Internationally respected short story prize run since 2008. Up to 4,000 words. Open to writers worldwide. All shortlisted writers receive ยฃ50 and publication in theโฆ
Celebrates the best fiction translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland. The ยฃ50,000 prize is shared equally between author and translator. Short storโฆ
Annual awards from one of America's most prestigious literary journals โ published since 1970 by the University of Iowa. Three categories: poetry, fiction, and creatโฆ
Annual contest from one of America's most distinguished literary journals, founded at the University of Iowa in 1969. Open internationally. Submit up to 3 poems (8 pโฆ
The Mฤtฤtuhi Foundation Best First Book Award for Fiction is awarded alongside the main Ockham Awards for the debut novel or story collection of highest literary merโฆ
The Mฤtฤtuhi Foundation Best First Book Award for Poetry, awarded for the debut poetry collection of highest literary merit by a New Zealand writer. A landmark debutโฆ
New Zealand's largest cash book prize and the country's premier literary honour for fiction, awarded annually at the Auckland Writers Festival. Open to novels and stโฆ
New Zealand's premier poetry prize, awarded annually at the Auckland Writers Festival. Open to published poetry collections by New Zealand writers. A key marker of eโฆ
Prize from one of America's most distinguished literary journals. Stories up to 12,000 words. Open internationally. Winner receives US$1,000 and publication. Americaโฆ
Founded in 1998 by screenwriter Gordy Hoffman, BlueCat is particularly valued for the written feedback every entrant receives on their script โ not just finalists. Aโฆ
An annual prize for emerging writers run by the prestigious Cรบirt International Festival of Literature in Galway. Four categories: short fiction, poetry, essay, andโฆ
Free-entry flash fiction prize. Max 300 words. Open internationally. Top poem earns โฌ1,000. Winners published in the Fish Anthology. A prestigious platform for writeโฆ
A timed, prompt-based screenwriting competition running three rounds. Writers receive a genre, subject, and character assignment and must write an original short scrโฆ
International short story competition with multiple genre categories. Stories must be no longer than 5,000 words. No sexual, political or hate speech content accepteโฆ
One of the world's most reputable flash fiction prizes. Up to 300 words. Open internationally. Two rounds per year with ยฃ1,000 first prize each round. All shortlisteโฆ
Australia's largest open poetry prize, awarding AU$15,000 for the best single poem. Open internationally. Winning poem published in the annual anthology alongside shโฆ
Prestigious international competition specifically for independently published authors and small presses. Recognises quality books outside traditional publishing. Noโฆ
An annual award for unagented, unpublished writers of children's, YA and adult fiction, run in partnership with Darley Anderson Agency. Now in its eighth year with aโฆ
An annual poetry contest from BOMB โ one of New York's most respected arts and culture magazines, known for its artist-to-artist interviews and experimental literaryโฆ
One of America's most distinguished prizes for a short story collection manuscript, published by the University of Georgia Press since 1983. Open internationally forโฆ
Known as the 'writer's festival', AFF runs one of the world's largest screenwriting conferences alongside its competition. Categories include feature, short, pilot,โฆ
A significant cash prize for the best unpublished short story. Open to Australian and international writers. 2,000โ5,000 words. Winning and shortlisted stories publiโฆ
International contest for unagented novelists worldwide. Submit the first 5,000 words plus a one-page synopsis. Welcomes both unpublished and self-published authors.โฆ
250 words max. Open to writers aged 16+ worldwide. One of the most competitive flash fiction prizes. Winners published in the annual Bridport anthology.
