Writing Contests

Compiled by Allison Betancourt

Besides any prize you might win, entering contests is good practice for actually getting your manuscripts in the mail. Some contest will even provide a critique of your submissions. So get busy and enter your work in a contest.

Best of luck to everybody!

This list is updated regularly so check back for new contests.

Writer's Digest Your Story Competition
Writer's Digest Your Story Competition Page
Given a prompt found on the competition's webpage or forum, write an inventive, creative, and -where appropriate- humorous entry. WD ediors will select top entries and readers will vote on their favorites.
Prize: Entry in next month's issue of Writer's Digest and possible future publications.
Entry Fee: None, but limited to one entry per promt.
Length: N/A
Deadline: Mid-month, on-going

WritersType Monthly Competitions
http://contest websitet.com/
WritersType.com sponsors three annual contests in the categories of First Chapter, Flash Fiction, and Short Story. In each category, the monthly winner receives $25 honorarium, comments from our readers, and publication on WritersType.com. Each month, the top two submissions in each category advance into the annual competition.
Prize: $25 for winning monthly competition, $225 for winning Annual Prize.
Entry Fee: $10 per entry
Length: Flash Fiction: max 1,000 words; Short Story: 1,000-6,000 words; First Chapter: max 6,000 words
Deadline: Typically end of each month, on-going

Dream Quest One Poetry and Writing Contest
Dream Quest One Poetry and Writing Contest Page
Hello and Welcome to Dream Quest One Poetry and Writing Contest! This poetry contest and writing contest is open to everyone and international. We are excited about showcasing the creative writing and poetic talent, skill and ability of all poets and writers. We hope that you have inspiration to display the beauty and art of writing short stories and poems for the entire world to see your "gift of a dream."
Prize: Poetry: First place: $250, Second place: $125, Third place: $50. Writing: First place: $500, Second place: $250, Third place: $100.
Entry Fee: Poetry: $5 per poem. Writing: $10 per story.
Length: Poetry: maximum 30 lines. Writing: maximum 5 pages on any subject.
Deadline: Postmarked July 31st, 2012

FanStory's Triolet Poetry Contest
FanStory Triolet Poetry Contest Page
For this contest you are challenged to write a Triolet poem. A triolet is a poem of only eight lines with a rhyme scheme abaaabab. The fourth and seventh lines are the same exact line as the first. The eighth line is the same exact line as the second. Examples listed on contest page.
Prize: First Place: $100 cash paid in the form of PayPal, Visa Gift Card (US residents only), or Amazon Gift Card (Where available), Second: 25.00 member dollars, Third: 10.00 member dollars
Entry Fee: Free to members (writer membership $2.80/month), one entry per person, new enries only and Triolet poetry only
Length: Triolet (ABAAABAB)
Deadline: August 4th, 2012 at 11:59 PM EST

Washington Post Magazine Humor Contest
Washington Post Magazine Humor Contest Page
Submit original, unpublished material to any or all three of these categories:
(1) A true memoir: Entrants must write 1,000 words or fewer; one entry per person.
Prize: $1,000
(2) A 140-character Twitter joke: Submit by rweeting using the hashtag #wphumor.
Prize: $140
(3) A funy photo, real, not staged: One entry per person.
Prize: $300
Deadline: August 10 2012

FanStory's Love Poem Poetry Contest
FanStory's Love Poem Contest
Write a love poem. All forms of poetry accepted. Your love poem can be fictional or non-fictional. It can be humorous or serious. The choice is yours. But it must clearly be a love poem.
Prize: First Place: $100 cash paid in the form of PayPal, Visa Gift Card (US residents only), or Amazon Gift Card (Where available), Second: 25.00 member dollars, Third: 10.00 member dollars
Entry Fee: Free to members (writer membership $2.80/month), one entry per person.
Length: N/A
Deadline: August 10th, 2012

High Desert Journal's Obsidian Prize for Poetry
Obsidean Prize Contest Page
Through a literary prize, High Desert Journal aims to explore the realm described by poet Jarold Ramsey: “I believe in an ecology of story, memory and imagination as much as an ecology of land.” As an organization focused on a specific place, we at High Desert Journal have discovered that a deep hunger of readers, writers, and artists exists for place-based arts and literature. We believe every place has an ecology of story, memory, and imagination that inspires us, connects us to one another and to a place. We want to offer the best of this “ecology” through the Obsidian Prize.
Prize: $1000 and publication in High Desert Journal
Entry Fee: $12
Length: N/A
Deadline: August 12th, 2012

