Contests
Writing contests provide steps up for a writer – especially a struggling writer. A portfolio that contains contest wins means more than many clips. Can’t afford the entry fees? Consider entering one contest a quarter or something more amiable to your pocketbook. A few are free. Contests provide prizes, prestige and usually publication with many offering book contracts. Denouncing contests from your writing repertoire is like discounting an entire genre or refusing to eat yellow vegetables. You’re giving up something valuable that may serve you and your career well.
NOTE: To have your group’s contest posted, email hope@chopeclark.com with the link to the contest. It must pay a minimum of a $200 first prize, not take all rights for entering, and charge an entry fee of five percent or less.
MATTHEW POWER LITERARY AWARD
https://nyujournalism.submittable.com/submit/341429/2026-matthew-power-literary-reporting-award
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 22, 2026. The monetary award will be distributed $7,500 upon announcement of the winning proposal; and $7,500 upon completion and acceptance by the Award committee. The Institute expects the completed work to appear in an English-language print or audio publication or of strong reputation. Ineligible to apply are NYU affiliates, NYU graduates with degrees dated within 2 years of the submission deadline, and journalists holding staff positions at established media outlets that are in a position to fund such projects on their own.
WRITERS ONLINE POETRY CONTEST
https://www.writers-online.co.uk/writing-competitions/to-the-sea/
£ 8.50 ENTRY FEE. Deadline March 15, 2026. Theme: To the Sea. Make waves with your poems that conjure any aspect of the sea that appeals to your imagination – rhymed, unrhymed, blank verse, prose poems – as long as it’s marine-themed and. Under 40 lines we want to read it. The winner will receive £100, with £50 for the runner-up. Both poems will be published in Writing Magazine.
HEFNER HEITZ KANSAS BOOK AWARD
https://www.washburn.edu/library/ksbookaward/index.html
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 17, 2026. The Hefner Heitz Kansas Book Award “in Poetry” “in Fiction” and “in Creative Nonfiction” alternates yearly for each genre. The prize, of $1,000, will be awarded to a book that meets the guidelines, and the winner will be invited to Washburn University Library for a reading and presentation ceremony. In 2026 both novels and short-story collections are eligible. Nominations can come from publishers, authors, or anyone interested in seeing a book considered. Only one book per author may be submitted. Author must establish a connection to Kansas by birth, education, employment, residence or other significant claim. The nominee’s book must have a publication date of 2023, 2024, or 2025.
BILL HICKOK HUMOR AWARD
http://i70review.fieldinfoserv.com/bill-hickok-humor-award-for-poetry.html
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 28, 2026. For a single unpublished poem. Winner will receive $1,000. Winning poem will appear in the 2026 issue of I-70 Review. Submit one to three unpublished poems with entry fee. All submissions will be eligible for publication in I-70 Review.
THE JONATHAN AND BARBARA SILVER FOUNDATION GRANT FOR WRITING ON SCULPTURE
https://jonathanandbarbarasilverfoundation.org/grants/?source=fundsforwriters
Deadline May 31, 2026. The goal is to encourage and support sculptors and writers on sculpture, both emerging and established. Offers one $20,000 grant per year. The JBSF grant program operates on a 2-year cycle with alternating grants that support writing in even years and sculpture in odd years. We will begin accepting applications for the Writing Grant on February 1, 2026. The next Sculpture Grant application will be available in 2027. The Writing Grant is specifically for a writer who generates fresh writing and thinking on the history, aesthetics, purposes, imagination or situation of sculpture. The grant recipient is expected to complete the project within one year of receiving the award.
FURIOUS FLOWER POETRY PRIZE
https://furiousflowerpoetry.submittable.com/submit
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 14, 2026. A $1,500 prize for a group of three poems. Winner: $1,500. Honorable mention: $750. Both the winner and honorable mention will be invited to read as part of the Furious Flower Poetry Reading Series in September 2026. The winner, honorable mention, and select finalists will also be published in Obsidian. Limit six total pages. Authors with more than one published or self-published book are not eligible.
