September is upon us (how the everliving fuuuuu…?) – it’s a new academic year, the last quarter of 2019 (like, whuuuu?), and the perfect time to get a hold of your submissions habit and send some writing out into the world.
I mean, what’s the worst that could happen? You get rejected. MEH. You get accepted? YEAH!
Check out our mammoth list of 60+ writing opportunities and competitions below, pick one (or two, or 60), and get subbing. Nudge-nudge, wink-wink, our very own Writers’ HQ Flash Quarterly Contest is on there, too… It’s free to enter and you could win yourself a whole year’s WHQ membership and 3 productivity-boosting writing retreats. Kablooie.
Ooh, and it’s still not too late to jump on board our #Submit2019 challenge and try to beat your personal best for submissions this year.
Why are you still reading this intro? Get to it!
Black Warrior Review 2019 Contest
Deadline: 1st September 2019
Word Limit: Fiction & non-fiction: 3,000 words / Poetry & flash fiction: up to 3 pieces
Prize: Fiction, non-fiction & poetry: $1,500 / Flash fiction $800
Entry Fee: Fiction, non-fiction & poetry: $20 (international entries $30) / Flash fiction: $8
Notes: Runner-ups in each category will also receive monetary compensation. All submissions will be considered for general publication.
More details and submissions info HERE
Coniston Prize
Deadline: 1st September 2019
Requirements: 3-6 poems
Prize: $1,000
Entry fee: $15
Notes: The Coniston Prize is an annual award that recognises an exceptional group of poems by a woman writing in English.
More details and submission info HERE
Liar’s League (London)
Deadline: 1st September 2019
Word Limit: 800-2,000 words
Prize: A public reading of your story + mp3 & YouTube recording + free drinks all night at the Liar’s League event (or a free book if you can’t attend)
Entry Fee: FREE
Notes: Theme: Toil & Trouble – witches, warlocks, wizards, wyverns, wights, wraiths and will-o-the-wisps (and other horror-themed things not beginning with W). Accepted stories will be read by a professional actor on the 8th of October 2019.
More details and submissions info HERE
PANK Big Book Contest
Deadline: 1st September 2019
Requirements: Full length manuscripts (novels and short story collections)
Prize: $1,000 + publication + a $500 publicity campaign + 25 copies
Entry fee: FREE
Notes: Runners-up will also be considered for publication
More details and submission info HERE
The Southampton Review
Deadline: 1st September 2019
Word Limit: Fiction, non-fiction, novel extracts & flash fiction: 7,500 words / Poetry: up to 5 poems
Payment: Fiction: $100+ / Poetry: $75 per poem
Entry Fee: FREE
Notes: Published authors will also receive a year’s subscription to The Southampton Review
More details and submissions info HERE
Still Point Arts: Phenomenal Woman
Deadline: 1st September 2019
Word Limit: 5,000 words
Entry Fee: FREE
Notes: Theme: ‘Phenomenal Woman‘
More details and submissions info HERE
Tartu City of Literature International Residency Programme
Deadline: 1st September 2019
Requirements: A fragment of published text (in English or Estonian) + application form
Prize: 2 months’ residency in Tartu + accommodation + €600 monthly scholarship + travel compensation
Entry Fee: FREE
Notes: Applicants must have at least one published book, play, or screenplay, and have an interest in Estonian literature and culture
More details and submission info HERE
Hubert Butler Essay Prize
Deadline: 1st September 2019
Word Limit: 3,000 words
Prize: 1st prize: £1,000 / 2 runners-up: £500 each
Entry Fee: FREE
Notes: The Hubert Butler Essay Prize is looking for essays with a european dimension and is open to EU citizens only
More details and submission info HERE
Oxford Brookes International Poetry Competition
Deadline: 2nd September 2019
Line Limit: 50 lines
Prizes: (in each category) First prize: £1,000 / Runner-up: £200
Entry Fee: £5 per poem / £4 per poem for more than 3 entries
Notes: There are two categories: Open and English as an Additional Language
More details and submission info HERE
Popshot Quarterly
Deadline: 2nd September 2019
Word Limit: Poetry: 12-40 lines / Flash fiction: 100-1,000 words / Fiction: 1,000-3,000 words
Entry fee: FREE
Notes: Theme: ‘chance‘
More details and submission info HERE
Portland Review 2020 Anthology: Labor
Deadline: 2nd September 2019
Word Limit: Fiction: 3,000 fiction / Poetry: 10 pages
Payment: $30
Entry fee: FREE
Notes: Theme: ‘labour‘
More details and submissions info HERE
Dogwood Literary Prizes
Deadline: 5th September 2019
Word Limit: Fiction & non fiction: 22 pages / Poetry: 2-3 poems
Prizes: $1,000 in each category
Entry Fee: $10
More details and submissions info HERE
Zoetrope Screenplay Prize
Deadline: 5th September 2019
Requirements: Film scripts: 70-130 pages / 1-hour TV pilot scripts: 45-65 pages / 30-min TV scripts: 22-34 pages
Prize: $5,000
Entry Fee: $50
Notes: Francis Ford Coppola will select a grand prize–winner from among the top ten finalists. The scripts of all top ten finalists are sent by Zoetrope to leading production companies and talent agencies for consideration.
