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Organized by the Manchester Metropolitan University, this competition offers the UK’s biggest literary awards for unpublished work, offered by the country’s most successful writing school.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Organized by the Manchester Metropolitan University, this competition offers the UK’s biggest literary awards for unpublished work, offered by the country’s most successful writing school.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/
Dr. William Henry Drummond Poetry Contest
Genre: Poetry
Entry Fee: $10 per poem
Deadline: September 2, 2022
Prize: Grand prize of $1,650; first prize of $300; second prize of $200; third prize of $100; eight honorable mentions of $75; nine judge’s choice prizes of $50; complimentary anthology to all winners
Description: Canada’s oldest non-governmental poetry contest. Only accepting online submissions with e-transfer payment to David Brydges at mybrydges@yahoo.ca.
Details: https://www.springpulsepoetryfestival.com/rules.html
Diana Brebner Prize
Genre: Poetry
Entry Fee: $25 for up to two poems (includes a one-year subscription to Arc)
Deadline: September 4, 2022
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: http://arcpoetry.ca/contests-page/#brebner
The Royal Society of Literature (RSL) Giles St Aubyn Awards for Non-Fiction
Genre: Nonfiction
Entry Fee: None
Deadline: September 14, 2022 at 5:00 pm
Prize: First prize of £10,000; second prize of £5,000; third prize of £2,500
Description: The RSL Giles St Aubyn Awards is for first-time writers of non-fiction through a generous bequest from author and RSL Fellow Giles St Aubyn. This year’s judges are Homi K. Bhahba, Fiona Boyle and Violet Moller.
Details: https://rsliterature.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/RSL-Giles-St-Aubyn-Awards-2022-Eligibility-and-Guidelines.pdf
The 30th Annual SiWC Writing Contest
Genre: Short Story
Entry Fee: $15 per entry
Deadline: September 15, 2022 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 2022 – Flash Fiction
Genre: Flash Fiction
Entry Fee: £6 per story
Deadline: September 19, 2022
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 2022 – Children’s & Young Adult Novel
Genre: Fiction
Entry Fee: £26 per novel extract
Deadline: September 19, 2022
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/
Mslexia Women’s Fiction Competition 2022 – Short Story
Genre: Short Story
Entry Fee: £12 per story
Deadline: September 19, 2022
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/
Troubadour International Poetry Prize 2022
Genre: Poetry
Entry Fee: £5 or €6 or $7 USD per poem
Deadline: September 26, 2022 at 12:00 am GMT
Prize: First prize of £2,000; second prize of £1,000; third prize of £500; plus 20 commendeds
Description: Poems may be submitted from any country & must be in English, must each be no longer than 45 lines, must show title & poem only, must not show poet’s name, must be the original work of the entrant (no translations) and must not have been previously published. No text alterations accepted after submission. No limit on number of poems or number of subsequent submissions.
Details: http://www.coffeehousepoetry.org/prizes
2022 Voyage First Chapters Contest
Genre: First Chapters of Young Adult Novels
Entry Fee: $20
Deadline: September 30, 2022
Prize: First prize of $3,000 and an hour-long consultation a literary agent; second prize of $300 and publication; third prize of $200 and publication; all finalists will receive written feedback from a literary agent on the first five pages
Description: Voyage wants to see those first chapters of your Young Adult novels! One of the most difficult challenges in writing a book is getting that first chapter right—and the aim is to challenge you. Can you write a first chapter that captivates your audience enough to make them want to keep reading? If the answer is yes, then Voyage wants to read your first chapter. Submissions must be the first chapter of a Young Adult novel (full novel does not need to be completed), and from the point-of-view of a young adult. The chapter doesn’t have to be standalone. 5,000-word count maximum. Open to any genre or style. Previously unpublished work only please.
Details: https://voyage.submittable.com/submit
Dream Quest One Poetry and Writing Contest – Summer 2022
Genre: Poetry, Short Story
Entry Fee: $5 USD per poem and $10 USD per short story
Deadline: September 30, 2022
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 2022
Genre: Short Story
Entry Fee: £9
Deadline: September 30, 2022 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. Results will be announced October 30, 2022.
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 2022 International Literary Prize
Genre: Poetry, Short Story, Screenplay
Entry Fee: £10 for nonmembers or £5 for members
Deadline: September 30, 2022
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 2022 competition is ‘Changes’. 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, 2022
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, 2022 at 12:00 am
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, 2022 at 12:00 am
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
Power of the Pen Creative Writing Contest
Genre: Poetry, Short Story (Ages 12 – 18)
Entry Fee: None
Deadline: September 30, 2022
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 28th 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
Boulevard Nonfiction Contest for Emerging Writers
Genre: Nonfiction
Entry Fee: $16 per essay (includes a one-year subscription to Boulevard)
Deadline: Inactive contest in 2022
Prize: First prize of $1,000 and publication in Boulevard
Description: Awarded to the winning essay by a writer who has not yet published a book of fiction, poetry, or creative non-fiction with a nationally distributed press. Works of up to 8,000 words are accepted and there is special interest in nonfiction works that are researched and/or reported, such as literary journalism, hybrid essays, etc.
Details: https://boulevardmagazine.org/nonfiction-contest/