Writing Contests & Writing Competitions in 2020: The Definitive Guide

• The 2020 Heroines Women's Writing Prize are open for submissions, with a particular interest in works exploring: lost women's history, untold stories, reimagined myths, fairy tales, folklore, legends and speculative imaginings
• The prize is open to both short fiction and poetry from writers who identify as women.
• All longlisted entries will be published in the 2020 Heroines Anthology and be paid $25.
• The winning short story will receive $1000 and the poetry winner will receive $500.

• The Prize will be awarded to an unpublished piece of writing – prose fiction, non-fiction or poetry – which best combines exceptional literary merit with an exploration of the writer’s relationship with the natural world. -- The prize is open to anyone over the age of sixteen, as long as the work is original and previously unpublished.
• The winning piece will be published in the winter issue of The Moth, and the winner will receive €1,000 and a week-long stay at The Moth Retreat in rural Ireland.
• Closing date 15 September 2020.

• If you have written a poem you think would appeal to 7–11-year olds, The Caterpillar Poetry Prize wants you!
• The prize is open to anyone over the age of 16 and the poem can be on any subject
• The prize will be judged by Roger McGough. McGough has published more than 50 books of adult’s and children’s poetry. He was awarded a CBE for services to poetry and currently hosts Poetry Please on BBC Radio 4.
• The author of the winning poem will receive €1,000, and will feature in the summer 2020 issue of The Caterpillar.

• In June 2020 SmokeLong Quarterly will publish an all-contest issue of their journal.
• SmokeLong will award a grand prize of $2000, second prize of at least $200, third prize of at least $100, and $50 to all other finalists, all published in the issue.
• The word limit for submissions is 1000
• Entry fee: Feb 10-April 26: $13.50 for up to two stories; April 27-May 24: $15.50 for up to two stories
• Stories must be original works and not have been previously published anywhere online or in print, including personal blogs.
• Entrants must be 18 and over

• Submit an inspirational story in 1000 - 2000 words for your chance to win our fantastic prize: your story recorded as an audiobook by multi-award winning Austen narrator, Alison Larkin.
• The winning story will be recorded as an audiobook by multi-award winning and best-selling Austen narrator, Alison Larkin, and published worldwide.
• The winner, two runners-up, and five highly commended stories will also be published on the JALF website for everyone to read.

The Leapfrog Press fiction contest brings in about 500 manuscripts each year from as many as 24 countries and all 50 U.S. states, and includes both established and emerging authors. -Adult, young adult, and middle grade novels, novellas, and story collections are accepted (no picture books). -A list of honorable mention, semi-finalist, and finalist manuscripts is announced in June. -Finalists (3-5) will be critiqued this year by author Cris Mazza. -In addition to the critique, finalists receive $150. One or two winners are offered a publication contract with advance.

• The Adventure Writers Competition, sponsored by the Clive Cussler Family, the Clive Cussler Collector's Society, Braveship Books, Venator Media Services and Sven Gillhoolie Publishing is an international competition now in our ninth year.
• We have one category: Adventure, so any novels between 50,000 and 200,000 words that are in the realm of action/adventure/thriller/mystery - and chocked-full of adventure - are welcome.
• We do not accept sci-fi, fantasy, horror or young children's books.
  
• We are open for entries January 1 through April 30 of 2020.

-This writing contest is all about book blurbs. The twist? We want blurbs about completely made-up, nonexistent books. Get creative!

-Write and submit a back cover blurb of 100 words or fewer that sets the stage for a novel, establishes the characters, and raises the stakes in a way that makes readers want to find out more.

-Your blurb must be original. - Any submissions found to contain plagiarism will be disqualified. -Submissions must be 100 words or fewer. -Please run a spellcheck and proofread carefully. -You can apply from anywhere in the world. -No purchase is necessary to enter this contest. -In applying, you grant us permission to publish your blurb entry on the QueryLetter.com blog.

• The contest is open to women writers, age 40+
  
• Both fiction and non-fiction writers are eligible. Poetry is excluded.
• Application fee is $45, with possible reduction or waiver for pre-approved hardship cases.
• NOTE: Pre-approval is required - see the contest FAQs for details
• Grand prize is $1,000 plus a month-long free residency in the Daisy Pettles' Writer's House, a vintage 1920s arts & crafts bungalow in Bedford, Indiana.
• First runner-up is $250, a certificate, and the residency if the grand prize winner cannot accept.
• Second runner-up is $100 and certificate.
• There are two awards scheduled for 2020.
  
• Application deadline for the June, 2020 residency 2/15/20.
• Application deadline for the July 2020 residency is 4/15/20.

