Writing Contests 2023: Cash Prizes, Free Entries, & More!

• May 15, 2023
• 12 min read

• Tags: Essay, Novel, Poetry, Short Story, Writing Contests

At PaperTrue, we’ve always believed that writing competitions are more than just about winning. It’s a community experience where you can interact with fellow poets and writers, and learn from each other’s work. So, it’s our job to provide you with an updated and detailed list of writing contests 2023!

But which contests should you participate in? Out of the hundreds of poetry contests, short story competitions, and essay contests held each year, which ones will best reward your hard work? As experts who provide self-publishing services, we want nothing but success for you. What better way to ensure this than to bring you the best writing competitions 2023?

Here are the best international writing competitions 2023:

May 2023

The month of May brings a wealth of writing contests. While short story contests certainly dominate this month, there is a healthy number of poetry and book writing contests 2023 in this month. Plenty of room for a large number of poets and writers to thrive!

Poetry competitions 2023

1. International Poetry Contest

The winning entry will be published in the Fall 2023 issue of Atlanta Review. Fifty additional entries will be published in the contest issue and will receive an award and a free copy. 

Word count: 5 poems

Prize: $1,000

Entry fee: $15

Closing date: 01 May 2023

2. The 9th Singapore Poetry Contest 

This poetry contest invites entries on any theme, provided they incorporate the word “snail”. Simultaneous submissions are not allowed, and the poems should be accompanied by a short letter and biographical note.

Prompt: Snail

Word count: 3 poems

Prizes: $300, $200, $100

Entry: Free!

Closing date: 15 May 2023

3. Kunitz Prize for Younger Poets 

The Kunitz Prize aims to honor the late Stanley Kunitz’s dedication to mentoring poets. The winning entry will be published in the September/October issue of The American Poetry Review and all entrants will receive a copy.

Word count: 3 pages

Prize: $1,000

Entry fee: $15

Closing date: 15 May 2023

4. Patricia Cleary Miller Award for Poetry 

New Letters has organized this poetry writing competition. Send six poems in one entry with a cover sheet stating the genre and title of each poem. All the best!

Word count: 30 pages

Prize: $2,500

Entry fee: $24

Closing date: 22 May 2023

5. The Auroras & Blossoms Haiku Anthology 

This haiku contest is free to enter, but you may opt to donate to them. Donors will be eligible for royalties on every haiku that is published. With a 1% royalty rate for each haiku, you may earn up to 10% in royalties.

Word count: 3–10 haikus

Prize: 1% royalties per haiku (for donors)

Entry: Free!

Closing date: 31 May 2023

6. The Bridport Poetry Prize 

The top three winning poems are automatically entered into the Forward Prize For Poetry competition, with the chance to win a further £1000. The first prize also features in the Bridport anthology.

Word count: 42 lines

Prizes:  £5,000, £1,000, £500, ten prizes of £100

Entry fee: £12

Closing date: 31 May 2023

Short story competitions 2023

7. Writing Battle

This exciting short story writing competition assigns you a genre when the contest starts, and you get two days to write your story. All entrants vote for the winners, which means everyone is a judge!

Word count: 300–500

Prizes: Four prizes of $800 and four prizes of $200

Entry fee: $20

Closing date: 05 May 2023 

8. The Raymond Carver Short Story Contest

The mission for this short story competition is to “deliver exciting new fiction from writers all over the world”. It accepts entries in literary fiction alone, so genre fiction (horror, sci-fi, fantasy, romance) is not eligible.

Word count: 500–2,000

Prizes: $1000 NZD, $500 NZD, $200 NZD

Entry fee: $6 NZD

Closing date: 15 May 2023

9. The Folly International Short Story Prize 

The organizers of this short story contest in 2023 seek “content that takes risks, screams with honesty, and celebrates life’s extraordinary moments”. Winning and shortlisted stories will be published in Folly Journal.

Word count: 10,000

Prizes: $2000, $500, $250, two prizes of $125

Entry fee: $18

Closing date: 17 May 2023

10. Robert Day Award for Fiction 

This short story writing competition is part of the New Letters group of contests. Make sure you attach one cover sheet stating the genre and the title of the story.

