Calling all writers...
Looking for a chance to showcase your talent and get a little recognition? Look no further than these open writing contests!
Whether you're a seasoned wordsmith or just starting out, creative writing contests are a fantastic way to challenge yourself, receive constructive feedback, and connect with a community of writers.
Here are just a few writing competitions you can submit to this fall.
General
The Working Class Writers Grant
Since 2013, the Working Class Writers Grant has been awarded to speculative fiction writers who are working class, blue-collar, financially disadvantaged, or homeless, who have been historically underrepresented in speculative fiction due to financial barriers. Such lack of access might include an inability to purchase a computer, books, and tuition, or to attend conventions or workshops.
Deadline:Sept. 30, 2024
Prize:$1,000
Cullman Center Fellowships at New York Public Library
The Cullman Center’s Selection Committee awards 15 Fellowships to outstanding scholars and writers — academics, independent scholars, journalists, creative writers (novelists, playwrights, poets), translators, and visual artists — who would benefit from access to the research collections at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building in New York City.
Prize: Stipend of $85,000, the use of an office with a computer, and full access to the library’s resources (may be asked to take part in other programs at The New York Public Library)
Deadline:Sept. 27, 2024
The Savage Science Fiction / Fantasy Writing Contest
The Mollie Savage Memorial Writing Contest (formerly Three Cheers and a Tiger) is a 48-hour short story writing contest that runs twice a year. All entries must be composed within the contest time frame, and follow the topic and word range announced at the contest start.
Prize: Winning stories are published in the December issue of the literary journal Toasted Cheese; Amazon gift cards also awarded based on number of submissions
Time frame: Sept. 21-22, 2024
John Updike Tucson Casitas Fellowship
Prize provided by The John Updike Society to a writer of any genre — since Updike wrote in all genres. Since Updike was an artist as well, multimedia projects will also be considered.
Prize:$1,000 and a 2-week residency at the Mission Hill Casitas within the Skyline Country Club in Tucson, Arizona (casitas that John Updike owned and where he wrote during a part of each year between 2004-2009)
Deadline: Nov. 1, 2024
Storyshares is searching for compelling, diverse stories that are "easy to read and hard to put down."
Deadline: Jan. 13, 2025
Prize: $2,000-$4,000, depending on the category; plus, publication in the Storyshares library, which is currently serving tens of thousands of students in all 50 states and over 180 countries
Short Fiction
Substack is on a mission to "revive the art of the short story, support artists, and produce something wonderful."
Prize: $100 + 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check
Deadline:End of each month
EveryWriter's Halloween Competition
This flash-fiction contest challenges writers to create a bone-chilling Halloween story in just 50 words!
Prize: $100
Deadline: Sept. 29, 2024
Iowa Short Fiction and John Simmons Short Fiction Awards
Annual prizes awarded to two collections of short stories by writers who have yet to publish a book-length volume of prose fiction. The manuscript must be a collection of short stories in English of at least 150 word-processed, double-spaced pages.
Prize: Publication by the University of Iowa Press and royalties
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2024
The Writers College Short Story Competition
Open to any writer (from any country) who is unpublished, or has been published fewer than four times. Submit a short story on the theme "It Didn’t Have to Be This Way."
Prize: NZ $1,000 and publication; second prize NZ $500 and publication.
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2024
Poetry
Palette Poetry Rising Poet Prize
Open to poets without a full-length collection published at the time of submission
Prize: $3,000 and publication in online literary journal Palette Poetry
Deadline: Sept. 22, 2024
Established in 2022, the prize is awarded to a first or second collection of poems. This year’s winning manuscript will be selected by poet Terrance Hayes.
Prize: $10,000 and publication, including a publishing contract, national distribution, extensive advertising and publicity, 50 copies of their book, and a launch event in NYC
Deadline: Oct. 1, 2024
Treehouse Climate Action Poem Prize
This prize is given to honor exceptional poems that help readers recognize the gravity of the vulnerable state of our environment.
Prize: First place receives $1,000; second place, $750; and third place, $500; plus publication in the popular Poem-a-Day series, which is distributed to 500,000+ readers.
Deadline: Nov. 1, 2024
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Note: Before submitting to any writing contest, please carefully review the contest's rules and eligibility. These change regularly, so make sure to confirm that a contest has not instituted submission fees since this article was written.
