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- Weekly Writing Competitions Oct 11th 2024
Weekly Writing Competitions Oct 11th 2024
A list of writing competitions to submit your work to
Craig D
October 11, 2024
Hello fellow writers.
We have 4 new FREE writing competitions, 1 new paid writing competitions, and 3 new FREE manuscripts submissions.
Good luck writing!
Craig
Do you run or know a writing competition you want to include in our newsletter?
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Please note: We are not endorsing every publication or company listed here. Engaging with a publication or company is entirely up to the reader.
Competitions
Deadline This Month
Free
Scratch A4 - The Poet & the Echo - Closing Date: Oct 26th | Prize: Shortlisted writers read at Scratch '24 Winter in Soho, London on Dec 7th | Word Count: <1000 words
London Writers Awards - Closing Date: Oct 31st, 5pm | Entry Price: Free | Prize: Participation in a year-long development program, including feedback sessions, masterclasses, networking, and agent/editor exposure | Word Count: Not specified | Note: Open to London-based writers from underrepresented backgrounds
ALCS Tom-Gallon Trust Award 2025 - Closing Date: Oct 31st, 2024 | Prize: £2,000 for the winner, £1,000 for the runner-up, £500 for each shortlisted author (up to four) | Word Count: Up to 5,000 words.
The Solstice Prize - Start Date: Now | Closing Date: Oct 31st | Prize: 1st £100 , 2nd , 3rd | Word Count: 500 | Note: For people under 25 years old, Living in the UK
Paid
Shrewsbury Halloween Fair - | Closing Date: Oct 19th | Entry Price: £3 | Prize: Unknown | Word Count: Up to 2000
SAS Short Fiction Contest 2024-2025 - Closing Date: Oct 22nd, 6:00 AM | Entry Price: $20 per story | Prize: $500 for the grand prize; two second-place prizes of $100; top stories published in an anthology | Word Count: 3,000 to 7,000 words | Note: Open to LGBTQ+ authors globally, with stories featuring LGBTQ+ content on the theme "Saints and Sinners."
FFF Competition Twenty-Four - Closing Date: Oct 23rd, 2024 | Entry Price: £3.95 (PayPal/Stripe) or £2.55 (BACS, UK accounts only) | Prize: 1st: £150 + publication, 2 Highly Commended: £60 + publication, 3 Shortlisted: £50 + publication | Word Count: 100–300 words
QuietManDave Prize - Closing Date: Oct 25th | Entry Price: £5 (free for qualifying sponsored entries) | Prize: £1,000, with additional runner-up prizes | Word Count: Up to 500 words.
Dark Holme Publishing - Closing Date: Oct 25th | Entry Price: Donation | Prize: 1st £25 | Word Count: 250 - 500
Writing Battle - Start Date: Oct 20th | Closing Date: Oct 27th | Early Entry Price: $22 | Prize: 1st $10,000 | Word Count: 2000
2025 Raleigh Review Flash Fiction Prize – Closing Date: Oct 31st, 2024 | Entry Price: $7 | Prize: First Prize $300 USD + publication in Spring 2025 issue, finalists $15 + publication + 2-year subscription | Word Count: Up to 1000 words per story
Creative Excellence Submissions - Closing Date: Oct 31st | Entry Price: $3 (waived for subscribers) | Prize: $100 for prose | Word Count: Up to 8,000 words for fiction or nonfiction
Futurist Debut Book Award - Closing Date: Oct 31st | Entry Price: $18 per manuscript | Prize: $1,000 upon publication | Word Count: Any length in any genre. Note: Open to unpublished debut adult manuscripts. Authors must not have published a full-length book in the submitted genre.
Luminaire Prose Award - Closing Date: Oct 31st, 2024 | Entry Price: $4.99 per submission (up to 4 pieces) | Prize: $100 for first place, $25 for second and third place, publication in triennial anthology | Word Count: Up to 5,000 words| Note: Submissions must be individual standalone fiction pieces, including experimental, flash, short novelettes, long stories, short plays, or hybrid prose.
