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Writing Competitions
Here is a list of short story competitions currently running in the UK (mostly). I'll present them in closing-date order, but I strongly advise you not to submit your stories until you have first written to the contact address (or visited the appropriate website) for further details. Other restrictions in length and subject matter may apply.
Fish Publishing Three writing competitions annually – Short Story, Poetry, and Flash Fiction. Details: http://www.fishpublishing.com
Ladder Writers Monthly competitions with a cash prize of £50. Get a critique of your entry and earn points, which allow you to climb the ladder for further rewards. Details: http://ladderwriters.com
Spikethecat Quarterly competitions. £3.00 per story, maximum 2,500 words. Details: www.spikethecat.co.uk.
StoryFeedback.com Monthly Short Story Contest Ongoing contest with a deadline date of the end of each month. For short stories in any genre. Maximum 3000 words. First prize £100, second £50, third £25. Winner and runners-up - plus best shortlisted - published online and in a professionally illustrated anthology. Entry fee £3, plus £3 for tick sheet critique. See website for full details: http://www.StoryFeedback.com. StoryFeedback.com, 7 Offley Street , Worcester WR3 8BH (Cheques/PO paid to 'Dark Tales').
Cooldog Publications Cooldog Publications run regular short story and poetry competitions with prizes of £100, £50 and £25, with the best six entries published in its E-Mag – an electronic magazine published three times a year. Entry fee is £3 with a maximum length of 3,000 words for short stories and 40 lines for poems. Competitions now open. Website: www.cooldog.co.uk
Writing4all is a creative writing community with an ongoing monthly competition, where Irish writers can share and develop their work. Website: www.writing4all.ie
WriteInvite Weekly online short story competitions – every Saturday night at 5.30. Entry: £3.00. Prize £40.00. Website: http://www.write-invite.com/index.php
Meridian Writing Quarterly competition for short stories of up to 3,000 words for new and published writers, in any genre. Prizes are: £100, £50 and £25 for first, second and third places respectively, with the first deadline being 30th June, 2009. www.meridian-writing.co.uk
Cazart Writing Competitions Two monthly writing competitions, Short Story & Flash Fiction. Winner from each category receives £20 and will be published on website. Entry fee is £3 and the closing date is the 26th of each month. More details: http://www.cazart.co.uk
The Global Short Story Competition Organised by Certys Limited, supported by Darlington Arts Centre in Darlington, County Durham, England. Cash prize for the winner of each monthly competition. Entry: £5 per story. Details: www.globalshortstories.net
Txt Lit Txt Lit is a new literary genre of creative writing using a mobile phone texting system, or SMS (Short Message System). A single mobile phone text message contains just 160 characters, including spaces and punctuation. Each entry costs £1 plus the normal cost of a text message as charged by your network provider. You can enter each competition as many times as you like. First prize: at least £50. Competitions every month. The theme for September is romance. More details on website at http://www.txtlit.co.uk
Writers' Billboard Bi-monthly writing competitions in various formats, including poetry. Website: http://writersbillboard.net
Scribble Open Short Story Competition Length: up to 3000 words. Prizes of £75.00, £25.00, and £15.00, will be awarded for the best three stories in each issue. For other published stories, a complimentary copy will be given. Annual subscribers will also receive a credit voucher to the value of £4.00. Stories from non-subscribers are welcome but must be accompanied by the entry fee. Entry fee for the competitions is £3.00 (cheques payable to Park Publications). Free unlimited entry for subscribers. Scribble is published in March, July, October, and December. More details HERE
Monthly Writers' Forum Short Story Competition Any genre, but stories must be original and previously unpublished. Aim for a word count between 1,500 to 3,000. Stories may embrace crime, mystery, romance, sport, humour, fantasy, erotica or science-fiction. The competitions are held monthly and there is also £1,000 for the best short story of the year. Monthly prizes of £250 for the best story published and two prizes of £150 for runners up. All stories not selected for publication are returned to authors with a grid assessment. Text should be type-written or word-processed, printed in double spacing. Entries should be accompanied with a short biography and colour photograph of the writer. Please submit a saved copy of the ms on disk as a Rich Text File (RTF) or Microsoft Word 5.1a (for Apple Macintosh). Send complete ms and contact details to: Writers International Ltd, PO Box 3229, Bournemouth BH1 1ZS Tel: 01202 589828 Fax: 01202 587758 Website www.writers-forum.com
