Short Story Competitions

Short Story Competitions

I will try and keep this list up to date, but please read and make sure you fully understand the rules and the terms & conditions of each competition listed before entering.

PLEASE NOTE: Most of the short story competitions listed on this page accept entries from writers living anywhere in the world. The country each short fiction contest is run from is listed so you know which global market you are submitting to.

I’ve kept the information on the short story competitions calendar brief, only detailing the important bits, like genre, approximate opening dates, approximate closing dates, word count and, of course, the amount of prize money you can win. You can learn lots more about the rules for each individual short story competition by visiting the different websites. I have provided links to make this resource as easy to use as possible 🙂

Do You Run Short Story Competitions?

If you run a short story competition and would like me to add it to the lists below, please contact me and provide the following information:

  • How often you will be running short story competitions (eg, annually, quarterly, one-off)
  • The name of your short story competition
  • A link to your website
  • The country you run the competition from
  • Closing date
  • Date you announce winners
  • Maximum word count of stories
  • Entry fee
  • Top prize
  • Any other details, including how winning writers' stories will be published and any theme or limitation on style/genre of stories accepted

A note from Henshaw Press, about their listing on this page:

Three months ago, we did a review of our publicity, part of which was asking entrants how they found our competition. About a third of them found us through your website.

So thanks again for your support.

I will also try and add to this list regularly as I hear about more short story competitions.

Short Story Competitions Page History

Please contact me if there is any other information you would like to see on this page, or for any ideas on improvements. Not long after its launch, I updated the page into sections as detailed in the quick links at the top of the page, and put the short story competitions in alphabetical order. Discontinued short story competitions now appear in their own list at the bottom of the page for reference only. I hope this makes the lists easier to use.

Also, as the page is getting larger and the lists are getting longer, it is becoming harder for me to maintain. I'll do my best to check all the links regularly, but if you spot any mistakes, outdated information or broken links, please let me know.

I'm fortunate to have been published through some of the competitions in the lists below. In these instances, there will be links to the published stories and more detailed information about my direct experiences with the competition in question. See Devil's Crush as an example. There are also similar posts written by other competition winning short story writers.

If you have been published through a short story competition and would be willing to write about your experiences for my website, please see my submission guidelines.

UPDATE: Very short story competitions (flash fiction) previously listed on this page have been moved here onto a dedicated page to improve usability.

UPDATE 2: The list of competitions for young writers has also been moved onto its own dedicated page, again to aid usability.

Featured Short Story Competitions

Do you run a short story competition? Do you want it featured at the top of this page? If so, get in touch.

Featured Short Story Competition 1: Elegant Literature Short Fiction Contest

Elegant Literature is a digital fiction magazine whose mission is to help new talent go pro, award life-changing prize money, and promote fiction writers worldwide. Our short story contest offers thousands of dollars of prizes every month. We also choose the best stories, pay the authors above-professional rates, and publish them in our magazine. You can learn how it works here.

Instead of paying per submission, you pay a $10 monthly membership which gives you unlimited entries to the contest and includes over $400 in exclusive discounts from our partners like Scrivener, ProWritingAid, Novel Factory, and more. The prize value rises as our membership grows, as does our ability to buy more work from talented new authors. We will also be opening genre-specific competitions based on feedback from the community, so you have a direct say in next month's contest!

In addition to monthly competitions, our members can access the Community Workshop, a private critique group to receive feedback on your work from fellow writers.

This is (we think) one of the best fiction competitions for aspiring writers out there! Head on over to ElegantLiterature.com for your chance to win the thousands of dollars. Learn how to register here.

Featured Short Story Competition 2: FanStory

At FanStory new writing contests with cash prizes are announced weekly.

You'll Enjoy

  • Contests. FanStory run competitions for short stories, flash fiction, poetry, non-fiction and much more. Enter all contests with cash prizes for free with upgraded membership. Contests with cash prizes are announced every week. Click here to view the current listing.
  • Feedback. Get detailed feedback for every poem, short story and book chapter that you write including your contest entries. All skill levels welcomed.
  • Community.  Make connections and friends. Enjoy sharing your writing. Click here for more info.

Contest Highlights:

  • Dialogue Only Writing Contest: Write a story using only dialogue. That's right - just dialogue. Have fun with it. This contest has a cash prize.
  • Fantasy Writing Contest: Can you write a fantasy story. Let your imagination go. The winner takes away a cash prize.
  • Horror Writing Contest: Put your readers on edge or terrorize them for this horror writing contest. Cash Prize!
  • Science Fiction or Fantasy Writing: Write a science fiction or fantasy story. All topics welcomed - just stick with sci fi. Cash prize to the winner.
  • Share Your Story: Share a story about your life. Tell about an event that stands out. Cash prize to the winner.
  • This Sentence Starts The Story: Write a story that starts with this sentence: You need to calm down. This contest has a cash prize.
  • True Story Contest: Share a memory from your life. Share a moment, an object, a feeling, etc. This does not have to be a profound memory, but should allow readers insight into your feelings, observations and/or thoughts. This contest has a cash prize.
  • Western Writing Contest: Share a western story. Share your version of the western you'd want to read. Enter for your chance at the cash prize.

These are just a few of the contests. View the full listing here.

Featured Short Story Competition 3: Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction

The Not Quite Write Prize is a quarterly flash fiction writing competition. The competition commences on the third Friday of the month in January, April, July and October.

The Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenges writers to create an original piece of flash fiction based on two typical writing prompts plus one "anti-prompt". The anti-prompt is a challenge to break a specific “rule” of writing while telling a great story. There is 500 word maximum limit and the entry fee is AU$25.

Participants compete for AU$2,000 in cash prizes, including AU$1,000 for the winner, cash prizes for the entire shortlist and two bonus wildcard prizes. Winners are read aloud on the Not Quite Write podcast, where the judges share in-depth analysis about the entries and offer free writing advice.

The AU$2,000 is awarded as follows:

  • 1st place: AU$1,000
  • 2nd place: AU$500
  • 3rd place: AU$200
  • 4th place: AU$100
  • Honourable mention x 2: AU$50
  • Wildcards x 2: AU$50

Your ticket grants you immediate and unlimited access to the exclusive Participant Lounge and Forum. Personalised and on-air critique packages are also available until sold out. The Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction is hosted in Australia and open to all writers of any age and level of ability around the world.

Featured Competition 4: The Letter Review Prize

The Letter Review Prize is free to enter and is open in the categories of Short Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction, and Unpublished Books.

Deadline: 30th September 2024.

All writers may enter, and all genres encouraged. No theme restrictions. The Prize pool is $4000 USD, divided among the 12 winners. Up to 20 writers shortlisted in each category.

Winners are published at The Letter Review, and considered for submission to anthologies such as the Pushcart Prize. The Prize is judged blind to ensure fairness.

Read about the life changing, and career enhancing impact of our Prize on our Comments / Testimonials Page here.

Featured Competition 5: To Hull And Back

To Hull And Back is a biennial humorous short story competition that offers 'the greatest literary prize in the known macrocosm'. You can decide for yourself whether that's true or not...

There are 20 prizes (the top prize is £1,000 - total prize pot is £2,000) and all the shortlisted entrants are published in an anthology. In addition to this, the winner's face is featured on the front cover of the book, which is created by a different artist each year. The book is then strapped to the handlebars of a Harley Davidson FLSTFi Fatboy and filmed being ridden to Hull and back.

To Hull And Back Short Story Anthology 2023
To Hull And Back Short Story Anthology 2021
To Hull And Back Short Story Anthology 2019

To my knowledge, To Hull And Back is the only regular short story competition that celebrates humorous writing. If I'm wrong and you know of another contest specifically for comedy writing, please let me know.

To Hull And Back Short Story Anthology 2018
To Hull And Back Short Story Anthology 2017
To Hull And Back Short Story Anthology 2016

I bang on about the To Hull And Back humorous short story competition a lot. That's because it's awesome. (Admittedly, I am biased, but it is – ask anyone.) The top prize is the greatest literary accolade ever offered in the field of literature. (See previous note regarding bias.)

Original. Unusual. Crazy. But lots of fun. You can find out how to enter here.

To Hull And Back Short Story Anthology 2015
To Hull And Back Short Story Competition
To Hull And Back Short Story Anthology 2014 book cover

From 2014 to 2019, the competition was run annually. Since 2021 it has been run biennially (every other year): 2023, 2025, 2027 etc.

The To Hull And Back Competition is currently open. The 9th competition will close for submissions on 30th June 2025. You can enter here.

You can see the most recent winner's video here:

Regular Short Story Competitions

The first table lists weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly and bi-annual short story competitions.

As mentioned above, details of very short story competitions (flash fiction) have now been moved to a dedicated resource. I mention it again here because there were a lot listed in the regular short story competitions list.

Regular Short Story CompetitionsCountryClosing DateWinners AnnouncedMax WordsEntry FeeTop PrizeRegular Short Story Competitions Notes
Anansi Archive Short Fiction CompetitionUKQuarterlyQuarterly3,000£3£50Any style / genre - they also run quarterly flash fiction and poetry competitions
Audio Arcadia Short Story CompetitionUKVariesVariesVaries£6.50See notesThemed, so check website for current theme - winning stories published in paperback and eBook formats - authors receive a royalty percentage of the net profit from net sales - click the "Competitions" tab on their site to find the details
Bardsy's Writing CompetitionsUSAVariesVaries2,000$20$500Any style genre, but themes and prompts vary, so check website for current details - all finalists will receive $50 and publication in an anthology
Beagle North Quarterly CompetitionUKQuarterlyQuarterly2,500FREESee notesAny style genre, but themed so check website for current details (look at the submissions page) - top prizes are Amazon vouchers (around £20) and a feature on their website - winners might be published in anthology too
Blackwater Press Short Story ContestUK / USABi-AnnualBi-Annual10,000$5$150Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - top ten stories published in a collection - to find the competition page, look in the 'More' option in the main menu
Chris Fielden's Flash Fiction Writing ChallengesUKAlways OpenEveryone is a winnerVariesFREESee notesAny style or genre but each challenge is themed, so check the link for current challenges - full details now available on a page dedicated to flash fiction competitions
Drapers Guild Short Story ContestUSASee notesSee notesno max$15$100Any style / genre - for every 15 stories submitted, a $100 prize is awarded, so it's a perpetual contest - winners published on the website
Dream Quest One Writing ContestUSABi-AnnualBi-Annual5 pages$10$500Any style / genre - winners published in the 'Dare to Dream' section of the website - they also accept nonfiction and creative nonfiction, including essays, diary / journal entries, stage plays and screenwriting
Elegant Literature Short Fiction ContestCanadaMonthlyMonthly2,000$10$3,000See the prestigious comps listing below for full details
Eleventh Hour Literary Prose ContestUSABi-AnnualBi-Annual7,000FREE$200Any style / genre - only requirement is for a piece to have gone through rejection and revision before - top ten submissions published in Eleventh Hour Literary Journal
FanStory Writing ContestsUSAWeeklyWeeklyVariesVariesVariesFanStory run a variety of contests including short story, flash fiction, poetry, non-fiction and many more - some contests have cash prizes (up to $100) and these usually have an entry fee, or you can become a member and enter every contest
Fantastic Books Publishing Writing CompetitionsUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - FBS run at least 2 competitions a year, but sometimes run more in support of charities - winners published in anthology - cash prizes up to £100
Fiction Factory Short Story CompetitionUKBi-AnnualBi-Annual3,000£7£500Any style / genre except children's and YA - you can order an optional critique for a reasonable price when entering - winners published on website and in anthology - they also run a flash fiction comp
F(r)iction ContestUSABiannuallyBiannually7,500$15$1,000Any style / genre - they also have creative nonfiction, flash fiction and poetry categories - winners published online and considered for publication in print in the F(r)iction journal
Globe Soup Short Story CompetitionsUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre but sometimes themed - they run a lot of competitions including short story, flash fiction, poetry and nonfiction - top prize has been up to £1,500 in the past
Green Stories Short Story CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre but themed - themes are usually about green issues and the environment, but they do vary - top prize has been up to £500 in the past - entry fees are sometimes paid, sometimes free - they run a variety of writing contests throughout the year, so check the website for current deta
Henshaw Press Short Story CompetitionUKQuarterlyQuarterly2,000£6£200Any style / genre - winners published on the website and in anthology - optional critique offered at reasonable prices, free to writers aged 16 or under - this comp is now run by independent publisher Hobeck Books
Ironclad Creative Short Story CompetitionEnglandQuarterlyQuarterly6,000£7£100Any style / genre but each quarter there is a different prompt, so check website for full details - winning stories published in anthology
Letter Review Prize for Short FictionAustraliaBi-MonthlyBi-Monthly5,000FREE$333Any style / genre - there are three winners who each receive the $333 top prize - winners published at Letter Review - all entrants considered for publication
New Millennium AwardsUSABi-AnnuallyBi-AnnuallyVaries$20$1,000Any style / genre - word limit varies, but has been up to 7,500 words in the past - winners in each category receive $1000 and will be published in anthology and online - entry fee includes a copy of the anthology - also run essay, flash fiction, non-fiction and poetry prizes
NYC Midnight Writing ChallengesUSAVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesStyle & genres vary - MYC Midnight run short story, flash fiction, screenwriting and screenplay competitions - entry fees are around $50 - all entrants receive feedback from the judges
Park Publications (Scribble)UKQuarterlyQuarterly3,000£3, FREE to subscribers£75Any style / genre - short listed stories published in Scribble magazine and judged by readers - (I've been published in Scribble, so you can read a lot more about it here) - they also run an annual themed comp, see the annual comps list below for details
Pen Factor Writing CompetitionAustraliaVariesVariesVariesFREESee notesAny style / genre - winners receive online exposure by being published on The Pen Factor website - each submission must review 3 other submissions, so all authors receive structured feedback on their work - closed in 2016, but reopened in 2019 with new format
Periscope Open Fiction AwardUKQuarterlyQuarterly2,000£9£1,500See main listing in the prestigious comps list below for full details
Reedsy's Short Story ContestUKWeeklyWeeklyVaries$5$250Any style / genre but there are 5 new prompts each week so check website for current details - winners published on blog - top prize does vary but is usually $250 - used to be free to enter, now costs $5 - you can still submit a story for free, but it is NOT entered into the competition, just available to readers on the site - Savannah Cordova won this competition and went on to judge it, you can read about her experiences and what qualities she looks for in a short story here
ShortStoryStackUSAMonthlyMonthly10,000FREE$100Any style / genre - winner also receives 50% of subscription revenue - winners published on website
Stringybark Short Story AwardsAustraliaVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesDifferent genre for each competition, so check website for current details - runs up to 4 times a year - word count limit usually between 1,500 and 1,800 - prizes up to $500 plus publication
Vocal Writing ChallengesUSAWeeklyWeeklyVariesVariesVariesThemed, so check website for current details - prizes vary, but in the past have been from $1,000 to $20,000 - entry also fees vary, sometimes free, sometimes only open to members etc.
Writers BureauUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre - winning stories published on the WB website - WB run a short story competition, a flash fiction competition and a limerick competition, so at least 3 comps run a year - the link will take you to the competition that is currently running - top prize money is decent, always hundreds of pounds
Writer's Digest Writing CompetitionsUSAVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesThey run a wide variety of contests throughout the year, some offering big cash prizes (thousands of dollars) - best to check the website and see which competitions are currently running
Writers of the FutureUSAQuarterly + AnnualQuarterly + Annual17,000FREE$5,000SF & Fantasy - quarterly prizes + annual prize ($5K is the annual top prize) - amateur only, so if you've published more than 3 stories you're not eligible (published means at industry rates, in select locations - see website for full details)
WriteTime Short Story CompetitionUKQuarterlyQuarterly1,500£5£100Any style / genre - entrants must be aged 60 or over - winners published on website and in a printed anthology
Writing Magazine Short Story CompetitionUKMonthlyMonthlyVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre - winners are published in Writing Magazine - WM run a variety of competitions, some open and some for subscribers only, so it's best to check the website to see what competitions are currently open

Prestigious &/or Big Prize Short Story Competitions

The second table lists well renowned and prestigious short story competitions which offer big cash prizes. Any short fiction contest with a prize of more than £1,000 ($, € or other currency) is listed here. There are a couple of other big prize awards listed in the Regular Short Story Competitions above (it seems pointless to list them twice).

