No Entry Fees: 15+ Free International Writing Competitions You Can Enter in 2025
Global writing contests you can actually enter without emptying your wallet!
One of the lies I’ve told myself this year is that I will submit my writing to literary magazines and competitions, and so I went looking for some contests that I will most DEFINITELY be submitting to. LOL.
Seriously though, entering writing competitions is a fantastic way to gain recognition, but many contests come with (often) hefty entry fees. If you're like me and you're a writer looking to showcase your talent without breaking the bank, the good news is that there are plenty of free international writing competitions you can enter with absolutely no entry fees required.
Okay, so I decided to share the no-cost writing contests I found. Behold, a curated list of some of the best free writing competitions from around the world.
Free to Enter: International Writing Competitions That Won't Cost You a Penny
Gotham Writers Scriptwriting Scholarship
Description: This scholarship supports aspiring scriptwriters of color by providing access to professional writing courses and mentorship. Open to individuals interested in writing for movies, TV, or theater, regardless of experience level.
Prize: Recipients receive two 10-week scriptwriting courses, three writing intensives, and a 12-hour mentorship session.
Eligibility: Open to people of color, age 18 and up. At least one spot is reserved for a Black applicant.
Word Count: Not specified.
Deadline: Applications open December 1 and close February 15. Winners are announced by mid-March.
The 2024-2025 Subnivean Awards
Description: An international literary competition celebrating outstanding fiction and poetry. The contest seeks powerful and engaging work that captivates readers.
Prize: Two winners (one in fiction, one in poetry) will receive $150, a judge’s blurb, publication in the May 2025 issue, and a feature in a virtual event promoted to thousands. Five finalists in each category will also have their work forwarded to the final judges and published.
Eligibility: Open to writers worldwide.
Word Count: Not specified.
Deadline: February 21, 2025.
Gotham Writers Invent a Word Contest
Description: A fun and creative competition inviting participants to invent a new word that would enhance the English language. The word must come with a one-sentence definition and be used in a sentence. Entries will be judged on originality, quality, spelling, and grammar.
Prize: The winner receives a free Gotham Writers class of their choosing (excluding premium classes). The winning entry will also be published on the Gotham Writers website.
Eligibility: Open to all. Limit one entry per person.
Word Count: Maximum of 70 words (including the invented word, definition, and example sentence).
Deadline: February 28, 2025 (11:59 PM ET). The winner will be notified by mid-March.
Pilgrimages – 2025 Travel Writing Competition
Description: Hosted by Intrepid Times, this travel writing competition invites writers to explore the theme of pilgrimage—whether literary, spiritual, personal, or secular. Entries should be compelling, non-fiction narratives that capture the essence of a journey, whether retracing the steps of a famous writer, revisiting an ancestral home, or exploring a place of deep personal significance.
Prize: The winner receives $300 USD and publication in Intrepid Times, along with their original story and accompanying photographs. Up to four runners-up will also be published at standard article rates.
Eligibility: Open to all writers worldwide.
Word Count: 1,200–1,800 words.
Deadline: March 1, 2025. Winners will be announced in April.
The Tom Grass Spirit of Adventure Literary Prize
Description: This international literary prize celebrates the spirit of adventure in fiction and non-fiction writing. Entries can take the form of short stories, essays, memoirs, reportage, or historical investigations, among other styles. Writers are encouraged to interpret "adventure" in broad and creative ways, whether in subject matter or narrative style.
Prize:
1st Prize: £1,000
Two Runners-Up: £500 each
Winners will be honored at a prize-giving reception in London on June 4, 2025.
Eligibility: Open to writers worldwide, aged 25 and older, who are writing in English. Entrants may be unpublished or have no more than one major published work in English.
Word Count: 1,500–3,000 words. Submissions must be stand-alone pieces, though they may be adapted from longer works.
Deadline: March 31, 2025. Shortlist announced May 15, 2025.
2025 Dreambridge Anthology – "In My Element" Short Story Contest
Description: Dreambridge Publishing’s second annual short story contest invites writers to explore the theme of Elements & Alchemy. Stories must include something that comes together and something that falls apart. Selected works will be published in an indie anthology, giving writers a chance to experience the publishing process firsthand. All genres are welcome.
Prize: Publication in the In My Element anthology and the opportunity to work with Dreambridge’s editorial team. This is an unpaid opportunity.
Eligibility: Open to all writers. One entry per author. Stories must be original, unpublished works and cannot be submitted elsewhere simultaneously.
Word Count: Up to 4,000 words. Shorter works are welcome.
Deadline: March 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Winners will be notified within 2–3 weeks after the deadline.
29th Annual Parsec Short Story Contest (2025)
Description: This annual contest invites writers to craft short stories in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, or horror based on the 2025 theme: "ROOTS." Writers are encouraged to explore the concept in creative ways, from family heritage to plant-like aliens and digital root directories. The theme must be integral to the story, not just mentioned in passing.
