Writing Contests Closing in October 2026
Writing Contests with application deadlines in October 2026, sorted by what closes soonest. Deadlines, awards, and entry fees shown on every listing — closed listings drop off automatically.
68 open right now
Cash prizes stated on the listing — no pay-to-enter-win-nothing contestsDeadlines tracked daily; closed contests drop off automaticallyPoetry, fiction, flash, CNF, and essay prizes
Closing soonest
- Contest · WritingJeffrey E. Smith Editors' Prize — $5,000 in Fiction, Nonfiction, and PoetryDeadline October 1, 2026$5,000Fee: $25 (includes one-year digital subscription; $30 all-access option)
- Contest · WritingSubmit 3 poems to the 37th annual Reuben Rose competitionDeadline October 1, 2026$100Fee: $14.00
- Contest · Writing2026 organization hidden — members only Press FICTION Chapbook CompetitionDeadline October 1, 2026$750Fee: $15.00
- Contest · Writingorganization hidden — members only – The organization hidden — members only Book PrizeDeadline October 1, 2026$10,000
- Contest · WritingAPR/Honickman First Book PrizeDeadline October 1, 2026$3,000Fee: $25.00
- Contest · Writing2026 organization hidden — members only Press POETRY Chapbook Competition—NO FEE SUBMISSION for POC & Indigenous Writers and Writers Facing Financial HardshipDeadline October 1, 2026$750
- Contest · Writing2026 organization hidden — members only Press FICTION Chapbook Competition—NO FEE SUBMISSION for POC & Indigenous Writers and Writers Facing Financial HardshipDeadline October 1, 2026$750
- Contest · Writingorganization hidden — members only Prize for Fiction - Submit Your NovelDeadline October 1, 2026$5,000Fee: $25.00
- Contest · Writingorganization hidden — members only – Wheelbarrow Books Poetry Prize (Established)Deadline October 1, 2026$1,000Fee: $25
- Contest · WritingSubmit 1 poem to the 37th annual Reuben Rose competitionDeadline October 1, 2026$100Fee: $6.00
- Contest · WritingSubmit 6 poems to the 37th annual Reuben Rose competitionDeadline October 1, 2026$100Fee: $19.00
- Contest · Writingorganization hidden — members only – Gabriele Rico Challenge for NonfictionDeadline October 1, 2026$1,333Fee: $25 reading fee (includes a copy of Reed Magazine)
- Contest · WritingFounders' Prize 2026Deadline October 1, 2026$100Fee: $15.00
- Contest · Writingorganization hidden — members only Poetry Prize for a previously published bookDeadline October 1, 2026
- Contest · Writing2026 organization hidden — members only Press NONFICTION Chapbook Competition—NO FEE SUBMISSSION for POC & Indigenous Writers and Writers Facing Financial HardshipDeadline October 1, 2026$750
- Contest · Writingorganization hidden — members only & Bloody Bones: Halloween 2026Deadline October 1, 2026$100
- Contest · Writing2026 organization hidden — members only Press NONFICTION Chapbook CompetitionDeadline October 1, 2026$750Fee: $15.00
- Contest · Writing2026 organization hidden — members only Press POETRY Chapbook CompetitionDeadline October 1, 2026$750Fee: $15.00
- Contest · Writingorganization hidden — members only Pamphlet Prize 2026Deadline October 1, 2026£250Fee: £20 per pamphlet (£10 for current subscribers)
- Contest · Writing2026 Margarita Donnelly Prize for Prose WritingDeadline October 1, 2026$500Fee: $21.00
- Contest · WritingAnnual organization hidden — members only Editors' Poetry & Prose PrizeDeadline October 1, 2026$1,000Fee: $20.00
- Contest · Writingorganization hidden — members only – Prize for Fiction; Short Story Collection Competition; Poetry PrizeDeadline October 1, 2026$5,000Fee: $25.00
- Contest · WritingTom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry ContestDeadline October 1, 2026$3,500Fee: $25
- Contest · Writingorganization hidden — members only Surrealist Poetry Prize 2026Deadline October 2, 2026$1,000Fee: $15.00
- Contest · WritingJohn Steinbeck Award for Fiction 2027: $1,000 PrizeDeadline October 2, 2026$1,000Fee: $20
- Contest · WritingEdwin Markham Prize for Poetry 2027 - $1,000 Prize Judged by Anthony CodyDeadline October 2, 2026$1,000Fee: $20
- Contest · WritingTom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry ContestDeadline October 2, 2026$500Fee: $25.00
- Contest · WritingJudith Rodriguez Open Section - organization hidden — members only 2026Deadline October 3, 2026$500Fee: $25.00
- Contest · Writingorganization hidden — members only BOOM Chapbook Contest 2026/2027Deadline October 5, 2026$250Fee: $16.00
- Contest · Writingorganization hidden — members only – Penny Dreadfuls Halloween ContestDeadline October 9, 2026
- Contest · Writingorganization hidden — members only – organization hidden — members only Book PrizeDeadline October 10, 2026$10,000
- Contest · Writingorganization hidden — members only – Chapbook ContestDeadline October 10, 2026$300Fee: $15
- Contest · WritingDinesh Allirajah Prize for Short FictionDeadline October 11, 2026£500
- Contest · Writingorganization hidden — members only – Latino Voices in Children’s Literature Writing ContestDeadline October 13, 2026$1,000
- Contest · WritingTWFest ONE-ACT PLAY Contest 2026-2027Deadline October 15, 2026$100Fee: $25.00
- Contest · WritingCalvino Prize 2026Deadline October 15, 2026$500Fee: $25.00
- Contest · Writingorganization hidden — members only – Boom Chapbook ContestDeadline October 15, 2026
- Contest · WritingSAS POETRY Contest 2026-2027Deadline October 15, 2026$500Fee: $20.00
- Contest · WritingSAS VERY SHORT FICTION Contest 2026-2027Deadline October 15, 2026$500Fee: $10.00
- Contest · WritingTWFest FICTION Contest 2026-2027Deadline October 15, 2026$100Fee: $25.00
- Contest · Writingorganization hidden — members only – Gerald Cable Book AwardDeadline October 15, 2026$1,000Fee: $25
- Contest · Writingorganization hidden — members only – organization hidden — members only Book PrizesDeadline October 15, 2026$1,000
- Contest · Writingorganization hidden — members only – Phillip HDeadline October 15, 2026$500Fee: $25
- Contest · WritingSAS FICTION Contest 2026-2027Deadline October 15, 2026$750Fee: $20.00
- Contest · WritingTWFest POETRY Contest 2026-2027Deadline October 15, 2026$100Fee: $15.00
- Contest · WritingTWFest VERY SHORT FICTION Contest 2026-2027Deadline October 15, 2026$100Fee: $10.00
- Contest · Writing🌳Fall 2026 organization hidden — members only FICTION SHORT STORY Contest $1000Deadline October 16, 2026$200Fee: $4.00
- Contest · Writing2026 organization hidden — members only Creative Non-Fiction ContestDeadline October 16, 2026$500Fee: $34.95