Prestigious Short Story CompetitionsCountryClosing DateWinners AnnouncedMax WordsEntry FeeTop PrizePrestigious Short Story Competitions Notes
21 Futures: Financial Fallout Anthology CompetitionEstoniaAugustDecember3,000FREE$1,000Any style / genre - 20 runner-up prizes, so 21 prizes in total - 21 stories will be published in the anthology (physical and eBook) - all published authors will receive a copy of the anthology
Accenti Writing ContestCanadaFebruaryMay2,000C$30C$1,000Any style / genre - open to fiction and non-fiction
Aesthetica Creative Writing AwardUKAugustDecember2,000£18£2,500Any style / genre - winning stories (top 60) published in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual - winner also receives management consultation, books and magazine subscriptions - they also accept poetry
Alpine Fellowship Writing PrizeUKVariesVaries2,500FREE£3,000Any style / genre but sometimes 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
Anthology Magazine Short Story CompetitionIrelandJulyOctober1,500€ 18€ 1,000Any style / genre - winner published in Anthology Magazine - reduced early-bird entry fee available
Bath Short Story AwardUKAprilJuly2,200£9£1,200Any style / genre (except children's) - winning and shortlisted stories published in anthology - generous payments for 2nd and 3rd prize too
Bayou Magazine ' James Knudsen Prize for Fiction'USAJanuaryFebruary7,500$20$1,000Any style / genre - winner published in Bayou Magazine and given free subscription - all entries considered for publication in the magazine
BBC Short Story AwardUKMarchSeptember8,000FREE£15,000Any style / genre - you have to be a published author to enter this, so you need to win another competition first, or be published in a publication of some renown (self-published does NOT count) - winning and short listed stories recorded and broadcast on BBC Radio 4
Belfast Book Festival Mairtín Crawford AwardUKMayVaries2,500£6£1,000Any style / genre - winners also receive a place on a writing retreat
Breakwater Review Fiction ContestUSAVariesVariesVaries$10$1,000Any style / genre - all finalists considered for publication in the Breakwater Review
Brick Lane Bookshop Short Story PrizeUKAprilOctober5,000£10£1,000Any style / genre - additional cash prizes for 2nd and 3rd - 12 longlisted stories published in anthology
Bridport PrizeUKMayNovember5,000£12£5,000Any style / genre - winning stories published in anthology - highly prestigious, so lots of competition
Bristol PrizeUKVariesVaries4,000£9£1,000Any style / genre - top 20 stories published in Anthology - they receive thousands of entries, so high competition - submissions deadline is usually around April / May
ChipLitFest Short Story CompetitionUKFebruaryMarch5,000See notes£1,000Any style / genre - entry fee is £8 for stories up to 2,500 words or £10 up to 5,000 words - winners published on website
Christopher Fielden's 'To Hull And Back' Humorous Short Story CompetitionUKJuneOctober2,500£10/£12£1,000 and see notesAny style / genre, but stories must contain some element of humour - winners published in the To Hull And Back anthology and, in addition to money, the winner will receive the GREATEST writing prize in the known universe (click the link to learn more) - 2nd prize £200, 3rd prize £100 and there are 17 other runner-up cash prizes, so that's 20 in total - £10 is 'early bird' entry fee for entries received by the end of March - the entry fee goes up to £12 on 1st April - discounts available if you enter more than 1 story - runs biennially - the 9th To Hull And Back competition will close on 30th June 2025
CRAFT Hybrid Writing ContestUSAFebruaryMay5,000$20$1,000For hybrid work, meaning cross-genre submissions, EG: prose poetry, speculative memoir, work that engages in innovative and imaginative ways, lyric essay, etc.
Creative Writing Ink Short Story CompetitionUKNovemberDecember3,000£9£1,000Any style / genre - winner also recieves a free creative writing course and publication on their website
Creative Writing NZ Short Story PrizeNew ZealandAprilJune3,000$9$1,000Any style / genre - winner also receives a free creative writing course and online publication - generous prizes for runners-up too
Desperate Literature Short Fiction PrizeSpainAprilJune2,000€ 20€ 2,000Any style / genre - shortlisted authors published in paid anthology and considered for publication elsewhere - winner gets a stay in the Civitella Ranieri residency and a manuscript assessment - also offers generous runner-up prizes
Edinburgh Short Story CompetitionScotlandFebruaryAugust2,000£12.50£3,000Any style / genre - generous runner up prizes - publication offered to top 20 stories in anthology - they also run the Write Mango Award for stories that are fun, amusing, bizarre and as delicious as a mango and that offers a £300 top prize, so check their website for all the details - managed by the Scottish Arts Trust
Elegant Literature Short Fiction ContestCanadaMonthlyMonthly2,000$10VariesAny style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - $10 fee allows as many entries as you like within a month - top stories are bought at 10 cents/word and published in the magazine - top prize has been up to $20,000 in the past
Fish Publishing Short Story CompetitionIrelandVariesVaries5,000€ 20€ 3,000Any style / genre - winning stories published in the Fish Anthology - submission deadline is usually around November / December
F(r)iction ContestUSABiannuallyBiannually7,500$15$1,000Any style / genre - they also have creative nonfiction, flash fiction and poetry categories - winners published online and considered for publication in print in the F(r)iction journal - runs biannually so also in the regular comps list above
Gemini Magazine Short Story ContestUSAVariesVariesno maxVariesVariesAny style / genre - winners published on Gemini Magazine website - deadline for submissions is usually around March / April - top prize is usually between $1,000 and $5,000
Hammond House Publishing International Literary AwardsUKSeptemberDecember5,000£10£1,000Any style / genre but themed, so check the website for current theme - winners published worldwide by Hammond House - they often have other categories, including poetry, script writing and song writing
Historical Novel Society Short Story AwardUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre but with a historical theme, so check website for current details - top prize has been up to £10,000 in the past - they also run novel comps - to find the awards they are currently running, look in the "Awards" section of the site, or put "awards" into the website search box
Manchester Writing CompetitionUKVariesVaries2,500Varies£10,000Any style / genre - winning stories may be published in journals or on the website - entry fee is usually around the £20 mark
Michael Terence Publishing (MTP) Short Story CompetitionUKMayJuly3,000£8£1,000Any style / genre - winners published in printed anthology - generous runner-up prizes - they also accept non-fiction
Minds Shine Bright Confidence Writing CompetitionAustraliaMarchAugust5,000$5$1,600Any style / genre but themed around confidence - multiple runner-up prizes - winning and commended entries published in anthology and winners will receive both a print and eBook version - runs biennially (every other year) – also open to flash fiction and poetry
Moth Magazine Nature Writing PrizeIrelandSeptemberDecember4,000€ 15€ 1,000Any style / genre but themed around nature: check website for full details - in addition to cash, winner receives a week's stay at writing retreat - winners published in the Irish Times online - also accept non-fiction and poetry
Moth Magazine Short Story CompetitionIrelandJuneAutumn3,000€ 15€ 3,000Any style / genre - winning story published as part of the summer fiction series in the Irish Times, and the 2nd and 3rd-prize-winning stories will be published in the Irish Times online
New Welsh Review Writing AwardsWalesVariesVaries30,000£12£1,000Any style / genre, but themed so check website for current details (changes each year) - winner published by New Welsh Review - runners up may also be published - only open to residents of the UK and Ireland
Periscope Open Fiction AwardUKQuarterlyQuarterly2,000£9£1,500Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current theme - previously called "The Periscope Prize", which was for flash fiction, but they changed the word focus and limit from 900 to 2,000 in 2022 - winners published online
Prism International Short Fiction ContestCanadaVariesVariesVariesC$45C$1,500Any style / genre - all contest entrants receive a 1 year subscription to Prism International - winners published in the Prism International magazine - Prism also run a creative non-fiction contest, a poetry contest and a variety of other competitions, all with generous top prizes - word limit is usually around 4,000 to 6,000
Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing PrizeUKJulyVaries3,000£12£1,000Any style / genre - winner published in Wasafiri Magazine - they also accept poetry and life writing
Room Magazine Fiction ContestCanadaVariesVaries3,500$49$1,000Any style / genre - entries are cheaper for Canadian residents ($35) and all entries include a year's subscription to Room Magazine - winners published in Room Magazine
Royal Society of Literature V.S. Pritchett Memorial PrizeUKVariesVaries4,000£7.50£1,000Any style / genre - open to citizens or residents of the UK, the Republic of Ireland and Commonwealth countries - winners published on RSL website - deadline for submissions is usually around June / July - (author Nick Sweeney has written about his experiences of coming runner-up in this competition - read Nick's advice and an extract of his winning story here) - to find competition page, put "Pritchett" into the website search function
Seán Ó Faoláin Short Story CompetitionIrelandJulySeptember3,000€ 19€ 2,000Any style / genre - winners and runners up published in Southword Literary Journal - winner invited to read their story at the Cork International Short Story Festival in Ireland
ServiceScape Short Story AwardUSANovemberDecember5,000FREE$1,000Any style / genre - winners published on blog - look in the footer of the website to find the link to the award page
Sisters in Crime Scarlet Stiletto AwardsAustraliaAugustNovember5,000A$25A$1,500Crime - only open to female writers that live in Australia - winning stories may be published - multiple cash prizes
Sixfold Short Story CompetitionUSAVariesVariesVaries$5$1,000Any style or genre - collaborative writing community, writers vote for the stories they want to see published in the journal, so there is no 'editor' - winners published in the journal which is made available in many formats, including print and eBook
Spread The Word AwardsUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesThey run a variety of awards - look in the 'our projects' section of their website to find competition details - prizes have been £1,000 in the past (2015 highly commended author in the London Short Story Prize (which was run by Spread The Word), James Woolf, has written about his experiences with this competition on my site - read James's post and an extract of his story here)
Story Unlikely's Short Story ContestUSAJanuaryJuneSee notesFREE$1,500Any style or genre - open to fiction and creative non-fiction - 5,000 words max for members, 4,000 words for non-members - winning stories are professionally illustrated and published in Story Unlikely magazine
Swansea University Rhys Davies Short Story CompetitionUKFebruarySeptember5,000£8£1,000Any style or genre - generous runner-up prizes - entrants must be in / from Wales - winners published in a short story anthology by Parthian Books
TCK Publishing Short Story Awards ContestUSAAugustSeptember4,000$12$1,000Any style / genre but multiple categories, so check website for full details - winners published on website - no permanent award page, so type 'award' or 'contest' followed by the current year into the search function at the top of the homepage and all the current award details will come up - also accept creative non-fiction and memoirs
Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival Fiction ContestUSAVariesVariesVaries$25$1,500Any style / genre - in addition to cash prize, winner receives airfare to the Festival and French Quarter accommodation, a VIP festival pass and publication in Louisiana Literature - only open to writers who have not published a fictional book, this includes self-published books
The Bedford CompetitionUKOctoberDecember / January3,000£8.50 / £6 for students£1,500Any style / genre - winning and shortlisted entries published in anthology - all profits, after prize money has been awarded, go to charities / projects that help children and adults improve their literary skills - also open to poetry
The Masters Review Short Story Award for New WritersUSAAugustNovember6,000$20$3,000Any style / genre - they also run other competitions, like flash fiction, novel excerpt et.c
The New Guard Machigonne Fiction ContestUSAVariesVaries5,000$22$1,500Any style / genre - winners published in The New Guard
The Plaza Short Story PrizeUKNovemberMarch8,000£16£2,000Any style / genre - shortlisted writers (10) published in an anthology
The Plaza Sudden Fiction PrizeUKNovemberMarch1,500£14£1,000Any style / genre - shortlisted writers (10) published in an anthology
The Short Story 'Cambridge Short Story Prize'UKVariesVariesVariesVaries£1,000Any style / genre - winners and shortlisted writers published in an anthology
The Writing District PrizeUSAMayJuly3,000$15$1,000Any style / genre - winners published on website
TNQ Peter Hinchcliffe Fiction AwardCanadaMaySeptemberno max$40$1,000Any style / genre - entry includes a subscription to TNQ magazine - winner published in The New Quarterly - short-listed winners are considered for publication in TNQ (paid at $250)
Tom-Gallon Trust AwardUKOctober?5,000FREE£1,000Any genre - you can enter published or unpublished work - winners published on the website
Tom Howard / John H Reid Short Story ContestUSAAprilOctober6,000$20$3,000Any style / genre - they accept short stories, essays and other works of prose - 10 winning stories published on the website - they give 2 x $3,000 prizes: one for fiction and one for non-fiction
Uncharted Magazine's Thrilling Short Story AwardUSABi-AnnualBi-Annual5,000$20$1,000For SF/F, thriller / horror and mystery / crime - winners published in Uncharted Magazine
White Review Short Story PrizeUKVariesVaries7,000£15£2,500Any style / genre - you must be resident in the UK or Ireland to enter - winners published in The White Review
Writers' Union of Canada Short Prose CompetitionCanadaFebruary?2,500C$29C$2,500Any style / genre - you must be resident in Canada to enter
Zoetrope All Story Short Fiction ContestUSAVariesVaries5,000$20$1,000Any style / genre - winners considered for representation by a number of well renowned writing agents

Annual Short Story Competitions

The third table lists yearly short story competitions of different genres offering a wide variety of prizes. The majority offer publication to the winning writers and runners up.

Annual Short Story CompetitionsCountryClosing DateWinners AnnouncedMax WordsEntry FeeTop PrizeAnnual Short Story Competitions Notes
Alice Munro Festival Short Story CompetitionCanadaVariesVariesVaries$25VariesAny style / genre - winning stories maybe published in print and on website - you must be Canadian to enter - top prize has been up to $1,500 in the past
Australasian Association of Writing Programs PrizesAustraliaJuneSeptemberSee notes$20See notesNotes on AAWP Prizes: They run a variety of writing contests, please find the details below - Emerging Writers' short story prize: Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - 3,000 words max - top prize is a festival pass to Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF) and accommodation for the duration of the festival + a one-year annual membership to the Australasian Association of Writing Programs (AAWP) + fully subsidised conference fees for the AAWP conference + invite to read at the event - Meniscus Literary Journal will also consider work for publication - Translators' Prize: For translations of 30 lines (poetry) or 3,000 words (prose) of entrant's own work translated into English - entries must be accompanied by a 'Translator's Statement of Intention' (up to 400 words) addressing the aims of the translation - prize is a festival pass to Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF) and accommodation for the duration of the festival + a one-year annual membership to the Australasian Association of Writing Programs (AAWP) + fully subsidised conference fees for the AAWP conference + invite to read at the event - winners considered for publication in Meniscus Literary Journal
Blandford Rotary Short Story & Poetry CompetitionUKSeptemberNovember1,750£4£200Any style / genre - in addition to cash prizes, there is an award ceremony, cups, certificates, readings and other goodies - there are also categories for flash fiction, poetry and young writers - to find the current details put "competition" into their website's search box
Blue Mesa Review Writing ContestUSAAugustOctober6,000$12$500Any style / genre - first and second place stories published in the Blue Mesa Review - run by the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque
Booksie Short Story ContestUSAVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre but sometimes themed so check website for full details - top prize has been up to $500 in the past
Bridgend Writers' Circle Open Short Story CompetitionUKMarchJune1,800£5£100Any style / genre - winners published on the BWC website
Burnham Book Festival Writing CompetitionUKFebruaryMay2,000£5£100Any style / genre - entry is free for residents of Somerset & North Somerset - winners published in anthology - they also accept poetry and have categories for children
British Czech and Slovak Association Writing CompetitionUKVariesVaries2,000FREE£400Fact or fiction - must be writing concerning the links between Britain and the Czech/Slovak Republics - winning and other selected entries will be published in the British Czech and Slovak Review - usually closes around June / July
British Fantasy Society Short Story CompUKVariesVaries5,000£5£100Fantasy, science fiction, horror, supernatural, fabulation, magic realism, slipstream, etc. - top 3 stories published in BFS Horizons magazine - winners announced at FantasyCon
Bulwer-Lytton Fiction ContestUSAJune?no maxFREESee notesAny style / genre - entries must consist of one sentence only, with a suggested max of 50-60 words, but there is no official max - loads of categories with lots of winners - winners paid 'a pittance'
CAS Short Story CompetitionUKJulyAugust4,000£7£600Any style or genre - winners published on website
Cheshire Prize for LiteratureUKJanuaryJune1,500FREESee notesAny style / genre - entrants must have lived, worked or studied in Cheshire, Wirral, Warrington or Halton (UK) - winners published in anthology by the University of Chester Press - competition is usually run in 4 year cycle: short stories, poetry, children’s literature and then scriptwriting - on occasion they run all 4 categories at once - prizes vary; top prize has been up to £500 in the past - to find current competition page, put "Cheshire Prize" into the website search box
Christopher Fielden's 'To Hull And Back' Short Story CompetitionUKJuneOctober2,500£10 / £12£1,000 and see notesNew BIG 1st prize means the full details for this competition can be seen above in the Prestigious &/or Big Prize Short Story Competitions - runs biennially
Cinnamon Press Writing CompetitionsUKVariesVariesVariesVariesSee notesAny style / genre - winners and runners up published in winners' anthology - they run a variety of competitions, best to check the website to see what's currently open - top prize used to be £500, but sometimes its bursaries, mentoring or similar
Creative Future Writers' AwardUKMaySeptember2,000FREE£75Any style / genre but themed, so check website for full details - winner receives a development package in addition to cash - winners published in anthology - look in the 'what we do' section of their website to find competition details
Creative Writing Matters CompetitionsUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre - cash prizes are sometimes set amounts, sometimes a % of total entry fees - CWM run a variety of competitions, including flash fiction, short story and novel contests, see website for current details
Crowvus Christmas Ghost Story CompetitionScotlandVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesGhost stories - winners published in anthology that's released in December ready for Christmas - also run children's contest - deadline for subs is usually around September / October time
CWA Margery Allingham Short Story CompetitionUKFebruaryMay3,500£12£500Mystery or crime - winner also receives 2 free tickets to CrimeFest - winning story published on CWA website
Cymera-Shoreline of Infinity-SF Caledonia Prize for Speculative Short FictionScotlandMarchMay2,500FREE£150Speculative fiction, e.g. sci-fi, fantasy and horror - entrants need to be Scottish: see the "Am I Scottish enough?" section of the competition page - winning story published in Shoreline of Infinity Magazine and the author receives a complimentary copy - winner also receives a complimentary weekend pass to the Cymera Festival - to find the competition page, look in the "Submissions" section of the website
Doris Gooderson Short Story CompetitionUKJulyOctober1,200£5£200Any style / genre - winners published in Wrekin Writers anthology and on Wrekin Writers website
Erewash Writers' Group Short Story CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre - winning stories published on the Erewash Writers' Group website - EWG also run a variety of contests, so check the website for all the current details
Evesham Festival of Words Short Story CompetitionUKMarchJune2,500£5£200Any style / genre but themed, so check the website for current details - winners published on website
Exeter Writers Short Story CompetitionUKFebruaryJune3,000£7£700Any style / genre - the top 3 stories will be published on the Exeter Writers website
Fabula Press Short Story CompetitionHong KongJuneOctober7,000See notes$500Any style / genre - entry fee varies from free to $15 - the free submission window closes early April, early bird ($10) closes late April, full price ($15) closes in June, see website for exact dates - free submissions are limited to one work of fiction per author, there is no limit for paid entries - $500 top prize, $250 second, $100 third - winners published in anthology - all published authors (apart from the top prize winners) paid $75
Flash 500 International Short Story CompetitionSpainFebruaryApril3,000£7£500Any style / genre - winners published on website
Fosseway Writers Short Story CompetitionUKOctoberNovember2,500£5£50Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - winners published on website
Fowey Festival of Art and Literature Short Story CompetitionUKMarchApril1,500£10£200Any style / genre but themed around Daphne DuMaurier (see website for full details) - entries published on the festival website - they also sometimes run a comp for children
Frome Festival CompetitionUKMayJuly2,200£8£400Any style / genre - some stories read on Frome FM (the local radio station) - there are also cash prizes for 2nd and 3rd and for the best local entries
Hastings Literary Festival Short Story CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - top prize has been around £100 in the past
H.E. Bates Short Story CompetitionUKVariesVaries2,000VariesVariesCompetition is run by Northampton Writers Group - comp is themed, so check website for current details - top prize has been up to £500 in the past
H.G. Wells Short Story CompetitionUKJulySeptember5,000£10See notesThemed, so check website for current theme - free entry for junior category, £5 for students, £10 for adults - prizes: £1,000 for entrants aged 21 and under; £500 for entrants aged 22 and over - all winners and short listed entrants published in anthology
Ink of Ages Fiction PrizeUKSeptemberFebruary2,000FREESee notesEntries must be historical or mythology-inspired - top prize is $320 worth of books and merchandising provided by Oxford University Press and World History Encyclopedia - winners will be published on World History Encyclopedia, a publication with over eight million monthly readers - they also run a competition for young writers aged 13-17
Jane Austen Literacy Foundation Writing CompetitionUK / AustraliaVariesVariesVariesVariesSee notesAny style / genre but themed, so check website for current information - prize: winning stories turned into an audiobook and globally distributed via Audible - currently, you have to register to see the rules, so if you're interested in this competition you will have to register with them
Killer Shorts Horror Short Story CompetitionUSADecemberApril6,000$40See notesHorror and all horror sub-genres - top prize is publication, a career mentorship call, increased rank on Coverfly’s 'The Red List', Scrivener writing software, Book Brush 1 year gold membership and a skull-shaped typewriter trophy
Knoxville Writers' Guild Writing ContestsTN, USAVariesVariesVariesVaries$100Themes, styles and genres vary as there are multiple categories, so best to visit the site for current details - each category has a 1st prize of $100 - categories for all age groups, so there are opportunities here for younger writers too
Leicester Writes Short Story PrizeUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre - up to 20 winning stories published in anthology - top prize has been up to £125 in the past - entry fee usually around £5 to £7 - word count usually around 3,000 to 4,000
Light Bringer Project's Roswell AwardUSAVariesVariesVariesFREEVariesScience fiction - see website for current details - to find competition details, look in the 'Omega Sci-fi Awards' section of the website
Literary Taxidermy Short Story CompetitionUSAVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre - the opening and closing lines are chosen from a classic work of literature, the entrant provides the rest, so check website for current details - winners published in anthology - top prize has been up to $1,500 in the past
Living Springs Publishers Baby Boomers PlusUSAJuneVaries4,000$25$500Any style / genre but themed, so check website for details - open to fiction and non-fiction - minimum of fifteen finalists published in book
London Independent Short Story Prize (LISP)UKJulyOctober3,000see notes£100Any style / genre - entry fee varies depending on how close to the deadline you submit, so best to check website for current details - they have multiple categories, including flash fiction, poetry, short story and screenplay - winners published in anthology
London Magazine Short Story CompetitionUKVariesVariesVaries£10£500Any style / genre but no flash fiction - winners and runners up published in the magazine and on the website - this is the UK's oldest cultural journal, first published in 1732 - it is suggested that you read previous copies before submitting
Maria Edgeworth Literary Festival CompetitionIrelandMarchApril2,000€ 5€ 250Any style / genre - also accept poetry - the link takes you to the 'Literary Festival' section of their website, where the competition details can usually be found
Minds Shine Bright Seasons Writing CompetitionAustraliaMarchAugust2,500$5$500Any style / genre but themed around the seasons - multiple runner-up prizes - winning and commended entries published in anthology and winners will receive both a print and eBook version - runs biennially (every other year) – also open to flash fiction and poetry
Mslexia Women's Short Story CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre - doesn't always run every year, so check website for current competition details as they run all sorts of different contests
Norwich Writers' Circle Olga Sinclair PrizeUKJulyOctober2,000£9£500Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - cash prizes for 2nd and 3rd too - winners published in anthology
Ovacome Writing CompetitionUKSeptemberDecember1,500£8£250Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current information - winners published on website - they often have famous judges - to find the latest competition page, put 'competition' into their website search function
Park Publications Scribble Annual Themed CompetitionUKNovemberNovember3,000£5£100Any style / genre - they also run a quarterly short story competition, see the regular comps list above for details - winner published in winter issue of Scribble
Parracombe PrizeUKJanuaryMarchSee notes£5£100Any style / genre - shortlisted stories published in an anthology, available in paperback and eBook - word limit is the same as the year, so in 2025 the word limit is 2,025
Pen to Print Short Story CompetitionUKMarchJune2,000FREESee notesAny style / genre - prize is a tablet PC - the winning story will be published in Pen to Print’s Write On! Magazine, and on their website, and an audio version will be recorded and broadcast on the podcast, Write On! Audio
Poetry on the Lake Short Story CompetitionItalyVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre but themed so check website for full details - they also run a poetry competition
R C Sherriff Trust's Elmbridge Literary CompetitionUKFebruaryFebruary1,500£5£250Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - winners published in a Chapbook published by Sampson Low - look in the 'Current Projects' section of the website to find competition details
Retreat West Short Story PrizeUKVariesVariesVaries£10£400Any style / genre except children's - all winning and shortlisted stories published in anthology - they also run a competition for very short fiction, see the flash fiction contests lists for details - usually closes around September / October
San Francisco Writers' Conference Writing ContestUSAVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre - top prize has been up to $250 in the past - they also accept non-fiction and poetry - winners published in anthology and / or on SFWC website
SaveAs Writers Writing CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - winners published in anthology
Serendipity BlackInk Writing CompetitionUKMarchJune2,000FREE£500Any style / genre - the award aims to redress the underrepresentation of Black writers, so applicants must be from the African and African Caribbean Diaspora - winner published in BHM magazine BlackInk - when the competition is running, you can find the details in the "Black History Month" or "What's On" section of the site
Shooter Literary Magazine Short Story CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre - winners published in Shooter Literary Magazine and online - top prize usually around £500 - they sometimes run poetry competitions too
Short Fiction Literary Journal Short Story CompetitionUKMarchJune5,000£9£500Any style / genre - all shortlisted entries will be considered for publication in the journal
SMK ContestsUSANovemberVariesVaries$5$100Any 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' CompetitionUKAprilJune4 pagesFREE£150Any style / genre but story must be related to science - they accept fiction and non-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
Society of Women Writers, Tasmania Launceston, Tasmania Literary AwardTasmaniaVariesVaries1,500VariesVariesAny style / genre - run by The Society of Women Writers, Tasmania but open to male and female entrants residing anywhere in the world - winners published in an anthology - prize has been up to $2,500 in the past, but more recently has been a lot less
South African Writers College Short Story CompetitionSouth AfricaAprilJune2,000FREER 10,000 (£570)Any style / genre - open to South African writers only - winners published on website - look in the 'Writing Resources' section of the website to find current competition details
Southport Writers' Circle International Short Story CompetitionUKOctoberDecember2,000£3.40£200Any style / genre - winners published on the website
The Masters Review Anthology PrizeUSAAprilJuly7,000$20$500Any style / genre - winners published in anthology - each of the 10 winning stories receive $500 - they also run other competitions, like short story, flash fiction etc.
Tim Saunders Publications' "The Paul Cave Prize for Children's Literature"UKFebruaryMarch5,000£30£75Short stories for children - winners published on website and in a book - winners receive a free printed copy of the book - also open to flash fiction and poetry
Wells Literary Festival International Short Story CompetitionUKJuneOctober2,000£6£750Any style / genre - winning stories published on website - generous prizes for 2nd and 3rd place
Wenlock Olympian Society Short Story CompetitionUKOctoberMarch2,500£6£150Any style / genre except YA and children's stories - additional prizes for runners-up that include Wenlock Olympian Medals - to find current competition details, look in the 'Arts' section of their website
What Not To Take To Mars Short Fiction PrizeUKSeptemberOctober3,000FREE£100Speculative fiction, check website for current prompts - winners published on website - to find the competition details, look in the "Fiction" section of their website
Write by the Sea Literary Festival Writing Competition (Fiction)IrelandJuneSeptember2,500€ 10€ 500Any style or genre - they also have categories for flash fiction, memoir / essay and poetry
Writers' & Artists' Yearbook Short Story CompetitionUKFebruaryMarch2,000FREESee notesAny style / genre - themed, so check the website for current theme - run by Bloomsbury Publishing Group - winners published on the website, short listed entries might also be published - winner awarded with a place on an Arvon Foundation residential writing course worth £1,000
Writing East Midlands Aurora Prize for WritingUKJuneOctober2,000£9£500Any style / genre - run in partnership with the Society of Authors - winners receive feedback on a piece of work of their choice from a literary agent (or Editor as appropriate) OR they can choose to receive a full pass to The Writers’ Conference 2023 instead - to find the prize details, look in the "For Writers" section of their website or put "aurora" into their website's search box - also accept poetry
Yeovil Literary PrizeUKVariesVaries2,000£8£600Any style / genre - winners might be published in anthology - usually closes for submissions around April / May

