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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for NewWriters.org.uk
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DTSTART:20240101T000000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250831
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250901
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250519T130746Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T093126Z
UID:2790-1756598400-1756684799@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:SaveAs Writers' International Writing Competition 2025 - Prose
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 31st August 2025\nName: The Canterbury Festival Fiction Prize sponsored by Canterbury Festival\nTheme Facing the Storm\nEntry Fee: £5 per short story\, £12 for three\nPrizes: First: £200; Second: £100; Third: £50\nWord Limit: 3\,500 words\nCategory: Short story competition\nJudge: Victoria Grainger\nCompetition Website: saveaswriters.co.uk/competitions/facing-the-storm.html\n\nTo commemorate the the 250th anniversary of J. M. W. Turner’s birth\, the theme for this year’s competition is ‘Facing the Storm’\, which can be interpreted as broadly as entrants like. \nIf inspiration is needed\, Turner 250 is a year-long festival of special exhibitions and events. You can find out more at www.tate.org.uk/art/turner-250. However\, the theme of stormy seascapes can be freely interpreted\, metaphorically or literally\, with or without reference to Turner’s life and art. \nBe sure to read the full terms and conditions on the competition site before entering.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/saveas-writers-story-competition/
CATEGORIES:Short Story Competitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://newwriters.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Saveas-Writers-Writing-Competition-2025.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250831
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250901
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250518T125920Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T093743Z
UID:2783-1756598400-1756684799@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:SaveAs Writers' International Writing Competition 2025 - Poetry
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 31st August 2025\nName: The Canterbury Christ Church University Poetry Prize\nTheme Facing the Storm\nEntry Fee: £4 per poem\, £10 for three\nPrizes: First: £200; Second: £100; Third: £50\nWord Limit: 60 lines\nCategory: Poetry competition\nJudge: Mara Adamitz Scrupe\nCompetition Website: saveaswriters.co.uk/competitions/facing-the-storm.html\n\nTo commemorate the the 250th anniversary of J. M. W. Turner’s birth\, the theme for this year’s competition is ‘Facing the Storm’\, which can be interpreted as broadly as entrants like. \nIf inspiration is needed\, Turner 250 is a year-long festival of special exhibitions and events. You can find out more at www.tate.org.uk/art/turner-250. However\, the theme of stormy seascapes can be freely interpreted\, metaphorically or literally\, with or without reference to Turner’s life and art. \nBe sure to read the full terms and conditions on the competition site before entering.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/saveas-writers-poetry-competition/
CATEGORIES:Poetry Competitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://newwriters.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Saveas-Writers-Writing-Competition-2025.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250829
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250830
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250722T070204Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250723T121633Z
UID:6540-1756425600-1756511999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Ink of Ages Fiction Prize 2026
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 29th August 2025\nEntry Fee: FREE\nPrizes: $1\,000 USD cash prize to the first place winner of the adult contest. Various other prizes from World History Encyclopedia and Oxford University Press\nWord Limit: 1\,500 to 2\,000 words (800 to 1\,000 for the Youth Prize\, for those aged 13 to 17)\nGenre Guidelines: Historical Fiction or Mythological Fiction (see site for details)\nCategory: Short Story Competitions\nCompetition Website:  fictionprize.worldhistory.org\n\nThe Ink of Ages Fiction Prize is organized by World History Encyclopedia and sponsored by Oxford University Press and is free to enter. With both 18+ and youth (13-17) options\, the contest accepts historical and mythological short stories. Take a read through the guidelines on the competition site for the full information. But if you enjoy writing historical or mythological fiction\, this is a great contest for you.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/ink-ages-fiction-prize/
CATEGORIES:Short Story Competitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://newwriters.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Ink-of-Ages.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250827
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250828
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250702T085354Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250721T075737Z
UID:10251-1756252800-1756339199@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Green Stories Epiphanies Flash Fiction Competition
