Just finishing a short story or a novel and ready to submit to competitions? Here are ten that just might interest you.
Writers & Artists and Retreat West have teamed up for a free writing competition that offers you the chance to win a place on one of Retreat West’s incredible writing retreats. All you have to do is write a short story no longer than 1,000. The only stipulation here is that your story – which can be about anything you like – must use a beach as its setting. The competition will remain open to all entries (though each entrant must have an account with www.writersandartists.co.uk – also free!) until midnight on 17th September 2017. https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/competitions/retreat-west-short-story-competition
Winchester Writers’ Festival – closing date for all Competitions Monday 15th
WRITING CAN BE MURDER – Entrants are invited to submit the first 500 words of a short story or novel with a murder thriller theme.
POETRY -Entrants are invited to submit poems on any subject up to a maximum of 40 lines for each entry. Single spaced.
MEMOIR – Entrants are invited to submit a memoir of up to 2500 words. This may be a self-contained piece, or it may be the first chapter of a full-length memoir
WRITING FOR CHILDREN – Picture Book For readers aged 3-6 Entrants are invited to submit a text of no more than 600 words in prose or verse for children aged 3-6.
SKYLARK SOARING STORIES – Sponsored by Skylark Literary for writers of middle grade and young adult fiction. Entrants are invited to submit the first 2000 words of a work of fiction for readers aged 8-12 OR 12+.
FLASH FICTION – In 500 words, send us a flash fiction which will intrigue, excite and entertain, and which will linger in the mind long after reading.
FIRST THREE PAGES OF A NOVEL – Entrants are invited to send the first three pages (12 pt. double-spaced) of their novel plus a 600 word max.synopsis. Any theme or period. – 1st prize: Editorial meeting with Little, Brown to discuss the winning submission, either in their offices in London or via telephone (travel not provided)
SHORT STORIES Entrants are invited to submit quality short stories on any subject, theme or period (no children’s stories). Length 1500 to 3000 words for each entry. Each entry must be a complete story. Entries will be judged on their originality and excellent story-telling qualities.
MORE HERE http://writersfestival.co.uk/competitions
After receiving over 1000 entries from across the UK last year, Dragonfly Tea Short Story Competition are proud to announce the launch of the 2017, in association with Henley Literary Festival. Theme: Journey
Word Limit: 3000 words MORE HERE: https://dragonflytea.com/blogs/our-blog/dragonfly-tea-short-story-competition-2017
The Henshaw Short Story Competition– June 2017 Competition is now open. Prizes: 1st Prize £100, 2nd Prize £50, 3rd Prize £25 Closing Date: 30th June MORE HERE http://www.henshawpress.co.uk/
The Bridport Prize –The poem and short story categories each have a first prize of £5,000, second prize £1,000 and third prize £500. An additional ten highly commended prizes (for each category) of £100 each are awarded. All 13 winning entries in both categories are published in the anthology each year.
A new category for flash fiction with a prize of £1,000 was launched in 2010. There is a second prize of £500, 3rd prize of £250 and three highly commended prizes of £100. The six winning entries are published in the anthology each year.
In 2014 the Peggy Chapman-Andrews first novel award, named after the Prize’s founder, was launched. The first prize is £1,000 plus a up to a year’s mentoring from The Literary Consultancy through their Chapter & Verse scheme. A runner-up prize of £500 is also offered. Three shortlisted writers will receive £100. The opening chapters from the winning novel and the runner-up novel will be published on the website.
MORE HERE: https://www.bridportprize.org.uk/
Mslexia 2017 Women’s Novel Competition for unpublished women writers.The competition is open to women of any nationality from any country, and welcomes 5,000 word extracts of completed, unpublished novels of at least 50,000 words in length (not including the title).
As well as the top prize of £5,000, the winner and four finalists will receive manuscript feedback, and introductions to agents and editors, at a special event held in London.
Novels must be for adult or young adult readers; non-fiction or fiction for children under 13 is not eligible. Please include a cover sheet for your entry. https://mslexia.co.uk/products/competition_entry_fee/womens-novel-competition-2017/
Wells Festival of Literature – 2017 has a Short Story Competition – Entries may be on any subject and should be between 1,000 and 2,000 words in length, A poetry competition and a Book for Children aimed at readers aged 9+; Deadline sfor all comps 30th June MORE HERE
http://www.wellsfestivalofliterature.org.uk/2017-competitions/
Cinnamon Press – Annual Debut Novel/Novella Prize- 1 year’s free mentoring/(for those who have completed mentoring) 100 copies of the novel + publishing contract. Open to those who have not had a novel previously published.
Submit only the first 10,000 words of the work. Shortlisted entrants will be asked to send their full manuscript once that stage of the judging has been reached.
Deadline: 31 July, 2017. MORE HERE https://www.cinnamonpress.com/index.php/competitions/annual-debut-novel-or-novella-prize
Moth Short Story Prize – word limit 6,000 words. Closing date June 30th MORE HERE http://www.themothmagazine.com/a1-page.asp?ID=8227&page=18
AND EVEN MORE COMPETITIONS HERE https://www.nawe.co.uk/young-writers-hub/listings/competitions-and-submissions.html
