These competitions as far as we can tells are open to all everyone with no restrictions. All the contests end this March 2017. They’re listed in order of maximum word count with the smallest word counts first.

Click on the title of the contest to go to the webpage.



The Binnacle Ultra-Short Competition

Prizes: A few of ~$50-100

Max word count: 150 words

Deadline: 15th March

Striking 13

Prizes: $25, $15, $10 Amazon vouchers

Max word count: 513 words

Deadline: 31st March

The theme is ‘journeys’

The 25th Annual Austin Chronicle Short Story Contest

Prizes: $1,500 to be split between 5 winners

Max word count: 2,500 words

Deadline: 3rd March

Winners will be published in the Austin Chronicle

Limnisa Short Story Competition 2017

Prize: 7 nights full board at a writers retreat at Limnisa house on the Greek Island of Corfu. Flights aren’t included.

Maxword count: 3000 words

Deadline: 15th March

Online Writing Tips Short Fiction Prize

Prizes: £100, £50, £25

Max word count: 4000 words

Deadline: 15th March

On The Premises Short Story Contest

Prizes: $220, $160, $120, $60

Max word count: 5000 words

Deadline: 2nd March

No children’s fiction, no exploitative sex, no grossout horror and no parodies.

Southern Pacific Review Short Story Contest

Prize: $100

Max word count: No word count specified but they’re looking for short stories.

Deadline: 30th March

Gover Story Prize

Prize: $250

Max word count: 10,000

Deadline: 31st March

Writers of the Future Contest

Prizes: $1000, $750, $500

(Possibility to win Grand Prize of $5000)

Max word count: 17,000

Deadline: 31st March

Science fiction, fantasy and dark fantasy only. Published authors are excluded.

Bonus four contests with restrictions on who can enter

Roswell Award for Short Science Fiction

Restriction: Over 18s only.

Prize: $500

Max word count: 1,500

Deadline: 3rd March 2017

Science fiction entries only.

Gary Fincke Creative Writing Prize

Restriction: Only open to undergraduates.

Prize: $100

Max word count: None stated

Deadline: 31st March

SLF $500 Older Writers Grant

Restriction: Over 50s only.

Prizes: Two of $500

Max word count: ~5000 words (Can be a segment)

Deadline: 31st March

Genre is speculative fiction (sci fi, fantasy, supernatural)

Empowering Solo Moms Everywhere Contest

Restriction: Single mothers only.

Prizes: $500, $350, $150

Max word count: 8000 words

Deadline: 15th March

Click on the title of the contest to go to the webpage