Manchester Writing Competition: Manchester Fiction Prize 2023
Genre: Short Story
Entry Fee: £18 per short story
Deadline: September 1, 2023
Prize: £10,000
Description: Organized by the Manchester Metropolitan University, this competition offers the UK’s biggest literary awards for unpublished work, offered by the country’s most successful writing school. Open internationally to new and established writers aged 16 or over. Entrants must submit a short story of up to 2,500 words in length. All work submitted for consideration can be on any subject, and written in any style or form, but must be the entrant’s own original writing.
Details: https://www2.mmu.ac.uk/writingcompetition/fiction-prize/
Manchester Writing Competition: Manchester Poetry Prize 2023
Genre: Poetry
Entry Fee: £18 per portfolio of three to five poems with a maximum combined length of 120 lines
Deadline: September 1, 2023
Prize: £10,000
Description: Organized by the Manchester Metropolitan University, this competition offers the UK’s biggest literary awards for unpublished work, offered by the country’s most successful writing school. Open internationally to new and established writers aged 16 or over. Entrants must submit a portfolio comprising a minimum of three and a maximum of five poems. There is no line limit for each individual poem, but the overall maximum length of the poems combined must not exceed 120 lines. All work submitted for consideration can be on any subject, and written in any style or form, but must be the entrant’s own original writing.
Details: https://www2.mmu.ac.uk/writingcompetition/poetry-prize/
Diana Brebner Prize
Genre: Poetry
Entry Fee: $25 for up to two poems (includes a one-year subscription to Arc)
Deadline: September 10, 2023
Prize: $500
Description: The Diana Brebner Prize is awarded yearly for the best poem written by a National Capital Region poet, who has not yet been published in book form. The prize honours the late Diana Brebner, an award winning Ottawa-based poet who was devoted to fostering literary talent among new, local writers. The contest is open to authors who have had their principal home and actual residence in the National Capital Region for at least 6 months immediately prior to the date of submission, and who have not yet published their poetry in book form. Eligible entries must not exceed 30 lines each.
Details: https://arcpoetry.ca/contest/diana-brebner-prize/
The Canadian Jewish Playwriting Competition
Genre: Plays
Entry Fee: None
Deadline: September 5, 2023
Prize: First prize of $1,000 and an 8-hour CAEA workshop with a director and up to six actors, concluding with a public reading
Description: This unique playwrights’ competition recognizes the most outstanding unproduced Canadian plays with a Jewish focus.
Details: https://www.mnjcc.org/theatre
Federation of BC Writers’ (FBCW) Literary Contest 2023
Genre: Flash Fiction, Short Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction, Poetry
Entry Fee: $15 for FBCW members and $25 for non-members
Deadline: September 15, 2023
Prize: First prize in each of 4 categories of $350, an interview in WordWorks magazine (print and online), a reading and interview at 2024 Gala, publication in the Contest Anthology, and 3 copies of the anthology; shortlist in each of 4 categories of $35, recognition on social media, publication in the Contest Anthology, and 1 copy of the anthology
Description: The Federation of British Columbia Writers’ Literary Contest is an annual celebration of writing. Poets and writers are invited to submit original, unpublished works. Flash fiction is 500 words max, short fiction is 3,500 words max, creative nonfiction is 1,500 words max, and poetry is 30 lines max.
Details: https://bcwriters.ca/contests2023
The 30th Annual SiWC Writing Contest
Genre: Short Story
Entry Fee: $15 per entry
Deadline: September 15, 2023 at 12:00 am
Prize: First prize of $1,000 plus publication; honourable mention prize of $150 plus publication
Description: Story length must be between 2,500 and 4,000 words. Young writers are welcome to enter, but must be aware that their work will be judged blind among submissions made by adult writers.
Details: https://www.siwc.ca/writing-contest/
Mslexia Women’s Fiction Competition 2023 – Flash Fiction
Genre: Flash Fiction
Entry Fee: £6 per story
Deadline: September 18, 2023
Prize: First prize of £500; three finalist prizes of £50; all four winning stories will be published in Mslexia; winning entries, plus eight more shortlisted entries, will be published in Mslexia’s e-book anthology Best Women’s Short Fiction 2022
Description: Submit complete short fiction up to 300 words on any subject. The judge is award-winning short fiction author and Director of The Propelling Pencil, Audrey Niven. The winner and finalists will be published in the December 2022 issue of Mslexia.