8th Annual Write a DearReader Contest
You don’t have to be a writer to enter this year’s Write a DearReader Contest, because it’s all about writing for fun. Write about the day you wore your t-shirt inside out until some kind soul pointed it out to you. Tell us about the stray cat or dog you found curled up on your front porch, and how it was love at first sight. Write about your favorite aunt, a bizarre and whimsical woman who vacuums her living room in the buff. Describe the overwhelming love in your heart when you held your first grandchild, or write about your fear of writing—but start writing about something—because it’s time to enter our eighth annual Write a DearReader Contest.
Description of Contest and submission instructions
Prize: First place: $300, Second place: $200, Third place $100. All winners will als recieve a signed copy of Muffins and Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life by Suzanne Beecher and entries will be published in the daily book clubs.
Entry Fee:
Length: Unpublished entries only, Maximum 650 words
Deadline: August 13th, 2012

Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival 3rd Annual Poetry Contest
3rd Annyal Poetry Contest Page
Write 2-4 poems for the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival. Topic is completely your choice.
Prize: Grand Prize: $1,000, VIP All Access pass for the next festival, Publication in Louisiana Culturall Vistas magazine, pulbic reading at the next festival. Top Ten Finalists: A panel pass to attend the next Festival and names published on site.
Entry Fee: $20 per entry
Length: 2-4 origional poems of any style wih a combined length of 400 lines.
Deadline: August 15th, 2012 (postmarked), Announced January 15th 2013

North Carolina Humanities Council: Linda Flowers Literary Award
Linda Flowers Literary Award Page
The Humanities Council invites original entries of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry for the Linda Flowers Literary Award. Submissions should detail examinations of intimate, provocative, and inspiring portraiture of North Carolina, its people and cultures, bringing to light real men and women having to make their way in the face of change, loss, triumph, and disappointments.

While authors do not have to be North Carolinians, entries are expected to draw on particular North Carolina connections and/or memories. Above all, entries should celebrate excellence in the humanities and reflect the experience of people who, like Linda Flowers, not only identify with the state, but also explore the promises, the problems, the experiences, and the meanings of lives that have been shaped by North Carolina and its many cultures.
Prize: $500, stipend for a writer’s residency at Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities in Southern Pines, North Carolina, and publication in the bi-annual magazine North Carolina Conversations.
Entry Fee: Free, but one entry only
Length: Unpublished work 2,000-2,5000 words in length
Deadline: Postmarked August 15th, 2012

Pavement Saww Press Transcontinental Poetry Award
Transcontinental Poetry Contest Page
A one page cover letter. Include a brief biography, the book's title, your name, address, and telephone number, and, if you have e-mail, your e-mail address. This should be followed by a page which lists publication acknowledgments for the book. For each acknowledgement mention the publisher (journal, anthology, chapbook etc.) and the poem published. The manuscript should be bound with a single clip and begin with a title page including the book's title, your name, address, and telephone number, and, if you have e-mail, your e-mail address. Even more details on the contest website.
Prize: $1000, %5 royalties on 1000 copy run,
Entry Fee: $20 for US and Canadian mail entries, $23 for other countries mail entry, $27 for electronic submissions
Length: At least 48 pages, no more than 70 pages.
Deadline: August 15th, 2012

FanStory's New Arrival Story Contest
FanStory's New Arrival Story Conest Page
This is a "New Arrival" contest which is designed to welcome new members to the site. Write a story that starts with this sentence: "Hell found me." Fiction and non-fiction welcomed. Do not add to the sentence. You have the option to put it in quotes (for dialogue) and to change the punctuation at the end. But do not add to the sentence or change it in any other way.
Prize: First Place: $100 cash paid in the form of PayPal, Visa Gift Card (US residents only), or Amazon Gift Card (Where available), Second: 25.00 member dollars, Third: 10.00 member dollars
Entry Fee: Free to members (writer membership $2.80/month), one entry per person.
Length: New Entries only. Max and Min: 700-7,000 words, recommended length: 2,000-3,500 words.
Deadline: August 16th, 2012

