Non-Fiction Writing Competitions
Below are tables listing various essay contests and other non-fiction writing competitions, prizes and awards. Some are academic, some offer scholarships and others are just for fun.
Please read and make sure you fully understand the rules and the terms & conditions of each competition listed before entering.
If you run an essay contest or non-fiction writing competitions and would like me to add it to the lists below, please contact me providing the following information in the body of an email:
- How often you will be running the contest (eg, annually, quarterly, one-off)
- The name of your competition
- A link to your website
- The country you run the competition from
- Closing date
- The date you announce winners
- Maximum word count for essays
- Entry fee
- Top prize
- Any other details, including how winning writers' essays might be published and any guidelines on theme / style of essays you accept
I do my best to keep this page up-to-date, but if you spot any errors, incorrect information or links that no longer work, please get in touch and let me know. I try and fix any problems quickly 🙂
Featured Essay / Non-Fiction Writing Competitions
Do you run essay contests or non-fiction writing competitions? Do you want them featured at the top of this page, exposing you to more writers? If so, get in touch.
Featured Competition: FanStory
You'll Enjoy
- Contests. Enter all contests with cash prizes for free with upgraded membership. That includes many non-fiction contests. New contests with cash prizes are announced weekly. Click here to view the listing.
- Feedback. Get detailed feedback for everything you write. All skill levels welcomed.
- Community. Share your writing and grow your fan base. Click here for info.
Non-Fiction Contest Highlights
- A First Book Chapter: Share the first chapter of your novel. Non-fiction writing is welcomed. Enter for your chance at the cash prize. Deadline Jan 13th.
- True Story Contest: We all have stories to tell. True stories, small or large, that have impacted our life. Share your true story to enter this writing contest with a cash prize. Deadline Mar 9th.
- Non-Fiction Writing Contest: Share a nonfiction story to enter this writing contest. Share a memory, a difficult time or whatever you feel from the story of your life. Cash prize to the winner. Deadline May 8th.
- True Story Flash: Here is a challenge. Share a true story. But there is a catch - you only get 100 words. Have fun with this writing challenge. The winner takes away a cash prize. Deadline May 27th.
Regular Non-Fiction Writing Competitions
This table lists non-fiction writing competitions and essay contests that are run regularly: weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, bi-annually etc.
| Regular Non-Fiction Writing Competition | Country | Closing Date | Winners Announced | Max Words | Entry Fee | Top Prize | Regular Non-Fiction Writing Competition Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dream Quest One Writing Contest | USA | Bi-Annually | Bi-Annually | 5 pages | $10 | $500 | Any style / genre - winners published in the 'Dare to Dream' section of the website - they also accept short stories |
| FanStory Writing Contests | USA | Weekly | Weekly | Varies | Varies | Varies | FanStory run a variety of contests including non-fiction - some contests have cash prizes (up to $100) |
| F(r)iction Contest | USA | Biannually | Biannually | 6,500 | $15 | $500 | Any style / genre - they also have flash fiction, poetry and short story categories - the non-fiction category is only run once a year while the previously mentioned categories are run every time - winners published online and considered for publication in print in the F(r)iction journal |
| Immerse Education Essay Competition | UK | Varies | Varies | Varies | FREE | See notes | Any style or subject but visit their website for a list of current topics - for students aged 13 to 18 - prize is a scholarship for one of Immerse Education’s residential or online academic programmes - current competition details are usually somewhere on their homepage |
| Lab42 Essay Contest | Switzerland | Quarterly | Quarterly | 3,000 | FREE | $2,000 | Any style but themed, so check the website for current details - the best papers will be published on the Lab42 website and the winning author will be featured on their hall of fame page - to find the competition page, look in the "Challenges" section of the site and click on "Essay: ARC" |
| Letter Review Prize for Non-Fiction | Australia | Bi-Monthly | Bi-Monthly | 5,000 | Varies | $333 | Any style / genre - open to memoir, journalism, essay (including personal essay), fictocriticism, creative nonfiction, travel, nature, opinion, and many other permutations - there are three winners who each receive the $333 top prize - winners published at Letter Review - all entrants considered for publication |
| Monomousumi International Monthly Essay Competition | India | Monthly | Monthly | no max | FREE | Varies | Any style, subject but sometimes themed, so check website for current info |
| New Millennium Award | USA | Bi-Annually | Bi-Annually | Varies | $20 | $1,000 | Any style or subject - word limit varies, but has been up to 7,500 words in the past - winners published in print and online - multiple categories, each with a $1,000 prize |
| OxBright Essay Competition | UK | Bi-Annually | Bi-Annually | See notes | FREE | See notes | Any style but themed, so check website for current details - open to 15–18-year-olds - 3,800 characters (approx. 500 words) max -they offer lots of academic prizes including courses, certificates and a place at a residential Oxford summer school - to find the competition page, look in the "Resources" section of their website |
| UniPrepare Book Review Scholarship | UK | Bi-Annually | Bi-Annually | No max | Free | See notes | Book reviews - the winner receives a UniPrepare premium scholarship worth over £3,000 |
| WOW! Women on Writing Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest | USA | Quarterly | Quarterly | 1,000 | $12 | $500 | Any style / genre, from personal essay and memoir to lyric essay, hybrid and more, so see website for full details - multiple runner-up prizes (a very generous prize pot) |
| YeahWrite Super Challenge | USA | Varies | Varies | 1,000 | Varies | See notes | Any style, but check website for current theme and writing prompts - alternates between non-fiction and fiction - prize varies ($150 guaranteed minimum) - YeahWrite also run free weekly challenges for both fiction and creative non-fiction |
Prestigious / Large Prize Essay & Non-Fiction Writing Competitions
This table contains details of renowned non-fiction writing competitions, often offering large amounts of prize money. Any prize awarded in excess of £1,000 ($, € or other currency) is listed here.
