Writing Contests 2023: Cash Prizes, Free Entries, & More!.

• Jul 21, 2023
• 12 min read

• Tags: Essay, Novel, Poetry, Short Story, Writing Contests

At PaperTrue, we’ve always believed that writing competitions are more than just about winning. It’s a community experience where you can interact with fellow poets and writers, and learn from each other’s work. So, it’s our job to provide you with an updated and detailed list of writing contests 2023!

But which contests should you participate in? Out of the hundreds of poetry contests, short story competitions, and essay contests held each year, which ones will best reward your hard work? As experts who provide self-publishing services, we want nothing but success for you. What better way to ensure this than to bring you the best writing competitions 2023?

Here are the best international writing competitions 2023:

July 2023

This is where writing contests 2023 get relatively sparse. We found some short story and poetry contests 2023, but will add more with time. All the best!

Poetry competitions 2023

1. New Writers Poetry Competition 2023

New Writers has organized this poetry contest in 2023 to provide a global platform for poets. £1 from each entry will be donated to First Story, an England-based creative writing charity for young people.

Word count: 40 lines

Prizes: £1,000, £300, £200

Entry fee: £10

Closing date: 12 July 2023 

2. Rattle Poetry Prize Guidelines 

Rattle’s poetry writing competition welcomes poets to submit unpublished or self-published works of poetry. You may send up to four poems of any length, style, or theme.

Word count: —

Prizes: $15,000, $5,000, ten prizes of $500

Entry fee: $25

Closing date: 15 July 2023

3. Winchester Poetry Prize 

Part of the Winchester Poetry Festival, this prize awards a special prize for the best poem by a poet living in Hampshire. Zaffar Kunial is the judge for the poetry contest and some free entries are available for poets on low incomes.

Word count: 40 lines

Prizes: £1,000, £500, £250

Entry fee: £6 

Closing date: 31 July 2023

Short story competitions 2023

4. HG Wells Fiction Short Story Competition 

The contest has a top prize and a second prize for writers below the age of 21. This short story writing contest is free for young writers while students above the age of 21 have to pay a discounted fee.

Theme: Motion

Word count: 1,500–5,000

Prizes: £1,000, £500

Entry: £10/£5 with a student ID

Closing date: 10 July 2023

Book writing contests 2023

5. International Novel Prize 

Grindstone Literary has organized this novel competition to find “the best and boldest new manuscripts” written by unrepresented and self-published writers. The contest offers a limited number of sponsored entries and fee concessions!

Word count: At least 70,000

Prizes: £1,500, £500, four prizes of £100

Entry fee: £16 / £18 / £20

Closing date: 01 April 2023 / 01 July 2023 / 01 September 2023

6. The Petrichor Prize

Regal House Publishing will honor an unpublished manuscript through this book writing contest. Entries will be accepted in physical or electronic form. Make sure not to send any associated artwork or photographs!

Word count: 100–350 pages

Prize: $1,000

Entry: $25

Closing date: 15 July 2023

August 2023

Poetry contests are hard to come by in the month of August, but that’s compensated by a wealth of book writing competitions. Whether it’s poetry chapbooks or short story collections, August has something for poets and writers of all sorts!

Poetry competitions 2023

1. The Coniston Prize 

Radar Poetry has organized this poetry competition to award a group of poems. The contest is open to people who self-identify as women and welcomes poems that are “cohesive in some way, whether connected by subject matter, theme, voice, style, or imagery.”

Word count: 3–5 poems in a single document

Prizes: $1,000, ten prizes of $175

Entry fee: $20

Closing date: 01 August 2023

2. Fischer & Cantor Prizes

The Telluride Institute has simultaneously organized these two poetry contests 2023. The Fischer Prize welcomes entries on all subject matter, while the Cantor Prize is open to poets living in or writing about Colorado.

Word count: —

Prizes: $1,000, five prizes of $250 | $500, two prizes of $250

Entry fee: $10 | $6

Closing date: 30 August 2023

Short story contests 2023

3. 20th Annual Gival Press Short Story Award 2023

Gival Press has organized this short story contest 2023 in the hopes of eventually publishing an anthology of contest winners. There is a long list of submission guidelines, so make sure you follow them all!

