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Our current competition: New Writers Novel Prize 2026 – Deadline: 31st October 2026. Top Prize: £1,000 + Lifetime Access to The Novel Factory (Version 3).
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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.
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Are you a poet or writer inspired by where you live or grew up? Enter the Southbank Centre and National Poetry Library’s Word Exchange competition celebrating poetry, language, dialects and sayings found across the UK.
Write your own Word Exchange poem and share a video performing it on Instagram or TikTok – and you could win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform on stage at the London Literature Festival in 2027.
Word Exchange poems are short poems that use the unique words, sayings, languages and dialects from where you live or grew up. The ‘exchange’ happens when you use:
– local slang or regional dialects
– sayings passed down through your family
– lesser-used words from the past that you don’t use anymore
– new words you’ve discovered in recent years.
One winner will receive a platform to perform their Word Exchange poem on a national stage at the London Literature Festival in autumn 2027.
Entry is free and open to all UK residents aged 16+. To submit, follow these three steps:
1. Create your own Word Exchange poem (free guide available on Southbank Centre’s website)
2. Post a video reading your poem (maximum three minutes long) on Instagram or TikTok – tag @SouthbankCentre and use the hashtag #APoetinEveryPort.
3. Complete the entry form on Southbank Centre’s website to finalise your submission.
Whether you’ve been honing your craft for a while or you’re completely new to writing, we want to hear from you.
The deadline to enter is Monday 30th November at 23:59 pm.
Please read the full competition terms and conditions on the Southbank Centre’s website before entering.
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