explain. Stephen King once said, "To write is human, to edit is divine.". Mastering Writing Competitions: Tips from a Two-Time Winner 12 Insider Tips to Ace a Writing Competition. 1. Make a list of the requirements. This first one may sound obvious, but it's easy to accidentally stray from the guidelines set by the competition. Some things to bear in mind include: Minimum and/or maximum word count. 32+ Olympic Writing Prompts: Gold Medal-Worthy Ideas If you've ever felt inspired by the grandeur and intensity of the Olympic Games, these Olympic writing prompts are the perfect way to channel that energy into your creative projects. The thrill of competition, the dedication of athletes, and the spirit of global unity offer a wealth of material to explore in your writing. Creative Writing Contests & Grants Winning a writing contest can bring you recognition and help get your work noticed by agents and editors. Our Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database offers a year's worth of listings from Poets & Writers Magazine, and connects poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers with the most comprehensive selection of contests that ... 5 Creative Writing Contests to Look Out For in 2023 1. Aesthetica Creative Writing Award 2023. Deadline: August 31, 2023. Who may enter: Open to anyone. Contest description: The competition is organized by the international art and culture magazine Aesthetica. The competition accepts works of fiction and poetry. Fiction entries should be no more than 2,000 words. Top 45 Writing Contests For Authors 13. Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest. The Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest is one of the top writing contests available for authors of both personal essays and short stories. Entrants can be any age and most countries are eligible, with the exception of North Korea, Iran, Syria, and Crimea. PDF 2024 1 Rules for participation Rules for creative writing: To enter the competition, send an unpublished composition of the participant. Writing should respect the set theme i.e. 'Mountains Vital for Human Survival'. It must be written in English and contain 50 to 100 words for Pearls & Diamonds, whereas 200 to 250 words for Silver & Gold categories. 1800+ Creative Writing Prompts To Inspire You Right Now Here's how our contest works: every Friday, we send out a newsletter containing five creative writing prompts. Each week, the story ideas center around a different theme. Authors then have one week — until the following Friday — to submit a short story based on one of our prompts. A winner is picked each week to win $250 and is highlighted ... Writing Contests, Grants & Awards July/August 2024 PEN/Bare Life Review Grants. Cash Prize: $5,000. Entry Fee: $0. Application Deadline: 8/1/24. Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction. Two grants of $5,000 each will be given annually for poetry, fiction, and nonfiction works-in-progress "by immigrant and refugee writers, recognizing that the literature of... The Best Writing Contests for Writers The Roswell Award is an annual science fiction contest with a $500 prize, co-presented by Sci-Fest L.A. and the Light Bringer Project. This is a great option if you like using your writing to unite the worlds of science and art. Prize: $500 for first place, $250 for second place, and $100 for third place. Our 2024-25 Student Contest Calendar Ten challenges that invite teenagers to engage, experiment, reflect and create — via writing, photography, audio, video and more. Lord Mayor's Creative Writing Awards In addition to giving support and recognition to emerging Victorian writers, The Lord Mayor's Creative Writing Awards promote the City of Melbourne and its libraries as a place of ideas and creativity. City of Melbourne's Libraries is proud to present the Lord Mayor's Creative Writing Awards 2024 and announce the five competition categories: 5 Tips To Stand Out In A Writing Competition Tip 3: Create a clear goal or purpose for your character and your story. Keep in mind the 3 C's of excellent creative writing: clear, concise, and coherent in writing contests for high school students. These C's are the most important factors when you consider your story and character. Clear in character goal, concise in plot, and coherent ... 7 Free-to-Enter National Writing Competitions That Impact Your Career Here are seven. Amazon Novel Breakthrough Award. There are two categories: general fiction and young adult. Unpublished OR self-published work is allowed. Entrants must provide a full manuscript, an excerpt from the beginning of the novel, and a novel pitch (plus some other info). The winner receives a publishing contract with Penguin. 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