Word count: 5,000–15,000

Prize: $1,000

Entry fee: $25

Closing date: 08 August 2023

4. 2023 Unpublished Contest 

Book Pipeline has organized this writing contest in 2023 “exclusively for unpublished manuscripts across eight categories of fiction and nonfiction”. Aside from the cash prizes, the finalists receive circulation to publishers, agents, editors, and film and TV producers.

Word count: 250–750

Prizes: $20,000, $2,500 per category

Entry fee: $45 / $55 / $60

Closing date: 25 May 2023 / 20 August 2023 / 05 September 2023

5. Summer Short Story Award for New Writers 

The organizers of this short story writing competition are looking for the best literary fiction. They ask only one thing from today’s new writers: “Dazzle us, take chances, and be bold.” All finalists  receive agency reviews from six agencies!

Word count: 6,000

Prizes: $3,000, $300, $200

Entry fee: $20

Closing date: 27 August 2023

6. Flash Fiction Contest 2023  

Gemini Magazine has organized this flash fiction contest to award six finalists with online publication in its October 2023 issue. Entries on any subject and style are eligible. All entries are read blind.

Word count: 1,000

Prizes: $1,000, $100, four prizes of $25

Entry fee: $7

Closing date: 31 August 2023

7. WOW! Women On Writing Contests: Flash Fiction and Essay Contest

The organizers of this flash fiction competition seek “to provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants.” The top 10 stories are published in the WOW! Women On Writing e-zine. The contest is limited to only 300 entries!

Word count: 250–750

Prizes: $400, $300, $200

Entry fee: $10

Closing date: 31 August 2023

8. Oxford Flash Fiction Prize

This flash fiction competition runs in partnership with the Bodleian Libraries’ Gifts and Books exhibition at the University of Oxford. The £50 prize recognizes a new voice and shortlisted entrants are offered publication in an end-of-year anthology.

Theme: Gifts

Word count: 1,000

Prizes: £1000, £200, £100, £50

Entry fee: £6

Closing date: 31 August 2023

9. Anthology Short Story Competition

Anthology has organized this short story contest in 2023 “to recognise and encourage creative writing and provide a platform for publication”. Make sure you go through some issues of the magazine for some context!

Word count: 1,500

Prizes: €1,000, €250, €150

Entry fee: €18

Closing date: 31 August 2023 

Book writing competitions 2023

10. The University of New Orleans Press Publication Prize 

The organizers of this competition seek to “bring innovative publicity and broad distribution to authors”. Short story collections and novellas are eligible for entry. Self-published writers are welcome to enter!

Word count: 4,000–10,000

Prize: $10,000 advance on royalties

Entry: $28

Closing date: 31 August 2023

11. Granum Foundation Fellowship Prize  [Free Contest!]

This book writing competition awards a US-based writer with the opportunity to complete a substantive literary work or to launch one. An additional prize is awarded to a work of translation by a US-based writer.

Categories: Novel, memoir, short story, essay, and poetry

Word count: Variable

Prizes: $5,000, $1,500

Entry: Free!

Closing date: 01 August 2023

12. The Deborah Tall Lyric Essay Book Prize 

Seneca Review Books has organized this contest to “encourage and support innovative work in the essay”. Essay writers are welcome to submit cross-genre and hybrid work, verse forms, text and image, connected pieces, and “beyond category” projects. 

Word count: 48–120 pages

Prize: $2,000

Entry fee: $27

Closing date: 01 August 2023

13. 2023 Omnidawn Open Poetry Book Contest 

One of several Omnidawn poetry contests 2023, this competition awards one poet with publication, a cash prize, and 20 printed copies. If your manuscript contains images, make sure they’re completely original!

Word count: 40–90 pages

Prize: $3,000 and 20 printed copies

Entry fee: $35

Closing date: 13 August 2023

14. Grayson Books Poetry Contest 

One of two poetry competitions 2023 organized by Grayson Books, this contest offers publication to a single poet. You may include a brief bio in the submission form and add acknowledgments in the manuscript, but it’s not compulsory.

Word count: 50–90 pages

Prize: $1,000 and 10 printed copies

Entry fee: $26

Closing date: 15 August 2023

15. Fool for Poetry International Chapbook Competition 

Munster Literature Centre has organized this poetry writing competition to award both new and established poets with publication. Aside from the winners, the organizers will list 25 poets as “highly commended”.

