Category Archives: Contests March

Strange Circle Magazine Fiction Writing Competition

Posted on March 17, 2011 | Leave a comment

Entry Fee: Free

Deadline: March 21, 2011

Guidelines: Strange Circle Magazine

Strange Circle enjoys dark and strange horror fiction stories. Submissions may be up to 5000 words long, but you may only send in one story. That’s it. Just one. So make it your best.

Winners will receive a cash prize through PayPal. It’s quick and convenient to open an account if you don’t have one. Runners up will receive vouchers good at firstwriter.com.

For high dollar prize money contests, check out this article of writing contests closing in April.

Happy writing and buena suerte!

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Fish Magazine Anthology of Flash Fiction

Posted on March 15, 2011 | Leave a comment

Entry Fee: 14 Euros, 30 with critique

Deadline: March 20, 2011

Guidelines: 2011 Fish One Page Prize

I don’t want to waste your time here because this contest deadline is coming up quick. They’re looking for flash fiction stories of 300 words or less. They specify they want a complete story. That means beginning, middle, end, and resolution, in 300 words. The grand prize is 1000 Euros. So get writing. You don’t have much time!

Here is my list of free and almost free fiction contests ending in April. For bigger prize dollar contests that require an entry fee, check this fiction writing contest article.

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Samhain End of Days Anthology Call for Submissions

Posted on February 24, 2011 | Leave a comment

Entry fee: None

Deadline: March 1, 2011

Guidelines: Samhain Publishing

Payment: Royalties

If you have an end of the world, Mayan 2012 apocalyptic story, that includes horror or romance, consider sending it to Samhain Publishing for their End of Days anthology. Each of the stories should be 20,000 to 30,000 words long. They’ll be published in November 2011, then they’ll be published as separate e-books.

Samhain Publishing is a very well respected e-book publisher of romance and paranormal books. Colters’ Daughter, by Maya Banks, and published by Samhain made the NYT E-book Bestseller list and the USA Today Extended List. Their standards are high, so don’t just try to dash something off. Make it your best work.

Happy writing!

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Writers of the Future Contest

Posted on February 17, 2011 | Leave a comment

Entry Fee: FREE

Deadline: March 31,  June 30, September 30, December 31 every year.

Genre: Speculative Fiction, Science Fiction and Fantasy

Guidelines: Writers of the Future Contest Rules

If you’re a new writer, and you’ve not been professionally published in a novel, more than one novelette, or more than three short stories, then you can enter this popular contest. It is judged by some of the biggest names in science fiction today, such as Kevin Anderson, Orson Scott Card, and Anne McCaffrey. The contest began in 1988 and is still well respected.

This contest is free to enter, and awards are given every three months. All rights to the story remain the property of the author, which means it may be published elsewhere or in different formats. Enter a short story or novelette up to 17,000 words. They use a blind judging process, so after the cover note, only include the title and page number in the header, not your name.

SEND YOUR ENTRY BY MAIL TO:
L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest
PO Box 1630
Los Angeles, CA 90078

Only one entry per quarter is allowed.

Prizes are:

  • $1000 for first place
  • $750 for second
  • $500 for third.

What are you waiting for? The future is yours!

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Posted in Contests, Contests December, Contests June, Contests March, Contests September, Writing

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The Inheritance Fiction Competition

Posted on January 20, 2011 | Leave a comment

Entry Fee: £3.00

Deadline: March 14, 2011

Guidelines: Inheritance Fiction Competition

The Creative Competitor is a critique service, writing school, and offers contests to emerging writers. Although they’re based in the UK, they accept entries from authors all around the globe.

There are several contests to choose from at the site. This one has the theme of inheritance and uses this sentence for inspiration:

  • A letter was the sum total of his inheritance and yet it was the most precious gift ever.

Write a story with a word limit of 1500 words for this competition. Prizes are as follows:

  • First place: £150
  • Second place: £100
  • Third place: £75

If you’re entering from a country outside of the UK, you might want to check the exchange rates and charges for such. Just saying.

Happy writing!

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Writers of the Future Contest

Posted on April 7, 2010 | 1 Comment

Entry Fee: FREE

Deadline: March 31,  June 30, September 30, December 31 every year.

