These listings are arranged in order by the ending dates. Always check the guidelines at the website so that you don’t cause the judges to roll their eyes and disqualify your entry. Getting your submission in on time is always good, too.
If you know of a reputable writing contest that isn’t mentioned here, leave me a comment, and I’ll see about adding it to the list.
Writers Contests January, February, and March
Writers Contests April, May, and June
Writers Contests July, August, and September
Writers Contests October, November, December
ANYTIME or with ROLLING DEADLINES
A Cup of Comfort
Entry Fee: FREE
Deadline: Varies; check website
Guidelines: http://www.cupofcomfort.com/share.htm
A Cup of Comfort specializes in uplifting, emotionally rewarding stories that share the human experience. They have several themes open at a time, and the submission dates are based on the publication schedule for each theme. Send an inspiring, entertaining, true personal story that has a strong hook, a rich middle, and a satisfying ending in 1,000 to 2,000 words. Stories chosen for the anthologies may receive an award of $500.
The Writers Journal
Entry Fee: Varies by contest
Deadline: Monthly
Guidelines: http://www.writersjournal.com/CalendarofContests.htm
The Writers Journal is a writer’s magazine published by Val-Tech Media that also offers year-round writing contests. The prizes vary, but can be as high as $500. The entry fees are nominal. They have contests in several different genres, and with so many closing dates, you can almost always find a contest to enter here. Winners are published in the magazine, so it makes a nice writing clip.
FanStory.com Writing Contests
Entry Fee: FREE
Deadline: Check guidelines for each contest
Guidelines: http://www.fanstory.com/index1contest.jsp
FanStory.com is a site that’s been awarded the Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers award for several years. It has 40 contests open to writers at any given time. Stories are reviewed by other writers on the site, and your writing is given a rank based on their reviews.
Glimmer Train
Entry Fee: Varies
Deadline: Monthly
Guidelines: http://glimmertrain.stores.yahoo.net/writguid1.html
Each contest has its own guidelines, so check the website. The prizes are lucrative, and being published in Glimmer Train is an excellent clip.
The Write Helper Contests
Entry Fee: $5
Deadlines: January 31, April 30, July 31, October 31
Guidelines: http://thewritehelper.com/id28.html
These contests run four times per year, and they include short stories, poems, nonfiction, and novel beginnings. Each entry receives a critique. This contest doesn’t get a large number of entries, so chances are good to be in the top three here.
David Letterman’s Top Ten Contest
Entry Fee: FREE
Deadlines: Open
Guidelines: http://lateshow.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/top_ten/contest/
This one is strictly for fun. Check the website for the latest topic for David Letterman’s top ten list. Enter your joke. If it’s chosen for the show, you win a Late Night Mousepad. Ten winners are chosen each week.
Thanks for sharing this information.
See also the competitions listed out here
http://www.competearoundtheworld.com
Competearound, that site is fantastic. Thanks so much for commenting on it!
This information is priceless. Thanks a thousand times over!
R. Marie Thomas
Raleigh, NC
You’re welcome, R. Marie! Thanks for visiting the site.
Hi Suzanne,
I just wanted to let your readers know, as both writers and the potential teachers of writers, that Narrative Magazine is having a contest for writers and artists age 30 and below. There is no fee to enter, to encourage first-time writers, and there is over $2500 in prize money. All the info can be found http://narrativemagazine.com/30-below-story-contest. (And for those of us above 30, there is the Narrative Fall Fiction contest.)
Best,
Pat
Thanks for the tip, Pat. I’ll put the contest in the listings page as well.
Very useful site. Thanks