Bedford Writing Competition - Start Date: May 1st | Closing Date: Oct 31st | Entry Price: £8.50 | Prize: 1st £1500, 2nd £300, 3rd £200 |
Flash Fiction 101 Nov - Start Date: Now | Closing Date: Oct 31st | Entry Price: £1.50 | Prize: Depends on number of entries | Word Count: Exactly 101
Ongoing
Free
Short Story Stack Contest - Closing Date: End of the Month | Entry Price: Free | Prize: $100 + 50% of subscription revenue | Word Count: 6 - 10,000 words
NEW The Hungur Chronicles - Closing Date: Open Submission (April 15th and October 15th deadlines) | Entry Price: Free | Prize: $25 for original stories, $12 for reprints, $5 for poems, $10 for articles, $8 for illustrations, and $25 for cover art | Word Count: 3,000–8,000 words for stories, up to 100 lines for poems, and 1,000 words for articles.
Paid
Does It Have Pockets - Entry Price: $3 (fee-free periods in late February and August) | Prize: $10 per published issue | Word Count: Poetry: 3-5 poems, Fiction/Creative Nonfiction: up to 5,000 words, Flash Fiction: 3-5 pieces up to 5,000 words total
November
Free
Commonwealth Short Story - Start Date: Sept 1st | Closing Date: Nov 1st | Prize: 1st £5000 | Word Count: 2000 - 5000
Flash Suite Contest - Closing Date: Nov 10th, 2024 | Prize: Winner: $75, Runner-Up: $60 | Word Count: Each piece must be 1,000 words or less; the suite can be any reasonable length.
Paid
CBC Short Story Prize - Closing Date: Nov 1st | Entry Price: $25 CAD (taxes included) | Prize: $6,000 + 2-week Banff writing residency + publication on CBC Books (4 finalists receive $1,000 each) | Word Count: Up to 2,500 words
FC2 Ronald Sukenick Innovative Fiction Contest - Closing Date: Nov 1st, 2024 | Entry Price: $25 | Prize: $1,500 + publication by FC2 | Word Count: No length requirement | Note: Open to U.S. writers who have not previously published with FC2. Submissions can include short stories, novellas, or a novel. Unpublished work only. Fee waivers available.
FC2 Catherine Doctorow Innovative Fiction Prize - Closing Date: Nov 1st, 2024 | Entry Price: $25 | Prize: $15,000 + publication by FC2 | Word Count: No length requirement | Note: Open to U.S. writers with at least three published books of fiction. Fee waivers available.
Sight For Wight - Start Date: Now | Closing Date: Nov 1st | Entry Price: £8 | Prize: None | Word Count: 1500 - 2000
Colossus Press - Start Date: Now | Closing Date: Nov 1st | Entry Price: $3 | Prize: None | Word Count: Up to 1700 | Note: Funds going to charity. Theme is water.
F(r)iction - Start Date: July 1st | Closing Date: Nov 1st | Entry Price: $15 | Prize: Short Story: $1000 | Word Count: 1001 - 7500
F(r)iction - Start Date: July 1st | Closing Date: Nov 1st | Entry Price: $10 | Prize: $300 | Word Count: up to 1000
The Smokelong Grand Micro Contest - Start Date: Aug 1st | Closing Date: Nov 14th | Early Entry Price: $11 | Prize: 1st $1000, 2nd $500, 3rd $300 | Word Count: Up To 250
Curious Curls Fiction Contest 2024 - Closing Date: Nov 15th, 2024 (12:00 PM EST) | Entry Price: $2.50 | Prize: $250, $125, $100 + publication + video promotion + book of choice | Word Count: Up to 10,000 words
Note: Open to fiction stories embracing the theme of curiosity.