| Prestigious Non-Fiction Writing Competition | Country | Closing Date | Winners Announced | Max Words | Entry Fee | Top Prize | Prestigious Non-Fiction Writing Competition Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accenti Writing Contest | Canada | February | May | 2,000 | C$30 | C$1,000 | Any style, subject or theme - open to non-fiction and fiction submissions |
| Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize | UK | Varies | Varies | 2,500 | FREE | £10,000 | Any style but themed, so check website for this year's details - winner and two runners up invited to attend the current symposium - usually closes around March / April time |
| American Foreign Service Association National High School Essay Contest | USA | April | May | Varies | FREE | $2,500 | Any style but themed, so check website for full details - winner also recieves an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to meet U.S. Department of State and a full-tuition paid voyage with Semester at Sea upon the student’s enrollment at an accredited university - very generous runner-up prize too, including cash and scholarship |
| Avernus Education International Essay Competition | UK | February | Easter | See notes | FREE | See notes | Any style, subject or theme - 1,800 words max for senior applicants, 1,200 words max for junior - winner receives scholarship worth £5,995 granting free entrance to Avernus Education summer camp at Oxford University - to find the contest details, look in the "Connect" section of the website or on the homepage (the contest is featured there when it is running) |
| Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest | USA | November | February | 1,600 | FREE | $10,000 | Any style or subject but based on prompts themed around the heroic mystery novel written by Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, so check website for current details - open to students - multiple cash prizes for runners-up - to find the contest details, look in the "Students" section of the website |
| Bodley Head/Financial Times Essay Prize | UK | Varies | Varies | 3,500 | FREE | Varies | Any style or subject - entrants must be between 18 and 35 years old - you can find more information on the FT website - seems to run once every 2 or 3 years - prize has been £1,000 to £1,500 in the past |
| Edinburgh Writing Awards - The Scottish Arts Trust | Scotland | February | September | 2,000 | £10 | £1,000 | Edinburgh Essay Award: open to a broad range of topics, check website for full details - the top 15 essays will be offered publication in The Edinburgh Essays |
| Fountain Magazine Essay Contest | USA | Varies | Varies | 2,500 | FREE | $1,000 | Any style or subject but themed, so check website for current details - no dedicated competition page, so go to the 'Blog' section of the website to find details of the latest competition - winners published in Fountain Magazine |
| Hektoen International Grand Prix Essay Competition | USA | Varies | Varies | Varies | FREE | Varies | Medical and humanities, see website for full details - top prize varies, but has been up to $5,000 in the past - winners published in Hektoen International Journal - no dedicated competition page, so type 'grand prix' into their website search to find the most recent information |
| Hidden Compass Pathfinder Prize | USA | July | December | no max | FREE | $15,000 | They are looking for proposals that showcase the diversity of exploration and touch on subjects such as history, science, art, ethics and more - prize to be used to fund a global expedition - to find the competition page, look in the "Explore" section of their website |
| Lab42 Essay Contest | Switzerland | Quarterly | Quarterly | 3,000 | FREE | $2,000 | Runs regularly, so see listing in regular comps list above for full details |
| Michael Terence Publishing (MTP) Competition | UK | May | ? | 3,000 | £8 | £1,000 | Any style or subject - winners published in printed anthology - also accept short stories (fiction) - generous cash prizes for runners-up |
| Moth Magazine Nature Writing Prize | Ireland | September | December | 4,000 | €15 | €1,000 | Any style / genre but themed around nature: check website for full details - in addition to cash, winner receives a week's stay at a writing retreat - winners published in the Irish Times online - also accept fiction and poetry |
| Narratively Memoir Prize | USA | December | February | 7,000 | $20 | $3,000 | Memoirs in any style - also offer generous prizes for runner-up - winners published in digital collection - you can find out more information about this prize on the "pitch us" page on their site |
| New Millennium Essay Award | USA | Bi-Annually | Bi-Annually | Varies | $20 | $1,000 | See notes in regular awards list above |
| Prism International Creative Non-Fiction Contest | Canada | Varies | Varies | 6,000 | See notes | C$1,500 | Any style or subject - all contest entrants receive a 1 year subscription to Prism International - winners published in the Prism International magazine - second prize C$600 and C$400 third prize - entry is C$35 if you live in Canada, C$40 if you live in the US and C$45 if you live anywhere else in the world |
| Room Magazine Creative Non-Fiction Contest | Canada | Varies | Varies | 3,500 | $55 | $1,000 | Any style / genre - entry cost varies depending where you live ($55 is most expensive tier), but all entries include a year's subscription to Room Magazine - winners published in Room Magazine |
| Society of Authors Prizes | UK | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies | Any style or genre - they run a variety of non-fiction competitions, including The Somerset Maugham Awards and The Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography - prizes up to £5,000 - see the 'prizes' section of their website |
| Story Unlikely's Short Story Contest | USA | January | June | 4,500 | FREE | $1,500 | Any style or genre - open to creative non-fiction and fiction - winning stories are professionally illustrated and published in Story Unlikely magazine |
| StoryShares Story of the Year Contest | USA | February | May | 15,000 | FREE | $2,000 | Any style or genre - 4 categories, all with large cash prizes |
| t2's Friends Who Write | Singapore | November | December | no max | FREE | $2,500 | A team writing challenge - “A month-long writing challenge designed for writing buddies. Team up, submit one article per week and support each other” - free writing workshops available to all participants - open to fiction and non-fiction |
| TCK Publishing Short Story Awards Contest | USA | August | September | 4,000 | $12 | $1,000 | Any style / genre but multiple categories, so check website for full details - winners published on website - no permanent award page, so type 'award' or 'contest' or 'short story' into the search function at the top of the homepage and all the current award details will come up - it's a short story contest, but they have a creative non-fiction category |
| The Douglas B. Rogers Essay Competition | USA | January | February | No max | FREE | $2,000 | Any style or subject but often themed - open to full-time students in North America - often run in conjunction with other institutions, lastest of which is Abbeville Institute |
| TNQ Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest | Canada | March | Varies | Varies | C$40 | C$1,000 | For essays in which the writer’s personal engagement with the subject provides the frame - must be Canadian citizen or resident to enter - entry fee includes a 1-year subscription to The New Quarterly - all entries are considered for publication in TNQ (paid at $250) |
| Tom Howard / John H Reid Essay Contest | USA | April | October | 6,000 | $20 | $3,000 | Any style / genre - they accept short stories and essays and give 2 x $3,000 prizes: one for fiction and one for non-fiction - winning stories published on the website |
Annual Essay / Non-Fiction Writing Competitions
This table lists non-fiction writing competitions and essay awards that are run on a yearly basis.