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 27th August 2025\nEntry Fee: Entrants must purchase at least one book from the Green Stories project\nPrizes: 1st Place: £300; 7 Runners-up prizes: £100\nWord Limit: 500 words\nTheme: Epiphanies!\nCategories: Transport\, Home and garden\, Food\, Nature\, Consumption/waste\, Activism\nCompetition Website:  greenstories.org.uk/flash-fiction-competition-epiphanies-2\n\nThe Green Stories Project is running a Flash Fiction Competition with the them of Epiphanies. \nThe writing competition invites writers to submit a story about transformation\, when a moment of epiphany causes one or more characters to change for the greener. \nThe transformative realisation could relate to any attitude or behaviour with environmental implications (e.g. food\, travel\, consumption\, gardening\, cleaning\, etc.)\, or the story could focus on the benefits of any greener alternative (e.g. environment\, health\, status\, spirit\, soul). \n£300 prize for the winning story plus £100 prize for 7 runners up. Stories are invited in the following categories: \nCategories:\n– Transport\n– Home and garden\n– Food\n– Nature\n– Consumption/waste\n– Activism (e.g. campaigns\, protest\, or internal activism\, for instance\, within a school or business)\n– Other \nThere is no entry fee\, but all entrants must purchase at least one book from the Green Stories project as a guide to competition criteria (entertaining fiction that showcases green solutions). Green Stories books must be purchased from habitatpress.com/shop/.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/green-stories-flash-fiction-competition/
CATEGORIES:Flash Fiction Competitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://newwriters.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Epiphanies-Comp-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250815
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250816
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250519T154412Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T095727Z
UID:3894-1755216000-1755302399@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Bournemouth Writing Prize
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 15th August 2025\nEntry Fee: £10 (for three poems or one short story)\nPrizes: First prize: £1\,000; second prize: £300; third prize: £200; published in Dorset Magazine\, read entry at the 2026 Bournemouth Writing Festival celebration event\nLine/Word Limit: Poetry – 30 lines; Short Story – 3\,000 words\nCategories: Poetry and Short Story Competitions\nJudges: Madeleine Milburn (Short Story) and Abu Ibrahim (Poetry)\nCompetition Website: bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk/2026-writing-competition\n\nThe Bournemouth Writing Prize celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2026\, with the largest prize fund of £3\,000 for winners. Every year\, they support a writing charity to help more people to express themselves through words – providing access to writing professionals and offering free workshops. This year\, the competition will support The Storyworks. Entrants can make a donation to the charity helping young people find their voice when submitting their entry. \nThe Short Story Judge is Madeleine Milburn\, the founder of Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency\, one of the top literary agents in the UK. While the Poetry Judge is Bournemouth-based Abu Ibrahim (IB)\, a poet and spoken word artist who has gained recognition for his work across various literary platforms.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/bournemouth-writing-prize/
CATEGORIES:Poetry Competitions,Short Story Competitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://newwriters.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250806
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250807
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250511T122448Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250721T080550Z
UID:2136-1754438400-1754524799@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Aurora Prize for Writing 2025
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23.59 (UK time) on 6th August 2025\nEntry Fee: £9 (£7 for additional entries)\nPrizes: Winner: £500 in each category\, Second: £150\, Third: A ticket to the 2027 Writers’ Conference\, hosted by Writing East Midlands\nWord Limit: 60 lines (poetry)\, 2\,000 words (short story)\nCategory: Poetry and short fiction competition\nCompetition Website: writingeastmidlands.co.uk/for-writers/aurora-prize-for-writing\n\nRun by Writing East Midlands\, in partnership with the Society of Authors\, the Aurora Prize for Writing is open for entries of either short fiction or poetry. Winners of each category will receive a prize of £500\, feedback on a piece of work of their choice from a leading literary agent (or Editor as appropriate) and a years free membership to the Society of Authors\, which includes access to advice and resources on all aspects of the business of writing. \nThis year’s judges include T.S. Eliot Prize winner Joelle Taylor\, reading poetry\, and multi-award-winning author Irenosen Okojie\, judging prose. \nWinners will also receive a session with Society of Authors staff\, including an introduction to how the Society can support them in their careers as professional authors and covering essential advice on copyright\, payment terms and contracts. There are also prizes for second and third places and for regional regional winners. Shortlisted writers will also receive a free masterclass with their relevant judge.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/aurora-prize-writing/
CATEGORIES:Poetry Competitions,Short Story Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250804
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250805
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250703T101801Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250703T101801Z
UID:10280-1754265600-1754351999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival Writing Awards
