Last call for entries! Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest

Deadline: May 28, 2023

The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is open to anyone who enjoys expressing their innermost thoughts and feelings in the beautiful literary art of poetry or writing a story that’s worth telling everyone! Welcome to all, having the ability to dream… Write a poem or short story for a chance to win cash prizes totaling $1275.00! All works must be original. https://www.dreamquestone.com

Guidelines:

Write a poem, 30 lines or fewer on any subject, style, or form, typed or neatly hand-printed.

And/or write a short story, 5 pages maximum length, on any subject or theme, fiction, non-fiction, creative nonfiction (including essay compositions, diary, journal entries, short stage-plays, screenplays, and screenwriting). All entries must be either typed or legibly hand-printed. Multiple and simultaneous poetry and short story entries are accepted.

Postmark deadline: May 28, 2023

All contest winners will be published on June 30, 2023

Prizes(USD):

Writing First Prize is $500. Second: $250. Third: $100.

Poetry First Prize is $250. Second: $125. Third: $50.

Entry fees(USD): $5 per poem, $10 per story

To send entries: Include title(s) with your story (ies) and/or poem(s), along with your name, mailing address, phone#, email, brief biographical info. (Tell us a little about yourself), on the coversheet. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for entry confirmation. Fees payable to: “DREAMQUESTONE.COM”

Mail to:

Dream Quest One

Poetry & Writing Contest

P.O. Box 804632

Chicago, IL 60680

Visit https://www.dreamquestone.com for details on how to enter!

No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude. “And remember, in whatever you do, it’s okay to dream, for dreams do come true.” –Dream Quest One

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Dream Quest One is now accepting poems and short story entries!

The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is open to anyone who enjoys expressing their innermost thoughts and feelings in the beautiful literary art of poetry or writing a story that’s worth telling everyone! Welcome to all, having the ability to dream… Write a poem or short story to win cash prizes totaling $1275.00! All works must be original.

Guidelines:

Write a poem of 30 lines or fewer on any subject, style, or form, typed or neatly hand-printed.

And/or write a short story, 5 pages maximum length, on any subject or theme. Genres: fiction, non-fiction, and creative nonfiction (including essay compositions, diary, journal entries, short screenplays, stage plays, and screenwriting). All entries must be either typed or legibly hand-printed.

Multiple and simultaneous poetry and short story entries are accepted.

Postmark deadline: March 19, 2023

All contest winners will be published on April 30, 2023

Prizes (USD):

Writing First Prize is $500. Second: $250. Third: $100.

Poetry First Prize is $250. Second: $125. Third: $50.

Entry fees (USD): $5 per poem, $10 per story

To send entries: Include title(s) with your story (ies) or poem(s), along with your name, mailing address, phone#, email, and brief biographical info. (Tell us a little about yourself), on the coversheet. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for entry confirmation. Fees payable to “DREAMQUESTONE.COM”

Mail to:

Dream Quest One

Poetry & Writing Contest

P.O. Box 804632

Chicago, IL 60680

Visit https://www.dreamquestone.com for details on how to enter!

No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude. “And remember, in whatever you do, it’s okay to dream, for dreams do come true.” –Dream Quest One

Write your best poem and/or story for a chance to win cash prizes totaling $1275.00!

The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is open to anyone who enjoys expressing innermost thoughts and feelings in the beautiful literary art of poetry or writing a story that’s worth telling everyone! Welcome to all, having the ability to dream… Write a poem or short story for a chance to win cash prizes totaling $1275.00! All works must be original.

Guidelines:

Write a poem, 30 lines or fewer on any subject, style, or form, typed or neatly hand printed.

And/or write a short story, 5 pages maximum length, on any subject or theme. Genres: fiction, non-fiction, and creative nonfiction (including essay compositions, diary, journal entries, short screenplays, and, stageplays, and screenwriting). All entries must be either typed or legibly hand printed.

Multiple and simultaneous poetry and short story entries are accepted.

Postmark deadline: September 30, 2022

All contest winners will be published on November 30, 2022

Prizes(USD):

Writing First Prize is $500. Second: $250. Third: $100.

Poetry First Prize is $250. Second: $125. Third: $50.

Entry fees(USD): $5 per poem, $10 per story

To send entries: Include title(s) with your story (ies) or poem(s), along with your name, mailing address, phone#, email, and brief biographical info. (Tell us a little about yourself), on the coversheet. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for entry confirmation. Fees payable to “DREAMQUESTONE.COM”

Mail to:

Dream Quest One

Poetry & Writing Contest

P.O. Box 804632

Chicago, IL 60680

Visit https://www.dreamquestone.com for details on how to enter!

