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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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Searchlight Awards − Best Chapter Book for 5-8-year-olds 2024
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Authors working on chapter books for children aged between five and eight should take a look at this Searchlight Awards competition. As well as the top prize of £350, the top 10 entries are included in a Publisher Pitch Book which is sent to a selection of literary agents. The winner will also get a one-to-one call with the competition judge, who is an agent at The Bright Agency. There is no guarantee she will represent the winner, but it could be a great opportunity to pitch your children’s book to someone in the industry.
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