Word count: 16–24 pages

Prizes: €1,000, €500, and 25 printed copies for both winners

Entry fee: €25

Closing date: 31 August 2023

16. The 2024 Kenneth Patchen Award for the Innovative Novel 

Journal of Experimental Fiction has organized this novel writing competition with Carla M. Wilson as the judge. Make sure your manuscript doesn’t contain any identifying information and add a separate sheet with your contact information.

Word count: —

Prize: $1,000

Entry fee: $25

Closing date: 31 August 2023

17. The St. Lawrence Book Award 

Black Lawrence Press has organized this book writing contest with its editorial staff and previous winners as the judges. The competition is open to poets and writers who have not published a full-length manuscript in any genre. 

Categories: Prose and poetry

Word count: 120–280 pages for prose; 45–95 pages for poetry

Prize: $1,000 and ten printed copies

Entry fee: $28

Closing date: 31 August 2023

18. The Kindle Storyteller Award [Free Contest!]

This book writing contest is open to poets and writers of all genres who have published their work through Kindle Direct Publishing. While there is a judging panel, readers also play a role in selecting the winner.

Categories: Any genre

Word count: At least 25 pages

Prize: £20,000, a book launch merchandising package, and a Kindle Oasis E-reader

Entry: Free!

Closing date: 31 August 2023

19. The Eugene Paul Nassar Poetry Prize [Free Contest!]

This contest is open to books of poems published between 01 July 2021 and 30 June 2022 by a resident of Upstate New York. Unfortunately, self-published works are not eligible.

Word count:  At least 48 pages

Prize: $2,000

Entry: Free!

Closing date: 31 August 2023

20. Off the Grid Press   

This poetry competition 2023 is open to poets aged 60 and above. Along with the cash prize, the winner receives publication, promotion, and distribution for their book in print and audiobook formats.

Word count: At least 50 pages

Prize: $1,000

Entry fee: $25

Closing date: 31 August 2023 

Other interesting contests in 2023

21. Aesthetica Creative Writing Award 

This writing competition invites poets and writers to submit entries on any theme. The cash prizes come with additional prizes such as magazine subscriptions and course enrolments!

Categories: Poetry and fiction

Word count: 40 lines for poetry and 2,000 words for fiction

Prizes: £2,500 per category and several other exciting prizes

Entry fee: £12 for poetry and £15 for fiction

Closing date: 31 August 2023

22. Stories That Need to Be Told Contest

This interesting writing contest 2023 invites you to tell a story—whether you do it in a poem or an essay is up to you! Along with the grand prize, five prizes will be awarded for “stories that excel in the merits of Humor, Passion, Depth, and (any form of) Love”.

Word count: 3,000

Prizes: $1,000, six prizes of $200

Entry fee: £6

Closing date: 09 August 2023

September 2023

The month of September features a great many short story competitions 2023, but poetry and essay contests are hard to find. Plus, there’s a wealth of book writing contests that’s sure to excite poets and writers of all kinds!

Poetry competitions 2023

1. Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest 

This poetry competition in 2023 invites poets to send up to three published or unpublished poems. Michal ‘MJ’ Jones is the judge this year, assisted by Briana Grogan and Dare Williams.

Word count: 250 lines

Prizes: Two prizes of $3,000, ten prizes of $300

Entry fee: $22

Closing date: 30 September 2023

2. Southword Editor’s Poetry Award 

Southword has organized this poetry contest 2023 to award three poems by a single poet. The poetry editor of the magazine will select the winner. All entrants receive a free subscription to the magazine. 

Word count: 3 poems

Prize: €1,000

Entry fee: €20

Closing date: 30 September 2023

Short story contests 2023

3. “Stories Out of School” Flash Fiction Contest [Free Contest!]

Academy for Teachers has organized this flash fiction competition to help highlight “the rich, challenging, and underappreciated world of the teachers”. Anyone over the age of 18 can participate, but the story should revolve around a teacher.

Word count: 6–749

Prize: $1,000

Entry: Free! 

Closing date: 01 September 2023

4. The Scribes Prize

This story writing contest accepts all genres of prose, including creative nonfiction. Aside from the top 18, some notable entries will be given the chance to be published in Scribes*MICRO*Fiction’s Issue 29.