No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude. “And remember, in whatever you do, it’s okay to dream, for dreams do come true.” –Dream Quest One

Last call! Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest – Deadline: March 31, 2022 – Enter Now!

Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest

If you love expressing innermost thoughts and feelings using the beautiful literary art of poetry and/or writing a story that’s worth telling everyone, then here is an excellent opportunity for you. This poetry and writing contest is open to everyone and international. This is a platform where you can showcase creative writing and poetic talent, skills, and abilities.

• Writing Contest entries may be written on a maximum of 5 pages, wither neatly handwritten or typed, single or double line spacing, on any subject or theme, fiction, nonfiction or creative nonfiction (including essay compositions, diary, journal entries and screenwriting).
• Poetry Contest entries may be written on any subject, theme, or form. All poems must be 30 lines or fewer and either neatly handwritten or typed, single or double line spacing.
• Multiple and simultaneous entries in both the Poetry Contest and the Writing Contest are accepted.

The following are the details of the prizes:

• The First Writing Prize is $500.00
• Second Writing Prize is: $250.00
• Third Writing Prize is: $100.00
• ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
• The First Poetry Contest is: $250.00
• Second Poetry Prize is: $125.00
• Third Poetry Prize is: $50.00

There is a $5.00 (US dollars) entry fee per poem submitted and a $10.00 (US dollars) entry fee per short story submitted.

Kindly note that DEADLINE is MARCH 31, 2022 at 11:59 PM. Enter Now! for a chance to win cash prizes totaling $1275.00.

Please visit DreamQuest’s official rules for more details at

https://www.dreamquestone.com

Write your best poems and short stories to win cash prizes totaling $1275.00!

The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is open to anyone who enjoys expressing innermost thoughts and feelings into the beautiful literary art of poetry or writing a story that’s worth telling everyone! Welcome to all, having the ability to dream… Write a poem or short story for a chance to win cash prizes totaling $1275.00! All works must be original. https://www.dreamquestone.com

Guidelines:

Write a poem, 30 lines or fewer on any subject, style, or form, typed or neatly hand printed.

And/or write a short story, 5 pages maximum length, on any subject or theme, fiction or non-fiction (including essay compositions, diary, journal entries, short screenplays, and screenwriting). Also, all entries must be either typed or legibly hand-printed.

Multiple and simultaneous poetry and short story entries are accepted.

Postmark deadline: March 31, 2022 at 11:59 PM

All contest winners will be published on May 22, 2022

Prizes(USD):

Writing First Prize is $500. Second: $250. Third: $100.

Poetry First Prize is $250. Second: $125. Third: $50.

Entry fees(USD): $5 per poem, $10 per story

To send entries: Include title(s) with your story (ies) or poem(s), along with your name, mailing address, phone#, email, brief biographical info. (Tell us a little about yourself), on the coversheet. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for entry confirmation. Fees payable to: “DREAMQUESTONE.COM”

Mail to:

Dream Quest One

Poetry & Writing Contest

P.O. Box 3141

Chicago, IL 60654

Visit https://www.dreamquestone.com for details on how to enter!

No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude. “And remember, in whatever you do, it’s okay to dream, for dreams do come true.” –Dream Quest One

Turn Off The Lights Thriller Contest

Deadline: February 28th, 2022

There will be one grand prize winner, and two runners-up will be selected.

1st prize: $20,000
2nd prize: $10,000
3rd prize: $5,000

1st – 10th place will receive a publishing contract for our app, Galatea!

Judged by our algorithm, the author with the most reader engagement will be chosen as the winner at the end of the contest. So make sure to get plenty of readers, likes, comments and shares on your book, as this increases your chances of winning!

• The contest is live from December 1st to February 28th, 2022.
• Entering the contest is free, all that is required is to upload your book onto Inkitt and submit it on the contest page.
• Stories must be in English and original works. No plagiarism will be tolerated.
• Stories must be written within the genre of Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, or Horror. While Romance can be involved in the story-line, Romance-only (Werewolf, Billionaire, Mafia, MC, and Contemporary), poetry, non-fiction, and fanfiction will be disqualified at our discretion.
• Winners are chosen based on their reader engagement. This is a combination of likes, reads and reviews.
• Authors cannot enter the contest more than once with the same story, but an author may submit as many books as they want.
• The minimum word count per submission is 10,000 words. There is no maximum word limit.
• We collect data on your submission from the day you join.
• You must own the rights to the novel. You retain all rights to your stories while posted on Inkitt.
• Previously or currently self-published books are accepted
• Stories must abide by Inkitt’s community guidelines. No glorification of non-consensual sexual acts. Please check the Terms of Service on our website first.