Prize:
First Place: $200 + publication in the Confluence program book
Second Place: $100
Third Place: $50
Youth Story Prize: $50 (for writers 19 and under, currently in high school)
Eligibility:
Open to non-professional writers who have not qualified for SFWA Full Membership.
Writers at the SFWA Associate level are eligible.
Youth writers (19 and under) can submit to either the main contest or the Youth Story Prize, but not both.
Previous first-place winners and contest judges/coordinators cannot enter.
AI-generated stories are not allowed.
Word Count: Up to 3,500 words (no minimum).
Deadline: March 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST. Winners will be announced at the Confluence Conference in July.
Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest (2025)
Description: Now in its 24th year, this free-to-enter contest seeks the best humor poems, whether published or unpublished. Serious poems will not be considered. Entries should be in English, though “inspired gibberish” is allowed.
Prizes ($3,750 total):
First Prize: $2,000 + 2-year Duotrope gift certificate ($100 value)
Second Prize: $500
Third Prize: $250
Honorable Mentions: 10 awards of $100 each
Top 13 entries published online
Deadline: April 1, 2025. Results announced August 15, 2025.
Eligibility:
Open to writers worldwide except those in Syria, Iran, North Korea, Crimea, Russia, and Belarus (due to U.S. government restrictions).
No restriction on author’s age.
Poems can be previously published or unpublished.
AI-generated poems are generally not eligible, but if AI was used in a humorous way, pre-approval from the contest organizers is required.
Submission Guidelines:
Length Limit: 250 lines maximum.
One poem per person.
Submissions must be in English.
Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize 2025
Theme: Fear
Prizes:
First place: £3,000
Second place: £1,000
Third place: £1,000
Eligibility:
Open to all nationalities
Must be 18 or older at the time of entry
All genres permitted (fiction, non-fiction, non-academic essays)
Strictly no AI-generated writing (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, etc.)
Submission Guidelines:
Maximum word count: 1,250 words (shortened from previous years)
Must be standalone (not an excerpt from a longer piece)
Unpublished work only (excluding self-published)
No previous winners or placed entries from other competitions
Anonymous judging: Your name must not appear anywhere in the document
Key Dates:
Opens: February 1, 2025
Closes: April 1, 2025 (23:59 UK time)
Purorrelato 2025: Micro-story Competition
Theme: Free, but must relate to Africa in some way
Eligibility:
Open to anyone over the age of 18
Participants may submit up to three micro-stories (original, unpublished)
Casa África staff and previous winners are excluded
Language Options: Spanish, English, French, or Portuguese
Word Count: Maximum 1,500 characters (including spaces, excluding title)
Deadline: April 16, 2025, at 14:00 (GMT +0)
Prizes:
1st place: €750
2nd place: €375
3rd place: €225
Possible runners-up prizes or special mentions (for places 4-6)
Evaluation:
Judged by experts in African literature (both African and Spanish)
Submission Conditions:
Micro-stories must be original and unpublished
Cannot be pending in other competitions or have won any awards
Entrants must guarantee there are no third-party rights on the work
The Writer's Games
Description: The Writer's Games is a highly competitive and popular writing challenge open to writers aged 16 and above. Participants are given six surprise Events over consecutive weeks, each with a 72-hour deadline. Entries are reviewed blind, with feedback provided. Writers are scored based on their use of the Core Concepts specific to each Event. The competition includes a Practice Event, but only the top five entries from the main Events are published. It is a non-elimination contest, so you can participate in all six Events regardless of your performance in previous rounds.
Prize: Top entries are published, but there are no monetary prizes. The competition emphasizes feedback and learning over prizes.
Eligibility: Open globally to writers aged 16 or older.
Word Count: Varies by Event. Each Event has its own word count limit, and the challenges are typically short, requiring quick turnarounds.
Deadline:
Mock Events: April 18 & 25, 2025
Registration: May 1, 2025
Games Events begin: June 13, 2025
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
Description: The Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest is an annual competition accepting both published and unpublished short works of fiction and nonfiction. The contest offers substantial prizes for the top entries and provides publication opportunities. Entries are judged based on quality, with an emphasis on compelling storytelling and unique perspectives.
Prize:
First Prize for Fiction: $3,500
First Prize for Essay: $3,500
Honorable Mentions: 10 winners, each receiving $500
Top 12 entries: Published online
Winners will also receive a two-year gift certificate from Duotrope ($100 value)
Eligibility: Open to writers of all ages, from all countries (except Syria, Iran, North Korea, Crimea, Russia, and Belarus due to US government restrictions). Both published and unpublished works are accepted.
Word Count: Maximum of 6,000 words.