Writing Competitions for Young Writers & Children

The fourth table on this page used to list short story competitions and other types of writing contests for young writers, children and students. This list has now been moved to its own dedicated page to improve usability. You can see the new young writer competitions page here.

There are sometimes other opportunities for young writers listed in the one-off competitions lists further down this page, or on the Flash Fiction competitions page. You can also find details of scholarships on my non-fiction contest page.

One-Off Short Story Competitions

The fifth table lists one-off short story competitions, which are usually held to commemorate or celebrate a landmark event. As the list grows, I will add current competitions alphabetically at the top.

One-Off Short Story CompetitionsCountryClosing DateWinners AnnouncedMax WordsEntry FeeTop PrizeOne-Off Short Story Competitions Notes
No other one-off short story competitions to list at presentMore one-off short story competitions coming soonMore one-off short story competitions coming soonMore one-off short story competitions coming soonMore one-off short story competitions coming soonMore one-off short story competitions coming soonMore one-off short story competitions coming soonMore notes about one-off short story competitions coming soon

Other Short Story Competition Lists

There are a few other websites that offer useful short story competition information. They are listed below:

If you run a list on your website and would like it included here, please get in touch.

Other Short Story Publishing Opportunities

I've launched pages listing many other publishing opportunities for short stories, flash fiction, poetry, novels and more.

You can find them here:

A History of Closed Short Story Competitions

For reference, when you're spending hours trying to find a competition doesn't exist anymore, I thought I'd keep this handy history of short story competitions that have closed and writing websites that no longer exist. I hope it's useful.

