Annual Writing Contests
Plan your submission calendar
Do you yearn for a year filled with writing inspiration and opportunities to showcase your talent? Create a motivational writing calendar by exploring annual essay and creative nonfiction contests that span each 
month of the year. Our free planning sheets can help you organize. This is a way of creating writing assignments for yourself. The entries in the following list have been annual contests for many years, but things do change.
Plan to Write: Plan to Submit
Review these and other contests to consider which you may want to assign yourself. If you are writing personal essays as stand-alone pieces or as part of a memoir of personal essays, these contests may motivate you.
This is a strategy I used early in my career, knowing that even if I didn't win, I'd have completed work to meet high editorial standards. Guess what? I won and placed in dozens of contests. You might surprise yourself. A few markets who rejected my work in a general submission (perhaps without even reading) later awarded my writing a win in a contest. In my opinion, a contest may be a way to get your work read. Start planning now, so you'll have work to submit when the deadlines come. Page links may change, so if the link doesn't work at the time you read, search for the contest using your favorite search engine.
January: The Writer's Digest Annual Writing Competition
Submission Period: January-February Website: The Writer's Digest Annual Writing Competition
February: The Creative Nonfiction "True Story" Contest
Submission Period: February-March Website: Creative Non, fiction "True Story" Contest
March: The Life Lessons Essay Contest by Real Simple Magazine
Submission Period: March-April Website: Real Simple Life Lessons Essay Contest
April: The Narrative Spring Contest
Submission Period: April-May Website: Narrative Spring Contest
May: The Ploughshares Emerging Writer's Contest
Submission Period: May-June Website: Ploughshares Emerging Writer's Contest
June: The Brevity Magazine Flash Nonfiction Contest
Submission Period: June-July Website: Brevity Magazine Flash Nonfiction Contest
July: The Writer's Digest Personal Essay Awards
Submission Period: July-August Website: Writer's Digest Personal Essay Awards
August: The Literal Latte Essay Awards
Submission Period: August-September Website: Literal Latte Essay Awards
September: The Fourth Genre Steinberg Essay Contest
Submission Period: September-October Website: Fourth Genre Steinberg Essay Contest
October: The Nowhere Magazine Travel Writing Contest
Submission Period: October-November Website: Nowhere Magazine Travel Writing Contest
November: The Glimmer Train Family Matters Short Story Contest
Submission Period: November-December Website: Glimmer Train Family Matters Short Story Contest
December: The WOW! Women On Writing Flash Nonfiction
Contest Submission Period: December-January Website: WOW! Women On Writing Flash Nonfiction Contest (Don't worry guys, there are more contest links below.
Create a motivational writing calendar to set goals and deadlines for each contest. You'll ensure that you have consistent writing practice throughout the year. Take advantage of these opportunities to challenge yourself, refine your craft, stay motivated, and share your unique stories with the world.
Bonus Motivation and More Annual Contests
These Contests Launched Careers
1. The PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers Website: PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers
Winner Example: Yaa Gyasi Impact on Writing Career: Yaa Gyasi, the author of the critically acclaimed novel "Homegoing," won the PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers in 2015. This recognition helped catapult her career, drawing attention to her exceptional storytelling abilities. The prize allowed her to secure literary representation and ultimately led to the publication of her highly successful debut novel.
2. The Bath Novel Award Website: The Bath Novel Award Winner
Example: Sophie Draper Impact on Writing Career: Sophie Draper won The Bath Novel Award for her psychological thriller, "Cuckoo," in 2017. This prestigious win not only provided validation for her writing skills but also caught the attention of literary agents and publishers. As a result, Sophie secured a publishing deal, and "Cuckoo" went on to become a bestseller, launching her successful career as a thriller writer.
3. The Bristol Short Story Prize Website: The Bristol Short Story Prize Winner
Example: Mahsuda Snaith Impact on Writing Career: Mahsuda Snaith, a talented British writer, won The Bristol Short Story Prize in 2014 for her story, "The Art of Flood Survival." This achievement brought her work to a wider audience, leading to increased recognition and opportunities. Following her win, Mahsuda secured a literary agent and went on to publish her debut novel, "The Things We Thought We Knew," receiving critical acclaim and establishing herself as a rising star in contemporary fiction.
4. The Graywolf Press Nonfiction Prize Website: Graywolf Press Nonfiction Prize
Winner Example: Eula Biss Impact on Writing Career: Eula Biss won the Graywolf Press Nonfiction Prize for her essay collection, "Notes from No Man's Land," in 2009. This recognition not only led to the publication of her award-winning book but also brought her work to a broader audience. Eula's win opened doors to prestigious writing fellowships, speaking engagements, and invitations to contribute to esteemed literary publications, solidifying her position as a prominent voice in nonfiction writing.
When considering these or any other writing contests, carefully review the guidelines, submission requirements, and rights associated with each competition. Choose contests that align with your writing style, genre, and career aspirations. This checklist may help your consideration.
While winning a contest is exciting, honing your skills and expressing your voice is equally rewarding. Embrace the journey and enjoy the growth that comes with each writing endeavor. If your writing doesn't win one contest, and you've taken care to retain all rights, evaluate and refine your work. Then submit it to another market or contest. May you have success in all your writing contests.
