WRITING COMPETITIONS

At The Writers Herd, we believe there's no better way to gain recognition and showcase your work than through writing competitions. In the future, we're excited to introduce submission options and even host our own competitions. For now, as we continue to grow our community, writing competitions provide excellent opportunities to get noticed.

As writers ourselves, we know how frustrating it can be to browse through endless lists of competitions online. With so many options, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. That's why we're committed to simplifying the process.

Each month, we'll hand-pick key competitions—both free and paid—highlighting those with cash prizes and publication opportunities. We'll feature a mix of niche and popular contests, so whether you're just starting out or have years of experience, you'll find something tailored to your needs.

These will feature monthly, so stay tuned!

Tips for success

  • Check Competition Rules: Always review guidelines carefully to ensure your submissions meet all requirements.
  • Study Past Winners: Reviewing previous winning entries can give you insights into what judges want.
  • Try a Mix of Competitions: Niche competitions might offer better odds, but don't shy away from popular ones for greater exposure and prizes.
  • Keep a Submission Record: Track your entries, rejections, and wins. Check guidelines before submitting the same story to multiple outlets.
  • Embrace Rejection: Use rejection as motivation. If you don't try, you'll never know!
  • Prepare Early: Avoid last-minute submissions by giving yourself ample time to revise and polish your work.

Competition highlights for march 2026 

Poetry Competitions

Free Verse Prize 2026

The Free Verse Prize is a poetry competition organised by The Poetry Society in support of the annual Free Verse Poetry Book and Magazine Fair. It invites poets to submit original work on any theme, with the winning poem receiving a cash prize and publication in Poetry News.

  • Rules

    • Open worldwide

    • Poems must be original and previously unpublished

    • Any theme

    • Written in English

    • Maximum 40 lines (including title and stanza breaks)

    • Anonymous judging (do not include your name on the poem document)

    • Up to eight poems may be submitted

  • Prizes

    • Winner: £500

    • Publication in Poetry News

    • Winning poem printed in the official Free Verse Fair programme

  • Entry Fee

    • £5 for the first poem

    • £4 for each additional poem

  • Deadline

    • 6 March 2026

  • More Info

Mairtín Crawford Awards for Poetry and Short Story 2026

The Mairtín Crawford Awards are organised as part of the Belfast Book Festival and celebrate emerging writers working towards their first full poetry collection or short story publication. The awards offer cash prizes alongside dedicated writing time and a stay in Belfast, supporting writers as they develop their craft.

  • Rules

    • Open to writers aged 18+ who were born in, are citizens of, or reside in Ireland or the UK

    • Poetry entrants must not have published a full poetry collection with a recognised publisher

    • Previously published poems may be submitted, but at least one poem must be unpublished

    • Submit 3–5 poems for the Poetry Award

    • Each poem must be no longer than 60 lines (excluding title and stanza breaks)

    • Entries must be written in English

  • Prizes

    • Winner: £500 cash prize

    • 3-night hotel stay in Belfast

    • Four days of dedicated writing space at The Crescent

    • Two runners-up: £250 each

  • Entry Fee

    • £10 per submission

  • Deadline

    • 11 March 2026 (12:00pm UK time)

  • More Info

The Red Shed Poetry Competition 2026

The Red Shed Poetry Competition is an annual poetry prize sponsored by Mocca Moocho Café in Wakefield. The competition welcomes original, unpublished poems and offers several cash prizes, including a special award for poets with a Wakefield postcode.

  • Rules

    • Open to writers aged 16 or over

    • Poems must be original and previously unpublished

    • Poems must not be under consideration elsewhere

    • Written in English

    • Maximum 40 lines

    • Each poem must be on a separate page

    • Entries must be anonymous

  • Prizes

    • 1st Prize: £100

    • 2nd Prize: £50

    • Shortlisted poems: £20

    • Wakefield Postcode Prize: £25

  • Entry Fee

    • £3 for the first poem

    • £2 for each additional poem

  • Deadline

    • 27 March 2026

  • More Info

The Binsted Prize – South Downs Poetry Festival

The Binsted Prize is an international poetry competition run by the South Downs Poetry Festival in Sussex. The competition invites poets to submit original unpublished poems, with cash prizes and anthology publication awarded to the top entries.

