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. NZ Writers’ College cannot be held responsible for the conduct of any third party competitions or events.
Competitions and Events
Broadway Arts Festival Short story Competition
Deadline: 27 March 2026
More details here
The Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction, Poetry, and Books
Deadline: 28 March 2026
More details here
Tom Grass Spirit of Adventure Literary Prize
Deadline: 31 March 2026
More details here
Narrative Winter 2026 Story Contest
Deadline: 31 March 2026
More details here
Sondor Author Challenge
Deadline: 31 March 2026
More details here
The Rubery Book Award
Deadline: 31 March 2026
More details here
2026 DESPERATE LITERATURE
SHORT FICTION PRIZE
Deadline: 19 April 2026
More details here
FFF Competition 33
Deadline: 23 April 2026
More details here
Ironclad Short Story Competition
Deadline: 30 April 2026
More details here
International Jay Yes Short Story Contest 2026
Deadline: 8 May 2026
More details here
Inkspot Publishing Flash Fiction Writing Competition
Deadline: 17 May 2026
More details here
M.F.K. FISHER Emerging Writers Contest
Deadline: 25 May 2026
More details here
Fight for another world, write for another world! Short story Competition
Deadline: 31 May 2026
More details here
Canterbury Festival Poet of the Year
Deadline: 1 June 2026
More details here
Wells Festival of Literature’s International Creative Writing Competitions
Deadline: 30th June for Open Poetry, Short Stories and A Book for Children but 31st July for the Young Poets, to take account of examinations.
More details here
Anthology Short Story Competition
Deadline: 31 July 2026
More details here
Anthology Memoir Competition
Deadline: 31 August 2026
More details here
Tamariki Book Festival 2026
Workshops: Friday, 25 September
Festival: Saturday, 26 September
11 am – 4 pm
The Arts Centre, Christchurch
The Writers’ College Annual Short Story Competition
Deadline: 30 September 2026
More details here
Anthology Flash Fiction Competition
Deadline: 30 September 2026
More details here
Anthology Nature Writing Competition
Deadline: 30 September 2026
More details here
Anthology Poetry Competition
Deadline: 31 October 2026
More details here
Anthology Travel Writing Competition
Deadline: 30 November 2026
More details here
Regular Annual Writing Competitions
Digital Weft run regular monthly competitions. have a look at the details here
Story glory Short story competition. For fiction stories between 300-1200 Opening date 1st monthly and closes on the final day of each month Result announced on the 10th monthly The contest is for Themed stories (the theme varies each month, it could be one word, could be a title or a line of dialogue).
It is free to enter and the winner will win a book each month.
Park Publications Scribble Short Story Competitions for 2026
Deadline: Ongoing
More details
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
The Letter Review runs regular competitions throughout the year. Genres include Short Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry and Unpublished Books. Details here.
The annual Sunday Star Times Short Story Awards in New Zealand. Deadline is December each year. See Stuff.co.nz for more details.
The Sargeson Prize in New Zealand closes 30 June. More details here.
The takahē Short Story Competition closes 31 August. More details here.
Anthology run many competitions throughout the year. Check their competitions 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>
Monthly Writing Competitions
Weekly Writing Competitions
The Telegraph Travel Writing Competition
The Long and Short of it – Unity Books Short Story Competition
For a bit of lighthearted fun, Reedsy runs weekly short story competitions in response to a writing prompt. Winners get $50 and publication on the Reedsy blog. See the details here.