September’s here, and it’s a fresh chance to put your writing out into the world. Whether you’re drawn to poetry contests, short story competitions, fellowships, or grants (or calls that don’t fit neatly into any box), this list has you covered. All the writing competitions and opportunities here are free to enter and organized into categories: open calls, region-specific submissions, fellowships, and more, so you can quickly find what suits you.
Bookmark this page and check back throughout the month as new calls get added.
Share your work. Enjoy the process.
Call for Submissions By Categories
OPEN TO ALL WRITERS (WORLDWIDE)
These are poetry, prose, playwriting, and other opportunities for writers without restrictions based on location, demographics, or other criteria.
Green European Journal is accepting pitches in all formats (essays, photo essays, interviews, graphic stories, and more) on arts, culture, and democracy for its next print edition (deadline: September 5, 2025).
The Academy for Teachers is accepting flash fiction submissions featuring K–12 teachers as protagonists for its “Stories Out of School” Contest; the winner receives $1,000 and publication in A Public Space (deadline: September 7, 2025).
The Forge Literary Magazine is accepting flash fiction and nonfiction submissions (under 1,000 words) for its 2025 Flash Competition, awarding $1,000 and Duotrope subscriptions to winners (deadline: September 14, 2025, or until Submittable cap is reached).
Gulf Coast is accepting critical art writing submissions for the 2025 Toni Beauchamp Prize, awarding $3,000 to the winner and $1,000 to two runners-up (deadline: September 14, 2025).
Reckoning is accepting submissions of art, poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction on the theme of communication for its tenth issue, paying 10 cents/word for prose and $50/page for poetry and art (deadline: September 22, 2025).
SUSPECT is accepting flash fiction submissions of 100–150 words on the theme of “unrepentance” for its 2nd contest, with prizes of $300, $200, and $100 (deadline: September 30, 2025).
Jerry Jazz Musician is accepting previously unpublished short fiction (up to 4,000 words) for its 70th Short Fiction Contest — winner receives $150 and publication (deadline: September 30, 2025).
Shoreline of Infinity is accepting science fiction flash stories (max 1,000 words) on the theme “Peace” for their 2025 competition, offering a £50 prize and publication (deadline: September 30, 2025).
Writers of the Future is accepting unpublished sci-fi, fantasy, and dark fantasy short stories or novelettes from new and amateur writers—paying $1,000/$750/$500 quarterly, plus a $5,000 annual grand prize (quarterly deadline: September 30, 2025).
The Sejong Cultural Society is accepting English-language sijo poems from writers of any nationality for the 2025 Sejong International Sijo Competition, offering prizes of $500, $250, and $100 (deadline: September 30, 2025).
The Kari Ann Flickinger Memorial Prize is accepting submissions of short story or experimental fiction collections (min. 40,000 words) for a chance to win $1500 and publication by Ballerini Book Press (deadline: September 30, 2025).
The International Human Rights Art Movement is accepting unpublished poems on justice, dignity, and resistance for the Rhonda Gail Williford Award for Poetry, offering prizes of $150, $100, and $50 (deadline: September 30, 2025).
GRANT WRITING OPPORTUNITIES, AWARDS, PRIZES AND CREATIVE WRITING FELLOWSHIPS & WORKSHOPS
The Hadassah-Brandeis Institute is accepting applications for research or artistic projects in Jewish women’s and gender studies, awarding up to $2,000 for junior scholars and up to $5,000 for senior scholars (deadline: September 2, 2025).
Tarbell is offering journalism grants of $1,000–$15,000 for original reporting on AI-related issues (deadline: September 14, 2025).
The American-Scandinavian Foundation is accepting submissions of English translations of Nordic poetry, fiction, drama, or literary prose for its annual translation prizes (pay: up to $2,500 + publication; deadline: September 15, 2025).
The Miles Morland Foundation is offering £18,000 writing scholarships to African writers working on a full-length work of fiction or non-fiction (deadline: September 22, 2025).
The Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers is offering $90,000 fellowships to academics, creative writers, independent scholars, and visual artists working with the New York Public Library collections (deadline: September 26, 2025).
Black Mountain Institute is offering the Shearing Fellowship for writers with at least one published book: ($46,500, 9 months, deadline: September 30, 2025).
WITH RESTRICTIONS
Opportunities for writers from specific regions, demographics, or calls with themes.
Tyche Books is seeking human-written short stories (under 7,500 words) and poems for the Fascination anthology, featuring dark nature-fueled magic, witches, and eerie settings — paying $50 CAD per story, $20 CAD per poem (deadline: September 3, 2025).
The Young Lions Fiction Award is accepting publisher-submitted novels, graphic novels, or short story collections by U.S. writers aged 35 or younger, published between January and December 2025 (deadline: September 5, 2025).
Library Of Africa and The African Diaspora is accepting residency applications from writers of African descent working on Africa/Diaspora themes, offering a $500 stipend and partial travel support (deadline: September 7, 2025).
Undiscovered Voices is seeking submissions from unagented writers of children’s and YA fiction (deadline: September 8, 2025).
The Ambroggio Prize is accepting book-length poetry manuscripts originally written in Spanish with English translations from U.S.-based poets for a $1,000 publication prize (deadline: September 15, 2026).
The Willie Morris Awards for Southern Writing is accepting fiction, nonfiction, and poetry submissions evoking the U.S. South, with prizes of $12,000 for fiction and nonfiction and $3,000 for poetry (deadline: September 30, 2025).
WRITING OPPORTUNITIES WITH OCTOBER 2025 DEADLINES
The African Poetry Book Fund is accepting submissions for the Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry, awarding $1,000 for a full-length poetry book in English by an African writer (deadline: October 1, 2025).
The Changes Book Prize is accepting first or second poetry collections from U.S.-based emerging poets, awarding $10,000 and publication (deadline: October 1, 2025).
The Horror Writers Association is offering four Diversity Grants worth $500 each to support underrepresented voices in the horror genre (deadline: October 1, 2025).
The Camargo Foundation is accepting applications for its 2026/2027 Camargo Fellowship, offering 10-week residencies for artists and scholars in Arts and Humanities (deadline: October 1, 2025).
The Getty Research Institute is accepting applications for its 2026–2027 Getty Scholars Program, offering residential grants of up to $65,000 for established researchers in art history and related fields (deadline: October 1, 2025).
The American Antiquarian Society is offering $2,200 fellowships to creative and performing artists, writers, and filmmakers for four-week residencies to create imaginative works based on pre-20th-century American history (deadline: October 5, 2025).
ROLLING SUBMISSIONS
The Gardens Trust is accepting submissions for the Mavis Batey Essay Prize from current students and recent graduates on any topic related to garden history; the winning entry receives £500, free membership, and potential publication (deadline not explicitly stated).
Bonus: Check out our full list of writing opportunities with rolling submissions here.
FAQs
What are the best free writing contests for beginners?
Several contests in this list have no entry fees, and they are run by prestigious organizations.
P.S.: If you’ve ever won a writing contest/gotten published/any other opportunity via these free-entry writing competitions and opportunities shared on D’LitReview, please let me know!
P.P.S.: If you liked this list, kindly share it with others who would love to see it too. Thanks for reading!
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