Writing competitions 2025
Looking for 2025 writing competitions? Want to know where to submit your manuscript? See our list of open submissions, including children’s writing competitions and competitions for adult fiction.
Writing Competitions 2025
On the lookout for 2024 writing competitions? Wondering where to submit your manuscript? Below is a list of writing competitions open for submission. Opportunities for children’s, YA, short fiction and novel-length manuscripts.
If you’re like me, you probably have numerous half-finished manuscripts languishing under your bed. Starting a project always feels like so much fun. But finishing it, well that’s just a lot of hard work.
This is where deadlines can be your best friend. And if self-imposed deadlines don’t carry the necessary weight, then, you might find writing competitions extremely helpful.
There are a huge range of writing competitions to be found on the internet. You can usually find an open submission for any kind of writing - from pictures books through to YA, and flash fiction to full length novels.
To save you time - and to keep me honest - I compile a monthly (or sometimes bimonthly) list of open competitions.
Obviously this isn’t an exhaustive list. I largely focus on opportunities for children’s manuscripts and literary fiction. (What?! I’ve got a full time job and 2 kids, and only 10 fingers and 24 hours in a day!) But hopefully it helps.
And if you’ve got something you’d like included, feel free to message me on socials or flick me an email (emma at emmaverejones dot com)
Now for the disclaimer: You need to do your own legwork. That means checking deadlines, T&Cs, costs, etc
I’ll update this page at the start of every month. Follow me on Insta or Facebook so you don’t miss out. Or bookmark this page and check back regularly.
Children’s and Young Adult writing competitions 2025
Tyger Tyger Children's Poetry Competition (31 December 2024)
The Caterpillar Poetry Prize 2025 (31 March 2025)
Adult manuscript writing competitions 2025
2025 Calibre Essay Prize (closes 18 January 2025)
2025 Bristol Short Story Prize (closes 31 January 2025)
2025 Bug of the Year Poetry Competition (closes 31 January 2025)
Bath Flash Fiction Award 2025 (2 February 2025)
Edinburgh Short Story Awards 2025 (28 February 2025)
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest 2024/2025 (1 May 2025)
The Bridport Prize 2025 (31 May 2025)
Other useful lists:
The below sites are also useful for competition opportunities (there will be some crossover):
Almond Press writing competitions
Page updated December 2024