Competitions and Submissions

Deadline: Sun 17 May 2026
Location: Online

Inkspot’s first Flash Fiction Short Story Competition invites flash fiction short stories, with a word count not exceeding 500 words, from writers from anywhere in the world. Short scripts are also welcome. £500 for 500. Read more...

Deadline: Sun 17 May 2026
Location: International

The Emma Press is open for submissions of essays and short fiction until 23.59, Sunday 17 May 2026 (UK time). Read more...

Deadline: Mon 18 May 2026
Location: South West England

Entries on the theme of ‘Between the Lines’ are invited from young writers aged 10-18 for Literature Works' Young Writers’ Flash Fiction Competition 2026. Read more...

Deadline: Mon 18 May 2026
Location: International

Australian Book Review welcomes original short stories of between 2,000 and 5,000 words on any subject and in any style for the 2026 ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize, one of the world’s leading prizes for an original short story. Read more...

Deadline: Fri 22 May 2026
Location: Hampshire

Winchester Poetry Festival invites young people across Hampshire to enter this year's Hampshire Young Poets Competition on the theme of 'Food'. Free to enter. Read more...

Deadline: Mon 25 May 2026
Location: UK

The Matthew Lanyon Archive has announced a new national poetry prize, celebrating the life and creative legacy of Matthew Lanyon (1951-2016). Theme: The Archaeology of Tomorrow. The prize is free to enter. Read more...

Deadline: Mon 25 May 2026
Location: UK

The SI Leeds Literary Prize is open to Black and Asian women writers aged 18 or over, based in the UK and writing fiction in English. 2026 sees the 8th edition of this biennial award. Read more...

Deadline: Fri 29 May 2026
Location: London

This is a full fee scholarship award to the Poetry School / Newcastle University MA in Writing Poetry for an outstanding UK-based applicant who is currently underrepresented in the poetry world. Read more...

Deadline: Fri 29 May 2026
Location: UK

The P D James Memorial Fund offers regular payments to a small number of authors who find themselves in financial hardship. It is currently open to applications. Read more...

Deadline: Fri 29 May 2026
Location: International

Uncertain Stories exists to promote short stories, and we welcome short story submissions from both new and established authors all over the world. Read more...