Writing Contests With Cash Prizes You Can Enter Anytime

If you're a writer looking to earn some extra cash, entering writing contests is a great way to do it. Many contests offer real money prizes for short stories, poems, essays, and more. Whether you're just starting out or have been writing for years, there’s something out there for you. We’ve rounded up a list of contests that are worth checking out - some run year-round, and others pop up regularly. Let’s take a look at the ones that could pay off for your creativity.

Tips for Standing Out in Contests

Winning a writing contest isn't just about having a great idea - it's also about how you present it. Here are some simple but important tips that can help your work rise to the top of the pile:

Follow the Theme or Prompt Exactly

This one sounds obvious, but it’s easy to miss. Make sure your piece directly ties into the contest’s theme or prompt. Judges are looking for entries that clearly respond to what was asked, not something that only sort of fits. If there’s a question or specific topic, answer it head-on.

Edit and Proofread Your Work

Even the best ideas can get overlooked if your writing is full of typos or awkward sentences. Take the time to read through your piece more than once. Better yet, let someone else take a look too. A fresh pair of eyes can catch things you might miss.

Stick to the Word Count

If a contest says 1,000 words max, don’t go over. Judges have to read a lot of entries, and going past the limit can be a fast way to get disqualified. On the flip side, try not to come in way under either. Make every word count.

Be Original and Authentic

Contests attract a lot of similar entries, especially if there’s a specific theme. To stand out, write from your own voice and perspective. Don’t try to copy what you think the judges want - just be real. Authenticity and fresh ideas always catch attention.

Submit Early if Possible

Waiting until the last minute can add stress and leave room for mistakes. Submitting early gives you time to double-check everything, and some judges might start reading entries as they come in. Being early shows you're serious and prepared.

Writing Contests With Cash Prizes

Looking for a way to earn money from your writing and get noticed at the same time? These contests can help you do both. Below is a curated list of writing contests that offer real cash prizes and are currently open for submissions.

1. Inkitt Writing Contest

Inkitt is part writing platform, part crowd-powered publisher. Each month it spotlights a new theme or genre and tracks reader engagement to choose winners. Top entries receive cash, promotional boosts and a shot at a book deal with Inkitt’s parent imprint.

• Prize: Up to $300 cash plus marketing packages and “winner” badge

• Type: Novel manuscript (any fiction genre, no fanfic) 10,000 words minimum

• Entry fee: Free

• Open to: Writers worldwide age 18+

• Submission window: Monthly contests with shifting prompts

Quick Tip

Engage your beta readers early because likes, reads and comments all feed the algorithm.

2. L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future

Since 1983 this quarterly science fiction and fantasy contest has helped launch new voices. If you are an unpublished or “pro-level” author, polish that short story or novelette and send it in before the next quarter closes.

• Prize: $1,000 first, $750 second, $500 third plus $5,000 annual grand prize

• Type: Science fiction or fantasy short story or novelette up to 17,000 words

• Entry fee: Free

• Open to: New and amateur writers worldwide

• Submission window: Rolling with deadlines March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31

Quick Tip

Because judging is blind, remove your name from every page, even the file name.

3. Biopage Storytelling Contest

Biopage wants to remind people that long-form stories still matter in a tweet-sized world. Create a free profile, upload an original essay, and share your lived experience or creative take on the current theme.

• Prize: $300 grand prize, five $100 runner-up awards

• Type: Personal or creative essay up to about 1,000 words

• Entry fee: Free

• Open to: Anyone with a Biopage account

• Submission window: Opens December, closes January 31

Quick Tip

Paste your text into an online character counter so you don’t bust the 5,000-character cap.

4. ServiceScape Short Story Award

Freelance marketplace ServiceScape runs an annual award that is refreshingly straightforward: send one stellar story, hope it wins and pocket a thousand dollars.

• Prize: $1,000 cash and publication on ServiceScape’s blog

• Type: Fiction or creative nonfiction short story up to 5,000 words

• Entry fee: Free

• Open to: Writers worldwide age 18+

• Submission window: Closes November 29 each year

Quick Tip

A strong hook in the opening 100 words keeps busy freelance editors reading to the end.

5. Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest

This humor contest wants your best published or unpublished poem that delivers genuine laughs without hate. Any form is welcome, from sonnet to slam.

