writing course reviews from Writers College gradautes

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

The Hope Prize 2024
22 March 2024
More details here

The Broadway Arts Festival Julia & Martin Wilson Short Story Prize 2024
28 March 2024
More details here

Desperate Literature Short Fiction prize
Deadline: 14 April 2024
More details here

FFF Competition Twenty One
23 April 2024
More details here

WOW! Women On Writing Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest
30 April 2024
More details here

New Writers 1000-Word Short Story Competition 2024
30 April 2024
More details here

Tadpole Press 100-Word Writing Contest
Deadline: 30 April 2024
More details here

IRONCLAD CREATIVE SHORT STORY COMPETITION
​- SPRING 2024
Deadline: 30 April 2024
More details here

The SmokeLong Quarterly Award for Flash Fiction
Deadline: 30 April 2024
More details here

WOW! Women on Writing Spring 2024 Flash Fiction Contest
31 May 2024
More details here

Poetry Book Awards 2024
30 June 2024
More details here

International Welsh Poetry Competition 2024
Deadline: 30 June 2024
More details here

Fiction Factory Poetry Competition 2024
Deadline: 30 June 2024
More details here

Tamariki Book Festival
6 July 11am-4pm
Turanga, TSB Space
Christchurch
More details here:

Inspiring Fiction’s Special Edition Short Story Contest
31 July 2024
More details here

Regular Annual Writing Competitions

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 Genres include Short Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry and Unpublished Books.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.

The Writers College My Writing Journey Competition. Free to enter, open to writers around the world. Regular submissions accepted.
Details 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.

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Running a competition or an event?

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