Details: https://mslexia.co.uk/competitions/flash-fiction/
Mslexia Women’s Fiction Competition 2023 – Adult Novel
Genre: Unpublished Fiction Novels
Entry Fee: £26 per entry
Deadline: September 18, 2023
Prize: First prize of £5,000; three finalist prizes; all four winners will receive manuscript feedback from The Literary Consultancy, pitch training at a day-long professional workshop in Newcastle upon Tyne, and personal introductions to agents and editors at a Talent Party in central London
Description: This competition is open to unpublished fiction novels of at least 50,000 words in any genre for adult and/or young adult readers. Submit the first 5,000 words only in the first instance. Longlisted entrants will be asked to submit their finished manuscripts along with a synopsis later in the judging process.
Details: https://mslexia.co.uk/competitions/adult-novel/womens-fiction-competition-2023-adult-novel/
Mslexia Women’s Fiction Competition 2023 – Short Story
Genre: Short Story
Entry Fee: £12 per story
Deadline: September 18, 2023
Prize: First prize of £3,000; three finalist prizes of £100; all four winning stories will be published in Mslexia; winning entries, plus eight more shortlisted entries, will be published in Mslexia’s e-book anthology Best Women’s Short Fiction 2022
Description: Submit complete short fiction on any subject, up to 3,000 words. The judge this year is award-winning novelist and short story writer Diana Evans.
Details: https://mslexia.co.uk/competitions/short-story/
Power of the Pen Creative Writing Contest
Genre: Poetry, Short Story (Ages 12 – 18)
Entry Fee: None
Deadline: September 29, 2023
Prize: First prize of $100 in each age category; second prize of $25 in each age category; all winners receive a copy of the Power of the Pen publication for their portfolios
Description: Power of the Pen is an annual writing contest offered in partnership with The Hamilton Spectator. Teens are invited to submit original poetry and short stories. The Power of the Pen, now in its 29th year, is an annual writing contest. Teens (ages 12 to 18) are invited to submit original poetry and short stories in both English and French. All participants will be entered to win, and prizes will be awarded to the first and second place entries for each age group.
Details: https://teens.hpl.ca/articles/power-pen-creative-writing-contest
Anthology Flash Fiction Competition
Genre: Flash Fiction
Entry Fee: Early Bird rate of €10 per entry and regular rate of €12 per entry
Deadline: Early Bird deadline of May 31, 2024; final deadline of September 30, 2024
Prize: €300 and publication in a future issue of Anthology
Description: Established to recognise and encourage creative writing and provide a platform for publication. Open to original and previously unpublished short stories in the English language by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. There is no restriction on theme or style. Open to both new and established writers, articles submitted must not exceed 250 words.
Details: https://anthology-magazine.com/awards/flash-fiction-competition/
Anthology Nature Writing Competition
Genre: Nature Writing
Entry Fee: Early Bird rate of €12 per entry and regular rate of €15 per entry
Deadline: Early Bird deadline of May 31, 2024; final deadline of September 30, 2024
Prize: €500 and publication in a future issue of Anthology
Description: Established to recognise and encourage creative writing and provide a platform for publication. Open to original and previously unpublished short stories in the English language by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. There is no restriction on theme or style. Stories submitted must not exceed the maximum of 1,500 words.
Details: https://anthology-magazine.com/awards/nature-competition/
Dream Quest One Poetry and Writing Contest – Summer 2023
Genre: Poetry, Short Story
Entry Fee: $5 USD per poem and $10 USD per short story
Deadline: September 30, 2023
Poetry Prize: First prize of $250; second prize of $125; third prize of $50
Short Story Prize: First prize of $500; second prize of $250; third prize of $100
Description: This poetry contest and writing contest is open to everyone international. Poems may be written on any subject, theme, style or form, and must be 30 lines or fewer. Short stories may be written on a maximum of five pages on any subject or theme.
Details: https://www.dreamquestone.com/
Creative Writing Ink Short Story Competition 2023
Genre: Short Story
Entry Fee: £9
Deadline: September 30, 2023 at 4:00 pm GMT
Prize: First prize of £1,000, a free creative writing course of the winners choice, and website publication; runner-up prizes of £200 each
Description: Maximum word count of 3,000 words. Open theme/subject/genre.