Word count: 90–110

Prize: $250, $125, $60, 15 prizes of $20

Entry fee: $5

Closing date: 01 September 2023

5. Ovacome Writing Competition 2023 

Organized to help raise funds for ovarian cancer support services, this short story contest 2023 allows you interpret the theme any way you like. Along with the top prize, a runner up will receive a £50 Waterstones book voucher.

Theme: Between

Word count: 1,500

Prize: £250 

Entry fee: £8

Closing date: 16 September 2023 

6. Women’s Fiction Competition 2023 – Short Story

Mslexia has organized this short story competition to encourage women writers. Along with the top four, eight shortlisted entries will be published in Issue 100 of Mslexia. Later, these entries will appear in the ebook anthology Best Women’s Fiction 2023.

Word count: 3,000

Prizes: £3,000, three prizes of £100

Entry fee: £12

Closing date: 18 September 2023  

7. Women’s Fiction Competition – Flash Fiction 

Send your best complete short fiction and get a change to be published in the December 2023 issue of Mslexia. The four finalists and eight more shortlisted entries will appear in the ebook anthology Best Women’s Fiction 2023.

Word count: 300

Prizes: £500, three prizes of £50

Entry fee: £6

Closing date: 18 September 2023 

8. Green Stories Short Story Competition 2023 [Free Contest!]

Environmental Biotechnology Network has sponsored this short story contest to raise awareness about what microbial systems can do for us. Submit a write-up of 200 words explaining your approach to the theme.

Theme: Microbes to the Rescue!

Word count: 1,000–3,000

Prizes: £500, £200, £100

Entry:span style=”font-weight: 400;”> Free!<

Closing date: 23 September 2023 

9. The Henshaw Press Short Story Competition

Henshaw Press’ September short story contest opens on 01 August 2023. Make sure you go through their guidelines about story presentation before you hit submit! Winning entries will be published online.

Word count: 2,000

Prizes: £200, £100, £50

Entry fee: £6

Closing date: 30 September 2023

Book writing contests

10. Academy of American Poets First Book Award 

This poetry book competition awards one unpublished poet with publication by Graywolf Press, a six-week residency at Civitella Ranieri Center, and a comprehensive marketing plan for the newly published book.

Word count: 48–100 pages

Prize: $5,000

Entry fee: $35

Closing date: 01 September 2023

11. International Novel Prize 

Grindstone Literary has organized this novel competition to find “the best and boldest new manuscripts” written by unrepresented and self-published writers. The contest offers a limited number of sponsored entries and fee concessions!

Word count: At least 70,000

Prizes: £1,500, £500, four prizes of £100

Entry fee: £16 / £18 / £20

Closing date: 01 April 2023 / 01 July 2023 / 01 September 2023

12. The Nadia Christensen Prize [Free Contest!]

The American-Scandinavian Foundation awards an English translation of literary text from a Nordic language. An excerpt of the winning entry will be published in Scandinavian Review.

Categories: Short story, essay, and poetry

Word count: 25–50 pages for prose and 15–25 pages for poetry

Prize: $2,500

Entry: Free!

Closing date: 01 September 2023

13. 2023 Fall Anthology Contest 

The organizers of this book writing contest want you to submit the first chapter of your work-in-progress manuscript. This unique contest offers you a professional edit and the opportunity to revise your submission accordingly!

Categories: Novel and memoir

Word count: 2,000–3,000

Prizes: $1,000, $50 for all finalists

Entry fee: $20

Closing date: 30 September 2023

Other interesting contests in 2023

14. Manchester Writing Competition

Manchester Metropolitan University invites poets and writers worldwide to participate in their writing competition. The organizers offer 100 reduced-price (£10) to participants with low income.

Categories: Short story and poetry

Word count: 2,500 for short story, 120 lines for poetry

Prize: £10,000 per category

Entry fee: $15

Closing date: 01 September 2023

15. 2024 Dogwood Literary Awards 

Every year, Dogwood organizes its writing competition to offer poets and writers with publication and a cash prize. In the case of poems, add all the poems in one document. Don’t forget to add a cover letter with your entry!