BRICK LANE BOOKSTOP SHORT STORY PRIZE
https://bricklanebookshop.org/2026-short-story-prize/
£10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline March 2, 2026. Open to submissions to writers from the UK and Ireland. There are a limited amount of free spaces for writers on a low income. First Prize is £1,000, 2nd Prize is £500, and 3rd Prize is £250. The twelve shortlisted stories will feature in the Brick Lane Bookshop Short Story Prize 2026 anthology. Word count 1000-3500 words.
BBC SHORT STORY AWARD
https://www.bbc.co.uk/send/u223748296
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline March 16, 2026. The Award, now in its 21st year, is worth £15,000 and will be given to one writer demonstrating exceptional skill and artistry in the short story form. The Award is for a single story of up to 8,000 words, written by an established author. Open to published writers who are British citizens and/or resident in the UK.
WRITERS ONLINE 500-WORD CONTEST
https://www.writers-online.co.uk/writing-competitions/500-words-4
£ 8.50 ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 15, 2026. Writing flash fiction means making every word count! Show your skills and tell a complete story, in any style or genre, in 500 words. The winner will receive £200 and publication in Writing Magazine, with £50 and publication on the website for the runner-up. Entry is open to any writer and entries must be the original and unpublished work of the entrant which is not currently submitted for publication nor for any other competition or award. There is no limit to number of entries. Entrants retain copyright in their manuscripts.
WRITERS ONLINE CRIME STORY
https://www.writers-online.co.uk/writing-competitions/crime-story
£ 8.50 ENTRY FEE. Deadline March 15, 2026. 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of Agatha Christie’s death. To honour her tremendous legacy, we’re inviting entries of crime fiction in any genre, from cosy to noir, procedural to psychological suspense, between 1,500 and 1,700 words. The winner will receive £200 and publication in Writing Magazine, with £50 and publication on the website for the runner-up.
EDINBURGH SHORT STORY AWARDS
https://www.scottishartstrust.org/short-story
£11 ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 26, 2026. Open to writers worldwide, published and unpublished. For short stories on any topic up to 2,000 words. We welcome stories in all genres: literary, historic, crime, romance, realism, contemporary, humour and more. First prize £3,000. Second prize £500. Third Prize £250. 5 Commendations worth £100. Publication in The Edinburgh Anthology will be offered to all longlisted and shortlisted authors (15 stories). A separate award called The First Write Award open to unpublished writers worldwide. Prize is $300 and publication. The Isobel Lodge Award goes to an unpublished writer living in Scotland. Prize: £750 plus publication. The Write Mango Short Story Award is open worldwide to all writers. Prize: £300 plus publication. We love those unexpected stories that leave us bemused, amazed and sometimes laughing out loud. Write Mango stories are fun, amusing, bizarre, unusual – they are never sad or violent.
SHADY GROVE LITERARY CONTEST
https://shadygroveliterary.wixsite.com/shadygroveliterary/submissions
NO ENTRY FEE. Submissions are accepted from November 1st to October 31st for each year’s competition. 300 words maximum. One submission per competition. Any style, genre, tone, etc. of flash fiction. 1st place – $100. 2nd and 3rd places- publication online. Shady Grove Literary has readers in multiple countries, but its home is in Thousand Oaks, California.
UNCHARTED MAGAZINE CINEMATIC SHORT STORY CONTEST
https://uncharted.submittable.com/submit/9183e2cb-da45-438a-a988-0f9fa28a6dd6/2026-uncharted-magazine-cinematic-short-story-contest-judged-by-ananda-lima
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline March 8, 2026. This award is for all of our genres: Science Fiction/Fantasy, Thriller/Mystery (Horror), Young Adult, Historical Fiction, and Humor stories. First-place winner of this contest $2,000 and publication, while the second- and third-place winners will receive publication and $300 and $200, respectively. We want stories we can clearly visualize, that make us feel as if we’re there in the moment, and that engage all our senses. Writers from historically marginalized groups can submit for free until we reach our cap of twenty-five free submissions. No additional fee waivers will be granted. Limit 5000 words.
THE GRATEFUL AMERICAN BOOK PRIZE
https://www.davidbrucesmith.com/2026-grateful-american-book-prize-call-for-submissions
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 31, 2026. Accepting submissions for outstanding historical fiction, non-fiction, and biographies for readers, ages 11 to 15. Eligible books must be published between August 1, 2025, and July 31, 2026. The winner will receive a $13,000 award, a lifetime membership to The New York Historical, and a medallion designed by artist Clarice Smith. Two Honorable Mention recipients will receive $500, each, and the medallion. Self-published books do not qualify.