Word count: 8,000

Prize: $2,500

Entry fee: $24

Closing date: 22 May 2023

11. The Writing District Prize 2023 

This short story competition accepts entries on any theme, subject, or genre. The judges will select a longlist of 20 entries, from which 3 will be finalized. Make sure to go through the contest guidelines before you hit submit! 

Word count: 3,000

Prizes: $1,000, two prizes of $100

Entry fee: $15

Closing date: 31 May 2023

12. WOW! Flash Fiction Contest 

Open to women writers worldwide, this flash fiction competition awards Amazon gift certificates to 7 runners up and 10 honorable mentions. At a $20 entry fee, you may opt for a critique along the subject, content, and technicalities of your piece.

Word count: 250–750

Prizes: $400, $300, $200, and others

Entry fee: $10

Closing date: 31 May 2023

13. Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction 

The Flannery O’Connor Award series has published more than 70 short-story collections. Short stories may have appeared in magazines or online platforms, but may not have been published as a collection.

Word count: 40,000–75,000

Prize: $1,000

Entry fee: $30

Closing date: 31 May 2023

14. Autumn House Fiction Contest 

Through this fiction contest, Autumn House awards one writer with publication, a $1,000 honorarium, and a $1,500 publicity grant. All fiction sub-genres (short stories, short-shorts, novellas, or novels) or any combination of sub-genres are eligible!

Word count: 37,500–75,000

Prize: $2,500

Entry fee: $30

Closing date: 31 May 2023

15. The Bridport Short Story Prize 

The organizers for this short story contest enter the shortlisted UK-based writers into the BBC Short Story Competition. Literary agent A.M. Heath reads the entire shortlist and considers representation.

Word count: 5,000

Prizes:  £5,000, £1,000, £500, ten prizes of £100

Entry fee: £14

Closing date: 31 May 2023

16. The Bridport Prize Novel Award  

This novel writing competition allows you to participate even if you haven’t finished writing it yet! Send up to 8,000 words from the first chapter(s) of your novel along with a 300-word synopsis.

Word count: 5,000–8,000

Prizes: £1,500, £750, three prizes of £150

Entry fee: £24

Closing date: 31 May 2023 

17. The Bridport Flash Fiction Prize 

The flash fiction competition is part of the Bridport Prize family of writing contests 2023. The winning entry will be published in an anthology. Fiction written for children is not recommended.

Word count: 250

Prizes: £1,000, £500, £250, five prizes of £100

Entry fee: £11

Closing date: 31 May 2023 

18. Pulp Fictional Flash Fiction Contest 

The organizers of this flash fiction competition prefer stories that are “scary and unusual, strange and unnerving”. The cash prizes may increase depending on the number of writers that submit their entries!

Word count: 1,000

Prizes: £250, £100, £50

Entry fee: £6

Closing date: 31 May 2023

Nonfiction contests

19. Conger Beasley Award for Nonfiction 

Part of the New Letters group of contests, this essay contest in 2023 invites you to send your best work. There are no refunds on withdrawn submissions, so make sure you’re sending the right document!

Word count: 8,000

Prize: $2,500

Entry fee: $24

Closing date: 22 May 2023

20. Autumn House Nonfiction Contest 

Autumn House has organized this nonfiction contest to award one deserving author with publication and publicity support. Jenny Boully will judge your manuscript after a set of preliminary readers reviews it.

Word count: 37,500–75,000

Prize: $2,500

Entry fee: $30

Closing date: 31 May 2023

Book writing contests 2023

21. 2023 Gaudy Boy Poetry Book Prize

This poetry book contest awards an “unpublished manuscript of original Anglophone poetry by an author of Asian heritage residing anywhere in the world”. The winning manuscript will be published in Spring 2024 by Gaudy Boy.

Word count: 70–120 pages

Prize: $1,500

Entry fee: $10

Closing date: 15 May 2023

22. James Laughlin Award 

This incredibly specific poetry competition honors “a second full-length print book of original poetry, in English, by a living poet, forthcoming in the next calendar year.” To be eligible, a book must be under contract with a U.S. publisher.