The Seventh Quark Runs three separate competitions, a Quarterly Story Prize (2000-4000 words), a Bi-Monthly Shorter Story Prize (under 2000 words), and the wild excitement of a regular simultaneously written Frantic Flash Competition. Please see details of dates and entry fees on the website www.7thquarkmagazine.com or email seventhquark@tribe13.co.uk
Pulse and Cocktails Looking for budding writers of fun, adult erotic short stories. All entries that are published will receive a £5 voucher to spend, with two runner-up prizes of £25, and the overall winner receiving a £100 voucher. A monthly competition, currently looking for entries before the end of this month. Website: http://www.pulseandcocktails.co.uk/stories/competition.php
Dark Tales Monthly Short Story Contest Ongoing contest with a deadline date of the end of each month. For horror and speculative fiction. Maximum 5000 words. First prize £100, second £50, third £25. Winner and runner-up - plus best shortlisted - published in Dark Tales magazine. Entry fee £3, free for subscribers; plus £3 for tick sheet critique. See website for full details: http://www.darktales.co.uk/ Dark Tales, 7 Offley Street, Worcester WR3 8BH (Cheques/PO paid to 'Dark Tales', £15 to subscribe for 4 issues)
The New Writer magazine Prose and Poetry Prizes 2009 Established in 1997, one of the major annual international competitions for short stories, novellas, single poems, poetry collections, essays and articles; offers cash prizes as well as publication for the prize-winning writers in The Collection, special edition of The New Writer magazine each July (back copies available on TNW website). Closing date 30 November. Further information including guidelines and entry fees at: http://www.thenewwriter.com/prizes.htmMifiction Interactive fiction competition. Prizes: £300, £200, £100. Closing date: 30th November. Details: http://www.mifiction.co.uk/competition.html
Bridge House Publishing Charity Animal Anthology The anthology will support BHP’s 2010 charity, the Born Free Foundation. Stories should be for adults 2,000 – 8,000 words long. An animal must be the central character and the story should be about or told from the animal's point of view appropriate for our charity, though they do not have to be closely tied to it. BHP are looking for special stories, with a touch of the unusual that will make you laugh or make you cry... selection assisted by Richard Adams acclaimed author of Watership Down. Deadline: 30th November 2009. Publication: March 2010. Website: http://bridgehousepublishing.co.uk
Sentinel Literary Quarterly Short Story Competition Prizes: £100, £60, and £40. Deadline: 15/12/09 (Postmark by) and 19/12/09 (for online entries). Maximum 1,500 words per story. Entry: £5.00 per story, £9.00 for 2 stories and £12.00 for 3 stories. http://www.sentinelpoetry.org.ukThe Brit Writers' Awards Many categories. Closing date: 18 December 2009. Full (and laborious) details: www.britwriters.co.uk
The Ruth Rendell Short Story Competition InterAct Reading Service is launching its second short story competition to find a writer in residence. InterAct Reading Service is a registered UK charity that uses professional actors to provide a live and interactive reading service in hospitals and stroke clubs. Maximum 1000 words. Closing date: 21st December 2009. Fee: £10 per story. Prize: £2,000 and InterAct Reading Service’s Writer in Residence for a period of one year. Details: www.interactreading.orgMeridian Writing Short Story Competition Stories up to 3,000 words. Open to new and published writers. Prizes of £100, £50 and £25 plus firstwriter.com vouchers. Entry fee: £5 per story. Closing date: 31st December, 2009. Details: www.meridian-writing.co.uk
WriteVoice 2009 Winter Story Competition Closing date: 31st December 2009. Max 7000 words. Fee: £7. Prizes: £250/£100/£25. Details: www.writevoice.co.ukWriteVoice 2009 Winter Flash Fiction Competition Closing date: 31st December 2009. Max 750 words. Fee: £7. Prizes: £150/£50/£25. Details: www.writevoice.co.uk
Storyshorts Theme: “Story with a Twist”. Write a short story (maximum 5000 words) with a surprise ending. Closing date 31st December. Fee £6. Prizes £175, £80 & 3 runner-up prizes of £25. Details: www.storyshorts.co.ukStoryshorts Flash Fiction - maximum 750 words. Closing date 31st December. Fee £6. Prizes £150, £50 & £25. Details: www.storyshorts.co.uk
Jacqui Bennett Writers Bureau Win £150. Closing date: 31 December 2009. Click here for details.
