All the top writing contests.


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F(r)iction Fall 2024 Writing Contests
Deadline: 1 November 2024
The competition is open to anyone over the age of thirteen. There are three catregories: • Short Story / submission fee: $15 / 1st prize: $1,000 • Poetry / submission fee: $10 / 1st prize: $300 • Flash Fiction / submission fee: $10 / 1st prize: $300
Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Competition 2024
Deadline: 30 November 2024
The competition is open to original, unpublished poems in the English language of 40 lines or less. Entry fee: 7 € per poem. • 1st Prize: 2,000 € • 2nd Prize: 500 € • 3rd Prize: 250 €
The Moth Nature Writing Prize 2024
Deadline: 30 September 2024
The competition is open to anyone over the age of 16. You can submit both poetry and prose. There is a word limit of 4,000. The entry fee is 15 € per entry. Prizes: • 1st prize: 1,000 € and a week at Circle of Misse in France • 2nd prize: 500 € • 3rd prize: 250 €
2025 Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest
Deadline: 1 April 2025
You may submit one humor poem, in English. Your poem should not exceed 250 lines in length. The competition is free to enter. • 1st prize: $2,000 • 2nd prize: $500 • 3rd Prize: $250 • 10 honorable mentions, $100 each
34th Annual Jeffrey E. Smith Editors’ Prize
Deadline: 1 October 2024
Writers can submit one piece of fiction or nonfiction up to 8,500 words or any number of poems between 6 to 12 pages. All entries must be accompanied by a $25 entry fee. Winners receive publication and a cash prize: • $5,000 Fiction • $5,000 Nonfiction • $5,000 Poetry
The Galley Beggar Press Short Story Prize 2024/2025
Deadline: 13 October 2024
To enter the Galley Beggar Press Short Story Prize, submit an unpublished short story in English, up to 6000 words. The cost of entry per submission is £11. The winning author will receive a cash prize of £2,500. Shortlisted authors will each receive £200.
The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest 2024
Deadline: 15 November 2024 
The competition is open to anyone over the age of 18. Fiction, non-fiction, and hybrid narratives are considered. Word count: 250 words or fewer for each micro. Entry fees: • up to 2 micros: $11, • up to 4 micros: $16. The grand prize winner will receive $1,000.
2025 Peter Porter Poetry Prize
Deadline: 7 October 2024
All poets writing in English are eligible to enter. Poets are invited to submit original poems of up to 60 lines. Each entry must be accompanied by an entry fee of AU$30. The winner will receive AU$6,000. The other four shortlisted poets will each receive AU$1,000.
Mslexia Women's Short Story Competition 2024
Deadline: 23 September 2024
The competition is open to women of any nationality from any country. You may submit unpublished short stories of up to 3,000 words. Entry fee: £12 per story. The winner will receive £3,000. Three additional finalists will each receive £100.
Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest 2024
Deadline: 1 October 2024
You may submit poems on any theme, up to 250 lines each. Entry fee: $22 per submission of 1-3 poems. Prizes: • Tom Howard Prize : $3,500 for a poem in any style or genre • Margaret Reid Prize: $3,500 for a poem that rhymes or has a traditional style • Honorable Mentions: 10 awards of $300 each (any style)