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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 Children’s Picture Book Text 2024
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Authors working on picture books (or the text for picture books at least) for children should take a look at this Searchlight Awards competition. Authors should submit the complete manuscript and a short pitch that tells us what the story is about. Note that this year the competition is for unagented and unpublished writers only.
As well as the top prize of £500, the top 10 entries are included in a Publisher Pitch Book which is sent to a selection of literary agents. The winner will also have a one-to-one call with the judge, Lorna Hemingway of Bell Lomax Moreton. While the author of the entry picked in second place will receive a Detailed Editorial Review by Natascha Biebow, expert picture book editor and founder of Blue Elephant Storyshaping. The review includes an in-depth consideration of your picture book manuscript (up to 1000 words), and a detailed editorial review letter, with specific comments about the work, notations on your manuscript and suggestions for revision.
Details