Short Story CompetitionsCountryClosing DateWinners AnnouncedMax WordsEntry FeeTop PrizeShort Story Competitions Notes
87 Bedford Short Story ContestUSAAugustSeptember8,000$10$150Any style / genre - winners published on website and in 87 Bedford Literary Journal - honorary mentions considered for publication in journal and receive payment - prizes increase by $3 an entry after 20 submissions have been received, so potential for higher prizes - CLOSED, not run since 2016
1,000 Prompts, 1,000 Dollars Writing ContestUSA22nd December 201312th January 20141,500FREE$500Any style or genre, but themed from 10 prompts, see website for more info - open to US and UK writers only - prize money paid as Amazon gift card - CLOSED
A Warm Mug of Cozy AnthologyUK & Canada31st May 2023July 20235,000$5See notesCosy mysteries - winners published in anthology - winners receive a PDF copy of the anthology + ongoing royalties (2% per published story) - CLOSED, was a one-off
ABC Tales 100 Years On CompetitionUK1st June 201416th June 20142,500£5See notesAny style or genre, but must be about or include a mention of the 1st World War - prize is 50/50 split of proceeds; half of the money from entries will be split between the prose and the poetry categories, and the other half will go to funding ABCtales - judged by Francisco Vilhena who is on Granta Magazine editorial team - CLOSED
Active Writers Short Story CompetitionUKMarchMay3,000£7£500Any style / genre - winning stories published online - MERGED WITH SECRET ATTIC 2024
Aeon Award (speculative fiction)IrelandNovemberDecember10,000€ 8.50€ 1,000Speculative fiction - so fantasy, sci-fi, horror etc. - winning stories published in  Albedo One - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2022
Aftermath 'The End of Our World' ContestHollandAugustOctober5,000FREE$1,000Any style / genre but check website for theme - winners published online - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing during 2020 update
Ageless Authors Writing ContestUSAVariesVaries3,500$20$500Any style / genre but sometimes themed, so check website for current contest details - entrants must be aged 50 years or older - winning stories published in anthology - NOT RUN SINCE 2019, so removed listing in 2021 update
Allen Raine Short Story CompetitionWalesSeptemberNovember7,500£5£200Any style / genre - entries can be written in Welsh or English - winners maybe published on the website - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2016
Almond Press Short Story ContestUKVariesVariesVariesFREEVariesThemed, so check website for current details - winners and shortlisted entries published in a collection - CLOSED, not run since 2015 so removed from lists
Almond Press 'Broken Worlds' Dystopian Short Story CompetitionUK1st May 2014?5,000FREE£100Fiction, dystopia, dark humour, post-apocalyptic minds - CLOSED
Alsina Short Story CompetitionsUKVariesVariesVariesFREE£50Styles, genres and themes vary - they also run flash fiction contests - winning stories translated and recorded in multiple languages and distributed electronically through an app - HAVEN'T PUBLISHED anything for a year, so removed listing 2019
Anderbo RRofihe Trophy Short Story ContestUSAOctober?5,000FREE$500Any style / genre - winners published on website - CONTEST NOT RUN SINCE 2015, so removed listing in 2017
Apostrophe Books - Fiction Fast-TrackUKBi-MonthlyB-Monthlyno maxFREESee notesAny genre - novels and collections of short stories (fiction only) - winners voted for by readers - winner published as an eBook and sold through 130 digital retailers by Apostrophe Books - all profits split 50/50 with the author - this competition offers a unique prize which is perfect for any writer with a completed novel or short story collection - as the competition is run by writers, winners are treated very fairly CLOSED IN 2014
Arkbound Writing CompetitionUKNovemberDecember1,000£3£100Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - LISTING MOVED TO FLASH COMPS LIST
Artificium Short Story CompetitionUKVariesVaries8,000£5/£6£300Any style / genre - entry fee £5 for UK residents, £6 for non-UK - winners published in Artificium journal - competition usually run twice a year, but sometimes more often - WEBSITE disappeared 2018
Arts Quarter PrizeUKBi-AnnualBi-Annual4,000£12£750Any style or genre - winners published in anthology - second prize £250 and additional prizes (up to 5) of professional critiques from Christopher Fielden's writing services - formerly known as the Teignmouth Prize, name changed to avoid confusion with the Teignmouth Poetry Festival - CLOSED 2020
Asham AwardUKBiennialBiennial??£1,000Any style / genre - the competition is only open to women who live in the UK - run every other year - attracts up to 950 entries, so competition is tough - winners published alongside well known female writers in a collection - WEBSITE disappeared in 2018, so removed from lists
Askance Publishing Short Story CompetitionUKMaySeptemberno max£15£300Any style / genre - winners published in digital eBook - COMPETITION NOT RUN SINCE 2015, so listing removed in 2017
Association of Christian Writers Writing CompetitionsUKVariesVariesVaries£3See notesThey run a variety of competitions (flash fiction, short story and poetry), so check website for current details - winners published in Christian Writers (circulation 700) - prize is £25 book token - CLOSED, but they still run the occasional one-off contest
Association of Christian Writers (ACW) Writing for Children CompetitionUK30th September 2019OctoberSee notes£3£25Stories for children - this is a comp for authors who write for children, not a children's writing comp - three age categories: 0-5 years, 500 words; 5-8 years, 1,000 words; 9-12 years, 1,500 words - 3 x prizes paid in book tokens, one for each category - CLOSED, was a one-off
Atlantis Short Story CompetitionUSAVariesVaries2,500$10$300Any style / genre - every entry receives insightful feedback which is excellent - winners receive full critiques in addition to prize money - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing during 2021 update
Australasian Association of Writing Programs Short Story PrizeAustraliaVariesVaries3,000A$20See notesAny style / genre but themed, so check website for details - winner receives ticket to the Australian Short Story Festival (ASSF), accommodation and economy airfares - winner invited to read at AAWP conference - Meniscus consider winner's work for publication - NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing 2020
Barbara Pym Centenary Short Story CompetitionUKMay 2013September 20132,200£7 or $10£150Stories written in the style and manner of English novelist Barbara Pym - winning stories published on the Barbara Pym Society website - CLOSED
Bardsy's Holiday Anthology Contest: The GiftsUSA13th December 202119th December 20213,000FREE$399Holiday stories written by US residents only - also offers other prizes for finalists and winner - winners published in anthology - CLOSED, was a one-off
Bardy's NaNoWriMo Prep ContestUSA25th October 20215th November 20213,000FREE$299Any style or subject but theme is: write a short story now that's worthy of adapting into a novel later - winners showcased on website - top prize includes Bardsy Elite membership for 6 months (worth $480) - CLOSED, was a one-off
Bardsy's Romance Anthology Contest: Love is BlindUSA10th February 202218th February 20223,000FREE$399Romance - US based writers only - winner also receives Bardsy elite membership for 6 months - all finalists will receive $50 and a Bardsy elite membership for 3 months - all finalists published in anthology - CLOSED, was a one-off
Bare Fiction Magazine PrizeUKOctoberMarch3,000£8£500Any style / genre - winners published in Bare Fiction Magazine and on their website - they also run a flash fiction competition - subscribers to the magazine have reduced entry fees - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing 2020
Bartleby Snopes Dialogue Only Writing ContestUSASeptemberOctober2,000$10$300 and see notesAny style / genre, but dialogue only, so no narration at all - if more than 50 people enter, prize pot goes up by $3 per entry (last top prize awarded was over $1,000) - winners published on website and in the Bartleby Snopes literary magazine - CLOSED 2016, magazine no longer being published
Being Feminist Motherhood Short Story CompetitionEgyptSeptember?3,000FREESee notesAny style / genre, but themed around motherhood - no cash prize, but winners published in book - CLOSED 2015
Benjamin Franklin House Literary PrizeUKOctober?1,500FREE£750Fiction or non-fiction interpretations of a Benjamin Franklin quote, check the website for the current quote - go to the 'education' section of the site - entrants must be between 18 and 25 years of age - winners published on The Telegraph website - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing 2020
Ben's Heroes Trust Super Amazing Short Story CompetitionUKNovember?500FREE£35 Book TokenAny style / genre but themed so check website for current theme - 2 categories: 7 to 9 year olds and 10 to 11 year olds - winning stories published in news letter - COMPETITION NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing in 2017
Bet Tuppi's Ancient Near Eastern Historical Fiction PrizeUK4th April 20214th May 20211,500£1£50For historical fiction set in the ancient Near East - winner's published on website - any profits from running the competition will be donated to BISI - CLOSED, was a one-off
Big Issue in the NorthUKAugustSeptember2,000£5See notesThe Big Issue in the North Magazine. Winner also Invited to read story at The Short Issue reading in Manchester in September. Winner also interviewed - a news item on the story and you will appear on the Dead Ink website. And finally, the winner will receive career planning and tuition from Wes Brown, a novelist, critic and co-ordinator of the National Association of Writers in Education - NO LONGER RUNNING
Birdcatcher Books Short Story AwardAustraliaVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - winners published on website and in anthology - prizes in Australian dollars - CLOSED 2019
Biscuit Publishing Short Story CompetitionUKJanMarch5,000£10£1,500Any style / genre - top 10 stories published in anthology. Over 400 entries in 2011 - closed in 2013
Bloody Scotland Short Story CompetitionScotlandJulySeptember3,000£10£1,000Crime - winner receives cash prize, free entry to Bloody Scotland's Crime Writing Festival and a bottle of Deanston whisky - winners published in an eBook anthology - CLOSED, last run in 2015
Boccia Short Story CompetitionUK6th May 202223rd May 20222,000FREE£50Any style or genre but all entries must feature the disability sport of boccia in some way - winners of each category (under 18s and adults) will receive the top prize, paid as an Amazon gift card - winning entries (and up to two runners up per category) published on website - CLOSED, was a one-off
Book Box Thanksgiving Story CompetitionIndia21st September 201526th September 2015350FREESee notesThemed around food, family and gratitude - for child writers, check website for more details - winning story will be made into an animated video with same language subtitles CLOSED
Bookers Corner Writing CompetitionUKMonthlyMonthly2,000FREESee notesAny style / genre but sometimes themed, so check website for current details - free entry, subject to change - winners published on website and possibly in anthology - CLOSED, website disappeared, removed from lists 2018
Booksie Dawn of AI Short Story ContestUSA15th October 2023December 2023 / January 20241,500$5.99$300Themed around AI, check website for prompts - you have to be a booksie member to participate, basic membership is free - CLOSED, was a one-off
Booksie Halloween Horror ContestUSA11th November 2022Nov / Dec 20225,000$4.99$250Spooky horror stories - they have runner-up prizes, and other goodies for all the winners - CLOSED, was a one-off
Booksie Young Writer Short Story ContestUSAFebruaryMarch5,000FREE$300Any style / genre - entrants must be high school students aged between 13 and 18 - winners published on Booksie website, which receives over 1,000,000 reader visits per month - NOT RUN since 2017, so removed link 2019
Boston Review Short Story ContestUSAVariesVaries5,000$20VariesAny style / genre - winners published in Boston Review - top prize has been up to $1,500 in the past - STOPPED RUNNING SHORT STORY COMPETITIONS 2022
Bridgend Writers' Circle Short Story CompetitionWales30th November 2014January 20152,000£5See notesAny style / genre, but themed around 'bridges' - winner receives a 4 day writing course at Ty Newydd worth £500 - winners published in anthology and on website - CLOSED, was a one-off, but now run regular comp so see annual comps list above
Bright Film Project - Story To ScreenplayUSA1st February 20221st May 20223,000$10$5,000Any style or genre - winner's story is developed into a screenplay for a film - Bonus prize = two Hudson passes for TriBeCa - CLOSED, was a one-off
Brighton COW Competition - NO LONGER RUNNINGUKQuarterlyQuarterly3,000£4£100Any style / genre - top 10 stories published on website + recorded for radio (I've been published through this competition in the past, so you can read a lot more about it here) - unfortunately the website was removed from the internet early in 2012
Brighton PrizeUKVariesVaries2,000£8£500Any style / genre - 2 runner up prizes of £100 - winners invited to read their stories at an event - winners published by Rattle Tales - usually closes around June / July - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2019
Brisk Publishing 'Brisk Chance' Writing CompetitionUSABi-AnnuallyBi-Annually10,000$20$1,000Any style / genre - winners published in print and eBook - website disappeared 2015
Brit Writers' AwardsUKMarch?5,000See notes£10,000Any style / genre - competition for short stories, novels, music, pretty much anything - you have to join (£10.95) and then enter stuff - unfortunately I've received a couple messages from other writers raising concerns about the Brit Writers Awards, so research before submitting - THE WEBSITE DISAPPEARED IN 2015
Brittle Star Short Story CompetitionUKMarchMay2,000£4£250Any style / genre - winners published in Brittle Star Magazine - CLOSED 2014
Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival Creative Writing CompetitionUK31st July 2017September2,000FREE£1,000Any style or genre but theme is 'Being There' CLOSED, was a one-off
Caladria Short Story CompetitionUKBi-AnnualBi-Annual3,000FREE£25*Fantasy - £25 prize in Amazon vouchers - winners published in Fab Fables ezine - CLOSED
Calderdale Ted Hughes Writing CompetitionUKJulyOctober3,000£4£300Any style / genre - winning stories published on website, winners announced at the Calderdale Word of Mouth Festival - CLOSED 2015
Canadian Authors Association National Capital Writing ContestCanadaFebruary?2,500C$10C$500Any style / genre - only open to open to members of CAA-NCR and/or residents of the National Capital Region - at the bottom of the page that this entry links to there are links to many other writing contests - CONTEST NO LONGER RUNNING
Candy Jar Book's South Wales Short Story CompetitionWalesAugust?3,000£2Kindle FireAny style / genre - open to unpublished authors in the UK only - winners published in an anthology - CLOSED 2014
Cardiff Review Short Story AwardWalesMaySeptember5,000£2£150Any style / genre - winners published in the Cardiff Review - CLOSED, not run since 2016 so removed from lists Jan 2018
Cartridge People’s Short Story CompetitionUK1st November 2021November 20211,500FREE£1,000Any style / genre - only accepting entries from over 18’s based in the UK - 5 printer pack runner-up prizes - CLOSED, was a one-off
Casevac Writing ContestUSAVariesVaries2,000see notes$2,500Any 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 creative non-fiction - sometimes runs more than once a year - CLOSED 2022
CBC Books Canada Writes PrizeCanadaNovember?1,500$25C$6,000Any style / genre - you have to be Canadian to enter - 4 x runner up prizes of $1,000 - winner published in Air Canada's enRoute Magazine and on website - DETAILS DISAPPEARED FROM WEBSITE 2016
Chained Hearts Monthly Erotica Story ContestUSAMonthlyMonthly10,000FREESee notesErotica with a monthly theme so check website for current details - top prize is up to $150 depending on twitter engagement (check website for full details) - winners published in a compilation - HASN'T RUN FOR 6 MONTHS, so removed listing in 2021 update
Chalk Circle Writers Short Story CompetitionUKAugustNovember2,000£6£200Any style / genre - winning stories maybe published on website and in anthology - NOT RUN SINCE 2020, so removed listing during 2021 update
Chapter Checkers Short Story CompetitionUKMonthlyMonthly1,000£1.99See notesAny style / genre - winner is published on the website and receives a free short story critique for a story up to a max of 1,000 words - all writers that enter receive some brief feedback on their work CLOSED June 2015
Chapter One PromotionsUKSeptemberApril2,500£10£2,500Any style / genre - winners and runners up all published in an anthology - lots of different types of competitions run every year, so check the website - I was a runner up in this competition in 2012 and they were supposed to release an anthology called 'Primed' with my story in it at the beginning of 2013, but they've stopped responding to my emails and letters - the lack of professionalism I've encountered from Chapter One Promotions is very disappointing - I don't like to bad mouth anyone in the writing community, but feel I have to warn others of this before they enter the competition - I'm still hopeful that they will release the anthology, but research shows this is an ongoing problem - you can read more on Dan Purdoe's blog (Dan won the 2010 competition) - Recently, one of my website users got in touch with me and said this: "I was published in an anthology a few years ago, and it took two years to receive the book. The quality of the publication is abysmal. (Don't get me started on the font, print quality etc) I feel it's a book which will only be purchased by the families of the authors who are published in it and, at £10 a pop, only if their families love them very much. I am just gutted as I consider this to be a good story I have utterly wasted." - If you have encountered problems with Chapter One Promotions, please let me know - In September 2013 I received a proof of my story to OK, 1 YEAR after they said they'd send it, so maybe the anthology will eventually be released... In 2014 the website disappeared - I've heard nothing from them since
Chapter One Promotions Children's Story CompetitionUKOctoberJanuary1,000£6£150Any style / genre - four different age group categories: 7-9, 10-12, 13-15, 16-18 - winners and runners up published in anthology - please see the notes in the main listing for Chapter One Promotions before entering their competition - Website disappeared in 2014
Charroux Short Fiction PrizeFranceAugustOctober1,500£8£200Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - winners published on website - didn't run in 2021, but have left listing live to see if it runs in 2022 - WEBSITE GOT HACKED 2022, so removed listing during 2023 update
Child Writes CompetitionAustraliaAugustSeptember800A$15See notesStory suitable for a child's picture book - competition only open to Australian primary-school aged child writers and illustrators - the competition administrators are looking for the best story and the best illustrator, the two are then paired up to produce a picture book which will be published by Boogie Books and the writer and illustrator will receive royalties on all sales - COMPETITION NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing 2017
Children's Society Writing CompetitionUK31st August 2018October 20182,000FREESee notesAny style or genre but themed around the awkward age of 16 and 17 - winning stories published on website - winner receives literary agent advice, feedback and writing gifts - CLOSED 2018, was a one-off
Chilling Tales for Dark Nights Writing CompetitionUSAMonthlyMonthly5,000FREESee notesHorror - maximum word count usually 5,000, but can vary - winners have their stories produced by professional audio/narration team and are made available on the website - all entries are considered for publication in our print/eBook anthologies, they're hoping to introduce cash prizes in addition to this in the future - CLOSED 2016
Choc Lit Short Story CompetitionUKFebruaryEaster1,500£3£200Theme is chocolate related but check the website for more details - choccy treats in addition to prize money - winner published on website - CLOSED
Chudley Phoenix Short Story CompetitionUKJanuaryApril1,500£5£250Any style / genre - winning stories published on website - CLOSED 2014
Church of Ireland World War One Short Story CompetitionIreland24th October 2014?3,500FREE€ 1,000Any style / genre, but stories must be about the impact of WW1 in any part of Ireland, see website for full details - entrants must be between 15 and 21 years old - top 8 stories might be published - CLOSED
CIEDA's Perito PrizeUKOctoberNovember2,000FREE£250Any style or genre but themed, so check website for current details - winners published in anthology that supports charity - to find details of the prize, go to the "Get Involved" section of the website - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2024
City Academy Short Story Writing CompetitionUKSeptemberOctober4,000£15£1,500Any style / genre but they give you prompts - winners also receive a City Academy voucher worth £300 - winning story published on website with accompanying interview and photoshoot - to find details of the current competition, go to the 'IN-STUDIO' section of the site and the writing competition link is in the left menu - NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing during 2023 update
Claret Press MNDA Short Story CompetitionUKJuneAutumn5,000£6£250Any style / genre but inspired by physical or mental illness - winners published in anthology - cash prizes for 2nd and 3rd - profits support the Motor Neurone Disease Association - NOT RUN SINCE 2018 so removed listing 2019
Colorado State University Nelligan PrizeUSAMarchVaries12,500$15$2,500Any style / genre - winner published in the Colorado Review - all entries considered for publication in the Colorado Review - to find details of the current competition, put 'Nelligan Prize' into the search function on their website - CLOSED IN 2022, after running for 19 years
Comma Press Dinesh Allirajah Prize for Short FictionUKOctoberMay6,000FREE£500Any style / genre but themed so check website for details - winners published by Comma in an eBook - NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing 2024
Commaful's Writing ContestsUSAVariesVariesVariesFREESee notesAny style / genre but themed, so check site for details - winner's story published on Commaful's website, which boasts a reach of over 4M - they run lots of different writing contests regularly, check the link for details - NOT PUBLISHED ANYTHING IN YEARS, so removed listing 2024
Commonwealth Short Story PrizeUKNovemberVaries5,000FREE£2,500 / £5,000 - see notesAny style / genre - regional winners receive £2,500 prize, overall winner receives £5,000 prize - winning stories are published in an anthology - usually open for submissions between September and November - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2024
Conium Review Short Story CompetitionUSAVariesVaries7,500$15$500Any style / genre - winners published in the Conium Review - deadline is usually between May and July - NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing 2024
Corncott Writing CompetitionUKAugustSeptember750FREESee notesHas a 'What do you love about Cornwall' theme - really a micro-fiction competition due to low maximum word count. Winner receives a free holiday in a Cornish cottage plus the possibility of being published in a local Cornish Magazine CLOSED
Costa Short Story AwardUKVariesVaries4,000FREE£3,500Any style / genre - runners-up also receive high cash prizes - open to residents of UK and Ireland only - to find competition details, look in the 'Behind the Beans' section of their website - CLOSED during 2022 after 50 years 🙁
Cowley Literary Award & Short Story CompetitionAustraliaJuneAugust1,000A$25A$5,000Any style / genre - 1 runner up prize of A$1,000 - award takes fiction AND non-fiction submissions, the best entry of either type could win - winners might be published on the website - WEBSITE CONTAINS NO CONTENT 2016
Cranked Anvil Short Story CompetitionUKQuarterlyQuarterly1,500£5£150Any style / genre - winners published on website and may also be published in an anthology - CLOSED 2024
Crazy Cats Theatre Writing CompetitionsUKQuarterlyQuarterly2,500VariesVariesThey run a variety of themed competitions (EG, halloween, Christmas etc.) so check website for current details - winners published on website - top prize has been up to £100 in the past - NOT RUN A COMP SINCE EASTER 2023, so removed listing summer 2024
Creative Competitor Writing CompetitionsFranceVariousVariousVariousVariousVariousThese guys run, on average, 2 different writing competitions a month. Comps include short stories, poetry and more. I can't really keep on top of listing all the changes, so the best bet is to visit the website and see what they have running which might appeal to you - WEBSITE NOT updated for a year, so removed listing 2019
Creative Culture South West Short Fiction CompetitionUKJanuary?4,000£5£100Any style / genre but writers must have a connection to the South West UK (lived there, studied in the region, spent childhood holidays there etc.) - winners published in anthology - look in the 'What's On' section of the site to find the current competition details - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2022
Creative Writing Institute Short Story ContestUSAAugustOctober2,000$5$200Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - winner receives $200 OR a free, privately tutored writing course - winners published in anthology - CLOSED 2017
Creative Writing Life CompetitionUKMonthlyMonthly5,000FREE£20Any style / genre - winner's published in CWL magazine - also accept poetry and flash fiction - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2020
Crediton Festival Short Story CompetitionUKAprilJune1,000£3£30Any style / genre, but themed, so check website for current details - prizes paid in cash of book tokens - winners published on the website - for under 18s or 18 year olds that are still in fulltime education - NOT RUN SINCE 2017, so removed listing 2020
