A few fun competitions earning anything from bragging rights to a nice check and publication:
The Masters Review Novel Excerpt Contest. A contest with new writers in mind, submissions are only accepted by writers without publication from major press companies (indie print and self-published authors are allowed to enter). The word count must be 6,000 or less, and the top prize winner received $3,000, online publication for the excerpt, and an hour consultation with an agent from The Friedrich Agency. Runners up receive $300 and $200, respectively, along with written feedback.
Entry fee: $20
Deadline: October 27
The Raven Short Story Contest. Despite the name, this is a flash fiction and short story contest between 250 and 2,500 words. Winner received $300 and publication in the Spring 2025 edition of Pulp Literature. Entry fee includes a year's subscription to Pulp Literature.
Entry fee: $35
Deadline: October 15
F(r)iction Fall Short Story Contest. Open to short stories, flash fiction, and poetry with word counts from 1,000 to 7,500 (or a three page poem). F(r)iction offers a webpage of what they're looking for in submissions, so be sure to check it out if you want a leg up on the competition. All writers accepted for publication will be paired with an editor to review their work, and prizes totaling $1,600 are awarded.
Entry Fee: Starting at $10 (varies by submission type)
Deadline: November 1
Tulip Tree Humor Contest. Short stories up to 10,000 words or poems up to five pages are welcome in this contest focused on a good laugh. Winner receives $1,000 and publication in their Fall Humor Issue. Honorable mentions will receive $50 and publication in the Humor Issue with a free copy.
Entry Fee: $20
Deadline: October 17
The Reedsy Prompt Contests. Weekly short story challenges with shortlist prizes, $250 awarded to first place, and an entire community of readers and writers putting eyes on your work. These challenges come with a list of prompts from which to choose.
Entry fee: $5
Deadline: Weekly on Fridays at 11:59pm EST
Freaky Flash Fiction 2024. Our home-grown writing challenge! Daily prompts are posted on Threads and Instagram, and each day's top writing submission will be compiled into an anthology. No monetary prizes on this one--it's just a fun way to spend the spooky season and get those creative juices flowing.
Entry fee: $0
Deadline: Daily from October 1 to October 31