The Peggy Chapman-Andrews First Novel Award. Submit 5,000โ8,000 words from opening chapters plus a 300-word synopsis. A win or shortlist is one of the most powerfulโฆ
One of the most coveted poetry prizes in the English-speaking world. Up to 42 lines. Open to all writers aged 16+ worldwide. Winners published in the Bridport antholโฆ
One of the world's most respected writing competitions. Open to writers worldwide aged 16+. Max 5,000 words. Winners published in the annual Bridport anthology. Stroโฆ
Seeks bold, original writing that challenges norms and takes creative risks. Emotional stories with fresh perspectives. No AI-generated work accepted. Internationalโฆ
Established 1981 by the granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway, this prestigious competition has over 40 years of history. Focuses on emerging voices in short fiction. Opโฆ
A biennial award from Canada's oldest literary magazine for emerging writers who have not yet published a full-length book. Alternates annually between poetry and fiโฆ
An annual contest from Ploughshares โ one of America's most respected and widely read literary magazines โ for writers who have not yet published a full-length book.โฆ
Presented by the makers of the industry-standard screenwriting software, Big Break accepts feature films, TV pilots (hour-long and half-hour), and short scripts. Opeโฆ
Part of the annual HollyShorts Film Festival (Aug 13โ23, 2026), this contest accepts short screenplays up to 30 pages and TV pilots up to 50 pages. Winners gain expoโฆ
An annual free-to-enter competition celebrating flash fiction in New Zealand, run each June as part of National Flash Fiction Day. Open to New Zealand writers of allโฆ
One of Hollywood's most respected screenplay contests, judged by working producers, agents, managers, and development executives. Ten genre categories including Actiโฆ
New Zealand's largest and most prestigious short story prize. Free to enter. Named after celebrated NZ writer Frank Sargeson. Open to NZ citizens or permanent resideโฆ
Prestigious international prize from Ireland's celebrated literary magazine. Up to 3,000 words. Open to anyone over 16 worldwide. Winning story published in the Irisโฆ
Open to women and non-binary writers worldwide writing in English. Submit the first 10,000 words of an unpublished novel plus a synopsis. Winner receives ยฃ5,000 plusโฆ
One of the longest-running U.S. screenplay contests, focused on connecting writers with representation. Quarterfinalists and above receive personalised development sโฆ
An annual competition for poetry chapbooks run by the Munster Literature Centre and Southword Editions, launched at the Cork International Poetry Festival. Two winneโฆ
The Irish Writers Centre's flagship annual initiative gives unpublished novelists the opportunity to pitch their novels to world-class publishers and literary agentsโฆ
Open to women and non-binary writers worldwide. Up to 2,200 words. Winner and finalists published in Mslexia and the Best Women's Short Fiction anthology. One of theโฆ
An annual poetry prize run by Takahฤ, one of New Zealand's most established literary magazines. Open to New Zealand writers. Winning and shortlisted poems are publisโฆ
One of the world's most prestigious literary awards, given annually for the best novel written in English and published in the UK or Ireland. Open to writers of anyโฆ
Known as the 'writer's festival', the Austin Film Festival hosts the world's largest screenwriters' conference alongside its film programme. Hundreds of panels, pitcโฆ
Awarded to a debut full-length poetry collection published originally in English. Publishers submit four copies. One of the most valuable poetry prizes for debut colโฆ
An annual prize from The Missouri Review โ one of America's most influential literary journals โ for the best unpublished fiction, poetry, and essay. Open internatioโฆ
Run by The Poetry Society since 1978, one of the world's most prestigious prizes for a single unpublished poem. Open to all poets worldwide aged 18+. Judged anonymouโฆ
Sister award to the Bath Novel Award, open to unagented writers of children's fiction worldwide โ both unpublished and self-published authors welcome. Submit the firโฆ
Respected international poetry prize. Open to all poets worldwide. Winners and shortlisted poems published in the annual Fish Anthology. Judged anonymously. Maximumโฆ
Internationally respected short story prize. Max 5,000 words. Open to all writers worldwide. Winners and shortlisted stories published in the Fish Anthology, a respeโฆ
A major annual international poetry prize run by the Munster Literature Centre (publishers of Southword journal) and named for Cork poet Gregory O'Donoghue. Open toโฆ
One of the world's most valuable prizes for a single poetry collection, with CA$65,000 each for best Canadian and best International collection. Publisher-submitted.โฆ
Created to address gender bias in literary awards. Celebrates excellence, originality, and accessibility in women's writing. Open to women of any nationality writingโฆ
Supported by the Malcolm Robertson Foundation and named after novelist Neilma Gantner. Seeks powerful short fiction up to 3,000 words on an annual theme. Open internโฆ
Named for acclaimed Australian-born British poet Peter Porter, this prize is awarded annually by Australian Book Review for the best unpublished poem. Open internatiโฆ
Monthly free-entry flash fiction contest run by the Australian Writers' Centre. Stories must be 500 words max and written within a weekend using set criteria. Open iโฆ
Free-entry contest for poetry and short fiction. Winners published in Aesthetica Magazine and receive ยฃ1,000. Open internationally. Celebrates innovative and boundarโฆ
Free-entry contest for the best philosophical-themed writing. Offers one of the largest free-entry prizes in creative writing. Open internationally.