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 11.59pm on Monday 4 August 2025\nEntry Fee: Free\nPrizes: The winning entries are published in an illustrated book\, also available as an eBook.\nWord Limit: Varies\, see listing\nTheme: Comfort & Disturb\nCategory: Story\, Creative Non-fiction\, Poetry Competitions\nCompetition Website: mhfestival.com/2025/05/smhaf-2025-writing-competition-now-open\n\nThe Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival’s 2025 Writing Competition is open for entries.  \nThe theme for 2025 award is ‘Comfort & Disturb’. This can be interpreted in any way you choose – the limit is your imagination. For this year’s competition\, there are three categories and you can submit no more than one piece in each category:\n– FICTION: Short fiction pieces\, including short stories\, between 500 and 2000 words.\n– POETRY: Poems\, up to 40 lines.\n– CREATIVE NONFICTION: Creative writing with a factual basis\, between 500 and 2000 words. Examples can include letters\, diary entries\, autobiographical writing\, personal essays\, and creative journalism. \nEntrants must be over 16 years of age and entries must be typed and in English or Scots. Shortlisted entrants will be invited to read their entry at the Writing Awards ceremony at SMHAF. This will take place in Aberdeen on Wednesday 29 October. Category winners and the overall winner will be announced on the day.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/scottish-mental-health-arts-festival-writing-awards/
CATEGORIES:Flash Fiction Competitions,Non-fiction Competitions,Poetry Competitions,Short Story Competitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://newwriters.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Scottish-Mental-Health-Arts-Festival-Writing-Awards.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250801
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250802
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250718T141829Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250721T061849Z
UID:5072-1754006400-1754092799@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:The Dorothy Dunnett Society / HWA Short Story Award 2025
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: Midnight (UK time) on 1st August 2025\nEntry Fee:  £5\nPrizes: Winner: £500 plus mentoring and publication\nWord Limit: 3\,500 words\nNote: Stories must be set at least 35 years in the past\nCategory: Short Story Competitions\nCompetition Website: historicalwriters.org/ddshwass-award-2025/\n\nThe Dorothy Dunnett Society / HWA Short Story Award 2025 is open to short stories that are set at least 35 years in the past. The competition is run by the Historical Writers’ Association and the Dorothy Dunnett Society and the winner will receive £500\, mentoring sessions from publishing experts and publication in  Whispering Gallery and on www.historiamag.com. Two further highly commended writers will also be offered mentoring.  \nAll six shortlisted writers will have their stories published as an ebook / print on demand edition by the HWA and Dorothy Dunnett Society via Amazon and each shortlisted author will receive two print copies. Longlist announced on 24 September. Shortlisted\, highly commended and winning stories announced on 1 October and shortlisted authors will be invited the the Crown Awards Ceremony on 19 November in central London.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/dorothy-dunnett-hwa-short-story-award/
CATEGORIES:Short Story Competitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://newwriters.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/The-Dorothy-Dunnett-Society-HWA-Short-Story-Award-2024-scaled-e1710775616969.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250731
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250801
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250522T132930Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250522T132930Z
UID:9904-1753920000-1754006399@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:The Novelry: The Next Big Story - £75\,000 Prize
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 31 July 2025\nEntry Fee: £15\nPrizes: 1st Place: £75\,000; the winner and seven runners-up\, will receive The\nFinished Novel Course.\nWord Limit: Opening 1\,500 words (three pages)\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website:  thenovelry.com/prize\n\nThe Novelry is pushing the boat all the way out with The Next Big Story prize. Almost unbelievably\, the top prize is a whopping £75\,000! (That’s more than the Booker Prize winner gets!) And you don’t even have to have finished your novel. \nAll you need is the idea for a story and the first thee pages of what could be a novel.\nOne grand winner will scoop the £75\,000 prize and\, along with seven runners-up\, will receive The\nFinished Novel Course to create\, write\, and edit their novel with our all-star cast of writing coaches and former Big Five editors for submission to our partner literary agencies. \nThe judging panel includes movers and shakers from the book world\, including Emma Roberts\,\nTayari Jones\, Zibby Owens\, Julia Quinn\, Zosia Mamet\, Brady Lockerby\, Yann Martel\, Carley Fortune\,\nJackie Oshry\, and Kimmy Nwokorie. They’ll be looking for the next big story. Could it be yours? \nThis is an opportunity that might seem too good to be true\, but we’ve checked it carefully\, and it is true! So if you want to write The Next Big Story\, get involved today. \nThe Novelry is the global fiction writing school offering courses\, coaching\, and community to help\nthe next generation of writers become authors. Founded by Booker Prize-listed author Louise Dean\, with a team of bestselling authors and book editors from Big Five publishing houses offering direct submission to leading literary agencies. The Novelry helps writers find their stories and go from book idea to book deal. Learn more at: thenovelry.com
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/novelry-next-big-story/
LOCATION:VirtualLocation
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250731
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250801
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250424T102935Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250424T103113Z
UID:9412-1753920000-1754006399@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Southlands Arts Creative Writing Competition 2025