FanStory's Non-Fiction Contest
FanStory's Non-Fiction Contest Page
We are looking for personal essays, memoirs, and works of literary non-fiction on any topic. It doesn't matter if it's spiritual, political, intellectual, emotional, funny, serious, or an essay about your DVD player.
Prize: First Place: $100 cash paid in the form of PayPal, Visa Gift Card (US residents only), or Amazon Gift Card (Where available), Second: 25.00 member dollars, Third: 10.00 member dollars
Entry Fee: Free to members (writer membership $2.80/month), one entry per person, Non-Fiction only, no poetry, new entries only.
Length: New Entries only. Max and Min: 500-7,000 words, recommended length: 2,000-3,500 words.
Deadline: August 21st, 2012

FanStory's Flash Fiction Writing Contest
FanStory's Flash Fiction Writing Conest Page
The challenge of flash fiction is to tell a complete story in which every word is absolutely essential. A writer must take away the excess until the story is left with nothing but the clean-scraped core of a story.
Prize: First Place: $100 cash paid in the form of PayPal, Visa Gift Card (US residents only), or Amazon Gift Card (Where available), Second: 25.00 member dollars, Third: 10.00 member dollars
Entry Fee: Free to members (writer membership $2.80/month), one entry per person, new entries only.
Length: New Entries only. 500-800 words.
Deadline: August 26th, 2012

Valhalla Press Literary Fiction and Creative Nonfiction Writing Contest
Valhalla Press Literary Fiction and Creative Nonfiction Writing Contest Page
The contest seeks out the best in original short literary fiction and nonfiction work written in English. International submissions are welcome. Winners retain all rights except first-time International electronic rights. All other authors retain all rights.
Prize: Contestants will vie for prizes including $500 and an ereader plus publication in Ragnarok, an e-lit journal.
Entry Fee: $15.00
Length: Maximum of 5,000 words
Deadline: August 30st, 2012 (winner announced by September 30, 2012)

FanStory's Tonka Poetry Contest
FanStory's Tonka Poetry Contest Page
For this contest you are challenged to write a Tanka poem. Tanka is a form of poetry with a specific unrhymed syllable count: (5,7,5,7,7).
Prize: First Place: $100 cash paid in the form of PayPal, Visa Gift Card (US residents only), or Amazon Gift Card (Where available), Second: 25.00 member dollars, Third: 10.00 member dollars
Entry Fee: Free to members (writer membership $2.80/month), one entry per person, new entries only, Tonka Poems only.
Length: Tonka length
Deadline: August 31st, 2012

Black Lawrence Press: St. Lawrence Book Award
St. Lawrence Book Award Contest Page
Each year Black Lawrence Press will award The St. Lawrence Book Award for an unpublished collection of poems or short stories. The St. Lawrence Book Award is open to any writer who has not yet published a full-length collection of short stories or poems. The winner of this contest will receive book publication, a $1,000 cash award, and ten copies of the book. Prizes will be awarded on publication.
Prize: $1000 and 10 copies of your published work
Entry Fee: $25
Length: Poetry: 45-90 pages, Fiction: 120-280 pages
Deadline: August 31st, 2012

Gemini Magazine's Flash Fiction Contest
Gemini Magazine Contest Page
Absolutely no restrictions on content, style or genre, but keep in mind this is a Flash Fiction contest. Simply send your best, most powerful work.
Prize: Grand Prize: $1000, Second Place: $100, Third Place: $50, Three runner ups. All winners will have their work published online and in the October 2012 issue of Gemini
Entry Fee: $4 for first submission, $3 for each submission after that
Length: N/A
Deadline: August 31st, 2012

Poets & Writers, Inc. California Writers Exchange
Writer's Exchange Contest Page
The California Writers Exchange contest introduces emerging writers from California to the New York literary community and provides them a network for professional advancement. Every third year, writers in California are invited to submit manuscripts. Judges review the entries and select a winning poet and fiction writer. Winners are flown to New York City for an all-expenses-paid, weeklong trip to meet with literary agents, editors, publishers, and writers, and to give a public reading.
Prize: One poetry and one fiction winner will each recieve: $500 cash and an all-expenses-paid trip to NYC in Spring 2013 to meet editors, agnets, publishers, and writers.
Entry Fee: None, but must be CA resident
Length: Poetry: no more than 10 pages, Fiction: no more than 20 pages double-spaced.
Deadline: August 31st, 2012

