Free International Writing Competitions for you to enter | May 2022
New months bring new opportunities for writers across all genres. In this article, we’ve compiled over 20 international writing competitions with no entry fees for you to enter, most of which have May Deadlines. The descriptions contain a link to the main page, where the guidelines for submission are detailed.
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Cathulbui Poetry Competition
They’re seeking unpublished poems of not more than 20 lines in English or Irish.
Prizes: 1st: £100 | 2nd: £60 | 3rd: £40, plus a plaque in each category
Deadline: 1st May 2022
Guidelines for submission here.
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Reader’s Digest 100-Word Story Competition
“To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Reader’s Digest, we’re relaunching our much-loved 100-Word-Story Competition with prizes of up to £1,000 to be won”.
There are three categories—one for adults and two categories for schools: one for children aged 12–18 and one for children under 12.
Prizes
Adults category: Winner: £1,000 and a Serious Readers High Definition Floor or Table Light (value up to £399.99) | One runner-up: £250.
12–18s category: Winner: a £200 book voucher or an 8GB Kindle Paperwhite and a £100 book voucher for their school. | Runner-up: a £100 books voucher.
Under 12 category: Winner: £100 of book vouchers or an 8GB Kindle Paperwhite and £100 of book vouchers for their school. | Runner-up: a £50 books voucher.
Deadline: 1st May, 2022. * Deadline for entries now extended for children’s categories: 20th May, 2022.
Guidelines for submission here.
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Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors
Stories must be set anytime between today and the year 2200, and show a path to a clean, green, and just future. In 3,000 to 5,000 words, show them the world you dream of building.
Prizes
Winner: $3,000 | Second place: $2,000 | Third place: $1,000, respectively. An additional nine finalists will get $300 apiece. All winners and finalists will have their story published in an immersive collection on Fix’s website — each with its own original art — and will be celebrated in a public virtual event.
Deadline: 5th May, 2022.
Guidelines for submission here.
READ ALSO: The Girl With The Louding Voice by Abi Dare | Book Review
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Trócaire Poetry Ireland Poetry Competition 2022
They’re calling for entries on the theme of “A Better Tomorrow” reflecting the dire times we’re in, the aftermath of covid-19 and climate change. The submission is in two categories; both for unpublished and published poets.
Prizes
Winners: Two-week stay at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Annaghmakerrig OR a Tablet OR time in a recording studio to the value of €300 (for spoken word poets), plus subscription to Poetry Ireland Review for one year OR assessment of work through Poetry Ireland’s Critical Assessment Service.
Runners-up: Tickets to a literary festival to the value of €250, plus subscription to Poetry Ireland Review for one year OR assessment of work through Poetry Ireland’s Critical Assessment Service.
Deadline: 6th May, 2022.
Guidelines for submission here.
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Angela Mankiewicz Poetry Contest
Prize: $500, First 500 entries eligible for prize.
Deadline: 7th May 2022.
Guidelines for submission here.
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The World Transformed – An Anthology of New Poems from County Cork
They want poems on the theme; “The World Transformed”.
Prize: Winners will get the chance to be published in an anthology and also get to attend a free workshop.
Deadline: 13th May 2022.
Guidelines for submission here.
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Demos Rising Anthology
“In an era of ‘post-truth’, ‘fake news’ and misinformation, the right to protest, the right to a democratic society, feel more urgent than ever. For the ‘Demos Rising’ anthology , we will raise the voices of international writers and artists, across genres and oceans, to draw attention to worldwide injustices and celebrate the power of words to bring about change.”
They’re accepting submissions of Poetry (up to 70 lines), Short Stories (up to 5k words), Flash Fiction (up to 1k words), Artwork and Photography.
Prize: Publication in the anthology.
Deadline: 14th May, 2022.
Guidelines for submission here.
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Austen Riggs Erikson Prize for Excellence in Mental Health Media
“The Austen Riggs Erikson Prize for Excellence in Mental Health Media recognizes a select group of media professionals, including journalists, writers, and others who create exemplary work that contributes to a deeper understanding of and greater public awareness about mental health issues. To be eligible, work must have been written in English, intended for the layperson, and must have been first published/released after April 1, 2020.”
Prize: $3000
Deadline: 15th May, 2022.
Guidelines for submission here.
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Puchi Award
The competition is open to books in any genre or form: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, novels, comics, picture books, essays, cookbooks, geography books, combinations of the above or any other type imaginable. They’re looking for “one-of-a-kind book, or even a whole new kind of book.” You may submit only finished works that have never been published.
Prize: €8,000, publication and distribution by Fulgencio Pimentel.
Deadline: 15th May, 2022.
Guidelines for submission here.
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Toyin Falola Prize
Open to Africans between the ages of 15 and 35. They’re seeking Prose (fiction or nonfiction) submissions on the theme of Freedom.
Prize: $2,500 share between winner and 5 short listed stories.
Deadline: 15th May, 2022.
Guidelines for submission here.
READ ALSO: Gone Before Easter | Dayo Ikotun
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Singapore Poetry Contest
“We are looking for poems that use the chiming words “time” and “regime” together or separately in imaginative ways.”
Prizes: $300, $200, and $100 will go to the top three winners.
Deadline: May 15, 2022.
