Writing competitions

Below is a list of non-fiction, essay, memoir and life writing competitions, awards and prizes from UK, Ireland and Europe — although some are open to writers internationally.

For North America, click here.

We aim to avoid listing competitions whose terms and conditions request copyright in entries submitted — or make other unreasonable demands. T&Cs are usually checked, but some may slip through. Please check carefully before participating.

FEBRUARY DEADLINES

1st February
St Gallen Symposium Global Essay Competition
Topic question: Striving for more or thriving with less – What pressing scarcity do you see, and how do you suggest to tackle it? 2,100 words max. CHF20,000 prize fund (three winners). Open to university graduates or postgraduates.

The Prototype Prize
Open to writers or artists resident in the UK or Ireland. £3,000 plus publication by Prototype to the best book-length project, and a second prize of £2,000 plus publication by Monitor Books to the best short-form work. Various forms, including non-fiction, accepted.

12th February
Northern Writers Awards
One award for narrative non-fiction, and one for debut narrative non-fiction (each combined with fiction). Generous cash awards to work on projects.

29th February
The Observer/Anthony Burgess Prize for Arts Journalism
£10 entry fee. For “an 800-word review of a recently released book, film, album, concert, exhibition, ballet, play, TV show, online stream, performance art piece or anything else that could be covered by a newspaper’s arts review pages”. £3,000 / 2 x £500 prizes.

The Plaza Memoir Prize
Submit 300-word synopsis of your memoir, and the opening chapter(s) (5,000 word max). £20 entry.

MARCH DEADLINES

1st March
Haklyut Society Essay Prize
“Open to any registered graduate student at a higher education institution (a university or equivalent) or to anyone who has been awarded a graduate degree in the past three years.” Essays: “should be based on original research in any discipline in the humanities or social sciences, and on an aspect of the history of travel, exploration and cultural encounter or their effects, in the tradition of the work of the Society.”. 6,000–8,000 words. £1,000 prize (may be shared).

The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize
Theme: Language. £3,000 + 2 x £1,000. 2,500 words max.

The Wincott Awards
For “outstanding achievement in the field of business, economic and financial journalism”. Various categories. Generous cash prizes.

4th March
Cambridge Centre for Animal Rights Law Essay Competition
Two categories: one for university students, the other for secondary school. Same set theme for both (see website). Cash prizes for university entrants.

17th March
Fitzcarraldo Editions Essay Prize
“£3,000 to the best proposal for a book-length essay (minimum 25,000 words) by a writer resident in the UK & Ireland who has yet to secure a publishing deal”

31st March
The Royal Institute of Philosophy Think Essay Prize
Open to 18 year olds or below in full-time education. Up to 1,200 words on one of three set themes.

Anne Brown Essay Prize
Open to Scottish Writers. 4,000 words max. £1,500 prize.

UNCONFIRMED AND FURTHER AHEAD …

NB: Most of the following are included on the basis of having run in the previous year, but are provisional or as yet unconfirmed for the upcoming date specified.

October 2023
Mountaineering Scotland Mountain Writing Competition

February 2024
Southword Literary Essay Competition

March 2024
New Welsh Review Writing Awards
Deborah Rogers Foundation Writers Award
NAWG Members Writing Competition
BBC Young Reporter Competition
The Richard Wise / ICP Prize
Black Ink Prize

April 2024
The Libra Essay Prize
Young Norfolk Writing Competition
The Sophie Coe Prize

May 2024
Creative Futures Writers’ Award
Design Writing Prize
The Martha Mills Young Writers’ Prize
MTP Short Story Competition
Wasafiri Essay Prize
The Royal Society of Portrait Painters Critical Writing Prize
John Locke Institute Essay Competition
The Irish Food Writing Awards

June 2024
Write By the Sea Literary Festival (WBTS) 2023 Writing Competitions
Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize
The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition
Art UK Write on Art Prize
Love Books Competition
John Locke Institute Essay Competition
Hubert Butler Essay Prize
South Warwickshire Literary Festival Writing Competition
Marlborough Lit Fest’s Love Books Competition

July 2024
Exisle Publishing Your Big Break Book Pitch Competition
Forum for Modern Languages Essay Prize
Young Wild Writer Competition
Quiet Man Dave Prize
Working Class Writers Nature Prize
The Laurie Lee Prize for Writing
AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Award
The Nan Shepherd Prize
The Burlington Contemporary Art Writing Prize
Sarah Hughes Trust Prize
William T Hearn Student Essay Prize