Writing Competition Directory
A directory of local, national and international English language writing contests and competitions.
Writing Competition listing is by invitation and we do our best to ensure our list is accurate. However, all competition details are published in good faith and FictionGarden.co.uk is not responsible for the accuracy or honesty of any listing.
For more details of any of these writing competitions, please contact the contest organiser directly.
Competitions are listed in order of closing date.
Writing competition organisers who would like their contest listed should initially enquire using the Contact Us page of the FictionGarden web site. Listing is not restricted to fiction competitions - we are happy to include essay writing competitions, poetry awards, and stage and screen writing contests as well as short story competitions and novel writing awards.
Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival Fiction Contest (USA)
Closing Date: 15 November 2011
Grand Prize: $1500, domestic airfare (up to $500) and French Quarter accommodations to attend the 26th annual Festival in New Orleans (21-25 March 2012), VIP all-access Festival Pass for 2012 (value $500), public reading at a literary panel at the 2012 Festival, and publication in Louisiana Literature.
For original short stories up to 7000 words in length. The top ten finalists will receive a panel pass (worth $75) to attend the 2012 Festival and their names will be published on the website.
Visit www.tennesseewilliams.net/contests for full guidelines.
Soul-Making Literary Competition (USA)
Closing Date: 30 November annually.
Prizes in each category: 1st, $100 / 2nd, $50 / 3rd, $25
The Soul-Making Literary Competition was started in 1992 by Eileen Malone as a Poetry Contest to further enhance the outreach of The Source Center for Spiritual Development and Wholeness which was founded by Janice Farrell, the then Regional Coordinator for Spiritual Directors International. The competition now has 12 categories which include short story, flash fiction, young adult writers prose, humour, and novel excerpt. All prose works must be typed, double spaced, page numbered, and paper clipped. Please indicate word count on title page. Poetry must be typed, (double or single spaced okay). One page poems only and only one poem per page (two-column one-page-poems okay). All poems must be titled. Do not put your name on your manuscript, instead enclose one 3x5 card typed, affixed with a printed label or carefully printed with your name, address, phone, fax, email, and title(s) of work(s) and particular category/categories entered. Young Adult entrants must indicate age on card and manuscript. Category must be indicated on 3x5 card as well as on manuscript. You may enter as many categories and as many times as you wish but you may not enter the same work in more than one category. Previously published works okay (except for Novel Excerpt); however, those winning awards in prior Soul-Making categories may not be resubmitted. No tear-sheets or photocopies of book pages. No coloured paper, hard to read fancy fonts, illustrations or graphics, please. No mss will be returned.
Entry fee: $5 per entry, payable to NLAPW, Nob Hill Branch. International entrants please send Travelers Check
drawn on a USA bank
Address: The Webhallow House, 1544 Sweetwood Drive, Broadmoor Vlg., CA 94015-1717, USA.
No e-mail entries or those mailed special delivery, certified or registered will be accepted. Do enclose SASE in your entry package if you wish to receive contest results.
Visit www.soulmakingcontest.us for more information and complete rules.
Inktears Short Story Competition 2011 (UK)
Closing Date: 30 November 2011
Prize: 1st, £1000 / 2nd, £100 / 3rd £25 (x4)
For short stories on any theme between 1000 and 3000 words in length. Stories may be previously published (prior to 30 April 2011) or unpublished.
Entry fee: £4.50
Visit www.inktears.com for full details.
Magma 50th Issue Poetry Competition (UK)
Closing Date: 30 November 2011
Prize: 1st, £500 / 2nd, £200 / 3rd £100
For unpublished poems up to 80 lines on any subject. Poems will be judged by George Szirtes. Poems of up to 10 lines will also be considered for the Magma Editor's Prize (first prize of £500, second £200). Winning poems will be published in the Spring 2012 issue of the magazine and prizewinners will be invited to a reading.
Entry fee: £4, or four poems for £15. For Magma subscribers the entry fee is reduced to £3, or four poems for £9.
Visit www.magmapoetry.com/competition for full details and to download postal entry form, or to enter online from 16 October onwards.
CheerReader Writing Competitons (UK)
Closing Dates: 31 August 2011 / 30 November 2011 / 29 February 2012 / 31 May 2012
Prize: €100 in each competition.
For stories on any subject up to 1500 words. Entries must be amusing, witty, funny or whatever similar word you can think of. Prize money will be paid by PayPal. Winners are announced 4 weeks after the closing dates, and will be published on the website.
Entry fee: €5, payable by PayPal.
Visit http://cheerreader.co.uk for more details and to enter.
The Wyvern Publications Novel Competition (UK)
Closing Date: 12 December 2011
Prize: The most promising entry will win a full novel and synopsis critique worth £350 and a publishing contract.
Send in the first chapter of your completed novel, a one page complete synopsis, and payment with the entry form (available to download from the website or can be requested via e-mail). The judges will be looking for unique teen fiction in any genre. It should be something fresh, engaging and character driven. No extreme violence, sex or profanity. Note that although the fiction texts must be in double space, the synopsis may be single spaced.
Entry fee: £10, or free for Wyvern Publications Premium Members (state name and card number on entry form).
Address: Wyvern Publications, 29 Nash Close, Lawford, Essex, CO11 2LE.
E-Mail: wyvernpublications@googlemail.com.