FanStory's Write About This Contest
FanStory's Write About This Contest Page
Write a short story that somehow includes the image pictured on the contest page. The image must somehow be part of your story. What is happening here? What will happen here? What has happened here? The story can be about anything as long as the image is somehow a central part of it.
Prize: First Place: $100 cash paid in the form of PayPal, Visa Gift Card (US residents only), or Amazon Gift Card (Where available), Second: 25.00 member dollars, Third: 10.00 member dollars
Entry Fee: Free to members (writer membership $2.80/month), one entry per person.
Length: New Entries only. Max and Min: 700-7,000 words, recommended length: 2,000-3,500 words.
Deadline: September 6th, 2012

FanStory's 5-7-5 Poetry Contest
FanStory's 5-7-5 Poetry Contest Page
A 5-7-5 follows the structure of a Haiku but without any limitation to the topic. While a Senryu, is primarily concerned with human nature. A Haiku, primarily concerned with physical nature. A 5-7-5 poem is a free form with the only limitation being the syllable count.
Prize: First Place: $100 cash paid in the form of PayPal, Visa Gift Card (US residents only), or Amazon Gift Card (Where available), Second: 25.00 member dollars, Third: 10.00 member dollars
Entry Fee: Free to members (writer membership $2.80/month), one entry per person, new entries only, 5-7-5 Poems only.
Length: 5-7-5 length
Deadline: September 13th, 2012

Writer's Digest Science Fiction Writing Competition
Writer's Digest Sci-fi Competitions Page/
Calling all science fiction and fantasy writers! Has it always been your goal to enter and win a fantasy writing contest or science fiction competition? If so, enter the Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards Science Fiction/Fantasy Category for your chance to win cash prizes, and gain recognition for your work! Prizes include cash and a trip to 2013 Writer's Digest Conference in New York City.
Prize: First Place: $500 cash, $100 Writer's Digest Store Ccredit, copy of 2013 Novel & Short Sory Writer's Market, Promotion in Writer's Digest's May/June issue online Honorable Mentions: Story promoted on WritersDigest.com and recieve a copy of 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market
Entry Fee: $20 per entry
Length: Fiction manuscript, 4,000 words or less in .doc, .docx, .rtf, .pdf. Doublespaced, 1 inch top and bottom margin, 1.25 inch side margins in Arial, Courier, or Times 12 pt font.
Deadline: September 14th, 2012

Writer's Digest Thriller Fiction Writing Competition
Writer's Digest Thriller Competitions Page
Calling all writers who love to write thrillers or suspense stories! Has it always been your goal to enter and win a thriller/suspense contest? If so, enter the Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards Thriller Suspense Category for your chance to win a cash prize and gain recognition for your work! Prizes include cash and recognition on WritersDigest.com
Prize: First Place: $500 cash, $100 Writer's Digest Store Ccredit, copy of 2013 Novel & Short Sory Writer's Market, Promotion in Writer's Digest's May/June issue online Honorable Mentions: Story promoted on WritersDigest.com and recieve a copy of 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market
Entry Fee: $20 per entry
Length: Fiction manuscript, 4,000 words or less in .doc, .docx, .rtf, .pdf. Doublespaced, 1 inch top and bottom margin, 1.25 inch side margins in Arial, Courier, or Times 12 pt font.
Deadline: September 14th, 2012

Writer's Digest Young Adult Fiction Writing Contest
Writer's Digest Young Adult Competition Page
Get your creative juices flowing and enter your best story for young adult readers into the Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards Young Adult Fiction Category. This young adult contest spotlights some of today’s best young adult fiction writers. Plus, one first place winner will receive $500 in cash and promotion on Writersdigest.com!
Prize: First Place: $500 cash, $100 Writer's Digest Store Ccredit, copy of 2013 Novel & Short Sory Writer's Market, Promotion in Writer's Digest's May/June issue online Honorable Mentions: Story promoted on WritersDigest.com and recieve a copy of 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market
Entry Fee: $20 per entry
Length: Fiction manuscript, 4,000 words or less in .doc, .docx, .rtf, .pdf. Doublespaced, 1 inch top and bottom margin, 1.25 inch side margins in Arial, Courier, or Times 12 pt font.
Deadline: September 14th, 2012

