Places to submit your writing this winter

Fiction

1. Free Flash Fiction – FFF Competition Thirty-Two — A quick, low-pressure flash contest for very short pieces (100–300 words) on any theme. Due date 23 Feb. Learn more

   
   

2. Brick Lane Bookshop – 2026 Short Story Prize — A UK bookshop-run short story prize that’s great for literary fiction and strong storytelling. Due date 2 March. Learn more

   
   

3. 3-Minute Arts – 2025/26 Writing Competition — A short story competition designed for punchy, performance-friendly writing that reads well aloud. Winners will have their work performed in Glaisdale, England. Due date 15 Feb. Learn more

   
   

4. Uncharted Magazine – 2026 Cinematic Short Story Contest — A genre-friendly contest for vivid, “movie-in-your-head” stories (SFF, thriller, mystery, horror, etc.). Due dates: Various. Learn more

   
   

5. Inkitt – Sci‑Fi Writing Contest 2026 — A science-fiction contest hosted on Inkitt, typically aimed at discovering new longer-form genre work. Due date: 31 March. Learn more

   
   

6. WOW! Women On Writing – Winter 2026 Flash Fiction Contest — A popular flash contest with a welcoming vibe and broad genre range (250–750 words). Due date 28 Feb. Learn more

   
   
   
   

Nonfiction

1. Waterman Fund Emerging Writers Essay Contest — Nonfiction/Essay — Great fit if you have an essay connected to land/place/nature. Learn more

   
   

2. Porter Fleming Literary Competition. A well-established contest with a straightforward submission process and strong cash awards. Due date 1 Mar. Learn more

   
   

3. IPPY Awards (Independent Publisher Book Awards) — A big, reputable book-award program with many nonfiction categories for published books in English. Final deadline 26 Mar. Learn more