The Bombay Review: We have multiple funded opportunities for writers of all genres. While we tend to support talent in our primary bases of South Asia and the East Coast of the United States, we are open to applications from around the world. The pandemic has been hard for everybody, and we are happy to provide you with financial support for writing projects as well, apart from mentorship, resources, a chance to be published and other opportunities.
Please check guidelines carefully, before applying. Our hiring process for full time jobs at The Bombay Review has slowed down currently – you can take a look at the jobs portal on the website for upcoming requirements. Freelance opportunities are available on assignment basis, but preference is given to applicants based out of Toronto, New York, New Delhi and Mumbai, since some of the work will require in-person attendance.
Details below.
Creative Writing Award – Fiction | New Dalit Writing Edition | LGBTQ+ Vol 2/3 | Grants for Literary Initiatives | Best of Student Writing Award
A LIST OF CREATIVE WRITING CONTESTS, AWARDS and COMPETITIONS
The Charles Causley International Poetry Competition 2020
Themes/Genres: Poetry
Prize:
- The 1st prize winner will receive £2,000 plus a one week writing residency at Cyprus Well, Charles Causley’s former home in Launceston.
- The 2nd prize winner will receive £250 and the third prize winner will receive £100.
- Five Highly Commended poets whose work shows particular promise will each receive £30.
Status: Open (as of Nov, 2020)
THE GREGORY O’DONOGHUE INTERNATIONAL POETRY COMPETITION
The competition is open to original, unpublished and unbroadcast poems in the English language of 40 lines or fewer. The poem can be on any subject, in any style, by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. Translated work is not in the scope of this competition. Once entered, no alterations can be made to the submission. Simultaneous submissions are accepted but please notify us immediately should your work be accepted elsewhere.
- 1st Prize — €2,000 —Featured reading at the Cork International Poetry Festival (March 2021) — Publication in Southword
- 2nd Prize — €500 — Publication in Southword
- 3rd Prize — €250 — Publication in Southword
- Ten runners-up — €50 — Publication in Southword
Deadline: 30th November, 2020 (midnight). Entries are accepted from 31st September.
Submission fees: €7 per poem or €30 for a batch of five. If you would like to submit more than five poems, please make more than one entry.
LitMag’s Anton Chekhov Award for Flash Fiction
Submission Guidelines: Entries must be short stories between 500 and 1,500 words. Please use 12pt type, preferably Times New Roman, and submit your short story as either a Word doc or a PDF. Only previously unpublished short stories are eligible. Writers may submit multiple stories, each of which requires a separate submission. Submissions through Submittable only. Notification: The contest will be judged by the editors of the magazine. The winning short stories and finalists will be announced publicly on our Web site and social media as well as by email to all contestants in March of 2021
First Prize: $1,250 + publication in LitMag + agency review
Finalists: Three finalists will receive $100 each.
All finalists will be considered for possible agency review and publication.
Deadline: November 30, 2020.
Contest Fee: $16
The Moth Poetry Prize is one of the biggest prizes in the world for a single unpublished poem. The prize is open to anyone, as long as the poem is previously unpublished, and each year it attracts thousands of entries from new and established poets from over 50 countries worldwide.
The entry fee is €15 per poem. You can enter online or send your poem(s) along with a cheque or postal order made payable to ‘The Moth Magazine Ltd.
Deadline: 31 DECEMBER 2020
The shortlist will be announced in March 2021 and the four shortlisted poems will appear in the spring 2021 issue of The Moth.
WOW – Women on Writing Contest – 2020 FLASH FICTION
WOW! hosts a (quarterly) writing contest every three months, and has done so since 2006. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, great writing, and provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants. The WOW Flash Fiction Contest has awarded over $80,000 in cash to writers since its inception. The contest is open globally; age is of no matter; and entries must be in English.
Word Count: Maximum: 750, Minimum: 250
Deadline: November 30th 11:59 PM (Pacific Time)
- 1st Prize – $400.00 cash prize, $25 Amazon Gift Certificate, Entry published on WOW! Women On Writing
- 2nd Prize – $300.00 cash prize, $25 Amazon Gift Certificate, Entry published on WOW! Women On Writing
- 3rd Prize – $200.00 cash prize, $25 Amazon Gift Certificate, Entry published on WOW! Women On Writing
- 7 RUNNERS UP: $25 Amazon Gift Certificate, Entry published on WOW! Women On Writing
Write India by Times of India
Hosted by Times of India, Write India is an annual writing competition in its third season. Prominent authors provide a writing prompt.