More details and submissions info HERE
Great Eighty Challenge (RECURRING)
Deadline: 9th & 23rd September 2019
Word Limit: Exactly 80 words
Prize: Royalties on publication
Entry Fee: FREE
Notes: Title not included in word count (but limited to 6 words).
More details and submissions info HERE
Nan Shepherd Prize For Nature Writing
Deadline: 10th September 2019
Requirements: 10,000 words/sample chapters + synopsis + bio
Prize: £10,000 editorial mentorship + a book deal with Canongate + option for literary representation
Entry Fee: FREE
Notes: The Nan Shepherd prize is looking for emerging writers from under-represented backgrounds
More details and submissions info HERE
The Ginko Prize For Ecopoetry
Deadline: 15th September 2019
Line Limit: 54 lines, up to 10 poems
Prizes: 1st prize: £5,000 / 2nd prize: £2,000 / 3rd prize: £1,000
Entry Fee: £7 for first entry, £4 thereafter
Notes: There is an additional prize on the theme of ‘environmental defenders’ with a prize fund of £500
More details and submissions info HERE
National Poetry Day
Deadline: 15th September 2019
Line Limit: 40 lines
Prizes: £30’s worth of book prizes will be awarded to the top three poets
Entry Fee: £3 for 1 / £7 for 3 / £10 for 5
Notes: Optional theme: ‘truth‘. The top 20 poems will be published in an anthology.
More details and submission info HERE
Palm Sized Prompts (RECURRING)
Deadline: 15th September 2019
Word Limit: 500 words
Prize: $300
Entry Fee: FREE
Notes: Entries should be inspired by the monthly prompt and emailed to palmsizedprompts @ gmail.com
More details and submission info HERE
Scotland Writing Residency
Deadline: 15th September 2019
Requirements: 20 pages of fiction/creative non-fiction/playwriting or 10 pages of poetry + CV + references
Prize: A week’s retreat in the Scottish highlands + $500
Payment: $22
Notes: Open internationally to applicants writing in English
More details and submission info HERE
David Higham Open Day for Under-Represented Writers
Deadline: 16th September 2019
Requirements: The first 3 chapters of a book + synopsis + application form
Prize: Ten winners will receive a place on the open day (30th January 2020) to meet with industry professionals + tailored feedback + a bursary for travel expenses is also available
Entry Fee: FREE
Notes: David Higham welcomes applications from any writer living in the UK from an under-represented background, including LGBTQ+ writers, writers from working-class backgrounds, writers from ethnic, cultural and religious minorities and writers with disabilities. Writers must be un-agented.