Word count: 48–100 pages

Prize: $5,000

Entry: Free!

Closing date: 15 May 2023

23. Idaho Prize For Poetry 

This poetry book competition awards one poet with publication and 20 complementary author copies. There are no restrictions on the genre, style, or subject—the organziers are simply looking for the best manuscript!

Word count: 3 pages

Prize: $1,000

Entry fee: $28

Closing date: 15 May 2023

24. 2023 Fugere Book Prize 

Regal House Publishing has organized this book writing contest to award finely-crafted novellas. Translations, previously published, and collaborative manuscripts are not eligible. Make sure you follow their submission guidelines!

Word count: 17,000–40,000

Prize: $1,000

Entry fee: $25

Closing date: 15 May 2023

25. 2023 Adaptation Contest

This interesting book writing contest seeks “published books (fiction and nonfiction), graphic novels/comics, and short stories for film & TV development”. Go through all the criteria for picture books and short stories before you hit submit!

Word count: 5,000 words (plus a 1–3 page-long synopsis)

Prize: $5,000

Entry fee: $45 / $50 / $55

Closing date: 20 May 2023 / 15 August 2023 / 31 August 2023

26. 2023 Unpublished Contest 

Book Pipeline has organized this writing contest in 2023 “exclusively for unpublished manuscripts across eight categories of fiction and nonfiction”. Aside from the cash prizes, the finalists receive circulation to publishers, agents, editors, and film and TV producers.

Word count: 5,000 (plus a 1–3 page-long synopsis)

Prizes: $20,000, $2,500 per category

Entry fee: $45 / $55 / $60

Closing date: 25 May 2023 / 20 August 2023 / 05 September 2023

27. The Bath Novel Award 2023

Along with the cash prize, the winner of this esteemed novel contest receives the Minerva trophy. Send the first 5,000 words with a one-page synopsis. Self-published writers are welcome to participate!

Word count: 50,000

Prize: £3,000

Entry fee: £29

Closing date: 31 May 2023 

28. 2023 Anhinga Prize for Poetry 

This 2023 poetry competition awards one poet with publication by Anhinga Press and 25 author copies. Make sure to add a cover page with your manuscript. Octavio Quintanilla will judge the contest.

Word count: 48–100 pages

Prize: $2,000

Entry fee: $28

Closing date: 31 May 2023

29. Autumn House Poetry Contest

The Autumn House staff and select outsiders are the preliminary readers for this poetry competition and the final judge is Toi Derricotte. The winner receives a $1,000 honorarium and a $1,500 publicity grant to promote their book.

Word count: 50–80 pages

Prize: $2,500

Entry fee: $30

Closing date: 31 May 2023

30. Max Ritvo Poetry Prize 

Louise Glück is the judge for this exciting poetry book contest! The contest awards publication and a comprehensive marketing campaign to one unpublished poet. Translations are not eligible.

Word count: More than 48 pages

Prize: $10,000

Entry fee: $25

Closing date: 31 May 2023

Other interesting contests in 2023

31. The 2023 Bloom Writing Contest 

The European Society of Literature invites poets and writers to send entries on the theme of beauty. The organizers of this writing competition believe that “good literature isn’t confined to a particular category”, so be sure to do your best!

Theme: Beauty

Categories: Short story, essay, and poetry

Word count: 2,500

Prize: €500

Entry fee: €3

Closing date: 01 May 2023

32. Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition 

This esteemed writing contest will award almost 500 winners with cash prizes and publication. The competition will be held in nine categories, so be sure to check out their submission guidelines!

Categories: Various

Word count: 3,000

Prizes: $5,000 grand prize and $1,000, $500, $250, $50 per category

Entry fee: $20–$30 (depending on categories) 

Closing date: 05 May 2023

33. The Emerging Writer’s Contest

Ploughshares encourages emerging writers to send their entries, and self-published writers don’t qualify. The winners also receive a conversation with Aevitas Creative Management regarding their writing careers.

