Where to Submit Your Writing This Summer (June '25)

Contests and journal submissions are a great way to motivate yourself to finish a piece of work and get it in front of readers and industry professionals. We've got you covered for where to submit your writing this summer.

We've gathered a mix of journals and contests looking for all kinds of work, from poetry to prose. Hopefully, there's something here for you. Good luck, writers! Let us know how you get on!

Please note: This list was created to support the Writing Grove community. We’re not affiliated with these publications, so please don’t send us your submissions. Click the links to view full details and submit your work directly to the journal or contest.

The Moth Nature Writing Prize is an annual international competition for prose or poetry that explores our relationship with the natural world. Entries should be unpublished, original work up to 4,000 words. The winner receives €1,000 and a week at The Moth Retreat in Ireland. Finalists are published in The Irish Times online.

Deadline: 30 September 2025 | More Info

MudRoom Journal is a US-based online journal open to fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and visual art. They publish work that pushes boundaries and welcomes submissions from emerging and underrepresented voices. You can submit fiction (up to 3,000 words), poetry (up to 5 poems), and hybrid or experimental work.

Deadline: 25 July 2025| More Info

Commonwealth Short Story Prize is one of the most respected international awards for unpublished short fiction. Writers from Commonwealth countries can submit stories between 2,000–5,000 words. The competition is free to enter and offers a regional winner in each of five global regions, with one overall winner.

Deadline: TBA (Submissions open now for 2025 cycle)| More Info

The Novelry Next Big Story Prize offers £75,000 for the best first three pages of an unpublished novel. Created to discover bold new literary voices, the prize is judged anonymously and focuses on narrative hook, character, and style. The top 10 finalists also receive mentorship and development support.

Deadline: 31 July 2025| More Info

Coniston Prize is a US-based poetry award hosted by Radar Poetry and open to women-identifying poets worldwide. The prize awards $1,000 for a group of poems (submit 3–6 poems). All finalists are considered for publication and receive editorial feedback.

Deadline: 1 August 2025| More Info

Black Fox Literary Magazine is a US-based literary journal dedicated to publishing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry that reflects diverse voices and bold storytelling. Submissions for the Winter 2026 issue open on 1 July and remain open through 30 November. They accept flash fiction, short stories, essays, and up to 5 poems.

Submissions open: 1 July – 30 November 2025| More Info