Contests
Writing contests provide steps up for a writer – especially a struggling writer. A portfolio that contains contest wins means more than many clips. Can’t afford the entry fees? Consider entering one contest a quarter or something more amiable to your pocketbook. A few are free. Contests provide prizes, prestige and usually publication with many offering book contracts. Denouncing contests from your writing repertoire is like discounting an entire genre or refusing to eat yellow vegetables. You’re giving up something valuable that may serve you and your career well.
NOTE: To have your group’s contest posted, email hope@chopeclark.com with the link to the contest. It must pay a minimum of a $200 first prize, not take all rights for entering, and charge an entry fee of five percent or less.
EMERALD THEATRE COMPANY’S 7th 10-MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL
http://www.etcmemphistheater.com
$15 ENTRY FEE, Deadline May 31, 2024. Ten minutes in length, ten pages maximum, no more than three characters and a theme. Remember When... choose any decade and reference any significant moment from that decade. Work must be original and unproduced. Minimal sets required. Send two printed copies. The cover page should only have the play’s title and what decade is represented. On a separate page include playwright’s name, address, phone and email. These do not count in the 10 pages. Winners contacted July 1, 2024. Festival is September 2024. Payment can be sent via Cash App: $EmeraldTheatreMphs or check with manuscript. If sending payment by cash app, you can also send script electronically. First prize $100 and a medal plys stage performance. Second price $50 and a medal plus stage performance. Third prize, a medal and stage performance. A total of ten plays will be performed. Mail: Hal Harmon, c/o ETC, 1402 Linden Ave., Memphis, TN 38104 or email emeraldtheatrecompany@gmail.com
STEPHEN SPENDER PRIZE
https://www.stephen-spender.org/stephen-spender-prize/
£10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 31, 2024. Translate ANY poem from ANY language into English, and win publication and cash prizes! Budding poets of all stripes are warmly invited to take part in the 2024 Stephen Spender Prize for poetry in translation, open to adults aged 18+ from all over the world. Prize: £1000 (1st); £500 (2nd); £250 (3rd).
-1000 BELOW: FLASH PROSE AND POETRY CONTEST
https://midwayjournal.com/contest/
$10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 1, 2024. First Prize: $500 + publication in Midway Journal. Second Prize:$250 + publication in Midway Journal. Third Prize: $50 + publication in Midway Journal. Poetry: up to two poems per entry, up to 50 words per poem. No more than one poem per page. Prose (Fiction and Nonfiction): one piece per entry, up to 1,000 words per piece. All submissions will be considered for publication.
GEMINI MAGAZINE FLASH FICTION CONTEST
https://gemini-magazine.com/flash-fiction-contest-2024/
$8 ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 31, 2024. Limit 1000 words. First Prize: $1,000. Second Prize: $100. Four Honorable Mentions: $25. Any subject or style.
BLACK FOX LITERARY MAGAZINE FOX TALES PRIZE
https://blackfoxlit.submittable.com/submit
$12 ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 2, 2024. The theme for this round is “Montage of Misfortunes.” Please submit your strongest fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, and we will choose one winner that interprets the theme best. The prize is $300 and print publication in the Summer 2024 issue. All submissions are considered for print publication in the Summer 2024 issue. Submissions should be no more than 5,000 words. For poetry, send up to three poems in the same document. For flash fiction, send up to two stories in the same document.
INTERNATIONAL VOICES IN CREATIVE NONFICTION COMPETITION
https://www.vineleavespress.com/international-voices-in-cnf.html
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 1, 2024. The competition is open to writers worldwide. Submissions must be in English and unpublished (that includes self-published). Submissions written by AI will be disqualified. If the manuscript is narrative in nature (i.e. a memoir) then the length should be between 50,000 – 80,000 words. If the manuscript is experimental in nature (i.e. not straight prose, could be vignettes, poetry, or a mix), it should be at least 100 pages long. Winner receives $1,000 and publication.