Guidelines for submission here.
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The Roadrunner Review
This free international writing competition is open to high school students. They’re seeking submissions of Poetry and prose.
Prize: $100
Deadline: 16th May, 2022.
Guidelines for submission here.
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Voice Club Micro Fiction Contest
This month, they’re calling for entries based on Earth Day, themed, “Water”.
Prizes
Grand Prize (Staff Pick): $25 Amazon Gift Card
First prize (Public Voting): Voice.club will make an audio recording of your winning story
Addition: Unlimited entries – Fast publication – Helpful feedback
Deadline: 21st May, 2022.
Guidelines for submission here.
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Spectrum: Poetry Celebrating Identity
“Following the success of the New Beginnings project in 2021, Spectrum: Poetry Celebrating Identity seeks to provide a poetry platform for those who feel marginalised or ‘othered’. Open to anyone who wants to talk about their identity. Particularly keen to hear from those who do not see their identity represented in traditional or mainstream media. Anywhere in the world, any age.”
Prize: All of the poems on the shortlist will be published in a volume, and everyone included will receive a copy of the book, and will be invited to take place in an online launch event.
Deadline: 21st May, 2022.
Guidelines for submission here.
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Bacopa Literary Review
They’re seeking submissions in Fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry.
Prizes: First: $200 |Runner-Up: $160 prizes, in each genre. All published will receive $20 and a copy of the print journal. After publication, Bacopa will be promoted online.
Deadline: 23rd May, 2022.
Guidelines for submission here.
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Time Travelers Contest
They’re seeking entries about time travel and the broadness of this trope.
Prizes
For the three winning finalists, among the 5 most-voted books:
1st: €2,000, Neocast interview + Neovel promotion.
2nd: €750 + Social media exposure.
3rd: €250 + Social media exposure.
Top social readers
For the readers of the 10 most liked comments: Lifetime gift Lifetime Neovel Premium subscription
Top fortnightly authors
For the author of the most-voted book every 2 weeks: €50 + Social media exposure.
Deadline: 25th May, 2022.
Guidelines for submission here.
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Speculative Literature Foundation Older Writers Grant
Open to writers who are fifty years of age or older at the time of grant application. They’re seeking submissions in speculative fiction.
Prize: $500
Deadline: May 31, 2022.
Guidelines for submission here.
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Undiscovered Voices First Novel Prize
They’re seeking submissions of a writer’s first novel published in 2021.
Prize: $3000
Deadline: May 31, 2022.
Guidelines for submission here.
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The Drabble Harvest Contest
Write a drabble on theme of “Space Junk.” No more and no fewer than 100 words. It should have a title, which can be from 1 to 15 words– but no more than 15.
Prize: $5
Deadline: May 31, 2022.
Guidelines for submission here.
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Outsideleft Short Story Competition
“Every week, OUTSIDELEFT tells the stories of art and culture that mean something to our writers. Now we are encouraging you to write something for us!” The theme of the Outsideleft’s 2022 Short Story Competition is Concrete.
Prize
Winner: £100 and a trophy created by renowned artist, Chantal Pitts.
Two runners up: Trophies created by Chantal.
Deadline: 31st May, 2022.
Guidelines for submission here.
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HerStories Project
They are looking for personal essays about love, marriage, divorce, dating, and being single… at midlife. “What are your romantic relationships like now? What are the fissures, the pleasures, the challenges? What have you realized about being coupled — or uncoupled?”
Prize: $50 and publication.
Deadline: 31st May, 2022.
Guidelines for submission here.
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Inkitt’s Mystery Writing Contest
Inkitt’s Mystery Contest is open to all authors who want to write the most mystifying novel of 2022. Submit your mystery, thriller, or horror novel for the chance to win amazing prizes.
Prizes
1st place: A Galatea publishing contract, a social media spotlight across all of the Inkitt platforms and an exclusive book cover design.
2nd place: A Galatea publishing contract, a social media spotlight across all of the Inkitt platforms and year-long free Galatea subscription.
3rd prize: A Galatea publishing contract and a social media spotlight across all of the Inkitt platforms.
Deadline: 31st May, 2022.
Guidelines for submission .
RECURRING COMPETITIONS
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Globe Soup 7 Days Free Writing Challenge
All you need do is register for the challenge. Before a new challenge begins, you’ll be assigned to one of the 12 random groups. It could be any genre and theme, and you’re to write a short story of no more than 2000 words based on what you’re assigned, within seven days.
Prize: £500
Guidelines for submission here.
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Gotham Writers Micro Fiction Stories
Each month they invite you to post a story on Twitter using #GWstorieseverywhere. Your story must be no longer than 25 words, with a max of 280 characters, including spaces and the hashtag #GWstorieseverywhere. Your stories (which can be true or made up) will be inspired by what you see, know, or do, and they should relate in some way to the monthly themes. For this month, the theme is on “Perfection”.
Prize: A free Gotham Writers class.
Guidelines for submission here.
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Substack
They run a monthly short story competition. Its mission is to “revive the art of the short story, support artists, and produce something wonderful.” They’re seeking Short stories of between 6000- 10,000 words.
Prize: $100 plus 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check.
Deadline: May 31, 2022.
Guidelines for submission here.
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