Details: https://creativewritingink.co.uk/creative-writing-ink-short-story-competition-2022/
The Darling Axe First Page Challenge
Genre: First page of manuscript
Entry Fee: $5
Deadline: September 30, 2023
Prize: First prize of $700; second prize of $200; third prize of $100; all three finalists win publication on the Chopping Blog and receive complimentary access to one of our self-paced courses
Description: If you want a reader to buy your book or an agent to offer you representation, then it only makes sense to have a stunning first page. That’s what the First Page Challenge is all about. Open to fiction or narrative nonfiction, short stories or full-length manuscripts. One page, double-spaced, 12-point font. The judge will be asking one question: how likely am I to turn this page and keep reading?
Details: https://darlingaxe.com/pages/first-page-challenge
Hammond House Publishing 2023 International Literary Prize
Genre: Poetry, Short Story, Screenplay
Entry Fee: £10 for nonmembers or £5 for members
Deadline: September 30, 2023
Prize: Poetry first prize of £500, second prize of £50 and third prize of £20; short story first prize of £1,000, second prize of £100 and third prize of £50; screenplay first prize of £250 plus film trailers for top three scripts; worldwide publication for winners and shortlisted entries
Description: The theme for the 2023 competition is ‘Fate’. The competition is open to any and all participants regardless of age or location. Poems can be up to 40 lines, short stories have a 2,000-5,000 word limit, and short film scripts have a maximum of 10 pages.
Details: https://www.hammondhousepublishing.com/competitions
Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest
Genre: Poetry
Entry Fee: $20 per submission of 1 to 3 poems
Deadline: September 30, 2023
Prize: Tom Howard prize of $3,000 for a poem in any style or genre; Margaret Reid prize of $3,000 for a poem that rhymes or has a traditional style; the top two winners will also receive two-year gift certificates from our co-sponsor, Duotrope (a $100 value); ten honorable mention prizes of $200 each (any style); top 12 entries published online
Description: Contest is offered by Winning Writers and their co-sponsor, Duotrope. Poetry in any style or theme. 250 lines maximum per poem.
Details: https://winningwriters.com/our-contests/tom-howard-margaret-reid-poetry-contest
Dzanc Books Prize for Fiction
Genre: Fiction
Entry Fee: $25 USD
Deadline: September 30, 2023
Prize: $5,000 advance and publication by Dzanc Books
Description: The Dzanc Books Prize for Fiction recognizes daring, original, and innovative novels that are 40,000 words and longer. The contest is open to new, upcoming, and established writers alike. All submitted works must be previously unpublished novel-length manuscripts and should include a brief synopsis, author bio, contact information, and agency contact information if applicable.
Details: https://dzancbooks.submittable.com/submit/55676/dzanc-books-prize-for-fiction
Dzanc Books Short Story Collection Competition
Genre: Short Story Collection
Entry Fee: $25 USD
Deadline: September 30, 2023
Prize: $2,500 advance and publication by Dzanc Books
Description: The Dzanc Books Short Story Collection Prize celebrates imaginative and inventive writing in book-length collections. The contest is open to new, upcoming, and established writers alike. All submitted works must be previously unpublished novel-length manuscripts and should include a brief synopsis, author bio, contact information, and agency contact information if applicable.
Details: https://dzancbooks.submittable.com/submit/24727/dzanc-books-short-story-collection-competition
Bristol 2024 Short Story Prize
Genre: Fiction
Entry Fee: £9 per story
Deadline: Autumn 2024 is currently the provisional date for the launch of the revamped Bristol Short Story Prize
Prize: First prize of £1,000; second prize of £500; third prize of £250; 17 remaining shortlisted writers will receive £100 each
Description: This is an annual international writing competition open to all published and unpublished, UK- and non UK-based writers. An annual anthology of the winning stories is also published.
Details: https://www.bristolprize.co.uk/news/2023-bristol-short-story-prize-is-open
Mslexia Women’s Fiction Competition 2023 – Children’s & Young Adult Novel
Genre: Fiction
Entry Fee: £26 per novel extract
Deadline: Inactive contest in 2023, returning in June 2024
Prize: First prize of £5,000; the winner and finalists will receive manuscript feedback from The Literary Consultancy and personal introductions to literary agents arranged in partnership with New Writing North
Description: For novels of at least 20,000 words in any genre for children and young adults. Submit first 3,000 words only in the first instance. Longlisted entrants will be asked to submit their finished manuscripts along with a synopsis later in the judging process.
Details: https://mslexia.co.uk/competitions/childrens-and-ya-novel/