| Annual Non-Fiction Writing Competition | Country | Closing Date | Winners Announced | Max Words | Entry Fee | Top Prize | Annual Non-Fiction Writing Competition Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthology Nature Writing Competition | Ireland | September | November | 1,500 | €15 | €500 | For nature writing - winners offered publication in Anthology Magazine |
| Anthology Travel Writing Competition | Ireland | November | January | 1,000 | €15 | €500 | For travel writing - winners offered publication in Anthology Magazine |
| Australasian Association of Writing Programs Life Writing Prize | Australia | June | September | 3,500 | $20 | $500 | Any style, subject but for autobiography, biography, memoir and essays - in addition to cash, winner receives a one-year subscription to Westerly + conference fees for the AAWP conference + invite to read at the event - the winner’s work will be considered for publication by Westerly |
| Cambridge Centre for International Research 'Re:think' Essay Competition | UK | July | July | 2,000 | £15 | £150 | Any style, subject but based on certain topics, so check website for current details - various categories - judged by a panel of leading academics from the University of Cambridge - to find details of the competition, scroll to the bottom of the homepage and look under 'Think Tank' in the footer |
| Fairfield Scribes "The Scribes Prize" | Canada / USA | September | October | 110 | $5 | $250 | Creative non-fiction in any style / genre - all winning entries awarded a cash prize, digital award seal to use for promotions, interview & permanent author page on website, plus publication - they also accept fiction |
| Ireland Writing Retreat Wild Atlantic Writing Awards | Ireland | Varies | Varies | 500 | €10 | €500 | Any style, subject but sometimes themed, so check website for current details - they also run a flash fiction award |
| Korean Spirit and Culture Promotion Project Essay Contest | USA | January | February | Varies | FREE | £500 | Any style but based on different topics, so check website for current subject and choice of essay questions - for young writers aged between 10 and 18 - winners published on website |
| Libra Essay Prize | UK | June | July | 2,000 | FREE | Varies | Any style, subject or theme, but essays must be written responding to a single-word essay title, so check website for current details - entrants must be students in years 12 or 13 of UK education - winners published on website - top prize has been up to £150 in the past - you can find the prize page in the footer of the website, under "Resources" |
| Living Springs Publishers Baby Boomers Plus | USA | June | Varies | 4,000 | $25 | $500 | Any style / genre - you have to have been born before 1966 to enter - open to non-fiction and fiction - minimum of top fifteen finalists published in book |
| Memoirist / Dogberry Books Writing Prize | UK | May | June | 70,000 min / 90,000 max | £25 | £500 | Any style or subject - for full length memoirs and autobiographical novels - they also accept fiction - winner offered publication |
| Pitch Magazine Young Sports Journalist Competition | UK | April | May | 600 | FREE | £50 | Any style or subject but themed, so check website for current details - for writers aged 14-21 - winner offered work experience at Pitch HQ - winning entries published online and in Pitch - to find the competition, click on "Young Sports Journalists This Way" at the top of the homepage |
| Principia Perspectives | USA | April | June | See notes | FREE | $200 | Any style or subject but themed, so check website for current details - 2 categories: middle school and high school - word limits are 600 words for middle school and 800 words for high school - winners published on website - find the competition details in the 'Academics' section of the website |
| San Francisco Writers' Conference Writing Contest | USA | Varies | Varies | 1,500 | Varies | Varies | Any style, subject or theme - top prize has been up to $250 in the past - they also accept short stories - winners published in anthology and / or on SFWC website |
| SMK Contests | USA | November | January | Varies | $5 | $100 | Any style / genre - they have multiple categories for flash fiction, poetry, short story, non-fiction, novel and more, so check website for full details |
| Society of Spanish Researchers UK 'Science me a Story' Competition | UK | April | June | 4 pages | FREE | £150 | Any style / genre but story must be related to science - they accept non-fiction and fiction submissions - stories can be written in English or Spanish - winning stories published in the online magazine PRINCIPIA and in the literature hub at the University of Liverpool |
| South Warwickshire Literary Festival Writing Competition | UK | March | April | 800 | £3.50 | £50 | Any style / genre - winners offered the chance to read their work at the festival if they are able to attend - also open to fiction and poetry |
| The League of Poets Prize for Literature | Nigeria | January | May | no min / max stated | $10 | See notes | Any style / genre - prizes include trophies, stickers and interviews that will be published in the T.L.O.P. magazine - also open to fiction |
| The Royal Commonwealth Society 'Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition' | UK | Varies | Varies | Varies | FREE | See notes | Check website for current topics - for writers aged 18 and under - prizes vary, but in past prizes have included certificates, resources for schools, visits to London and activities /work experience at international organisations - winners published in worldwide media - usually mentioned on homepage, but if not, put 'essay competition' into their site search |
| Urban Tree Festival Writing Competition | UK / Belgium | March | May | 250 words | €6 | €200 | Any style or subject but themed, so check website for details - winner becomes writer in residence for the next Urban Tree festival - winners published in illustrated anthology and each author included receives complementary copies - also accept flash fiction and poetry |
| Walk Listen Create's "Neighbourhood Narratives – Stories Around Us" Writing Competition | Belgium / UK | April | May | 350 | €8 | €100 | Any style / genre - longlist published online and shortlist also as geo-located audio podcasts - to find the competition page, search for "Neighbourhood Narratives" in the website's search function (the tiny pink magnifying glass next to the Login button) |
| Walt Whitman Film 'East Rock Films' Student Essay Contest | USA | January | March | 1,000 | FREE | $500 | Any style / genre but based on a questions, so see website for full details - for high school or college students from U.S. or Canada - they accept traditional essays, video essays and performance essays |
Memoir Competitions
This non-fiction writing competitions table lists memoir contests. There are very few current memoir competitions. If you know of any that are not listed here, please let me know.
| Memoir Writing Competition | Country | Closing Date | Winners Announced | Max Words | Entry Fee | Top Prize | Memoir Writing Competition Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthology Personal Memoir Writing Competition | Ireland | August | October | 1,500 | £15 | £500 | For memoir writing - winners offered publication in Anthology Magazine |
| Fish Publishing Short Memoir Competition | Ireland | January | April | 4,000 | £18 | £1,000 | Any style or theme - winners published in anthology |
| Memoirist / Dogberry Books Writing Prize | UK | May | June | 70,000 min / 90,000 max | £25 | £500 | Any style or subject - for full length memoirs and autobiographical novels - they also accept fiction - winner offered publication |
| Narratively’s Memoir Prize | USA | November | February | 7,000 | $20 | $3,000 | Memoirs in any style - also offer generous prizes for runner-up - winners published in digital collection - you can find out more information about this prize on the "pitch us" page on their site |
| TCK Publishing Short Story Awards Contest | USA | August | September | 4,000 | $12 | $1,000 | Any style / genre but multiple categories including memoir, so check website for full details - winners published on website - no permanent award page, so type 'award' or 'contest' or 'short story' into the search function |
| Write by the Sea Literary Festival Writing Competition (Memoir) | Ireland | June | September | 1,000 | £10 | £500 | Any style or theme - they also have categories for flash fiction, short stories and poetry |
One-Off Essay & Non-Fiction Writing Competitions
This table lists details of one-off essay and non-fiction writing competitions.
| One-Off Non-Fiction Writing Competition | Country | Closing Date | Winners Announced | Max Words | Entry Fee | Top Prize | One-Off Non-Fiction Writing Competition Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southlands Art Centre Creative Writing Competition | UK | 31st July 2024 | 5th October 2024 | 3,000 | £3 | £100 | Life-writing: the author must be writing about themselves - all winners and runners up will be published in a downloadable PDF book and a limited run of paperback books - also open to life writing |
| No other one-off competitions to list at present | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | More details coming soon... |
Other Non-Fiction Writing Competitions Lists
Here you will find details of other online resources that provide lists of non-fiction writing competitions and essay contests.
