Below are links to free writing contests organized by category (children’s, non-fiction, fiction, etc.) I have tried to link only active contests and keep the information as updated as possible but sometimes contests close or end unexpectedly. I will continue to add contests as I find them so check back regularly! 🙂

These contests are geared toward unpublished works. I will create a contest page for published works in the near future.

Good luck and happy writing!

Children’s/Young Adult Contests

First Annual Valentiny Writing Contest

Valentine’s themed writing contest hosted by Susanna Hill on her blog. Story must be appropriate for children, Valentine’s Day themed, 214 words or less and include a grumpy character. Deadline is February 12, 2016, but check website for official rules and how to enter.

Poetry Contests

Spirit First Contest

Poetry contest awarding prizes to poems of any length with a theme of mindfulness or meditation. Deadline is February 29, 2016. See website for official rules and how to enter.

Zocalo Public Square

Poetry contest awarding a $500 prize to the poem that best evokes connection to place. Deadline is February 5, 2016. See website for official rules and how to enter.

Adult Flash Fiction Contests

Brilliant Flash Fiction

Brilliant Flash fiction hosts contests a various times throughout the year. Word count and theme varies from contest to contest. See website for official rules and how to enter.

Haunted Waters Press Penny Fiction

Tell a story in 16 words exactly. Submit as many stories as you’d like within one submission. Currently in Round two with the deadline for submissions being February 29, 2016. See website for official rules and how to enter.

Mash Stories Competition

Quarterly, free fiction competition with fiction pieces being inspired by three words provided by the site. See website for official rules and how to enter.

Morgan Bailey’s Blog 

Monthly contest for a flash fiction piece of exactly 100 words. Contest closes at the end of each month with a new theme each month. See website for official rules and how to enter.

Adult Short Story Contests

L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest

The L. Ron Hubbard contest, for science fiction and fantasy, has four deadlines throughout the year (every three months). It is free to enter and awards cash prizes. See website for official rules and how to enter.

Metamorphose Online Magazine

This online science fiction and fantasy magazine accepts short story submissions and also runs a novella contest. The current contest ends March 31, 2016. See website for official contest rules and how to submit to the contest or to the magazine in general.

The Crooked Quill

Online magazine looking for short stories and poetry submissions. Prizes are Amazon gift cards. Current deadline February 15, 2016. See website for rules and how to enter.

The Writer’s Notebook

Monthly contest with a new theme each month. Winners of each month will be compiled into an anthology at the end of the year and published through Amazon. Winners split earnings from sale of anthology evenly. See website for official rules and how to enter.

Words Magazine

Contest with deadlines twice a year, June 30th and December 31st. Different theme for each contest. See website for official rules and how to enter.

Adult Novel Length Contests

Mystery Writers of America

St. Martin’s Minotaur/Mystery Writers of America first crime novel competition is open to unpublished mystery books of at least 60,000 words. The deadline for the 2017 competition will likely be in December 2016. See the website for official rules and how to enter.