More details and submissions info HERE
Mslexia Poetry & Pamphlet Competitions
Deadline: 16th September 2019
Requirements: Poetry prize: 3 poems / Pamphlet prize: up to 24 pages of poetry (up to 20 poems)
Prizes: Poetry prize: £2000 + mentoring + a writing retreat / Pamphlet prize: £250 + publication
Entry Fee: Poetry prize: £10 for 3 poems / Pamphlet prize: £20
Notes: Mslexia competitions are open to writers who identify as women
More details and submissions info HERE
Writers Online Dark Tales Competition
Deadline: 15th August 2019
Word Limit: 1,500-1,700 words
Prize: 1st prize: £200 / 2nd prize: £50
Entry Fee: £6 (non-subscribers) / £4 (subscribers)
Notes: This contest invites fiction with an edge. It could be spooky or chilling, or just dealing with the darker side of human psychology.
More details and submission info HERE
Dodging The Rain
Deadline: 18th September 2019
Word Limit: 3,500 of fiction, poetry or drama
Entry Fee: FREE
More details and submissions info HERE
Granada Writers In Residence Programme
Deadline: 20th September 2019
Requirements: 1,500-3,000 word extract + synopsis + letters of recommendation
Prize: A month’s stay for two writers in Granada + accommodation
Entry Fee: FREE
Notes: During the residency, writers must undertake a text (fiction or non fiction) of at least 8000 words and participate in local literary activities. Applicaants must have published at least one book (and no more than five).
More details and submissions info HERE
Hammond House International Writing Competition
Deadline: 20th September 2019
Word Limit: Poetry: 40 lines / Fiction: 2,000-5,000 words / Screenplays: 10 mins
Prizes: Poetry: £100 / Fiction: £500 / Screenplay: £100
Entry Fee: £10 (£5 or members)
Notes: Theme ‘leaving‘
More details and submissions info HERE
Manchester Fiction Prize
Deadline: 20th September 2019
Word Limit: 2,500 words
Prize: £10,000
Entry Fee: £17.50
More details and submissions info HERE
Southam Book Festival Flash Fiction & Poetry Competition
Deadline: 21st September 2019
Word Limit: 100 words
Prize: £50
Entry Fee: £2 or 1 entry / £8 for 6
Notes: Entries must contain the words ‘water dripped’
More details and submissions info HERE
The Val Wood Prize: Love Letters
Deadline: 21st September 2019
Word Limit: 1,500 words
Prizes: 1st prize: £100 / 2nd prize: £50 / 2x runners-up: £25
Entry fee: FREE
More details and submission info HERE
Stroud Book Festival Competition
Deadline: 22nd September 2019
Word Limit: Poetry: 40 lines / Flash fiction: 500 words / Mainstream fiction: 3,000 extract + 200 word synopsis
Prizes: Poetry & flash fiction: 1st prize: £500, 2nd prize: £250, 3rd prize: £100 / Mainstream fiction: 1st prize: £100 + writing retreat, 2nd prize: £75, 3rd prize: £50
Entry Fee: £5
Notes: The mainstream fiction prize is only open to Gloucestershire writers
More details and submissions info HERE
Allingham Festival Flash Fiction & Poetry Competition
Deadline: 26th September 2019
Word Limit: Flash fiction: 700 words / Poetry: 40 lines
Prizes: €300 in each category
Entry fee: €5
More details and submission info HERE
Grindstone International Novel Prize
Deadline: 28th September 2019
Requirements: A 3,000 word novel extract + synopsis
Prizes: 1st prize: £1000 + publication / Runner-up: £100
Entry Fee: £22
More details and submissions info HERE
Ninevoices Short Story Competition
Deadline: 28th September 2019
Word Limit: 1,200-1,500 words
Prizes: 1st prize: £250 / 2nd prize: £50
Entry Fee: £5
Notes: Theme: ‘summer‘
More details and submissions info HERE
Retreat West Themed Flash Fiction Competition
Deadline: 29th September 2019
Word Limit: 500 words
Prize: 1st prize: £200 / 2x runners-up: £100
Entry Fee: £8
Notes: Theme: ‘water‘
More details and submissions info HERE
Boulevard Non Fiction Contest For Emerging Writers
Deadline: 30th September 2019
Word Count: 8,000 words
Prize: €1,000
Entry Fee: €16
Notes: The Boulevard Prize is open to writers who have not yet published a full length book
More details and submissions info HERE
Caterpillar Story Prize
