The weather outside may be frightening, but you don’t have to worry about that if you stay indoors working on your writing projects! Take a look at this list, and enter your final contest of 2025!
COMING SOON! The Winter Short Story Award for New Writers
This one is our own contest, and it’s opening on December 1! The Masters Review is looking for stories under 6,000 words, written by emerging writers who can take chances and be bold! The winner receives $3,000, publication, and agency review, and the runners-up also receive cash prizes, publication, and review. Details here.
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: February 1
W.S. Porter Prize for Short Story Collections
William Syndey Porter, better known by his pen name O. Henry, is the inspiration behind this contest arranged by Regal House Publishing! They are looking to recognize a masterfully written short story collection, with a $1,000 honorarium as well as publication. Entries should be between 100 and 350 pages. The final judge is Heather Bell Adams. Enter here!
Entry Fee: $25 Deadline: December 1
2025 Memoir Prize
Narratively, the storytelling platform and production company, has put out the call for an engaging and immersive nonfiction narrative for the fourth year in a row! They want an honest in-depth glimpse into your life, between 2,000 and 7,000 words, written in first person. The grand Prize winner receives $3,000, publication online, a virtual awards ceremony, a limited print edition, and Narratively may work to adapt the stories into larger projects. Judged by Susannah Cahalan! Learn more here!
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: December 7
Provincetown Fellowship
Given by the Fine Arts Work Center, this is a seven-month residency for writers in the emerging stages of their careers. The ten authors chosen will receive a living/work space and a monthly $1,250 stipend, as well as a $1,000 exit stipend. Writers who have published a full-length book are unfortunately not eligible. Applicants must send in a writing sample, a current CV, and an optional personal statement. There is a lot of competition, but there is no great reward without risk! Don’t miss it!
Entry Fee: $55 Deadline: December 15
Story Foundation Prize
This is the seventh annual award given by Story, to the author of an unpublished original stand-alone short story! The story may be up to 10,000 words, and multiple submissions are allowed. The winner will be published in the summer 2026 issue, with a cash award of $1,500! This year’s judge is Deesha Philyaw. More details here.
Entry Fee: $25 Deadline: December 15
The Danahy Fiction Prize
The University of Tampa, and Tampa Review are looking for the very best unpublished work of short fiction, but they can’t choose yours unless you enter! Manuscripts must be completely original, and contain between 1,000 and 5,000 words (although slight deviations are usually allowed). The winner receives $1,000 and publication in Tampa Review. Check it out!
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: December 31
Dorset Prize
This is a call to all poets, who like to dream big! Offered through Tupelo Press, this contest is judged by the wonderful Sabrina Oran Mark. All poets writing in English are eligible, although the poetry manuscript should be between forty-eight and eighty-eight pages. The winner of the Dorset Prize receives $3,000, a two week-long residency in Port Angeles, WA, twenty-five copies of the winning title, a book launch, and a national distribution with promotion and publicity! Wow! More information here.
Entry Fee: $30 Deadline: December 31
The Lascaux Prize for Short Fiction
If you think you’re ready to medal in writing short fiction, then this is the contest for you!
The Lascaux Review is accepting stories for submission, and their length should not exceed 10,000 words. All finalists in this contest will be published, but the winner also receives $1,000 and a bronze medallion for their efforts. Learn more here!
Entry Fee: $15 Deadline: December 31
Press 53 Award for Short Fiction
This is an annual award given by Press 53, to the author of an outstanding and unpublished short story collection! It is open to all writers in the United States or one of its territories, regardless of publishing history. The winner will be published by Press 53 under a standard publishing contract, with a $1,000 cash advance, and will also receive 53 copies of their book. Learn more details here.
Entry Fee: $30 Deadline: December 31
Short Fiction Contest for Emerging Writers
Boulevard’s contest is meant to honor a writer who has never published a book, and that could be you! There is a $1,500 prize, as well as publication in an issue of Boulevard. Entries must be less than 8,000 words, but there is no limit on the number of entries, and all of the entries are considered for publication. Do it!
Entry Fee: $18 Deadline: December 31
Virginia Woolf Award for Short Fiction
LitMag is looking for short stories, between 3,000 and 8,000 words, with little constraints beyond that! Only unpublished short stories are eligible, but authors may submit multiple times. The winner receives $2,500, publication, and agency review, and three finalists will receive $100 and possible agency review and publication. Submit here!
Entry Fee: $20 Deadline: December 31
W.Y. Boyd Literary Award for Excellence in Military Fiction
There are some very specific contests out there, and this one definitely counts! Administered by the American Library Association, this award honors the best fiction published in the last year that was set in a time when the United States was at war. It recognizes the service of American veterans and military personnel, although the incidences of war may only function as the setting of the story. All entries are judged on the excellence of writing and attention to detail. The winning entrant will receive $5,000 and a gold-framed citation of achievement. More details here.
Entry Fee: FREE Deadline: December 31
by Kimberly Guerin