Genre: Speculative Fiction, Science Fiction and Fantasy

Guidelines: http://www.writersofthefuture.com/rules.htm

If you’re a new writer, and you’ve not been professionally published in a novel, more than one novelette, or more than three short stories, then you can enter this popular contest. It is judged by some of the biggest names in science fiction today, such as Kevin Anderson, Orson Scott Card, and Anne McCaffrey. The contest began in 1988 and is still well respected.

The website has forums for writers, and plenty of tips for those who want to learn more about writing in these genres. A short YouTube book trailer is on the main page, and an interview with Orson Scott Card is on the “How to Win” page. He talks about reasons why to enter this particular contest.

If you win, your story will be published in the L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Anthology. Prizes are $1000 for first place, $750 for second, and $500 for third. In addition, the winners will receive a trip to the award ceremony in Seattle, and be registered for a week-long workshop. So what are you waiting for? The future is yours!

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Eric Hoffer Award for Short Prose

Posted on March 14, 2010 | Leave a comment

Guidelines: http://www.hofferaward.com

Entry fee: FREE

Deadline: March 31, 2010

Eric Hoffer was known as a writer who was willing to express views that were unconventional and sometimes not well received. His insightful books and essays give a look into the human condition like no other. To honor his tradition of meaningful and influential writing, the Eric Hoffer award was established.

This contest for short prose calls for outstanding writing of less than 10,000 words that has never been published, or was published with a circulation of less than 500. The winner receives $500 and various distinctions and honors including the Montaigne Medal and Da Vinci Eye. Many pieces are chosen for publication in the Best New Writing anthology each year.

Submission are by email and the guidelines for submission are here.

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In House Press Human Potential Fiction Contest

Posted on March 19, 2009 | Leave a comment

Entry Fee: FREE

Deadline: March 28, 2009

Guidelines: http://inhousepress.ca/contestrules.html

In House Press, a small Canadian independent publisher, is holding their second annual writing contest. The theme is Human Potential. You may integrate this theme into a short story of 1,000 words or less. The winner will be published on their website. Last year’s winning entry, “Dido,” and the second place winner, “The Last Rose of Summer,” are both available to read online. There is no cash prize, but the winner walks away with a clip for their files. Winners will be notified by the end of May.

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Ray Bradbury Creative Writing Contest

Posted on March 12, 2009 | 2 Comments

Contest: Waukegan Public Library Ray Bradbury Creative Writing Contest

Entry Fee: FREE

Deadline: March 20, 2009

Guidelines: http://www.waukeganpl.org/programs/winners/Ray%20Bradbury%20Rules.pdf

How much television do you watch each day? In Ray Bradbury’s novel, Fahrenheit 451, society has become completely dependent on visual media, to the exclusion of books. The Waukegan Public Library wants entries for this contest that address the issue of societal apathy due to over-reliance on television. Guidelines state the entries may be no longer than two pages, about 500 words. Both teens and adults may enter, and are judged separately. They accept entries by snail mail, postmarked by March 20, 2009. Here’s your chance to voice your opinion on television and win $100 for it. This deadline is coming up quickly, so hop on it if you’re interested.

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Carteret Writers 18th Annual Writing Contest

Posted on January 29, 2009 | 4 Comments
Entry Fee: See Guidelines
Deadline: March 10, 2009

Guidelines: http://carteretwriters.org

Carteret Writers is a group in Morehead City, North Carolina, that meets monthly and holds an annual writing contest. There are five categories to choose from:

  • Flash fiction up to 750 words
  • Fiction up to 3,000 words
  • Nonfiction up to 2,500 words
  • Poetry up to 50 lines
  • Children’s fiction up to 2,000 words.

If you’re writing a novel, the fiction entry may be an excerpt from the book. Cash awards are $100 for first place, $50 for second, and $25 for third. All winners will be published in the Carteret Writers magazine, Shoal. Awards will be presented at the general meeting in May. Entry fees vary for members and nonmembers, and they have specific formatting guidelines and a cover sheet to use. You may obtain a pdf copy of the guidelines by emailing literary1 at gmail.com. Good luck, and happy writing!

 

 

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