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Regularly updated calendar of all the best writing competitions.
Read my monthly competition calendar column in Writers' Forum Magazine
This page last updated on 01 July 2009 at 13:01:58
My Writing Articles (Most related to competition entries)
All comps are listed by closing date.
Note: I am not personally involved with any of the competitions listed. If you require more information about them, please contact the relevant organisers.
Note: If you wish me to list competitions in Writers Forum magazine, I need to know about them at least two months in advance. i.e. I need to know about comps that close in July by end April/beginning of May. For comps closing August and September, which is a double issue, I need to know by end May/beginning of June. If you can let me know even sooner than that, all the better. As far as this website goes, I can pretty much list comps right up to the last minute, but it's a good idea to let me know well ahead of time to give visitors time to read about them.
I never knowingly list vanity publishers. If you come across a competition listed on this page which you think might be run by a vanity publisher, please let me know at squilford(at)gmail(dot)com. Meanwhile check out this page at the Academi website on Scams and Cons - Publishing For Money
Report broken links to squilford(at)gmail(dot)com
More details of the competitions listed can be found by clicking on each link or on the Writing Competitions label on my blog.
2009
The following competitions have monthly closing dates, so rather than list them repeatedly, I've put them here in one place. Whilst I've only put web entry details here, you can find postal details on the relevant websites.
Monthly Competitions
Closes end of every month starting June 2009
Story: 5000 wds max. Fee: £3 (£6 with tick sheet critique). Prize: £100/£5 for runners up. Entry: Web
Closes last day of every month
Story: 2000 wds max. Fee: £5. Prizes: £100/£5. Entry: Web
Story: 1000-3000 wds. Poem: 40 lines max. Fee: £7 subscribers £10 non-subscribers (story) £5 subscribers £7 non-subscribers (poem). Prizes: Prize fund totalling £800. Entry: Web
July 2009
1st July
Writers Of The Future Contest:
Stories: 17000 wds max. Theme: SF/Fantasy/Dark Fantasy. Fee: FREE. Prize: $5000 Rules: Entrants cannot have sold more than 3 stories in any medium with a circulation of 5000+ Entries: Web Post: L. Ron Hubbard's, Writers of the Future Contest, P.O. Box 1630, Los Angeles, CA 90078
13th July
Doris Gooderson Short Story Comp
Story: 1200 wds. Fee: £3 or 2 for £5. Prizes: £80/£40/£20. Entry: web post: The Competition Secretary, 29 Christine Avenue, Wellington, Telford, TF1 2DX
15th July
Essay: 2,500 max. Theme: Any Welsh or International issue (can include politics, the environment, arts, science - see website for suggested topics). Fee: FREE. Prize: £300 plus publication in Planet magazine. Rules: Entries must be anonymous. Please include your name and address in a separate, sealed envelope with your submission. Also state if you wish to be considered for the Essay Prize for Young Writers (under 30s only) Entry: web post: Planet, PO Box 44, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales, SY23 3ZZ.
22nd July
Global Giving 'Acts of Kindness' Travel Writing Comp
Story: 100 wds. Theme: Acts of Kindness. Fee: FREE. Prizes: Trip for two to Global Giving project country/10x travel related goodie bags. Entry: Web
31st July
Dreamquest One Short Story and Poetry Comps
Poems: 30 lines max. Stories: 5 pages max (can be single or double line spacing). Fee: Poems $5 by cheque. $7 by Paypal. Stories $10 by cheque. $12 by Paypal. Prizes: Poems $250/$125/$50. Stories $500/$250/$100. Entry: web post: Dream Quest One, Poetry & Writing Contest, P.O. Box 3141, Chicago, IL 60654
Hissac Open Short Story Competition
Story: 2500 wds. Fee: £4 per story, 3 for £10. Prize: £400/2x£50. Entry: web post: HISSAC, 20 Lochslin, Balintore, Scotland IV20 1UP
Jerwood Aldeburgh First Collection Prize
Poems: Three bound or proof copies of first poetry collection (must be at least 40 pages). Fee: FREE. Prize: £3000, a week of 'paid' protected writing time, an invitation to speak at Jed Aldeburgh Poetry Festival. Entry: web post Aldeburgh First Collection Prize, The Poetry Trust, The Cut, 9 New Cut, Halesworth Suffolk IP19 8BY
Poems: 35 lines max. Fee: £3, or four for £10. Prizes: £200 winners' anthology and books/collection of pocketsize Leaf Books for runner up. Entry: web post: Leaf Books Ltd,
GTi Suite, Valleys Innovation Centre, Navigation Park, Abercynon, RCT,Wales, U.K. CF45 4SN
Wells Festival Of Literature International Short Story and Poetry comps
Poems: 40 lines max. Story: 1800-2000 wds. Fee: £4 in each category. Prizes: £500/£200/£100 in each category, plus local prizes. Entry: web post Short Story Competition, Chegworth House, Moor Lane, Draycott, Cheddar, Somerset, BS27 3TD, UK.
