50+ Free International Writing Competitions and Publishing Opportunities in October 2022 – No Entry Fees

 

 

Greetings, Dear Writers, and Happy Independence Day, Nigeria!

As always, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of available writing competitions this October, from prose to poetry and more.

You’ll also find fellowships, grants for writers and magazines that are now accepting pitches.

In case you find any you’re interested in, please make sure you go through the guidelines for submission first.

Also, this list will be updated during the month if there are any new openings, so kindly bookmark this page and visit it regularly.

 

 

 

 

 

• Insider

They’re looking for people who have left polygamy, to write a first-person essay for them.

Pay: $200 – $250 for 600 to 700 words.

Email your pitches to cpreti@insider.com.

Deadline: Open now.

 

 

• The Xylom

They are receiving personal essays, science analysis and opinion pieces, and narrative-driven science feature stories.

Pay: at least $100.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Deadline: Open now.

 

 

• Your Teen Magazine

They’re seeking resources, personal essays about parenting, focusing on teenagers that have been bullied.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Pay: $75 for 900 to 1,200 words.

Deadline: Open now.

 

 

• Nota

They are looking for personal stories (500-700 words), unfiltered opinions across a range of categories and perspectives, including Sex/Dating, War/Justice, Politics, Environment/Climate Change, and Religion.

Pay: $300.

Refer to their Twitter thread @NotaEdit for details and guidelines for submission.

Deadline: Open now.

 

 

• The Pay Writers LLC Blog

They’re looking for compelling stories (500 to 800 words) about writing for a living.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Pay: $200.

Deadline: Open now.

 

 

READ ALSO: >>Beacon of Hope – Okechukwu Amarachi Sharon | Reflective Essay<<

 

 

• La Jornada Filipina

This Hispanic magazine is seeking pitches with original reporting, exploring how the Philippines’ Spanish colonial past continues to shape and impact the present.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Pay: Stories of 700 to 1,000 words – US$50 | Articles of 1,300+ words – US$75 | Long-form pieces of 3,000+ words – US$130.

Deadline: Open now.

 

 

 

• Huck Magazine

Huck Magazine is accepting pitches that honours and investigates independent culture – people and movements that paddle against the current. Political, activism, and culture pitches.

Pay: £130 and Up

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Deadline: Open now

 

 

• The Atavist Magazine

They’re seeking deeply researched longform nonfiction with attention to narrative.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prize: $6,000.

Deadline: Open now.

 

 

• Progress Report

Progress Report is seeking writers for a paid gig. Their newsletter is focused on activism, progressive politics, and policy, and they encourage grassroots and local stories.

Prize: $150 to $200 per story

Reach out to jordanzakarin@gmail.com, for details and guidelines for submission.

Deadline: Open now.

 

 

• International Journalists Network (IJNet)

They are accepting pitches for tips and tricks that can help journalists globally.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Pay: $200 per article.

Deadline: Open now.

 

 

• Outrider

Outrider is seeking stories about the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27).

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Pay: $1,000/story.

Deadline: Open now.

 

 

• HAVOK Flash Fiction Contest

This is a constant flash fiction contest with each season split into monthly competitions with thematically connected prompts in a range of genres.

Prize: $100

Deadline: Open now

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• The Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry

This prize was established to promote African poetry written in English or in translation and to recognize a significant book published each year by an African poet.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prize: USD $5,000.

Deadline: October 1, 2022.

 

 

• Ginsoko Literary Journal Flash Fiction Prize

For the flash fiction prize, they’re interested in fiction of up to 1,000 words, on “The Sacred” theme.

Prize: $500

Deadline: 1 October 2022.

They are also open for Non-contest/general submissions in the areas of short fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, social justice, and literary insights.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• The Furious Gazelles 2022 Halloween Writing Contest

This literary magazine wants submissions of Halloween-themed poetry, fiction, short plays, and creative non-fiction.

Prize: Ranging from $5 to $50.

Deadline: 1 October 2022

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

READ ALSO: >>Snow Flower and the Secret Fan – Lisa See | Book Review<<

 

 

• The Perito Prize 2022

They’re seeking fiction centered on the theme of accessibility, inclusion, diversity &inclusive environments.

Prize: £500

Other prizes: Mentoring, inclusion in an anthology.

Deadline: 1 October 2022.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• Quarterly West Poetry & Prose Contests

To enter this contest, you’d have to submit up to three poems or a prose piece (i.e., fiction, non-fiction, or any hybridization therein).

Prize: Ranging from $500 to $200.

Deadline: Submission is free only for the first weekend. (October 1st and 2nd).

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• Mavis Batey Essay Prize

This international writing competition is open to students or recent graduates, on gardening history.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prize: £250, free membership of the Gardens Trust for a year and consideration for publication.

Deadline: October 2, 2022.

