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
GUTSY GREAT NOVELIST PAGE ONE PRIZE
Deadline: 17 July 2024
More details here
The Paul Cave Prize for Teenage Fiction
Deadline: 30 July 2024
More details here
Inspiring Fiction’s Special Edition Short Story Contest
31 July 2024
More details here
Seán Ó Faoláin International Short Story Competition 2024
Deadline: 31 July 2024
More details here
New Writers Poetry Competition 2024
Deadline: 31 July 2024
More details here
Fiction Factory Short Story Competition
Deadline: 31 July 2024
More details here
FFF – Free Flash Fiction Competition
Deadline: 23 August 2024
More details here
Calibre Audio Short Story Competition
Deadline: 31 August 2024
More details here
Submissions for 21 Futures anthology
Deadline: 31 August 2024
More details here
WOW! Summer 2024 Flash Fiction Contest
Deadline: 31 August 2024
More details here
SaveAs Writers’ International Writing Competition 2024
Deadline: 31 August 2024
More details here
Crowdpen Writing Challenge
Deadline: 31 August 2024
More details here
New2theScene Writing Competition
Deadline: 1 September 2024
More details here
The Writers College Annual Short Story Competition
30 September 2024
More details here
EYELANDS BOOK AWARDS 2024
Deadline: 20 October 2024
More details here
Bedford Writing Competition
Deadline: 31 October 2024
More details here
Storylines Manuscript Awards
Deadline: 31 October 2024
Storylines Te Kahurangi Kāterina Te Heikōkō Award (Te Reo Māori)
Storyines Janice Marriott Mentoring Award (Junior Fiction)
Storylines Joy Cowley Award (Picture Book)
RAWA 2024 festival (Readers and Writers Akaroa)
Festival: 2-3 November 2024
More details here
Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay Competition
Deadline: 31 December 2024
More details here
Next Generation Short Story Awards
Deadline: 27 February 2025
More details here
To Hull And Back humorous short story competition
Deadline: 30 June 2025
More details here
Regular Annual Writing Competitions
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.
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.