International Short Story Competitions 2020

Welcome writers! It is worthwhile for emerging writers to enter these paid and free competitions to practice writing to deadlines and rules, tighten their prose and hopefully get their name out there. I am based in New Zealand and it is difficult to find these opportunities in a small country, so here is my updated list of flash and short story competitions open to international submissions for 2020. The competitions are listed in time order of the deadline.


Just write every day of your life. Read intensely. Then see what happens. Most of my friends who are put on that diet have very pleasant careers.

– Ray Bradbury


Short story competitions open to international submissions

The Cambridge Prize for Short Stories

Fee: Early bird – 8GBP

Prize: 1000 GBP

Word limit: 2,500

Theme: Any

Deadline: 15 June 2020

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The Moth Short Story Prize

Fee: 15 Euros

Prize: 3,000 Euros

Word Limit: 5,000

Theme: Any

Deadline: 30 June 2020

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T U Dublin Short Story Competition

Optional theme: Creation, Cosmos, & Caboodle. Winning and shortlisted stories may be published in an anthology of the same name.

Fee: Free entry

Prize: 500 EUR

Word Limit: 1500 – 2000 words


Deadline: 19th August 2020

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IWSG Anthology Contest

The winning stories will be edited and published by Dancing Lemur Press’ imprint Freedom Fox Press next year in the IWSG anthology. Authors will receive royalties on books sold, both print and eBook. The top story will have the honor of giving the anthology its title.

Fee: free entry

Word Limit: 4500 – 6000

Deadline: 2 September 2020


Queryletter.com Writing Contest

Something a bit different! Write and submit a back cover blurb of 100 words or fewer that sets the stage for a novel, establishes the characters, and raises the stakes in a way that makes readers want to find out more.

Prize: $500

Deadline: 15 September 2020

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Manchester Writing Competition

The Manchester Writing Competition is organised by the Manchester Metropolitan University.

Submit an original short story of up to 2,500 words in length. Must be written in English. Can be on any subject, and written in any style or form.

Fee: 18GBP

Prize: 10,000 GBP

Deadline: 18 September 2020

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F(r)iction Lit Fall Contests

Looking for short stories, flash fiction and poetry .

Fee: $10 USD

Deadline: 30 October 2020

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The Bedford Short Story Competition

Fee: 6 GBP

Prize: 500 GBP

Word Limit: 3000

Deadline: 31 October 2020

More Details


Useful posts for writing contests

Writing A Proper Cover Letter for a Short Story

How to Write Flash Fiction by Richard Thomas

Best Book for Writers to Read – Bird by Bird

Writing Short Stories That Sell by Alan Baxter (via The Creative Penn)

2020 Paying Markets for Short Fiction

There are always more short story competitions open to international submissions becoming available for entries. I do try and keep this list up to date. If you wish to list a competition that is open to writers everywhere, please contact me.

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5 thoughts on “International Short Story Competitions 2020”

  1. Yeah, I didn’t quite get finished. I’ll go through in a few days and add links 🙂

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