Writing Deadlines – 15 September Deadlines with Prizes up to $8,000 (Update #43)
Discover 15 writing competitions with deadlines throughout September 2026. Poetry, short fiction, flash fiction, nature writing, playwriting, and novels.
Hello Writers!
There’s a quiet shift in the air as summer starts easing into autumn. The evenings drawing in a little earlier, that restless itch that comes with a change of season. It’s the kind of stretch that tends to nudge writers back to the page. This week’s roundup gives you the whole of August and September to work with.
This week: 15 opportunities | September 2026 deadlines | Prizes up to $8,000
Whatever you write, there’s a home for it here. Six words or sixty thousand – this edition stretches all the way from Doug Weller’s delightfully tiny Six Word Wonder Contest to Dzanc Books’ Prize for Fiction, which is hunting for full, daring novel manuscripts. In between you’ll find poetry, flash fiction, nature writing, radio drama, and a brand-new short story award from a literary agency keen to discover its next client. With so many deadlines landing in the same four-week window, now’s the perfect time to start a shortlist of which ones are calling your name.
Creative writing quote of the week:
The idea is to write it so that people hear it and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart.
– Maya Angelou
Cheltenham Poetry Festival International Poetry Prize
Deadline: 6 September 2026
The Cheltenham Poetry Festival International Poetry Prize is an annual poetry competition hosted by Cheltenham Poetry Festival, a UK poetry festival founded in 2011 by poet Anna Saunders. Poems must be in English, unpublished, and no more than 50 lines long. Entrants may submit as many poems as they wish. This year’s competition is judged by poet and novelist Rosie Garland, who will read every entry before selecting the winning and highly commended poems. The three prize winners will be offered the chance to read at one of the festival’s online poetry lounges, and winning poems will be published on the Cheltenham Poetry Festival website. The competition is open to entrants from anywhere in the world.
Entry fee: £4 (£10 for three poems, £15 for five)
Top prize: £300 and publication
Find out more: https://cheltenhampoetryfestival.co.uk/poetry-competition-2026/
Terrain.org 17th Annual Contest
Deadline: 7 September 2026
Terrain.org’s 17th Annual Contest is an award in poetry, nonfiction, and fiction hosted by Terrain.org, an online literary journal of place publishing essays, poetry, fiction, and art on the built and natural environment since 1998. Poetry entries consist of one to five poems combined into a single document of up to seven pages; fiction entries are one story of up to 5,000 words, or up to two flash fictions of up to 1,000 words each. Submissions must not have been previously published in any format. Up to three entries may be submitted across all genres. The first-place winner in each genre receives $1,000 and publication, with finalists in each genre also receiving publication and a $200 prize.
Entry fee: $20 per entry
Top prize: $1,000 and publication (awarded in each genre)
Find out more: https://www.terrain.org/submit/contest-guidelines/
BPA Short Story Award
Deadline: 13 September 2026
The BPA Short Story Award is run by the Blue Pencil Agency, a UK-based editorial and literary agency, with the aim of discovering emerging short fiction writers who may go on to write novels. The competition is open to unrepresented and unpublished authors of fiction worldwide, writing in English, and accepts any genre except children’s fiction and non-fiction (YA is permitted with adult crossover appeal). Entrants must submit a single, complete, original short story of up to 2,500 words. Multiple stories may be entered, but each must be submitted separately. This year’s judges are literary agent Corissa Hollenbeck (Janklow & Nesbit) and writer Sussie Anie. Blue Pencil Agency also offers a minimum of 20 free entries for UK-based writers on low incomes or from under-represented backgrounds.