Deadline: 31st August 2019
Word Count: 1,500 words
Prizes: 1st prize: €1,000 / 2nd prize: a writing retreat
Entry Fee: €12
Notes: The Caterpillar Story Prize is open to children’s writers
More details and submissions info HERE
Dzanc Books Prize
Deadline: 31st August 2019
Word Limit: Novels: 40,000+ word manuscripts + synopsis / Short story collections of any length / Novellas: 18,000-40,000 words
Prizes: Novel: $5,000 + publication / Short story collection: $2,500 + publication / Novella: $1,500 + publication
Entry Fee: $25
More details and submissions info HERE
The First Page Challenge
Deadline: 30th September 2019
Requirements: The first page of a work-in-progress
Prize: $200
Entry Fee: $5
Notes: The prize fund will increase with additional entries
More details and submissions info HERE
Flash 500 Competition
Deadline: 30th September 2019
Word Limit: 500 words
Prizes: 1st prize: £300 / 2nd prize: £200 / 3rd prize: £100
Entry Fee: £5 (or £8 for 2 entries)
Notes: Optional critique for an additional £10
More details and submissions info HERE
The Galley Beggar Press Short Story Prize
Deadline: 30th September 2019
Word Limit: 6,000 words
Prizes: 1st prize: £2,000 / Runners-up: £150 / Longlist: £50 in book vouchers
Entry fee: £10
More details and submissions info HERE
The Henshaw Short Story Competition
Deadline: 30th September 2019
Word Limit: 2,000 words
Prize: 1st prize: £200 / 2nd: £75 / 3rd: £25
Entry Fee: £6 (£12 with critique)
More details and submissions info HERE
Lascaux Prize In Creative Non Fiction
Deadline: 30th September 2019
Word Limit: 10,000 words
Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
More details and submissions info HERE
Literal Latte Essay Award
Deadline: 30th September 2019
Word Limit: 10,000 words
Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $10 for first entry, $5 thereafter
More details and submissions info HERE
The Literary Nest
Deadline: 30th September 2019
Requirements: 5 poems or 1 story
Entry Fee: FREE
More details and submissions info HERE
Morton Marr Poetry Prize
Deadline: 30th September 2019
Requirements: Up to 6 poems in a traditional style
Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $5
More details and submissions info HERE
Mslexia Fiction Competition
Deadline: 30th September 2019
Word Limit: Flash fiction: 300 words / Adult novels: the first 5,000 words / Short stories: 300-3,000 words
Prizes: Flash fiction: £500 / Novel: £5,000 / Short story: £3,000
Entry Fee: Flash fiction: £5 / Adult novels: £25 / Short stories: £10
Notes: Additional finalist prizes and optional extra prizes also available. Mslexia competitions are open to writers who identify as women.
More details and submissions info HERE
New Criterion Poetry Prize
Deadline: 31st August 2019
Requirements: 60 page poetry collections
Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $25
Notes: The Criterion Prize is looking for poetry collections that pay attention to form
More details and submissions info HERE
Ogham Tree Poetry Competition
Deadline: 30th September 2019
Word Limit: 60 words
Prizes: 1st prize: £200, 2nd prize: £100, 3rd prize: £50
Entry Fee: £4 for 1 / £10 for 4 / £24 for 12
Notes: Entries must be based on one of 12 Ogham characters
More details and submissions info HERE
Red Hen Press Fiction Award
Deadline: 30th September 2019
Requirements: Manuscripts of up to 150 pages (short story collections or novels)
Prize: $1,000 + publication
Entry Fee: $25
More details and submissions info HERE
Sandy Run Novella Prize
Deadline: 30th September 2019
Word Limit: Novellas of 17,500-40,000 words
Prize: $1,000 + publication
Entry Fee: $22
More details and submissions info HERE
ScreenCraft Cinematic Book Competition
Deadline: 30th September* (early deadline) 2019
Word Limit: 20,000 word extract of a ‘cinematic’ book (up to 150,000 words)
Prizes: 1st prize: $1,000 / 2nd prize: $500
Entry Fee: $59
Notes: *Final deadline extends to 30th Nov with increased fees. Winners and runners up will also be introduced to industry professionals
More details and submissions info HERE
