Whether you are part of the Good e-Reader community, or new to our page, its fair to guess you are a book lover. Have you ever thought about transitioning from reader to writer?
Many renowned authors got their start by entering writing contests, proving they can be a solid stepping stone to future literary success. Before winning the Nobel Prize, William Faulkner gained a lot of recognition by submitting work to writing contests which helped to build his confidence. Similarly, Julia Glass, author of Three Junes, won the Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society’s fiction contest. Octavia Butler, who is known for groundbreaking science fiction stories, found her footing after winning a local contest.
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” – Wayne Gretzky
You never know—your entry could be the start of something big. However, writing a whole novel can be an overwhelming task, so why not try something short and sweet? American journalist Christopher Hitchens once quipped, “Everyone has a book inside them, which is exactly where it should, I think, in most cases, remain.” Well, I think we can prove him wrong… or right- but even if that happens, at least you’ll have a good story to tell.
12 Short Story Contests Open to All in 2025
1. Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize
- Details: 750 words or fewer, judged by Ottessa Moshfegh (Lapvona).
- Prizes: $1,000, a free Gotham Writers workshop, and your story performed by an actor and published in Electric Literature.
- Deadline: March 7, 2025.
- Entry Fee: $25.
2. New Ohio Review Literary Prizes
- Details: Submit up to 20 pages for a shot at $1,500 and publication. Includes fiction, nonfiction, and poetry categories.
- Prizes: $1,500 each and publication in New Ohio Review.
- Deadline: April 15, 2025.
- Entry Fee: $22 (includes a subscription).
- Details: 1,000 to 5,000 words.
- Prizes: First place wins $2,000, publication, a Journal of the Month subscription, and a “tech bonus” up to $500.
- Deadline: May 19, 2025.
- Entry Fee: $20.
4. Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
- Details: Up to 6,000 words; published or unpublished work accepted.
- Prizes: $3,500 for the best story or essay.
- Deadline: May 1, 2025.
- Entry Fee: $25.
5. Narrative Magazine Spring Story Contest
- Details: Open to fiction writers; stories up to 15,000 words.
- Prizes: First place $2,500; second place $1,000; third place $500; up to 10 finalists $100 each.
- Deadline: July 2025.
- Entry Fee: $27.
6. The Masters Review Summer Short Story Award for New Writers
- Details: For emerging writers; up to 6,000 words.
- Prizes: First place $3,000 and online publication; second place $300; third place $200.
- Deadline: August 2025.
- Entry Fee: $20.
7. Zoetrope: All-Story Short Fiction Contest
- Details: Up to 5,000 words.
- Prizes: First place $1,000 and publication on the magazine’s website; second place $500; third place $250.
- Deadline: October 2025.
- Entry Fee: $30 per story.
8. Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition
- Details: International competition; up to 3,500 words.
- Prizes: First place $1,500 and story publication on competition website; second and third place $500 each.
- Deadline: September 2025.
- Entry Fee: $15.
9. Missouri Review Perkoff Prize
- Details: Theme of health and medicine; up to 8,500 words.
- Prizes: First place $1,000 and publication in The Missouri Review.
- Deadline: January 2025.
- Entry Fee: $15.
- Details: Open to Canadian citizens and residents; up to 2,500 words.
- Prizes: Winner receives $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, a two-week writing residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and publication on CBC Books. Four finalists receive $1,000 each and publication on CBC Books.
- Deadline: November 1, 2024.
- Entry Fee: $25.
11. Toronto Star Short Story Contest
- Details: One of the largest and longest-running short story contests in North America; open to residents of Ontario.
- Prizes: First place $5,000; second place $2,000; third place $1,000.
- Deadline: January 2025.
- Entry Fee: None.
12. Polar Expressions National Short-Story Contest
- Details: Open to Canadian residents and citizens of all ages; separate division for young writers.
- Prizes: Over $3,500 in cash and other prizes.
- Deadline: July 31st 2025.
An avid book reader and proud library card holder, Angela is new to the world of e-Readers. She has a background in education, emergency response, fitness, loves to be in nature, traveling and exploring. With an honours science degree in anthropology, Angela also studied writing after graduation. She has contributed work to The London Free Press, The Gazette, The Londoner, Best Version Media, Lifeliner, and Citymedia.ca.