Contact information: tamsin@inkitt.com

Visit the website for details: https://www.inkitt.com/thriller_contest 

The 7th Annual “Storytellers of Tomorrow” High School Creative Writing Contest

Deadline: January 15th, 2022

The Ringling College of Art and Design Creative Writing Program was created to support, empower, and honor young writers. It’s an exciting time to be a writer thanks to the increasing number of narrative possibilities that new technologies and media offer. We believe that well-told stories can speak truths and communicate ideas in a way that nothing else can.

To that end, we’re inviting all high-school-age students to submit unpublished, original English-language stories of up to 2,000 words in length for the 7th Annual “Storytellers of Tomorrow” Contest. The sole criterion for earning prizes in this contest is simply overall quality, meaning that well-edited, engaging, and evocative stories have the best chance of winning over the judges.

Submission Guidelines

All high-school-age students writing in English may submit one entry (maximum) in each of the following categories via the Google form which will be available only during the contest’s submission window.

Submission Category 1: Literary Stories
Examples of this type of writing? Short fiction, flash fiction
Examples of writers who work in this vein? Tim O’Brien, O. Henry, John Green, Alice Walker, Toni Morrison, Robert Olen Butler, Amy Tan, Sandra Cisneros, and Lorrie Moore

Submission Category 2: Genre Stories
Examples of this type of writing? Horror stories, fantasy stories, mystery stories, science fiction, thriller stories
Examples of writers who work in this vein? Neil Gaiman, Edgar Allen Poe, J.K. Rowling, Ursula K. Le Guin, George R.R. Martin, Philip K. Dick, and Patricia Highsmith

Submission Category 3: Nonfiction Stories
Examples of this type of writing? Autobiographical essays, personal essay, creative nonfiction (including very well-written, story-based travel writing, nature writing, science writing, and/or biography)

Examples of writers who work in this vein? Lauren Hillenbrand (Unbroken), Jeannette Walls (The Glass Castle), Oliver Sacks (The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat), John Burroughs (“In Mammoth Cave”), Chuck Klosterman (Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs), Jorge Luis Borges (“Blindness”), E.B. White (“Once More to the Lake”), and Annie Dillard (“Seeing”)

How to Submit:
Submit this Google form from October 15, 2021 to January 15, 2022

Submission Period
October 15, 2021 – Jan 15, 2022
(Winners will be notified in February 2022)

Judges
The Ringling College of Art and Design Creative Writing Program faculty  

Entry Fee
None 

Prizes in Each Category

1^st prize

• $1,000
• 1:1 consultation about your writing with bestselling author and editor Brooke Vitale
• iPad for each first-place winner’s high school writing teacher
• Ringling College Creative Writing T-shirt

2^nd prize

• $100
• Ringling College Creative Writing T-shirt

3^rd prize

• $50
• Ringling College Creative Writing T-shirt

Honorable Mentions

• Ringling College Creative Writing T-shirt

FAQs

How do I submit work?
Click on the SUBMIT YOUR WRITING HERE tab on the main contest page. The Google form is located there. Submissions sent in any other manner (snail mail, email, etc.) will not be considered.

Do I need to use special formatting for my contest entry?
Please double space and use a 12-point font, and include your name as well as the title of your piece. Here is a good example of a professional standard format.

Will the contest entries be published?
The top winner in each category may be offered the opportunity for their work to be published in Shift, the Creative Writing Program’s literary arts journal. Authors retain all rights to their stories whether they accept this possible publication opportunity or not.

What if I win first prize but don’t want my work published?
That’s a decision we will respect.

Can I submit to more than one category?
Yes. Though each piece can only win a prize in a single category so please send different pieces if you’d like to contend in more than one contest category.

Can I submit more than one entry for a single category?
No. It’s one entry per category per person. The maximum amount of entries anyone can send is three–one literary short story, one genre story, and one nonfiction piece.

You say you want “unpublished” work. What does that mean?
If you wrote something for a school assignment, that’s fine. If your piece ran in your school newspaper or school literary magazine, that’s fine too.

If your piece ran in a national periodical of any type (USA Today, Reader’s Digest, Boy’s Life, Seventeen, etc.)? That’s published. The same is true with posting your piece in online forums, blogs, and websites (personal ones or Wattpad). And if your piece was included in any textbook or anthology, that too counts as being published.

If you have any questions about this, please email us to ask.