A History of Closed Non-Ficition Writing Competitions
For reference, here is a record of non-fiction writing competitions that have closed.
| Non-Fiction Writing Competition | Country | Closing Date | Winners Announced | Max Words | Entry Fee | Top Prize | Non-Fiction Writing Competition Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 123Writings Scholarship Writing Contest | USA | August | September | 1000 | FREE | $2,500 | Any style, subject or theme, but see website for current list of topics - winners published on website - Essay writing service provider – unethical, so removed from lists |
| 24Writer 'How Winning Are Your Essays' Contest | USA | 15th May 2016 | 1st June 2016 | 1000 | FREE | $500 | Any style but themed so check website for details - CLOSED, was a one-off |
| Academic Help Writing Contest | USA | August | September | 1200 | FREE | See notes | Any style or subject, but must be persuasive - winner receives a writing certificate - entrants must be a high-school, college or university student - CLOSED 2016 |
| ACW Journalism Competition | UK | 31st August 2018 | 30th September 2018 | 1000 | £3 | £25 | Any style but themed around news stories, so check website for full details - prizes paid as book tokens - winning entry published in Christian Writer (ACW magazine, distributed to 800 members) - entry is free for ACW members - CLOSED, was a one-off |
| Affiliate Blogging Tips Scholarship Program | USA | December | December | 500 | FREE | $800 | Any style, but see website for current subject matters - entries from US citizens / residents only - DOESN'T SEEM TO BE RUNNING ANYMORE, and website is for sale so removed listing Jan 2018 |
| Ageless Authors Writing Contest | USA | July | September | 3500 | $20 | $500 | Any style or subject but sometimes themed, so check website for current contest details - entrants must be aged 50 years or older - winning essays published in anthology - NOT RUN SINCE 2019, so removed listing in 2021 update |
| All Top Reviews Writing Contest | USA | 31st December 2017 | 10th January 2018 | 700 | FREE | $500 | Review writing contest - prize money has to be spent with a website reviewed by All Top Reviews - CLOSED, was a one-off |
| Apps Free For PC Digital & Technology Scholarship | USA | March | April | 1000 | FREE | $500 | Any style, subject or theme - winner published on the website - REMOVED because site has nothing to do with writing |
| AskPetersen Scholarship: Essay Writing Contest | USA | Quarterly | Quarterly | 1000 | FREE | $200 | Any style or subject, but themed so check website for current topics - CLOSED 2016 |
| Assignment Essay Help Benjamin Bloom Scholarship Program | USA | December | February | 2500 | FREE | $2,500 | Any style or subject - entrants must currently be a student of a college or university - Essay writing service provider – unethical, so removed from lists |
| Assignment Masters Winter Essay Contest | USA | 20th February 2018 | ? | 800 | FREE | $1,000 | Any style or theme - CLOSED, was a one off |
| AussieWritings Scholarship | Australia | 31st May 2019 | 20th June 2019 | 1000 | FREE | $1,000 | Any style or theme, but check website for list of topics - winners published on website - Essay writing service provider – unethical, so removed from lists |
| Australian Help Writing Contest | Australia | Varies | Varies | 1200 | FREE | $700 | Any style or subject but check website for current list of topics - winners published on website - Essay writing service provider – unethical, so removed from lists |
| Best Essay Scholarship | UK | 30th November 2017 | 7th December 2017 | 1000 | FREE | $1,000 | Any style or theme, but see website for prompts - decent cash prizes for 2nd and 3rd place too - CLOSED, was a one-off |
| Best of Bests Scholarship | USA | November | December | 1200 | FREE | $1,000 | Any style, subject or theme - winners published on website - REMOVED because site has nothing to do with writing |
| Best Pressure Cooker Student Scholarship | Bangladesh | December | December | 1000 | FREE | $2,000 | Any style, but see website for current topics - you have to be a student to enter - the scholarship - REMOVED because site has nothing to do with writing |
| Bid 4 Papers Essay Contest | USA | Quarterly | Quarterly | 1500 | FREE | $500 | Themed, so check website for current theme - entrants must be 25 or under - winners published on Facebook - CLOSED 2016 |
| Blue Mesa Review Non-Fiction Writing Contest | USA | August | October | 6000 | $12 | $500 | Any style, subject or theme - winners published in the Blue Mesa Review - CLOSED, not run since 2016 so removed listing 2019 |
| Boom Essays Writing Contest | USA | February | March | 1000 | FREE | $2,000 | Any style, but check website for current topics - winner published by Boom Essays - 2nd prize $1,500 and 3rd prize $1,000 - NOT RUN FOR OVER A YEAR, so removed listing Jan 2018 |
| Build Your Own Blog New Writer Scholarship | USA | 29th Nov 2015 | December 2015 | no max stated | FREE | $4,000 | Any style or theme - CLOSED |
| Casevac Writing Contest | USA | Varies | Varies | 2000 | see notes | $2,500 | Any style / genre but themed and must also relate to a prompt, so check website for current details - $12 adult entry, $9 for students - 10% of proceeds go to the UNHCR - also open to fiction - sometimes runs more than once a year - CLOSED 2022 |
| Castle Craig Essay Competition | UK | December | April | 3000 | FREE | £1000 | Any style or subject but must be about 1 of 3 essay questions, so see website for full details - open to students studying medicine, psychology, nursing, psychotherapy, social work or a related discipline - winners published on website - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing 2020 |
| Confident Writers Scholarship Essay Writing Contest | UK | Bi-Annually | Bi-Annually | 700 | FREE | $700 | Any style or subject but check website for current topics - Essay writing service provider – unethical, so removed from lists |
| Craft Resumes Creative Workforce Transition Scholarship | USA | Bi-Annually | Bi-Annually | 1000 | FREE | $1,000 | Any style or subject but themed so check website for details - winners published on the Craft Resumes blog and offered a paid 1 to 3 month internship - CLOSED 2016 |
| Custom Writing Essay Writing Contest | UK | Quarterly | Quarterly | 650 | FREE | $800 | Any style or subject but check website for current topics - winners published on the Custom Writing blog - NOT RUN SINCE 2016, so removed from lists Jan 2018 |
| Cyberworld Publishing 'The Good Life in Galicia' Competition | Galicia, Spain | August | Varies | 4500 | FREE | £15 | Any style, subject or theme but must be about Galicia in a significant way - winners published in anthology - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2024 |
| Dandy Writers' Writing Contests | USA | Monthly | Monthly | Varies | Varies | Varies | Any style / genre - they run a variety of regular contests for short stories, flash fiction, non-fiction, poetry and more - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2024 |
| EduBirdie Essay Writing Contest | USA | Quarterly | Quarterly | 1500 | FREE | $500 | Themed, so check the website for current details - winners published on website - cash prizes for 2nd and 3rd place writers too - CLOSED 2016 |
| EduGeeksClub Essay Writing Contest | USA | 31st May 2019 | 15th June 2019 | 1000 | FREE | $450 | Any style / genre but there are set topics, so check website for full details - winners published on EduGeeksClub website - lots of prizes for runners up too - Essay writing service provider – unethical, so removed from lists |