Crediton Short Story CompetitionUKAprilJune3,000£5£75Any style / genre, but themed, so check website - winner also receives a night's stay in an award winning pub - winners published in Riptide - (2015 winner, Shirley Muir, has written about her experiences on my site - read Shirley's post and her winning story) - NOT RUN SINCE 2017, so removed link 2020
Crimson Cloak Publishing Writing CompetitionUSA31st January 2017February 20173,000$10$150Fantasy but Crimson Cloak invite writers of all genres to give it a go as originality is appreciated - top prize may increase if lots of entries are received - winners published on website - may become a regular competition if enough entries are received - CLOSED, was a one-off
Cro Magnon Short Story Competition 2015UK31st September 2015October 20153,000£5£100Themed around primitive humanity, see website for details - winning story and 'best of the rest' published on website CLOSED
Crooked Quill Magazine Short Story CompetitionUK15th February 2016March750FREE£20Any style or genre but theme is 'beginnings and time' - 1st prize is a £20 Amazon voucher - winners published in The Crooked Quill literary magazine - ONE OFF, NOW CLOSED
Curry Mallet Children's Short Story CompetitionUKJuneSeptember500£3£35Any style / genre but themed so check the website for current details - 2 categories: under 11s and 12-16 - 3 winning stories receive feedback from a published author - NOT RUN SINCE 2015, so removed listing in 2017
Curry Mallet Short Story CompetitionUKSeptember?2,500£5£100Any style / genre - themed, so check website for current theme - winning story published on the website
Cwrtnewydd Scribblers' Short Story CompetitionWalesJulyAugust1,500£3£40Any style / genre - entry is £3 but for an extra 3 quid you can get a critique - CLOSED 2015
Cyberworld Publishing 'The Good Life in Galicia' CompetitionGalicia, SpainAugustVaries4,500FREE€ 15Any style / genre but must be about Galicia in a significant way - winners published in anthology - also accept non-fiction and poetry - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2024
Dandy Writers' Writing ContestsUSAMonthlyMonthlyVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre - they run a variety of regular contests for short stories, flash fiction, non-fiction, poetry and more, so check website for full details 0 WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2024
Dark Places Short Story CompetitionUKTriannualTriannual5,000£1.25VariousSci-Fi & Fantasy - free critique for all entrants - winners published in e-magazine through Amazon - first prize varies, second prize is a subscription to Grammarly - also available free in PDF format on the Dark Places website - you can read the first issue here - CLOSED 2015
Dark Tales Short Story ContestUKVariesVaries5,000£4£100Horror and speculative fiction - all winners and shortlisted entrants published on website and in anthology - very reasonably priced critiques offered too - runs regularly, sometimes as often as monthly - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2023
Darker Times Fiction Short Story CompetitionUKMonthlyMonthly5,000£5See notes'Darker times' theme - while they focus the competition on horror stories, they also accept entries linked to the theme of 'darker times' in other ways, encouraging writers to be as creative as possible - the winner receives a percentage of the money raised by entry fees (minimum of £15) plus their short story will be published in one of the Darker Times Horror Anthologies, released as an ebook through Amazon - runners up and honourable mentions also published - CLOSED 2014
Davy Byrnes Short Story AwardIrelandFebruaryJune15,000€ 10€ 15,000Any style / genre - 5 runner up prizes of €1,000 - runs every 5 years (last run 2014) - open to Irish citizens and to writers who are resident or were born in the thirty-two counties - winners published in anthology by The Stinging Fly - HASN'T RUN FOR 6 YEARS, so removed listing during 2020 update
Deddington Junior Writing CompetitionUKMarchJune500FREESee notesAny style / genre but themed, so check website - 3 categories: 3 to 6, 7 to 9 and 10 to 13 - winners receive professional feedback about their work and 'prizes' (the website does not state what the prizes are) - you can also find out more on their separate competition website - NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing 2020
Desi Writers' Lounge Short Story CompetitionPakistanAugustSeptember5,000FREE50,000 PKRAny style / genre - top prize is 50,000 Pakistani Rupee which is approximately $475 USD or £350 GBP - winners published on website and may also be published in Desi Writers' magazine 'Papercuts' - NOT RUN SINCE 2017, so removed from lists 2019
Desperate Literature Short Fiction PrizeSpain14th February 201816th March 2018200€ 20€ 1,000Any style / genre - winner also receives a week long residency in a 15th Century Italian castle - winners published in 3 x lit mags and a bilingual anthology - winning stories read at Desperate Literature in Madrid and Shakespeare & Company in Paris - CLOSED, was a one-off
Deux-Sèvres Short Story CompetitionFranceMayJune1,500£4£25Any style / genre - winners published on This French Life, Deux-Sevres Life, Galgo News and Podenco Post - DOESN'T SEEM TO BE RUNNING ANYMORE
Dragon & Owl Publishing Pithy Pages For Erudite Readers ContestUSABi-AnnuallyBi-Annually7,000$20See notesAny style / genre - entry fees, up to a maximum of $5000, will be shared between winners as cash prizes in the following way: First Prize receives 50%, Second Prize 15%, Third Prize 10%, Honourable Mention five prizes of 5% - so the top prize could be $2,500 - CLOSED 2014
Dragonfly Tea Short Story CompetitionUKJulyOctober500FREE£50Any style / genre but themed so check website for current details - three age groups: 4-7, 8-11, 12-15 - prize is a £50 book voucher + £100 for the winner's school - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing in 2020
Dragonfly Tea Short Story CompetitionUKJulyOctober3,000FREE£1,500Any style / genre but themed so check website for current details - open to UK residents only - run in association with Henley Literary Festival - hover on the 'blog' option in the main menu to find the competitions - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing in 2020
Dream of Shadows Short Story CompetitionsUKBi-AnnualBi-Annual1,500£6£300Fantasy / horror and themed, so check website for current theme - they run Easter and Halloween competitions - website disappeared 2024
Dylan Thomas Birthplace International Short Story CompetitionWalesVariesVariesSee notesSee notes£500Any style / genre but themed so check website for full details - 2 categories: under 19s and under 15s - entry fees for under 19s £6, under 15s £3 - word limit for under 19s 2,500, under 15s 500 - top prize for under 19s £500, under 15s £150 - winners published on the website and in a collection - all entrants receive a year's free membership of the Dylan Thomas Society - they don't always link to the competition from the homepage or main navigation (?? don't ask me...) so here is a link to the last comp for reference - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing 2020
Early Works Press Short Story CompetitionUKOctoberJanuary8,000£5 or £10 see notes£200Any style / genre - winners published in anthology containing 10 to 20 stories, depending on length - £5 entry fee for stories up to 4,000 words in length, £10 over 4,000 and up to 8,000 words in length - they also run other writing competitions, so it's worth checking the site to see what's currently running - DID NOT RUN IN 2021, plus 2020 comp was cancelled and entrants refunded, so removed listing during 2022 update
Eco Arts Literature AwardNC, USAAugustJanuary5,000$30$1,000Any style / genre - winners published on website - LAST RUN 2014, removed listing 2017 as website has not been updated since 2014
Edit Crowd Short Story CompetitionUKQuarterlyQuarterly8,000FREE£25Any style / genre - winners published on the website - CLOSED, website disappeared during 2018
Egyptian Writers International Writing CompetitionEgyptFebruaryApril3,000FREESee notesAny style / genre - no monetary prize, but winners are announced on MarwaRakha.com, receive certificates, have their stories reviewed in magazines, and have their work translated into Arabic to be published in a book in Egypt - CLOSED
e-Literate-World ‘Cut A Long Story Short’ CompetitionAustraliaQuarterlyQuarterly5,000A$8See notesAny style / genre, unless specified otherwise for that month (no children's) - monetary prizes depend on number of entries - placed entries will be published via Kindle eBook and made available on Amazon - this competition has recently changed name, previously it was called My Mate Kindle - Website disappeared 2016
EllenorLions Hospices Short Story CompetitionUKNovemberJanuary1,500£5£100Any style / genre - theme is 'survival' in support of the hospice staff undertaking the Arctic Survival Challenge next year - link takes you to The Write Place where the competition is hosted, but you can learn more about the charity here - CLOSED 2014
Enchanted Forest Publishing Horror Short Story Writing CompetitionUKAugustSeptember2,000£5See notesHorror - winners published in anthology - prize is an eBook copy of the anthology - NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing duing 2022 update
England's Future History Short Story CompetitionUKVariesVaries3,000FREESee notesAny style / genre but set in England's future - all accepted (winning) stories become part of the website's timeline, so are published on the site - AT START OF 2019, note on site said 'We’re on a bit of a break but will be back later in 2017' so removed from lists
Enizagam Literary Contest for FictionUSAMarchApril4,000$20$1,000Any style / genre - winners published in Enizagam Journal and nominated for Pushcart Prize - HASN'T RUN SINCE 2019, so removed listing during 2022 update
Equestrian Fiction Finder Short Story CompetitionUKMonthlyMonthly1,000£3£30Themed, so check website to see current theme - the 3 winners are published on the website - Hasn't been running since August 2012
Essay Mama Christmas Writing ContestUSA25th December 20145th January 20154,000See notes$450Any 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
Ether Books Writing CompetitionsUKVariesVariesVariesFREENoneAssociated with Raging Aardvark Publishing - they run a variety of contests throughout the year, so check the website for current competitions and themes - winners published in anthology - all entries have the possibility of being published by Ether Books - CLOSED 2016
Exisle Academy "The Story I Needed to Have Read" CompetitionUK28th August 2022September 20221,500FREESee notesAny style or genre - one winner receives free enrolment to the "Become a Successful Author" course (valued at $1,500 USD), plus access to a library of author training resources (up to $500 in value) - winners published on website - CLOSED, was a one-off
Exisle Academy "What Scotland Means to Me" CompetitionUK1st May 2022July 20221,500FREESee notesAny style or genre - one winner receives free enrolment to the "Become a Successful Author" course (a value of $1,500 USD), plus access to a library of author training resources (up to $500 value) - winners published on website - CLOSED, was a one-off
Eyelands International Short Story ContestGreeceVariesVariesVariesVariesSee notesAny style / genre, but check website for current theme - first prize is a holiday in Crete - winners are published in anthology - NOT RUN SINCE 2020, so removed listing during 2022 update (they now run book / novel awards instead, so see my book / novel comps list
Fairfield Scribes Anthology Feature Story ContestUSAMayJune10,000FREESee notesAny style / genre but themed so check website for current details - winner is published in anthology and receives an electronic and hard copy of the book - NOT RUN SINCE 2019, so removed listing during 2022 update
Fairytalez Writing CompetitionsDenmark / USAVariesVaries5,000FREE$200Themed, so check website for current details - top prize paid as an Amazon gift voucher - NO COMPS RUN SINCE 2019, so removed listing during 2022 update
Fantasy Book Review Short Story CompetitionsUKSeptemberNovember5,000FREEApple iPadFantasy theme - winning stories possibly published. Every entry receives a free ebook - no longer running
Ferrytaleawards Short Story CompetitionUKVariesVaries2,500£10£100Any style or genre - entry fee is either £10, or you can buy a copy of the Ferrytaleawards on Amazon, write a short review and gain entry that way instead - 10 winning stories published in Ferrytaleawards book - CLOSED in 2014
Festival of Literature for Young People (FLY) Writing Competition 2016UK21st May 201621st June 2016500FREESee notesAny style or genre - open to 11-18 year olds and judged in two age categories: 11-14 and 15-18 - top prize in each category is a Kindle Fire - winners published on the FLY and Ink Sweat & Tears websites - run by the University of East Anglia - CLOSED 2016
Fiction Desk Flash Fiction PrizeUKMayJuly1,000£5£300Any style / genre - winners published in the Fiction Desk anthology - CLOSED 2016 and reopened 2017, now listed on the flash fiction comps page
Fiction Desk Ghost Story CompetitionUKJanuaryMarch7,000£8£500Ghost stories - winners published in the Fiction Desk anthology - second prize £250, third prize £100 - CLOSED, they stopped running competitions late in 2018
Fiction Desk Newcomer's Short Story PrizeUKMayJuly7,000£8£500Any style / genre - open to writers who have not been published on Fiction Desk and have not published a novel or short story collection in printed form - (author Mike Scott Thomson has been written about being published by The Fiction Desk - read Mike's advice and story here) - CLOSED, they stopped running competitions late in 2018
Fictionette ContestUKMonthlyMonthlyVariesFREESee notesAny style / genre - competition alternates between short story and flash fiction, so word limits vary - prize is publication online and in the Fictionette magazine - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2024
Fictionette Short Story ContestUKAprilJune3,000£7£500Any style / genre - winners published in Fictionette Magazine - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2024
Fictuary Short Story ContestUSAMonthlyMonthly4,000FREE$50Any style / genre - in addition to the cash prize, winner receives paid social media promotion, bio page and is featured in Fictuary email newsletter - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2016
Field of Words Writing CompetitionsAustraliaVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre - now open to Australian AND international residents over 18 only - they run a variety of competitions throughout the year, including short story, flash fiction, memoir and ghost story, so check website for current details - winners published on Field of Words website - top prizes up to A$750 - CLOSED, website disappeared 2019
Finchley Literary Festival Short Story CompetitionUK31st May 201626th June 20161,000£5£100Any style or genre - winners published on the Greenacre Writers website - CLOSED 2016
Firedrake Books Short Story CompetitionUSAAprilMay3,500$10$100*Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - 20 cash prizes in total, all of which will increase in value as more people enter, so see website for full details - winners published in anthology - NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed lisiting during 2020 update
First Writer International Short Story ContestUKApril?3,000£6.50£200Any style / genre - winners published in First Writer Magazine - CLOSED in 2017, after running for 13 years from 2004
Five Minute Fiction Christmas Short Story CompetitionUKNovember?1,500£2See notesChristmas theme - winners published on the website - prizes range from a visit to a writer's retreat to Amazon vouchers - visit the website for full details of prizes as there are all sorts - you can also submit stories up to 2,000 words in length of any genre (except erotica) for consideration for publication on the website - CLOSED 2013
Five on the Fifth Short Fiction ContestUSAAugustOctober4,000$6.50$150Any style / genre - winners published in online literary magazine - cash prizes & publication for 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th place winners - Not run since 2016 so removed from lists 2018
Five Stop StoryUKQuarterlyQuarterly3,000£4£100Any style / genre - top 20 stories published on website every quarter, and on the Five Stop Story iPhone and iPad application. £150 for annual winner - changed from a monthly competition to a quarterly competition at the beginning of 2013 - CLOSED in 2014
Flash Fiction Writers Short Story ContestsUSAVariesVariesVariesFREESee notesAny style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - regular writing promts with the occasional prize - CLOSED 2024
Forever Endeavour Charity Short Story CompetitionUKAprilMay3,000See notes£100Any style / genre - entry fee is a choice of £5 or £10 (see website for details) and 50% of all money raised is donated to charity - shortlisted entries receive feedback from judges and are published in their online magazine - NOT RUN SINCE 2022, so removed listing 2024
Frank O’Connor International Short Story AwardIrelandMarch?no maxFREE€ 35,000Any style / genre - this is for published short story collections ONLY, so not a competition for the newer writer - you have to have had your collection of short stories published by a publisher, NOT self published - still I thought it worth listing so that when your amazing collection of short stories is snapped up and published in the very near future, you know to enter the comp! Prize money seems to increase each year, so keep an eye on the current prize offered -DISCONTINUED 2015
Freeditorial’s Annual Long-Short Story ContestUSABiannualBiannual40,000FREE$15,000Any style / genre - all entrants published on website and stories with the greatest number of downloads win - runs twice a year - CLOSED, disappeared from website so removed listing 2018
Friends of Manning's Pit Saki Short Story CompetitionUK30th June 202130th October 20213,000£5£500Any style / genre but the aim is to raise awareness of Saki's (H H Munro) writing, so submissions require a spark of originality or wit, and something relevant to the countryside and its wildlife - winners published on website - CLOSED, was a one-off
Funny Pearls Short Story CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesFREEVariesHumour - winners published on website - they run short story and flash fiction competitions, so check website for current details - top prize has been up to £250 in the past - COMPETITION NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing in 2020 update
Galtellì Literary PrizeSardinia, ItalyAprilMay5,000FREE€ 1,000A novel is selected to inspire and stimulate writers and a different genre is used every time the prize is run, so check website for current details - winners receive up to €1,000 in travel costs to Sardinia to attend awards ceremony (1st place receives an additional €1,000 in prize money) - winners published in anthology - runs every other year: 2015, 2017, 2019 etc. NEW WEBSITE disappeared during 2018
Giving Them Wings PrizeSouth AfricaBi-AnnualBi-Annual2,000$3$500Any style / genre - winners featured in anthology - they also accept poetry - to find details of the competition, go to the 'Donate' section of their website - PRIZE NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so retired listing during 2022 update
GKBCinc International Short Story CompetitionUKBi-AnnuallyBi-Annually2,000FREE£100Any style / genre - themed, so check website for current theme - the winner and 9 runners up from each comp published in an annual anthology (so each anthology contains 20 stories) - winners also published on the website - CLOSED 2014
Glimmer TrainOR, USAVariesVariesVariesVariesup to $3,000 (see notes)Any style / genre - Glimmer Train run various competitions throughout the year, with prizes varying from around $600 to about $3,000 - entry fees range from FREE to around the $20 mark, depending on the competition - winners are published in the Glimmer Train Literary Journal, which is a highly respected US publication read by many literary agents and publishers - sadly, Glimmer Train will be closing in 2019, submissions are open until mid-May and the final issue will be published towards the end of the year - CLOSED 2019
Glittery Literary Lustrous Long Story ContestUKVariesVaries2,000£3£30Any style / genre - winners published in Glittery Literary booklet - entry fee is optional - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2022
Global Short Stories CompetitionUKMonthlyMonthly2,000£5£100Any style / genre - winning stories published on the website - competition supported by Bill Bryson - CLOSED in 2014
GoArchitect Architecture of Power Short Story AwardUSAVariesVaries1,500$25$500Any style / genre but themed, so check website for full details - sometimes run monthly, sometimes quarterly, depending on number of entries - winners published on website - NOW RUNNING DESIGN COMPS, so removed listing during 2020 update
Golfwell's Golf Story Writing CompetitionNew ZealandDecemberFebruary700FREE$300Any style / genre but themed around golf - winners published on the website - they accept fiction and non-fiction entries - prize paid in USD - CLOSED 2016, now running regular flash fiction comp, see flash fiction lists
Grace Dieu Writers' Circle Short Story CompUKFebruarySummer2,000£6£500Any style / genre - winners published on website - CLOSED 2015 DUE TO LACK OF ENTRIES
Graffiti Writing Magazine Prose CompetitionUKBi-AnnualBi-AnnualVaries£4£100Any style / genre but themes vary - winners published in Graffiti Magazine - they don't have a website, so I have linked to their Facebook page where you can find details of how to enter - they also run a poetry competition - NOT RUN SINCE 2021, so removed listing during 2023 update
Grain Writing ContestCanadaAprilAugust2,500C$40C$1,000Any style / genre - entry for Canadians is C$35, international entries are C$40, but every entrant receives a 1 year (4 issue) subscription to the magazine - CONTEST NO LONGER RUNNING, BUT THEY DO STILL ACCEPT GENERAL FICTION SUBMISSIONS
Green Lady Award for FictionUKNovember?3,000£5£50Any style / genre - themed, so check the website for the current theme - winners published in anthology - WEBSITE NO LONGERR EXISTS
Greenwich Writers 'Bump in the Night' Ghost Story CompetitionUK15th September 201630th September 20163,000£5See notesGhost stories - top prize is 'something spooky' plus the winner is published in an anthology and the Greenwich Writers' newsletter - CLOSED
Grindstone Short Story PrizeUKVariesVaries3,000£10£500Any style / genre - winners and shortlisted entrants published in Grindstone's anthology - Closed, stopped running in 2022
Grindstone Short Fiction CompetitionUKQuarterlyQuarterlyVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - winners published on the Grindstone website - CLOSED, now concentrating on annual comp instead - see lists above
Gulf Stream Summer ContestUSAAugustSeptember5,000$7$100Any style / genre - winners published in Gulf Stream Lit Mag - also accept non-fiction and poetry - NOT RUN SINCE 2020, so removed listing during 2022 update
Hamilton's Literary Festival gritLIT Writing CompetitionCanadaJuly?3,000C$20C$200Any style / genre - winners published in the gritLIT literary chapbook - winner invited to read their story at LiT LiVe Reading Series and the gritLIT literary festival - WEBSITE APPEARS TO BE BROKEN, so removed listing 2017
Happy London Press Hi2020 Short Story CompetitionUK20th July 2020October 20201,500£6See notesAny style / genre but check website for topics - 20 winners interviewed on radio - selected winners have their stories read on radio, posted on podcast and may have their stories published by media partners - CLOSED, was a one-off
Harry Bowling Flash Fiction PrizeUKSeptemberMarch750£5£100Any style / genre, but entries must have an urban setting - winners published on the Harry Bowling Prize and MBA websites - sponsored by Headline and administered by MBA Literary Agents - runs every two years - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2016
Hay on Wye Short Story ContestWalesJulyDecember2,000£6£400Any style / genre - old site seems to be down (http://hayshortstory.com/Hay-Short-Story-Home.html) but there is some info on the new link I've provided. Unsure if this is still running...
Headway in West Kent Short Story CompetitionUK18th September 2015October 2015500£3£50*Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - prize paid in Waterstone's vouchers - winning story will be published in the Kent & Sussex Courier - run in support of Headway charity, which helps people with brain injuries CLOSED
Highlands & Islands Short Story AssociationScotlandJulyOctober2,000£5VariesAny style / genre - winning stories published on website - top prize usually around the £200 / £250 mark - CLOSED 2022
Historic House Short Story CompetitionUKSeptember 2014November 20142,500FREE£150Any style / genre, but stories must be set in a historic house - winner also receives a tour and afternoon tea with the owners of Levens Hall in Cumbria and membership to the Historic Houses Association - winners published in eBook anthology - CLOSED
Holland House Books / Lost World Press Flash Fiction CompetitionUK30th October 2013Sep-13750FREE£20Speculative (lost worlds, sci-fi, parallel/alternative, parody, steam/clockpunk, Atlantis re-found, things that go bump in the night,  alternative universes, timeslip, parodies and parallels) - prizes paid in Amazon vouchers - CLOSED
Homestart-Bridgwater Short Story PrizeUKFebruaryApril2,200£7£500Any style / genre - winning stories read out at a prize giving event and published on the website - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2016
Hourglass Literary Magazine Writing ContestBosniaMaySeptember7,000$15$1,000Any style / genre - winners published in Hourglass Literary Magazine - NOT RUN since 2017, so removed listing 2019
Hour of Writes Weekly Writing CompetitionUKWeeklyWeekly2,000£3£50*Notes on Hour of Writes Competition: Any style / genre, but themed, so check website for current theme - prize money based on number of entry fees, minimum usually £50 - winners published on website - I removed this listing in 2018 after I started receiving complaints about the website, EG: Hour of Writes is listed on your website as a weekly competition but it appears to have stopped without announcement and some competition results are nearly three months in arrears. This website has never been well run but over the last few months it's been getting ever more erratic without the owner having the courtesy to properly inform anybody of what's going on and ignoring users' questions. If you look at the HOW web page you can see a new competition hasn't been posted since about April. Anyway, as you run a great website I often use I thought I'd give you a heads up.
