5 Free Summer Writing Contests You Should Enter Right Now
2 min read
Summer is for storytellers.
At Intellectual Ink Magazine, we believe in making space for powerful voices—and that includes helping you get your work into the world. If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to submit your writing, this is it.
We’ve curated five standout no-cost writing contests with deadlines across June, July, and August 2025. Each one is free to enter, offers cash prizes, and is open to fresh, bold, intentional work. From prose to poetry, there’s a lane just for you.
1. Native Voices Award
🗓️ Deadline: August 15, 2025
📚 Genres: Short Story, Flash Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Visual Art
💸 Prize: Up to $500
🔓 Open To: Indigenous storytellers worldwide (Native American, First Nation, Polynesian)
📬 Entry Fee: None
This award honors Indigenous voices across literary forms. If you’re writing from ancestral memory, reclaiming stories, or illuminating truths, this is for you.
2. Frontier Poetry’s New Voices Contest (TBD – based on 2024 dates)
🗓️ Deadline: July 31, 2025 (estimated)
💸 Prize: $300
🔓 Open To: Women and Nonbinary Writers
📬 Entry Fee: None
For those who weave emotion into form and cadence, this poetry contest is a summer highlight. Whether you’re lyrical, experimental, or raw—bring your voice.
3. Intellectual Ink Magazine Novel Contest
🗓️ Deadline: August 31, 2025
💸 Prize: $1,000 + feature in Intellectual Ink Magazine
📬 Entry Fee: None
We’re looking for bold, character-driven fiction that reflects the richness of the human experience—especially stories from underrepresented communities. If your novel is ready to meet the world, this is your chance.
4. Owl Canyon Press Short Story Hackathon
🗓️ Deadline: August 1, 2025
📚 Genres: Short Fiction
💸 Prize: $500 + publication
📬 Entry Fee: None
Writers must create a 50-paragraph story using the first and last paragraphs provided. This challenge is perfect for flash fiction fans who love a twist.
5. National Youth Foundation’s “I Matter” Contest
🗓️ Deadline: July 23, 2025
📚 Genre: Poetry
🔓 Open To: Students
📬 Entry Fee: None
For our youth poets and educators—this contest gives young people the platform to speak on identity, justice, and empowerment. A great opportunity for classrooms, community centers, and student orgs.
Why You Should Submit This Summer
💥 You have nothing to lose.
💥 Your words matter.
💥 The literary world needs diverse stories now more than ever.
Whether you’re writing your first piece or have a drawer full of unpublished brilliance—step into the spotlight. Submit to one, submit to all. Let’s make this summer a celebration of the written word.
Ready to Submit?
Tap any of the links above or visit our Submit Page to find more opportunities, writing prompts, and tips from past winners.
Which contest are you submitting to first? Let us know on IG @intellectualinkmag