| EssaysCapital Writing Contest | USA | Biannually | Biannually | 1700 | FREE | $3,000 | Any style or subject but there are a choice of topics, so check website for current details - winners' essays will be published on EssaysCapital Blog - I've recently received some concerns from users about this competition - it seems they have not announced winners and not contacted entrants - you can learn more on the EssaysCapital Facebook page, where users are asking what's going on with no response - I've contacted EssaysCapital to ask them if the competition is still running - if I don't hear back soon I'll remove this listing - UPDATE JAN 2017: I NEVER HEARD BACK FROM THEM SO HAVE RETIRED THIS LISTING |
| EssayHub Essay Writing Contest | USA | Quarterly | Quarterly | 1000 | FREE | $500 | Any style but check website for current topics - winners published on website - CLOSED 2017 |
| Essay Mama Writing Contest | USA | Quarterly | Quarterly | 1300 | FREE | $450 | Themed, so check the website for current details - winners published on the Essay Mama website - CLOSED 2016 |
| Essay Mama Christmas Writing Contest | USA | 25th December 2014 | 5th January 2015 | 4000 | See notes | $450 | Any style / genre, but themed around Christmas - to enter, you must like their Facebook page and share the competition link - 15 winning stories published in a printed book - CLOSED 2015 |
| EssayMash Monthly Competition | UK | Monthly | Monthly | 1000 | FREE | $100 | Any style or subject but themed, so check website for current details - the EssayMash goal is to promote intellectual discussion around the world - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2020 |
| EssayPro Writing Contest | USA | Varies | Varies | Varies | FREE | Varies | Any style or subject, but you need to chose from a list of topics so check the link for current details - winners published on the EssayPro website - usually offers a $1,000 prize pool - Essay writing service provider – unethical, so removed from lists |
| EssayRoo Australian Writing Contest | Australia | March | March | 800 | FREE | $3,000 | Any style or subject but check website for current topics - 2nd prize $2,500, 3rd prize $1,500 - winners published on the website - CLOSED 2017 |
| Essay Service Writer’s Encouragement Scholarship | USA | Bi-Annually | Bi-Annually | 1200 | FREE | $500 | Check website for current topic and other rules regarding citations and style - Essay writing service provider – unethical, so removed from lists |
| Essay Supply Cyberbullying Experience | USA | 30th June 2017 | 31st July 2017 | 1000 | FREE | $1,500 | Any style but themed so check website for details - CLOSED, was a one-off |
| Essay Writing Expert Essay Writers Contest | UK | November | November | 1000 | FREE | $500 | Any style but check website for current list of topics - Essay writing service provider – unethical, so removed from lists |
| Expert Assignment Help Student Essay Writing Competition | Australia | December | December | 1000 | FREE | $450 | Any style, subject or theme - winners published in on EAH blog - Essay writing service provider – unethical, so removed from lists |
| Expert Assignment Help Global Goals Scholarship Program | Australia | December | January | 3000 | FREE | $2,500 | Any style or subject but themed around Global Goals, so check website for full details - Essay writing service provider – unethical, so removed from lists |
| Field of Words Memoir Competition | Australia | Varies | Varies | 2000 | $15 | $400 | Any style or theme - winners published on website - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2019 |
| Garden Museum’s Festival of Garden Literature Writing Competition | UK | May | June | 2500 | £5 | £2,500 | Memoirs inspired by or set in a garden - winners published by Granta Online - CLOSED 2015 |
| Gulf Stream Summer Contest | USA | August | September | 5000 | $7 | $100 | Any style, subject or theme - winners published in Gulf Stream Lit Mag - also accept fiction and poetry - NOT RUN SINCE 2020, so removed listing in 2023 update |
| Hektoen International Blood Writing Contest | USA | 15th January 2020 | April 2020 | 1600 | FREE | $3,000 | Medical and humanities - themed contest related to blood - winners and other best articles published in Hektorama and may be publicized in email newsletters and on social media - CLOSED, was a one-off |
| Highfield Press 'Picture Worth 1000 Words' Essay Contest | USA | Quarterly | Quarterly | 1000 | $20 | $1,000 | Themed - uses a different picture to inspire writers for each contest, see website for current details - winners published on website - entries may be a personal essay, memoir, narrative nonfiction, commentary, travel piece, historical account, biography, or short story - CLOSED 2016 |
| Hourglass Literary Magazine Best Essay Award | Bosnia | April | September | 9000 | $15 | $1,000 | No theme, or genre limitations - winners published in Hourglass Literary Magazine - not run since 2017, so removed from lists 2019 |
| Iceland Writers Retreat Writing Contest | Iceland | Varies | Varies | Varies | FREE | See notes | Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current theme - prize is usually a place on a writing retreat - comps are sometimes for fiction, sometimes poetry and sometimes non-fiction - look at 'News & Events at bottom or homepage or in 'About IWR' section of website then 'News' to find latest competition details - CONTEST NOT RUN SINCE 2020, so removed listing during 2022 update |
| JetWriters Essay Writing Contest 2nd Edition | USA | 15th Nov 2015 | 23rd Nov 2015 | 1200 | FREE | $400 | Themed, so check website for current topics - 2nd prize $250, 3rd prize $150 - CLOSED |
| Jittery Monks Scholarship | USA | March | March | No max | FREE | $1,500 | Any style or subject but themed so check website for details - you have to be in full time education to enter - Essay writing service provider – unethical, so removed from lists |
| Juicingbeasts Staying Healthy Scholarship | Malaysia | October | November | 1000 | FREE | $500 | Any style but check website for current topic - winners published on website - REMOVED because site has nothing to do with writing |
| KidGuard For Education Scholarship Program | USA | October | November | no max | FREE | $1,000 | Any style or subject but must be inspired by prompts, so check link for current details - 4 categories, university, high school, middle school and elementary school - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2020 |
| King's Cut Proofreading and Editing Company Essay Writing Competition | UK | 21st September 2020 | 44105 | 500 | £5 | £200 | Any style, subject but themed around justice - entrants must be between 11 and 16 years of age - the final is a live speech reading by the finalists on Zoom before a panel of judges - CLOSED, was a one-off |
| Lifesaver Essays Essay Writing Contest | USA | Varies | Varies | 1300 | FREE | Varies | Any style but see website for list of current topics - competition will be run up to 4 times a year - winners published on the Lifesaver Essays blog - top prizes have been as high as $600 in the past - Essay writing service provider – unethical, so removed from lists |
| Logos Institute Essay Writing Competition | UK | 15th December 2018 | 19th May 2019 | 1500 | FREE | See notes | Any style / genre - UK citizens only - top prize is scholarship to study theology at the University of St Andrews as well as a £2000 towards living expenses - CLOSED, was a one-off |
| Londnr Magazine New Voices Competition | UK | 1st June 2017 | 1st August 2017 | 1000 | £4 | See notes | Any style or theme - winner receives a paid feature-length article, published in A/W 2017 magazine and a paid contract for a set of three articles for the Londnr online, mentoring, free tickets to the launch party and other Londnr events - CLOSED, was a one-off |