I want to send in something different than a traditional short story. Can I do that?
Absolutely. While many submissions will be traditional short stories, we are also quite open to graphic narratives, scripts, picture book manuscripts, comics, and other literary forms/blends.

I’m a poet. Can I submit a poem?
You may submit anything you choose up to 2,000 words long, though poetry without an extremely strong narrative component likely doesn’t fit well in any of the submission categories. This is primarily a prose narrative contest.

What type of stories/subjects/themes do you want?
That’s entirely up to you, though a familiarity with the genre/style you’re writing in will surely be of help to you.

What are the judges REALLY looking for?
High-quality writing that engages the reader.

What are the common issues with most submissions?
Here are three of the top reasons most entries don’t make the cut.

1. Failure to follow the contest guidelines
2. Poor editing/proofreading
3. Cliché ideas/plots

I’m not an American citizen. Can I still submit?
If you’re a high-school-age student enrolled in a high-school curriculum and you’re writing in English? Yes.

I’m homeschooled. Can I enter the contest?
If you’re a high-school-age student enrolled in a high-school curriculum and you’re writing in English? Yes.

I’m 10. Can I enter?
If you’re chronologically younger than most high school students but you’re in a full-time high school program, then yes, you can enter the contest.

I’m 45. Can I enter?
If you’re chronologically older than most high school students but you’re in a full-time high school program, then yes, you can enter the contest. Please note–for the purposes of contest eligibility, working on your GED isn’t the same as being in a full-time high school program,

Is Ringling College associated with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus?
John Ringling was involved with the launching of the institution in 1931, but beyond that, we have no relationship to the circus beyond the association of his name. So the circus’ closing in 2017 had zero effect on Ringling College.

I’ve got a question that doesn’t seem to be answered anywhere. What do I do?  
Send in your question via email to creativewriting@ringling.edu with the subject line “Contest Question.”

How to Submit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdmrEfC04C6UBHmhehm6vdzp28ik30fXa3IxJVHpd8Tc1LDlw/viewform

Submit this Google form from October 15, 2021 to January 15, 2022

Visit the website: https://www.ringling.edu/writingcontest/

Tadpole Press 100 Word Writing Contest

Deadline

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Categories

Children’s, Drama, Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, General, Journalism, Mystery, Narrative Medicine, Nonfiction, Personal Journals, Plays, Poetry, Publishing, Romance, Science Fiction, Screenwriting, Teaching, Young Adult

Entry Fees

$10

Prizes

1st place: $1,000.
2nd place: $450 writing coaching package.
3rd place: $250 developmental or diversity editing package.

Description

Give us a glimpse of something that reveals the abundance of this big, beautiful, unexpected life that we’ve got. Create never-ending possibilities in a complex, never-ending universe. Make us “see a World in a Grain of Sand.” Show us all of that immense, wide world in only 100 words or less.

All ages. All genders. All nationalities. All writers welcome.

Contact Information

Tadpole Press
Amber Byers
https://www.tadpolepress.com/events
https://www.tadpolepress.com/contact
amber@tadpolepress.com
(303) 668-8812

Website

https://www.tadpolepress.com/events

Last call! Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest – Summer 2021

Deadline September 22, 2021

ENTRY FEE $5 per poem/$10 per story.

Write a poem, thirty lines or fewer on any subject, style, or form, typed or neatly hand printed. And/or write a short story, five pages maximum length, on any subject or theme; fiction, nonfiction, or creative nonfiction (including essay compositions, diary, journal entries, and screenwriting). Writing First Prize is $500. Second Prize: $250. Third Prize: $100. Poetry First Prize is $250. Second Prize: $125. Third Prize: $50. Enter Now!

How to enter, visit: https://www.dreamquestone.com/

THE HISTORICAL FICTION COMPANY BOOK AWARDS

Deadline: Extended to December 15, 2021

Opened to all authors with novels published in 2021 in the categories of Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Historical Biography, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Alternate Historical, and Historical Non-Fiction.

Grand Prize of $500 for Overall Book of the Year

Visit the website: www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com

How to enter: www.thehistoricalfictionpress.com/book-awards

Contact information: Dee Marley, HFC CEO, thehistoricalfictioncompany@gmail.com

Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest – Summer 2021

The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is open to anyone who loves expressing their innermost thoughts and feelings into the beautiful literary art of poetry and/or writing a story that is worth telling everyone! Welcome to all, having the ability to dream… Write a poem or a short story for a chance to win cash prizes totaling $1275.00. All works must be original. http://www.dreamquestone.com

Guidelines:

Write a poem, 30 lines or fewer on any subject, style, or form, typed or neatly hand printed.

