Finding Creative Writing Contests

Do you fancy yourself a creative writer? Do you love crafting short stories, poems, or novels that grab the readers’ attention, pull them in, and make them really connect with a story that elicits emotion? If so, then you might be thinking about submitting your prose to a creative writing contest. 

There are some excellent benefits associated with submitting your content to these contests. Many offer great prize, for example, such as scholarships, deals with publishing houses, and even cash; plus, these contests are a great way to get your name out there and get some exposure for your writing. Whether you’d like to try your luck at winning a cash prize, a scholarship, a contract with a publishing house, you’d like the exposure, or you’re simply competitive, if you’re thinking about entering a creative writing contest, you’re probably wondering where to find one (or a few). 

Fortunately, there are several tools that you can use to find creative writing contests, some that are sponsored by your local library or schools, national colleges or universities, and even publishing houses. To find out how to find these awesome contests, keep on reading. 

Check online

Where do you go when you want to find pretty much anything these days? Why, the internet, of course! Just type in “creative writing contest” into your preferred search engine and you’ll get a long list of results. You can further narrow down the results by entering things like “creative writing contests near me”, “creative writing contests for students”, or “creative writing contests with scholarship prizes”. Customize your search for the specific type of contest you’re looking for. You’ll be amazed by how much information you can find. It’s literally a plethora! 

Examples of a few websites that offer comprehensive lists of contests for creative writing include: 

  • Watt Pad
  • We Are Teachers
  • Reedsy
  • Fanstory
  • Become A Writer Today
  • Creative Writing News
  • Creative-writing-now

And those are just a few examples of the sites out there that offer lists of creative writing contests. 

Your local library

While a lot of people may think that they’re antiquated, libraries still remain an invaluable resource, as they offer a wealth of information; including information about contests for creative writers. As the librarians if they have an information – you’ll be surprised by the knowledge that they offer. Check their online tools or physical catalogues. Your library may even offer workshops that are specifically designed for creative writers, and during those workshops, they may offer details about contests. 

Colleges and universities

Another excellent resource that you can use to find creative writing contests are colleges and universities. Even if you aren’t a student, you can check with the schools of higher education in your area. Yes, literature and creative writing courses are still offered at the collegiate level, and there’s no doubt that professors will be more than happy to direct you to these contests. 

Ask around

Last but certainly not least, another effective way that you may be able to find creative writing contests to enter is by asking the people you know. If anyone in your crowd has a penchant for writing, ask if they’ve ever entered their prose in contests before, and if so, which ones and how they submitted their work. They may be able to offer you ways to find other contests, too. 

Summing It Up

Whether you’re a new writer or a published author with a bestselling title under your belt, if you’re thinking about entering a creative writing contest, there are ample resources that you can use to locate such contest. There’s a wealth of information out there!

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