Writing contests aren’t just for poets and novelists—there are lots of opportunities for nonfiction writers to share their essays, reports, and other works for a chance to win prizes like cash or even publishing deals.
We’ve put together a list of short story contests that you can enter today so you can hone your talent, grow your confidence, and get exposure for your work.
2021 Nonfiction Writing Contests
Below are 20 nonfiction writing contests you can enter in 2021 for a chance to win cash prizes, publication, and more.
| Contest Name | Submission Guidelines | Entry Fee | First Prize | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest | www.jfklibrary.org/learn/essay-contest | Free | $10,000 | January 15, 2021 |
| The DISQUIET Prize | www.disquietinternational.org/the-disquiet-prize/ | $15 | full fellowship to writing program in Lisbon Portugal OR $1,000 | January 15, 2021 |
| The Nine Dots Prize | www.ninedotsprize.org/ | Free | $100,000 + publishing deal | January 18, 2021 |
| Lazuli Literary Group Writing Contest | www.lazuliliterarygroup.com/contests | $15 | $200 | January 22, 2021 |
| Please See Me Mental Health Awareness Writing Contest | www.pleaseseeme.com/submissions/ | $10 | $250 | January 31, 2021 |
| The Pinch Journal’s Page Prize | www.pinchjournal.com/pageprize | $10 | $1,000 | January 31, 2021 |
| The BookLife Prize | www.booklife.com/the-booklife-prize | $99 | $5,000 + profile in Publishers Weekly | February 1, 2021 |
| Accenti Magazine Writing Contest | www.accenti.ca/writing-contest | $30 | $1,000 | February 1, 2021 |
| The TSR Nonfiction Prize | www.thesouthamptonreview.com/tsr-nonfiction-prize | $15 | $1,000 | February 1, 2021 |
| Ottawa Tourism Travel Writing Awards | www.ottawatourism.ca/travel-writing-award | Free | $500 | February 5, 2021 |
| Creative Nonfiction Collective Contest | www.creativenonfictioncollective.ca | $15 | $750 + publication in The Humber Literary Review | February 15, 2021 |
| AWP Prize for Creative Nonfiction | www.awpwriter.org/contests | Free | $2,500 + publication by the University of Georgia Press | February 16, 2021 |
| The Hunger Mountain Creative Nonfiction Prize | www.hungermtn.org/submit-contests/ | $20 | $1,000 | March 2, 2021 |
| The Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest | www.tnq.ca/edna-staebler-contest/ | $40 | $1,000 | March 28, 2021 |
| Zone 3 Press Creative Nonfiction Book Award | www.zone3press.com/nonfiction-contest | $25 | $1,000 + book publication | April 15, 2021 |
| Tom Howard / John H Reid Fiction & Essay Prize | www.winningwriters.com/essay-contest | $20 | $3,000 | April 30, 2021 |
| Ploughshares Emerging Writers Contest | www.pshares.org/emerging-writers-contest | $24 (waived for subscribers) | $2,000 + publication | May 15, 2021 |
| North Street Book Prize | www.winningwriters.com/north-street-book-prize | $65 | $5,000 | June 30, 2021 |
| San Francisco Writing Contest | www.terrain.org/contest-guidelines/ | $15 | $500 + publication | September 6, 2021 |
| Surrey International Writers Conference Writing Contest | www.siwc.ca/writing-contest/ | $15 | $1000 + publication | September 18, 2021 |
| Tadpole Press 100 Word Writing Contest | www.tadpolepress.com/events | $10 | $1,000 | November 30, 2021 |
| TCK Publishing Nonfiction Writing Contest | www.tckpublishing.com/tck-publishing-nonfiction-writing-contest/ | $12 | $1,000 | December 31, 2021 |
Word Counts for Nonfiction Contest Submissions
Maximum word counts for nonfiction writing contest submissions can vary greatly, but most of the contests listed above have a range of 1,000–5,000 words for the maximum word count.
However, there are some exceptions, including several contests looking for completed manuscripts, so word counts can exceed 40,000 words. Be sure to read the guidelines for each contest carefully before entering.
What Is the Purpose for Writing Creative Nonfiction?
Creative nonfiction is a genre of writing that uses creative elements—such as dialogue, scene-setting, and narrative arcs—to tell a true story. To be considered nonfiction, all parts of the story must be true and accurate.
Many forms of journalism, travel writing, and personal essays can be considered creative nonfiction.
The purpose of creative nonfiction is to inform readers as regular nonfiction would, but it does so by building a narrative around the facts by introducing the scene and building the characters of real people so readers can better relate to them.
Enter TCK Publishing’s First Annual Nonfiction Writing Contest
TCK Publishing invites you to enter our first annual Nonfiction Writing Awards Contest. Submissions are open now through December 31, 2021. The grand prize is $1,000. Enter your nonfiction piece today!
Here are more of our writing contests that are open for submissions:
- 2021 TCK Publishing Reader’s Choice Book Awards Contest – closes 11/12/2021
- 2022 Flash Fiction Contest – closes 6/30/2022
- 2022 TCK Publishing Poetry Awards Contest – closes 6/30/2022
- 2022 Short Story Awards Contest – closes 8/31/2022
Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- How to Enter a Writing Contest: 8 Tips for Success
- What to Do After Winning a Writing Contest: 5 Ways to Celebrate Your Win
- List of Poetry Contests: Where to Submit Your Poems (Updated for 2021)
- List of Short Story Contests (Updated for 2021)
As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.