Creative Writing Ink - Start Date: Now | Closing Date: Nov 15th | Entry Price: £9 | Prize: 1st £1000 , 2nd £200 , 3rd £200 | Word Count: Up to 3000
Fosseway Writers Short (Epistolary) Story Competition 2024 - Closing Date: Nov 16th, 2024 | Entry Price: £5 for the first entry, £3 for each additional entry (£1 discount for members) | Prize: 1st Prize: £50, 2nd Prize: £30, 3rd Prize: £20 + £10 for the best placed local writer (NG22/23/24/25) | Word Count: 1,500 - 2,500 words
Dark Holme Publishing - Closing Date: Nov 25th | Entry Price: Donation | Prize: 1st £25 | Word Count: 250 - 500
Fish Short Story Prize 2024 - Closing Date: Nov 30th, 2024 | Entry Price: €22 (€14 for subsequent entries) | Prize: €3,000 (1st) + workshop + publication, €300 (2nd & 3rd), €200 (7 honorable mentions) | Word Count: Up to 5,000 words
Tadpole Press - Start Date: Now | Closing Date: Nov 30th | Entry Price: $15 | Prize: 1st $2000 | Word Count: 100
Flash Fiction 101 Dec - Start Date: Now | Closing Date: Nov 30th | Entry Price: £1.50 | Prize: Depends on number of entries | Word Count: Exactly 101 | Note: Theme - Winter Wonder
December
Free
Weird Christmas Flash Fiction Contest (7th Annual) - Closing Date: Dec 1st, 2024 | Prize: $50 for each category winner, $35 for honorable mentions (10-12) | Word Count: Up to 350 words
Paid
Moment Magazine-Karma Foundation Short Fiction Contest - Closing Date: Dec 1st, 2024 | Entry Price: $25 | Prize: $1,000 for first place (up to 3 prizes awarded) | Word Count: Up to 5,000 words
NEW The Ringwood Short Story Competition 2024 - Closing Date: Dec 6th, 2024 (midnight GMT) | Entry Price: £2 per story (up to 5 stories) | Prize: £100 and publication on the Ringwood website; additional runners-up may also be published | Word Count: Up to 3,000 words| Note: Open to writers with a Scottish connection—those based in Scotland, previously residing in Scotland, or identifying as Scottish.
Synkroniciti's "Haunting" Contest - Closing Date: Dec 15th | Entry Price: $3 (free with subscription) | Prize: $75 | Word Count: Up to 4,000 words (Short Story)
NEW 2024 Open Short Story Competition - Closing Date: Dec 16th, 2024 (23:59 UK time) | Entry Price: Early: £8 (1 story), £12 (2 stories), £15 (3 stories); General: £16 (1 story), £24 (2 stories), £30 (3 stories) | Prize: £2,000 | Word Count: Up to 8,000 words (no minimum)
Front Range Book Prize - Closing Date: Dec 31st | Entry Price: $18 | Prize: $1,000 upon publication | Word Count: Any length | Note: Open to unpublished manuscripts in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, play script, or hybrid work by a Colorado author or on the theme of Colorado.
Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay and Short Story Competition - Closing Date: December 31st, 2024 | Entry Price: $30-$40 for Short Story, varies for screenplays | Prize: $1,000 and various benefits for Short Story category winner, including publication on the Killer Shorts website, Scrivener Writing Software, a 1:1 30-minute Zoom meeting with screenwriter Chris Hicks, a skull-shaped typewriter trophy, and more | Word Count: Up to 6,000 words for Short Stories
January
Free
Story of the Year Contest 2024 - Closing Date: Jan 13th, 2025 | Entry Price: Free | Prize: $15,000 in total cash prizes + publication | Word Count: Varies by category
Discoveries 2025 - Closing Date: Jan 13th, 2025 | Entry Price: Free | Prize: £5,000, Curtis Brown representation offer, creative writing courses, and more | Word Count: Up to 10,000 words (novel opening) + 1,000-word synopsis | Note: Open to women aged 18+ who are residents of the UK or Republic of Ireland.
Paid
Charter Oak Award for Best Historical - Closing Date: Jan 31st, 2025 | Entry Price: $4.99 per submission (up to 5 pieces) | Prize: $100 for first place, $25 for second and third place | Word Count: Up to 10,000 words | Note: Submissions must be individual pieces of historical writing (poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or hybrid) that fit a historical theme. Free submission periods in February, March, and November.
