Welcome writers! It is worthwhile for emerging writers to enter these paid and free competitions to practice writing to deadlines and rules, tighten their prose and hopefully get their name out there. I am based in New Zealand and it is difficult to find these opportunities in a small country, so here is my updated list of flash and short story competitions open to international submissions for 2020. The competitions are listed in time order of the deadline.
Just write every day of your life. Read intensely. Then see what happens. Most of my friends who are put on that diet have very pleasant careers.
– Ray Bradbury
Short story competitions open to international submissions
The Cambridge Prize for Short Stories
Fee: Early bird – 8GBP
Prize: 1000 GBP
Word limit: 2,500
Theme: Any
Deadline: 15 June 2020
The Moth Short Story Prize
Fee: 15 Euros
Prize: 3,000 Euros
Word Limit: 5,000
Theme: Any
Deadline: 30 June 2020
T U Dublin Short Story Competition
Optional theme: Creation, Cosmos, & Caboodle. Winning and shortlisted stories may be published in an anthology of the same name.
Fee: Free entry
Prize: 500 EUR
Word Limit: 1500 – 2000 words
Deadline: 19th August 2020
IWSG Anthology Contest
The winning stories will be edited and published by Dancing Lemur Press’ imprint Freedom Fox Press next year in the IWSG anthology. Authors will receive royalties on books sold, both print and eBook. The top story will have the honor of giving the anthology its title.
Fee: free entry
Word Limit: 4500 – 6000
Deadline: 2 September 2020
Queryletter.com Writing Contest
Something a bit different! Write and submit a back cover blurb of 100 words or fewer that sets the stage for a novel, establishes the characters, and raises the stakes in a way that makes readers want to find out more.
Prize: $500
Deadline: 15 September 2020
Manchester Writing Competition
The Manchester Writing Competition is organised by the Manchester Metropolitan University.
Submit an original short story of up to 2,500 words in length. Must be written in English. Can be on any subject, and written in any style or form.
Fee: 18GBP
Prize: 10,000 GBP
Deadline: 18 September 2020
F(r)iction Lit Fall Contests
Looking for short stories, flash fiction and poetry .
Fee: $10 USD
Deadline: 30 October 2020
The Bedford Short Story Competition
Fee: 6 GBP
Prize: 500 GBP
Word Limit: 3000
Deadline: 31 October 2020
Useful posts for writing contests
Writing A Proper Cover Letter for a Short Story
How to Write Flash Fiction by Richard Thomas
Best Book for Writers to Read – Bird by Bird
Writing Short Stories That Sell by Alan Baxter (via The Creative Penn)
2020 Paying Markets for Short Fiction
There are always more short story competitions open to international submissions becoming available for entries. I do try and keep this list up to date. If you wish to list a competition that is open to writers everywhere, please contact me.
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Thank you for keeping us posted.
I wish you included links to those competitions, though.
Yeah, I didn’t quite get finished. I’ll go through in a few days and add links 🙂
Gotcha. Thanks again for the list. I will most definitely look into it.
Updated for your viewing pleasure 🙂
Awesome. Thank you!