Themes/Genres: Short fiction. Specific writing prompts announced every month
Prize: Publication in the annual Write India anthology
Submission Fees: NIL
Status: Open (as of August, 2020)
Commonwealth Short Story Prize
The Commonwealth Short Story Prize brings together writers from 10+ countries, including India. Translated entries are also eligible, as are stories written in the original Bengali, Chinese, French, Greek, Kiswahili, Malay, Portuguese, Samoan, Tamil and Turkish.
Themes/Genres: Short fiction
Prize: £2,500 for the regional winner; £5,000 for the overall winner.
Submission Fees: NIL
Status: Will open on September 1
The Indian Short Story Content on Juggernaut
A few years old, the publisher Juggernaut hosts regular writing contests on its website.
Themes/Genres: Multiple, check website
Prize: 10 entries get editorial feedback, 3 win an exclusive publishing contract with Juggernaut books.
Submission Fees: NIL
Status: Open (as of August, 2020)
Story Mirror
Founded in 2015, StoryMirror is a tech start-up offering everyone a platform to launch themselves in the field of literature. They host regular contests in English and various Indian regional languages.
Themes/Genres: Short fiction
Prize: Certificates and publication on the Story Mirror website.
Submission Fees: NIL
Status: Open (as of August, 2020)
Dastaan Award
The Dastaan Award was set up by Ali Azfar Naqvi and Afia Aslam to support new writing. Writers from all over Asia are invited to submit their writing.
Themes/Genres: Short fiction
Prize: PKR 50,000
Submission Fees: NIL
Status: Check website (as of August, 2020)
Kitaab – The Best of South Asian Stories
Kitaab’s The Best of South Asian Stories series of anthologies aims to celebrate the Asian short story as a constantly evolving, innovative and vibrant mode of literary expression.
Themes/Genres: Short fiction with a focus on climate change and migration but other themes will be considered too.
Prize: Publication in The Best of South Asian Stories anthology
Submission Fees: $20 per submission
As of August 2020: Closed
The Wordweavers 2020 Contest
Wordweavers is an online magazine for short stories and poetry. They regularly host poetry and short fiction competitions.
Themes/Genres: Short fiction and poetry
Prize: Publication in the Anthology
Submission Fees: NIL
Status: Open (as of August, 2020)
An Asian Tapestry of Colours
This contest invites writers from the Asia Pacific region, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and India to share stories specifically for readers between 13 to 17 years old.
Themes/Genres: Short fiction
Prize: Publication and $50
Submission Fees: NIL
Status: Closed (as of August, 2020)
Muse of the Month: Short Story Contest by Women’s Web
Women’s Web is dedicated to encouraging women to share their stories. Since 2014, they host a monthly short story contest.
Themes/Genres: Short fiction on the prompt “For a long time I was scared I’d find out I was like my mother.”
Prize: Publication in the annual anthology and INR 500
Submission Fees: NIL
Status: Open (as of August, 2020)
Architectural Poetry Competition Series
This competition is hosted by the Architectural Journalism & Criticism Organization. It is in its second cycle.
Themes/Genres: Responsive poems: We respond to the world and weather. We respond to ourselves. We respond. We.
Prize: Publication on several web architectural portals and anthology.
Submission Fees: INR 500
Status: Open (as of August, 2020)
Sharpen the Saw: Summary Writing Contest
Pencil is a community-based app to discover stories; you can share your own and read others too. Their various contests help new writers gain traction.
Themes/Genres: Summary on a book of your choice
Prize: INR 10,000
Submission Fees: NIL
Status: Open (as of August, 2020)
The Asian Writer
Bookouture, in association with The Asian Writer and Dahlia Books, is inviting commercial fiction submissions from writers from BAME backgrounds.
Themes/Genres: Commercial fiction. First three chapters.
Prize: Editorial feedback
Submission Fees: NIL
Status: Open (as of August, 2020)
TOTO Funds the Arts
Toto Funds the Arts (TFA) invites applications from persons between the ages of 18 and 29 for the 2021 TOTO Awards for Creative Writing in English.
Themes/Genres: Short plays, stories and poetry
Prize: Editorial feedback
Submission Fees: NIL
Status: Open (as of August, 2020)
