Arc Poetry Diana Brebner Prize
Genre: Poetry
Entry Fee: $30 CAD for up to two poems, $35 for three poems, $40 for four poems, and $45 for five poems (includes a one-year subscription to Arc)
Deadline: September 1, 2025
Prize: $500 CAD
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/
Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition 2025
Genre: Short Story, Fiction
Entry Fee: Early Bird rate of $15 USD per entry and regular rate of $20 USD per entry
Deadline: September 1, 2025
Prize: First prize of $1,500 USD and publication of the winning story on the competition website; second and third prizes of $500 USD each; honourable mentions awarded to entrants whose work demonstrates promise
Description: The competition has a forty-two year history of literary excellence, and Lorian Hemingway and her small judging panel are dedicated to enthusiastically supporting the efforts and talent of writers of short fiction whose voices have yet to be heard. Lorian Hemingway, a granddaughter of Nobel laureate Ernest Hemingway, is the author of three critically acclaimed books: Walking into the River, Walk on Water, and A World Turned Over. Stories must be original unpublished fiction and may not exceed 3,500 words in length. There are no theme or genre restrictions. Copyright remains the property of the author.
Details: http://shortstorycompetition.com/guidelines/
Royal Society of Literature (RSL) Giles St Aubyn Awards for Non-Fiction
Genre: Nonfiction
Entry Fee: None
Deadline: September 1, 2025
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: RSL Giles St Aubyn Awards for Non-Fiction – Royal Society of Literature (rsliterature.org)
The Masters Review Summer Short Story Award for New Writers
Genre: Short Story
Entry Fee: $20 USD
Deadline: September 7, 2025
Prize: First prize of $3,000 USD; second prize of $300 USD; third prize of $200 USD; all prizes include online publication and agency review
Description: No style or genre preferences, however, this is a publication that focuses on literary fiction. Take chances and be bold! Previously unpublished stories under 6,000 words. Emerging writers only (self-published writers and writers with story collections and novels with a small circulation are welcome to submit, and writers with novels published with a circulation of fewer than 5,000 copies can also submit).
Details: https://mastersreview.com/short-story-award-for-new-writers/
Surrey International Writers Conference (SiWC) Writing Contest
Genre: Short Story
Entry Fee: $15 CAD per entry
Deadline: September 15, 2025, at 12:00 am ET
Prize: First prize of $1,000 CAD plus publication; honourable mention prize of $150 CAD 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/
Anthology Flash Fiction Competition
Genre: Flash Fiction
Entry Fee: €12 per entry
Deadline: September 30, 2025
Prize: €300 and publication in a future issue of Anthology
Description: Established to recognize 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: €15 per entry
Deadline: September 30, 2025
Prize: €500 and publication in a future issue of Anthology
Description: Established to recognize 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 2025
Genre: Poetry, Short Story
Entry Fee: $5 USD per poem and $10 USD per short story
Deadline: September 30, 2025, 11:59 pm PT
Poetry Prize: First prize of $250 USD; second prize of $125 USD; third prize of $50 USD
Short Story Prize: First prize of $500 USD; second prize of $250 USD; third prize of $100 USD
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/
Hammond House Publishing International Literary Prize 2025
Genre: Poetry, Scriptwriting, Short Story, Songwriting
Entry Fee: £10 for nonmembers or £5 for members
Deadline: September 30, 2025
Prize: Cash prizes, a Fellowship of the Royal Society for Arts, publication in annual anthologies, and participation in a televised award ceremony
Description: The theme for the 2025 competition is ‘Secrets’. 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
Power of the Pen Creative Writing Contest
Genre: Poetry, Short Story (Ages 12 – 18)
Entry Fee: None
Deadline: September 30, 2025
Prize: First prize of $100 CAD in each age category; second prize of $25 CAD 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 30th 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
The Darling Axe First Page Challenge
Genre: First page of manuscript
Entry Fee: $5 CAD
Deadline: September 30, 2025
Prize: First prize of $700 CAD; second prize of $200 CAD; third prize of $100 CAD; 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
*Contests will be updated as 2025 details become available.*
Federation of BC Writers’ (FBCW) Literary Contest 2025
Genre: Flash Fiction, Short Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction, Poetry
Entry Fee: $15 CAD for FBCW members and $25 CAD for non-members
Deadline: 2025 contest details to be announced
Prize: First prize in each of 4 categories of $350 CAD, 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 CAD, 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://fbcwcontest.com/
Mslexia Women’s Fiction Competition 2025 – Adult Novel
Genre: Unpublished Fiction Novels
Entry Fee: £26 per entry
Deadline: 2025 contest details to be announced
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 2025 – Children’s & Young Adult Novel
Genre: Fiction
Entry Fee: £26 per novel extract
Deadline: 2025 contest details to be announced
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 2025 – Flash Fiction
Genre: Flash Fiction
Entry Fee: £6 per story
Deadline: 2025 contest details to be announced
Prize: First prize of £500; three finalist prizes of £50; all four winning stories will be published in Issue 104 of Mslexia; winning entries, plus eight more shortlisted entries, will be published in Mslexia’s e-book anthology Best Women’s Short Fiction 2024
Description: Submit complete short fiction up to 300 words on any subject.
Details: https://mslexia.co.uk/competitions/flash-fiction/
Mslexia Women’s Fiction Competition 2025 – Short Story
Genre: Short Story
Entry Fee: £12 per story
Deadline: 2025 contest details to be announced
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 2024
Description: Submit complete short fiction on any subject, up to 3,000 words.
Details: https://mslexia.co.uk/competitions/short-story/
Troubadour International Poetry Prize 2025
Genre: Poetry
Entry Fee: £5 or €6 or $7 USD per poem
Deadline: 2025 contest details to be announced
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