Deadline: October 15, 2024 – May 1, 2025
F(r)iction's Spring 2025 Contest
Description: F(r)iction's Spring 2025 Contest welcomes diverse and creative submissions in multiple categories, from short stories to poetry, flash fiction, and creative nonfiction. The contest is open to writers worldwide, encouraging unique and experimental literature. The guest judges include K. Iver, Grace Talusan, Terry J. Benton-Walker, along with other invited judges. The winners will be selected based on the creativity, originality, and impact of their work.
Prize: $2,100 in prizes
Eligibility: Open to writers worldwide, aged 13 and above. Writers under 16 will need parental or guardian consent if their work is selected for publication. Staff members are ineligible.
Word Count:
Short stories: 1,001 – 7,500 words
Poetry: Up to three pages per poem
Creative Nonfiction: Up to 6,500 words
Flash Fiction: Up to 1,000 words per piece
Deadline: May 2, 2025
2025 Nobleer Media Impact Award: Amplifying Voices, Inspiring Change
Description: The Nobleer Media Impact Award celebrates nonfiction and memoir authors who have made a significant impact through their storytelling. Curated by a team of ghostwriters and publishing professionals, this prestigious award honors authors whose works inspire, educate, and provide new perspectives. It highlights authors who embody authenticity and transformative change, whether through personal storytelling, expertise, or thought-provoking insights. Award winners will be featured in Nobleer Media’s Top Books of the Year list.
Prize: Featured in Nobleer Media’s Top Books of the Year list
Eligibility: Open to nonfiction and memoir authors worldwide.
Word Count: Not specified, but submissions should be nonfiction and memoir genres.
Deadline: May 30, 2025
Drue Heinz Literature Prize
Description: The Drue Heinz Literature Prize is awarded for a manuscript of short stories or novellas by a writer who has previously published a novel, a book-length collection of fiction, or at least three short stories or novellas in national magazines or journals. The prize honors the best work in the fiction genre, with a focus on authors who have already established themselves in the literary world. Manuscripts can include a collection of short stories, novellas, or a combination of both. The winner will receive a cash prize and publication of their work by the University of Pittsburgh Press.
Prize: $15,000 and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press
Eligibility:
Open to writers who have published a book-length collection of fiction or at least three short stories/novellas in national distribution.
Writers must submit in English, regardless of citizenship.
Current or former University of Pittsburgh employees and students are not eligible.
Translations are only eligible if done by the author.
Word Count:
Manuscripts must be between 150 and 300 pages.
Novellas may have a maximum of 130 double-spaced pages and must be part of a larger collection.
Deadline: May 1 – June 30, 2025
The Iowa Short Fiction Award & John Simmons Short Fiction Award
Description: The Iowa Short Fiction Award and the John Simmons Short Fiction Award are annual awards given to two emerging short fiction writers for their collections of short stories. The winners of these prestigious awards will have their works published by the University of Iowa Press. Submissions are juried through the Iowa Writers' Workshop, and the winners are selected based on the quality and originality of their collections.
Prize: Publication by the University of Iowa Press
Eligibility:
Open to emerging short fiction writers.
Writers must submit a collection of short stories for consideration.
The competition is open to all writers, regardless of nationality, who have not previously published a full-length collection of short stories.
Word Count: No specific word count limit mentioned, but the manuscript should be a collection of short stories.
Deadline: August 1 – September 30, 2025
Format:
Manuscripts must be submitted through the Iowa Writers' Workshop submission platform.
Details for submission and eligibility can be found through the University of Iowa Press website.
Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026
Description: The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is an international competition that celebrates exceptional short fiction from writers across the Commonwealth. The prize is open to short fiction in any genre, with a focus on original and unpublished stories. The competition offers both regional and global recognition, with regional winners selected from five regions and an overall winner chosen from the regional winners.
Prize:
Regional winners receive £2,500
Overall winner receives £5,000
Winning stories are published online by Granta and in a print collection by Paper + Ink
Shortlisted stories are published in adda, the Commonwealth Foundation’s online literary magazine
Additional £750 for translators of winning stories in other languages
Eligibility:
Open to all Commonwealth citizens aged 18 and over
Writers from any Commonwealth country are eligible (check the full list of Commonwealth countries)
Word Count:
The story must be between 2,000 and 5,000 words.
Deadline:
Submissions open from September 1, 2025 – November 1, 2025.
Theme/Genre:
Open to any fiction genre (e.g., science fiction, speculative fiction, crime, romance, literary fiction)
No required theme; the subject matter can be anything
Languages Accepted:
Stories written in English, Bengali, Chinese, Creole, French, Greek, Malay, Maltese, Portuguese, Samoan, Swahili, Tamil, and Turkish are accepted
Translated works are also accepted, with an additional prize for the translator if the story wins