Welcome to NewWriters.org.uk
At NewWriters.org.uk, we curate the best and most trusted current and upcoming writing competitions for writers in the UK and internationally — including flash fiction, short stories, poetry, novels, and non-fiction. Each competition listing includes the deadline, prize details, word limit, entry fee, and eligibility so you can quickly decide which contests fit your writing goals.
Our current competition: New Writers 100-Word Writing Competition 2026 – Deadline: 30th Apr 2026. Prizes: 1st: £1,000; 4x Runners-up: £100.
If you would like us to publish details of a competition you are running, please complete the Listing Request Form.
- This competition has passed.
The Bedford Competition – Short Story and Poetry Awards
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** Open for entries from 1st May 2025 **
The Bedford Competition are an International Competition, open to everybody from around the world aged 17 or over, with prizes totalling £4,600 including special awards for young writers and Bedford writers. All winning and shortlisted entries are published on the website and in a paperback anthology with global distribution. The organisers donate proceeds to charities that support literary and literacy skills.
The short story competition is for stories up to 3,000 words. The poetry competition is for poems up to 40 lines. Entrants can write on any theme. Check out the competition site for the full terms and conditions.
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