| MichelsonIP Udemy Learner Writing Contest | USA | 5th June 2020 | 25th June 2020 | 800 | FREE | $500 | Any style, subject but themed around intellectual property - to participate, you have to enroll in their free course - winners published on blog and in Inventors Digest - Closed, was a one-off |
| Narratively Profile Prize | USA | April | June | 7000 | $20 | $3,000 | Any style / genre, but they are looking for profile pieces that tell the story of ordinary people or communities doing extraordinary things - winners published online and in a digital collection - to find the current competition page, put "prize" into their website search function, which can be found by clicking on the menu icon located on the top right of their website - CLOSED 2023, may or may not run again in the future |
| Nerdy Bot Scholarship Essay Competition | USA | February | March | 500 | FREE | $1,000 | Any style or subject but check website for current topic - CLOSED 2018 |
| Ninja Essays Writing Contest | USA | Varies | Varies | 1000 | FREE | $500 | Themed, so check website for current topics - competition is run every 3 to 4 months - NOT RUN SINCE 2016, so removed from lists Jan 2018 |
| Noplag Scholarship Essay Contest | USA | 31st August 2017 | September 2017 | 5000 | FREE | $2,500 | Any style but there are a number of topics to choose from, so visit the Noplag website for full details - deadline was in June, but extended to end of August - CLOSED, was a one-off |
| NUHA Foundation Blogging Prizes | UK | Varies | Varies | See notes | FREE | See notes | Themed, so check website for current details - 3 categories: 10-14 years 800 words max $250 top prize, 15-18 years 1,200 words max $900 top prize and 19+ years 1,500 words max $2,400 top prize - all entrants published on website - NOT RUN SINCE 2019, so removed listing during 2022 update |
| OmniPapers Writing Contest | USA | Varies | Varies | 1500 | FREE | $500 | Themed, so check website for current theme - participants must be 20-25 years old - winners published on the OmniPapers website - NOT RUN SINCE 2016, so removed from website 2018 |
| Oz Essays Scholarship Essay Writing Contest | Australia | July | July | 5 pages | FREE | $1,000 | Any style, but entry must answer a question so check website for current details - Essay writing service provider – unethical, so removed from lists |
| Phenq Avis Value Of Being Fit Scholarship Program | USA | March | April | 1000 | FREE | $750 | Any style, subject or theme - winners published on the Phenq Avis website - REMOVED because site has nothing to do with writing |
| Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society - William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition | USA | Varies | Varies | 2500 | Varies | Varies | Any style or subject - winners might be published - essay / non-fiction prizes in the past have been up to $2,000 - many categories, one of which is non-fiction books and one of which is an essay prize - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2022 |
| Plozee Post Competition | UK | 22nd February 2022 | 22nd March 2022 | No max | FREE | $100 | Any style or theme - Plozee is a user-generated content platform, all submissions will be published immediately on the page each contestant has posted their writing - CLOSED, was a one-off |
| Productivity Spot Education Scholarship | India | October | November | 1000 | FREE | $1,000 | Any style but check website for current subject/theme - winners published on website - REMOVED because site has nothing to do with writing |
| ProEssayWriting Challenge | USA | 10th February 2017 | 20th February 2017 | 1000 | FREE | $1,000 | Any style but there are a number of topics to choose from, please visit the website for full details - 2nd prize $500, 3rd prize $250 - CLOSED, was a one-off |
| READ Foundation Writing Competition | UK | 10th October 2018 | 13th October 2018 | 500 | FREE | See notes | Any style / genre but themed, so check website for full details - winner publicly displayed across hundreds of schools and read by tens of thousands of children, plus feedback from writer Qaisra Shahraz - also accept poems and flash fiction - CLOSED, was a one-off |
| Resume Writing Lab Scholarship | USA | 31st December 2018 | 14th January2019 | 500 | FREE | $500 | Any style or genre but check website for topics - CLOSED was a one-off |
| Rewarded Essays Writing Contest | USA | 20th October 2017 | 30th October 2017 | 900 | FREE | $500 | Any style or theme - CLOSED, was a one-off |
| Ruminate Magazine's Nonfiction Contest | USA | Varies | Varies | 5500 | $20 | $1,500 | Any style or subject - entry fee includes a complimentary copy of Ruminate Magazine - winner published in Ruminate Magazine - STOPPED PUBLISHING IN 2022 |
| Sentence House Scholarship | USA | December | January | 1500 | FREE | $1,500 | Any style or subject - winners published on website - OPENS UP RANDOM SPAMMY LINKS, so removed from listings Jan 2018 |
| Shooter Literary Magazine 'Shooter Flash' Competition | UK | Monthly | Monthly | 1000 | £3 | £50 | Any style or subject and they also accept fiction - winner published on website and in anthology sent to Shooter subscribers - NON-FICTION NO LONGER MENTIONED ON SUBS GUIDELINES, so removed listing during 2022 update |
| Showboxa.Com Writing Contest For Science & Tech Enthusiasts | USA | Quarterly | Quarterly | 1500 | FREE | $1,000 | Any style but themed, so check website for current details - REMOVED because site has nothing to do with writing |
| SisterShip Magazine Writing Competitions | Australia | Varies | Varies | Varies | FREE | Varies | Any style or genre but themed so check website for full details - only open to people who identify as women - winners published by SisterShip Press Pty Ltd. - top prize varies, but has been up to $250 in the past - COMPETITION PAGE DISAPPEARED, so removed listing at the end of 2019 |
| SisterShip Magazine Writing Competition | Australia | 17th August 2018 | 5th October 2018 | 1500 | FREE | $100 | Any style or genre but themed around facing fears - only open to people who identify as women - winners published by SisterShip Press Pty Ltd. - CLOSED, was a one-off |
| SiW Internet Marketing Scholarship | USA | December | January | 1200 | FREE | $1,000 | Any style but themed around internet marketing - winners published on the SiW website - CLOSED, not run since 2017, so removed from lists 2019 |
| Sleek City Press Prose Contest | Canada | 18th September 2022 | 3rd November 2022 | 1000 | See notes | $600 | Any style / genre and prompt is "who I was, before this" - entry fee is $10, $5 for students - they also accept fiction - $600 prize is awarded in each catgory - CLOSED, was a one-off |
| Smart Paper Help Writing Scholarship | USA | January | January | 1000 | FREE | $1,000 | Any style but check website for current topics - 2nd prize $700, 3rd prize $400 - CLOSED 2016 |
| Smart.Study Essay Writing Scholarship | UK | 1st August 2016 | 15th August 2016 | 700 | FREE | $700 | Any style but there are 3 topics to choose from, visit the site for details - winners published on the Smart.Study blog |
| SolidEssay Essay Contest | USA | Varies | Varies | 800 | FREE | $1,000 | Any style or subject but you need to chose from a list of topics, so check website for current details - winners published on website - Essay writing service provider – unethical, so removed from lists |
| South Warwickshire Literary Festival Creative Writing Competition | UK | 30th June 2023 | 23rd September 2023 | 800 | £3 | £50 | Any style / genre - winner offered the chance to read their work at the festival if they are able to attend - also open to fiction and poetry - CLOSED, was a one-off |
| SpeedyPaper Global Essay Writing Contest | USA | Quarterly | Quarterly | 600 | FREE | $1,000 | Any style, but themed, so check website for current details - NOT RUN FOR OVER 6 MONTHS, so removed listing Jan 2018 |
