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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for NewWriters.org.uk
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DTSTART:20250101T000000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260502
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260503
DTSTAMP:20260501T230427
CREATED:20260226T102834Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260422T101414Z
UID:13425-1777680000-1777766399@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Mo Siewcharran Prize 2026
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 11:59PM on 2nd May 2026\nEntry Fee: FREE\nEligibility: Entrants must be unagented and previously unpublished\, aged 18 or over\, resident in the UK and from a Black\, Asian\, mixed heritage and/or multiple ethnic background.\nPrizes: First prize: £2\,500 plus editorial feedback\, a meeting with a literary agent and more; second prize: £1\,500 plus feedback and mentoring; third prize: £750\, feedback and a hamper\nWord Limit: Up to the first 10\,000 words of the novel plus a synopsis of up to 700 words.\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website: thefuturebookshelf.co.uk/tfb-blog/2026/01/07/bookouture-to-host-the-mo-siewcharran-prize-2026\n\nHachette UK’s The Future Bookshelf is running the Mo Siewcharran Prize for its sixth year to help discover unpublished fiction writers from Black\, Asian\, mixed heritage and/or multiple ethnic backgrounds. For 2026\, the prize will be hosted by Bookouture and we are looking for page-turning commercial fiction within the genres of psychological thriller and romantic fiction. \nThe initiative\, named in memory of NielsenIQ BookData’s former Director of Marketing and Communications\, aims to nurture talent from under-represented backgrounds writing in English. Run as part of Hachette UK’s The Future Bookshelf scheme\, the prize was launched in 2019. \nThe Judges are: Ellen Gleeson (Publishing Director at Bookouture)\, Hennah Sandhu (former co-chair of Thrive\, Hachette UK’s network for Black\, Asian and Mixed Heritage employees and allies)\, Leodora Darlington (editor\, Bookseller Rising Star\, and author of The Exes)\, Silé Edwards (Literary Agent at Andrew Nurnberg Associates)\, and Jenn Li (book influencer @bookmarkonthewall). \nJudges will be looking for:\n– A well-written and entertaining piece of writing\n– A page-turning story that will speak to romance or psychological thriller readers\n– An attention-grabbing concept\, also known as the hook\n– A compelling plot that drives us through the story\n– Memorable characters that readers care for\n– The submission must be aimed at adults.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/mo-siewcharran-prize/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260601
DTSTAMP:20260501T230427
CREATED:20240319T145830Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260409T093620Z
UID:1512-1780185600-1780271999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Bath Novel Award 2026
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23:59 (UK time) on 31 May 2026\nEntry Fee: £33 (some sponsored places are available)\nPrizes: 1st Place: £5\,000 plus and a trophy; all shortlisted entrants win feedback on their full manuscript; online novel editing course (worth £1\,980) for one longlisted entrant\nWord Limit: Opening 5\,000 words plus one page synopsis\nJudge: Amanda Harris – Literary Agent\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website:  bathnovelaward.co.uk/the-bath-novel-award-international-writing-prize/\n\nThe Bath Novel Award has been running since 2013 and is one of the most prestigious novel competitions for unpublished authors in the UK (along with a handful of others including the Bridport Prize). And for 2025\, the top prize is once again a very tidy sum of £5\,000. \nEntries should include up to 5\,000 words of your novel along with a one-page synopsis. The entry fee of £33 is on the high side when it comes to writing competitions. But then the judges and readers need to assess 5\,000 words for each entry (rather than something like 300 for many flash fiction entries)\, so it is understandable. And the top prize of £5\,000 is also very nice indeed. There are also some sponsored entries for low income writers\, details of which can be found HERE.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/bath-novel-award/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260601
DTSTAMP:20260501T230427
CREATED:20251019T102308Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260226T101429Z
UID:1328-1780185600-1780271999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Bridport Prize 2026 - Peggy Chapman-Andrews First Novel Award
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23.59 (UK time) on 31 May 2026\nEntry Fee: £26 per entry\nPrizes: First prize: £1\,500; second prize: £750; three further prizes of £150; plus publication and manuscript/extract appraisal\nWord Limit: 8\,000 words max (5\,000 minimum) plus 300-word synopsis. (Title not included in the word count.)\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website: bridportprize.org.uk/the-competition/novel-award\n\nCompetition Details\nThe Peggy Chapman-Andrews First Novel Award\, to give the Bridport Prize Novel Award’s official name\, is one of the most sought-after prizes in literature.  If ever there was a prize win on a CV to make an agent or publisher take note\, the Bridport is it. \nWhile the £1\,500 top prize is significantly less (and the £24 entry fee significantly more) than for the Short Story Prize\, the doors opened by a win or even a shortlist in the Peggy Chapman-Andrews makes it well worth entering. \nTo enter you need to submit an extract of between 5\,000 and 8\,000 words from the opening chapters of your novel\, plus a 300-word synopsis. If you make it to the longlist\, you’ll then need to submit 15\,000 words (including your initial submission); then if you make the shortlist you’ll need to send in a total of 30\,000 words. So\, if you fancy your chances of winning this one\, don’t enter unless you have made significant progress with your novel. \nAs well as the prizes mentioned above\, the top five entries will receive appraisal from The Literary Consultancy and the winner will also gain a consultation with literary agent A.M. Health and publisher Headline\, which could prove invaluable (though there are no promises you’ll get a publishing deal out of it!). \nThe following additional prizes may also apply to entrants who fit certain criteria: \nYoung Writer Award £500 – For the highest placed writer aged 16 to 25 in poetry\, short story\, flash fiction and novel. \nNever Too Late Award – This £500 award is given to the highest placed writer aged 60+ in Poetry\, Short Story\, Novel and Flash Fiction. The winning piece will feature in our anthology\, which counts as being published and opens doors with literary agents and publishers. It also accesses other competitions not available to the public. \nDorset Award £100 – Given to the highest placed Dorset writer in poetry\, short story\, flash fiction and novel. Sponsored by The Bookshop\, Bridport.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/bridport-prize-novel/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260601
