Writing competitions can be a writer’s dream. You can win some cash, have a short story printed in a magazine, or have a screenplay read by a top agent. It might even be your key to success.
So, do you love competitions? Do you revel in the adrenalin of writing a novel, a short story, a poem, or an essay? If you love all of this, take yourself to one of these competitions and go for it! Good luck!
2021 Bristol Short Story Prize
What? Short story
Deadline? May 5, 2021.
Who? The competition is open to all writers around the world whether published or unpublished.
Prize? 1st prize is £1,000, 2nd prize is £500, 3rd prize is £250. 17 further prizes of £100 will be presented to the remaining shortlisted writers. 20 stories will be shortlisted and published in the Bristol Short Story Prize Anthology Volume 14. All shortlisted writers will receive 2 free copies of the anthology.
Entry fee? £9 per story
A Woman’s Write Annual Writing Competition
What? The Annual “A Woman’s Write” Unpublished Novel Context
Deadline? 30th November 2021
Who? International
Prize? $500
Entry Fee? $40
The Henshaw Competition
What? Fictional short story of up to 2000 words on any theme
Deadline? 31st March 2021, results announced by 30th April 2021
Prize? First £200, second £100, third £50. Wining stories will be published on the Henshaw press website, and winners and authors of commended stories will be offered the opportunity to appear in next year’s anthology.
Entry fee? £6
Rubery Book Award
What? A book that is either self-published or published by an independent press. Authors and publishers can enter books. All genres accepted.
Deadline? 31st March 2021
Prize? Book of the Year £1,500, category winners £150, and many more
Entry Fee? £37
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
What? Any short work of fiction, or any short work of nonfiction. All themes accepted.
Deadline? 20th April 2021
Prize? Story First Prize $3,000, Essay First Prize $3,000
Entry Fee? £37
MoonFlake Press
What? Poetry or prose on the theme of Escapism
Deadline? 1st September 2021
Prize? £25 plus print in the magazine
Entry fee? £5
Bridgend Writer’s Circle 2021 Short Story Competition
What? Short Story
Deadline? March 2021
Prize? First: £100, second: £50, third: £30
Entry fee? £5
Windsor Fringe – Kenneth Branagh Award for New Drama Writing
What? One act play between 25 and 35 minutes long with no more than six characters, and it must not have been previously published or performed.
Who? Amateur playwrights world-wide
Deadline? 5th March 2021
Prize? £500
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