All competitions on this site are carefully vetted. A series of book and short story awards for authors from the uk and ireland previously known as the whitbread book awards. Radio two 500 words short story competition for children aged and under the festival of literature for young people is running a series of writing challenges the lockdown diaries, inviting pupils aged 1016 living in norfolk and suffolk to reflect and respond to the covid19 crisis. Its free, its fun, and the winner gets published in prime number magazine and receives a free book from press 53. More details and submissions info here soundwork short story competition. Grindstone literary is the home of creative writing competitions. Novel writing competitions list for 2020 jessica davidson. Grindstone literary writing competitions united kingdom. The best selfpublished book awards programs have the power to change that and bring authors and their works out of obscurity and into the spotlight. Inspired by a desire to increase opportunities for representation for all writers underrepresented in mainstream publishing, the agency is focused on discovering, developing and launching the careers of writers of. I cant vouch for all these comps personally, but if you. Writing competitions below is a list of nonfiction, essay, memoir and life writing competitions from uk, ireland and europe although some are open to writers internationally. Small but mighty writers quarterly writing competitions for children aged 715.
The smokelong quarterly award for flash fiction deadline. Any style or genre only open to writers living in gloucestershire, uk submit a 200 word synopsis and the first 3,000 words of your book in addition. First prize for the bridports novel writing competition is. Call for creative writing facilitators at the irish writers centre. Whether you are an aspiring or established author, here you will find a complete list of short story, novel, poetry, books and essay competitions where you can submit your fiction and nonfiction masterpieces for the chance to win great prizes and. One author who came second in one of the small competitions i judge some years ago was inspired to write a whole series of crime novels. No large publisher takes work seriously unless it comes to them via a literary. In these cases, working on and entering the write your own historical fiction competition can provide a fantastic activity for pupils to do as part of home learning. Welcome to the most comprehensive list of creative writing competitions and events for writers on the internet. We run short story competitions to find talented writers, new or established, and offer prizes and publication to help. Please specify the audience you are writing for, include a onepage synopsis of your story and give the word count of the finished novel, if complete.
Please combine the 3000 words and onepage synopsis into one file before uploading. Any style genre no word limit, but stories must be written using 11 sentences winners published in anthology. Almond press promoter of writing competitions independent. Its the uks only national writing competition for all underrepresented. Mystery book awards, writing contests and literary prizes. With this in mind, we have added a brand new category for students in years 10. These competitions are for unpublished or selfpublished novels and novellas for international writers, plus a few for uk or us residents only. Unpublished and unagented writers self pub okay adventure writing only.
It is extraordinarily difficult to compile a list of open competitions as. Writers digests oldest and most popular competition, the annual writing competition, is open for entries. Best childrens writing competitions the school reading list. This is an open call for us and uk writers who write thriller fiction.
This is the only writers digest competition exclusively for selfpublished books. Eligible entries will include original fiction or nonfiction board books for ages 04 50125 words and picture. If you have a literary event, reading or book launch coming up, tell our visitors about it we have thousands every week its free to add events and a backlink from writing. I have a separate resources page dedicated to awards given by nomination. Its a long list and accurate as far as possible, updated monthly, so bookmark this page. Any independent or small press author can submit books in the categories of m. Best writing contests in 2020 competitions with cash. Lately it has focused on what makes a good christian library book by looking specifically at books that would sit comfortably on a. These fun, microfiction competitions are a break from the larger competitions, and provide a chance for writers to stretch their creative legs, get wacky, and write something really outthere. Were looking for 12 amazing micro fictions to make up our 2020 collection, and would love to see what you can do with 200 words. The iwc is always looking for professional creative writers and industry professional with a strong public profile. Writing competitions and events uk writers college. Richard mabey, one of the uks foremost nature writers. These competitions are for unpublished or selfpublished novels and novellas for international writers, plus a few for uk or us.
Write and submit a back cover blurb of 100 words or fewer that sets the stage for a novel, establishes the characters, and raises the stakes in a way that. Colette hill is a reader for the bridport prize and cohosts novel nights bath. Whether you are an aspiring or established author, here you. This is a comprehensive list of the most worthwhile and genuine. Get recognized for your writing, win prizes, and get your work published. The young persons writing competition is open to 614 year olds. Free writing contests through 2021 53word story contest. Writers international writing competition post apocalypseuk entry fee. Best uk writing competitions short story, novel and poetry. If there are other competitions for novelists you think should be on the list, please let. Clicking on an item opens a new page featuring a more detailed description and a link to the. Short story competitions 2020, list of writing competitions uk. The following is a list of writing competitions for women.