The Onward short story/poetry competition has been set up to raise funds for the Theatre Royal Hyde, Chehsire. There is no special theme. Entry costs £3; two entries for £5. Stories no more than 1200 words, poems 40 lines. Cash prizes, £50, £30 and £20 and publication in the Onward anthology. Closing Date: 31st January 2010. For forms and more details visit www.theatreroyalhyde.org
Grace Dieu Writers' Circle 2010 Short Story Competition Prizes: £350; £150; £75; £50; £25. Entry Fees: £5 for first and £3 for additional stories. Full details and entry forms: www.gracedieuwriterscircle.co.uk. Closing Date: 28th February, 2010.
WritersReign Short Story Competition Closing date: 28th February 2010. Theme: ‘A New Day’. Prizes: £80, £40 and £25 and three ‘Highly Commended’ awards of £10. Stories between 1,000 and 1,500 words. Entry: £3.00. Entry form and terms of submission on website.
If you want to win short story competitions, get the best possible help. Join Jenny's Mini Short Story Course
Kudos(formerly Competitions Bulletin/Writing Competitions Monthly)
The ONLY magazine of its type on the market today. Lists details of current UK and Overseas writing competitions - and there are more than you think! Up to £250,000 of prize money in each issue. POETRY - SHORT STORIES - ANTHOLOGIES - PLAYS - NOVELS - NON-FICTION. Compiled and edited by Carole Baldock. Subscribe to any number of issues @ £3 each UK postpaid, largely offset by savings on postage (around 70p each time) because several entry forms are usually enclosed, which also saves time and effort. Save even more - £3 off, if payment for new subs or renewals received by January 31; old rates still apply: £15/6. Write to Carole Baldock, 17 Greenhow Avenue, West Kirby, Wirral CH48 5EL, stating how many issues of Competitions Bulletin you'd like at £3 per issue. (Also, please state which month - Competitions Bulletin is published in: January, March, May, July, September, November.) Enclose Cheque/PO payable to Carole Baldock - and don't forget to include your name and address. Queries: carolebaldock@hotmail.com. Website: http://www.kudoswritingcompetitions.com
Here is a list of poetry competitions currently running in the UK. I'll present them in closing-date order, but I strongly advise you not to submit your poems until you have first written to the contact address for further details. Other restrictions in length and subject matter may apply.
Cooldog Publications Cooldog Publications run regular short story and poetry competitions with prizes of £100, £50 and £25, with the best six entries published in its E-Mag – an electronic magazine published three times a year. Entry fee is £3 with a maximum length of 3,000 words for short stories and 40 lines for poems. Competitions now open. Website: www.cooldog.co.uk
Writers’ Forum Magazine Monthly Poetry Competition Prizes: £100 plus publication; three runners-up receive a dictionary plus publication. Entry fee: £5 per poem, £7 for two. No theme, up to 40 lines. Every entry with SAE receives a free check-box critique. No deadline as the competition is continuous. Email: poetry@writers-forum.com Details and downloadable entry form at: www.writers-forum.com, or from the magazine, which is available from branches of WH Smith.
Writers' Billboard Bi-monthly writing competitions in various formats, including poetry. Website: http://writersbillboard.net
Bluechrome Publishing Check out this excellent publisher's website, ideal for anyone interested in poetry or experimental fiction. And while you're there, spend some time on the Competitions page. Whether it be poetry or fiction that you're interested in, there's something there for everyone.
