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Writing contests that pay

Story, poetry, flash and novel contests with a cash prize. The prize and the entry fee are copied from each contest's own rules page, and every page was opened again on the date below.

23 open, from 18 outlets. 7 charge no fee or state none. 1 read all year. Checked Oct 19, 2026.

  1. Contest

    Varnish Varnish Prize for Fiction (literary, to 5,000 words)

    PaysA$350 first; A$100 second; A$50 third
    FeeNone stated
    Closes
    Guidelines for Varnish, Varnish Prize for Fiction (literary, to 5,000 words)
  2. Contest

    Rattle Ekphrastic Challenge: a poem on the month's image

    Pays$100 to each of two winners
    FeeNone stated
    Closes
    Guidelines for Rattle, Ekphrastic Challenge: a poem on the month's image
  3. Contest

    Reedsy Prompts Monthly contest: The Haunting Season

    Pays$1,500
    Fee$20 USD per entry
    Closes
    Guidelines for Reedsy Prompts, Monthly contest: The Haunting Season
  4. Contest

    The Aluminium Crown Aluminium Crown short story contest (themed, 500-4,000 words)

    PaysAt least A$300 first prize
    FeeNo fee
    Closes
    Guidelines for The Aluminium Crown, Aluminium Crown short story contest (themed, 500-4,000 words)
  5. Contest

    Contemporary Verse 2 Foster Poetry Prize 2026 (emerging poets)

    Pays$1,000 and publication
    Fee$35 (includes a subscription); $20 for extra entries
    Closes
    Guidelines for Contemporary Verse 2, Foster Poetry Prize 2026 (emerging poets)
  6. Contest

    The Masters Review Novel Excerpt Contest

    Pays$3,000 first prize plus agent consultation
    Fee$20 per entry
    Closes
    Guidelines for The Masters Review, Novel Excerpt Contest
  7. Contest

    Narrative Magazine Fall 2026 Story Contest

    Pays$2,500 first prize; $1,000 second; $500 third
    Fee$27 per entry
    Closes
    Guidelines for Narrative Magazine, Fall 2026 Story Contest
  8. Contest

    CRAFT Short Fiction Prize 2026

    Pays$2,500 first prize; $500 second; $300 third
    Fee$20 per entry
    Closes
    Guidelines for CRAFT, Short Fiction Prize 2026
  9. Contest

    SmokeLong Quarterly Grand Micro Contest 2026

    Pays$1,000 grand prize; $500 second; $300 third; $150 finalists
    Fee$14 for up to 2 micros, $23 for up to 4
    Closes
    Guidelines for SmokeLong Quarterly, Grand Micro Contest 2026
  10. Contest

    Fractured Lit Fractured & Fused Prize 2026

    Pays$3,500 awarded; $300 second, $200 third
    FeeNot stated on the prize page
    Closes
    Guidelines for Fractured Lit, Fractured & Fused Prize 2026
  11. Contest

    Fish Publishing Short Story Prize

    PaysEUR 3,000 first prize; top ten published
    FeeEUR 24 first entry, EUR 16 after
    Closes
    Guidelines for Fish Publishing, Short Story Prize
  12. Contest

    Singapore Unbound 3rd SUSPECT Flash Fiction Contest (100-150 words)

    Pays$300, $200 and $100
    FeeNo fee
    Closes
    Guidelines for Singapore Unbound, 3rd SUSPECT Flash Fiction Contest (100-150 words)
  13. Contest

    WOW! Women on Writing Fall 2026 Flash Fiction Contest

    Pays$400 first place; 20 winners
    Fee$10 per entry
    Closes
    Guidelines for WOW! Women on Writing, Fall 2026 Flash Fiction Contest
  14. Contest

    Mystery Writers of America and Minotaur Books First Crime Novel Competition

    Pays$10,000 advance and a publishing contract
    FeeNone stated
    Closes
    Guidelines for Mystery Writers of America and Minotaur Books, First Crime Novel Competition
  15. Contest

    Writers of the Future Writers of the Future, first quarter 2027 (SF and fantasy, new writers)

    Pays$1,000, $750 and $500 each quarter; $5,000 annual grand prize
    FeeNo fee
    Closes
    Guidelines for Writers of the Future, Writers of the Future, first quarter 2027 (SF and fantasy, new writers)
  16. Contest

    Writing Magazine Grand Flash 2026 (500 words)

    Pays£1,000 first; £200 runner-up
    Fee£18.50 (£16 for subscribers)
    Closes
    Guidelines for Writing Magazine, Grand Flash 2026 (500 words)
  17. Contest

    Writing Magazine The First 5K Novel Prize (opening 5,000 words)

    Pays£5,000 first; £500 runner-up
    Fee£27.50 (£24 for subscribers)
    Closes
    Guidelines for Writing Magazine, The First 5K Novel Prize (opening 5,000 words)
  18. Contest

    Jerry Jazz Musician 74th Short Fiction Contest

    Pays$150
    FeeNo fee
    Closes
    Guidelines for Jerry Jazz Musician, 74th Short Fiction Contest
  19. Contest

    Bridport Prize Flash Fiction Award

    PaysGBP 1,000 first prize
    FeeGBP 12
    Closes
    Guidelines for Bridport Prize, Flash Fiction Award
  20. Contest

    Bridport Prize Novel Award

    PaysGBP 1,500 first prize
    FeeGBP 26
    Closes
    Guidelines for Bridport Prize, Novel Award
  21. Contest

    Bridport Prize Poetry Award

    PaysGBP 5,000 first prize
    FeeGBP 13
    Closes
    Guidelines for Bridport Prize, Poetry Award
  22. Contest

    Bridport Prize Short Story Award

    PaysGBP 5,000 first prize
    FeeGBP 15
    Closes
    Guidelines for Bridport Prize, Short Story Award
  23. Contest

    Reedsy Prompts Weekly short story contest

    Pays$250 each week
    Fee$5 USD per entry
    ClosesRolling
    Guidelines for Reedsy Prompts, Weekly short story contest

Before you send

Read the fee next to the prize. A $20 fee for a $2,500 prize with a few hundred entries is a different bet from a $20 fee for a $150 prize. If you would rather not pay to enter at all, the no-fee list is one tap away.

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