And/or write a short story, 5 pages maximum length, on any subject or theme; fiction, nonfiction or creative nonfiction (including essay compositions, diary, journal entries and screenwriting). Also, all entries must be either typed or neatly hand printed.

Multiple and simultaneous poetry and short story entries are accepted.

Postmark deadline: September 22, 2021

All contest winners will be published October 31, 2021

Prizes:

Writing First Prize is $500. Second Prize: $250. Third Prize: $100.

Poetry First Prize is $250. Second Prize: $125. Third Prize: $50.

All contest winners will be published online in our Dare to Dream pages on October 31, 2021.

Entry fees:

$10 per story, $5 per poem.

To send entries: Include title(s) with your story (ies) or poem(s), along with your name, address, phone#, email, brief biographical info. (Tell us a little about yourself), on the coversheet. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for entry confirmation. Fees payable to: “DREAMQUESTONE.COM”

Mail to:

Dream Quest One

Poetry & Writing Contest

P.O. Box 3141

Chicago, IL 60654

USA

Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com for details on how to enter!

Arizona Mystery Writers

Jim Martin Memorial Story Contest

Open to Adults 18 Years and Over

FIRST PLACE: $200  SECOND PLACE: $100  THIRD PLACE: $75

Get admiring applause at the awards luncheon, your winning story posted on the AMW website, and validation as a writer.

Submission Deadline: July 1, 2021

Awards Luncheon: TBD

Who Can Enter: Anyone who can write a mystery story in English. You don’t have to be a member of AMW. No prior experience necessary. Writer must be a Southwestern state resident (Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, California, Colorado).

What Kind of Story? Any sort of mystery, suspense, or thriller. The Requirements Here.

Who was Jim Martin? Jim Martin was a long-time member of Arizona Mystery Writers. His family left a generous contribution to the club and we remember him by dedicating the annual story-writing contest to him.

How to Submit: See the Requirements page and the Entry Form for official rules. Entries are judged “blind,” that is, without the judges knowing who wrote the stories.  A correct entry form must accompany EACH submission.

Past Winners: You can read the most recent winning stories from the contest for all ages by clicking the “Winners” tab under the “Contest” tab.

Questions? email amwcontest@gmail.com

Visit the website: https://www.arizonamysterywriters.com/?page_id=3486

Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest – Summer 2021

The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is open to anyone who loves expressing innermost thoughts and feelings into the beautiful literary art of poetry and/or writing a story that is worth telling everyone! And welcome to all, having the ability to dream… Write a poem or short story for a chance to win cash prizes totaling $1275.00. All works must be original. http://www.dreamquestone.com

Guidelines:

Write a poem, 30 lines or fewer on any subject, style, or form, typed or neatly hand printed.

And/or write a short story, 5 pages maximum length, on any subject or theme; fiction, nonfiction or creative nonfiction (including essay compositions, diary, journal entries and screenwriting). Also, all entries must be either typed or neatly hand printed.

Multiple and simultaneous poetry and short story entries are accepted.

Deadline: September 22, 2021

All contest winners will be published on May 31, 2021

Prizes:

Writing First Prize is $500. Second Prize: $250. Third Prize: $100.

Poetry First Prize is $250. Second Prize: $125. Third Prize: $50.

Entry fees:

$5 per poem, $10 per story

To send entries: Include title(s) with your story (ies) or poem(s), along with your name, address, phone#, email, brief biographical info. (Tell us a little about yourself), on the coversheet. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for entry confirmation. Fees payable to: “DREAMQUESTONE.COM”

Mail to:

Dream Quest One

Poetry & Writing Contest

P.O. Box 3141

Chicago, IL 60654

Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com for details on how to enter!

No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude. “And remember, in whatever you do, it’s okay to dream, for dreams do come true.” –Dream Quest One

 

Fabula Press’ Aestas Short Story Contest 2021

Deadline: July 31, 2021 

Word Limit: Min 2000 words, maximum 6000 words

Theme: None. We are not very strict about genre either, and are happy to read literary fiction, crime/mystery, horror, and light science fiction (e.g. alternative history) – what we are looking for is brilliant writing around a plausible plot. However, for the sake of consistency of the publication, we are unable to consider hard / highly technical science fiction, fantasy, YA, or Chick-Lit.

Prizes: 

1. First prize:  US$500 and publication 
2. Second Prize: US$250 and publication 
3. Third Prize: US$150 and publication 

Apart from the winners, all other longlisted authors selected for publication in the anthology will be paid an honourarium of USD$75 each. 