Writer's Digest Fiction Romace Competition
Writer's Digest Romance Competitions Page
We’re looking for a few outstanding romance manuscripts! Think you are up to the challenge? Enter the Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards Romance Writing Category for your chance to win cash and get featured in Writer’s Digest magazine.
Prize: First Place: $500 cash, $100 Writer's Digest Store Ccredit, copy of 2013 Novel & Short Sory Writer's Market, Promotion in Writer's Digest's May/June issue online Honorable Mentions: Story promoted on WritersDigest.com and recieve a copy of 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market
Entry Fee: $20 per entry
Length: Fiction manuscript, 4,000 words or less in .doc, .docx, .rtf, .pdf. Doublespaced, 1 inch top and bottom margin, 1.25 inch side margins in Arial, Courier, or Times 12 pt font.
Deadline: September 14th, 2012

Writer's Digest Fiction Crime Competition
Writer's Digest Crime Competitions Page
Attention crime writers! Take a stab at crime writing and enter your best crime fiction story into the Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards Crime Writing Category. You could win a cash prize and get national exposure for your work! All you have to do is enter today! Prizes include cash and recognition on WritersDigest.com!
Prize: First Place: $500 cash, $100 Writer's Digest Store Ccredit, copy of 2013 Novel & Short Sory Writer's Market, Promotion in Writer's Digest's May/June issue online Honorable Mentions: Story promoted on WritersDigest.com and recieve a copy of 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market
Entry Fee: $20 per entry
Length: Fiction manuscript, 4,000 words or less in .doc, .docx, .rtf, .pdf. Doublespaced, 1 inch top and bottom margin, 1.25 inch side margins in Arial, Courier, or Times 12 pt font.
Deadline: September 14th, 2012

Writer's Digest Horror Writing Competition
Writer's Digest Horror Competitions Page/
We’re looking for a few spine-tingling horror stories! Think you are up to the challenge? Enter the Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards Horror Writing Category for your chance to win cash and get featured in Writer’s Digest magazine.
Prize: First Place: $500 cash, $100 Writer's Digest Store Ccredit, copy of 2013 Novel & Short Sory Writer's Market, Promotion in Writer's Digest's May/June issue online Honorable Mentions: Story promoted on WritersDigest.com and recieve a copy of 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market
Entry Fee: $20 per entry
Length: Fiction manuscript, 4,000 words or less in .doc, .docx, .rtf, .pdf. Doublespaced, 1 inch top and bottom margin, 1.25 inch side margins in Arial, Courier, or Times 12 pt font.
Deadline: September 14th, 2012

FanStory's Horror Story Writing Contest
FanStory's Horror Story Writing Contest Page
Write a horror or thriller story for this writing contest. Put your readers on edge or terrorize them.
Prize: First Place: $100 cash paid in the form of PayPal, Visa Gift Card (US residents only), or Amazon Gift Card (Where available), Second: 25.00 member dollars, Third: 10.00 member dollars
Entry Fee: Free to members (writer membership $2.80/month), one entry per person.
Length: New Entries only. Max 7,000 words, recommended length: 2,000-3,500 words.
Deadline: September 19th, 2012

FanStory's Pantoum Poetry Contest
FanStory's Pantoum Contest Page
The challenge for this contest is to write a pantoum poem. A pantoum is a poem that is made up of quatrains. In a pantoum the second and fourth lines of the previous stanza are repeated as the first and third lines of the next stanza. Examples on contest page.
Prize: First Place: $100 cash paid in the form of PayPal, Visa Gift Card (US residents only), or Amazon Gift Card (Where available), Second: 25.00 member dollars, Third: 10.00 member dollars
Entry Fee: Free to members (writer membership $2.80/month), one entry per person.
Length: N/A
Deadline: Sepember 26th, 2012