Win A Cruise with White Star Cruises
story: 100 wds minimum. Fee. FREE. Prize: 4-day luxury cruise. Entry: web
August 2009
1st August
Manchester Writing Competition
Story: 5,000 wds Fee: £15. Prizes: £10,000 first prize, and a bursary for study at MMU for writers aged 18-25 as part of Jeffrey Wainwright Manchester Young Writer of the Year award. Entry: web http://www.manchesterwritingcompetition.co.uk/ (or email j.draper@mmu.ac.uk) post: Manchester Fiction Prize 2009, Alan Black, Finance Office, Geoffrey Manton Building, Manchester Metropolitan University, Rosamond Street West, Manchester M15 6LL, United Kingdom
9th August
Story: 2500 wds. Fee: £5 per story, post. £6 online. Prizes: £150/£75/£50. Entry: web post: Story competition administrator, 2 Parkes Road, Torrington, Devon EX38 7NW
10th August
Story: 50 wds (incl titles). Fee: FREE. Prizes: £250. Rules: Entrants may submit up to 3 stories. Entry: Web
20th August
War of the Word Sci-Fi Novel comp
Novel: 3 chapters and synopsis. Theme: Fantasy/Sci-fi. Fee: FREE. Prize: Publishing contract with MacMillan Publishers. Rules: entrants must have a full length novel (90-150k) completed and available upon request by 20th August 2009. Entry: web (email entry)
31st August
Aesthetica Creative Works Comp
Artwork: up to 5 images at least 300 dpi. Story: up to 2 x 2000 wds. Poem: up to 5 poems @ 40 lines max for each. Fee: £10 (covers up to 5 images, 2 stories and 5 poems). Prizes: £500 each category and publication/publication and copy of Aesthetic annual. Entry: web
Poems: 40 lines max. Theme: Anxiety. Fee: £4 or 4 for £10 (cheques to Anxiety UK). Prizes: £50/£25. Entry: web post: Anxiety poetry competition, c/o Sheila Cameron, 124 Hangleton Valley Drive, Hove, East Sussex BN3 8EJ
British Fantasy Society Short Story Competition
Story: 5000. Theme: Fantasy, horror, Science Fiction. Fee: FREE to BFS members, £5 non-members. Prizes: £50/£25 plus publication. Rules: To be eligible, the writer must not previously have been paid for more than three stories. Entry: web post BFS Short Story Competition, 23 Mayne Street, Hanford, Stoke on Trent, ST4 4RF, UK
Earlyworks Press Flash Fiction Comp.