Third Segora International Poetry Competition First Prize £100. Deadline 14th November 2009. Entry fees and details: www.poetryproseandplays.co.uk
The Poetry Business Book and Pamphlet Competition To be judged by Andrew Motion, former poet laureate. Entrants are invited to submit a manuscript of 24 poems. Prizes: Three first-stage winners receive pamphlet publication and one second-stage winner receives book publication. All four receive a share of £1,000 prize money and a reading. Entry fee is £25 (or £20 for North subscribers and Friends of the Poetry Business). Deadline: 29 November 2009. See www.poetrybusiness.co.uk for more information and an entry form.
The New Writer magazine Prose and Poetry Prizes 2009 Established in 1997, one of the major annual international competitions for short stories, novellas, single poems, poetry collections, essays and articles; offers cash prizes as well as publication for the prize-winning writers in The Collection, special edition of The New Writer magazine each July (back copies available on TNW website). Closing date 30 November. Further information including guidelines and entry fees at: http://www.thenewwriter.com/prizes.htm
Cafe Writers Open poetry competition 2009. Closing date: 30th November 2009. Prizes: Winner: £1000, Runner Up: £300, plus Five Commended Prizes of £50, and others. Entry Fee: £4 per poem; or £10 for 3 poems and £2.00 per poem thereafter. Details www.cafewriters.org.uk
Plough Prize 2009 Categories: Open (up to 40 lines), Short (up to 10 lines), Poem for Children (no set length). Prizes: Open and Short: 1st £500, 2nd £200, 3rd £100; Poem for Children: £100 1st prize. Closes: November 30th 2009. Further details, postal entry forms and online entry at the website: www.theploughprize.co.uk
The 2009 Gregory O'Donoghue International Poetry Competition 1st Prize €1000, publication in Southword and a trip to Cork Ireland. 2nd Prize €500 and publication in Southword. 3rd Prize €250 and publication in Southword. Ten runners-up to be published in Southword and receive €30 publication fee. Deadline Tuesday December 15. Details
The Brit Writers' Awards Many categories. Closing date: 18 December 2009. Full (and laborious) details: www.britwriters.co.uk
Sentinel Literary Quarterly Poetry Competition Prizes: £100, £60, and £40. Deadline: 23/12/09 (Postmark by) and 30/12/09 (for online entries). Maximum 40 lines. Entry: £3.00 per poem or £12.00 for 5 poems. Details: http://www.sentinelpoetry.org.uk
Jacqui Bennett Writers Bureau Poetry Competition Entry fee: £3 - four for £10. First prize £100. Maximum length: 30 lines. Closing date: 31 December 2009. For more details CLICK HERE.
The Onward short story/poetry competition has been set up to raise funds for the Theatre Royal Hyde, Chehsire. There is no special theme. Entry costs £3; two entries for £5. Stories no more than 1200 words, poems 40 lines. Cash prizes, £50, £30 and £20 and publication in the Onward anthology. Closing Date: 31st January 2010. For forms and more details visit www.theatreroyalhyde.org
Grace Dieu Writers' Circle 2010 Poetry Competition Prizes: £350; £150; £75; £50; £25. Entry Fees: £3 for one poem or £10 for 4, £2 for each additional entry. Full details and entry forms: www.gracedieuwriterscircle.co.uk. Closing Date: 28th February, 2010.
Crewe & District Writers’ Circle Poetry Competition Prizes: £100, £50, £25. Closing date: February 28 2010. 1. Max 40 lines. Entry fee: £3 for first entry then £2.50 for each additional poem. Cheques payable to Crewe and District Writers’ Circle. Full details from & entries by post to: Crewe & District Writers’ Circle, 2 Barony Road. Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 5PL.
Poetry Rivals Competition Now accepting entries for Poetry Rivals 2010 (Closing date 30th June 2010). Full details: http://www.onlineleaversbooks.co.uk/poetryrivals
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