Entry fee: US$10

Deadline: July 31, 2021

Past and present contest judges include Clare Wallace ( Literary Agent   with Darley Anderson), Sandra Sawicka (Literary Agent with Marjacq Scripts), Brett Alan Sanders (Author/Columnist), and Anisha Bhaduri (Award winning Journalist)

Visit the website for details on how to enter: https://www.pressfabula.com/submission/

Last call! Daphne Du Maurier Awards for Mystery and Suspense 2021

Deadline: March 15, 2021

The Kiss of Death chapter of RWA is proud to announce the Daphne Du Maurier Awards for Mystery and Suspense is now open for entries. This year we are accepting unpublished manuscripts and novels published in 2019 and 2020 in six categories:

• Short Romantic Mystery/Suspense: works with a central romance that have a word count of 40k-65k. 
• Long Romantic Mystery/Suspense: works with a central romance that have a word count of 65k and above. 
• Historical Romantic Mystery/Suspense: works with a central romance set in a time that predates the end of World War II. 
• Inspirational Romantic Mystery/Suspense: works in which any religious or spiritual beliefs form a significant part of the story and could not be removed without damaging the storyline. 
• Paranormal (PTTF) Romantic Mystery/Suspense: works with a central romance and in which paranormal, time travel, and/or futuristic elements play a significant role.
• Mainstream Mystery/Suspense: any work where the mystery/suspense is the main plot. Entries in the Mainstream Mystery/Suspense category may contain only minor elements of romance or none at all.

The contest provides helpful feedback by trained judges. Winning or placing in the competition adds a boost to the entrant’s writing career. 

DEADLINE: We are accepting entries until March 15, 2021. But don’t wait! When categories reach their cap, they will be closed.   

LINKS FOR INFORMATION AND ENTRY

For details, rules, past winners and sample score sheets, visit https://www.rwakissofdeath.org/rwakissofdeath-org-contest/ 

If you have entered or judged previously, you can log in to your profile on the contest site: https://writingcontest.website/
CALL FOR JUDGES Authors – we are also looking for first-round judges. Training is provided. Once you log in, click the Judges button and fill in your preferences. You do not have to be a member of RWA to judge. 
If you have any questions about the contest, contact KODContest@gmail.com

Stay as safe as you can,
Raimey, Daphne du Maurier Awards Contest Committee

Raimey Gallant
www.raimeygallant.com

Inkitt.com Call for Novel Submissions

What You Win

• $300 USD
• Contest winner badge on cover picture and promoted on special Novel Contest Winners list
• Eligible for a future publishing deal

About Us

Inkitt is a new boutique publishing house. Our first novel launched mid-2016, and since then, we’ve published over 50 novels.

Curious to know more? Read what our published author, Lauren Garcia, says about Inkitt here

Check out our past winners here

Terms of the contest:

• Submissions close on December 31st, 2018

 

• 1 winner will be selected
• Due to the volume of submissions, it could take up to three months (*Subject to Change*) for the winner to be announced
• The winner is going to be determined by Inkitt based on reader engagement, with votes also counting for 20% of the final decision
• You must own all rights
• No entry fee
• All genres except fan fiction accepted
• Multiple entries are allowed
• Novels must be in English
• You retain all rights to your stories while posted on Inkitt
• Previously or currently self-published books are accepted
• If you win, you must be willing to extend your manuscript to the mandatory word count if your word count is below our requirements
• Required word counts per genre:
• Erotica – 20,000
• Romance – 40,000
• Mystery – 60,000
• Thriller – 60,000
• Horror – 60,000
• Sci-Fi – 80,000
• Fantasy – 80,000
• YA – 40,000

How to enter, visit:

https://www.inkitt.com/novelcontest?utm_source=affiliate_writelife

Lazuli Literary Group Writing Contest

Deadline

Monday, December 31, 2018

Entry Fees

$10
You may submit multiple pieces as long as each is accompanied by a separate entry fee. One poetry submission may include up to 5 unrelated (or related) poems.

Prizes

$100 and potential publication in our magazine, “AZURE: A Journal of Literary Thought”

Description

Both previously published and unpublished works are eligible, provided that publication on the Lazuli Literary Group website does not infringe on previously held rights. A cover letter is not required and will not affect the success of your submission. ​We want work that grows in complexity upon each visitation; we enjoy ornate, cerebral, and voluptuous prose or poetry executed with thematic intent. Writers we admire are Zadie Smith, Virginia Woolf, Tom Wolfe, Jorge Luis Borges, Charles Dickens, Toni Morrison, Thomas Mann, Robert Musil, Tom Stoppard, John Keene, and James Baldwin.

