The world of writing offers various opportunities to showcase your talent and earn income. In this listicle, there are over 20 writing competitions and paid publishing opportunities that can kickstart your writing career and help you achieve your goals. Be sure to go through the guidelines for each, and bookmark this page for updates to the list that will be made throughout the month.
The Paris Review
They’re accepting unsolicited submissions of prose this September. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Deadline: Open until filled.
One Story
They publish literary fiction – one story per month. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: $500 | 25 contributor copies.
Deadline: Open until filled.
Longevity Global
They’re seeking freelance writers (on a rolling basis) for their new Substack. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $200 per article.
Deadline: Open until filled.
Split Lip Magazine
They’re open for submissions of flash fiction, short stories, memoir, poetry, and art, as well as interviews and reviews. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: $5 – $75.
Deadline: Open until filled.
The Russell Freedman Award for Nonfiction for a Better World
This award is for any nonfiction book published for children or young adults, released between January 1 and December 31, 2023, is eligible. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $2500 plus $1000 to purchase copies of the winning book for distribution to schools and libraries.
Deadline: Opens September 12, 2023, until filled.
Mavis Batey Essay Prize
This prize is for a scholarly essay on gardening history written by any student, worldwide, registered in a bona-fide university or institute of higher education, or who has recently graduated from such an institution. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: £250 | Free membership of the Gardens Trust for a year | Consideration for publication.
Deadline: September 3, 2023.
Shoreline of Infinity Flash Fiction Contest
They’re seeking a science fiction story about a pet. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: £50.
Deadline: September 3, 2023.
Terrain.org Editor’s Prize
This prize is for nonfiction, fiction, and poetry focusing on place, climate, and justice. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $500.
Deadline: September 4, 2023.
Debra E. Bernhardt Labor Journalism Prize
This prize is for an article that furthers the understanding of the history of working people. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $1000.
Deadline: September 5, 2023.
International Booker Prize
This prize is for a work of fiction translated into English. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: £50,000 for the author and the translator. | £2,000 each for the shortlisted titles.
Deadline: September 8, 2023.
Princeton Arts Fellowship
This fellowship is for artists in many disciplines, including literary, whose achievements have been recognized as demonstrating extraordinary promise in any area of artistic practice and teaching. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: $180,000 | Residency at Princeton.
Deadline: September 12, 2023.
The Forge Competition
The magazine holds a flash fiction and non-fiction contest. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $1,000.
Deadline: September 14, 2023, or until filled.
Solarpunk Magazine
The magazine publishes optimistic stories, poems, and art set in a harmonious future tackling climate change. They welcome various fiction genres and explore contemporary issues aligned with the solarpunk movement. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $0.08/word for fiction | $40/poem | $75/essay or article.
Deadline: September 14, 2023.
Radcliffe Institute Fellowships
These fellowships are open to diverse disciplines: poetry, fiction, non-fiction, journalism, and playwriting. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: $78,000 | Additional funds for project expenses.
Deadline: September 14, 2023.
Broken Pencil
They’re seeking entries of zines, comics, leaflets, and self-published works. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: A cash prize.
Deadline: September 15, 2023.
Changing Skies
They’re seeking climate crisis-focused prose, poetry, comics, and art. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $300 – $500.
Deadline: September 17, 2023.
Reckoning
They’re seeking submissions for their Issue 8, focusing on environmental justice. Accepting fiction, poetry, essays, and art addressing global issues, especially resistance to oppressive systems. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: $0.10/word for prose | $50 for reviews | $50/page of poetry.
Deadline: September 22, 2023.
Earth’s Final Chapter
They want submissions in all fiction genres and cross genres. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $700.
Deadline: September 24, 2023.
Working Class Writers Grant
This is an annual grant supports speculative writers from underrepresented backgrounds, addressing financial barriers. They require a speculative writing sample (poetry, drama, fiction, or creative non-fiction). Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $1,000.
Deadline: September 30, 2023.
Creators of Justice Literary Awards
They’re seeking submissions of fiction, essays, and poetry; works which highlight the struggle for human rights and social justice the world over. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: $50 – $150.
Deadline: September 30, 2023.
César Egido Serrano’s Microfiction Contest
This microfiction contest is open to writers worldwide, aged 14 and up, in Spanish, English, Arabic, or Hebrew. Writers can also vote on 50 stories. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: Winner – $20,000 | $2,000 – Each for winning languages.
Deadline: September 30, 2023.
Green Stories Project
They’re seeking short story submissions on the Microbes theme for the Green Stories Project. The focus is on Environmental Biotechnology’s potential. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: £100 – £500.
Deadline: September 30, 2023.
The Iowa Short Fiction Award
This award is a publication of a collection of short stories. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: A standard contract.
Deadline: September 30, 2023.
The John Simmons Short Fiction Award
This award is also a publication of a collection of short stories. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: A standard contract.
Deadline: September 30, 2023.
Shady Grove Literary
They’re seeking submissions in any style, genre, or tone of flash fiction.
Prize: $100.
Deadline: September 30, 2023.
Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Writers of the Future Contest
The award is for those who have not professionally published a novel or short novel, or more than one novelette, or more than three short stories, in any medium. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: Grand Prize – $5,000 | Others: $500 – $1,000.
Deadline: September 30, 2023.
Heartlines Spec
They’re looking for short fiction and poetry focused on long-term relationships: platonic, romantic, or familial. Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prizes: CAD0.08/word for fiction | CAD60/poem.
Deadline: September 30, 2023.
Last Stanza Poetry Journal
This prize is for an outstanding poem. The theme for this issue is, “I Never Knew.” Read the details and guidelines for submission >>here<<
Prize: $100.
Deadline: September 30, 2023.
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