48 hours left — 33% off the FWN forever!
In just over 48 hours time, prices at the Freelance Writing Network will rise by $5 per month and $40 per year. All this week, you’ve had the chance to upgrade at the lower, original cost… but time is running out!
If you’ve been thinking about joining, this is the moment. You’ll get everything the network offers right now (plus all the additions we have planned), at the old price, for as long as you want to remain a member.
Happy Friday, writers!
Today we’re bringing you a new roundup of writing awards, prizes and contest.
We’ve got 60 verified opportunities across five categories: Journalism & Reporting, Fiction, Poetry, Non-fiction, and Books, Novels & Publishing, all with deadlines landing between now and the end of November.
You’ll find free-to-enter contests alongside prestigious prizes worth five figures or more, opportunities open to total beginners and others aimed at seasoned professionals with a decade of bylines behind them.
Beyond the cash prizes, many of these come with real career value: publication credits, agent introductions, mentorship, festival readings, and in a few cases, actual publishing contracts. Even the ones with modest prize pots are worth the entry fee for the deadline discipline alone.
Have a great weekend of writing (and applying!) and we’ll see you again soon.
~ George
60 Writing Awards, Prizes & Contests
Journalism & Reporting
🌍 Fund for Investigative Journalism Regular & Seed Grants
Supports freelance and staff journalists producing investigative stories; regular grants up to $10,000, seed grants up to $2,500 for preliminary reporting.
Prize: Grants up to $10,000 (regular) or $2,500 (seed).
Deadline: September 14, 2026
🌍 Fetisov Journalism Awards 2026
Global prize recognising journalists advancing peace, civil rights, investigative reporting and environmental journalism. Stories must have been published between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026, submitted in English or with professional translation.
Prize: Total prize fund of CHF 520,000 (approx. £460,000) across four categories.
Deadline: September 15, 2026
🇺🇸 Penlight Prize for Excellence in Paywall-free Public Records Reporting
Presented by Freedom of the Press Foundation, honours exemplary public-records-based news stories made freely available to readers.
Prize: $25,000.
Deadline: September 15, 2026
🇬🇭 30th GJA Media Awards
Ghana Journalists Association’s flagship awards recognising outstanding journalism contributing to democracy and national discourse, for GJA members with work published in 2025.
Prize: Trophies across expanded categories including new Economic and Financial Story of the Year award.
Deadline: September 18, 2026
🇬🇧 British Journalism Awards 2026
Celebrates the best public-interest journalism produced for a UK audience. Categories span investigations, breaking news, and specialist reporting. Freelance entry fee £65+VAT; free entry under the Marie Colvin category.
Prize: Trophy and industry recognition at the December ceremony.
Deadline: September 24, 2026
🇬🇧 Write to End Violence Against Women Awards 2026
Endorsed by the NUJ, this free-to-enter award nominates published articles, investigations, blogs and broadcast pieces that report responsibly on violence against women and girls. Categories include news, feature, investigation, opinion and self-published work.
Prize: Recognition for the next generation of high-quality VAWG writers.
Deadline: September 30, 2026
🌍 Hinrich Foundation Award for Distinguished Reporting on Trade 2026
Open to professional journalists worldwide whose print, broadcast or digital work advances public understanding of international business and trade, published between September 30, 2025 and September 30, 2026.
Prize: US$10,000 cash and participation in NPF’s annual awards event. Entry fee: $25.
Deadline: September 30, 2026
🇳🇬 Alfred Opubor Next-Gen Awards for Campus Journalism 2026
Recognises student journalists using public-interest journalism to amplify student voices across investigative, community, data and health reporting categories.
Prize: Category winners named, with an overall Campus Journalist of the Year award.
Deadline: October 1, 2026