Contact Information

For questions, e-mail editors: Sakina Fakhri (sakina.lazuliliterary@gmail.com) and Diana McClure (diana.lazuliliterary@gmail.com)

SUBMIT TO CONTEST here: https://www.lazuliliterarygroup.com/contests.html

For details, visit website:

https://www.lazuliliterarygroup.com/contests.html

Call for Entries! Arizona Mystery Writers Jim Martin Memorial Story Contest – Deadline: June 1, 2017

Arizona Mystery Writers is proud to announce our annual short story contest for ages 15+.

2017 Arizona Mystery Writers Annual Jim Martin Memorial Short Story Contest for ages 15+

(entry fee $15, Prizes: 1st=$200, 2nd=$100, 3rd=$75)

DEADLINE: JUNE 1, 2017

~AND~

For all contest rules and entry forms,

Visit the website:

http://www.arizonamysterywriters.com/?page_id=1449 

Contact email: amwcontest@gmail.com with questions.

2017 Arizona Mystery Writers Contests are now accepting entries!

Cash prizes! Two short story contests.

Arizona Mystery Writers is proud to announce a new contest for youth ages 9-14

PLUS our annual short story contest for ages 15+.

2017 Arizona Mystery Writers Annual Jim Martin Memorial Short Story Contest for ages 15+

(entry fee $15, Prizes: 1st=$200, 2nd=$100, 3rd=$75)

DEADLINE: JUNE 1, 2017

~AND~

Mary Ann Hutchinson Short Story Contest for ages 9-14,

(Entry fee $5, Prizes: 1st=$25, 2nd=$20, 3rd=$15)

Mystery, suspense, or thriller, 2500 words max. Blind judging.

DEADLINE: MAY 1, 2017

Past winners are on the website. We are an independent, nonprofit club supporting mystery writing in Arizona.

Contests are open to all.

For all contest rules and entry forms on the website, visit:

http://www.arizonamysterywriters.com/?page_id=1449 

Contact email: amwcontest@gmail.com with questions.

2017 Arizona Mystery Writers Contests are now accepting entries! Deadline: June 1, 2017

Cash prizes! Two short story contests.

Arizona Mystery Writers is proud to announce our annual short story contest for ages 15+.

2017 Arizona Mystery Writers Annual Jim Martin Memorial Short Story Contest for ages 15+

(entry fee $15, Prizes: 1st=$200, 2nd=$100, 3rd=$75)

DEADLINE: JUNE 1, 2017

~AND~

For all contest rules and entry forms,

Visit the website:

http://www.arizonamysterywriters.com/?page_id=1449 

Contact email: amwcontest@gmail.com with questions.

2017 Arizona Mystery Writers Contests are now accepting entries!

Cash prizes! Two short story contests.

Arizona Mystery Writers is proud to announce a new contest for youth ages 9-14

PLUS our annual short story contest for ages 15+.

2017 Arizona Mystery Writers Annual Jim Martin Memorial Short Story Contest for ages 15+

(entry fee $15, Prizes: 1st=$200, 2nd=$100, 3rd=$75)

DEADLINE: JUNE 1, 2017

~AND~

Mary Ann Hutchinson Short Story Contest for ages 9-14,

(Entry fee $5, Prizes: 1st=$25, 2nd=$20, 3rd=$15)

Mystery, suspense, or thriller, 2500 words max. Blind judging.

DEADLINE: MAY 1, 2017

Past winners are on the website. We are an independent, nonprofit club supporting mystery writing in Arizona.

Contests are open to all.

For all contest rules and entry forms on the website, visit:

http://www.arizonamysterywriters.com/?page_id=1449 

Contact email: amwcontest@gmail.com with questions.

TheNextBigWriter – Locked Room Mystery Writing Contest

The challenge of this contest is to write a locked room mystery that takes place somewhere other than earth, where one of the main characters is either deaf, dumb, or blind.

Don’t know what a locked room mystery is?  A locked room mystery is one in which the perpetrator commits a crime, usually a murder, under circumstances which seem impossible. For instance, a murder is committed in a room that is locked with no windows. How did the perpetrator get into the room? How could the crime be committed? In locked room mysteries there is usually a crime scene with no indication of how the perpetrator could have entered or exited, or committed the crime. For more of an explanation, as well as examples, please visit the following links:

Wikipedia – Locked-room mystery

TV Tropes – Locked Room Mystery

You can find additional examples by Googling the term.

Criteria:

• Locked room mystery.
• Does not take place on earth.
• One of the characters must be deaf, dumb, or blind.