Humanaagerie Anthology from Eibonvale PressUK31st May 2018June4,000FREE£10For 'liminal' work; pieces that would be classed as 'Slipstream'; work that has a speculative or surreal element - edited by Sarah Doyle and Allen Ashley - selected works will be published in the Humanaagerie anthology CLOSED, was a one-off
Hysteria Writing CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre - women entrants only - winners published in anthology - now run via Linda Parksinson-Harman's website - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2022
Ibiza Quills CompilationIbizaOctoberNovember2,500€ 12€ 100Any style / genre but themed around Ibiza - 12 euro fee allows 2 entries and includes membership to the Ibiza Quills Creative Hub, who host events and workshops - members can also become a reviewer for the website - NOT RUN FOR 2 YEARS, so removed listing during 2021 update
Iceland Writers' Retreat Short Story CompetitionIceland25th January 2015?500FREESee notesAny style / genre, but themed so see website - winner receives writing retreat package at Iceland writers' retreat in April including hotel, tours and food, but you have to pay for your own airfare - CLOSED, was a one-off
Ifanca Hélène James Short Story CompetitionWalesJulyOctober2,200£4£100Any style / genre - winners published on the website - CLOSED 2015
Inclusive Works International Short Story CompetitionHollandAugust?See notesFREESee notesChildren's - entrants must be resident in the Netherlands - winners published as illustrated books in English and Dutch by Clavis publishers - stories can be written in English or Dutch - 2 categories; stories for 1 to 3 year olds with a 600 word limit; stories for 4 to 6 year olds with a 900 word limit - Not run since 2016 so removed from lists Jan 2018
Indelible Chaos Short Story CompetitionIndiaBi-MonthlyBi-Monthly15,000FREESee notesDifferent competitions with different styles and themes run on a bi-monthly basis - prize is publication in a bi-annual anthology - CLOSED 2016
Independent Authors of Wales Network Writing CompetitionWalesOctoberDecember2,500FREE*See notesAny style / genre but themed so check website for current details - entry is free, but you have to be a member - no cash prize, but 12 winners are published on the blog and in an anthology - WEBSITE NOT UPDATED FOR A YEAR, so removed from lists Jan 2018
Inexsilio (The Exiles) - The Lost Country Short Story CompetitionUSAAugust?5,000*FREE$50Any style / genre - winners published in The Lost Country Journal - sometimes run bi-annually - 5,000 words is a soft limit, the editors don't want to receive novels, if they receive an excellent 6,000 word story they will consider publishing it - it is recommended that entrants read their manifesto prior to submitting - WEBSITE NOT UPDATED SINCE 2015, so removed listing 2017
Info 4 Writers Short Story CompetitionUKMonthlyMonthly2,700FREE£15Any style / genre but themed so check website for current details - winners published on website - WEBSITE disappeared during 2018
Inkhead Short Story CompetitionUKAprilJune1,000£5£100Any style / genre - five story titles given on the site for you to choose from - four different age group categories: 7-9, 10-12, 13-14, 15-16 - winners published in anthology which is released in the October following the competition - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2016
InkTears Short Story CompetitionUKVariesVaries3,500£7.50£1,000Any style / genre - winners and runners up published on website and also offered the possibility of having a collection of their short stories published through Ink Tears (I've been published through this competition and you can read more about my experiences here) - on occasion they also run a flash fiction contest with a £250 prize - CLOSED 2019
Inspired By Writing Short Story CompetitionUKBi-AnnuallyBi-Annually2,500See notes£1,250Any style / genre - early entry fee of £7, then it goes up to £12 - stories published on website and in anthology - REMOVED FROM LISTS 2017 - WARNING: I've received a few queries about this competition as users are experiencing some issues. The Inspired by Writing website has now disappeared. They have taken money from entrants and not refunded them without seeing the competition through to completion. If this business resurfaces, be very wary of entering the competition - it seems to be run in an unprofessional manner - Here is an update I received from Inspired By Writing in March 2017 (about a month before the website disappeared): We have had an extremely hectic period over the Christmas break on the run up to the February 28th. Unfortunately our original date got pushed back due to our judging panel being changed and not finding the right people to fill these positions prior to their professional calendars being altered and then after having to compensate for suitable replacements. As most of you should know we have now had our original investors back out of the competition, leaving us in a somewhat sticky position on the run up to February. This is no fault of our own but our ambitions for back to back competitions is now going to have to be put on hold and more importantly, you need to be our first priority. In saying this we have two alternatives we had to think about. Either give all the entrants a full refund or we stick at our search to get other suitable members to fulfil an agreement which was unfortunately not filled by our previous investors. After long deliberating with other colleagues we have decided to move it one last date to the April 30th 2017. If we do not achieve our winner's announcements by then all entries will receive a full refund into their paypal account that they originally entered with. I will finish with a full apology from everybody here at Inspired by Writing for the delay in the announcements. We wasn't anticipating this on our run up to our first competition but it has educated us in a situation which will not happen again in the future.
Irish Arts & Writers Festival Writing CompetitionUSASeptemberOctober5,000$15$1,000Any style / genre - winners published on website - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2019
Irish Imbas Books Celtic Mythology Short Story CompetitionNew ZealandDecemberFebruary4,000US$7US$500Any style / genre but themed so check website for details - winners published in Irish Imbas Celtic Mythology Collection - 2nd prize $250; 3rd prize $100 - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing during 2020 update
ITT Short Story CompetitionIreland13th August 201811th October 20182,000FREE€ 500Any style or genre - 10 shortlisted stories published in an anthology - run by the Institute of Technology Tallaght, with South Dublin County Council and the Red Line Book Festival - started life as a one-off, now running annually -runs most years, but is dependant on funding, so may not run every year, hence listed as a one-off - CLOSED, was a one-off
James White AwardIrelandVariesVaries6,000FREE£200Science Fiction - the winner will be published in Interzone, the UK's leading sci-fi magazine - NOT RUN SINCE 2019, so removed listing during 2022 update
Jane Austen 200 Short Story CompetitionUK28th February 2017May-172017£5£1,000Any style or genre, inspired by a Jane Austen quote, see website for full details - Hosted by Hampshire Cultural Trust and Jane Austen’s House Museum - CLOSED, was a one-off
Juliet B Madison 'DI Lyle' Short Story CompetitionUK1st July 20154th July 20156,000FREESee notesCrime - winner receives signed copy of DI Lyle book of their choice - winners published on website - every entry (provided there aren't too many) will be included in an ebook anthology to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support - CLOSED, was a one-off
Junior Authors Short Story ContestCanadaJuneOctober1,000FREESee notesAny style / genre - winning story in each category is published on the website - 6 age groups: 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18, 19-21 (you must be a student to enter) - CLOSED 2015
Just 100 Words Writing CompetitionUSADailyDaily100$5$50Any style / genre - winners announced within 24 hours and published on the website - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2016
KalliKids Short Story CompetitionUKJuneJune600FREESee notesAny style / genre but themed, so check website for current theme - open to 4 age categories (school years 3,4,5 and 6) - winner in each age category will have their story published in a printed book and e-book - schools with the highest number of entrants per category receive a creative writing class - all entries published on the KalliKids website - COMPETITION NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so listing removed 2017
Katie, Inc. Short Story ContestUKSee notesSee notes2,000£5£50Any style / genre - run as often as once a month (a winner is selected each time 10 entries are received) - winners published in a yearly anthology - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2016
King Author Short Story PrizeUKMarchApril2,000£3.50£100Any style / genre - winning entries published in an anthology - CLOSED 2014
Kingston Writing School International Short Story CompetitionUKJuneNovember5,000£10£3,000Style genre varies, sometimes it's fiction, sometimes it's non-fiction - check website for current details - CLOSED 2017
Kite Journal Annual Short Story ContestUkraineJuneSeptember10,000$10$1,000Any style / genre - all entrants receive a one-year digital subscription to The Kite Journal and a digital copy of the Special Edition issue - entrants receive free critiques of submitted work - website taken down in 2013 so no longer running
Konsensus Network's 21 FuturesSpain & Portugal28th February 2023Apr-233,000Free$100Themed around Bitcoin and stories should not feature any other kinds of "blockchain technology", "Web3" platforms, "cryptocurrencies" or "NFTs" - winners published in anthology - CLOSED, was a one-off
Kosta's Olive Tree Writing CompetitionUKSeptemberNovember1,500£4£70Any style / genre but themed so check the website for current details - winners published on the website - Vasiliki, who runs the competition, lost her son Kosta in Northern Syria where he died fighting against ISIS, so profits generated by the contest are donated to charities in Costa's name, these include Rebuild, a registered charity for rebuilding war zones in an ecologically friendly way, Combatstress, a UK charity that helps ex-military personnel with PTSD and charitable causes that help Yezidi women and girls who are rescued from ISIS - NOT RUN since 2017, so removed from lists 2019
Kristell Ink Flash Fiction CompetitionUKAugust 2013September 2013500FREE£20Fantasy/science fiction/steampunk - a subgenre story involving something with a feline feel - prizes paid in Amazon vouchers - judged by Adam Dalton (Gollancz author) and Mark Lawrence (Harper Voyager author) as well as Alex Shepherd, a well respected reviewer from the website Fantasy Faction - winners published on the website - CLOSED
Kurious Arts Short Story CompetitionUKDecemberMarch2,000£5£500Any style / genre but themed, so check website for full details - winners published in anthology - LOST FUNDING in 2020, so closed but may return if new sponsor can be found
La Piccioletta Barca CompetitionUKSeptemberOctober5,000$10$400Any style or subject but themed, so check website for current details - also open to poetry - finalists published in competition issue of the La Piccioletta Barca journal - COMPETITION NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing during 2022 update
Labello Press Gem Street: Dystopia Short Story CompetitionIrelandJulySeptember3,500€ 7€ 500Any style / genre - winners published in anthology - particularly interested in stories from anyone who feels marginalised, ostracised and discriminated against due to the way of the world today - COMPETITION NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed from lists Jan 2018
Lady in the Loft Writing CompetitionUKQuarterlyQuarterly2,000FREE£10Any style / genre - themed, so check website for current theme - prize money is awarded in WHSmith vouchers, 1st prize £10, 2nd and 3rd prizes £5 - winners published on the website and in an anthology - you can learn more about the anthology and see the cover art on the Lady in the Loft Blog - CLOSED 2015
Leaf Books Writing CompetitionsUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesVarious competitions, from diary competitions to horror competitions to the infamous Tiny Weeny writing comp - prizes and entry fees vary - best to visit the website and see what comps they are currently running -Leaf ceased trading in 2014
Legendary Women, Inc. Literary ContestUSAVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre - themed, so check website for current theme - all stories must feature a female protagonist - winner will have an author interview published - winner and 2 runners up will be published on the website - NOT RUN SINCE 2016, so removed from lists Jan 2018
Less Than 100 WordsUKWeeklyWeekly99FREE*See notesAny style / genre, but different prompt each week, so check website for current prompt - winners published on the website - entry free, but a £1 or £2 entry fee to be introduced soon - small cash prize given, but amount not stated - CLOSED APRIL 2016
Lightship Publishing Short Story CompetitionUKJune?5,000£12£1,000Any style / genre - winning story and 9 runners up published in anthology - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2016
Limnisa Short Story CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesFREESee notesAny style / genre - winner receives a week long full board writing holiday in Greece or online personal tutoring sessions - usually closes around March / April - NOT RUN SINCE 2020, so removed listing during 2023 update
Literary Juice Flash Fiction ContestIN, USAJune?500$6$200Any style / genre - winner and runner up published in Literary Juice magazine - COMPETITION NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, SO ASSUME IT'S NOT RUNNING ANYMORE
LiteraTea Spring Short Story ContestUSA5th July 2020July3,000FREE$345Any style / genre but themed around community - in addition to cash, the winner receives a free six-month membership in LiteraTea’s Advanced Writers’ Program - CLOSED, was a one-off
Little House Short Story Competition (Previously called Laurel House)WalesDecember?2,000£5£100Any style / genre - the 5 runners up receive a 400 word critique, winner receives full critique (I've won this competition in the past, so you can read a lot more about it here) - they also run a 200 word micro fiction contest with a £50 pound prize - no longer running
Living Springs Publishers Sightseer SagaUSAJuneJuly4,000$25$500Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - minimum of top fifteen finalists published in books - CLOSED
Livingston Arts Center 'New Deal' Writing CompetitionUSAAprilMay10,000$5$200Any style / genre, but stories must be inspired by a picture, so check website for current details - winners published in Artsphere magazine and on the website - WEBSITE BECAME A SPAMMY LOOKING LOANS SITE in 2019, so removed listing
Longworth Editors Annual Short Story CompetitionUKMarch?2,000£10£250Any style / genre - themed, so check the LE website for current theme - every entrant receives a small amount of feedback from the judges - winning stories published on the website - SITE NO LONGER THERE
Love on the Road Short Story Competition 2013USAMar-1320135,000$10$200Themed around travel and love - 12 winning stories published in an anthology - CLOSED
Love on the Road Short Story Competition 2014USA31st July 201420145,000$10$200Themed around travel and love - 12 winning stories published in an anthology - CLOSED
Magic Oxygen Literary CompetitionUKDecemberFebruary4,000£5£1,000Any style / genre - winners and shortlisted entries published in anthology - Tracey and Simon, the competition organisers, plant a tree for every entry received (each entrant receives GPS coordinates to their tree so they can go and visit it if they wish!) and are also funding the build of a classroom at a school in Kenya - (short story author Christie Cluett was shortlisted and published by Magic Oxygen - read Christie's story and learn about her experiences here) - CLOSED 2019
Mane Chance Children's Writing CompetitionUKJulyJuly1,500£5/£2£50Any style / genre themed around animals - winners will be published on Mane Chance website, in Surrey Occasions and a newspaper, the title of which is TBC - 3 categories: under 10 (£2 entry), 11 to 14 (£5 entry) and 15 to 18 (£5 entry) - there is also an adult category which you can find in the annual competition list above - CLOSED 2016
Mane Chance Writing CompetitionUKJulyJuly1,500£5£100Any style / genre but themed around animals - winners will be published on Mane Chance website, in Surrey Occasions and a newspaper, the title of which is TBC - this competition is for adults, you can find details of the Mane Chance children's competition below - CLOSED 2016
MBS Publishing Short Story CompetitionsScotlandVariesVariesVariesVariesUp to £300Style / genre / theme vary - flash fiction, short story and competitions for students run regularly (sometimes monthly) - entry from £2 to £5 - top prizes from £50 to £300 - all winners published in anthology - check website for current details - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2016
Meridian Writing Short Story CompetitionUKQuarterlyQuarterly3,000£5£100Any style / genre - winners published on the website - unfortunately, after 4 years of running their quarterly competition, the Meridian Writing Competition closed in 2013
Milton Keynes Speakeasy Short Story CompetitionUKOctober?2,100£4£125Any style / genre - CLOSED 2014
MJ Meads Short Story CompetitionUKVariesVaries2,500FREESee notesAny style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - winners published on website - prizes vary but are not cash - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2021
MKGNAO Prize for writing in an animal languageUK31st December 20161st February 20171,000FREE£10Any style or genre - winner published on Speaking Animal website - in addition to cash prize, winner also receives a voucher for butcher's shop or a vegan alternative - CLOSED, was a one-off contest
Mogford Prize for Food & Drink WritingUKJanuaryApril2,500£15£10,000Theme is food and drink - used to run as part of the Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival but is now run independently - in addition to cash, winner receives an engraved award and a professional audio recording of their story with The Story Player - winners published on website and in a linen-bound mini book - shortlisted entrants invited to party hosted by Jeremy Mogford and each will receive a night’s accommodation and all travel expenses including, where necessary, economy flights - CLOSED 2022
Mo-Joe Story CompetitionUKAugustSeptember300FREESee notesFor children aged 4 to 11 years - write a story about Grandma Mo and Siamese Joe (see website for full details) - prize is a framed print of Grandma Mo and Siamese Joe and publication on the website - NO WINNER ANNOUNCED IN 2019, so removed listing 2020
Momaya Press Short Story CompetitionUK/USAAprilAugust3,000£11 / $15£110 / $150Any style / genre - themed, so check website for current theme - 3 winners, 7 runners up and some short listed entries published in the Momaya Press Review - CLOSED IN 2020, after running for 17 years
MONO SCARS International Short Story CompetitionUK3rd December 2021December3,000£6£300Any style or genre but theme is scars - winning entry will be published in the April edition of MONO - CLOSED, was a one-off
Multi Story CompetitionUKBi-MonthlyBi-MonthlyVaries£5£300Any style / genre - length of entry varies, so check the website - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2016
My Daily Story CompetitionUSABi-MonthlyBi-Monthly3,000$10$50Any style / genre - also accept non-fiction and will consider poetry and blog posts - entry fee includes full edit and critique of your story AND you can submit up to 3 stories for the 1 fee, so that's a really good offer! - winners published on the website - website disappeared in 2014
National Association of Writers' GroupUKOctoberDecember2,000£5£250Stories for adults - link also contains details of lots of other short story competitions - website disappeared in 2014
National Galleries of Scotland Inspired? Get Writing! Creative Writing CompetitionScotlandJanuaryApril1,000FREESee notesAny style / genre - write a poem or piece of prose inspired by one of the works in the collections of the National Galleries of Scotland - winners published in the Scotsman newspaper, runners-up and winners receive free entry into National Gallery of Scotland exhibitions and highly commended, runners-up and winners have work read at public reading and are all published in an anthology - CLOSED 2014
Needle in the Hay Writing AwardsAustraliaWeekly / MonthlyWeekly / Monthly200 to 2,000FREESee notesAny style / genre - LOADS of different competitions, run weekly and monthly all year round for different story lengths with varying prize amounts - best to check the website and see what is currently running - short listed stories published on the website and then a rotating panel of judges vote for winner - prizes vary from cash (up to A$400) to critiques - WEBSITE NOT UPDATED FOR MONTHS, so removed listing in 2020 update
New Writer Short Story CompetitionUKNovemberMarch3,000£5£300Any style / genre (not children's) - winners published in the magazine - website disappeared in 2014
Nigeria Health Care Project 25th Anniversary Short Story CompetitionUK30th June 20171st October 20173,000£5£100Any style or genre, but for 18 to 30 year olds only - all 15 shortlisted writers receive a free copy of Chibundu Onuzo's Welcome to Lagos - CLOSED, was a one-off
Nine Voices 50 Word Story CompetitionUK31st October 2016November 201650FREE£25Any style or genre but based on a picture so check out the blog for full details - winners published on the website CLOSED, was a one-off but may run again
Ninevoices' Short Story CompetitionUK28th September 2019December 20191,500£5£250Any style / genre but theme is 'summer' - entrants must have earned less than £300 from their fiction writing during 2018 - winner published on website - runner up prize £50 - CLOSED, was a one-off but may run again
Nine Voices Short Story CompetitionUK31st May 2015July 20152,000£5£100Any style / genre - proceeds from the competition go to Polymyalgia Rheumatica & Giant Cell Arteritis charity CLOSED, was a one-off but may run again
Nottingham Short Story CompetitionUKApril?2,500£10£1,000Any style / genre - 3 winners and 15 short listed stories published in anthology. 3 winners also receive critiques - website taken down in 2013
Nottingham Writers' Club Short Story CompetitionUKVariesVaries2,000£5£200Themed, so check website for current theme - winners published on the NWC website - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing during 2021 update
Nottingham Writers' Studio George Floyd Short Story CompetitionUKVariesVaries5,000FREE£250Any style / genre but themed so check website for current details - winners published in anthology in print and eBook formats - NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing 2024
Nouvelles Magazine Short Stories From Pere LachaiseFranceTri-AnnuallyTri-Annually2,000€ 10See notesAny style / genre - winners published in English and French in Nouvelles Magazine - if enough entries are received, a book maybe published too - CLOSED 2016
Odd Voice Out 'Not So Normal Narrators' CompetitionUK31st August 2019October 20195,000£4£200Any style / genre, but themed, so check website for full details - winners published in anthology - CLOSED, was a one-off
Offside Stories Writing CompetitionUK14th July 201420141,000£8£100Themed around football - accept short stories, flash fiction, poetry and football chants as entries - you can enter 3 stories for the £8 fee - winners in each category receive a minimum prize of £100 - winners and shortlisted entrants published in anthology - CLOSED
Oh Zoe! Rising Talent AwardUKMarchApril1,500FREE£500Children's picture book (words only, not pictures) - winner receives cash prize plus a range of development courses and services - all winners and shortlisted entries offered the opportunity to have their book illustrated and published by Oh Zoe! - NO LONGER mentioned on website, so removed listing 2019
Omnestream Out of Frame Anthologies CompetitionUSA31st August 2017Oct 7th 20174,000$5See notesSuspense, horror, mystery and crime - no cash prize, but every submission receives feedback - winners published in the Out of Frame Anthologies CLOSED, was a one-off
One Teen Story Short Story ContestNY, USAJune?4,000FREE$500Any style / genre - winner published in One Teen Story magazine - in addition to the cash prize, the winner receives 25 copies of the magazine and a 28" x 20" poster of the OTS magazine's front cover - honourable mentions in 3 categories: 14-15, 16-17, and 18-19-year-olds - CLOSED 2014, but still accepting general submissions
Oriel Davies Open Writing CompetitionWalesNovemberDecember1,000£3£50Any style / genre but themed so check website for current details - prize paid as a voucher to be spent at the Oriel Davies Gallery - winners published on the website and read to an audience at an event in February - NO MENTION OF COMPETITION ON SITE ANYMORE, so removed listing 2017
Ouen Press Short Story CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesFREE£300Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current theme - winners published in anthology - runs biennially, every other year - last time I looked, competition details could be found in the 'Welcome' or 'About Us' section of the website - NOT RUN SINCE 2021, so removed listing 2024
Oval Magazine Short Story CompetitionUSAVariesVaries5,000$2$5Any style / genre - winners published on website and in magazine - magazine is published in October - CLOSED 2016
Oxford Festival of the Arts Stories: By & For ChildrenUK2nd May 2016May1,000FREESee notesAny style or genre, but entries must be by or for children - winners invited to read their stories during an event at Oxford Festival of the Arts in June 2016 - CLOSED 2016
Painting the Palmetto; a Local South Carolina AnthologyUSAMid-August 2024NA2,500FREENoneThe anthology will have South Carolina (in the United States) connections and the theme is local legends and unique stories, with a hint of mystery - open for submissions of poetry, short stories, artworks, illustrations and anything SC related that can be printed - selected stories published in an anthology - profits from sales will be donated to the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Palmnates Writing PrizeSouth AfricaMonthlyMonthly2,000FREE$200Any style / genre but themed, so check website for full details - winners and minimum of 7 runners-up will be published in a Kindle anthology - WEBSITE disappeared during 2018