  • Rules

    • Open to writers worldwide

    • Poems must be original and previously unpublished

    • Written in English

    • Maximum 40 lines

    • Simultaneous submissions permitted (must be withdrawn if the poem wins another prize)

    • Anonymous judging – do not include your name on the poem document

  • Prizes

    • 1st Prize: £250 and the Binsted Prize

    • 2nd Prize: £150

    • 3rd Prize: £50

    • Winning and highly commended poems published in the Binsted Prize Anthology

    • Invitation to reading and prizegiving event in Chichester

  • Entry Fee

    • £5 for the first poem

    • £4 for each additional poem

  • Deadline

    • 31 March 2026

  • More Info

The Caterpillar Poetry Prize 2026

The Caterpillar Poetry Prize is an international poetry competition run by The Moth Magazine for unpublished poems written by adults for children aged 7–11. The prize highlights high-quality children's poetry and offers substantial cash prizes alongside publication in The Irish Times.

  • Rules

    • Open to writers aged 16+ worldwide

    • Poems must be original and previously unpublished

    • Poems must be written for children aged 7–11

    • Any theme

    • Written in English

    • Anonymous judging (do not include your name on the poem document)

    • Simultaneous submissions allowed

  • Prizes

    • 1st Prize: €1,000

    • One week stay at The Moth Retreat in Ireland

    • 2nd Prize: €500

    • 3rd Prize: €250

    • Winning poems published in The Irish Times online

  • Entry Fee

    • €16 per poem

  • Deadline

    • 31 March 2026

  • More Info

The Lascaux Prize in Poetry

The Lascaux Prize in Poetry is an international competition run by The Lascaux Review, welcoming poems in any style or genre. Both previously published and unpublished poems are accepted, and all entries are also considered for publication in the journal.

  • Rules

    • Open worldwide

    • Poems may be previously published or unpublished

    • Simultaneous submissions allowed

    • Up to five poems per entry (submitted in one document)

    • Any theme or style

    • No length restrictions

    • Poets retain full rights to their work

  • Prizes

    • Winner: $1,000

    • Bronze medallion

    • Publication in The Lascaux Review

    • All entries considered for publication

  • Entry Fee

    • $15 per entry (up to five poems)

  • Deadline

    • 31 March 2026

  • More Info

No suitable free-entry poetry competitions were available at the time of publishing.

Short Story & Novel Competitions

Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize 2026

The Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize is an international flash fiction competition run by the storytelling series Selected Shorts. The winning story will be performed live by an actor and published online, offering writers both recognition and a unique performance opportunity.

  • Rules

    • Open to writers worldwide

    • Original, unpublished short stories only

    • Stories must be written in English

    • Any theme

    • Maximum 750 words

    • AI-generated work is not permitted

    • Multiple entries allowed (separate fee required)

  • Prizes

    • 1st Prize: $1,000

    • Story performed live by an actor at Selected Shorts

    • Publication on Electric Literature

    • Free 10-week writing course with Gotham Writers

  • Entry Fee

    • $25 per story

  • Deadline

    • 6 March 2026

  • More Info

Edinburgh Young Adult Novel Award 2026

The Edinburgh Young Adult Novel Award is an international competition for writers and illustrators creating fiction for young adult audiences. Entries may be novels or graphic novels, and only an extract is required at the first stage.

  • Rules

    • Open to writers and illustrators worldwide

    • Entrants must be aged 16 or over

    • Work must be suitable for young adult readers (12+)

    • Original, unpublished work only

    • AI-generated content is not permitted

    • Initial submission: 5,000 words of a novel or 6–8 pages of a graphic novel

    • Include a 300-word synopsis

  • Prizes

    • 1st Prize: £1,500

    • 2nd Prize: £500

    • 3rd Prize: £250

    • Two commendations: £100 each

    • Shortlisted writers receive a one-hour consultation with literary agents

  • Entry Fee

    • £19 per submission

  • Deadline

    • 10 March 2026

  • More Info

The Julia & Martin Wilson Short Story Prize 2026

The Julia & Martin Wilson Short Story Prize is run by the Broadway Arts Festival and invites writers from around the world to submit original short fiction. Winning stories are published on the festival website.

  • Rules

    • Open to writers worldwide

    • Stories must be original and unpublished

    • Written in English

    • Any theme

    • Maximum 2,000 words

    • AI-generated work is not permitted

    • Unlimited entries allowed

  • Prizes

    • 1st Prize: £800

    • Winning story published on the Broadway Arts Festival website

  • Entry Fee

    • £12 per story

    • Free for entrants aged 16 and under

  • Deadline

    • 27 March 2026 (6pm UK time)

  • More Info

The Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction 2026

The Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction is an international writing competition run by The Letter Review literary journal. The prize recognises outstanding short fiction and flash fiction, offering publication, monetary awards, and opportunities for wider recognition through literary prizes and anthologies.