Entry fee: £20
Top prize: £1,000 and an agent introduction
Find out more: https://www.bluepencilagency.com/short-story-prize-2026
Wild Muse Nature Writing Prize
Deadline: 14 September 2026
The Wild Muse Nature Writing Prize is organised by Wild Muse and celebrates personal writing that explores our relationship with the natural world. This year’s competition is judged by bestselling nature writer and journalist Alice Vincent, known for works including Rootbound and Why Women Grow. Entrants must submit an original, previously unpublished piece in English of up to 2,000 words on the theme of nature’s power to heal, guide, and transform. Essays, personal narratives, and diary entries all welcome. The competition is open to writers worldwide. Ten bursary places are available for writers who would find the entry fee prohibitive. Winners grant Wild Muse the right to publish their work on its Substack, though all copyright remains with the author.
Entry fee: £10.36
Top prize: £750
Find out more: https://gabrielablandy.org/nature-writing-prize
The Nature Writing Prize
Deadline: 23 September 2026
The Nature Writing Prize is organised by The Nature Conservancy Australia in partnership with Australian Book Review, and is now in its eighth instalment. The 2026 theme is “Writing of Place,” inviting writers to craft essays of between 3,000 and 5,000 words that reveal the beauty, complexity, and significance of specific landscapes or environments. Entries should demonstrate how storytelling can deepen connections with nature and inspire greater understanding of environmental challenges. The competition is open to Australian citizens and permanent residents only. The winning essay will be published in the January/February 2027 issue of Australian Book Review. One highly commended writer will receive the Rosina Joy Buckman Award of $1,000.
Entry fee: $30 AUD (or $25 AUD for Australian Book Review subscribers)
Top prize: $8,000 AUD and publication in Australian Book Review
Find out more: https://www.natureaustralia.org.au/get-involved/take-action/nature-writing-prize/
SaveAs Writers’ International Writing Competition
Deadline: 30 September 2026
The SaveAs Writers’ International Writing Competition is run by SaveAs Writers, a Canterbury-based writing group, this year marking 150 years since Alexander Graham Bell’s first telephone call with the theme ‘Lines of Communication’. The theme is intentionally broad, inviting writers to explore communication in relationships, the internet age, human-AI interaction, or between nations and cultures, along with the difficulties and unintended consequences of communication itself. The competition runs two parallel categories: poetry of up to 60 lines, judged by Derek Sellen and Mary Anne Smith Sellen for the Canterbury Christ Church University Poetry Prize, and short stories of up to 3,500 words, judged by Emma May Cruickshank for the Canterbury Festival Fiction Prize. Both categories offer identical prize tiers.
Entry fee: £4 (poetry) / £5 (short story)
Top prize: £200
Find out more: https://saveaswriters.co.uk/all-competitions/lines-of-communication-2026.html
The Moth Nature Writing Prize
Deadline: 30 September 2026
The Moth Nature Writing Prize is an international competition run by The Moth Magazine that aims to encourage and celebrate nature writing. The prize is awarded annually to an unpublished piece of prose or poetry that combines literary merit with an exploration of the writer’s relationship with the natural world. The competition is open to writers worldwide aged 16 and over, who may enter a single poem of any length or a single prose piece, fiction or non-fiction, of up to 4,000 words. Work must be original, unpublished, and written in English. There is no limit on the number of entries. The winning entries are also published online by The Irish Times, with winners notified by the end of November.
Entry fee: €16
Top prize: €1,000 and a one-week stay at The Moth Retreat in rural Ireland
Find out more: https://www.themothmagazine.com/directory/moth-nature-writing-prize
Dzanc Books Prize for Fiction
Deadline: 30 September 2026
The Dzanc Books Prize for Fiction is an annual competition organised by Dzanc Books, an independent non-profit literary publisher, recognising daring, original, and innovative novels. Entrants must submit a full, previously unpublished novel-length manuscript along with a brief synopsis and author bio. Simultaneous submissions are permitted. Children’s books and YA fiction are not eligible, nor are previously released or self-published titles. Finalists are selected in-house before being passed to this year’s judging panel, with the winning submission and shortlist announced on the Dzanc website in November. Contest fees support both the prize fund and Dzanc’s broader literary programmes, including its Writers-in-Residence programme in public schools.