2024 Exeter Novel Prize - Start Date: | Closing Date: Jan 1st | Entry Price: £20 | Prize: 1st £1000 | Word Count: Opening 10,000 of your novel
Electric Book Award - Opening Date: Jan 1st | Closing Date: Apr 30th, 2025 | Entry Price: $18 per manuscript | Prize: $1,000 upon publication, gold Electric Book Award digital medallion, certificate, 30 gold medallion seals, book publication on Alternating Current Press, 30% net royalties, and more | Word Count: Any length | Note: Manuscripts must be unpublished adult literary works, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, plays, or hybrid.
February
Free
New Media Writing Prize 2024-25 - Closing Date: Feb 1st, 2025 | Entry Price: Free | Prize: £1000 for the Chris Meade Memorial Prize, £500 for the Opening Up Award, and other TBD prizes | Word Count: Not specified
The Canterbury Tales Writing Competition 2024/25: Surprise, Surprise!
Closing Date: Feb 28th, 2025 | Entry Price: Free | Prize: Up to £300 for individual winners and up to £1,000 for their school libraries | Word Count: Maximum 500 words
Paid
NEW Edinburgh Short Story Award 2025 - Closing Date: Feb 28th, 2025 | Entry Price: £11 per story | Prize: 1st Prize £3,000; 2nd Prize £500; 3rd Prize £250; plus publication in The Edinburgh Anthology | Word Count: No specified limit
March
Free
NEW The Tom Grass Spirit of Adventure Literary Prize - Closing Date: March 31st, 2025 | Entry Price: Free | Prize: £5,000 and publication | Word Count: Up to 5,000 words
Note: Open to emerging writers over the age of 25.
Paid
Rubery Book Award - Closing Date: March 31st, 2025 | Entry Price: Varies by country (see website for details) | Prize: Book of the Year: £2,000 (approx. $2,760 USD), Category Winners: £200 (approx. $276 USD) + glass plaque and write-up for all winners & shortlisted authors | Word Count: Not specified
July
Paid
Anthology Short Story Competition - Closing Date: July 31st, 2025 | Entry Price: €12 (Sept-Oct 2024), €15 (Nov 2024-Jan 2025), €18 (Feb-July 2025) | Prize: 1st: €1,000 + publication in Anthology magazine, 2nd: €250, 3rd: €150 | Word Count: Up to 1,500 words
Manuscripts
Free
Modern Muse For Writers - Start Date: Oct | Closing Date: Dec | Prize: Developmental Critique and Line Edit of First Chapter | Word Count: First Five Pages
The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2025 - Closing Date: Oct 31st, 2024 | Entry Price: Free (but shortlisted books will incur a £1,200 + VAT fee for promotion) | Prize: £25,000 for the winner; £1,500 for shortlisted authors | Word Count: Not specified| Note: Eligible books must be published in 2024, set at least 60 years before the publication date (i.e., before 1964), and written in English. Only submissions from publishers are accepted, with a maximum of three titles per imprint. Self-published works are not eligible.
Paid
Miami University Press - Reading Fee: $25 | Prize: $1,000, a standard contract, publication and 20 copies of the book. | Word Count: 18000 - 40000
Blue Pencil Agency Pitch Prize 2024 - Closing Date: Oct 25th | Entry Price: £12 | Prize: One-to-one pitch meetings with literary agent Katie Greenstreet (up to 10 winners) | Word Count: First 500 words + 300-word synopsis
Calvino Prize 2024 - Closing Date: Oct 30th | Entry Price: $25 | Prize: $2,000 + publication in Miracle Monocle for the winner; $500 for the runner-up | Word Count: Up to 25 double-spaced pages (12-point font)
Helena Whitehill Book Award - Closing Date: Oct 31st | Entry Price: $30 | Prize: $1,000, publication by Tupelo Press, residency at Gentle House, and national distribution | Word Count: No page limit (poetry or creative nonfiction)
Bath Children’s Novel Award 2024 - Closing Date: Nov 30th, 2024 | Entry Price: £29.99 | Prize: £5,000 + Minerva trophy + feedback on full manuscript | Word Count: First 5,000 words + synopsis (or up to 3 picture book texts)
Reader Views Literary Awards - Closing Date: Dec 15th, 2024 | Entry Price: $89 per title (through Oct 31, 2024) / $99 per title (after Oct 31, 2024) | Prize: Awards based on categories, including a review from Reader Views | Word Count: Not specified
Leiby Chapbook Award - Closing Date: Jan 7th, 2025 | Entry Price: $25 | Prize: Chapbook publication, 50 copies of the winning chapbook, and $1,000 upon publication | Word Count: Up to 45 pages (double-spaced)
Xanadu Book Awards - Closing Date: August 31st, 2025 | Entry Price: $65 per category | Prize: $1,000 cash, a full consultation with an editor at Xanadu Press, and a one-year marketing package worth $3,000 for Grand Prize winners; gold medal, certificate, digital award badge, and three months of book marketing for category winners | Word Count: Not specified
Publications
Free
NEW The Dark Magazine - Closing Date: Rolling Submissions | Prize: $0.05/word for original fiction, $0.01/word for reprints | Word Count: 2,000–6,000 words | Note: Accepting horror and dark fantasy fiction.
