Best 8 Contests & More for Creative Writers this week (Aug. 18 - 22)

This week's top creative writing opportunities are centered around speed and many provide prompts for you to get started. It is also an eclectic mix of poetry, creative nonfiction, novel, essay, and even a consulting scholarship for those of you who already have a body of work and don't know what to do with it!

1. Writers Rising Up Poetry Contest - Prairie Sampler

Deadline: 8/19/2025

Fee: $5

Award: $25 + publication

Writers Rising Up invites submissions for its Prairie Grasses Poetry Contest. Poems, no more than 20 lines, should be inspired by native grasses such as Indian Grass, June Grass, Little Bluestem, Prairie Cord Grass, Prairie Dropseed, Sideoats Gramma, or Switchgrass. Entries must be original, unpublished, and accompanied by a short bio and $5 fee. One $25 prize will be awarded, with winning work published online. No simultaneous submissions accepted, and they do not publish writers with pay-for-view sites.

2. Blue Earth Review - Poetry, Flash Fiction, Flash Creative Nonfiction

Deadline: 8/21/2025

Fee: $5

Award: $500 + publication

Blue Earth Review’s 2025 contest is open for flash fiction, essay, memoir, and short poetry that deepens our understanding of humanity. Winners in each genre receive $500 and publication. Submissions require a $5 non-refundable fee and must be entered via Submittable; one entry per participant is allowed. U.S. residents or valid U.S. taxpayers are eligible. Simultaneous submissions are accepted. Alumni of Minnesota State University–Mankato must wait five years after graduation to enter.

3. Black Lawrence Press Consultation Scholarships

Deadline: 8/22/2025

Fee: Free

Award: Up to $1,000

Black Lawrence Press now offers scholarships to support writers seeking manuscript consultations. Each month, $1,000 in scholarships will be awarded, with submissions for the current cycle due August 22; recipients will be announced in early September. Scholarships are awarded by senior editors based on the merit of submitted work. Writers at any career stage are welcome, including non-students and those not affiliated with academic institutions. Applicants need not disclose financial information, but scholarships are intended for those who otherwise could not afford consultations. Unsuccessful applicants may reapply after six months.

4. West Trade Review: Roots and Words: Essays on the Creative Life

Deadline: 8/24/2025

Fee: Variable: Free - $10

Award: Publication

Writers are invited to submit unpublished nonfiction essays (1,200–1,500 words) exploring creative life in broad, inspiring ways. Topics may include personal creative practice, engagement with literature, artistic goals, community involvement, and experiences with authors or creative figures. Essays should aim to spark new writing, challenge conventional ideas of creativity, and strengthen artistic community. Submissions require a Microsoft Word file with a clear title, a cover letter, and a third-person bio (150 words max). Include social media handles and website links if available. Manuscripts are read year-round, with a special promo: first 25 submissions before August 24 receive a two-week response.

5. Inscape Journal Photography, Poetry, Flash Fiction and Flash Nonfiction

Deadline: 8/26/2025

Fee: $7

Award: Publication

This summer, Inscape invites submissions of flash poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and photography for its themed issue Unclaimed Luggage. The editors are seeking short works that explore the baggage—emotional, spiritual, physical, or symbolic—that individuals carry, inherit, or abandon. Flash fiction and nonfiction should be 1,000 words or fewer, while poets may submit up to three poems (30 lines maximum each). Photographers may contribute one image that tells a story in a glance. Submissions may interpret the theme literally, metaphorically, playfully, or personally—capturing what remains unclaimed yet unforgettable in a brief but resonant form.

6. Anvil Press: Three-Day Novel Writing Contest

Deadline: 8/30/2024 to enter

Fee: $50 ($45 CA)

Award: Publication

The Labour Day Novel Contest challenges writers to complete a novel over the long weekend. Registration closes August 29, 2025, with a $50 entry fee. Writers may prepare outlines in advance but must begin writing at 12:01 a.m. Saturday and stop by 11:59 p.m. Monday. Any genre and location are allowed. Manuscripts may be submitted online or by mail by September 16, with a witness statement confirming the novel was completed during the contest. Entries retain copyright; winners receive a publishing contract. Manuscripts will not be returned, so entrants should keep a copy.

7. Dream Diaries: Narrate a Fairytale

Deadline: 8/30/2025

Fee: None

Award: Publication

The anthology Common Yet Resounding Idioms invites short stories themed around dreams—whether literal, aspirational, or fairytale-inspired. Genres may include comedy, mystery, thriller, or drama, with stories ideally limited to 5 pages (up to 10 considered). Submissions must include both story title and author name in the file name (e.g., “Story_Author”). Poetry and full manuscripts will not be accepted. Writers should edit before submitting. Royalty payouts are rare but possible. Deadline: August 30, 2025.

8. Edinburgh Flash Fiction Award

Deadline: 8/31/2025

Fee: Free

Award: Variable

The Edinburgh Flash Fiction Award welcomes writers worldwide aged 16+, with unpublished English-language stories for adult readers. Entries must be original, max 250 words, and AI-free. Submissions run May 1–August 31, 2025, via Submittable, £10 per story, with bursaries available. Prizes include £2,000 for first, £500 for second, £250 for third, plus awards like the Golden Hare and Write Mango, many including one-year Scottish Arts Club membership. Up to 20 shortlisted writers may attend the Flash Bash. Authors retain copyright; publication requires permission. Multiple entries allowed, but stories cannot simultaneously enter other Edinburgh Flash Awards.