• Prize: $2,000 winner, $500 runner-up, ten $100 honorable mentions

• Type: Humorous poem up to 250 lines

• Entry fee: Free

• Open to: Poets worldwide, all ages

• Submission window: Deadline April 1

Quick Tip

Avoid topical jokes that could feel stale by judging time.

6. Rattle Poetry Prize

Rattle magazine bankrolls one of poetry’s richest single-poem purses. Every entrant receives a one-year subscription, guaranteeing their fee buys something tangible.

• Prize: $15,000 grand prize plus ten $500 finalists

• Type: Any unpublished poem, no line limit

• Entry fee: $25 (includes subscription)

• Open to: Poets worldwide

• Submission window: February 1 to July 15

Quick Tip

Submit four poems to maximize value.

7. Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing

This prize seeks first-generation immigrant voices whose stories cross borders. The winner receives a publishing contract and a $10,000 advance.

• Prize: $10,000 advance and publication

• Type: Novel or short-story collection

• Entry fee: $20

• Open to: First-generation immigrant writers writing in English

• Submission window: December to March

Quick Tip

Avoid clichés, focus on specific, lived experience.

8. Story Unlikely Short Story Contest

This indie mag offers a high-value free contest for any genre. Winners get cash and publication in their January issue.

• Prize: $1,500 first, $1,000 second, $500 third

• Type: Short story up to 4,000 words (5,000 for members)

• Entry fee: Free

• Open to: Writers worldwide

• Submission window: Closes January 31

Quick Tip

Start with a striking image to stand out.

9. John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest

Students write about U.S. elected officials who took courageous stands. A rigorous and respected high school contest.

• Prize: $10,000 first, $3,000 second, $1,000 for finalists

• Type: Essay, 700-1,000 words

• Entry fee: Free

• Open to: U.S. high school students

• Submission window: Opens September, deadline January 17

Quick Tip

Interviewing a local official can make your essay more unique.

10. Tadpole Press 100-Word Writing Contest

Can you tell a complete story in exactly 100 words? Tadpole Press says yes, and offers a $2,000 prize to prove it.

• Prize: $2,000 grand prize

• Type: Any genre, exactly 100 words (including title)

• Entry fee: $15

• Open to: Writers worldwide

• Submission window: Deadline April 30

Quick Tip

Write long, then edit down to the essentials.

11. Fish Poetry Prize

This respected Irish competition selects the best unpublished poems for cash and publication.

• Prize: €1,000 first prize, plus smaller runner-up awards

• Type: Poem up to 60 lines

• Entry fee: €16

• Open to: Poets worldwide

• Submission window: Deadline March 31

Quick Tip

Make every line strong, there’s no room for filler.

12. Caterpillar Poetry Prize

A prize for poems written for children. The winner gets cash and a writing retreat.

• Prize: €1,000 and weeklong retreat

• Type: Poem for children

• Entry fee: €15

• Open to: Poets worldwide

• Submission window: January 1 to March 31

Quick Tip

Read your poem aloud to a child to test engagement.

13. The Moth Short Story Prize

A prestigious short story contest judged blind. Winners are published and awarded in Ireland.

• Prize: €3,000 first, retreat and €1,000 for runners-up

• Type: Short story up to 3,000 words

• Entry fee: €15

• Open to: Writers worldwide

• Submission window: January to June 30

Quick Tip

Avoid generic titles, stand out from the first glance.

14. Write the World Monthly Contests

Teen writers respond to new prompts every month, with built-in peer feedback and cash prizes.

• Prize: $100 winner, $50 runner-up and peer reviewer

• Type: Varies by month

• Entry fee: Free

• Open to: Ages 13-18 worldwide

• Submission window: Monthly

Quick Tip

Give thoughtful peer reviews, they’re also rewarded!

15. WOW! Women on Writing Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest

A quarterly contest Open to all genders, this one focuses on real-life stories under 1,000 words.

• Prize: $500 first, $300 second, $200 third

• Type: Creative nonfiction essay

• Entry fee: $12 standard, $25 with critique

• Open to: Writers worldwide

• Submission window: Quarterly, next closes July 31

Quick Tip

Jump into the action, edit out slow intros.

16. Tom Howard / John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest

One of the highest-paying contests for either fiction or nonfiction, with publication welcome.