Story: 100 wds (incl title). Fee: £3 or up to 6 entries for £12. Prizes: £50/£25/runners up £5. Entry: web post: Earlyworks Press, Creative Media Centre, 45 Robertson Street, Hastings Sussex TN34 1HL
Blog post: 500 wds. Fee: £3 or 4 for £10. Prize: £100. Entry: Web
Story: 2000 wds or 100 wd flash. Fee: £7 first story, £5 others (story). £3 per entry (flash). Prizes: £500/£250/£100/3x£50 (story). £50/£30/£20 (flash). Entry: web (or email legendwritingaward@yahoo.co.uk) post: Legend Writing Award, 39 Emmanuel Road, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3LB
Novel: 3-4 chs and personal statement Fee: FREE Prize: £2,500 bursary. Rules: Novels must be complete by time of entry. Entry: web (or email bitmeadbursary@legendpress.co.uk)
Salopian Poetry Society Open Poetry Competition
Poem: 40 lines max. Fee: £3 or 4 for £10. £2 to members. Prizes: £200/£100/£50. Entry: web post: Roger Hoult, 5,Squires Close,Madeley,Telford, Shropshire, TF7-5RU
Wellington Short Story Competition
Story: 4500 wds Fee: £3 (Cheques payable to Wellington Town Council) Prizes: £150/£100/£75 plus trophy for local winner. Entry: Web post: THE TOWN CLERK, WELLINGTON TOWN COUNCIL, CIVIC OFFICES, LARKIN WAY, TAN BANK, WELLINGTON, TELFORD TF1 1LX
September 2009
1st September
Rhys Davies Short Story Competition
Story: 2500 wds. Fee: £6. Prize: £1000/10x£100. Rules: Open to writers living or born in Wales. Entry: email post@academi.org or tel: 029 2047 2266 post (incl SAE) Rhys Davies 2009 Entry Form, Academi, Mount Stuart House, Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff, CF10 5FQ
4th September
Short Story Radio 'Slice Of Life' Competition
Story: 2500 wds Theme: Slice of Life (mc must be female). Fee: £5. Prize: Story broadcast and free critique from Sophie King for winner. Entry: Web
8th September
Nottingham Poetry Society Open Poetry Competition
Poems: 40 lines max. Fee: £3 or 4 for £10. Prizes: £300/£150/£75/subscriptions to Poetry Nottingham. Entry: web post The Competition Secretary, 38 Harrow Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7DU
30th September
Stories: 8000 words max (must be speculative fiction). Judge: Ian Watson Fee: €7. Prizes: €1000/€200/€100. Entry: Web: email: aeonaward@albedo1.com Post: Aeon Award, 8 Bachelor's Walk, Dublin 1, Republic of Ireland
Earlyworks Press Open Short Story Comp.
Story: 8000 wds max. Fee: £5 for up to 4k wds. £10 for 4k-8k words. Prizes: £100 + publication for best entries. Entry: web post: Earlyworks Press, Creative Media Centre,
The Pages Short Story Competition
Story: 4000 wds max. Fee: £4 first story £2 for others (cheques to Adeola Sheehy-Adekale). Prizes: £60/£40/£20. Entry: web post Editor, The Pages, 11 Corner Fielde, London, SW2 4TH
Winter Witch Hero/Anti-Hero comp
Novel: first 1-3 chapters and synopsis. Theme: Hero/Anti-hero. Fee: £4. Cheques to J Findlay Prizes: £250, novel published, writing course/£50 1st chapter published, writing course/5x writing courses. Entry: web post Winter Witch Books, 3 Stoneybeck Cottages, Broughton Cross, Cockermouth, Cumbria. CA13 0TX.
Words Mag Short Story Competition
Story: 2000 wds. Theme: Ghost Fee: FREE. Prize: £100. Entry: Web (or email entries@wordsmag.com. WORDS, PO Box 13574, London W9 3FX
Story: 1500 wds. Poems: 30 lines max. Theme: Stories must have one of three Rolling Stones related titles, poem one RS related title - as specified on website) Fee: £4.50 per entry. 3 entries (can be mixture of poems and stories) £12. Prizes: £75/£50/£25 (story) £50/£25/£15 (poem) Entry: Web (or email Elaineeverest@aol.com) post: Bobtails, Oliver Road, Swanley, Kent BR8 7DY
Story: 2,500 wrds max. Fee: £4 or 3 for £10. Cheques payable to JM Derrick. You may pay online but entries must be posted. Prizes: £80+ publication/£45/£20. Entry: web post: The Yellow Room Competition, 1 Blake Close, Bilton, Rugby CV22 7LJ
October 2009
1st October
Writers Of The Future Contest:
Stories: 17000 wds max. Theme: SF/Fantasy/Dark Fantasy. Fee: FREE. Prize: $5000 Rules: Entrants cannot have sold more than 3 stories in any medium with a circulation of 5000+ Entries: Web Post: L. Ron Hubbard's, Writers of the Future Contest, P.O. Box 1630, Los Angeles, CA 90078
20th October
Envoi International Open Poetry Competition (£3 per poem, five poems for £12 - 2008 fees)
28th October
Hastings International Poetry Competition (approx date - full details not yet available)
31st October
Chapter One Promotions Children's Story Competition
Story: 1000 wds. Theme: 5 topics to choose from (Check website for details). Fee: £5. Prizes: £150/£75/£50 Entry: web post: Chapter One Promotions, 19-35 Sylvan Grove, London, SE15 1PD (please also see website for Young Illustrators comp which closes on same day)
Friends of Norfolk Dialect 'Trosher' Short Story Comp
Story: 1000 wds max. Fee: £5. Prizes: £100/£50/£30 Rules: Must have Norfolk theme and include some Norfolk Dialect. Entry: SAE to either C.Burleigh, 7 William Cowper Close, Dereham, NR19 1LT, or P.Brooks, 68a Cromer Road, Sheringham, NR26 8LT.