There is no minimum length. The maximum length is 5,000 words.

Two entries are allowed per member. In the case of more than two entries, the first two entries submitted will be judged.

The first-place winner will receive $100. Two second-place winners will receive $25. We’re looking for the most original and entertaining stories. Good luck!

Open to Premium Members of TheNextBigWriter.

Start: January 09, 2017

Deadline: February 28, 2017

Posting Date: Postings that are eligible for this contest must be published on site after January 09, 2017

Prize: $100 First-place, Two $25 Second-place prizes.

How to enter:  https://www.thenextbigwriter.com/guide/contest-how-to-enter

The Romance Novelist Contest

 

 

The Romance Novelist Contest

Submit your finished romance novel

of 40,000 words or more

for the chance to win $1000.

Deadline: December 15, 2016

Visit the website for details on how to enter!

inkitt.com/romancenovelist?utm_source=cl_writingcontests

 

Hourglass Literary Magazine – International Writing Contest

Deadline:

Sunday, April 30, 2017

Entry Fees

ENTRY FEE – $15
ENTRY FEE for submitting up to three pieces – $25, except for POETRY category where up to three submissions are accepted for $15.

Prizes

1. The Winning Entry in each category (short story, essay and poem) will receive US$1000 as prize money, apart from a symbolic artifact (clepsydra), digital stamp and diploma. Authors of winning entries will receive printed copy of the Hourglass Literary Magazine No. 2.

2. The jury has the right to give a special prize (US$ 500 for entry in each category).

3. Special prize of the Literature and Latte – Scrivener Award – consisting of the one licensed software solutions “Scrivener” and US$250.

4. Special prize of The Literary Encyclopedia – an online reference work for English-language readers interested in broad literary and cultural matters – consisting of one 2-year subscriptions and one 1-year subscriptions to LE for shortlisted authors.

5. Editorial staff and board members will take under consideration shortlisted works (not awarded a prize) for publication in the second issue of the Hourglass Literary Magazine. The selected works will be FINANCIALLY compensated.

Description

At the confluence of the West and the East, Hourglass Literary Magazine proudly announces its second international writing competition for – Best Short Story, Best Poem, Best Essay.

– Jury/Judges: Sibelan Forrester, Jelena Lengold and John K. Cox.
– The competition is international and is open to all authors writing in English or any of the BCMS languages (comprising Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Montenegrin.)
– There are no theme, or genre limitations and boundaries.
– Short stories, essays and poems by writers who write in English will be translated in one of the BCMS languages and vice versa.
– Participants retain the copyright of their works.
– Work must be original and unpublished.
– One author can compete in all categories, for all three awards respectively.
– Limited multiple submissions are allowed (as well as simultaneous submissions).
– Contest is anonymous and will be blind judged.
– Learn more about past contest: http://hourglassonline.org/pastcontest/ .
– Magazine’s “Manifesto”: http://hourglassonline.org/about/ .

Detailed instructions for submissions:

SHORT STORY…
…should not exceed 7000 words or be less than 700 words. Entry fee: $15 USD ($25 for submitting up to three pieces).

POETRY
Poems should not have more than 3500 words. WRITERS CAN SUBMIT UP TO THREE POEMS/SONGS. Entry fee: $15 USD.

ESSAYS
Essays should not exceed 9000 words or be less than 1000 words. Entry fee: $15 ($25 for submitting up to three papers).

We only accept submissions online via Submittable – http://hourglass.submittable.com .

Contact Information

E-mail – contest@hourglassonline.org or editors@hourglassonline.org .
Facebook – www.facebook.com/hourglassliterarymagazine
Twitter – www.twitter.com/hourglasslm
LinkedIn – http://linkedin.com/company/hourglass-literary-magazine/
Connect with us: http://hourglassonline.org/about/

Website:

http://www.hourglassonline.org/

NIGHTLIGHT READINGS SHORT STORY WRITERS CONTEST

NIGHTLIGHT READINGS SHORT STORY WRITERS CONTEST

Deadline December 31, 2016.

NO ENTRY FEE.
The 2016 Nightlight Readings Short Story Writers Contest is open to short stories up to 5,000 words. Stories should appeal to at-risk boys in the 10-12 year age group who often stop reading for pleasure. This year’s theme is mystery. Prizes: First, second, and third place winners will receive prizes of up to $1,000 award plus certificate and publication of the story. All award winners will be publicized nationally by Nightlight Reading.

Visit the website:  http://www.indiesunlimited.com/2016/10/30/2016-nightlight-readings-short-story-writers-contest/