21 FUTURES ANTHOLOGY CONTEST
https://21futures.com/submissions/
ENTRY FEE Purchase a copy of 21 Futures: Tales from the Timechain. Deadline August 31, 2024. Debt, a growing wealth gap, and the debasement of currency. The future of many economies looks dark. Which catastrophic failures will we see in the next 100 years? And how will it affect ordinary citizens of the world? Konsensus network seeks fiction submissions (up to 3,000 words) for its forthcoming anthology 21 Futures: Financial Fallout. The 21 best stories will feature in the anthology and will be eligible to win the following prizes:
1st place: $1,000 + feature interview
2nd place: $100 + podcast appearance
3rd Place: Book haul + podcast appearance
4th to 21st place: Featured in anthology + anthology copy + launch appearance
BLACK IN WHITE POETRY COMPETITION
https://www.blackinwhiteservices.co.uk/poetry-competition-2024
ENTRY FEE £1.50. Deadline June 21, 2024. Write about your experience with racism, prejudice, unconscious bias or microaggressions as a child or a working adult. Each is a separate category. Write about it in a poem. First prize £250. Second prize £125. Third prize £75. The winners and 25 highly commended will appear in an anthology.
WINCHESTER POETRY PRIZE
https://www.winchesterpoetryfestival.org/wpp24
£6 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 31, 2024. 1st prize: £1000. 2nd prize: £500. 3rd prize: £250. Free entries for poets on low incomes. Winning and commended poems will be published in a competition anthology.
THE 19TH ANNUAL LITERAL LITERARY POSTCARD STORY CONTEST
https://www.geist.com/contests/the-19th-annual-literal-literary-postcard-story-contest
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 20, 2024. Send us a story and a postcard—the relationship can be as strong or as tangential as you like, so long as there is a clear connection between the story and the image. The story can be fiction or non-fiction; maximum length is 500 words. First Prize: $500. Second Prize: $250. Third Prize: $150. All winning entries will be published in Geist and on geist.com.
BURLINGTON CONTEMPORARY ART WRITING PRIZE
https://contemporary.burlington.org.uk/writing_prize
NO ENTRY FEE NOTED. Deadline July 15, 2024. The winner of the Prize receives £1,000, their review is published on Burlington Contemporary and they have the opportunity to publish a review of a future contemporary art exhibition in The Burlington Magazine. Entrants must have published no more than six pieces of writing in print or online prior to their submission. There is no age limit for applicants. To enter the prize, entrants should submit one unpublished review of a contemporary art exhibition. The review must be between 800 and 1,000 words in length and accompanied by up to three low-resolution images.
TABLET CONTEST
https://www.tabletmag.com/feature/first-personal-essay-contest
Deadline May 15, 2024. We are looking for previously unpublished work by writers living in North America who have never published in Tablet before. No opinion pieces; these first-person essays should be about your life and your experience, and how your thoughts and feelings have evolved over time. Tablet is a Jewish magazine. The authors of those five pieces will be invited to New York City to read their story in front of a live audience, and will receive a stipend toward travel and lodging. The winning selection will be published in Tablet Magazine and will receive $500. All other finalists will receive $100 for their work. Length between 1,000 and 1,500 words. (thanks erikadreifus.com)
LIVINGSTON PRESS CHANGING LIGHT PRIZE FOR A NOVEL-IN-VERSE
https://livingstonpress.uwa.edu/ChangingLightAward.htm
NO ENTRY FEE, Deadline May 25, 2024. Recommended length: 90-160 pages. $500 prize plus 20 copies, standard royalty contract. Publication in trade paper, e-book, and Kindle.
GEIST LITERAL LITERARY POSTCARD STORY CONTEST
https://www.geist.com/contests/the-19th-annual-literal-literary-postcard-story-contest
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 20, 2024. Send us a story and a postcard—the relationship can be as strong or as tangential as you like, so long as there is a clear connection between the story and the image. First Prize: $500. Second Prize: $250. Third Prize: $150. All winning entries will be published in Geist and on geist.com.
WPRING ANTHOLOGY CONTEST
https://bardsy.com/contest
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 24. 2024. Grand prize: $500 and anthology publication. All finalists will receive $50 and anthology publication. Looking for short stories from 1,500 to 2,000 words. All qualified entrants will receive professional feedback from our editing team before judging, so the earlier you submit, the more time you have to revise.
REEDSY WEEKLY PROMPTS CONTEST
https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/
Every Friday, Reedsy sends a newsletter that includes five themed writing prompts and publishes the same five prompts on Reedsy Prompts. Writers then have one week (until the following Friday at 11.59pm EST), to submit a story based on one of the five prompts. Submitted stories (Entries) should be between 1,000 – 3,000 words and written in English. Entries may be submitted free of charge, but they will not be judged or submitted into our Contest. Unpaid entries will, were appropriate, still be published on the site and readers will be able to like or comment on them. Those wishing to participate in the Contest will be charged a submission fee of $5 per Entry. The Winner is announced on Friday and featured on Reedsy Prompts and awarded $250.
