Writing Competitions.
A regularly updated list of open short story and flash fiction competitions.
This is a regularly updated list of short story writing competitions open right now. It includes flash fiction contests, short story awards, and longer-form opportunities for writers at every stage.
If you’re looking for a way to challenge yourself, build a submission habit, or get your work in front of editors and judges, these competitions offer clear goals and real deadlines. New opportunities are added each month, with outdated listings removed, so you’re always seeing current, relevant calls for entries.
From 100-word stories to full-length fiction, this page is designed to be a practical hub for writers ready to put their work out into the world.
Julia & Martin Wilson Short Story Prize 2026
Deadline: 27th March Wordcount: 2,000 words Fee: £12 Prize: £800 |
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Story Glory Short Story Contest
Deadline: 28th March Wordcount: 300 – 1,200 words Fee: Free Prize: £10 Amazon Voucher |
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Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction
Deadline: 28th March Wordcount: 5,000 words Fee: $25 Prize: Two to four winners share in the $1,000 prize pool |
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Sondor Author Challenge
Deadline: 31st March Wordcount: 3,000 – 5,000 words Fee: Free Prize: We do not pay royalties, instead we donate at least 10% of the book’s profits to an appropriate charity |
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Winter 2026 Story Contest
Deadline: 31st March Wordcount: 15,000 words Fee: $27 Prize: First Prize is $2,500, Second Prize is $1,000, Third Prize is $500, and up to ten finalists will receive $100 each. All entries will be considered for publication. |
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Henshaw Press Short Story Competition
Deadline: 31st March Wordcount: 2,000 words Fee: £6 Prize: First prize: £200; second prize: £100; third prize: £50 |
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The Cats Protection Short Story Competition
Deadline: 31st March Wordcount: 250 – 1,000 words Fee: £10 Prize: The winning entries will be published in The Cat magazine and showcased on Cats Protection’s website Both category winners will also win a goody bag gifted by competition partner, Cult Pens, value of £350 Visit to a Cats Protection adoption centre to meet the cats awaiting rehoming |
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The Wells Festival of Literature’s Writing Competitions
Deadline: 1st April Wordcount: 1,000 – 2,000 words Fee: £8 Prize: First prize: £750 |
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Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize
Deadline: 19th April Wordcount: 2,000 words Fee: €20 Prize: €2000 |
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FFF Competition Thirty-Three
Deadline: 23rd April Wordcount: 100 – 300 words Fee: £4.95 Prize: 1 Winner will receive £200.00 and publication 2 Highly Commended will receive £100.00 and publication 3 Shortlisted will receive £80.00 and publication |
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Ironclad Short Story Competition
Deadline: 30th April Wordcount: 6,000 words Fee: £9.75 Prize: First Place writer will be offered a prize of £100 and publication Second Place writer will be offered a prize of £50 and publication Third Placed writer will be offered prizes of £25 and publication |
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New Writers 100-Word Writing Competition
Deadline: 30th April Wordcount: 100 words Fee: £10 Prize: £1,000 |
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The Mo Siewcharran Prize 2026
Deadline: 2nd May Wordcount: synopsis of the novel (up to 700 words) and up to the first 10,000 words of the novel. Fee: Free Prize: The winner will receive £2,500 prize money, a 1000-word piece of editorial feedback from a Bookouture editor and follow-up editorial meeting, and an introductory meeting with a literary agent. Their submission will also be taken forward to our acquisitions meeting to be considered for publication. The runners-up will receive £1,500 and £750, as well as editorial feedback for their projects. |
The Creative Future Writers’ Award
Deadline: 5th May Wordcount: 2,000 words Fee: Free Prize: Fifteen prize winners are selected by a panel of prestigious authors and industry experts and are given the chance to develop their work through £25,000 of prizes in training, mentoring, assessment and coaching. |
International Jay Yes Short Story Contest 2026
Deadline: 8th May Wordcount: 2,500 – 4,000 words Fee: Free Prize: 3 top winning entries get publishing contracts with zero degree publishing |
Inkspot Publishing Flash Fiction Writing Competition
Deadline: 17th May Wordcount: 500 words Fee: £10 Prize: £500 |
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M.F.K. FISHER Emerging Writers Contest
Deadline: 17th May Wordcount: 750 words Fee: $50 Prize: $250.00 awarded to the first place winner in each category An additional $250.00 awarded to the grand prize winner First, second and third place submissions (and their authors’ names) in each category will be published on the M.F.K. Fisher Foundation website. |
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Fight for another world, write for another world! Short story Competition
Deadline: 31st May Wordcount: 25,000 words Fee: Free Prize: one year of free writing guidance by a experienced writer / publisher |
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Reedsy Literary Prize
Deadline: 31st May Wordcount: 2,000 – 5,000 words Fee: $20 Prize: 1st place: $1,500 + publication in Reedsy’s literary magazine Prompted + personalized feedback from the guest judge; 2nd place: a year-long Reedsy Learning membership; 3rd place: Reedsy Marketplace credit worth $100 |
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Anthology Short Story Competition 2026
Deadline: 31st July Wordcount: 1,500 words Fee: Early Bird fee – €15 (November 2025 – January 2026) Standard fee – €18 (February – July 2026) Prize: 1st Place: €1,000 plus publication in Anthology magazine and a one-year subscription; 2nd: €250; 3rd: €150 |