Entry fee: $25
Top prize: $5,000 advance and publication
Find out more: https://www.dzancbooks.org/contests
Cranked Anvil Playwriting Competition
Deadline: 30 September 2026
The Cranked Anvil Quarterly Play Writing Competition is an international competition seeking original scripts for radio and audio drama, run by Cranked Anvil in partnership with Radio Northumberland. Scripts should be written for radio or audio broadcast and run approximately 10–20 minutes in length; theatre or film scripts that can be adapted for audio are also eligible. Any theme, genre, or setting is welcome. Entries are judged by a panel headed by Cranked Anvil Editor-in-Chief Paul Dunn, who has written and performed for BBC Radio. All placed and commended scripts are professionally produced as audio recordings, broadcast on Radio Northumberland, and guaranteed inclusion in a future digital anthology.
Entry fee: £12 (one play; £22 for two, £30 for three)
Top prize: £50 cash, plus a professional audio recording broadcast on UK radio and available on demand worldwide
Find out more: https://crankedanvil.co.uk/scriptcomp/
Six Word Wonder Contest
Deadline: 30 September 2026
The Six Word Wonder Contest is an annual microfiction competition run by Doug Weller, author and storyteller. Free to enter and open to anyone aged 16 or over worldwide, the 2026 edition invites writers to craft a complete story, memoir, poem, or joke in exactly six words. Each entrant may submit up to five entries, and all entries must be original, unpublished work written in English. Entries are assessed on creativity, originality, and impact. The winner is awarded the title of Six Word Wonder 2026. Shortlisted entries are published in a future volume of the Six Word Wonder book series.
Entry fee: Free 🆓
Top prize: $100 and publication
Find out more: https://www.dougweller.net/contest/
The First Page Challenge
Deadline: 30 September 2026
The First Page Challenge is an annual writing contest run by The Darling Axe, a Canadian editorial services company. The contest is open to writers of fiction, narrative nonfiction, short stories, and full-length manuscripts, and invites entrants to submit just the opening page of their work. Entries must be original, unpublished, and unrepresented work. Multiple submissions are accepted, each at a separate entry fee. Judging is carried out by editor Michelle Barker, whose sole criterion is how compellingly the first page draws the reader in. The top three finalists each receive cash prizes, publication on The Darling Axe’s Chopping Blog, and a complimentary copy of one of the company’s craft books.
Entry fee: $5 CAD
Top prize: $700 CAD and publication
Find out more: https://darlingaxe.com/pages/first-page-challenge
The Writers’ College Annual Short Story Competition
Deadline: 30 September 2026
The Writers’ College Short Story Competition is an annual contest run by The Writers’ College. It is open to emerging writers aged 16 and over from around the world, and is specifically designed to support writers who are unpublished or have appeared in print no more than four times. Professional journalists, copywriters, and anyone who has earned a living from writing are not eligible to enter. For 2026, the theme is The End of the Line. Entrants must write an original, unpublished story of up to 2,000 words in which the exact phrase ‘the end of the line’ appears somewhere in the text. All genres are welcome, though the organisers note that literary fiction typically performs strongest with the judging panel. Only one entry per writer is permitted.
Entry fee: £8 (free entry closed 31 May 2026)
Top prize: £500 and publication
Find out more: https://www.ukwriterscollege.co.uk/the-uk-writers-college-annual-short-story-competition/
Miller Williams Poetry Prize
Deadline: 30 September 2026
The Miller Williams Poetry Prize is organised by University of Arkansas Press in honour of the late poet and press cofounder Miller Williams. The prize recognises outstanding unpublished full-length poetry manuscripts and offers emerging and established poets the opportunity for professional publication. Eligible submissions are full-length poetry manuscripts between 60 and 90 pages, previously unpublished as a book, though individual poems may have appeared in journals, chapbooks, or anthologies. Manuscripts are judged anonymously by series editor Patricia Smith, with the assistance of screeners. Three manuscripts are selected for publication in the Miller Williams Poetry Series, from which one winner receives the prize.