Poems: 40 lines max. Fee: £5 first poem, £3 others. Prize: £5000/£1000/£500. Entry: web post: Competition Organiser (Web), The Poetry Society, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2H 9BX.
November 2009
15th November
Countryside Tales Annual Themed Competition (£4 per entry)
Mary Gornall Memorial Prize Short Story Competition (£4 for first story, £3 per subsequent entry - 2008 prices)
29th November
The Poetry Business Book and Pamphlet Competition (£24 per entry of 20-24 pages - 2008 details, may differ)
30th November
Stories: 8000 words max (must be speculative fiction). Judge: Ian Watson Fee: €7. Prizes: €1000/€200/€100. Entry: Web: email: mailto:aeonaward@albedo1.com Post: Aeon Award, 8 Bachelor's Walk, Dublin 1, Republic of Ireland
Cinammon Press Short Story, Poetry Novel/Novella Award (£16 per entry - 2008 rates)
Lichfield & District Short Story Competition (2009 details not yet available)
Plough Poetry Prize (£4 per poem, 4 poems for £14, and £3.50 thereafter - 2008 fees)
Writers Dock Short Story Competition (£5 per entry, £9 if you want a critique - 2008 fees)
December 2009
1st December
Anthony Hecht Poetry Prize (£15 per entry - 50-100 pages)
Petra Kenney Poetry Competition (£3 per poem)
31st December
The Ruth Rendell Short Story Comp
Story: 1000 wds Theme: Suitable for reading by actors. Fee: £10 per entry. Prize: £2000 plus 1 yr post as Interact Reading's Writer In Residence. Entry: Web Post: Short Story Competition, InterAct Reading Service, 4th Floor, Charles House, 375 Kensington High Street, London W14 8QH
The Pages Short Story Competition (£4 and £2 for subequent entries)
Words Mag Short Story Competition
Story: 2000 wds. Theme: Authors Choice and email only (2 comps closing same day) Fee: FREE. Prize: £100. Entry: Web (or email entries@wordsmag.com. WORDS, PO Box 13574, London W9 3FX
2010
January 2010
14th January
Chapter One Promotions International Short Story Comp.
Story: 2500 wds max. Fee: £10. Prizes: £2500/£100/£500 + publication. Entry: web post Chapter One Promotions, 19-35 Sylvan Grove, London, SE15 1PD
February 2010
28th February
Chapter One Promotions Novel Comp.
Novel: 1st Three chapters and synopsis. Fee: £20 Prizes: Manuscript published + 100 copies. Entry: Web post Chapter One Promotions, 19-35 Sylvan Grove, London, SE15 1PD
March 2010
Novel: First 5000 wds and synopsis. Theme: Must be set in London, but can be any genre/era. Fee: £10. Prizes: £1000/£100. Entry: Web post Margaret James, Administrator, Harry Bowling Prize, 16 St Briac Way, Exmouth, Devon, EX8 5RN.
Other places with writing competition listings
Academi (Welsh literature website but has nationwide comps)
Literature Training (List of Markets, comps and other writing opportunities)
Poetry Society's list of poetry competitions
Prize Magic (informative and quirky)
Ralan.com (competitions specific to the humour, dark fiction and speculative genres)
Scribble Short Story Magazine Quarterly Short Story Competition (£3 per entry - ongoing comps no closing date)
The Short Story list of short story competitions
Writers Forum (monthly competition)
Writers News/Magazine (subscription required for WN comps)
Disclaimer: Sally Quilford accepts no liability for the content of these listings, nor for the quality, safety, or legality of competitions advertised on these pages. Website users trade directly with the literary bodies listed entirely at their own risk and Sally Quilford accepts no responsibility for loss or damage as a result of contacting promoters through using this service.
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