TACOMA WRITES
https://www.tacomawrites.com/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 21, 2026. $300 for best story, $100 for second and two $50 runner ups. Write a short story about the origin of Bigfoot (it can be spooky, serious, weird or whatever you want, just nothing explicit). It must take place in the Pacific Northwest. This contest is open to all nations. The story should be between 500 and 5000 words and should be written in English.
WOW! WINTER 2026 FLASH FICTION CONTEST
https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php
$10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 28, 2026. WOW! Women on Writing is seeking flash fiction of any genre between 250 – 750 words. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, great writing, and provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants. Open internationally. Limit 300 entries. 1st Place: $400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate. 2nd Place: $300, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate. 3rd Place: $200, publication, interview and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate. 7 Runners Up receive $25 Amazon Gift Cards, publication and interview. 10 Honorable mentions receive $20 Amazon Gift Card. Top 10 stories are published in the WOW! Women On Writing e-zine, and contestants are interviewed on WOW’s blog, The Muffin.
ALPINE FELLOWSHIP WRITING PRIZE
https://alpinefellowship.com/
£10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline to be announced. Opens January 2, 2026. Awarded for the best piece of writing on the theme TBD. The winner and runners-up will receive financial support in the following amounts: First place: £3,000, Second place: £1,000, Third place: £1,000. A maximum of 1,250 words per entry. All genres of writing are permitted, including fiction, non-fiction, and non-academic essays. Open to all nationalities.
BCALA SELF-PUBLISHING LITERARY AWARDS
https://bcala.librariesshare.com/bcala-ebook-contest/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 28, 2026. These awards acknowledge outstanding achievement in the presentation of the cultural, historical and sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora. Each genre prize winner shall receive: $2,500.00, formal recognition at the American Library Association conference, and a BCALA Literary Award Seal to use in their marketing. This contest is free and open to all self-published authors.
EDINBURGH SHORT STORY AWARDS
https://www.scottishartstrust.org/short-story
£11 ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 28, 2026. Open to writers worldwide, published and unpublished. For short stories on any topic up to 2,000 words. We welcome stories in all genres: literary, historic, crime, romance, realism, contemporary, humour and more. Entrants can be any age over 16 years. Stories should be suitable for an adult audience. First prize £3,000. Second prize £500. Third Prize £250. Five Commendations worth £100. Publication in The Edinburgh Anthology will be offered to all longlisted and shortlisted authors (15 stories). Various other cash awards for categories as well.
PORTER FLEMING LITERARY COMPETITION
https://www.themorris.org/porter-fleming-literary-competition/details/
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline March 1, 2026.
Fiction—Short stories only (2,500 words maximum)
Nonfiction—Article or essay (2,500 words maximum)
Poetry—(Up to three poems per entry, not to exceed five pages total per entry)
One-Act Play—(Professional format required; limited to fifteen pages, double-spaced)
Writers ages 18 and older who reside in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington D.C. can enter.
LASCAUX PRIZE IN POETRY
https://lascauxreview.com/contests/
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline March 31, 2026. Poems may be previously published or unpublished, and simultaneous submissions are accepted. Winner receives $1,000, a bronze medallion, and publication in The Lascaux Review. All entries are considered for publication. There are no length restrictions. All genres and styles are welcome.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA YOUNG FILMMAKERS PROJECT
https://www.indiegrants.org/young-filmmakers
Deadline February 9, 2026.Participating students must create a short film (two minutes max) telling a cinematic story in any genre, following all rules and this year’s Creative Challenge -.- use a MEGAPHONE as a prop. Top Ten scorers will screen at a special program where winners will be announced. First Prize receives $750, Second Prize $500, and Third Prize $250. Each entrant must be a high school (grades 9-12) living in South Carolina during the 2025-26 school year.
NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARDS
https://www.indiebookawards.com/
$80 ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 13, 2026. Winners in each of the 80+ categories are given $100 cash prizes, gold medals, complimentary stickers, social media coverage, possible representation by a leading literary agent, and recognition as one of the top independently published books of the year. Three Grand Prize Winners will be selected from all entries received and will be awarded cash prizes of $1500, $750 and $500 based on their order of win. All Winners and Finalists are invited to attend the Indie Book Awards gala ceremony. All indie authors and independent publishers of all levels welcome. Submissions are open internationally, to any books written in English released in 2024, 2025, 2026 or with a 2024, 2025, or 2026 copyright date.
NEXT GENERATION SHORT STORY AWARDS
https://shortstoryawards.com/guidelines.php
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 26, 2026. Select the category or categories you wish to enter based on which category most applies to your story. You may enter as many categories as you like. Stories must be no longer than 5,000 words. No stories that are sexual, political or include hate speech, offensive or vulgar language will be accepted. The Next Generation Short Story Awards (NGSSA) via Headline Books (Publisher) will publish a selection of Winning stories in an Anthology of Winners that appeals to the general population including school age students. All Grand Prize Winners receive a gold medal and get their story published in our Anthology of Winners + receive a complimentary copy of the Anthology, as well as a cash prize: 1st Place $500 Cash prize, 2nd Place $300 Cash prize, 3rd Place $200 Cash prize. Winner of each of the 30+ categories $75 cash prize and gold medal + story published in Anthology of Winners + a complimentary copy of the anthology + a complimentary Winner sticker image.
REEDSY WRITING PROMPT CONTEST
https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/
$5 ENTRY FEE. Deadline monthly. Reedsy challenges you to create a short story based on one of their prompts. The winner will be featured on Reedsy Prompts and receive $250 via PayPal. We’ll also consider your submission for a future print and digital issue of our lit mag, Prompted. Write a short story between 1,000 and 3,000 words, submit it from your Reedsy Prompts profile.
FURIOUS FICTION
https://www.writerscentre.com.au/furious-fiction/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline first Friday of each month. A monthly short story challenge from the Australian Writers’ Centre. On the FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH, we will unveil a new story challenge. You then have 55 hours and a maximum of 500 words to wow us with your storytelling skills. Prize is $500 AU.
JOHN UPDIKE REVIEW EMERGING WRITERS PRIZE
https://blogs.iwu.edu/johnupdikesociety/the-jur-emerging-writers-prize/
NO ENTRY FEE. Rolling deadline. A $1000 prize plus publication in The John Updike Review, awarded annually to writers 40 years of age or younger. The writing may be scholarly or bellestristic in nature. Academics, critics, graduate students, assistant professors, novelists, poets, and short story writers are encouraged to submit 10-30 page essays. Submissions are open and rolling.
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Please remember to read ALL guidelines for a contest. FundsforWriters tries to research contests to the best of our ability, but we cannot confirm the credibility of each and every one without entering them ourselves. Be informed and be alert as you would with any market, publisher, agent or competition.
Testimonials
Dear Hope, The Emerald Theatre Company’s 10-minute play fest is going into its second year. Without you, and FundsforWriters, the first year might not have been possible. Thanks to the publicity from your newsletter, our little Memphis, Tennessee event received scripts from Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming, the UK and New Zealand.
This wealth of wonderful material yielded quality vignettes that made the best local actors and stage directors (including a popular local radio personality) eager to donate their time and talent – their presence, in turn, sold tickets. We played to packed houses and everyone had a great time. To our astonishment, Vermont Pride Theatre got wind of the show and asked to put it on in its entirety this coming July – meaning the playwrights who won prizes and recognition in our fest, will now receive additional recognition along with royalties.
The bottom line is, without you, we would have had something rinky dink – with you we had something substantial. The publicity you provided on the front end made all the difference in the world! ~Caroline Sposto, www.whycaroline.com, (610) 597-9803
Hi Hope, we met at the SCWW conference in Myrtle Beach last October, and I was so impressed with your lecture that I subscribed to FFW as soon as I got home. I wanted to drop you a line to let you know that because of FFW, I submitted AND WON The 2008 William F. Deeck-Malice Domestic Grant for Unpublished Writers! My novel will be finished this week, and next weekend I’m going to Malice Domestic to accept the award. Thanks you, and keep up the great work.
