Writing Contests for Writers Ages 5–105

Writing Contests for Kids (Ages 5–19)
Molly, an ambitious twelve year old, created a writing website for homeschoolers, listing details about dozens of writing contests for kids ages 5–19 in chart format. You can even sign up for a free deadline reminder.

Writers Digest (WD) Writing Contests
WD Fiction Competition
Deadline: 11/3/2008
The WD Popular Fiction Awards is now accepting entries. Compete and win in all 5 Categories! The Grand Prize-Winner will receive $2,500 cash. Click here for guidelines and to enter online.

WD Poetry Awards
Deadline: 12/19/2008
WD is now accepting entries for the 4th Annual Writer’s Digest Poetry Awards. Whether you write rhyming poetry, free verse or haiku—as long as your poems are 32 lines or fewer, WD wants them all! Winners names will appear in the August 2009 issue of Writer’s Digest. The 1st- through 50th-place poems will be printed in a special competition collection, published by Lulu.com. Click here for details.

The WD Short Short Story Competition
Deadline: 12/1/2008
Writer’s Digest is now accepting entries for the 9th Annual Short Short Story Competition. WD is looking for fiction that’s bold, brilliant...but brief. Click here to check out guidelines and to enter online.

Travel Writing Contests
Do you know about unique travel destinations where you live? Use your insider’s knowledge to enter travel writing contests. Entice people to travel to your locale.

Journeywoman.com offers a newsletter featuring tips and stories written by traveling women for traveling women and told from first person point of view. Two stories each year receive a monetary prize. The contest deadline is December 31. For details, click here.

Transitions Abroad offers a yearly contest with different categories for travelers, expatriates and students. Click here for details.

52 Perfect Days. Do you live in a place that is:
*** outside of the tourist hub?
*** in an interesting and less discovered parts of the United States?
*** off-the-beaten-track?
*** an undiscovered section of city, or a relatively unheard of town or experience?
This writing contest is for you. The theme of this writer’s contest is “Undiscovered America.” All entries must be received by October 31, 2008. For contest details, click here.

Traveler’s Tales offers their second annual Solas Awards for Best Travel Writing and a yearly $1,000 Grand Prize for Best Travel Story of the Year. The deadline for the Solas Awards is September 21, however, stories submitted after the deadline are entered in the following year's contest. They offer awards in many categories covering the full scope of travel writing, from adventure to funny, spiritual, women's, food related, memoir, destination, and more. In addition, all entries will be considered for Travelers' Tales books. For details, click here.

Writing Contests and Calls for Submissions

“You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.”—Ray Bradbury

Below you will find some opportunities for writers under the influence of an addiction to writing. For details, click on the links below.

Writing/Photo/Video Contest
Free contest. Judges will choose two writers and two photographs/videos based on the theme “intercultural communication and friendship.” Contestants should submit written pieces or photos/videos that demonstrate the promotion of cross-cultural understanding, friendship, and support for one another in their own community or abroad.

Prizes: The two Grand Prize winners of the Writing and Photo/Video contest will each receive one FREE two-week volunteer Quest to any of our short-term locations around the world. Airfare is not included. The two individuals who win Honorable Mention will receive 50% off one two-week Quest to any of our Short-Term locations as well. Grand Prize and Honorable Mention submissions will be published on the UP website, eNewsletter, and YouTube page.

The Gift of Freedom Contest Winner to Receive a $50,000 Grant
This contest offers a grant of $50,000 to one female writer who loves her work, seeks to improve, is community-minded, and is financially burdened. The application process is lengthy, but it is an amazing program. The Gift of Freedom supports women who have a track record of commitment to their art and who are also making a substantial effort to be self-sufficient. The successful applicant will have a well-articulated creative project concept and a clear plan for how it may accomplished. The next grant cycle will be in 2009.

Writing Contest for Fantasy Writers
Write a fantasy story, between 1,000 and 4,500 words long, inspired by the lovely piece of art. No entry fee. Deadline September 30, 2008. Top winner will receive an e-copy of the issue of the magazine and a standard SF/F magazine contract and will be paid to publish their story in the magazine. They will also receive their choice of a free print copy of the issue OR a mug with the front cover of the issue pictured along with their name and the title of their story. Runners-up will receive a choice between a mug with the cover of the issue or a free print copy of the issue.

12th Annual Robert Frost Foundation Annual Poetry Award
Write a poem “in the spirit of Robert Frost.” You can submit up to three poems. Prior published work may be submitted; for all work submitted to the Robert Frost Foundation, you retain copyright and the Robert Frost Foundation will request your permission if we choose to publish your work on our web site or in other foundation publications. Accepts email submissions. Deadline is September 15, 2008. $10 entry fee.

Poetry Submissions
Level 4 Press, Inc. seeks contemporary poetry to publish in its many poetry anthologies. Poets included receive a free copy of the anthology per poem included. Our focus is on high quality writing in general, and we have a particular interest in poetry. Roughly, 75% of our titles are poetry related. Our titles have already garnered 9 gold medals and 28 finalist awards in various literary contests.

Fiction Submissions
Green Mountain Review wants submission for stories around the themes "Shame" and "Glory" for an upcoming all-fiction double issue. Submission deadline is January 2, 2009.