DTSTAMP:20260501T230427
CREATED:20260401T082347Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260401T082617Z
UID:13774-1780185600-1780271999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Hay Festival Room to Write
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 12pm (BST) on 31 May 2026\nEntry Fee: FREE\nEligibility: UK-based published writers of fiction or non-fiction or poetry (at least one book) aged 18+\nPrizes: Eight writers will each win an Airbnb coupon worth £1\,500\nWord Limit: Entrants must provide a description of their work (max 500 words)\, a short writing sample (max 500 words)\, and a brief writer biography (max 200 words)\nPrompt: Write a story that includes change or transformation.\nCategory: Short Story\, Flash Fiction\, Poetry\, Novel\, Non-Fiction Competitions\nCompetition Website: https://www.hayfestival.com/room-to-write\n\nIn the UK’s National Year of Reading\, Airbnb will partner with arts charity Hay Festival to launch Room to Write – a new writing award.\nRooted in Hay Festival’s commitment to nurturing contemporary writing and Airbnb’s mission to enable meaningful travel and connection\, Room to Write champions creativity and the importance of place and space in storytelling.\nDeveloped with Hay Festival to support writers at a critical stage in their career\, the Room to Write award recognises that time\, space\, and a change of environment are essential to fuel creativity and often inaccessible due to financial or personal constraints.\nOpen to UK-based writers\, the award offers eight recipients an Airbnb coupon worth £1\,500\, enabling them to stay in a UK location of their choosing to support focused writing.\nApplications for the award are open now here\, closing Sunday 31 May. See the website for detailed full terms and conditions.\nAn accompanying digital content series\, recorded at the Festival’s flagship UK edition\, 21–31 May\, will feature established writers sharing their top writing tips and reflections on the role of place in storytelling\, to engage a wider audience in creative inspiration.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/hay-festival-room-to-write/
CATEGORIES:Flash Fiction Competitions,Non-fiction Competitions,Novel Competitions,Poetry Competitions,Short Story Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260601
DTSTAMP:20260501T230427
CREATED:20260413T095809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260415T142152Z
UID:1585-1780185600-1780271999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:BPA First Novel Award 2026
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 31st May 2026\nEntry Fee: £25 (some free places are available to writers on low incomes)\nPrizes: Winner: £1\,500 + Agent Introduction; Runner up: £500 + Agent Introduction; Most Promising Talent: £250\nWord Limit: 5\,000 words plus a 300 word synopsis and a covering letter\nJudges: Olivia Maidment (Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency) and novelist Freya Bromley\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website:  bluepencilagency.com/blue-pencil-agency-annual-competitions/bpa-first-novel-award-2026\n\nThe BPA First Novel Award is run by the Blue Pencil Agency who offer a range of services for authors including manuscript assessment\, mentoring and copy editing. They also run events for writers. The winners of the competition will receive cash prizes (with £1\,500 to the winner)\, but arguably more valuable than the dish is the additional prize in each case: an introduction to a literary agent.  \nThe competition judges for 2026 are literary agent Olivia Maidment (Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency) and novelist Freya Bromley. \nNote that as well as submitting the opening chapter or chapters of your novel (up to a maximum of 5\,000 words)\, you should also include a 300-word synopsis and a covering letter – each on separate documents. As always with writing competitions\, ensure you check the submission information carefully and comply with spacing/font requirements. \nNote that there are at least 20 free entries available for low income writers\, details of which can be found on the competition page below the ‘How to submit’ section.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/bpa-first-novel-award/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260601
DTSTAMP:20260501T230427
CREATED:20260416T141802Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T141802Z
UID:13995-1780185600-1780271999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:First Novel Prize 2026
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23.59 (UK time) 31st May 2026\nEntry Fee: £25 per entry\nPrizes: First prize: £1\,000; Shorlist Prize: £500\nWord Limit: 5\,000 words plus synopsis\nJudges: Hayley Steed (Literary Agent at Janklow & Nesbit UK)\, Sally Williamson (Editorial Director at Transworld)\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website: https://www.firstnovel.co.uk/\n\nIn its 11th consecutive year\, the First Novel Prize aims to discover an original new voice in fiction writing\, across the English language world. The 2026 edition of the First Novel Prize is now open for entries of up to 5\,000 words (plus a synopsis) of you novel.  \nThe competition features two excellent judges: Hayley Steed\, Literary Agent at Janklow & Nesbit UK\, one of the UK’s leading agencies\, and Sally Williamson. Editorial Director at Transworld\, part of Penguin Random House UK. Check out the competition website for the full details.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/first-novel-prize/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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