• The Moth Short Story Prize is open to anyone (over 16) as long as their story is previously unpublished
• The word limit is 5,000 and there is an entry fee of €15 per story
• This year’s judge is award-winning story writer and novelist Kit de Waal
• 1st prize: €3,000
• 2nd prize: a week-long writing retreat at Circle of Misse in France plus €250 travel stipend
• 3rd prize: €1,000

• The 12th Annual LGBTQ+ Saints and Sinners Short Fiction Writing Contest is now accepting submissions.
• The winner will be selected from submissions of original, unpublished short stories between 3,000 and 7,000 words with LGBTQ+ content on the broad theme of “Saints and Sinners.”
• One grand prize of $500 and two second place prizes of $100 will be awarded.
• The 18th Annual Saints and Sinners Literary Festival is March 26-28, 2021 in New Orleans.
• For submission guidelines, please see our website.

• LiteraTea are looking for submissions to their Emerging Writers Short Story Contest
• LiteraTea employs a rolling reading period. Once sufficient qualified entries, around 100, are received, finalists will be selected and announced.
• A community reading period follows this announcement, prior to judging. Then, the contest will reset.
• LiteraTea's Emerging Writers’ Contest is dedicated to supporting writers who would benefit from our Advanced Writers' Program, LiteraTea's highest membership level.
• The word count of your submission should be 1200-3000 words.
• Submission is free!

• For the 2020 Competition, writers may choose to craft stories from two classic works: the opening and closing lines from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and Beloved by Toni Morrison.
• NO GENRE REQUIREMENTS. Everything's fair game: satire, tragedy, science fiction, humor, fantasy, suspense, mystery, romance, hyper realism, magical realism, plain old realism, speculative fiction, flash fiction, meta-fiction, meta-meta-fiction, hamster tales, poetry, et cetera.
• The author of the winning story in each contest will receive a USD $500 cash prize and a complimentary copy of the forthcoming 2020 Literary Taxidermy Anthology.
• Runners-up will receive a USD $50 cash prize; and both the winner and runners-up will be published in the forthcoming 2020 Literary Taxidermy Anthology.
• Honorable-mention authors will have their name included on a special page in the anthology.
• There is a USD $10 entry fee.
• The competition concludes on 4 June 2020.

• LiteraTea's Spring Short Story Contest's are looking for submissions around the theme community - however you see it!
• The prize for this contest includes a free six-month placement in LiteraTea's Advanced Writers’ Program which features live online workshops and coaching as well as access to a suite of interactive tools and templates. The winning author will also be showcased on the site.
• The word count of your submission should fall between 1200-3000 words.
• Submissions to this contest are free!

• Submissions now open and due by July 7th
• Winner announced July 15th
• Word count: 1,200–3,000
• No entry fee
• Prize is $345 and a six-month placement in LiteraTea's Advanced Writers' Program, which features live online workshops and one-on-one coaching.
• The theme is perseverance—however you see it. For example, you could write about stalagmite formation, the barking dog next door or building a Gothic cathedral.
• U.S. residents only.

• Women On Writing's Winter 2020 Flash Fiction Contest is seeking short fiction of any genre between 250 - 750 words.
• Featuring guest judges: Literary Agent Quressa Robinson with Nelson Literary Agency
• Submissions are accepted via e-mail only and multiple submissions are accepted as long as they are submitted in their own individual e-mail.
• The contest is open internationally
• 20 winners will be announced; 1st Place: $400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate 2nd Place: $300, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate 3rd Place: $200, publication, interview and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate 7 Runners Up receive $25 Amazon Gift Cards, publication and interview 10 honorable mentions receive $20 Amazon Gift Card Top 10 stories are published in the WOW! Women On Writing e-zine, and contestants are interviewed on WOW's blog, The Muffin.

• The Book Pipeline: Adaptation competition seeks published books, graphic novels, short stories, and plays for film and television adaptation.
• There are no genre restrictions. -Submitted books, graphic novels, and short stories must already be published in some form (traditional publishing or self-publishing). Stage plays must have been published and/or produced. Unpublished material can be submitted to Book Pipeline: Unpublished.
• Entries are judged on the basis of concept originality, writing ability, and the property’s viability as a scripted film or television series. Judging is done internally by Pipeline Development Executives. -Prizes: Winner and finalists receive one-on-one assistance from Book Pipeline execs prior to industry exposure, in addition to $10,000 to winner, $2,000 to 2 runners-up ($1,000 each), long-term circulation and promotion to producers and other execs, project development with Book Pipeline to prepare a film or TV series pitch, consideration of other material and circulation of other stories to industry, invitations to annual writer and industry events hosted by Pipeline Media Group -One (1) grand prize winner and two (2) runners-up are selected.
• Deadline Dates/Entry Fees: Early: May 20th, 2020 - $55, Regular: July 31st, 2020 - $60, Late: August 31st, 2020 - $70
• Finalists announced by October 15th, 2020. Winner/Runner-Ups selected by November 1st, 2020.