Write your own historical fiction competition 2020. How creative activities can help with overcome depression. Writing competitions poetry competition the bridport prize. Publication in prime number magazine, along with your photo and a 53word bio plus a free book. Writing competitions, literary magazine and journal submissions, short story, poetry, flash fiction, nonfiction, memoir call for creative writing facilitators at the irish writers centre deadline. Best writing contests in 2020 competitions with cash prizes. The largest annual poetry competition in the uk, this prize rewards the best collection, best first collection, and best single poem in the uk each year.
Digital book today, world literary cafe, and author marketing club. Mimis new book of sonnets, afterwardness, is a poetry book society winter wild card. Includes all literary agents currently active in the uk. Jan 18, 2018 learn about the 10 top legitimate book awards open to selfpublished authors. A series of book and short story awards for authors from the uk and. Genres include short story, flash fiction, novel, poetry, childrens, etc. Almond press is an independent publisher of dystopian and apocalyptic short fiction. Little big book competition with two categories, the little category for ages 511 and the big category for ages 1221 years. The prize will be awarded to an unpublished piece of writing prose fiction, nonfiction or poetry. The definitive guide a comprehensive and regularly updated list of writing contests in 2020. Welcome to the most comprehensive online list of creative writing competitions and events for writers. The iwc is always looking for professional creative writers and industry professional with a strong publi. All works put forward for the prize will also be considered for publication in the forward book of poetry, a yearly anthology. They also support writers and illustrators, rewarding them for their endeavours, and celebrate childrens books and writers as an important part of the uk s arts and culture landscape.
Inspired by a desire to increase opportunities for representation for. The ultimate list of writing contests in 2020 reedsy. The tourist trail writing competitions are open until may 15, 2020. The best literary competitions for young writers looking for. Any style or genre only open to writers living in gloucestershire, uk submit a 200 word synopsis and the first 3,000 words of your book in addition to cash prize, winner receives a place on a writing retreat deadline for submissions is usually around september october. The most common type of writing competitions on our list are short story. Weve handpicked the best uk writing competitions for aspiring writers in 2018 and 2019 short story, poetry, and novel writing competitions. Flash fiction competitions lists of micro fiction contests. The goal of this contest is to promote flash fiction for both writers and. Top 10 selfpublished book awards for independent authors. Kobo emerging writer prize to be eligible, the book must be the first book published by the entrant. Effective use of historical vocabulary and literary conventions. New and selected poems 19912011 was a poetry book society winter wild card. Speaking volumes christian book awards the purpose is to promote what is best in christian writing in the uk and to encourage the writing of christian books.
Writing competitions and events if you are looking to take your writing to the next level, then entering a writing competition often provides that extra impetus to refine your work. We host novel competitions, short story competitions, flash fiction competitions, and poetry competitions. Christian book awards, writing contests and literary. Christian book awards, writing contests and literary prizes. For published and aspiring writers alike enter our free annual short story competition and be in with a chance of winning a place on one of arvons residential writing courses, as well as seeing your story published on uk. Book awards for selfpublished authors the book designer. The big list of uk writing competitions neon books. Submit a novel of 7,500 words or more in any fiction genre no fanfic, short stories or poetry. The best writing competitions for budding writers to enter this year. Submit at least 400 words describing your dream uk holiday.
These contests are open to entries by authors themselves. Uk writing competitions currently available, genres include short story, flash fiction, novel, poetry, childrens, etc. Entries must be published works, and individual poets cannot. To enter, all you have to do is submit a short story for adults of no more than 2,000 words. There are two age categories 10 and 1416 and the top prize is a. Our awards and prizes promote titles to a wide audience, bringing new releases to the publics attention and getting readers to engage with different types of books.
Radio two 500 words short story competition for children aged and under the festival of literature for young people is running a series of writing challenges the lockdown diaries, inviting pupils aged. The description of each is taken directly from the most relevant website. Writers digests selfpublished book awards is currently accepting submissions. The meanest flower collection was shortlisted for the t. As mentioned above, details of very short story flash fiction competitions have now been moved to a dedicated resource. The people who stand between you and admittance to the promised land of traditional publishing. Book awards for selfpublished authors including them here should not be taken as an endorsement of the competition or its sponsors. The good literary agency is a new social enterprise literary agency from the team behind the awardwinning book the good immigrant. Submissions must be postmarked between april 1, 2019, and august 31, 2019. Writing competitions in 2020 a list of local and international events. The list is supplied as information for authors and selfpublishers. The list is supplied as information for authors and selfpublishers interested in pursuing awards and citations as a means to their own publishing goals. Eligible entries will include original fiction or nonfiction board books for ages 04 50125 words and picture books for ages 48 300800 words featuring contemporary african american characters and culture and focusing on one or more of the following topics.