Creative Writing NZ

The Writory New Zealand Short Story Competition is open. 📖

Submit an original story of 100 to 3,000 words. Write in English, te reo Māori, Samoan, Tongan or any other language. ✍️

Win $100 in 1st place. The deadline for entry is 25th November. 🔗

https://writoryofficial.com/writing-competitions-nz

The 500 Flash Novel Opening & Synopsis Competition is open for entries. 📖

Open to published, self-published and unpublished novelists. The entry itself must be unpublished. Submit your novel opening and a synopsis. 📚

First place: £500. Second place: £200 🏆

Deadline: 31st October 2026. Full details on their website. 🔗

https://flash500.com/novels/

The Rubery Book Award 2027 opens for entries in September 2026. ✒️

Entries must be either self-published or published by an independent press. Open internationally to e-books and traditional books. 📚

Prizes include Book of the Year: £2500 and Category winners: £500.

The deadline for entry is 31 March 2027. Full details on their website. 🔗

https://www.ruberybookaward.com/

The Writory Monthly Poetry Contest is open for entries. ✍️

Open worldwide, ages 13+, any language, any theme.

Win US$12 cash + free entry to the next contest, plus a participation certificate for all entrants. 🌟

Deadline, 25th of every month. Results announced on the 30th of the month, with judge scores visible to every entrant.

https://writoryofficial.com/submit

The Monica Taylor Poetry Prize 2026 is open for entries. ✍️

The Prize honours the memory of poet Monica Taylor. Work can be in English or in Te Reo Māori with English translation. 📖

Entrants must be currently living in Aotearoa New Zealand, or be a New Zealand citizen or resident currently living abroad.

The first prize is $300 (NZD), and publication in the December 2026 issue of takahē and the runner-up prize is $150.

Deadline: 30th September 2026. Full details on their website. 🔗

https://www.takahe.org.nz/monica-taylor-poetry-prize/

📖 The Fiction Factory Short Story Competition 2026 is open for entries ✍️

Submit a short story (up to 3,000 words) for a chance to win £500 🌟

⏰ Deadline: 30 June 2026

Full details on their website! 🔗

https://fiction-factory.biz

The Landfall Essay Competition 2026 is open for entries. 📖

Submit an original essay (max 4,000 words) for a chance to win NZ$3,000 and a one-year Landfall Tauraka subscription. 🌟 Open to Aotearoa New Zealand citizens and permanent residents only.

The deadline is 31 July 2026

Full details on their website below. 🔗

https://oup.nz/competitions/

The Elsie Locke Writing Prize 2026 is open for entries. 📖

Young writers aged 5-13 are invited to create an original piece inspired by New Zealand history and Elsie Locke’s legacy of peace, the environment and community. 🌟

Submissions can include stories, poems, essays, speeches or plays in English or te reo Māori.

The deadline is Friday, 3 July 2026

Full details on their website below. 🔗

https://www.toitoi.nz/elsie-locke

The Anthology Poetry Competition is open for entries. 📖

Submit an original poem (max 40 lines) for a chance to win €1,000 and publication. 🌟 Open to all ages, with no restrictions on theme.

Full details on their website below. 🔗

https://anthology-magazine.com/awards/poetry-competition/

The Writer's College Short Story Competition is open for entries. 📖

Submit a short story on the theme ‘End of the Line’ (max 2,000 words) for a chance to win up to NZ$1,000 and publication. 🌟 Open to emerging writers worldwide.

Deadline: 30 September 2026

Full details on their website below. 🔗

https://www.thewriterscollege.com/the-writers-college-annual-short-story-competition/