| Student Scholarship from Unplag | Cyprus | 1st Mar 2016 | 9th Mar 2016 | 500 | FREE | $2,000 | Any style but themed so check website for details - winners published on the Unplag blog - prize money given to the University the student studies at, so goes towards their tuition fees - 2 runners-up receive free subscription to Unplag |
| Student Wordsmith 'The Growing Unease' Journalism Competition | UK | 18th December 2015 | Jan 2016 | 2000 | £5 | See notes | Themed, so check website for current topics - winners published in a pamphlet and 'exciting prizes' offered to winners |
| Swift River 'My Mother, My Hero' Essay Contest | USA | 1st May 2017 | 12th May 2017 | 250 | FREE | $200 | Any style but themed - Swift River will use the winning essay as part of their efforts to fight addiction |
| Taadiib National Essay Writing Competition | Pakistan | March | April | 750 | FREE | PKR 12,000 (£60) | Any style / genre but themed and based around a specific question, so check website for current details - for school children living in Pakistan - winners published on website - COMPETITION LINK BROKEN, so removed listing during 2021 update |
| The London Magazine Essay Competition | UK | 31st August 2017 | October | 1500 | £10 | £500 | Any style or theme - winner published in The London Magazine - runners-up published on website - 2nd prize £300, 3rd prize £200 - CLOSED, was a one-off |
| The Notting Hill Editions Biennial Essay Prize | UK | Varies | Varies | 8000 | £20 | £20,000 | Any subject in classic essay format - 2,000 to 8,000 words - 5 runner up prizes of £1,000 - winners published in anthology - entry fee includes copy of previous anthology - runs every 2 years - NOT RUN SINCE 2017, so removed listing during 2021 update |
| ThePensters Scholarship | USA | May | June | 500 | FREE | $1,000 | Any subject, but narrative writing preferred - check the website for details of essay requirements - Essay writing service provider – unethical, so removed from lists |
| The Spectator John Murray Prize | UK | May | October | 4000 | FREE | £20,000 | Any style or subject but themed, so check website for full details - for previously unpublished authors only - prize is a £20,000 book deal with John Murray - winning essay published in The Spectator and anniversary anthology - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing during 2021 update |
| The Travelex Next Great Travel Writer 2017 | UK | 5th February 2017 | ? | 1000 | FREE | £1,500 | Any style but themed around travel - in addition to cash, the winner receives a session with a Penguin editor - there's also a student category with a £500 prize - the contest is judged by journalists, Penguin editors and international bloggers - CLOSED, was a one-off |
| Those That Breathe Environmental Writing Competition | UK | Monthly during 2021 | Monthly during 2021 | Varies | £4 | See notes | Any style or subject, but themed so check website for details - the competition is open from the 1st until the 25th of each month during 2021 - proceeds from entry fees are donated to charities that are trying to make a difference to climate change - winners published on website and in anthology in 2022 - open to non-fiction, poetry, short stories and flash fiction - CLOSED, was a one-off |
| UK Writing's British Essay Writing Contest | UK | May | June | 900 | FREE | 3500 | Any style or theme, but check website out for the list of current topics - the 3 winning essays are published on the UK Writing website - NOT RUN FOR OVER A YEAR, so removed listing Jan 2018 |
| Verbolatry Laugh-a-Riot Non-Ficiton Contest | UK | August | October | 500 | See notes | See notes | Humorous style and check website for current topic - if you enter for FREE, the top prize is £50; if you pay £5 entry, the top prize is £100 - winning entries published in Verbolatry newsletter and on their website - NOT RUN SINCE 2016, so removed from lists Jan 2018 |
| Widows & Widowers Magazine Writing Competition | UK | 1st Sept 2015 | 12th Dec 2015 | 5000 | FREE | See notes | Themed, so check website for current details - 3 winning essays published in magazine - all shortlisted entries published in an anthology |
| Win Our Inn Essay Contest | USA | 31st March 2020 | May 2020 | 350 | $99 | See notes | For essays about why owning an inn would fulfill your dreams and why you think you'd be successful - prize is a turnkey motel operation on an island off the coast of Maine, plus $25,000 operating fund - CLOSED, was a one-off |
| Wonder Institute Essay Contest | USA | November | December | 1500 | $20 | $1,000 | Any style or subject but see website for current topic - winner published on the Wonder Institute website - POSTPONED in 2017 and not run since, so removed listing 2019 |
More Writing Advice
I hope you found this "Non-Fiction Writing Competitions" page helpful. You can find lots of other publication opportunities and writing tips in the Advice section of this website.
Note On Essay Writing Service Providers Offering Scholarships
Some of the contests and scholarships that used to be featured on my non-fiction writing competitions page were run by essay writing service providers. The more I found out about these types of business, the more I felt that they're not ethical.
Essentially, they allow students to cheat, by paying someone else to write their essay/thesis for them. While some of them do offer large cash prizes, so can be of benefit to writers, I wasn't comforable promoting these brands or being associated with them.
Due to my reservations about this business niche, essay writing service providers that run non-fiction writing competitions were removed from the lists in 2019. You will find them in the history section of the page, with a note that says, 'Essay writing service provider – unethical, so removed from lists'.
Note On Affiliate Websites Offering Scholarships
In 2017 I started to receive a lot of requests for non-fiction writing competitions listings by affiliate websites that have little or nothing to do with writing. They often offer scholarships with decent cash prizes, but were run by websites that promoted vacuum cleaners, or baby products etc. My audience are writers, so I want to keep this page on topic and relevant to them.
Therefore I am no longer accepting non-fiction writing competitions listing requests from websites that are not about writing. I've also moved any listings I did have for off-topic websites into the History of Closed Contests list, with a note saying, 'REMOVED because website has nothing to do with writing'.
This website was established in 2011. In 2024, it was redesigned. Between 2011 and 2024, thousands of people commented on the site. I’d like to thank every person for their engagement – it’s greatly appreciated.
When the site was rebuilt, transferring comments comprising hundreds of thousands of words was not feasible on most pages. The Non-Fiction Writing Competitions page comments are an exception and they appear below. New comments are welcome. Please feel free to share your thoughts and ask questions.
Cathy M
I am semi retired and thinking about taking up writing. I am in the process of putting together my biographical memoirs about a woman growing up during the 20th century in America. I have had a fairly interesting life being born in Southern California just after World War II and wondered if you could direct me to whomever might be interested in reviewing it.
Chris Fielden
Cathy, you could try some memoir writing competitions. I know Fish Publishing and Writers Digest accept memoir entries and are well renowned. You could also try the Creative Nonfiction website as they accept all sorts of nonfiction submissions.