Women's Memoirs: Fall 2012 Memoir Contest
Contest Page
Explore your memories of fall seasons past. Maybe a story from your childhood. Maybe a story from your adult years. The fall is a time of harvest. Harvest the most vivid of your recollections, write about it, and submit your story to our Fall 2012 Memoir Contest.
Prize: Site publication
Entry Fee: N/A
Length: 500-1,500 ords
Deadline: September 30th, 2012

Writer's Village
Writer's Village Contest Page
Any form of short story may be submitted up to 3,000 words and in any genre. Prizes will go to those writers whose short fiction shows the greatest originality, mastery of the craft skills of creative writing, and power to move the reader. Work should not have been previously published in print, but on blog or website is acceptable. Playscripts and poetry are not eligible.
Prize: First Prize: (British Pound) 500 ($800 USD), Second Prize: (British Pound) 250 ($400 USD), Third prize: (British Pound) 100 ($160 USD), Three runner ups: (British Pound) 50 ($80 USD) all winners' work will be showcased on Writer's Village website.
Entry Fee: (British Pound) 10 ($16 USD) per entry
Length: Up to 3,000 words
Deadline: Midnight (GMT), September 30, 2012

FanStory's Vampire Writing Contest
FanStory's Vampire Contest Page
A new neighbor in your apartment appears to be a vampire. Is he or she really a creature of the night? What does your character do, and what happens next?
Prize: First Place: $100 cash paid in the form of PayPal, Visa Gift Card (US residents only), or Amazon Gift Card (Where available), Second: 25.00 member dollars, Third: 10.00 member dollars
Entry Fee: Free to members (writer membership $2.80/month), one entry per person.
Length: New Entries only. Max and Min: 500-7,000 words, recommended length: 2,000-3,500 words.
Deadline: October 1st, 2012

FanStory's Quatrain Poetry Contest
FanStory's Quatrain Poetry Contest Page
For this contest you are challenged to write a Quatrain poem. A Quatrain is a poem that has four lines and also has a specific rhyming scheme: AABB, ABAB, ABBA, or AABA. Examples on contest page.
Prize: First Place: $100 cash paid in the form of PayPal, Visa Gift Card (US residents only), or Amazon Gift Card (Where available), Second: 25.00 member dollars, Third: 10.00 member dollars
Entry Fee: Free to members (writer membership $2.80/month), one entry per person, Quatrain poems only.
Length: N/A
Deadline: October 7th, 2012

Novel Rocket's Launch Pad Contest 2012
Novel Rocket's Contest Page
Our aim is twofold: to help budding writers gain experience and hone their craft; and to lift the Grand Prize winner’s novel out of the slush pile and onto the desk of the right publishing professional.If you are unpublished or if you’ve published nonfiction books, plays, or poetry – you can enter. This contest is for anyone who has never published a novel with a traditional publisher.
Prize: Handblown Glass Rocket Prize (subject to change) and help getting in contact with publishers and/or agents in any genre
Entry Fee: $35 per entry, multiple entries in any genre allowed
Length: 3,000-4,000 words
Deadline: For Contemporary ROmace: September 10,2012; and For Speculative (Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror): October 10th ,2012

FanStory's Romance Writing Contest Page
FanStory's Romance Contest Page
Share a romance story for our romance contest.
Prize: First Place: $100 cash paid in the form of PayPal, Visa Gift Card (US residents only), or Amazon Gift Card (Where available), Second: 25.00 member dollars, Third: 10.00 member dollars
Entry Fee: Free to members (writer membership $2.80/month), one entry per person, new entries only.
Length: Max and Min: 500-7,000 words, recommended length: 2,000-3,500 words.
Deadline: October 14th, 2012

FanStory's Faith Poetry Contest
FanStory's Faith Poetry Contest Page
The theme for this poetry contest is "faith". We are looking for poems that in some way pertain to this theme. It doesn't matter if it's spiritual, political, intellectual or emotional as long as faith is clearly represented.
Prize: First Place: $100 cash paid in the form of PayPal, Visa Gift Card (US residents only), or Amazon Gift Card (Where available), Second: 25.00 member dollars, Third: 10.00 member dollars
Entry Fee: Free to members (writer membership $2.80/month), one entry per person, Quatrain poems only.
Length: N/A
Deadline: October 20th, 2012