NEW Et Sequitur Magazine - Closing Date: Rolling Submissions | Prize: $25 upon acceptance | Word Count: 500–2,500 words
NEW Assemble Artifacts Magazine - Closing Date: Rolling Submissions | Prize: Not specified (subject to negotiation upon acceptance) | Word Count: Minimum of 5,000 words preferred (shorter or longer stories also welcome)
Note: Seeking high-concept stories of wonder and suspense, with a focus on high-concept horror and grounded sci-fi.
Note: Stories must connect to a previous Et Sequitur story in character, setting, or theme.
Fictive Dream Story Submissions - Closing Date: Rolling | Prize: No monetary prize; stories nominated for national and international awards | Word Count: 500-2,500 words
Micromance Magazine - Closing Date: Rolling (varies by issue) | Prize: Publication on Substack and newsletter | Word Count: 75-3,500 words (depending on category)
Dear Booze Submissions - Closing Date: Rolling | Entry Price: Free | Prize: Publication on Dear Booze website | Word Count: 300-3,000 words (fiction), up to 4 poems, longer works considered for serialization | Note: Submissions must center around drinking—no sober content or works where drinking is incidental.
Split Lip Magazine - Pays $75 per Author | Type: Flash, Fiction | Free Subs in Jan, March, May, Aug, Sept, Nov
The Wordsmith Literary Magazine (Issue 03) - Closing Date: Rolling (Sept 2024 issue) | Prize: Publication on website | Word Count: Short Stories (5,000 words or less), Flash Fiction (1,000 words or less), Creative Non-Fiction (2,000 words or less)
Note: Music-themed submissions for poetry, creative nonfiction, and short stories.
Literary Fiction & Speculative Fiction Submissions - Closing Date: Open year-round | Entry Price: Free | Prize: Not specified for regular submissions | Word Count: Up to 8,000 words (fiction); up to 1,500 words for flash fiction (up to 3 pieces per submission)
Driftwood Submissions - Closing Dates: February and August (Normal Submissions) | Entry Price: Not specified | Prize: Not specified | Word Count: Up to 5,000 words
New Writing Scotland 43 - Closing Date: Oct 31st, 2024 | Entry Price: Free | Prize: £50 for the first published page and £25 for each subsequent published page | Word Count: Up to 3,500 words
Cicada Song Press: Breaking Through the Penumbra Anthology - Closing Date: Nov 30th, 2024 | Entry Price: Free | Prize: Free e-copy of the anthology | Word Count: 100 – 5,000 words
OKD Mag Submissions - Open Date: 1st of every month | Entry Price: Free (Tip Jar and Expedited Response options available) | Publication: One new piece every Friday (alternating between flash fiction and poetry)| Note: We accept either one flash fiction (up to 1,200 words) or one poem per author, per submission period.
Exquisite Death Fiction Submission - Closing Date: Rolling | Entry Price: Free | Prize: No payment (may be offered in the future) | Word Count: Up to 3,000 words
Fictive Dream Submissions - Closing Date: Rolling | Prize: No payment; stories nominated for awards | Word Count: 500 to 2,500 words
The Hoolet’s Nook Submissions - Closing Date: 21st of Each Month | Prize: No payment currently; cash prizes planned for future | Word Count: Microfiction up to 300 word