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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.
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For this challenge, writers will be assigned a specific decade—the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, or early 2000s—and must craft a contemporary short story that includes at least one flashback set in that assigned decade! The idea is that the flashbacks should feel unmistakably of their time. From the language or cultural references to the setting or mood, Globe Soup are seeking stories that capture the essence of their decade and transport readers into that world.
If you take the Lucky Dip option, you will be randomly assigned a decade. If you choose the Golden Ticket, you can choose your decade. Once you receive your assignment, you’ll have until the deadline to craft a complete story (of 3,000 words or fewer) that features at least one flashback to your assigned decade. There’s no minimum word requirement, but your entry must stand alone as a full story.
The decades are:
1. 1950s (1950-1959)
2. 1960s (1960-1969)
3. 1970s (1970-1979)
4. 1980s (1980-1989)
5. 1990s (1990-1999)
6. Early 2000s (2000-2009)
You can read more about the rules and guidance for competition HERE.
So if you fancy taking part in this exciting competition, get in early and take advantage of the early bird prices – and then decide whether you want to risk the lucky dip or pick your own decade!
Note that for writers who want to take part in regular competitions but also be part of an online writing community, Globe Soup is a brilliant option. As well as the open competitions (like this one) which are outlined on their website, they also have an amazing members-only Facebook group with regular free-to-enter competitions and plenty of writing-related chat.
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