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
International Rubery Book Award
Deadline: 31 March 2025
More details here
Little Kanawha Reading Series Chapbook Contest
Deadline: 31 March 2025
More details here
The Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction, and Books
Deadline: 1 April 2025
More details here
DESPERATE LITERATURE SHORT FICTION PRIZE
Deadline: 13 April 2025
More details here
BOMB Magazine 2025 Fiction Contest
Deadline: 15 April 2025
More details here
EYELANDS 11th INTERNATIONAL SHORT STORY CONTEST
Deadline: 20 April 2025
More details here
FFF Competition Twenty-Seven
Deadline: 23 April 2025
More details here
Tadpole Press 100-Word Writing Contest
Deadline: 30 April 2025
More details here
OXFORD/42 NEW WRITING PRIZE
Deadline: 30 April 2025
More details here
New Writers 100-Word Writing Competition 2025
Deadline: 30 April 2025
More details here
F(r)iction Spring 2025 Writing Contests
Deadline: 2 May 2025
More details here
WOW! Spring 2025 Flash Fiction Contest
Deadline: 31 May 2025
More details here
The Roy Chapman BeaconFlash Story Competition
Deadline: 31 May 2025
More details here
Minds Shine Bright Places Writing Competition
Deadline: 31 May 2025
More details here
Canterbury Festival Poet of the Year 2025
Deadline: 2 June 2025
More details here
Sunlight Books Time Travel Short Story Competition
Deadline: 30 June 2025
More details here
To Hull And Back humorous short story competition
Deadline: 30 June 2025
More details here
Fiction Factory Poetry Competition
Deadline: 31 July 2025
More details here
Anthology Short Story Competition
Deadline: 31 July 2025
More details here
The Edinburgh Writing Awards
Flash Fiction Award – Deadline 31 August 2025
True Flash Award – Deadline 31 August 2025
More details here
The Writers’ College 2025 Short Story Competition
Deadline: 30 September 2025
More details here
The Bedford Writing Competition
Deadline: 31 October 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.