 

 

• Getty Scholar Grants

This grant is open for “researchers of all nationalities who are working in the arts, humanities, or social sciences, for established scholars and writers who have achieved distinction in their fields.”

Deadline: 3 October, 2022 for the Getty Research Institute residential scholar grants at the Getty Center. 1st November, 2022 for residential scholar grants for the Getty Villa Scholars Program.

Prize: $21,500 – 65,000, residency, and more.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• MIT Technology Review

This media company is seeking news, features, profiles, essays, etc., that explains the commercial, political, and social impact of the newest technologies. Their latest issue is on art and design.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Pay: $1 to $2 per word.

Deadline: October 5th, 2022

 

 

• Embracing Our Differences Quotation Contest

Embracing Our Differences uses art and education to expand consciousness and celebrate human diversity.

They’re seeking original quotes, of 20 words or fewer, for their 2023 exhibit. You can check out their site for ideas on how to go about it.

Prize: Two awards of $2,000

Deadline: 5 October 2022

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• Dream Foundry Short Story Contest

Dream Foundry is accepting speculative fiction stories from emerging writers.

Prize: 1st – $1,000 | 2nd – $500 | 3rd – $200

Deadline: 8 October 2022

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• Salt Hill: Arthur Flowers Flash Fiction Prize

This international writing contest is for people who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or a Person of Color, and have not published or been contracted to write a full-length book at the time of submission.

Prize: $500

Deadline: 9 October 2022.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

 

READ ALSO: >>The Psychology of Money – Morgan Housel | Book Review<<

 

 

• One Story: Adina Talve-Goodman Fellowship

This fellowship is for an early-career writer of fiction who has not yet published a book and is not currently nor has ever been enrolled in an MFA program. They are seeking writers “whose work speaks to issues and experiences related to inhabiting bodies of difference.”

Prize: Travel stipend ($2,000), tuition to attend writers’ conference, and other benefits.

Deadline: 12 October 2022

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• Tales from the Moonlit Path Halloween Challenge

They’re seeking original stories centered on one of the movie quotes they have on their website.

Prize: $50

Deadline: 13 October 2022

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• Apparition Lit

They’re seeking speculative fiction of fewer than 1,000 words.

Prize: $30.

Deadline: October 14, 2022.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• 53-Word Story Contest

They’re seeking fun stories of exactly 53 words.

Prize: $30, publication in Prime Number Magazine and a free book from Press 53.

Deadline: 15th October, 2022.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

 

• John Pollard Foundation

This International Poetry Prize is for a published book of poems published originally in the English language between October 1st 2020 and October 18th 2022.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prize: €10,000

Deadline: October 18, 2022.

 

 

• Endless Ink Publishing House Short Story Horror Comedy Contest

For this contest, you’ll have to submit a short story in the horror comedy genre.

Prize: $750, and publication.

Deadline: 21 October 2022

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• The JKP Writing Prize

This is a non-fiction international writing competition for Black, Asian, Mixed heritage and other ethnic minority groups writers in the UK.

Prize: £150, and publication in an anthology.

Deadline: 21 October 2022

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• Women’s Prize for Fiction

This is an international award for a novel published novel by a woman in the UK, between 1 October 2022 and 31 November 2022.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prize: £30,000.

Deadline: October 21, 2022.

 

 

• Solarpunk Microfiction Contest

They’re seeking microfiction stories of 250 words max.

Prize: $25 and publication on the Solarpunk Magazine website.

Deadline: October 21, 2022 – October 27, 2022.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

READ ALSO: >>Blood Scion – Deborah Falaye | Book Review<<

 

 

• The Marfield Prize

This is a National Award for Arts nonfiction writing.

Prize: $10,000.

Deadline: October 28, 2022.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• Lonely Planet

They’re seeking expert writers for new guidebooks for Kenya, Botswana &Namibia, Tanzania, Egypt, Madagascar, Morocco, Mauritius, Réunion and Seychelles.

Pay: Over $1,500.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Deadline: October 28th, 2022

 

 

• The Open Notebook/Burroughs Wellcome Fund Early Career Fellowship Program

This is an opportunity for early-career science journalists in any part of the world.

Prize: $5,500, including stipends and others.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Deadline: 31 October 2022.

 

 

• The LoveReading Very Short Story Award

LoveReading is looking for exciting, stimulating, original and beautifully written stories that leave a powerful impression on the reader.

Prize: Judges’ Choice award – £300 | People’s Choice award – £200

Deadline: 31 October 2022

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• The Society of Authors: McKitterick Prize

This is a literary prize is for an author over the age of 40, who has a debut fiction novel (unpublished, published, or self-published in the UK).

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prize: 1st – £4,000 | 2nd – £2,000 | 3rd – £1,000

Deadline: 31 October 2022

 

 

• Preservation Foundation Essay Contest: Travel Nonfiction

They want essays by unpublished writers.