OPRELLE MATTER CONTEST
https://oprellepublications.submittable.com/submit
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 2, 2024. Even though this anthology will be called Matter, all that is expected is that your poetry reflects emotions and thoughts coming from the depths of you. Submit 3-40 lines in any style, on any topic. First Place – $400 and publication. Second Place – $200 and publication. Third Place – $100 and publication. These top three winners will be published with a headshot and biography in the Matter – Award Winning Poetry XXIV anthology.
WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING SPRING FLASH FICTION CONTEST
https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php
$10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 31, 2024. Seeking short fiction of any genre between 250 – 750 words. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, great writing, and provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants. Open internationally. Limit: 300 entries. First Place: $400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Card. Second Place: $300, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Card. Third Place: $200, publication, interview and $25 Amazon Gift Card. Seven Runners Up receive $25 Amazon Gift Cards, publication and interview. Ten Honorable mentions receive $20 Amazon Gift Cards. Top 10 stories are published in the WOW! Women On Writing e-zine, and contestants are interviewed on WOW’s blog, The Muffin.
QUEEN MARY WASAFIRI NEW WRITING PRIZE
https://www.wasafiri.org/new-writing-prize/
£12 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 1, 2024. The prize supports writers who have not yet published a book-length work, with no limits on age, gender, nationality, or background. The winners of each category will receive a £1,000 prize and publication in Wasafiri magazine. The competition is open to anyone who has not published or signed a contract to publish a book-length work of fiction, life writing, or poetry, except for self-published works or poetry chapbooks. Limit 3,000 words. A single poetry entry can include up to three poems, which together total no more than 3,000 words.
WINCHESTER POETRY PRIZE
https://www.winchesterpoetryfestival.org/prize
£6 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 31, 2024. Poems can be on any subject, and in any form or style, but must be no more than 40 lines, and written in English. Winning poets receive cash prizes (1st prize: £1000, 2nd prize: £500, 3rd prize: £250) and all longlisted poems are published in a printed anthology. The best poem written by a poet living in Hampshire is awarded the Kathryn Bevis Prize (previously the Hampshire Prize) which is a year’s worth of tuition from The Writing School Online and £150. There are a limited number of free entry slots available.
BRIDPORT POETRY, SHORT STORY, FLASH, NOVEL, MEMOIR CONTESTS
https://bridportprize.org.uk/
£24 ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 31, 2024. Poetry: 42 lines max. No minimum. Title not included in the line count. Short story: 5000 words max. No minimum. Flash fiction: 250 words max. No minimum. Novel anbd Memoir: 8,000 words max. 5,000 words minimum from opening chapters. PLUS 300 word synopsis which should form the first page of the submission. Poetry: 1st prize £5,000, 2nd prize £1,000, 3rd prize £500, Highly Commended 10 x £100. Short story: 1st prize £5,000, 2nd prize £1,000, 3rd prize £500, Highly Commended 10 x £100. Flash fiction: 1st prize £1,000, 2nd prize £500, 3rd prize £250, Highly Commended 5 x £100. Novel: 1st prize – £1,500 plus up to a year’s mentoring from The Literary Consultancy. Runner-up – £750 plus full manuscript appraisal. Memoir: 1st prize – £1,500 plus up to a year’s mentoring from The Literary Consultancy. Runner-up – £750 plus full manuscript appraisal.
HG WELLS SHORT STORY COMPETITION
https://hgwellscompetition.com/competition-rules-2024/
Zero to £10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 8, 2024. Competition offers a £500 Senior and £1,000 Junior prize and free publication of all shortlisted entries in a quality, professionally published paperback anthology. Theme: The Fool. The length must be 1,500 to 5,000 words.
THE MONTREAL INTERNATIONAL POETRY PRIZE
https://www.montrealpoetryprize.com/
$20-$25 CAD ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 15, 2024. Awards one prize of $20,000 CAD for a single poem of 40 or fewer lines. Entries may be submitted from anywhere in the world.
THE TIMES CHICKEN HOUSE CHILDREN’S FICTION COMPETITION
https://www.chickenhousebooks.com/uncategorized/the-2024-times-chicken-house-childrens-fiction-competition-is-now-open/
£20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 1, 2024. A worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House with a £10,000 advance (subject to contract) for a complete fiction manuscript of any genre for children aged 7 up to YA.
