Writing Contests 2026 with Cash Prizes and Certificates
Quick answer: Writory runs a monthly international poetry contest and a short story contest for 100 to 3,000 words, any language or genre. Story schedule: The first contest runs from 1 September 2026 to 25 November 2026 at 11:59 PM IST, with results and certificates on 30 November 2026. Monthly rounds follow the debut: entries close on the 25th and results arrive on the 30th. Every entrant receives a certificate and a judged score out of 100. Winners receive cash prizes and free entry to the next round; writers keep all rights.
Key facts
- Both contests use blind judging and a published rubric, with a certificate and a five-part score out of 100 for every entrant.
- The poetry contest is open now and runs monthly: any language, any form, no theme restriction, entries close the 25th at 11:59 PM IST.
- Short stories: 100 to 3,000 words, any genre, flash fiction welcome. The first contest runs from 1 September 2026 to 25 November 2026 at 11:59 PM IST, with results and certificates on 30 November 2026. Monthly rounds follow the debut: entries close on the 25th and results arrive on the 30th. Results on 30 November 2026.
- Entry fees start at Rs 150 or $5 for poetry and Rs 199 or $8 for stories; free entry is earned by monthly winners and Seasoned Quill badge holders.
- Cash prizes in each contest round; published results identify the winners, their scores and their work.
- Writers keep all rights to their work in every Writory contest, always.
- Open worldwide to anyone aged 13 or over; entrants have come from 40 countries so far and readers from more than 150 countries.
- A humour writing contest is planned next, on the same transparent system.
Questions
Which writing contests can I enter right now?
Both. The monthly international poetry contest is open now, in any language with no theme restriction, and the short story contest has been taking entries since 1 September 2026; its current round closes 25 November 2026 at 11:59 PM IST, with results on 30 November 2026. Poetry closes on the 25th of every month with results on the 30th.
What does every entrant receive?
A participation certificate with your name and a judged score out of 100 broken into five published criteria, in every contest, win or not. Winners additionally take cash prizes and free entry to the next round.
Are these contests legitimate?
Every month's winners are published with names, dates, scores and their work on pages you can verify, the rubrics are public, fees and prizes are stated before you enter, and writers keep all rights. Nothing about the judging or the results is hidden.
Can I enter both contests?
Yes. The poetry and story contests run side by side with their own published deadlines, and one account enters both. Each contest is judged separately against its own published rubric.
How much does entry cost?
Poetry starts at Rs 150 in India or $5 internationally; stories start at Rs 199 or $8. Multi-entry tiers cost less per piece, and free entry is earned by monthly winners and Seasoned Quill badge holders rather than given to everyone.
By the Writory editorial team. Updated September 2026.
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