Categories: Fiction, nonfiction, and poetry

Word count: 6,000 for fiction and nonfiction, 3–5 pages for poetry

Prize: $2,000 per category

Entry fee: $24

Closing date: 15 May 2023

34. Yeovil Literary Prize

Yeovil Community Arts Association has organized this set of writing competitions 2023 to encourage poets and writers worldwide. The contest is a great opportunity to get your work read by major agents and publishers!

Closing date: 31 May 2023

a. Novel Writing Contest

Word count: 10,000

Prizes: £1250, £500, £125

Entry fee: £14.5

b. Short Story Competition

Word count: 2,000

Prizes: £600, £250, £125

Entry fee: £8

c. Poetry Competition

Word count: 40 lines

Prizes: £600, £250, £125

Entry fee: £5

d. Children’s and Young Adult Novel

Word count: 3,000 words, 500-word synopsis

Prizes: £600, £250, £125

Entry fee: £12.5

e. Writing Without Restrictions

Word count: —

Prizes: £600, £250, £125

Entry fee: £6

f. Western Gazette Best Local Writer Award

Word count: —

Prize: £100

Entry: Free!

35. The Synopsis Skirmish

The organizers of this unique writing contest in 2023 want you to write a synopsis of your novel “with style but without gimmick”. Can you walk the fine line between understanding the form and introducing a fresh take?

Word count: 500

Prizes: $700 CAD, $200 CAD, $100 CAD

Entry fee: $5 CAD

Closing date: 31 May 2023

June 2023

June has brought a smaller crop of writing competitions than May, but never fear! As more contests go live, we’ll add to this list and keep you updated with the latest poetry competitions, short story contests, and essay contests 2023.

Poetry contests 2023

1. Annual Mudfish Poetry Contest 

Mudfish has organized this poetry contest to award deserving poets with publication in the magazine. All entries will be considered for publication. Deborah Landau is the judge for this contest.

Word count: 3 poems of any length

Prize: $1,200

Entry fee: $20

Closing date: 15 June 2023

2. The Poetry London Prize 

The poetry competition provides some free entries for writers from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. Unfortunately, self-published poets are not eligible for this contest.

Word count: 80 lines

Prizes: £5,000, £2,000, £1,000

Entry fee: £10

Closing date: 30 June 2023 

Short story contests 2023

3. Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors

The organizers of this short story contest seek “stories set between today and the year 2200, in a future that shows the path to a clean, green, just world.” Make sure you go through their guidelines before you participate!

Word count: 3,000–5,000

Prizes: $3,000, $2,000, $1,000, nine prizes of $300

Entry: Free!

Closing date: 13 June 2023

4. The Moth Short Story Prize 

This prestigious short story competition is open to anyone over the age of 16 with no restrictions of theme or style. The winning entry will be published in the Irish Times while other finalists will be published online.

Word count: 3,000

Prizes: €3,000, travel stipend for a week at Circle of Misse, €1,000

Entry fee: €15

Closing date: 30 June 2023

5. The Writers College Short Story Competition 

This short story contest is for unpublished writers or writers who have been published fewer than four times in any genre. Only per entry is allowed for each writer, so make sure you send your best work!

Word count: 2,000

Prizes: $1,000 NZ, $500 NZ, $250 NZ

Entry: Free!

Closing date: 30 June 2023

6. To Hull and Back Short Story Competition

This interesting short story contest invites you to submit entries with a touch of humor in them. Go through their guidelines to see the type of stories they’re looking for!

Word count: 2,500

Prizes: £1,200, £600, £300, three prizes of £150, 14 prizes of £75

Entry fee: £13

Closing date: 30 June 2023

Essay competitions 2023

7. The International Peace Essay Contest for Ukraine War 

This essay contest has been organized to encourage writers to share their ideas on peacebuilding. Answer one of the three provided questions in your essay and send it across. All the best!

Word count: 3,000

Prize: $100

Entry: Free!

Closing date: 01 June 2023

8. International Essay Contest for Young People 

This writing competition for teenagers and young writers invites entries in English, French, and Japanese. The contest is “an effort to harness the energy, creativity and initiative of the world’s youth”.