• The 2020 Book Pipeline: Unpublished competition is exclusively for unpublished manuscripts across 6 categories of fiction and nonfiction: Young Adult, Sci-Fi / Fantasy, Mystery / Thriller, Literary, Outsider / Experimental, Nonfiction
• Select publishers and agents get first look at the top selections for each category, including LGR Literary Agency, Katherine Tegen Books, and Verve Publishing.
• Prizes: Winners and finalists receive: $15,000 to winners ($2,500 for each category winner), Immediate circulation to publishers, agents, editors, and other execs, consideration from producers seeking projects for film and TV adaptation, additional long-term reviews of other books for potential circulation, invitations to annual writer and industry events hosted by Pipeline Media Group
• One (1) grand prize winner and two (2) runners-up are selected for each category.
• Deadline Dates/Entry Fees: Early: June 1st, 2020 - $45, Regular: September 5th, 2020 - $55, Late: October 5th, 2020 - $60
• Finalists announced by October 20th, 2020. Winners selected by November 5th, 2020.

• We’re looking for short stories, of 2.500 words maximum in any genre on the theme of “Numbers”.
• The competition has been running for 10 consecutive years with increasing success.
• Every year, we are delighted to give the opportunity to writers from all over the world to see their work published in English and Greek and also to enjoy a week's holiday in a beautiful beach house on the island of Crete!
• The contest is run by Eyelands online literary magazine and Strange Days Publications.
• First three winners’ stories published in two different anthologies (Greek and English).
• All the stories of the Shortlist will be published in a special English edition, released through amazon.com & strangedays books.
• All shortlisted writers will also get a free copy of the book, certification document and a book from Strange Days Books.
• An interview with the first prize winner will also be featured in eyelands.gr online literary magazine.
• Judge: Gregory Papadoyiannis

• The 35th Annual Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival is seeking submissions of original Fiction, Short Fiction, Poetry, and One-Act plays for our 2020-2021 Writing Contest.
• This contest is open to U.S. and international submissions from emerging writers.
• Prizes awarded for the winning submission, as well as for the top finalists in each category.
• Fiction and One-Act Play deadline is October 1, 2020.
• Poetry and Very Short Fiction deadline is October 15, 2020.
• The Grand Prize includes $1,500, domestic airfare (up to $500), French Quarter accommodations to attend the Festival in New Orleans, VIP Festival pass ($600 value), public reading at a literary panel at the next Festival and publication in Louisiana Literature
• Finalists will receive a panel pass ($100 value) to the Festival. Their names will be published on our website and all our social media outlets.
• For complete guidelines and submission details, please see our website.

• 1st Place up to $150
• 2nd Place up to $100
• 3rd Place up to $50
• No fan fiction.
• The characters and the story must be all original content that has not been published previously.
• Keep it reasonable. Wild sex is great. Rape, extreme coercion, and stalking are not. Most major e-book retailers won't publish that kind of thing anyway.
• Word count must be between 1,500 and 10,000 words. We are happy to accept submissions of longer and shorter work through our submissions page, but for a compilation we want to keep it within those parameters.
• Send submissions to submissions@chainedhearts.com
• Winners will be announced in the first week of July.
• Your story may be chosen to be part of the compilation even if it isn't a winner.
• Submissions should be in .doc or .docx format and easily readable.

• 1st prize €6,000, plus three runner-up prizes of €1,000 and eight commended poets will each receive €250.
• The prize is for an unpublished poem, and entrants (over 16) are welcome from anywhere in the world.
• The four shortlisted poems will be published in the spring 2021 issue of The Moth and the overall winner will be announced at a special award ceremony at Poetry Ireland in the spring.
• There is an entry fee of €15 per poem.
• This year’s judge is Nick Laird.
• Closing 31 December 2020.

• Seeking creative nonfiction essays on any topic (200 - 1000 words) and in any style--from personal essay and memoir to lyric essay and hybrid, and more!
• The mission of this contest is to reward bravery in real-life storytelling and create an understanding of our world through thoughtful, engaging narratives.
• Electronic submissions via e-mail only; reprints are okay; simultaneous submissions okay; reprints okay; multiple submissions are okay as long as they are submitted in their own individual e-mail.
• Open internationally.
• Limit: 300 entries.
• 1st Place: $500, publication, interview, and gift card good for one item from CreateWriteNow's Store
• 2nd Place: $300, publication, interview, and gift card good for one item from CreateWriteNow's Store
• 3rd Place: $200, publication, interview, and gift card good for one item from CreateWriteNow's Store
• 7 Runners Up receive $25 Amazon Gift Cards, publication, interview, and gift card good for one item from CreateWriteNow's Store
• 10 Honorable mentions receive a gift card good for one item from CreateWriteNow's Store
• Entry: $12 entry fee; critique option for an additional $13