Categories: Short story, essay, poetry

Word count: 22 pages for prose and 3 poems (10 pages) for poetry

Prize: $1,000 per category

Entry fee: $12

Closing date: 05 September 2023

16. 2023 Unpublished Contest 

Book Pipeline has organized this writing contest in 2023 “exclusively for unpublished manuscripts across eight categories of fiction and nonfiction”. Aside from the cash prizes, the finalists receive circulation to publishers, agents, editors, and film and TV producers.

Word count: 250–750

Prizes: $20,000, $2,500 per category

Entry fee: $45 / $55 / $60

Closing date: 25 May 2023 / 20 August 2023 / 05 September 2023

17. The Moth Nature Writing Prize

One of the well-known writing contests 2023, The Moth Nature Writing Prize aims to “celebrate the art of nature writing”. Along with the cash prize, the winner receives one week at Circle of Misse!

Categories: short story, essay, poetry

Word count: 4,000

Prize: €1,000, €500, €250

Entry fee: €15

Closing date: 30 September 2023

18. The Paul Cave Prize for Literature 2023

Tim Saunders Publications has organized this writing competition to reward poets and writers writing in diverse genres. Winning entries will be published online and The Paul Cave Prize for Literature 2023 book.

Categories: Novella, short story, flash fiction, poetry

Word count: 10,000 for novella, 1,000 for short story, 300 for flash fiction, 30 lines for poetry

Prizes: £100 for novella, £50 for short story, £25 for flash fiction and poetry

Entry fee: £25 for novella, £12 for short story, £8 for flash fiction and poetry

Closing date: 30 September 2023 

19. Introducing the Vocal Writing Awards

With 8 categories and 24 winners, this surely is a rewarding writing competition 2023 for poets and writers! The judges will prepare a shortlist for each category, after which Vocal’s members will vote to select the winners. The prize pool grows with each entry!

Categories: Multiple

Word count: Variable

Prizes: $11,500, $5,750, $2,875 (rising prize pool)

Entry fee: $20

Closing date: 30 September 2023 

20. 2023 International Literary Prize 

Hammond House Publishing has organized this exciting contest as part of its annual literary festival. From five scriptwriting categories to two songwriting categories, this competition is a treat for poets and writers in 2023!

Theme: Fate

Entry fee: £10

Closing date: 30 September 2023

a. Short Story Competition

Word count: 1,000–5,000

Prizes: £1000, £100, £50

b. Poetry Competition

Word count: 40 lines

Prizes: £250, £50, £25

c. Scriptwriting Competition

Word count: 10 pages

Prize: £100

d. Songwriting Competition

Word count: 10 pages

Prize: £100 per category

October 2023

1. The Chilling Pen Award [Free Contest!]

This short story competition seeks to unearth hidden gems in the horror genre. The judging criteria are as follows: Quality, Originality, Fear Factor, and Overall Impact. So go ahead and write something to chill the panel to its bones!

Word count: 1,000

Prizes: $500, $300, $100

Entry: Free!

Closing date: 01 October 2023

2. 2024 Peter Porter Poetry Prize 

Australian Book Review has organized this poetry contest 2023 to honor the poet Peter Porter. The five shortlisted poems will be published in the January–February 2024 issue of ABR. Entrants will receive digital access to ABR for four months!

Word count: 70 lines

Prizes: $6,000 AUD, four prizes of $1,000 AUD

Entry fee: $30 AUD

Closing date: 09 October 2023

3. Editor’s Choice Award

This interesting contest invites poets and writers to send “hybrid work—your lyric essays, prose poems, short-shorts, collages, micro-memoirs”. The competition begins accepting entries on 01 May 2023, so keep your drafts ready!

Word count: 8,000 

Prize: $1,000

Entry fee: $20

Closing date: 16 October 2023

4. Diode Editiona Full-Length Book Contest 

Diode Editions has organized this poetry writing competition to award an unpublished poet. The winning manuscript will be published within a year and select poems from it will appear in the 17th Anniversary Issue of diode poetry journal.

Word count: 55–95 pages

Prize: $1,500 and 10 author copies

Entry fee: $20

Closing date: 30 October 2023

5. Diode Editions Chapbook Contest 

The organizers of this poetry contest allow collaborations and hybrid work. Diode Editions may select more than one chapbook as the winner, and each winner will receive a cash prize and publication.