FanStory's ABC Poetry Contest
FanStory's ABC Poetry Contest Page
For this contest you are challenged to write an ABC poem. ABC is a form of poetry with a specific format: The first four lines follow the order of the alphabet and the last line begins with any letter you want. Example (B,C,D,E,R), see contest page for a poetry example. You are free to write about anything with this format.
Prize: First Place: $100 cash paid in the form of PayPal, Visa Gift Card (US residents only), or Amazon Gift Card (Where available), Second: 25.00 member dollars, Third: 10.00 member dollars
Entry Fee: Free to members (writer membership $2.80/month), one entry per person, Quatrain poems only.
Length: N/A
Deadline: October 26th, 2012

The Black River Chapbook Fall Competition
Black River Chapbook Contest Page
Twice each year Black Lawrence Press will run the Black River Chapbook Competition for an unpublished chapbook of poems or short stories between 16 and 36 pages in length. The winner of this contest will receive book publication, a $500 cash award, and twenty-five copies of the book. Prizes are awarded on publication.
Prize: $500 cash and 25 copies of published work
Entry Fee: Entires not accepted until Sept 1, but it will probably be around $25
Length: 16-36 pages
Deadline: October 31st, 2012

Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival 25th Annual One-Sct Play Contest
25th Annual One-Act Play Contest
Write a one-act play no more than an hour long. Cast of characters must be small with a recommended age range of 20-40. Play is NOT limited to Tennessee Williams or New Orleans.
Prize: Grand Prize: $1,500 cash, Staged reading at next festival, Full production the following year, VIP passes for two years, publication in Bayou. Top Ten Finalists: Names willa ppear on website, panel pass to the next festival.
Entry Fee: $25 per manuscript
Length: one-act, up to an hour long.
Deadline: November 1st, 2012 (postmarked), winner announced March 1st, 2013

FanStory's Locked Room Writing Contest
FanStory's Locked Room Contest Page
The vacation cottage you rented for the summer has a locked room, which your character breaks into and ... what is found or what happens? What does your character do? What is found? What happens next?
Prize: First Place: $100 cash paid in the form of PayPal, Visa Gift Card (US residents only), or Amazon Gift Card (Where available), Second: 25.00 member dollars, Third: 10.00 member dollars
Entry Fee: Free to members (writer membership $2.80/month), one entry per person, new entries only.
Length: Max and Min: 500-7,000 words, recommended length: 2,000-3,500 words.
Deadline: November 1st, 2012

FanStory's Share a Story in a Poem Contest
FanStory's Share a Story in a Poem Contest Page
In this contest you are challenged to write a poem that tells a story and also rhymes. Recommended rhyming schemes: A,A,B,B,repeat or A,B,A,B,repeat. Example poems on contest page.
Prize: First Place: $100 cash paid in the form of PayPal, Visa Gift Card (US residents only), or Amazon Gift Card (Where available), Second: 25.00 member dollars, Third: 10.00 member dollars
Entry Fee: Free to members (writer membership $2.80/month), one entry per person, Quatrain poems only.
Length: N/A
Deadline: November 7th, 2012

FanStory's Free Verse Poetry Contest
FanStory's Free Verse Poetry Contest Page
Write a free verse poem. This is a method of writing poetry, which does not essentially follow any structure or style. There is no fixed meter and no structure regarding rhyme and lines in each stanza. Examples on contest page.
Prize: First Place: $100 cash paid in the form of PayPal, Visa Gift Card (US residents only), or Amazon Gift Card (Where available), Second: 25.00 member dollars, Third: 10.00 member dollars
Entry Fee: Free to members (writer membership $2.80/month), one entry per person, Quatrain poems only.
Length: N/A
Deadline: November 13th, 2012

