Upcoming Writing Contests Novels & Stories

You're asking the right question—this is how I got my first piece published, actually. The first place I'd recommend is a bit obvious but reliable: 'Reedsy' has a frequently updated contest page that filters for no-fee options. I check it maybe once a month. Their blog also often does roundups for specific genres, which saves a ton of scrolling time.

Beyond that, university writing department websites are a goldmine people forget. Even if you're not a student, many MFA programs list competitions that are open to the public, and they tend to be legitimate, often connected to literary journals. I've submitted to a few from the University of New Orleans' 'Press 53' page, for instance. The key is to treat the search like a part-time job; bookmark a few trusted hubs instead of googling 'free contest' every time, which just leads to sketchy sites wanting your data.

One more tip—follow the magazines you admire on Twitter or Mastodon. Editors often announce their own open submission periods or contest extensions there before it hits the main aggregators. I snagged a last-minute slot for the 'Bridport Prize' flash fiction category that way, though some of their contests do have fees so you have to read carefully.

Not to be overly cynical, but the term 'best' depends entirely on what you're writing and what you're after. The 'big' ones like the Bridport Prize or the Bath Novel Award get all the press, and they're fantastic for the prestige if you win, but the entry fees add up. I've wasted money on contests that promised exposure but just felt like cash grabs for the organizers.

What I've found more useful are the ones attached to specific genres or independent presses. Things like the Cheshire Prize for Literature if you're in the UK, or contests run by journals like 'Glimmer Train' (though they're on hiatus, similar ones pop up). They have smaller pools, so your work might actually get a closer read. The real prize is often publication and a bit of cash, which is more tangible for a debut than vague 'industry recognition.'

My advice is to skip the ones that charge fifty bucks and offer a trophy. Look for contests where the prize includes a publishing contract or agent introduction. That's the golden ticket when you're starting out.

Been looking into this while planning next year's projects, and honestly, it's frustrating how scattered the info is right now. Major contests like the 'Ploughshares Emerging Writer's Contest' or the 'Bridport Prize' haven't posted their 2025 windows yet—they usually announce dates in late fall. I spent an hour on one literary magazine's site only to find a banner saying "2024 submissions closed, 2025 info coming January." Feels like a waiting game.

My advice? Set up a spreadsheet with the contests you care about, track their 2024 deadlines as a reference, and mark your calendar to check their websites around November. Most repeat yearly, so last year's date plus or minus a week is a decent guess. Saves you from the last-minute panic when they finally drop the guidelines.