  • Rules

    • Open to writers worldwide

    • Original, unpublished fiction only

    • Any theme or genre

    • Maximum 5,000 words

    • Simultaneous submissions allowed

    • Work may previously appear on personal blogs or social media

    • AI-generated work is not permitted

  • Prizes

    • $1,000 prize pool shared between 2–4 winners

    • Winning stories published in The Letter Review

    • Publication in the Winners Anthology

    • Winners and shortlisted writers promoted to the journal's readership

    • Winning entries frequently submitted to major anthologies such as the Pushcart Prize

  • Entry Fee

    • $25 per entry

    • $15 for additional entries

  • Deadline

    • 29 March 2026

  • More Info

The Henshaw Press Short Story Competition

The Henshaw Press Short Story Competition invites writers to submit original short fiction on any theme. Run by UK-based independent publisher Henshaw Press, the competition offers cash prizes and publication opportunities for the winning stories.

  • Rules

    • Open to writers aged 16 and over

    • Original, unpublished short stories only

    • Written in English

    • Any theme

    • Maximum 2,000 words

    • AI-generated work is not permitted

    • Maximum five entries per writer

  • Prizes

    • 1st Prize: £200

    • 2nd Prize: £100

    • 3rd Prize: £50

    • Winning story published by Henshaw Press

    • Winners may be invited to appear in the Henshaw Anthology

  • Entry Fee

    • £6 per story

    • Optional critique available for an additional £14

  • Deadline

    • 31 March 2026

  • More Info

Narrative Winter 2026 Story Contest

The Narrative Winter Story Contest invites writers to submit original fiction or nonfiction with a strong narrative voice. Run by Narrative Magazine, the contest welcomes a wide range of storytelling forms including short stories, essays, memoirs, and excerpts from longer works.

  • Rules

    • Open to writers worldwide

    • Original, unpublished work only

    • Fiction or nonfiction

    • Maximum 15,000 words

    • Simultaneous submissions allowed

    • AI-generated work is not permitted

  • Prizes

    • 1st Prize: $2,500

    • 2nd Prize: $1,000

    • 3rd Prize: $500

    • Up to 10 finalists receive $100 each

    • All entries considered for publication

  • Entry Fee

    • $27 per entry

  • Deadline

    • 31 March 2026

  • More Info

WriteMentor 2026 Novel & Picture Book Awards

The WriteMentor Novel & Picture Book Awards are international writing competitions designed to support unpublished writers of children's, young adult, and adult fiction. Run by WriteMentor in partnership with the Darley Anderson Agency, the awards recognise new writing talent across several categories.

  • Rules

    • Open to writers worldwide

    • Entrants must be unagented and not traditionally published

    • Work must be original and unpublished

    • Written in English

    • AI-generated work is not permitted

    • Picture Books: complete manuscript (500–1,000 words recommended)

    • Novels: first 3,000 words + one-page synopsis

  • Prizes

    • £500 prize for the winner of each category

    • 45-minute one-to-one consultation with a literary agent

    • One-year WriteMentor Hub membership (worth £150)

    • Shortlisted writers receive one-month Hub membership

  • Entry Fee

    • £12 standard entry

    • £24 entry with feedback

  • Deadline

    • 31 March 2026

  • More Info

Novel Beginnings Competition

The Novel Beginnings competition, organised by ProWritingAid, invites unpublished and unrepresented fiction writers to submit the opening of a novel in progress. Judges are looking for a compelling voice, strong storytelling, and an opening that makes readers want to keep going.

  • Rules

    • Open to unrepresented and unpublished fiction writers

    • Worldwide eligibility

    • Submit the first 5,000 words of a novel in progress

    • All fiction genres welcome

    • Work must be original and unpublished

  • Prizes

    • Grand Prize: $50,000

    • Shortlisted writers: $5,000 each

    • Editorial consultation with First Ink

    • Six months of mentorship and conditional agent representation

  • Entry Fee

    • $20 per entry

    • Free for ProWritingAid Premium users

  • Deadline

    • 31 March 2026

  • More Info

No suitable free-entry short story or novel competitions were available at the time of publishing.