TIMES/CHICKEN HOUSE CHILDREN’S FICTION COMPETITION
https://www.chickenhousebooks.com/uncategorized/the-2024-times-chicken-house-childrens-fiction-competition-is-now-open/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 1, 2024. A worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House with a £10,000 advance (subject to contract) for a complete fiction manuscript of any genre for children aged 7 up to YA. The winner will also be offered representation by Lydia Silver of Darley Anderson Children’s Book Agency.
THE LIME PICTURES NEW STORYTELLER AWARD
https://www.chickenhousebooks.com/uncategorized/the-2024-times-chicken-house-childrens-fiction-competition-is-now-open/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 1, 2024. A prize sponsored by leading TV production company Lime Pictures, awarded to the submission which shows the greatest TV development potential and chosen by Chicken House Publisher Barry Cunningham and Lime Pictures’ Tim Compton. The winner will receive a £7,500 publishing contract plus an offer of representation. The good news is, you don’t need to do anything extra to be considered for the Lime Pictures New Storyteller Award; simply enter the TIMES/CHICKEN HOUSE CHILDREN’S FICTION COMPETITION above as normal.
DYNAMMO VERLAG BOOK CONTEST
https://www.dynamoverlag.com/
$18 ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 30, 2024. This contest is open to all authors writing in the English language(s) aged minimum 18 years. We accept submissions from any country, however, we can only send your catalog title to a United States address. This contest is open to poetry or prose; we simply want a scintillating book-length manuscript (minimum 8,000 words for prose and a maximum 75,000 words for prose; minimum 80 pages for poetry) that reflects what we look for in all our publications: genius, eclecticism, and originality.
THE YEOVIL LITERARY PRIZE
https://writingcompetitions.net/
ENTRY FEES £5 to £14.50. Deadline May 31, 2024. Open internationally. Categories are novel, short story, poetry, children/YA novel, and writing without restrictions. Novel (max 10,000 words) – 1st £1250, 2nd £500, 3rd £125. Short story (max 2000 words) 1st £600, 2nd £250, 3rd £125. Poetry (max 40 lines) 1st £600, 2nd £250, 3rd £125. Children’s/YA novel (max 3000 words) 1st £600, 2nd £250, 3rd £125. Writing without restrictions (see rules) 1st £250, 2nd £125, 3rd £75.
BEST CHAPTER BOOK COMPETITION
https://www.searchlightawards.co.uk/competitions/best-chapter-book-for-5-8-year-olds-2024/
£12 ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 31, 2024. Best Chapter Book for 5-8-year-old readers. It can be a stand-alone story or part of a series. All you need to submit is the first chapter and a short pitch that tells us what the book is about. First prize is £350 cash prize and a one-to-one call with our agent judge. Ten shortlisted writers are included in Searchlight’s Pitch Book of winning stories, which is sent to literary agents and publishers to help your work get noticed. Your entry and biography included in our Winners’ Gallery on the Searchlight Awards’ website, which agents, publishers, friends and family can access.
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Please remember to read ALL guidelines for a contest. FundsforWriters tries to research contests to the best of our ability, but we cannot confirm the credibility of each and every one without entering them ourselves. Be informed and be alert as you would with any market, publisher, agent or competition.
Testimonials
Dear Hope, The Emerald Theatre Company’s 10-minute play fest is going into its second year. Without you, and FundsforWriters, the first year might not have been possible. Thanks to the publicity from your newsletter, our little Memphis, Tennessee event received scripts from Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming, the UK and New Zealand.
This wealth of wonderful material yielded quality vignettes that made the best local actors and stage directors (including a popular local radio personality) eager to donate their time and talent – their presence, in turn, sold tickets. We played to packed houses and everyone had a great time. To our astonishment, Vermont Pride Theatre got wind of the show and asked to put it on in its entirety this coming July – meaning the playwrights who won prizes and recognition in our fest, will now receive additional recognition along with royalties.
The bottom line is, without you, we would have had something rinky dink – with you we had something substantial. The publicity you provided on the front end made all the difference in the world! ~Caroline Sposto, www.whycaroline.com, (610) 597-9803
Hi Hope, we met at the SCWW conference in Myrtle Beach last October, and I was so impressed with your lecture that I subscribed to FFW as soon as I got home. I wanted to drop you a line to let you know that because of FFW, I submitted AND WON The 2008 William F. Deeck-Malice Domestic Grant for Unpublished Writers! My novel will be finished this week, and next weekend I’m going to Malice Domestic to accept the award. Thanks you, and keep up the great work.