Pen & Ink Designs Spring Writing CompetitionUKMay?4,000£4£25Any style / genre - winner and 10 best entries published in a short story collection - CLOSED 2014 due to lack of entries
Pens of the Earth Writing CompetitionUK14th January 2024April 20242,000£7See notesThemed around community, check website for full details - prizes include publication, a print copy of the book and an environmental prize - CLOSED, was a one-off
Petersfield Bookshop 'Ghosts in the Bookshop' CompetitionUK30th November 201815th December 2018See notesFREE£100Ghost stories set in a bookshop - winning stories read at event - no word limit but stories must take less than 20 minutes to read aloud CLOSED, was a one-off
Pink Pen Short Story CompetitionUKQuarterlyQuarterly2,000£4.50£100Doesn't seem to be running anymore. Any style / genre - winners published on website and in ebook anthology - maximum of 100 entries, so competition might close early if 100 entries are received
Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society - William Wisdom Creative Writing CompetitionUSAVariesVaries10,000$35$1,500Any style / genre - winners might be published - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2022
Playboy Magazine College Fiction ContestUSAFebruary?5,000$5*$3,000Any style / genre - entrants must be a college student over 18 years of age - no entry fee for Playboy subscribers - winner published in Playboy, 2nd prize $300, 3rd prize $150, 2nd and 3rd receive free subscription to Playboy for a year - CLOSED 2015
Playing Bingo Short Story CompetitionUKFebruaryMarch3,000FREE£300Any style / genre, but theme is about Bingo. Winners and short listed stories published on the site and in an anthology - CLOSED 2014
Play With Death Short Story CompetitionVietnam20th February 2015Mar-1510,000FREE$50Any style / genre, but must be REALLY scary - winners published in eBook
Plymouth Writers Group Open Writing CompetitionUKJanuary?2,000£5£250Any style / genre - winners published in anthology and on website - HASN'T RUN for a year, so removed from lists 2019
Poetic Republic Short Story PrizeUKApril?3,000£12£2,000Any style / genre - winners and shortlisted entries published in eBook - participants read each other's work and effectively judge the competition, see link for details - SITE NOT UPDATED SINCE 2015, so removed listing 2017
Portable Story Series CompetitionUSATri-AnnuallyTri-Annually4,500$10See notesAny style / genre - top prize is $250 or 75% of submission fees (whichever is greater) and winning story professionally recorded (valued at $5500) and made available on the website as a free download - each contest supports 3 charitable organisations - NOT RUN SINCE 2017, so removed listing 2019
Prarie Fire Press Short Fiction ContestCanadaNovember?10,000C$32C$1,250Any style / genre - entry includes 1 year subscription to Prarie Fire magazine - winners published in the magazine and paid for publication - CLOSED THEIR CONTESTS IN 2019 🙁
Print Express Children’s Short Story CompetitionUK31st March 201714th April 2017500FREESee notesAny style or genre - top prize is £50 in book tokens and £175 in book tokens for the winner's school - open to children between 5 and 13 (two age brackets - 5 to 9 and 10 to 13) - winners published on the website - this is a one-off competition - CLOSED, was a one-off
Print Express Flash Fiction CompetitionUK31st July 20165th August 2016150FREE£100*Any style or genre - prize paid in Amazon vouchers - winner published on website - ONE-OFF CLOSED 2016
Print What Matters 'Write Christmas' CompetitionUKNovemberDecember200FREESee notesAny style / genre but themed around Christmas - open to children aged between 4 and 11 - winner receives a stocking filled with £50 worth of goodies and winner's primary school receives £1,500 - top 50 entries published in an e-book - NOT RUN since 2016, so removed listing 2019
Prole Books Prolitzer Prize Short Story CompUK21st January 2024Announced in Prole Issue 35, 20242,500£5£200Any style / genre - winner published online and in print - CLOSED, was a one-off
Prole Books Prolitzer Prize Short Story CompUKOctoberDecember2,500£4£200Any style / genre (I think - guide says 'writing that is accessible to all while not sacrificing quality') - winner published on website and possible publication through Prole - CLOSED, not run since 2016 so removed from lists 2018 - OPENED UP AGAIN in 2023/2024 as a one-off
Pulp Fictional Short Story CompetitionUKMayAugust2,500£9£250Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - £9 entry fee allows two stories to be submitted - winners published in anthology - they also run a flash fiction competition - NOTE ON WEBSITE SAID ALL COMPS CANCELLED, so removed listing 2024
Reader's Digest 100-Word-Story CompetitionUKFebruaryMarch100FREE£1,000Any style / genre but entries must be exactly 100 words in length - the full details of this contest have been moved to a dedicated resource for very short story competitions - DISAPPEARED during 2018
Reader's Digest 100-Word-Story CompetitionUKFebruaryMarch100FREESee notesAny style / genre but entries must be exactly 100 words in length - 2 age groups: under 12s and 12-18 year olds - winner in each group wins a Samsung Galaxy S2 Tablet, a Samsung Gear S watch and money for their school - NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing 2019
Red Tuque Books Inc Short Story CompetitionCanadaDecemberMarch5,000C$15C$500Any style / genre - winners published in anthology - CLOSED 2017
Rejected Manuscripts Short Fiction CompetitionTaiwanDecemberJanuary1,500FREESee notesAny style / genre but stories must have been previously rejected for publication - winners decided by website visitors - top voted manuscripts published in anthology, authors receive a share of profits - WEBSITE NOT UPDATED SINCE 2020, so removed listing during 2022 update
Remastered WordsUKMayAugust5,000FREE£75Any style but different genres every year, so check website for current genre - prize money may increase if lots of writers enter - winner's story will be produced into an audio short and included in an audio anthology - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2024
Renay Allen's Woman vs. Muse Writing CompetitionAustraliaAprilMay2,500A$10A$100Any style / genre - themed, so check website for current theme - all proceeds go to charity MS Queensland - NOT RUN SINCE 2014
Rochdale Literature Festival Bite-sized EnlightenmentUK19th September 2015Oct-15500FREESee notesAny style / genre - winners get to perform their story alongside acclaimed flash fiction writer, David Gaffney CLOSED
Rosemary Goodacre Memorial Short Story CompetitionUK31st March 2022Jun-221,500£7.50£150Any style or genre but the theme is 'friendship' - the winning stories won't be published, so that writers have the opportunity to be published elsewhere - CLOSED, was a one-off
Rubery Short Story CompetitionUKOctober?3,000£7.50£600Any style / genre - winners and shortlisted stories published in an anthology - 2nd prize £150, 3rd prize £50 - STOPPED RUNNING 2015
Ruler's Wit Dark and Light CompetitionUK31st July 2021Aug-213,000FREESee notesAny style or subject, but themed around dark and light - prize is a free copy-edit (up to 5,000 words); a free session with a writing mentor; a free 500-word marketing/blog post; a free cover design - winners publication in an anthology published in paperback and eBook formats - CLOSED, was a one-off
Ruler's Wit "Hamster Stories for Adults – A Tenuous Grip on Reality" Writing CompetitionUK8th March 202422nd March 20243,000FREESee notesStories must have a tenuous link to a hamster (or hamsters) but not necessarily be about hamsters - winners can choose from the following (1st place winner gets first choice): Book cover design, developmental edit of 3,000 words, copy-edit of 3,000 words, proofread of 3,000 words and a mentoring session for 3,000 words - winning stories published in a book - CLOSED, was one-off
Ruminate Magazine William Van Dyke Short Story PrizeUSAVariesVaries5,500$20$1,500Any style / genre - winner and runner up published in Ruminate Magazine - they recommend that you read previous winners to see the preferred style - to find competition details, go to the 'submit' section of the site -NOT PUBLISHED SINCE 2022, so removed listing 2024
RWL Short Story CompetitionUKQuarterlyQuarterly10,000FREE£100Any style / genre - winners published on website - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED in 2019
Ryedale Book Festival Short Story CompetitionUKVariesVaries8,000FREE£250Any style / genre - ten winning stories published in print and ebook formats by Blackthorn Press - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing in 2020 update
Sash Writing CompetitionUK10th October 2014Early 20153,000FREESee notesAny genre, but theme is 'Homeless' - prize is an Arvon 5 day residential writing course - entry is free, but donations to the charity running the competition would be welcomed - winners might be published in an anthology - CLOSED, was a one off
SaveAs Writers "The Bigger Picture - Reflections on the Great War" Writing CompetitionUK23rd August 2014October 20143,000£3£50Themed around the first world war - winners published in pamphlet - CLOSED
Scare the Dickens Out of Us Short Story ContestTX, USAOctoberDecember5,000$20$1,000Ghost stories only - nice cash prizes and trophies, but no publication for winners - the competition is run as a fundraiser for the Dr. Eugene Clark Library in Lockhart, Texas - sadly, this comp closed in 2013
Scriggler BNBS Crime Thriller Short Story CompetitionUK31st January 201528th February 20157,500FREESee notesCrime thriller - 10 to 12 winning entries published in an anthology - no monetary prize - proceeds of anthology go to charity
SEAM Short Story Jam CompetitionUSAMonthlyMonthlyno max statedFREE$100Any style / genre - choice of themes, see website for more details - CLOSED 2015
Secant Publishing and Book Bin's "Best Stories on the Human Impact of Climate Change" Short Story ContestUSA1st March 2024May 20243,000$10$1,000Any style / genre - winner published online and in print - CLOSED, was one-off
Secant Publishing 'The Year’s Best Dog Stories'USA1st May 202121st June 20213,000$10$500Any style / genre but theme is communication between dogs and humans - winners published in an anthology by Secant Publishing, in coordination with contest sponsor The Greyhound-An Indie Bookstore, in Berlin, Maryland - CLOSED, was a one-off
Secret Attic Short Story CompetitionUKMarchMay3,000£7£500Any style / genre - winning stories published online - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2024
Segora Short Story CompetitionFranceJuneAugust3,000£8£300Any style / genre - winners published on the Poetry Prose & Plays website and they publish an anthology every couple of years - they also run a variety of other writing competitions, so check the website for details - CLOSED 2022 after 15 years of running competitions
Selfpublishing.ie Winter Warmer Writing CompetitionIrelandDecemberJanuary1,250FREESee notesAny style / genre - themed, check website for current theme - winner receives a place at Listowel Writers’ Week Workshop, 2nd and 3rd place receive Amazon vouchers - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2016
Sentinel Literary Short Story CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre - winners published in Sentinel Literary Magazine - their short story competition is currently under review, but the poetry competition they run is still operating - SHORT STORY COMP NO LONGER RUNNING, so removed listing in 2020 update
Severance Publications Writing CompetitionsUKVariesVariesVariesFREE£50Any style / genre but each competition has a different theme, so check website for current details - winners published in anthologies - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2019
Shade of Loud Short Story CompetitionUKJanuaryMarch1,500£5£250Any style / genre - themed, so check website for current theme - CLOSED 2014
Short Story Land Writing ContestUSABiannuallyBiannually4,500$19$500Any style / genre - multiple cash prizes - winners published on website and in an anthology by Myakka Press - CLOSED 2020
Short Story Project CompetitionIsraelVariesVaries2,500$17$5,000Any style or genre but themed so check website for current details - runs 2 or 3 times a year, so entry times vary - winners published on website - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing from website during 2020 update
Sleek City Press Winter Fiction PrizeCanada7th December 202115th January 20225,000$7See notesAny style or subject, but prompt is 'double life' - top prize is full editorial mark-up plus co-piloting on up to 20,000 words of portfolio - cash prizes for second and third - CLOSED, was a one-off
Slingink Short Story CompetitionUKMonthlyMonthly2,000FREE£30Any style / genre - winners published in Slingink Magazine - RETIRED LISTING 2022 - NOTE: I received a message from one of my email list subscribers telling me the slingink email address had stopped working in July 2022. I tested it and my email bounced. I tried contacting Eva (who runs Slingink) via Twitter but the account does not accept messages. As there is no other way of contacting them, I have had to retire the listing.
Small but Mighty Writers Competition for 7 to 11 year oldsUKQuarterlyQuarterly1,000FREESee notesAny style / genre but sometimes themed so check website for current details - entrants must be 7 to 11 years old - winner receives a bundle of writing goodies and is published on the website, along with runners up - NOT RUN since 2017, so deleted listing 2019
Small but Mighty Writers Competition for 12 to 15 year oldsUKQuarterlyQuarterly1,500FREESee notesAny style / genre but sometimes themed so check website for current details - entrants must be 12 to 15 years old - winner receives a bundle of writing goodies and is published on the website, along with runners up - deadlines are 1st of January, April, July, October - results on 14th of each month - NOT RUN since 2017, so deleted listing 2019
Solopress Story Writing ContestUKFebruary 2013March 2013no maxsee notes£500Any style / genre - 500 word minimum, no maximum - the £500 prize is paid in Amazon vouchers, not cash - rather than an entry fee, you have to like them on Facebook, subscribe to their blog and link to their site from your blog (where you also have to publish your story) - CLOSED
Solution Loans Short Story CompetitionUKBiannuallyBiannuallyVariesFREE£200Any style / genre, but themed, so check website for current details - winners published on the Solution Loans website - started off as an annual competition, but due to the success of the inaugural contest, is now running twice a year - When this competition launched, I received a few concerns on Twitter. Some writers were worried that Solution Loans were exploiting writers for free content. I wrote to Solution Loans about these concerns and received this response: "The idea to sponsor a Short Story competition actually came from one of our employees who is a keen writer, and regularly enters competitions in her spare time. We thought it was a great idea, so offered to support it. Finance can be a pretty dull area so we’re always looking for new ideas and ways to link to our Solution Loans brand. It’s just a form of sponsorship really – a bit like Costa and Bailey’s sponsoring book awards! Yes, there are prizes - £200 for the winner and 3 x £50 for runners up. Only the four winning entries will be published on the website, and if a writer has a concern about that then I’m sure we could have a separate discussion. There’s no question about us gaining free content. We already employ a number of freelance writers to produce our blog and social media posts. Hopefully aspiring writers will see it as an opportunity to have their work recognised and published and win a cash prize. Alex Silverman, Competition Co-Ordinator" I understand the concerns of the writers who queried the legitimacy of this contest. However, having worked in digital marketing, I also understand what Solution Loans are doing. I've done the same things for clients in the past. As the competition is legitimate, and Solution Loans were good enough to prepare the response above, I will be continuing to list the contest on my website. Winning writers receive cash prizes, so I don't believe they are being exploited - they are being paid for their stories. I hope this resolves any concerns, but if not, please feel free to contact me. NOT RUN FOR A YEAR, so removed listing during 2020 update
Sophie King PrizeUKJanuaryMarch2,500FREESee notesRomantic fiction only - the winning story will be recorded professionally and broadcast via an audio player on the Sophie King website - the winner also receives a £50 voucher for an online shop called the Handpicked Collection and a silver plated jug - no longer running
Sons of Joy Short Story CompetitionUSAMonthlyMonthly1,000FREE$100Any style / genre - themed about food, check website for current theme - prize paid as Visa giftcard - winners published on the website - CLOSED
Southampton University Green Stories CompetitionUK19th April 2018June 20183,500FREE£200Any style / genre but themed, so check website for full details - winning stories published in anthology and distributed via organisations interested in sustainability CLOSED, was a one-off
Southern Pacific Review Short Story CompetitionSouth AmericaMarchAprilno maxFREE$100Any style / genre - entries accepted in English or Spanish - winning entries published in the Southern Pacific Review - CLOSED 2017 after 6 years of publication
Southlands Art Centre Creative Writing CompetitionUK31st July 20245th October 20243,000£3£100Theme is "the apple" - 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 - CLOSED, was a one-off
SouthWestFest Annual Writing CompetitionUKJuneJune500£3£50Any style / genre but themed so check website for current theme - winners published on website, recorded for radio/podcast and included in a curated art exhibition at Abbey Centre, London - shortlisted entries will be invited to exhibit at the art exhibition and may be chosen for recording opportunities - also accept poetry and scripts - NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing 2017
Speakando European Literary CompetitionItalyMayJune1,840£10Up to €1,000Any style / genre but themed so check website for current theme - prize is dependent on number of entries, so might be less - winners published on website - NOT RUN SINCE 2015, so removed listing 2017
Spinetinglers Short Story CompetitionN IrelandMonthlyMonthly5,000FREE£100Themed, so check website for current theme - 2nd prize £50, 3rd, 4th and 5th prizes of £25 - each monthly winner published in yearly anthology - NOT RUN SINCE 2015, so removed from site 2017
Staunch Short Story PrizeUKSeptemberOctober3,500FREESee notesA prize for thrillers in which no woman is beaten, stalked, sexually exploited, raped or murdered - winners receive publicity and might be published in anthology - CLOSED 2022
Stirling Health Food Store 'I Love Nature' CompetitionScotland4th October 201517th October 2015See notesFREESee notesAny style / genre - 3 age groups: 7 – 10 years old 500 words max; 11 – 14 years old 750 words max; 15 – 18 years old 1,000 words max - winners receive an animal themed prize that supports the RSPB and the SSPCA CLOSED, was a one-off
Stirling Robyns Publishing Short Story CompetitionUK/USAQuarterlyQuarterly5,000$3$100Any style / genre - winners published in anthology and on website - winner also receives a free reading of their novel/novella/poetry chapbook - not run since 2017, so removed listing 2019
Storgy Short Story CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre - winners published on the website and in the Storgy Competition Anthology - prizes vary but have been up to £1,000 in the past - CONTEST NOT RUN FOR YEARS, so removed listing during 2022 update
Storgy's 'Shallow Creek' CompetitionUK31st August 2018September5,000£10£500Prompt competition - entrants emailed a character, location (within Shallow Creek) and item that needs to be used in story, see link for full details - winners published in Shallow Creek Anthology - CLOSED, was a one-off
Story Planner Monthly Writing CompetitionUKMonthlyMonthly1,000FREESee notesAny style / genre but for a novel or short story outline or summary - winners receive writing books and free subscription to the site - CLOSED MAY 2016
Streetcake Experimental Writing PrizeUK14th June 2019Summer 20192,500£1See notesAny style or subject - two age bands (18-21 and 22-26) - winners receive personalised mentoring sessions - other prizes include personalised feedback and book bundles - winners published online and in a hardcopy anthology - also accept poems - CLOSED, was a one-off
Stringybark Dog Eat Dog Short Story AwardAustralia16th July 201726th September 20171,500$12$450Any style or genre, but inspired by cliches, so check website for full details - winners published in anthology - CLOSED, was a one-off
Stringybark Stories Seven Deadly Sins Short Story AwardAustralia23rd April 201711th July 20171,500$12$450Any style or genre but themed around the 7 deadly sins - winners and highly commended stories published - Notes on Stringybark Award: Any style or genre but themed around the 7 deadly sins - winners and highly commended stories published - CLOSED 2017, was a one-off
Subtopian Magazine Short Story CompetitionUSAMay 30th 2014?1,000$10$100Any style / genre, but stories must be written in the first person and be on the topic of a Dystopian future - 20 winning stories published in anthology and performed live on stage in Portland - winners will receive a digital copy of the performance - if successful, this will become a regular short story competition CLOSED
Sunday Times EFG Short Story AwardUKVariesVaries6,000FREE£30,000Any style / genre - offers the largest prize for a single short story that I'm aware of - you can enter from anywhere, but have to have a history of prior publication in creative writing in the UK or Ireland - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED IN 2022, and all mention of the comp online was from 2021, so removed listing during 2023 update
Swansea & District Writers' Circle Short Story CompetitionWalesVariesVaries2,500£6£150Any style or genre but themed, so check website for current details - winners published in eAnthology - top prize includes 1 year’s free membership of Swansea Writers’ Circle - NO MENTION OF COMPETITION ON WEBSITE, so removed listing 2017
Swanezine Short Story CompetitionUKAugustSeptember1,000FREE£30Any style or genre - UK residents only, 2 entries per author. This is a new competition, launched in 2012. Shortlisted stories will be published on the website - CLOSED 2014
Swansea Writers WW1 Short Story CompetitionWales16th June 2014July 20142,500£5£100Stories must be about the first world war - winners published in an anthology CLOSED
Sweek's Writing CompetitionsHollandVariesVariesVariesFREEVariesAny style / genre - Sweek run a wide variety of regular writing competitions, so it's best to check the website to see what's currently running - ONLY RUN FLASH FICTION NOW, so moved listing to flash comps page
Sweek's Write Your 2017 CompetitionHolland31st January 20179th February 2017No maxFREESee notesAny style or genre - winners receive Samsung Galaxy Tab and various plus multiple giftcards up to $75 in value - winners published on website - CLOSED, was a one-off
Swift Satire Festival Battle of the Books CompetitionIrelandJulyJuly1,000€ 5€ 500Any style or genre but themed, so check website for current theme (humour is not essential, but will probably help!) - winners maybe published - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2016
Swoop Books Creative Writing CompetitionUKVariesVaries3,000£5£100Any style / genre but their contests are often themed or based on a prompt, so check website for current details - winners published in anthology - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2024
Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre 'The Page Is Printed' Creative Writing CompetitionUKVariesVaries1 side of A4£5£100Any style or genre - see the 'what's on' section of the website - short stories, poetry, or any type of creative writing but entries must be no longer than 1 side of A4 - entry fee includes a ticket to the evening event - lots of cash prizes in addition to winner - NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing in 2021 update
Talent River Shortz CompetitionUKSeptember?5,000FREESee notesAny style or genre - winner receives a £250 Amazon voucher - winner selected by public vote - winners published on website - look in the 'About' section of the website under 'Writing' to find the details - SITE ABANDONED 2014
Tales of Eltham Short Story CompetitionUK21st February 201423rd April 2014300FREE£15Any style / genre but stories must be set in Eltham, London SE9, UK - winners published on the website CLOSED
Tamworth Literary Festival's Annual Writing CompetitionUKVariesVaries1,500£4£100Any style or genre - winners published in anthology - NOT RUN SINCE 2020, so removed listing during 2022 update
Tarbert Book Festival Writing CompetitionScotland30th June 2016October500£5See notesAny style or genre, but theme is 'West Coast Wonders' - top prize is a week's course at Moniack Mhor - all shortlisted entrants receive a critique and a festival pass - may become an annual competition in the future - ONE-OFF CLOSED 2016
Tartan Treasures ‘Dear Diary’ competitionScotland20th February 2015?See notesFREESee notesThemed, see website for details - 2 categories; under 16's, max words 400, prize Kindle Fire HD Tablet; over 16's, max words 800, prize Dinner and B&B for 2 at the Carnoustie Golf Hotel
Thanet Writers Short Story CompetitionUKMayNovember5,000FREE£1,000Any style / genre but entrants must have some sort of link / connection with Thanet - shortlisted entries published in print anthology - longlisted entries receive a payment of £10 and published online - did not run in 2021, but have left listing live for now in case it runs in 2022 - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2022, so removed listing during 2023 update
Thapasvi Manoharam Publications ContestIndia1st September 2022September 20221,500FREE₹500Any style or subject, but themed, so check website for full details - they accept entries in English - site is not presented in English, so use Google Translate to view it - they also accept poetry up to 25 lines in length - CLOSED, was a one-off