The stories should be factual and true accounts of a trip taken by the author or a person or persons known by the author.

Prize: 1st – $200 | 2nd – $100

Deadline: 31 October 2022

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• The Society of Authors: The ALCS Tom-Gallon Trust Awards

This award is for a short story of up to 5,000 words, published or unpublished.

Prize: 1st – £2,000 | 2nd – £1,000 | 3rd – £500

Deadline: 31 October 2022

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• The Writing Quarter Competition

They run a monthly short story writing competition with open themes.

Prize: $30

Deadline: 31 October 2022.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

Citizen: The New Story Flash Fiction Competition

They want your best flash fictions on the original theme of identity, citizenship and belonging from young writers of between 18 and 25 years.

Prize: Publication on the Word Factory website, social media promotion, and others.

Deadline: 31st October, 2022.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

READ ALSO: >>Childhood Reminiscence – Success A. Ibe | Poetry<<

 

 

 

• Creative Writing NZ Flash Fiction Competition

They’re seeking flash fiction stories of up to 1,000 words.

Prize: $30

Deadline: 31st October, 2022.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• Storyhouse

They’re seeking nonfiction stories of between 1000–10,000 words in length, suitable for children, based on the stipulated theme.

Prize: $200.

Deadline: October 31, 2022.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• Olde Wolf Short Story Contest

This is a monthly short story contest, seeking stories of 3,000 words max.

Prize: $100.

Deadline: October 31, 2022.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• The Drabble Harvest Contest

You can submit a drabble on the theme of Out the Airlock.

Prize: $5.

Deadline: October 31, 2022.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• The Barbellion Prize

This international writing prize is awarded annually to an author whose work has best spoken of the experience of chronic illness and/or disability.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prize: £600.

Deadline: October 31, 2022.

 

 

• PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction

This is the most prestigious literary award in the US, awarded to living American citizens.

Prize: $15,000.

Deadline: October 31, 2022.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• Lex Lead Essay Competition

This is an international writing competition for candidates who show citizenship in an eligible country and are enrolled in studies with at least one law class in an eligible country at the time of the award.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prize: $500 scholarship.

Deadline: October 31, 2022.

 

 

• The Benjamin Franklin House Literary Prize

This is an international award for writers aged 18–25 years and living in the UK.

Each year, a question or quote exploring Franklins relevance in our time is open for interpretation in 1000–1500 words.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prize: 1st – £750 | 2nd – £500, publication on their website and The Telegraph.

Deadline: October 31, 2022.

 

 

• The Young Writers Initiative Manuscript / Chapbook Contest

They’re seeking fiction in any genre, and book length poetry. Prize: $225 for one winner in each category.

Deadline: October 31, 2022.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• Bergman Prize

This international poetry prize is awarded to a writer for their first or second collection of poetry. Prize: $10,000 and publication.

Deadline: October 31, 2022.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

READ ALSO: >>Our Special Place by Olachi Iwehee | Short Story<<

 

 

• Rune Bear Quarterly

This is a drabble contest of exactly 100 words on theme of War in Space.

Prize: $10.

Deadline: October 31, 2022.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• Rattle Ekphrastic Challenge

They want a poem inspired by an artwork on their site.

Prize: $100.

Deadline: October 31, 2022.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• Defenestrationism: 2022 Flash Suite Contest

This is a contest for at least three flash fiction pieces (up to 1,000 words each) that co-relate in some way.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prize: 1st – $75 2nd – $60

Deadline: 1 November 2022

 

 

• The William F. Deeck-Malice Domestic Grant for Unpublished Writers

This is given to an unpublished writer in the Malice Domestic genre. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prize: $2,500, and other expenses.

Deadline: 1 November 2022

 

 

• PEN/Robert J Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers

This is an award for 12 emerging fiction writers for their debut short story published during a given calendar year in a literary magazine or cultural website.

Prize: $2,000 each

Deadline: 1 November 2022

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• Black Mountain Institute: Shearing Fellowship

This is a residential fellowship for emerging and distinguished writers who have published at least one book with a trade or literary press.

Prize: $20,000 over 4 months, residency, etc.

Deadline: 1 November 2022

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

 

 

• The Evaristo Prize for African Poetry

Formerly known as the Brunel International African Poetry Prize, the Evaristo Prize for African Poetry awards ten poems written by an African poet.

The prize is open to African poets who have not yet had a full-length poetry book published at the time of submission.

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prize: USD $1,500

Deadline: 1^st November, 2022.

 

 

• The Commonwealth Short Story Prize

This is an international award for writers who are citizens of any Commonwealth country (Africa, Asia, Canada and Europe, Caribbean, and Pacific)

Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<

Prize: Overall winner – £5,000 | Regional winner – £2,500

Deadline: 1 November 2022

 

 

 

 

Sources

Freedom with writing, Creative Writing News, Globe Soup, Curiousity never killed the writer.

 

 

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