E-mail submissions by non-UK residents only.
For full details visit www.wyvernpublications.com
Young Adult Fiction Novel Competition (UK)
Closing Date: 31 December 2011
Prizes: 1st, publication of your novel by Red Telephone Books, including full support through the editing process plus pre- and post-launch marketing / 2nd, a full critique of your novel from the editor / 3rd, a light critique of your novel from the editor.
Submit the first 5000 words of your completed novel, a 500 word synopsis, and your 50 word biography. Formed in 2009, Red Telephone Books is an imprint of Bridge House Publishing, based in Manchester. They have so far published three novels in the young adult genre, and want a talented new author of young adult fiction to join them in 2011.
Entry fee: £10.
E-Mail for queries and submissions: submissions@theredtelephone.co.uk
For more information and guidance visit http://theredtelephone.co.uk/2011YANovelCompetition.aspx
The Glass Woman Prize (USA)
Closing Date: 21 March and 21 September every year.
Prizes: Prize money varies, but is usually around $500 for first place / $100 for second / $50 for third.
This is a US-based contest for women writers only, and for prose pieces (nonfiction and fiction, but no poetry) of up to 5,000 words.
The prize includes possible (but not obligatory) online publication. Email entries only (submission to be pasted into the body of the email; no attachments) to glasswomanprize@gmail.com. Judging is by peer readers, with the final decision made by the organiser, Beate Sigriddaughter.
Entry fee: None. The prizes are personally funded by Beate Sigriddaughter.
For more information visit http://www.sigriddaughter.com/GlassWomanPrize.htm
The FBFT Sports Writing Competition 2012 (UK)
Closing Date: 13 May 2012
Prizes: 1st, £50 / 2nd, £30 / 3rd £20
For entries up to 1500 words related in some way to sport. Entries may be fiction, non-fiction, prose or poetry. The organisers are particularly interested in sports writing that is original, exciting or somehow out of the ordinary. The competition is open to anyone aged 18 or over. The three winning entries will be published on the website. Entries may be submitted by e-mail or by using a form on the website.
Entry fee: Free
E-Mail: sportswriter@freebetsfreetips.com
Visit http://www.freebetsfreetips.com/blog/fbft-sports-writing-competition for full terms and conditions.
Strictly Shakespeare Monthly Competition (UK)
Closing Date: 14th each month.
Prizes: currently vary depending on the amount raised from entry fees, but the eventual aim is to have fixed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes.
There are two contest sections - poetry and prose, and each month a prompt or theme is provided. The Top Ten entries in each section are then published on the website and are open to public votes to determine the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. Voting follows the style of a reality TV show, with voting taking place every day and stories being eliminated in turn until only the 3 winners remain. The competition is open to anyone over the age of 18.
Entry fee: £1
E-Mail: feedback@strictlyshakespeare.com
Visit http://www.strictlyshakespeare.com for more information.
Cazart Monthly Short Story Competition (UK)
Closing Date: 26th each month. Late submissions are automatically entered for the following month's competition.
Prizes: 1st place cash prize based on a percentage of the number of entries / 6 runner-up entries published on website.
For short stories of between 400 and 3000 words on any theme. All winning and runner-up stories are published in a quarterly book.
Entry fee: £3.
Visit www.cazart.co.uk for more information or to enter.
Cazart Monthly Flash Fiction Competition (UK)
Closing Date: 26th each month. Late submissions are automatically entered for the following month's competition.
Prizes: 1st place cash prize based on a percentage of the number of entries / 6 runner-up entries published on website.
For fiction of up to 400 words on any theme. All winning and runner-up stories are published in a quarterly book.
Entry fee: £3.
Visit www.cazart.co.uk for more information or to enter.
The Debut Magazine Quarterly Competition (UK)
Closing Date: None. The competition is on-going.
Prizes: 1st, £75 / 2nd, £25 / 3rd, £15
For short stories on any subject. Maximum 3000 words. Winners are chosen by the readers of the magazine.
Entry fee: £3 (or £5 to include critique). Cheques payable to Park Publications. Entry is free if you subscribe to the magazine.
Address: Park Publications, 14 The Park, Stow on the Wold, Cheltenham, Glos., GL54 1DX.
E-mail: sales@parkpublications.co.uk
Visit www.parkpublications.co.uk for more information.
The Scribble Magazine Quarterly Competition (UK)
Closing Date: None. The competition is on-going.
Prizes: 1st, £75 / 2nd, £25 / 3rd, £15
For short stories on any subject. Maximum 3000 words. Winners are chosen by the readers of the magazine.
Entry fee: £3 (or £5 to include critique). Cheques payable to Park Publications. Entry is free if you subscribe to the magazine.
Address: Park Publications, 14 The Park, Stow on the Wold, Cheltenham, Glos., GL54 1DX.
E-mail: sales@parkpublications.co.uk
Visit www.parkpublications.co.uk for more information, or send SAE for a copy of the "Writing for Scribble" leaflet.
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The 2011 Yeovil Literary Prize - Novel Category - (UK)
Closing Date: 31 May 2011
Prizes: 1st, £1000 / 2nd, £250 / 3rd, £100
The Betty Bolinbroke-Kent Award – send the synopsis with opening chapters (up to 15,000 words in total).
E-mail: admin@yeovilarts.com