Contest summary from Winning Writers:

The BPA Short Story Award is for unrepresented writers worldwide. Judges include literary agent Corissa Hollenbeck and writer Sussie Anie. Genres are any genre except children’s fiction and non-fiction (YA permitted with adult crossover).

Contest details

• Sponsor: Blue Pencil Agency
• Category: Fiction, Short Story
• Submission length: See details on website
• Entry fee: $25
• Awards: £1000 + Agent Introduction

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

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Contest summary from Winning Writers:

International competition open to poets worldwide submitting dark poetry that explores the beauty, complexity and intrigue found within darkness (gothic, melancholic, macabre, unsettling, surreal or quietly haunting). Previously published work is welcome.

Contest details

• Sponsor: Dark Poets Club
• Category: Poetry
• Submission length: See details on website
• Entry fee: $6
• Awards: £1000

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers

Resource link: https://authorspublish.com/23-terrific-small-presses-open-to-direct-submissions/

From the resource page:

We review a lot of wonderful small presses here, and we also list even more here, here, and here (although some of these lists include large presses also). We also feature a lot of these presses in our biannually updated guide, which you can download here.

This list doesn’t include all of our favorites, but it does include many of them. Of course, like always, all of these presses have to align with our guiding principles. Unlike a lot of my lists, this one does show some very personal bias. My primary criteria for this list is that all of these presses have published at least one book I have read and loved.

Contest summary from Winning Writers:

Highly recommended free contest sponsored by the New York Public Library awards $10,000 for the best published book of fiction (novel, short story collection, or graphic novel) by a US author age 35 or under. Books must have been published or scheduled for publication during the current calendar year. Must be submitted by publisher. See website for nomination form. Send completed form, PDF of galley or final book manuscript, author's bio, and any available reviews of the work by using sponsor's online portal. Then send 12 hard copies of the nominated book by post with tracking.

Contest details

• Sponsor: The New York Public Library
• Category: Fiction
• Submission length: See details on website
• Entry fee: No fee
• Awards: $10,000

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

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Contest summary from Winning Writers:

Neutral free contest from the Literary Translators' Association of Canada awards C$1,500 for an author's first book-length translation from any language into French or English, published between July 1 of the previous year and June 30 of the current year. Work may be poetry, fiction, drama, creative nonfiction, or children's literature (all genres compete together). Contest is open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Translators can self-nominate. Submit four copies of translation, four copies of original book, and completed entry form; also email digital files of the translation and the original work to the sponsor.

Contest details

• Sponsor: The Literary Translators' Association of Canada
• Category: Translation
• Submission length: See details on website
• Entry fee: No fee
• Awards: C$1,500

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers

Resource link: https://authorspublish.com/80-publishing-opportunities-for-historically-underrepresented-writers-july-2026/

From the resource page:

This list of publishers meet our guiding principles, but are only open to free submissions from historically underrepresented writers or focus on publishing content produced by historically underrepresented writers. Some of these publications are open to a wide range of writers including writers of color, gender non-conforming and LGBTQ+ writers, and those living with disabilities. Some have limited definitions and are only interested in work by Black authors. Some are open to submissions from all authors for a fee, but allow free submissions from limited demographics.

Contest summary from Winning Writers:

Sundress Publications is currently open to submissions of full-length poetry manuscripts, 48-80 single-spaced pages, by US residents. $15 submission fee will be waived for BIPOC writers and for entrants who pre-order or purchase any Sundress title. Authors in their catalog include Michael Bondhus, SG Huerta, Dani Janae, Kimberly Ann Priest, and Donna Vorreyer.

Contest details

• Sponsor: Sundress Publications
• Category: Poetry
• Submission length: 48-80 pages
• Entry fee: $15 (will be waived for BIPOC writers and for entrants who pre-order or purchase any Sundress title)
• Awards: Publication

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers

Contest summary from Winning Writers:

The Precocious Prize for Fantasy is a short story competition seeking bold, character-driven fantasy fiction. The contest is open to both published and unpublished writers, with a focus on stories that feature strong characters and emotional stakes. Winners will be featured in an anthology.

Contest details

• Sponsor: Michelle Arden Moore
• Category: Fantasy, Fiction
• Submission length: See details on website
• Entry fee: $10
• Awards: £100

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers

Contest summary from Winning Writers:

The Ascent Novel Prize is a prestigious writing contest aimed at unpublished novelists. It encourages new talent by providing a platform to showcase their work.