ScreenCraft Cinematic Short Story Competition
Deadline: 30th September* (early deadline) 2019
Word Limit: 20,000 words
Prizes: 1st prize: $1,000 / 2nd prize: $500
Entry Fee: $39
Notes: *Final deadline extends to 30th Nov with increased fees. Winners and runners up will also be introduced to industry professionals
More details and submissions info HERE
ScreenCraft Pilot Launch Competition
Deadline: 30th September 2019
Requirements: Comedy pilots: 40-60 pages / Drama pilots: 75 pages
Prizes: Comedy/drama: $1,000 / Web series: $500
Entry Fee: $59
Notes: Winners and runners up will also be introduced to industry professionals
More details and submissions info HERE
ScreenCraft Stageplay Competition
Deadline: 30th September* (early deadline) 2019
Requirements: Stage plays of 15-120 pages
Prize: 1st prize: $1,000 + optional travel to LA to produce your play / 2nd prize: $500 + introductions to industry professionals
Entry Fee: $39
Notes: *Final deadline extends to 30th Nov with increased fees
More details and submissions info HERE
Pure Slush: The Shitlist
Deadline: 30th September 2019
Word Limit: 200-1,500 words
Entry Fee: FREE
Notes: Stories must contribute towards a collection of stories set in and around the town of Quonsettville, Vermont, set off by a particular event…
More details and submissions info HERE
The Short Story Competition
Deadline: 30th September 2019
Word Limit: 1,000-5,000 words
Prize: 1st prize: £500 / 2nd prize: £100
Entry Fee: £8
More details and submissions info HERE
Soundwork Monologue Competition
Deadline: 30th September 2019
Requirements: Monologues of up to 10 minutes
Prize: The winning monologue will be recorded by a professional actor and published on Soundcloud
Entry Fee: FREE
More details and submissions info HERE
Toi Derricotte & Cornelius Eady Chapbook Prize
Deadline: 30th September 2019
Word Limit: 25-30 pages of poetry
Prize: $500 + publication + a week’s writing retreat
Entry Fee: $12
Notes: The prize is open to black poets
More details and submissions info HERE
Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest
Deadline: 30th September 2019
Line Limit: 250 lines
Prizes: $2,000 (in each category)
Entry Fee: $12
Notes: There are two categories: free style & rhyming or traditional style
More details and submissions info HERE
Txtlit (RECURRING)
Deadline: 30th September 2019
Word Limit: 160 characters
Entry Fee: Submissions are made by text message. You will be charged for one standard text by your network operator.
Notes: Themed (check website for details) – send your story as a text message from a UK mobile phone to our new number 07537 432 432.
More details and submissions info HERE
Writers’ HQ Flash Quarterly Contest
Deadline: 30th September 2019
Word Limit: 500 words
Prizes: 1st prize: 12 months’ WHQ membership + 3 writing retreats / 2nd prize: 6 months’ WHQ membership + 3 writing retreats / 3rd prize: 3 months’ WHQ membership + 3 writing retreats
Entry Fee: FREE (but donations to our sponsor a writer programme are very welcome!)
Notes: Shortlisted and winning entries will be published on the WHQ site and in a 2020 anthology
More details and submissions info HERE
Ad Hoc Fiction (RECURRING)
Deadline: Various (weekly)
Word Limit: 150 words
Prize: Free entry to the Bath Flash Fiction Award
Entry Fee: FREE
Notes: Entries must include the prompt word (see website for latest deadline). Once submissions are closed, entries are published for public voting on the Ad Hoc site.
More details and submissions info HERE
Faber Academy QuickFic (RECURRING)
Deadline: Weekly (new prompt every Friday)
Word Limit: 250 words
Prize: A selection of books
Entry Fee: FREE
Notes: Stories must be in response to a weekly prompt posted each Friday at 9.50am
More details and submissions info HERE
If you have a writing competition or opportunity to add to our October listings, contact [email protected] before the 13th of September. Please note: We rarely list contests with an entry fee of over £20/$25 (with the exception of scriptwriting competitions).
