Science Fiction Contests

by Grace Tierney

Let us help you to find the perfect writing contest to enter and leave you free to do what you’re good at--writing your entry.

Isaac Asimov claimed that “science fiction is the only form of literature that consistently considers the nature of the changes that face us, the possible consequences, and the possible solutions.” That’s a lofty ideal and one which many writers pursue today. Hence, it is a worthy subject for investigation of the contest scene. The results surprised me in one key category--length. Whereas non-genre short fiction contests usually look for entries in the 2,500-3,500 word range, sci-fi contests blast from 1,000 to 10,000 words and some even explode to book-length. Thankfully, that flexibility should make life easier for the budding sci-fi writer.

If you’re just getting started on the sci-fi scene or want to improve, then there’s a host of resources online just for you. Check out the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (http://www.sfwa.org/writing/) for their writing tips and articles. Then learn to avoid Overused Science Fiction Clichés (http://enphilistor.users4.50megs.com/cliche.htm). There’s even a sci-fi poetry site (http://www.sfpoetry.com)! If you want to get a feel for the sci-fi publishing scene, your best bet is Locus (http://www.locusmag.com) with its round-up of worldwide news, author interviews, conventions, and book reviews whereas SciFi (http://www.scifi.com) takes a wider brief and includes links to sci-fi sites, fiction, film releases, and interviews.

Two other places are worth a look before you begin. The Sci-fi editor (http://www.scifieditor.com/) has a great set of links and advice on improving your writing. Ralan’s pages are a definitive markets guide for sci-fi writers and even include response times for magazines and book publishers in the field (http://www.ralan.com).

With all that reading under your astro-belt, you should be ready to shoot for the stars in some of the sci-fi contests listed below (sorry, pun intended).

You’ll also find my regular round-up of contest deadlines for the month at the bottom of this page. I’ll just give a special mention to the Gorlan short fiction contest (deadline September 10) because I know the organizer. The fees from this contest are funding a new paid online market for short fiction. We all need such endeavours, so why not give the contest a try?

Happy Writing and Good Luck!

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All contests are annual unless otherwise noted and all are open to international writers

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DreamVault
novels, stories, novellas, or works of art in the genres of sci-fi/fantasy/romance/gothic horror
http://www.dreampassage.com/contest.html
monthly

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Dark Tales Short Story Competition
short fiction sci-fi
http://www.darktales.co.uk
quarterly and there’s a new flash fiction contest for dark tales six times per year.

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Quantum Barbarian of the Year Writing Contest
Science Fiction stories up to 8,000 words
http://www.quantumbarbarian.com/contest1.html
January 31

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American Accolades 2003-2004 Screenwriting Competition
Screenplay in one of five genres including sci-fi
http://americanaccolades.com/contest_rules.htm
Feb 27

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SpecficWorld Writing Contest
science fiction, fantasy and horror up to 10,000 words
http://www.specficworld.com/contest.html
March 15

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BookJobber Writing Contest
Science Fiction short stories
http://bookjobber.com/writingcontest.asp
June 15

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PlaneTree
Science Fiction short fiction
http://www.planetreecompetitions.co.uk/index.html
June 30

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Abilene Writers Guild Contest
Sci-fi novel
http://www.abilenewritersguild.org/#contest
August 2

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Ursula K. Le Guin prize for Imaginative Fiction
(from 2005 this will be known as the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award)
science fiction short fiction
http://www.rsbd.net/Le%20Guin%20Contest.htm
October 1, biennial

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Science Fiction Writers of Earth Contest
Science Fiction short fiction
http://home.flash.net/~sfwoe/
October 30

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SF Reader Fiction contest
science fiction stories up to 6,000 words
http://www.sfreader.com/story_contest.asp
December 31

Coming Soon to the Writing Contest Department

Forthcoming features will focus on contests for fantasy, poetry collections, horror, contests for young writers, personal essays, plays, screenplays, haiku, quirky contests, non-fiction writing, no-fee contests, humor writing, short story contests, travel writing, writing for children, and even contests with unusual prizes.

I’m always looking for new contest types to research so if you’re looking for one, just drop me a line. I’d also love to hear from you if you win a contest you read about here or if you have a contest to suggest for inclusion. Please note that I will only include contests which are open to writers anywhere in the world as our readers are geographically dispersed.

Contest Deadlines from 11 August to 10 September
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August 15
short fiction for children
Pockets Fiction Writing Contest
http://www.upperroom.org/pockets/contest_winner.asp

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August 15
Me Three Summer Satire Contest
satire
http://www.methree.net/about/contest.html

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August 20, monthly
Nonfiction (either essay or article)
Byline CREATIVE NONFICTION Contest
http://www.bylinemag.com/contests.asp

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August 20
essay
The Shell Economist Prize
http://www.shelleconomistprize.com

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August 28
poetry
feile filiochta
International Poetry Contest
http://www.dlrcoco.ie/library/Feile04/Home.htm

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August 30
poetry
Writers Journal Poetry Contest
http://www.writersjournal.com/poetry.htm

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August 31 and February 28
poetry
Tigers Eye Journal Contest
http://tigerseyejournal.com/contest_guidelines.htm

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August 31
non-fiction – memoir, travel, personal essay etc
Drexel Journal Creative Non-Fiction Prize
http://www.drexel.edu/doj/nonfiction.html

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August 31
fiction, novella, novel, short fiction collection
The Norumbega Fiction Awards
http://www.mediadarlings.org/norumbega/

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August 31
poetry
Flying Corn Press Poetry Prize
http://www.theflyingcornpress.netfirms.com/our_contest.htm

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August 31
essay
The Daniel Singer Prize
http://www.danielsinger.org/

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August 31
prose
Anthology Prose Contest
http://www.anthology.org/Contests.html

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September 1
fiction book
TWRM Fiction Book Contest
http://www.thewritersroommagazine.com/

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September 1
Sonnet poetry
Helen Schaible Shakesperian/Petrarchan Sonnet Contest
http://www.illinoispoets.org/#schaible

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September 1
poetry
Cowboy Poetry Contest
http://www.bcchs.com/clinton.html

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September 1
Short fiction
Stickman Review Contest
http://www.stickmanreview.com/fictioncontest.html

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September 10
Gorlan Short Fiction Contest
short fiction on the theme caravan
http://www.gorlan.co.uk

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Grace Tierney is a freelance writer who lives in Ireland. When she’s not researching writing contests, she enjoys gluttony, reading, gardening, and travel. Her short stories have been published in the US and UK, and her non-fiction has been published in Ireland, the UK, America, and Australia. She is a staff writer with Writer Online and Netsurfer Digest. Grace may be contacted via http://www.gracetierney.com