Writing Contests

The Florida Writers Association offers two writing contests annually. Both cross broad areas of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, and both are open to adults and youth who are judged separately.

Royal Palm Literary Awards (RPLA)

Royal Palm Literary Awards (RPLA) is a prestigious writing competition that recognizes extraordinary writing in 28+ genre categories for adults and 5 for youth and provides objective and constructive written assessments to all entrants. 

"I’ve signed with Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary!!! Home of Gone Girl, y’all! This contest was a life changer.” —Melissa Abrehamsen

“The knowledge and the thoughtfulness of all the judges blew me away.” —Margarita McCarthy

  • Published and unpublished works; fiction and nonfiction; short works and book-length; and poetry are welcome
  • Fee varies based on genre category and date of entry
  • Open to Florida Writers Association members only
  • All entrants receive judges' feedback
  • Submission requirements and entry forms are posted in the Member Center
  • Limit on the number of entries so entries can continue to receive the attention they deserve. 5 entries per person; 550 total.
  • Submission period: February 1–April 30 or until entry limit is reached, whichever comes first.

Winners are celebrated at Royal Palm Literary Awards Banquet at our annual conference in October. Check out past RPLA winners here and in our showcase.

Florida Writers Association Collection

The Florida Writers Association Collection showcases member writing and helps members grow their skills. Entrants write to a theme and the winning submissions are published in an anthology. A “person of renown” chooses ten stories for special recognition.

Thrills & Chills is the theme for the 2022 Florida Writers Association Collection, Volume 14

The Person of Renown, who will select the top ten winning submissions to appear at the front of the book, is Barbara Rein. Her book, Tales from the Eerie Canal: 22 Stories of the Delightfully Dark and Creepy, won the Florida Writers Association’s 2021 Royal Palm Literary Award for Best Published Book of the Year.

Check out past volumes of the Florida Writers Association Collection here.