Theme: Youth Creating a Peaceful Future

Word count: 700

Prizes: $740, $370, gift certificates

Entry: Free!

Closing date: 15 June 2023

9. Free Global Writing Competition 

The winning entry for this essay contest will be published in The Writers College newsletter and blog. Entries are restricted to one entry per writer, so make sure you send nothing short of your best essay!

Theme: The best writing tip I’ve ever received

Word count: 600

Prize: $200

Entry: Free!

Closing date: 30 June 2023

Book writing contests 2023

10. The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition 

This children’s fiction contest invites writers to submit a novel written for readers aged 7–18 years. Make sure to send a page-long cover letter and synopsis along with your manuscript.

Word count: 30,000–80,000

Prizes: £10,000, £7,500 (advance on a publishing contract)

Entry fee: £20

Closing date: 01 June 2023

11. 2023 Housatonic Book Awards 

This book writing contest awards three writers with a cash prize in exchange for appearing at Western Connecticut State University, including a $500 travel stipend and hotel residency.

Categories: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry

Word count: Various

Prize: $1,000 per category

Entry fee: $25

Closing date: 13 June 2023

12. Green Stories Novel Prize 

The aim of this novel writing contest is to “use fiction as a way to reach a wider audience, and support winning authors to translate their stories into published books”. Your novel should be at least 60,000 words, but you’re required to send only three chapters.

Word count: 4,000–10,000

Prizes: $1200, $600

Entry: Free!

Closing date: 26 June 2023

13. North Street Book Prize 

The top prize winner in this book contest also gets a one-hour phone conversation with the contest judge, Carolyn Howard-Johnson. Self-published writers are welcome to enter!

Categories: Various (eight genres)

Word count: 200,000

Prizes $10,000 (grand prize) and $1,000, $300 (per category)

Entry fee: $75

Closing date: 30 June 2023

Other interesting contests

14. Geri Digiorno Prize 

Raleigh Review has organized this interesting writing competition to recognize the work of multi-disciplinary artists. Send a combination of poetry, visual art, and flash nonfiction and get a chance to be published in the magazine!

Categories: Nonfiction, poetry, visual art

Word count: 1,000

Prize: $300

Entry fee: $5

Closing date: 01 June 2023

15. 2023 International Competitions 

The Wells Festival of Literature has arranged four writing competitions in 2023 that accept entries in different genres. All the contests feature an additional prize for local poets and writers.

Closing date: 30 June 2023

a. 2023 Open Poetry Competition

Word count: 35 lines

Prizes: £1,000, £500, £250, and £100 for a local poet

Entry fee: £6

b. 2023 Short Story Competition

Word count: 1,000–2,000

Prizes: £750, £300, £200, and £100 for a local writer

Entry fee: £6

c. 2023 Book for Children Competition

Word count: first two chapters or first twenty pages

Prizes: £150, £75, £50

Entry fee: £6

d. 2023 Young Poets Competition

Word count: 35 lines

Prizes: £150, £75, £50

Entry fee: £3

16. Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize 

This contest is open to poets and writers who have not yet published a book-length work of poetry, fiction, or life writing. Self-published writers and poets who have published chapbooks are welcome to enter!

Categories: Fiction, life writing, poetry

Word count: 3,000

Prizes: £1,000

Entry fee: £10

Closing date: 30 June 2023

JULY 2023

This is where writing contests 2023 get relatively sparse. We found some short story and poetry contests 2023, but will add more with time. All the best!

Poetry competitions 2023

1. New Writers Poetry Competition 2023

New Writers has organized this poetry contest in 2023 to provide a global platform for poets. £1 from each entry will be donated to First Story, an England-based creative writing charity for young people.

Word count: 40 lines

Prizes: £1,000, £300, £200

Entry fee: £10

Closing date: 12 July 2023 

2. Rattle Poetry Prize Guidelines 

Rattle’s poetry writing competition welcomes poets to submit unpublished or self-published works of poetry. You may send up to four poems of any length, style, or theme.