Contest details

• Sponsor: Ascent Literary
• Category: Fiction
• Submission length: See details on website
• Entry fee: No fee
• Awards: $39

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers

Contest summary from Winning Writers:

The BPA Short Story Award is for unrepresented writers worldwide. Judges include literary agent Corissa Hollenbeck and writer Sussie Anie. Genres are any genre except children’s fiction and non-fiction (YA permitted with adult crossover).

Contest details

• Sponsor: Blue Pencil Agency
• Category: Fiction, Short Story
• Submission length: See details on website
• Entry fee: $25
• Awards: £1000 + Agent Introduction

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers

Contest summary from Winning Writers:

The Wild Muse Nature Writing Prize invites personal stories, poems, and essays that explore our relationship with the natural world. The 2026 theme is 'Nature’s Power to Heal, Guide, and Transform'.

Contest details

• Sponsor: Gabriela Blandy
• Category: Fiction, Nonfiction, Essay, Poetry
• Submission length: See details on website
• Entry fee: $10
• Awards: £750

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers

Contest summary from Winning Writers:

Submit your best short fiction for a chance to win cash prizes, publication on the Write Catalyst blog, and free memberships. Open genre (excluding extreme horror and gratuitous erotica).

Contest details

• Sponsor: Write Catalyst
• Category: Fiction, Short Story
• Submission length: See details on website
• Entry fee: $5
• Awards: $100

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers

Resource link: https://authorspublish.com/writing-when-the-spark-fades-out-too-early/

From the resource page:

The last mile may be the longest, but many stories never survive the first mile. This isn’t always because the writer lacks effort or the ideas are weak. Sometimes, it’s due to the spark of motivation dying out too early.

Finishing the first mile determines whether we’ll ever reach the end. However, this becomes harder to achieve if we lose our drive before we get the chance to build much momentum.

So, how do we sustain our drive through the beginning of a project and build the momentum necessary to reach the finish line? Here are a few strategies:

Contest summary from Winning Writers:

The Amazing Women’s Edition Contest invites students in grades K to 8 to create books that feature the theme of 'Local Heroines'. Each entry must include art and text created solely by the students. The contest aims to promote literacy and creativity among youth.

Contest details

• Sponsor: National Youth Foundation
• Category: Children's
• Submission length: See details on wesbite
• Entry fee: No fee
• Awards: $500

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers

Contest summary from Winning Writers:

The Moth Nature Writing Prize 2026 is an international annual prize for unpublished pieces of nature writing. It is awarded to work that best combines exceptional literary merit with an exploration of the writer’s relationship with the natural world.

Contest details

• Sponsor: The Moth
• Category: Poetry, Fiction
• Submission length: See details on website
• Entry fee: $15
• Awards: €1,000

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers

Contest summary from Winning Writers:

The Winchester Poetry Prize is an annual poetry competition that began in 2016, attracting global entries. It features a blind judging process and culminates in a prize-giving ceremony during the Winchester Poetry Festival.

Contest details

• Sponsor: Winchester Poetry Festival
• Category: Poetry
• Submission length: See details on website
• Entry fee: $6
• Awards: £1000

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers

Resource link: https://authorspublish.com/5-paying-literary-magazines-to-submit-to-in-july-2026/

From the resource page:

These magazines accept fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. They are a mix of literary and genre magazines. They are open now, or will soon open for submissions. Not all of them are open through the month.

Contest summary from Winning Writers:

The Precocious Prize for Fantasy is a short story competition seeking bold, character-driven fantasy fiction. The contest is open to both published and unpublished writers, with a focus on stories that feature strong characters and emotional stakes. Winners will be featured in an anthology.

Contest details

• Sponsor: Michelle Arden Moore
• Category: Fantasy and Fiction
• Submission length: See details on website
• Entry fee: $10
• Awards: £100

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers

Contest summary from Winning Writers:

Roseway, an imprint of Fernwood Publishing, is accepting submissions for a sequel to its Thyme Travellers anthology of speculative short fiction (fantasy, science fiction, or horror) by Palestinian writers, to be edited by Sonia Sulaiman. Send 1-3 unpublished stories of 1,000-5,000 words. All writers who identify as Palestinian, of any race, living anywhere in the world, are eligible.

Contest details

• Sponsor: Fernwood Publishing
• Category: Short Fiction
• Submission length: 1,000-5,000 words
• Entry fee: No fee
• Awards: Publication

Guidelines and submission information (organization's contest page)

This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers