Creative writing contests with big cash prizes like the ones below can provide a real step up for writers. My own career was jumpstarted by a contest, after I submitted a sample of my unpublished novel to the Chapters/Robertson Davies contest for unpublished novelists. I’ll never forget the thrill of excitement I felt when they contacted me and said that I was one of six hundred writers invited to submit the entire novel.

I decided right then that if my novel went any further in the contest, I’d use that honour to find an agent, and I began my research. When the shortlist of five novels was announced, and mine was on the list, I contacted the agent I had chosen, and she signed me and had a publisher interested within two weeks. I was giddy with excitement. If I won the contest, I’d be published with McClelland and Stewart and receive an advance on royalties. If I went no further than the shortlist, I’d be published with HarperCollins and receive a larger advance on royalties.

I never won the contest, but I won a career all the same. So seek out creative writing contests and send your best work, as winning means publication and often payment.

I'll include creative writing contests and their deadlines here as I become aware of them, so send in your entries, and good luck!

Current FICTION Writing Contests

AUGUST Creative Writing Contests

1. DEADLINE AUGUST 30, 2010:
   The WritingForge Short Story Prize Prize: £700
   
   
2. DEADLINE AUGUST 31, 2010:
   TextNovel Online Serial Novel Contest Prize: $1000
   
   
3. DEADLINE AUGUST 31, 2010:
   Words with Jam Short Story Competition Prize: £300
   
   

SEPTEMBER Creative Writing Contests

1. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 30, 2010:
   Longworth Editors Short Story Competition Prize: £5000
   
   
2. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 30, 2010:
   Leaf Books Micro Fiction Competition Prize: £150
   
   

OCTOBER Creative Writing Contests

1. DEADLINE OCTOBER 1, 2010:
   Zoetrope: All Story Short Fiction Contest Prize: $1000
   
   
2. DEADLINE OCTOBER 1, 2010:
   Scare the Dickens Out of Us Ghost Story Contest Prize: $1000
   
   [opens July 1]
3. DEADLINE OCTOBER 1, 2010:
   Mississippi Review Prize Prize: $1000
   
   
4. DEADLINE OCTOBER 1, 2010:
   Aura Estrada Short Story Contest Prize: $1500
   
   
5. DEADLINE OCTOBER 15, 2010:
   Earth Vision Nature Writing Contest Prize: $500
   
   

NOVEMBER Creative Writing Contests

1. DEADLINE NOVEMBER 1, 2010:
   CBC Literary Award for Short Stories Prize: $6000
   
   
2. DEADLINE NOVEMBER 1, 2010:
   The Malahat Review Open Season Awards Prize: $1000
   
   
3. DEADLINE NOVEMBER 1, 2010:
   Motherhood Muse Short Story Contest Prize: $100
   
   
4. DEADLINE NOVEMBER 3, 2010:
   Writers' Union of Canada Short Prose Competition for Developing Writers Prize: $2500
   
   
5. DEADLINE NOVEMBER 15, 2010:
   Tenessee Williams Literary Festival Short Fiction Contest Prize: $1500 + festival reading, airfare, accommodation
   
   
6. DEADLINE NOVEMBER 30, 2010:
   Literary Soul Making Contest Short Story, Flash Fiction, Novel Excerpts Prize: $100 in each category
   
   
7. DEADLINE NOVEMBER 30, 2010:
   Prairie Fire short fiction contest Prize: $1250
   
   
8. DEADLINE NOVEMBER 30, 2010:
   International Fish Short Story Prize Prize: €3000
   
   
9. DEADLINE NOVEMBER 30, 2010:
   Prism Short Fiction Contest Prize: $2000
   
   
10. DEADLINE NOVEMBER 30, 2010:
    Narrative Magazine Fall Story Contest Prize: $3250
    
    

DECEMBER Creative Writing Contests

1. DEADLINE DECEMBER 1, 2010:
   The Writer's Digest 11th Annual Short Short Story Competition Prize: $3000
   
   
2. DEADLINE DECEMBER 1, 2010:
   The Fiddlehead Literary Contest Prize: $2010
   
   
3. DEADLINE DECEMBER 1, 2010:
   Mona Schreiber Prize for Humorous Fiction Prize: $500
   
4. DEADLINE DECEMBER 1, 2010:
   Gloria Vanderbilt Short Fiction Award Prize: $5000
   
   
5. DEADLINE DECEMBER 31, 2010:
   Dream Quest One Writing Contest Prize: $500
   
   
6. DEADLINE DECEMBER 31, 2010:
   Freefall Annual Prose Contest Prize: $300
   
   

Creative NON-FICTION Writing Contests

1. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 10, 2010:
   Hunger Mountain Creative Non-Fiction Prize Prize: $1000
   
   
2. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 30, 2010:
   Leaf Books Postcard & Travel Writing Competition Prize: £150
   
   
3. DEADLINE OCTOBER 15, 2010:
   So to Speak Non-fiction Competition Prize: $500
   
   
4. DEADLINE OCTOBER 15, 2010:
   Earth Vision Nature Writing Contest Prize: $500
   
   
5. DEADLINE NOVEMBER 1, 2010:
   Motherhood Muse Nonfiction Literary Essay Contest Prize: $100
   
   
6. DEADLINE NOVEMBER 30, 2010:
   Prairie Fire Creative nonfiction contest Prize: $1250
   
   
7. DEADLINE NOVEMBER 30, 2010:
   Prism Literary Non-fiction Contest Prize: $1500
   
   

Click HERE to see MORE CONTESTS

Post Creative Writing Contests Here

Are you administrating a fiction or creative non-fiction contest? If so, you may post the details here.

I will review them, and if accepted, they will go 'live' a day or two after you submit.

GUIDELINES FOR POSTING

1. Post creative writing contests only; all others will be deleted


2. Please begin with your contest deadline in uppercase letters, followed by the contest name


3. Post the URL that links to the contest information in the text box


4. List the 1st prize amount; submissions with no prize amount will be deleted


5. 1st Prize must be $200 or more


6. Prizes must be guaranteed

You may post as many contests as you like, but please post each contest separately, and only once during the contest period.

Thank you!

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