Word count: —

Prizes: $15,000, $5,000, ten prizes of $500

Entry fee: $25

Closing date: 15 July 2023

3. Winchester Poetry Prize 

Part of the Winchester Poetry Festival, this prize awards a special prize for the best poem by a poet living in Hampshire. Zaffar Kunial is the judge for the poetry contest and some free entries are available for poets on low incomes.

Word count: 40 lines

Prizes: £1,000, £500, £250

Entry fee: £6 

Closing date: 31 July 2023

Short story competitions 2023

4. HG Wells Fiction Short Story Competition 

The contest has a top prize and a second prize for writers below the age of 21. This short story writing contest is free for young writers while students above the age of 21 have to pay a discounted fee.

Theme: Motion

Word count: 1,500–5,000

Prizes: £1,000, £500

Entry: £10/£5 with a student ID

Closing date: 10 July 2023

Book writing contests 2023

5. International Novel Prize 

Grindstone Literary has organized this novel competition to find “the best and boldest new manuscripts” written by unrepresented and self-published writers. The contest offers a limited number of sponsored entries and fee concessions!

Word count: At least 70,000

Prizes: £1,500, £500, four prizes of £100

Entry fee: £16 / £18 / £20

Closing date: 01 April 2023 / 01 July 2023 / 01 September 2023

6. The Petrichor Prize

Regal House Publishing will honor an unpublished manuscript through this book writing contest. Entries will be accepted in physical or electronic form. Make sure not to send any associated artwork or photographs!

Word count: 100–350 pages

Prize: $1,000

Entry: $25

Closing date: 15 July 2023

August 2023

Short story contests 2023

1. 2023 Unpublished Contest 

Book Pipeline has organized this writing contest in 2023 “exclusively for unpublished manuscripts across eight categories of fiction and nonfiction”. Aside from the cash prizes, the finalists receive circulation to publishers, agents, editors, and film and TV producers.

Word count: 250–750

Prizes: $20,000, $2,500 per category

Entry fee: $45 / $55 / $60

Closing date: 25 May 2023 / 20 August 2023 / 05 September 2023

2. Anthology Short Story Competition

Anthology has organized this short story contest in 2023 “to recognise and encourage creative writing and provide a platform for publication”. Make sure you go through some issues of the magazine for some context!

Word count: 1,500

Prizes: €1,000, €250, €150

Entry fee: €18

Closing date: 31 August 2023 

Book writing competitions 2023

3. The University of New Orleans Press Publication Prize 

The organizers of this competition seek to “bring innovative publicity and broad distribution to authors”. Short story collections and novellas are eligible for entry. Self-published writers are welcome to enter!

Word count: 4,000–10,000

Prize: $10,000 advance on royalties

Entry: $28

Closing date: 31 August 2023

Other interesting contests in 2023

4. Aesthetica Creative Writing Award 

This writing competition invites poets and writers to submit entries on any theme. The cash prizes come with additional prizes such as magazine subscriptions and course enrolments!

Categories: Poetry and fiction

Word count: 40 lines for poetry and 2,000 words for fiction

Prizes: £2,500 per category and several other exciting prizes

Entry fee: £12 for poetry and £15 for fiction

Closing date: 31 August 2023

September 2023

1. Manchester Writing Competition

Manchester Metropolitan University invites poets and writers worldwide to participate in their writing competition. The organizers offer 100 reduced-price (£10) to participants with low income.

Categories: Short story and poetry

Word count: 2,500 for short story, 120 lines for poetry

Prize: £10,000 per category

Entry fee: $15

Closing date: 01 September 2023

2. Academy of American Poets First Book Award 

This poetry book competition awards one unpublished poet with publication by Graywolf Press, a six-week residency at Civitella Ranieri Center, and a comprehensive marketing plan for the newly published book.

Word count: 48–100 pages

Prize: $5,000

Entry fee: $35

Closing date: 01 September 2023

3. International Novel Prize 

Grindstone Literary has organized this novel competition to find “the best and boldest new manuscripts” written by unrepresented and self-published writers. The contest offers a limited number of sponsored entries and fee concessions!

Word count: At least 70,000

Prizes: £1,500, £500, four prizes of £100

Entry fee: £16 / £18 / £20

Closing date: 01 April 2023 / 01 July 2023 / 01 September 2023

4. 2023 Unpublished Contest 

Book Pipeline has organized this writing contest in 2023 “exclusively for unpublished manuscripts across eight categories of fiction and nonfiction”. Aside from the cash prizes, the finalists receive circulation to publishers, agents, editors, and film and TV producers.

Word count: 250–750

Prizes: $20,000, $2,500 per category

Entry fee: $45 / $55 / $60

Closing date: 25 May 2023 / 20 August 2023 / 05 September 2023

5. Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest 

This poetry competition in 2023 invites poets to send up to three published or unpublished poems. Michal ‘MJ’ Jones is the judge this year, assisted by Briana Grogan and Dare Williams.

Word count: 250 lines

Prizes: Two prizes of $3,000, ten prizes of $300

Entry fee: $22

Closing date: 30 September 2023

6. 2023 International Literary Prize 

Hammond House Publishing has organized this exciting contest as part of its annual literary festival. From five scriptwriting categories to two songwriting categories, this competition is a treat for poets and writers in 2023!

Theme: Fate

Entry fee: £10

Closing date: 30 September 2023

a. Short Story Competition

Word count: 1,000–5,000

Prizes: £1000, £100, £50

b. Poetry Competition

Word count: 40 lines

Prizes: £250, £50, £25

c. Scriptwriting Competition

Word count: 10 pages

Prize: £100

d. Songwriting Competition

Word count: 10 pages

Prize: £100 per category

October 2023

1. Editor’s Choice Award

This interesting contest invites poets and writers to send “hybrid work—your lyric essays, prose poems, short-shorts, collages, micro-memoirs”. The competition begins accepting entries on 01 May 2023, so keep your drafts ready!

Word count: 8,000 

Prize: $1,000

Entry fee: $20

Closing date: 16 October 2023

2.  Anthology Flash Fiction Competition

Anthology has organized this flash fiction contest to “inspire creativity, great writing and to provide a platform for publication.” The winning entry will be published in a future issue of the magazine.

Word count: 250

Prize: €300

Entry fee: €8 / €10

Closing date: 31 May 2023 / 31 October 2023

November 2023

1. Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest 

The Atlas Shrugged novel essay contest is open to all high school and college students globally. Atlas Shrugged is a heroic mystery novel written by Ayn Rand. Choose from three prompts and submit an award-winning essay!

Word count: 800–1,600

Prizes: $10,000, 3 prizes of prizes $2,000, 5 prizes of $1,000, 25 prizes of $100, 50 prizes of $50

Entry: Free!

Closing date: 06 November 2023

2. Anthology Travel Writing Competition 

The organizers of this travel writing contest are looking for “an engaging article that will capture the reader’s attention, conveying a strong sense of the destination and the local culture”.

Word count: 4,000–10,000

Prizes: $1200, $600

Entry: €10/€15

Closing date: 30 June 2023/30 November 2023 

3. Poulin, Jr. Poetry Prize

BOA Editions, a not-for-profit publishing house of poetry and poetry in translation, has organized this contest to honor its late founder. The contest is only open to poets who are yet to publish a full-length manuscript.

Word count: 48–100 pages

Prize: $1,000

Entry: $25

Closing date: 30 November 2023

December 2023

1. The W.S. Porter Prize for Short Story Collections 

This short story competition in 2023 honors the master of the genre, O. Henry himself. Regal House Publishing will publish the winning short story collection. The organizers seek “a masterfully written short story collection”.

Word count: 100–350 pages

Prize: $1,000

Entry fee: $25

Closing date: 01 December 2022

 

If you were hoping for some more short story, poetry, or essay contests, don’t worry! As more contests are announced, we’ll keep adding to this list. So make sure to bookmark this page for the latest writing competitions 2023!

For more resources on writing and editing, feel free to explore our Resource Center. For now, here are a few articles you may be interested in:

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