If you want to do some research, the Writers' & Artists' yearbook is a good place to start. It's UK based, but contains all sorts of details about different publishers that might be appropriate for you.
I hope that's helpful and wish you the best of luck with publishing your work 🙂
Justin S
Hi Christopher, this question is purely out of curiosity and not at all an attempt at criticism, but when you post potential writing competitions on your website, have any of them turned out to be fraudulent? I've heard people running into problems with the Essays Capital essay competition and was wondering if you had any more information on the legitimacy of the company and the contest.
Thanks!
Chris Fielden
Hi Justin. No, I haven't heard of any problems regarding the Essays Capital competition.
The only website I've ever encountered that kind of problem with was called Chapter One Promotions. A couple of my users highlighted issues and with a bit of research (and personal experience, unfortunately - I had a short story due to be published by them at the time; needless to say, it never happened) I found that there were lots of complaints about the contest and made that clear on my site, linking to other resources that highlighted the problems.
So, if you have any information on issues with this particular competition, please let me know so I can research it. And if there are any relevant links you can send, that would be much appreciated.
Justin S
Hello Chris. Well it's mostly from what I've seen from their facebook page. They announced a very truncated time - roughly 6 days - until winners would be notified of their status, however, there hasn't even been any emails of declination. My nephew who entered the competition told me there were no confirmation emails; no social media status updates and basically no aid from their 24/7 help desk. Looking at your description of their competition, it seems like they've done this more than once (since you wrote they hold it biannually in their description).
I'd love to know more about it if you find more information about their legitimacy.
Thank you!
Chris Fielden
Hi Justin. Great stuff, thanks for letting me know.
I’ve had a search about and can’t find any other feedback about them, but their Twitter hasn’t been updated for months either.
It looks like there might be issue, so I’ll change the listing on my site to reflect this and link to their Facebook profile as an example. That might spur them to get in touch.
I’ll let you know if I hear from them.
Madeeha K
Hi Christopher. Thanks for the links which provide us with information regarding Essay writing contests. Back in August I participated in the EssayPro writing contest. Later they extended the date for the submissions to their essay writing contest. It's now December 2016.
I've also participated in EssayHelp's writing contest which happens to also be a project linked with EssayPro writing services. Now it's been a month, I'd like to know about some Twitter handle for EssayPro so that I can know about the results of the contest, but I'm not able to get in touch with any of customer service representatives there.
It's making me a bit confused and I would very much appreciate it if you could help me in solving this matter. If the chat option is available on their site, why don't they respond to my queries?
Chris Fielden
Sorry to hear about your experiences with EssayPro. And thank you for letting me know about it.
I recently liaised with Kurtis (in November), who runs it. So I assume the contest is still active.
I’ve emailed him for you and asked him what is going on.
I’ll let you know if I hear back from him.
In the meantime, this is their Twitter profile: @EssayPro_
Madeeha K
Many thanks for your response. I'll be glad if you'll let me know when you hear back.
Chris Fielden
Hi Madeeha
I’ve heard back from Kurtis. Please see his message below.
He said you can feel free to contact him.
I hope that’s helpful. Please let me know if you need any more help.
Hi Christopher,
The contest is actually extended, that's absolutely right. We are going to announce names of the winners after the contest is over.
We decided simply to update the page with the contest details rather than get in touch with the participants because there were not many.
EssayHelp is another organization and I can't help with that.
But I will be happy to help this person with the EssayPro contest and to answer all the questions she/he has.
Thank you for this letter.
Let me know if there is anything else you'd like to clarify.
Regards, Kurtis
Madeeha K
Thanks Christopher, I've just heard from Kurtis and have found answers to most of my queries.
Chris Fielden
Hi Madeeha. OK, great – thanks for letting me know 🙂
John S
Hi - was looking through your list of essay prizes, and didn't see one on there which you might want to add: The Bodley Head/Financial Times Essay Prize.
Chris Fielden
Thanks for this, John – much appreciated. I’ve added the competition to the listings.
Madeeha K
Hi Chris. Thanks for your effort in compiling this page of essay writing competitions. Last year, I was declared winner in the edubirdie writing competition listed on your page. I also received an appreciation certificate from lifesaver essay contest, but still have some doubts about writing essays for these essay service providers.
You have mentioned that some of the contests on the page are run by essay service providers, but don't you think that most of them are run by theses types of services? I'm confused, if I write for some contests run by these services, what are they going to do with my essay later on? This is putting me off participating in these types of competition.
I haven't found any other site with this much information and love to write essays, but the thing which is confusing me is the fact that writing competitions listed on your site under the heading of regular and prestigious competitions are all run by essay service providers. Is it fine to write for them?
Chris Fielden
Hi Madeeha. No problem. And congratulations on winning the edubirdie competition – that’s great news.
A lot of the contests I list are run by essay writing services. I guess it makes sense for them to run these types of competitions as they are relevant to their websites and help with marketing their brands.
Most of the competitions listed publish winning essays on their websites. That’s good for a writer’s portfolio. And cash prizes are always beneficial 🙂 Beyond that, I haven’t seen any other statements about what the competition administrators might do with an essay you submit. As you own the copyright, they couldn’t do anything without your permission anyway.
I don’t think there is any harm in submitting to these competitions. I just question the ethics of an industry that offers a service that writes essays for students – to me, it seems like offering a way of cheating. Still, the contests are separate from that and can help a writer develop and add credits to their CV. I guess it’s your call, but personally I don’t see a problem with submitting to contests run by these businesses.
If you’re worried about it, I’d simply submit to contests that are not run by these types of business. There are other sites outside of the essay writing service industry listed on my site. Maybe try some of those?
I hope that answers your question, but please let me know if you require any further information.
Padma P
Hi Christopher. I want to write a novel about a girl's life - inspirational, loving, entertaining mood swings, family, schooling and her entire life in different situations. I want to publish it but I don't know whom to trust my novel story with.
Chris Fielden
You could try Inkitt. They offer a trustworthy platform. It's free to use. I deal with them regularly and they seem like good people.
I hope that helps - good luck with your book 🙂
Sandeep N
Hi Chris, you are doing great service through this site. Thank you!
I have written a book on raising human consciousness, titled RENEWAL, which I have been advised to enter into competitions. That search is what got me to your site.
Would you have any suggestions for me? Would you like to read a copy?
Chris Fielden
Hi Sandeep, thank you for your message. And congratulations on publishing your book.
There are lots of competitions for books, but you'd have to look through all the rules / terms and conditions and see which ones might be suitable for your style of writing. I have a book and novel contest list on my site. You can see that here.
I receive lots of requests to read books and can't accommodate them all, I'm afraid. But thank you for the offer.
I wish you all the best with submitting your book to competitions.
Sandeep N
YOU ARE TOTALLY AWESOME CHRISTOPHER! Thanks, Sandeep.
Chris Fielden
Thank you Sandeep 🙂
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