Theatre Cloud 'Tell A Tale' CompetitionUK19th November 201624th November 2016500FREE£300Any style or genre but themed so check website for details - all shortlisted stories performed by an actor, recorded and made available online - CLOSED, was a one-off competition
The Bedford Competition's Rainbow Short Story PrizeUK31st October 2020December 20203,000£6£500Any style / genre but for writers aged 70+ years - all proceeds donated to charities helping COVID-19 victims - winning stories published in paperback and Kindle formats - CLOSED, was a one-off
The Blend Future Visions AwardAustraliaVariesVaries7,000Varies$500Any style or genre - winner published in The Blend journal - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2020
The Caterpillar Story for Children PrizeIrelandSeptemberDecember1,500€ 12€ 1,000Any style / genre but story must be written by an adult for children aged 7-11 - winners published by The Caterpillar - they sometimes run a poetry prize instead of short story prize - HASN'T RUN SINCE 2019, so removed listing during 2022 update
The Cult Of Me Short Fiction ContestIcelandMonthlyMonthly500FREE£50Any style / genre but inspired by a different image each month, so check website for current picture - prizes paid via PayPal or as an Amazon voucher - winners published on the website - CLOSED MAY 2016
The Dillydoun Short Story PrizeUSAOctoberOctober8,000$25$5,000Any style / genre - generous runner-up prizes - winners published in The Dillydoun Review - all other entries considered for publication in a TDR Issue or TDR Daily - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2024
The Once and Future Moon Anthology from Eibonvale PressUK30th April 2019Summer5,000FREE£10Award-winning editor Allen Ashley says: "I am pleased to announce that I am editing a brand new fiction anthology called The Once and Future Moon for Eibonvale Press. I am looking for unpublished science fiction and science fantasy stories involving the Moon. Must relate to Luna – not Jovian moons, Martian moons, etc. Sorry, no flash and no poetry." - CLOSED, was a one-off
The Maine Review Writing ContestME, USASeptemberNovember1,500$10$150Any style / genre - winners published in The Maine Review and all submissions also considered for publication - COMPETITION NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing 2017
The Missing Slate New Voices Fiction Writing Competition 2014Pakistan1st July 2014August 201410,000$10$150Any style / genre - winner and runners up published in print anthology - if enough people enter, the prize money will increase - although the magazine originated in Pakistan, the editorial staff are sprawled across five continents and have published poetry and fiction from over 50 countries including work from Pulitzer winner (and Booker Prize 2013 shortlisted writer) Jhumpa Lahiri, Musharraf Ali Farooqi, Mohsin Hamid, Moniza Alvi, Kamila Shamsie, Anis Shivani, Luke Kennard, S.J. Fowler, Jeet Thayil, Sidin Vadukut, Tishani Doshi, Shikha Malaviya, Anuradha Roy, Ravi Shankar, among others CLOSED
The Monkey Collective's Monkey CollectionUKQuarterlyQuarterly5,000FREESee notesAny style / genre - winners published in short story collection and get a royalty on sales - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2019
The People’s Friend Writing CompetitionUK5th February 202424th February 20242,000FREE£10,000Any style / genre - entrants must be amateur, unpublished writers - accepted categories are Romance, Thriller and Comedy, with each category having an under 30 age group and over 30 age group subcategory - CLOSED, was a one-off
The Phare WriteWords Short Story CompetitionUKJanuaryFebruary2,000£8£100Any style or genre - also has poetry and flash fiction categories - winners published in anthology - COMPETITION NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing 2024
The Print Express Haiku CompetitionUK31st October 20164th November 2016N/AFREESee notesFamily friendly haikus - top prize is £100 Amazon voucher - CLOSED, was a one-off competition
The Red Line Short Story CompetitionUKBi-MonthlyBi-Monthly3,500FREE£50Any style / genre - themed, so check the website for the current theme - winners and short listed entries published on the website CLOSED 2016
The Short Story CompetitionUKSeptemberDecember5,000£8£500Any style / genre except sci-fi, fantasy or stories for children - winner published on the website - NOT RUN SINCE 2019, so removed listing during 2022 update
The Squat Pen Rests Short Story Writing CompetitionUKQuarterly (ish)See notes2,000£3£50Any style / genre but each competition has prompt, so check website for current details - shortlisted writers read at live short story performance event held in Swindon, UK, where the winner is selected by the audience - in addition to cash, winner receives a mug emblazoned with ‘Writing Champion of the World’ (or similar) - all finalists' stories published on the competition website and receive a runners-up mug - not run since Jan 2018 so removed listing 2019
The Steyning Festival Short Story Prize 2018UK11th March 2018May-182,500£5£200Any style / genre - entrants must live or have lived in East or West Sussex - winners published on West Sussex Writers website - trophy awarded to winner - CLOSED, was a one-off
The Trafalgar Way Short Story ContestUK6th November 2018Jan-19See notesFREE£500Any style or genre but themed, so check website for full details - 3 age categories: ages 7-11, 500 words, top prize £100; ages 12-16, 1,000 words, top prize £250; ages 17-21, 2,500 words, top prize £500 - prize presentations take place on HMS Victory - winners published in book - CLOSED, was a one-off
The Woolf Short Story CompetitionSwitzerlandDecemberFebruary2,00020 CHF150 CHFAny style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - 3 winning entries win a cash prize and publication in The Woolf- sometimes run a poetry competition instead of short story - NOT RUN SINCE 2017, so removed listing 2019
The World's Greatest Writing CompetitionAustralia9th November 201310th November 2013no max statedFREESee notesAny style / genre - re the prize, I'm told all entrants will be able to gain some benefit either in the form of financial benefit and/or exposure to TWGWC's global audience - may become a regular comp - CLOSED
The Woven TalePress Hampton’s CompetitionUSAVariesVariesVariesVariesSee notesAny style / genre - top prize is a retreat in the Hamptons, NY - top 3 stories published in print and eBook - runs every year, but one year is short story, the next poetry (2020 poetry, 2021 short story etc.) - COMPETITION NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing in 2021 update
The Write PlaceUKAugust?1,500£4.50£100Any style / genre - winning stories published on website
The Writing CompetitionUKQuarterlyQuarterly500£4£100Any style / genre - winners published on the website - website disappeared 2015
The Writing District CompetitionUSAMonthlyMonthly3,000FREE$50Any style / genre - winners published on website - NOT RUN FOR OVER 6 MONTHS, so removed listing during 2020 update
The Writing World Short Story CompetitionUKSee notesSee notes3,000£5£100Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - runs every month for a 6 month period between October and March - winners published in eBook anthology - Doesn't seem to be running anymore, so removed listing 2019
Thinkerbeat 'Shorties' Writing CompetitionUSAQuarterlyQuarterly3,000$4$125Any style / genre - winners published in anthology at the end of the year - entry includes a free copy of the previous year's anthology - 2nd prize $50; 3rd prize $25 - if enough people enter, prizes will be given to runners up CLOSED 2016
This Very Breath Flash Fiction CompetitionUSAsee notessee notes750$3$50Any style or genre - competition closes after 100 entries have been received - winners published in This Very Breath Journal - may become regular if first one is a success - Website disappeared 2016
Those That Breathe Environmental Writing CompetitionUKMonthly during 2021Monthly during 2021Varies£4See notesAny 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 short stories, flash fiction, non-fiction and poetry - CLOSED, was a one-off
Thresholds International Short Story ForumUKFebruaryApril2,000?£250Any style / genre - CLOSED
Tenby Arts FestivalWalesJulySeptember1,500£4£150Any style / genre - NO MENTION OF COMPETITION ON WEBSITE ANYMORE, so removed listing 2017
Totally 4 Women Short Story CompetitionUKMonthlyMonthlyVariesFREEVariesAny style / genre - themed, so check website for current theme - men and women are welcome to enter - winners published on the website - WEBSITE NOW REDIRECTS TO NON-WRITING RELATED WEBSITE so removed listing
Tryon Arts & Crafts School 'The Apparitionist' National Ghost Story CompetitionUSAAugustOctober5,500$10$200Ghost stories - winners published on website and their stories will be performed at the Black and White Gallery Show on Halloween - open to US residents only - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing 2020
TU Dublin Short Story CompetitionIrelandAugustOctober2,000FREE€ 500Any style or genre - winners published in an anthology - run by the Library, TU Dublin Tallaght Campus, in conjunction with South Dublin County Council and the Red Line Book Festival - the link takes you to the festival website and you need to look in the news section of the homepage to find details of the competition - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing during 2022 update
Twist & Twain Short Story ContestIndiaAugustVaries4,000Rs 499 / $9Rs 25,000 (approx £280 / $350)Any style / genre - entry for Indian residents is Rs 499, for international entries it is $9 - judged by international authors from US, India and more - winners published in Twist & Twain - generous prizes for runners up - CLOSED 2021
UK Short Story CompetitionUKAugustOctober2,500£12£1,000Any style / genre except children's or erotica - 2nd prize £500, 3rd prize £250, 27 x runner-up prizes £50 - top 30 stories published in a book which has 10,000 copies distributed throughout the UK - CLOSED, website disappeared 2017
Umm Kulthum Short Story CompetitionEgypt1st January 2015?2,000FREESee notesAny style or genre - winners published in a book - entries in Arabic only - CLOSED, was a one-off
Under the Hood 'Hooded Monster' ContestUSA31st August 202030th September 202010,000FREE$100For stories about facing down a monster and overcoming it - winners published on website and reviewed on YouTube - for US residents only - CLOSED, was a one-off
University College London 'Changing The Human Brain' Writing CompetitionUK15th September 2013?1,500FREE?Themed: the brain - more details to follow - CLOSED
University of Bristol Secret Life of Data: Short Story CompetitionUK12th September 2022October / November 20224,000FREE£1,000Any style or genre but stories must be themed around "what does our data looks like, what does it do or feel as it moves around hidden inside our phones, computers, digital devices, our apps and networks?" - generous prizes for runners up - winners published in anthology - CLOSED, was a one-off
Valentine's Day Ideas Romantic Story ContestUSAFebruary?3,000FREE$1,000Romance and love stories - 9 runner's up prizes - winning stories published on the website and in an eBook - NO LONGER RUNNING
Vanda 'n' Linda's Write Space Short Story CompetitionUKBi-AnnuallyBi-Annually2,000£6£250Any style / genre - winners published on website - they also run other free contests throughout the year, so best to check website for current details - CLOSED 2018
Vintiques Of Surrey Curious Tales CompetitionUK1st September 2022September / October 20223,000FREESee notesAny style or genre but stories must be themed around items found in Vintiques Of Surrey online shops / social media / physical shop - prize is two tickets to Harry Potter Studios Tour London - CLOSED, was a one-off
Waiheke Island Literary Festival The Collinson’s Short Story CompetitionNew ZealandSeptemberNovember2,000NZ$20See notesThemed, so check website for current details - the top prize (worth NZ$475) is a place on a creative writing course by The Creative Hub, Auckland’s waterfront writing centre, either in class or online - NOT RUN SINCE 2015, so removed listing 2017
Wakefield District Sight Aid Short Story CompetitionUK31st August 201627th September 20162,000£5£100Any style or genre - winning stories published on website - any money raised from the competition will be used to help visually impaired people - CLOSED
Wanderway Short Story Travel Writer's CompetitionUSA / MaltaDecemberJanuary5,000FREESee notesAny style / genre but themed so check website for current details - prize is a 'travel essentials package' which consists of lots of travel kit donated by outdoor gear companies - if they wish to, the winner can sell their story for publication on the Wanderway website - NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing Jan 2018
Webook Writing CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesThemes, lengths, styles, genres and prizes vary - check website for current requirements - CLOSED, now a novel competition, so see novel comps lists for details, might reopen short story contest in future, will update if that happens
West Country Writers' Association Short Story CompetitionUKDecember?1,200£5£50Any style / genre - entrants must have had no more than 2 short stories professionally published, or read on the radio - the winning story will be published on the WCWA website - CLOSED
Westgate Literary Festival CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre - winners published in a festival anthology - often have different age categories - WEBSITE HASN'T BEEN UPDATED FOR 2 YEARS, so removed listing during 2021 update
West Sussex Writers National Short Story CompetitionUKMarchJuly3,000£5£250Any style / genre (not children's) - NOT RUN SINCE 2015, so removed listing 2017
WGM Atlantic Young Writers' Short Story CompetitionUK20th June 202015th July 2020See notesFREE£75Any style / genre but themed around favourite animals - for children aged between 5 and 12 - 2 categories: 5-8 (500 word limit) and 9-12 (750 word limit) - CLOSED, was a one-off
Willesden Herald Short Story CompetitionUKAugust?7,500£5See notesAny style / genre - winner receives the Willesden Herald Mug and a bottle of champagne - after 150 entries have been received, all fees go into a prize fund that will be divided among the ten winning authors - winners published in an anthology - NOT RUN since 2017, so removed listing 2019
Willesden Herald Short Story CompetitionUKDecember?7,500£3£300Any style / genre - the ten short-listed stories will be published in "New Short Stories #" - an anthology by Pretend Genius Press - CLOSED 2014 and REOPENED 2016, so see lists above
Willowdown Books 'RH Cunningham Memorial' Short Story CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre but themed, so check site for current theme - winners and runners up published in anthology - UK comp but prize is paid in dollars NOT RUN SINCEW 2020, so removed listing 2024
Wimbledon Bookfest Young Writers' CompetitionUKApril?500FREEiPadThemed, so check website for current details - winners published in 'Bookfest Book of Stories' anthology - various categories for different age groups - NOT RUN since 2017, so removed listing 2019
Winchester Writers' Festival Short Story CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesStyle and genre vary - Winchester Writers', associated with the University of Winchester, run 10 (yep, you read that right - ten) different writing contests - check the website for full details - did not run in 2019, planning to run again in 2020 - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing during 2021 update
Winning Writers Sports Fiction & Essay ContestMA, USAMay?6,000$15$1,000Any style / genre, but must have a sporting theme - winners published on the Winning Writers website - CLOSED 2014
Wise Writer Award Short Story ContestBrazilJuneJuly2,500$13$2,000Any style / genre - winners published on website - during 2020 update I noticed that no winners have been announced in 2019, even though that was promised back in November, so have emailed them to see what is going on and removed listing until I hear back from them
Wollongong Writers Festival Short Story PrizeAustraliaOctoberNovember2,500$15A$1000Any style / genre, but themed, so check website for current details - winner published in Mascara Literary Review - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2021
Word Hut Short Story CompetitionUKQuarterlyQuarterly1,000£4£70Any style / genre - winners published on the Word Hut website - also see the meet the writer and writers' showcase sections of the website as these can offer great exposure to new authors (I've been published by Word Hut, you can read more about the competition here) - CLOSED 2016
Word Periscope's Wordsmiths CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre but check website for current theme - top prize has been up to £1,500 in the past - winners published online - CLOSED 2021, they now run a flash fiction competition instead called 'The Periscope Prize' on a new website
Words & Women ‘About’ Writing CommissionUK26th September 2014?See notes£12See notesAny style or genre, but only open to women living in East England - story must explore the life of women and their relationship to place in East England - prize is worth £950 - £1,400, paying authors to write and be mentored by Words & Women - writers submit a proposal, a CV and a writing sample, best to check website for more details - CLOSED
Words & Women Short Prose CompetitionUKNovemberJanuary2,200£10See notesAny style / genre - 2 categories; 1st is women living or working in East England with a top prize of £600; 2nd is for women living in the UK aged over 40 and has a top prize of £1,000 - winners and shortlisted entries published in an anthology, published in partnership with Unthank Books in Norwich - currently on a break, but hoping to get funding to continue - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing in 2020
Words Alike 'Écrire' CompetitionAustraliaAprilVaries10,000FREE$30Any style / genre but check website for current theme - winning stories published as PDF ebook - NOT RUN SINCE 2020, so removed listing during 2022 update
Words for the WoundedUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / genre - their writing competitions vary every year, so check the website for current details - CLOSED 2021
Words Just Words Science Fiction Short Story CompetitionUKMayJuly3,500£3.50£50Science Fiction - winners published in printed anthology - CLOSED 2013
Words Mag Short Story CompetitionUKBi-AnnuallyBi-Annually2,000VariesVariesAny style / genre - all winning and commended short stories are published in Words Magazine and online anthologies - entry fee varies, but is often free - prizes up to £75 - WEBSITE HACKED, so removed listing 2020
Words on the Waves WOW! AwardIrelandNovemberFebruary3,000€ 15€ 750Any style / genre - winners published in WOW! anthology - Words on the Waves is affiliated with Words on the Street publishers - LAST RUN 2015, so removed listing 2017
Words with Jam Short Story CompetitionUKNovemberFebruary2,500£6£500Any style / genre - run by Triskele Books - they also run other writing competitions, so check the website for full details - NOT RUN SINCE 2017, so removed listing in 2020 update
World City Stories Short Story CompetitionIreland30th Sept 2015Oct-153,500FREE€ 100Any style / genre, but story must be set in a city - winners published on the website - this competition may become a regular comp depending on popularity - CURRENTLY CLOSED
Worlds Adrift Creative Writing Contest - See Your Work In-GameUK9th February 2016?500FREESee notesAny style / genre - winner's work will feature in the game 'Worlds Adrift' as a piece of discoverable lore - ONE-OFF, CLOSED 2016
Write a Story for ChildrenUKMarchMay2,000£3£2,000Children's - CLOSED 2015
Writers Fest Writing ContestCanadaVariesVaries1,500VariesVariesAny style / genre - sometimes for adults, sometimes for younger writers - prizes up $300 - check website for current details - COMPETITION NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing 2022
Writers' ForumUKMonthlyMonthly3,000£6, £3 for subscribers£300Any style / genre - top 3 stories published in Writers' Forum magazine (I've won this competition in the past, so you can read more about it here - more recently, Rhiannon Lewis also won the competition and she's kindly written about her experiences here, including details of the exact process she used to win) - CLOSED 2023
Writer's Notebook Short Story CompetitionUKMonthlyMonthly1,500FREESee notesThemed, check website for current theme - winners published in an anthology at the end of the year - CLOSED, website has not been updated since 2015 so removed from lists
Writers' ReignUKMayJuly1,500£3.50£100Themed, so check their website for current theme - winning stories published on Writers' Reign website - 2 entries for £6 - NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing Jan 2018
Writers Type Short Story CompetitionUSAMonthlyMonthly6,000$10$25Any style / genre - prize awarded as an electronic gift card - each monthly winner and runner up is automatically entered into the yearly part of the competition which has a prize of a $225 gift card - winners published on the website - they also run a 'flash fiction' and 'first chapter' competition, check the website for more details - CLOSED 2016
Writers' VillageUKBi-AnnuallyBi-Annually3,000£15£1,000Any style / genre - all entries receive critique or tips on how to improve their writing, so you get feedback from the judges which is excellent - 2nd prize now £500, third prize of £250 and there are 15 runner up prizes of £50 - winners and runners up published on the website (I have been published through this competition - read more about it here) - Suspended in 2016 but might come back
Writer's Workout Writer's Games CompetitionUSAAprilJuneVariesFREESee notesAny style / genre, but themed, so check website for current prompts - winner receives free social media consultation ($75 value), free copy of Games Anthology and an interview on Writer’s Workout website - all entrants receive critiques - winners are published in the Games Anthology, all proceeds go to charity - WEBSITE NOT UPDATED FOR OVER A YEAR, so removed from lists Jan 2018
WriterWriter's International Short Story CompetitionUKQuarterlyQuarterly7,500$4$75Alternates genres between sci-fi, fantasy,  and horror so check website for current details - winner author interview published on personalised author page on website - winners published on our website - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED IN 2019, so removed listing in 2020 update
Writing Magazine 'Iceland Writers' Retreat Northern Lights Competition'England / Iceland3rd January 2016Feb-16500FREESee notesAny style / genre - winners receive a writing retreat in Iceland with all flights and accommodation paid for, worth £1,500 - flights only available from UK airports - ONE-OFF COMPETITION, CLOSED 2016
Writing Times Children's Writing CompetitionUKQuarterlyQuarterly1,500FREEA bookAny style / genre but themed so check website for current details - prize is any book up to £10 in value - winners published in the Writing Times - also a prize for drawing - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED, so removed from lists Jan 2018
Writing Times Short Story Writing CompetitionUKDecemberMarch7,000£3£50Any style / genre but check website for current theme - winner published in the Writing Times along with a feature about the author - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED, so removed listing Jan 2018
Writing Times Senior's Writing CompetitionUKQuarterlyQuarterly1,500£1.50A bookAny style / genre but themed so check website for current details - prize is any book up to £10 in value - winners published in the Writing Times - CLOSED, website disappeared 2017
Writing Writers Christmas ChaosUKDecemberJanuary2,500£3£100Any style / genre but themed around Christmas - winner published on website - CANCELLED because judge pulled out
Wundor Short Fiction ContestUKFebruaryMarch45,000£10£500Any style / genre - 5,000 words minimum, 45,000 words maximum - novellas and collections of short stories also considered - winners published on website and strongly considered for publication in print - BECAME PHOTO COMPETITION, removed listing Jan 2018
XPRIZE Sci-Fi Anthology Short Story ContestUSA25th August 201729th September 20174,000FREESee notesSci-fi - winning stories published on website - winner receives all-expense paid trip for two worth $10,000 which includes flights, hotels, $1,500 spending money and more, so see website for full details CLOSED, was a one-off
Year of Listening CompetitionScotland28th October 201611th November 2016500FREESee notesAny style or genre but themed around 'What does listening mean to you?' - top prize is an MP3 player - winner is published on the website and in printed publications - CLOSED
Yoga Tribe Short Story CompetitionAustriaMarchApril8,000€ 15€ 500Any style / genre, but themed around yoga - prize is either cash or a yoga teacher training scholarship - CLOSED 2015
Youth 4 Tomorrow Horror Writing ContestPortugal31st December 2014Jan-155,000FREESee notesHorror - open to people aged up to 35 living in Portugal - you can submit in English or Portuguese - winners receive an award and are published in English and Portuguese in a digital anthology - CLOSED, was a one-off
YSCI-FI Cyberpunk Short Story CompetitionUK31st October 20171st December 20177,500FREE$150Sci-Fi subgenre Cyberpunk - winner receives cash and custom artwork for their story - CLOSED, was a one-off

More Writing Competition Lists

I hope you found this poetry competitions list helpful. You can find lots of other writing contest lists and other publishing opportunities by looking at the main writing competitions page, which contains links to all the resources on that topic.

More Writing Advice

I hope you found this "Short Story Competitions" page helpful. You can find lots of other publication opportunities and writing tips in the Advice section of this website.

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Christopher Fielden Est 2011

This website was established in 2011. In 2024, it was redesigned. Between 2011 and 2024, thousands of people left comments. I’d like to thank every person for their engagement – it’s greatly appreciated.

When the website was rebuilt, transferring comments comprising hundreds of thousands of words was not feasible. I may re-publish the old Short Story Competitions page comments here at some point. In the meantime, new comments can be left below.

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