13th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition
Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition Page
We’re looking for short stories! Think you can write a winning story in less than 1,500 words? Enter the 13th Annual Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition for your chance to win $3,000 in cash, get published in Writer’s Digest magazine, and a paid trip to our ever-popular Writer’s Digest Conference in New York City! The winning entries will be on display in the 13th Annual Writer’s Digest Competition Collection
Prize: First Place: $3,000 cash, publication in Writer's Digest Magazine's July/August issue 2013, a copy of 13th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition Collection, a copy of the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer's market, a copy of the 2013 Guide to Literary Agents. Second Prize: $1,500 cash, publication in Writer's Digest Magazine's July/August issue 2013, a copy of 13th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition Collection, a copy of the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer's market, a copy of the 2013 Guide to Literary Agents. Third Prize: $500 cash, publication in Writer's Digest Magazine's July/August issue 2013, a copy of 13th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition Collection, a copy of the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer's market, a copy of the 2013 Guide to Literary Agents. Fourth through Tenth Place: $100 cash, publication in Writer's Digest Magazine's July/August issue 2013, a copy of 13th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition Collection, a copy of the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer's market, a copy of the 2013 Guide to Literary Agents. Eleventh through Twenty-Fifth Place: $50 gift certificate for writersdigestshop.com, publication in Writer's Digest Magazine's July/August issue 2013, a copy of 13th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition Collection.
Entry Fee: $20 per manuscript
Length: N/A
Deadline: November 15th, 2012

Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival 5th Annual Fiction Contest
5th Annual Fiction Contest Page
This contest is open only to writers who have not yet published a book of fiction. Published books include self-published books with ISBN numbers. Those who have published books in other genres besides fiction remain eligible. Stories by US and International writers accepted.
Prize: Grand Prize: $1,500 cash, Domestic airfare and French Quarter accommodations to attent the next Festival, VIP pass, public reading at literary panel at next Festival, Publication in Louisiana Literature. Top ten finalists: panel pass to the next Festival.
Entry Fee: $25 per entry, unlimited enties
Length: None listed
Deadline: November 15th, 2012 (postmarked), winner announced March 1st, 2013

FanStory's Sonnet Poetry Contest
FanStory's Sonnet Poetry Contest Page
The challenge of this contest is to write a sonnet in iambic pentameter, just like Shakespeare did. It must consist of 14 lines in the following rhyming scheme A,B,A,B,C,D,C,D,E,F,E,F,G,G.
Prize: First Place: $100 cash paid in the form of PayPal, Visa Gift Card (US residents only), or Amazon Gift Card (Where available), Second: 25.00 member dollars, Third: 10.00 member dollars
Entry Fee: Free to members (writer membership $2.80/month), one entry per person, Quatrain poems only.
Length: N/A
Deadline: November 20th, 2012

FanStory's This Sentence Starts the Story Contest
FanStory's This Sentence Starts the Story Contest Page
Write a story that starts with this sentence: "Did you see that?" Your story must start with this sentence. Do not add or take away from the sentence, but you have the option to put it in quotes (for dialogue) and to change the punctuation at the end for proper grammar.
Prize: First Place: $100 cash paid in the form of PayPal, Visa Gift Card (US residents only), or Amazon Gift Card (Where available), Second: 25.00 member dollars, Third: 10.00 member dollars
Entry Fee: Free to members (writer membership $2.80/month), one entry per person, new entries only.
Length: Max and Min: 700-7,000 words, recommended length: 2,000-3,500 words.
Deadline: November 26th, 2012

Women's Memoirs: A New Memoir Contest
Contest Page
Our new contest is different from any of our previous ones. This is a memoir writing website so we have always asked you to share your own stories. But this time, we want you to find a woman in your family or a family friend who worked during World War II.
Prize: Site publication
Entry Fee: N/A
Length: About 2,000 words
Deadline: December 31st, 2012

Women's Memoirs: Winter 2012 Memoir Contest
Contest Page
Winter brings a new mood. The year is winding down. We spend more time indoors. This is a season for reflection — for looking back at what was as well as looking forward to what will come. Send us a memory, written as a story, about your most vivid winter. It might be an event from one day or it might encompass the entire season. The story may have taken place in your childhood years or more recently. Be sure to write in a way that draws us into your story.
Prize: Site publication
Entry Fee: N/A
Length: 500-1,500 ords
Deadline: December 31st, 2012

Pavement Saw Chapbook Contest
Chapbook Contest Page
Unlike many publishers whose collections are printed one copy at a time and therefore lack a large circulation, our chapbooks are published in a first edition of 400 copies plus overage.
Prize: $500 and 50 copies of chapbook, 10% royalties on 400 book run.
Entry Fee: $15 US mail entries, $18 Overseas mail entries, $21 electronic entries
Length: up to 32 pages
Deadline: December 31st, 2012

To have your contest listed, please send information through the Contact Us page.