Entry fee: $28
Top prize: $5,000 and publication
Find out more: https://www.uapress.com/product-category/miller-williams-poetry-prize/
Anthology Flash Fiction Award
Deadline: 30 September 2026
The Anthology Flash Fiction Award is organised by Anthology Magazine, an Ireland-based creative and lifestyle publication that hosts international writing competitions. The award seeks original, previously unpublished flash fiction pieces of up to 250 words, offering writers a platform to showcase concise storytelling with strong narrative impact. Submissions must be written in English and can explore any theme or subject. Writers may submit multiple entries, with a separate entry fee for each submission. The competition is international, open to writers of all ages and nationalities, with entries judged by the editorial team at Anthology Magazine on originality, narrative skill, and engagement within the flash fiction form.
Entry fee: €12
Top prize: €300 and publication
Find out more: https://anthology-magazine.com/awards/flash-fiction-competition/
Anthology Nature Writing Competition
Deadline: 30 September 2026
This competition invites writers to craft original, nature-themed non-fiction essays or creative reflections that explore aspects of the natural world, from close-to-home observations to broader environmental ideas, with a maximum length of 1,500 words. Themes are open within the broad remit of nature and the environment. Writers may submit multiple entries, each with a separate entry fee. The competition is international and open to writers of any age, nationality, or country of residence, with Anthology Magazine judging entries on creativity, insight, and engagement with the natural world.
Entry fee: €15
Top prize: €300 and publication
Find out more: https://anthology-magazine.com/awards/nature-competition/
📖 Creative Writing Book of the Week
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Part memoir, part masterclass, Stephen King’s On Writing traces his path from a broke, hard-drinking novelist to one of the best-selling authors alive, then hands over the practical advice he swears by: cut the adverbs, trust the story, and above all, keep showing up at the desk. It’s blunt, funny, and refreshingly free of writing-guide fluff. Highly recommended required reading, whether you’re drafting your first short story or your tenth novel.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases.
✍️ A Tool Worth Your Attention: ProWritingAid
If your editing process still relies on a red pen and sheer willpower, it might be time to bring in some backup. ProWritingAid is a writing and editing tool built with authors in mind, checking your grammar, style, and readability while flagging the habits — overused words, clunky sentences, uneven pacing — that are hardest to catch in your own work. Whether you’re polishing a competition entry or working through a full manuscript, it’s well worth a look.
🗓️ Where to find more deadlines, writing competitions, and submission opportunities?
There are currently 74 upcoming writing competitions listed in our online calendar. It’s worth bookmarking and checking for new events regularly.
If you’re on Facebook, join the Writing Competitions group for updates from fellow writers almost daily.
Browse my Writing Deadlines newsletter archive and subscribe to receive future updates in your mailbox.
There’s something satisfying about this many doors held open at once. Pick one, pick five, or pick all fifteen, however many you choose. The only real way to lose is not to send anything at all.
A few gentle reminders as you prepare your entries:
Read the guidelines carefully. Word counts, eligibility requirements, and formatting details all matter!
Give yourself plenty of time to polish your work before the deadline arrives.
Don’t let fear of rejection hold you back. Every submission is a step forward, and every published writer has a drawer full of “not this time” letters.
Always do your own research before entering. Carefully read the terms and conditions for each event!
If you know a fellow writer who might make good use of this September lineup, please do pass this edition along. And if you’ve spotted a competition or prize you’d like to see featured, drop it in the comments or send a message on Substack – I’d love to hear about it!
Happy writing!
Victoria
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🗓️ Know of any other interesting writing events?
Post a comment or send me a message via Substack. Let me know if there is anything you’d like to feature in the next edition of the newsletter.
🧠 Remember: Always do your own research and carefully read submission guidelines before sharing your work!