International screenplay competition based in Australia, open to screenwriters worldwide. Accepts feature scripts, shorts, and TV pilots. Emphasises detailed readerโฆ
International competition for crime novelists writing in English. All crime subgenres welcome. Entrants may not have self-published fiction over 20,000 words. Win caโฆ
No entry fee prize run by the independent publisher Galley Beggar Press. Seeks extraordinary storytelling. Open internationally. One of the few free-entry prizes froโฆ
An annual essay competition from Landfall โ New Zealand's oldest and most prestigious literary journal, published since 1947. Open to New Zealand writers for essaysโฆ
Free-entry competition awarding US$1,000 across multiple genres including short stories, poetry, and flash fiction. Open internationally. Rolling deadlines make it aโฆ
New Zealand's most prestigious literary award, recognising distinguished achievement by a New Zealand writer of fiction. The prize โ worth NZ$60,000 โ is awarded toโฆ
New Zealand's highest literary honour for poetry. Awarded to a New Zealand poet for a distinguished body of work. The prize is worth NZ$60,000 and is administered byโฆ
Awarded to the best work of literature in the English language, regardless of form or nationality. Nominated by Academy members. Celebrates literary merit across ficโฆ
Weekly themed short story contest with rolling deadlines and free entry. Open internationally. Strong community of writers. A good entry point for emerging writers sโฆ
Runs year-round genre-specific competitions including Drama, Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi, Animation, and TV Pilot, each judged by relevant industry professionals. Known fโฆ
An annual short story competition run by Takahฤ, a respected New Zealand literary magazine supporting emerging and established writers and poets. Winners are publishโฆ
Open to anyone over 16. Five categories: Novel, Short Story, Poetry, Children's/YA Novel, and Writing Without Restrictions. Strong track record of supporting emerginโฆ
NZ Writing Competitions in 2026
New Zealand has a distinctive literary competition culture, with prizes including the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards and competitions run by the New Zealand Society of Authors.
Many New Zealand competitions are open internationally. Use the filters above to find competitions by type.
See the Resources & Festivals tab for NZ writers' organisations โ and the Auckland Writers Festival, one of the Southern Hemisphere's most significant literary events.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Browse the full Scriptorium directory or submit a competition for review.
Browse the full directory
Search all competitions across Australia, NZ, UK, Ireland, USA and Canada in one place.
Open full directory →New Zealand's peak body for professional writers. Provides advocacy, professional development, legal and contract support and connects writers across the country.
New Zealand's premier literary festival, held each May in Auckland. Attracts major New Zealand and international authors across fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and curโฆ
A well-regarded creative writing MA with strong industry connections in Auckland, New Zealand's largest publishing centre. Programs in fiction, poetry and creative nโฆ
New Zealand's premier creative writing MA. Workshops run by leading NZ writers. Graduates have won the Ockham NZ Book Awards and the Sargeson Prize.
New Zealand's peak body for writers of all genres. Offers advocacy, resources, events and the annual conference.
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