Word count: 25–55 pages

Prize: $750 and 10 author copies

Entry fee: $18

Closing date: 30 October 2023

6. The Bedford Competition 

The organizers of this writing contest help poets and writers get published and donate all proceeds to charities that support literary and literacy skills. All winning and shortlisted entries will be published by Ostrich Books. 

Categories: Short story and poetry

Word count: 3,000 for short story and 40 lines for poetry

Prizes: £1,500, £300, £200

Entry fee: £9

Closing date: 31 October 2023

7.  Anthology Flash Fiction Competition

Anthology has organized this flash fiction contest to “inspire creativity, great writing and to provide a platform for publication.” The winning entry will be published in a future issue of the magazine.

Word count: 250

Prize: €300

Entry fee: €8 / €10

Closing date: 31 May 2023 / 31 October 2023

8. Anthology Poetry Competition 

Well-known among writing contests 2023, this poetry competition was “established to recognise and encourage excellence in the craft of poetry writing”. There is no restriction on theme and style, but you can refer to past issues for a better idea of what they publish.

Word count: 40 lines

Prizes: €1,000, €250, €150

Entry fee: €18

Closing date: 31 October 2023

9. National Poetry Competition 

One of the most prestigious poetry contests in 2023, The Poetry Society has been organizing this competition since 1978. Jane Draycott, Will Harris, Clare Pollard comprise the panel of judges for this year.

Word count: 40 lines

Prize: £5,000

Entry fee: £8

Closing date: 31 October 2023

November 2023

1.The Scribble Annual Short Story Competition 2023 

Park Publications, the publishers of Scribble, has organized this short story contest. The winning entry will be published in the winter 2023 edition of the magazine. Annual subscribers of Scribble receive a free entry.

Word count: 3,000

Prizes: £100, £50, £25

Entry fee: £5

Closing date: 01 November 2023

2. Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest [Free Contest!]

The Atlas Shrugged novel essay contest is open to all high school and college students globally. Atlas Shrugged is a heroic mystery novel written by Ayn Rand. Choose from three prompts and submit an award-winning essay!

Word count: 800–1,600

Prizes: $10,000, 3 prizes of prizes $2,000, 5 prizes of $1,000, 25 prizes of $100, 50 prizes of $50

Entry: Free!

Closing date: 06 November 2023

3. Anthology Travel Writing Competition 

The organizers of this travel writing contest are looking for “an engaging article that will capture the reader’s attention, conveying a strong sense of the destination and the local culture”.

Word count: 4,000–10,000

Prizes: $1200, $600

Entry: €10/€15

Closing date: 30 June 2023/30 November 2023 

4. Poulin, Jr. Poetry Prize

BOA Editions, a not-for-profit publishing house of poetry and poetry in translation, has organized this contest to honor its late founder. The contest is only open to poets who are yet to publish a full-length manuscript.

Word count: 48–100 pages

Prize: $1,000

Entry: $25

Closing date: 30 November 2023

5. Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Competition

Suji Kwock Kim is the judge for this international poetry competition 2023. The poem can be on any subject or style. The organizers offer free entries of two poems each for thirty poets currently residing in a developing country.

Word count: 40 lines

Prize: €2,000, €500, €250, two prizes of €50

Entry fee: €7

Closing date: 30 November 2023

December 2023

1. The W.S. Porter Prize for Short Story Collections 

This short story competition in 2023 honors the master of the genre, O. Henry himself. Regal House Publishing will publish the winning short story collection. The organizers seek “a masterfully written short story collection”.

Word count: 100–350 pages

Prize: $1,000

Entry fee: $25

Closing date: 01 December 2023

2. 21st Gival Press Poetry Award 2023 

Gival Press has organized this poetry contest 2023 to reward one unpublished manuscript. Self-published books are not allowed. There are no restrictions on the theme or style, the organizers want “simply good poetry”.

Word count: At least 45 pages

Prize: $1,000

Entry fee: $20

Closing date: 15 December 2022

 

If you were hoping for some more short story, poetry, or essay contests, don’t worry! As more contests are announced, we’ll keep adding to this list. So make sure to bookmark this page for the latest writing competitions 2023!

For more resources on writing and editing, feel free to explore our Resource Center. For now, here are a few articles you may be interested in:

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