Upcoming Writing Contests

The following is a list of upcoming writing contests. Be sure to carefully review any contest before entering. Pay close attention to the terms, rights, fees, prize money, judges and rules. You can also view a list of just the poetry contests and a list of writing contests for kids. You can also view a list of all the contests here.

We also recommend reading Alex Keegan's article about increasing your chances of winning writing contests.

Bridport Prize: Flash Fiction
A short flash fiction contest with a 250 word limit. It has a £1,000 first prize.
Deadline: May 31, 2026
Prizes: £1,000

L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest
The quarterly contest awards cash prizes of $1000, $750 and $500 are awarded every three months. It is open to original science fiction, fantasy and dark fantasy.
Deadline: June 30, 2026
Prizes: $1,000 cash top prize

Rattle Poetry Prize
The annual Rattle Poetry Prize offers $15,000 for a single poem. Ten finalists receive $500 each. There is also a $5,000 Readers' Choice Award.
Deadline: July 15, 2026
Prizes: $15,000 top prize

John Steinbeck Award for Fiction
Reed magazine is running the John Steinbeck Award for Fiction. Submissions must be 5,000 words or fewer. Submit through Submittable.
Deadline: October 1, 2026
Prizes: $1,000 prize