Writing Competitions
and Events
If you are looking to take your writing to the next level, then entering a writing competition often provides that extra impetus to refine your work.
This is by no means a full list of competitions. Some writing competitions require an entry fee. Others don’t. This seems to be the norm these days and there are credible competitions that require an entry fee. Always check that you are comfortable with sending money to the organizers if this is the case.
Please contact the competition organizers directly if you have any queries. The Writers College cannot be held responsible for the conduct of any third party competitions or events.
Competitions and Events
2025 Bristol Short Story Prize
Deadline: 30 January 2025
More details here
Story Unlikely’s Annual Short Story Contest
Deadline: 31 January 2025
More details here
New Writers Flash Fiction Competition 2025
Deadline: 31 January 2025
More details here
WOW! Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest
Deadline: 31 January 2025
More details here
(NZ)Cambridge Autumn Festival Short Story Competition 2025
Deadline: 3 February 2025
More details here
2025 Next Generation Indie Book Awards
Deadline: 13 February 2025
More details here
(UK)The Rhys Davies Short Story Competition
Deadline: 14 February 2025
More details here
The 3-Minute Writing Competition
Deadline: 15 February 2025
More details here
Next Generation Short Story Awards
Deadline: 27 February 2025
More details here
WOW! Winter 2025 Flash Fiction Contest
Deadline: 28 February 2025
More details here
Pilgrimages Travel Short Story competition by Intrepid Times
Deadline: 1 March 2025
More details here
New2theScene Writing Competitions
Deadline: From 2 March to 7 December
More details here
Bardsy’s 2025 Winter Anthology Contest: First Chapters
Deadline: 3 March 2025
More details here
South Warwickshire Literary Festival Writing Competition
Deadline: 28 March 2025
More details here
The Edinburgh Writing Awards
Short story Award – Deadline 28 February 2025
Young Adult Award – Deadline 28 February 2025
Essay Award – Deadline 28 February 2025
Flash Fiction Award – Deadline 31 August 2025
True Flash Award – Deadline 31 August 2025
More details here
International Rubery Book Award
Deadline: 31 March 2025
More details here
Little Kanawha Reading Series Chapbook Contest
Deadline: 31 March 2025
More details here
OXFORD/42 NEW WRITING PRIZE
Deadline: 30 April 2025
More details here
The Roy Chapman BeaconFlash Story Competition
Deadline: 31 May 2025
More details here
Minds Shine Bright Places Writing Competition
Deadline: 31 May 2025
More details here
To Hull And Back humorous short story competition
Deadline: 30 June 2025
More details here
Anthology Short Story Competition
Deadline: 31 July 2025
More details here
Get Notified About Global Writing Contests
Regular Entries
Tortive Lit has a monthly 101 word creative writing competition. The prize is dictated by the number of people who enter. Each entry is £1.50. More information at www.tortivelit.com/flashfiction101
The Future Scholar Foundation run monthly short story competitions.
Deadline: 28th of each month
More details here
Andromeda Magazine Monthly Short Story Competition
More details here
The Plaza Prizes run many writing competitions throughout the year. The purpose is to discover, publish and promote talented new writers. You can see their upcoming competitions here.
Northern Life Writing Competition run regular writing competitions.
More details here
Anthology run many competitions throughout the year. Check their competitions here.
The Letter Review runs regular competitions throughout the year. Genres include Short Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry and Unpublished Books. Details here.
The Writers College My Writing Journey Competition. Free to enter, open to writers around the world. Regular submissions accepted.
Details here>
Almond Press runs a writing competition event calendar that is updated on a daily basis
Inkitt maintains an excellent website documenting lots of international writing competitions
Details here>
Storyhouse | Contests for previously unpublished writers
Details here>
Cranked Anvil Prompt Competition
DEADLINES: 10am GMT on 1 April; 1 July; 1 October
Details here>
Cranked Anvil Short Story Competition
DEADLINES: QUARTERLY: January; April; July; October.
Details here>
Cranked Anvil Flash Fiction Competition
DEADLINES: QUARTERLY: February; May; August; November
Details here>