• Prize: $3,500 first prize, $500 second, ten $100 honorable mentions

• Type: Fiction or nonfiction up to 6,000 words

• Entry fee: $25

• Open to: Writers worldwide

• Submission window: October 1 to May 1

Quick Tip

You can submit previously published work, just disclose it.

Don’t Let Rejection Stop You

Rejection is a normal part of the writing journey, even the most successful authors have faced it. It doesn’t mean your work isn’t good; it just means it wasn’t the right fit for that particular contest or editor. The key is to not take it personally.

• Most writers face rejection: From famous novelists to new poets, nearly every writer has heard “no” at some point. It’s part of the process, not a sign you should quit.

• Keep improving and keep submitting: Each piece of feedback or pause between submissions is a chance to sharpen your writing. Keep learning, editing and sending your work out.

• Your script might be a better fit somewhere else:What one judge skips over might resonate deeply with another. The same piece can get rejected ten times and then win a prize on the eleventh try.

Quick Tip

Create a submission tracker so you can stay organized and keep your momentum going. Rejection doesn’t stop you, quitting does.

Draft Smarter, Submit Stronger With Freewrite

When it comes to writing contests, we know how important it is to find your flow, stay focused, and hit your deadlines without distractions pulling you off track. That’s exactly why we createdFreewrite. Our devices are built for writers like you, those chasing stories, polishing drafts, and aiming to stand out in contests where every word matters.

At Freewrite, we believe focused writing should feel effortless. That’s why our tools cut out the noise: no emails, no apps, no tabs. Just you and the page. Whether you’re working on a sci-fi short for Writers of the Future or a 100-word masterpiece for a flash fiction challenge, Freewrite helps you stay in the zone longer, draft more efficiently, and get your best work out into the world faster. With a distraction-free screen and mechanical keyboard that feels just right, our devices are your quiet partner in every writing victory.

Alpha Cosmic Edition

TheAlpha Cosmic Edition is a lightweight, distraction-free writing tool designed for creators who love to write anytime, anywhere. With a terrazzo-speckled black finish and a warm backlight, this special edition makes it easy to stay in flow, whether you're drafting late at night or on the go. Cosmic keeps things simple, stylish, and totally focused on helping you hit your word goals.

Key Points:

• Lightweight and ultra-portable at just 1.6 lbs for writing on the move

• Built-in warm backlight with 5 brightness levels for low-light environments

• Syncs automatically to the cloud via Wi-Fi and stores up to 1 million words

• Includes a custom felt sleeve with constellation-inspired stitching

• Runs up to 100 hours on a single charge for uninterrupted writing marathons

Ernest Hemingway Signature Edition ("Hemingwrite")

TheHemingwrite is a premium writing device inspired by Ernest Hemingway himself. Made with hand-polished raw aluminum and finished with green keycaps, it’s both a tribute and a tool. Designed to help you block out distractions and focus like a literary legend, the Hemingwrite blends classic form with powerful drafting features for a writing experience that feels timeless.

Key Points:

• Raw aluminum body develops a one-of-a-kind patina over time

• Comes with a luxury leather attaché case for stylish protection

• Includes laser-engraved Hemingway signature

• Supports dozens of languages and syncs seamlessly with cloud platforms

• Long-lasting battery lets you write for extended sessions without recharging

Traveler

TheTraveler is Freewrite’s most portable drafting device, perfect for writers who want to stay creative while staying light. With an E Ink screen that’s easy on the eyes and a scissor-switch keyboard built for comfort, Traveler keeps you writing without distraction. Whether you're heading to a cabin, café, or the beach, Traveler makes it easy to bring your work-in-progress wherever you go.

Key Points:

• Lightweight and compact at just 1.6 lbs - half the size of a laptop

• E Ink display reduces eye strain and stays readable in sunlight

• Full-size scissor-switch keyboard for a smooth, tactile typing feel

• Syncs automatically to the cloud and works with Google Drive, Dropbox, Evernote, and OneDrive

• Battery lasts for weeks on a single charge with regular use

Conclusion

Writing contests are a great way to sharpen your skills, stay motivated, and maybe even earn a little cash along the way. Whether you're a poet, essayist, or fiction writer, there’s a contest out there for you. And the best part? Many of them are open year-round or pop up regularly, so you don’t have to wait for just one shot a year. Keep writing, keep submitting, and don’t let rejection slow you down. Every entry gets you one step closer to your next win.

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