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: Midnight (UK time) on 31 July 2025\nEntry Fee: £3.00 for a single submission. £5 if you submit to both life writing and creative writing\nPrizes: Adults: First prize in each adult category is £100\, second prize is £50\, runners up will each receive £20. Under 18s: First prize in each under 18 category is £50\, second prize is £25\, runners up will each receive £10\nWord Limit: 2\,000 words (excluding title)\nEligibility: Prose only from writers resident in the UK at the time of submission\nJudges: Jayne Towndrow\, Paula O’Shea and Elizabeth Drummond (published author)\nCategories: Fiction/Short Story / Life Writing\nCompetition Website: southlandsarts.co.uk/competition\n\nThe Southlands Writing Competition 2025 is open for entries until the deadline on 31st July 2025. There are two categories for entry: Fiction/Short Story and Life Writing. The theme for the Fiction/Short Story category is the weather. It’s up to you how you include the weather but some kind of weather must be included. Entries for the Life Writing category should be about the writer’s own life. \nEntry fees are: £3.00 for a single submission. £5 if you submit to both life writing and creative writing. Fees go toward the prize pots and the Southlands Arts Centre\, a charity with a mission to bring the arts to the local and wider community.  \nCheck out the competition website for further details.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/southlands-arts-creative-writing-competition/
CATEGORIES:Non-fiction Competitions,Short Story Competitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://newwriters.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Southlands-Creative-Writing-Competition-2025.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250721
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250722
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250618T074231Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250618T074337Z
UID:10063-1753056000-1753142399@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Flashback Fiction Challenge 2025
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23:59 (UK time) 21st July\, 2025\nEntry Fee: Lucky Dip Tickets:- Early Bird: £4\, General: £8\, from 23rd April: £9; Golden Tickets:- Early Bird: £15\, General: £20\nPrizes: 1st Place: £1000\nWord Limit: 3\,000 words max\nCategory: Short Story Competitions\nCompetition Website:  globesoup.net/2025-flashback-fiction-challenge\n\nFor 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. \nIf 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. \nThe decades are:\n1. 1950s (1950-1959)\n2. 1960s (1960-1969)\n3. 1970s (1970-1979)\n4. 1980s (1980-1989)\n5. 1990s (1990-1999)\n6. Early 2000s (2000-2009) \nYou can read more about the rules and guidance for competition HERE. \nSo 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! \nNote 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.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/flashback-fiction-challenge/
LOCATION:VirtualLocation
CATEGORIES:Short Story Competitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://newwriters.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Globe-Soup.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250720
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250721
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250630T133135Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250630T133135Z
UID:10227-1752969600-1753055999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Galtellì "Reeds in the Wind" International Literary Prize 2025
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 20th July 2025\nEntry Fee: FREE\nPrizes: 1st Place: €500.00\nWord Limit: 5\,000 and 7\,000 characters (NOT words)\, excluding title\nEligibility: Open to anyone aged 18 or over\, international\nparticipants welcome\, entries can be written in Italian\, Sardinian\, or English\nCategory: Short Story Competitions\nCompetition Website:  premiocannealvento.it/en/premio\n\nThis free-to-enter literary prize is run by The Municipality of Galtellì\, in collaboration with Jane Austen’s Book Club Association. the Galtellì “Reeds in the Wind” International Literary Prize is dedicated to Grazia Deledda\, Nobel Prize for Literature. \nNote there are several rules that must be adhered to in order to avoid disqualification\, so please read the details on the competition website carefully. \nThe competition is open to anyone aged 18 or over. International participants are welcome\, entries can be written in Italian\, Sardinian\, or English.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/galtelli-international-literary-prize/
CATEGORIES:Short Story Competitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://newwriters.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/International-Literary-Prize-Canne-al-Vento-e1751290240507.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250712
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250713
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250512T122756Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250513T135636Z
UID:6084-1752278400-1752364799@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Scottish Wildlife Trust Words of the Wild Writing Competition
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 11:59pm on 12 July 2025\nEntry Fee: FREE\nAdult Prizes: Various prize bundles\nWord Limit: 1\,000 words\nTheme: From source to sea\nCategories: Short Story Competitions\, Poetry Competitions\, Non Fiction Competitions\nCompetition Website: scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/wordsofthewild/competition\n\nThe Scottish Wildlife Trust is once again inviting you to tell your story of Scotland’s wildlife and wild places. Have you witnessed a wildlife spectacle that took your breath away? Or had a wildlife encounter that stopped you in your tracks? Which words would you use to describe these experiences? \nSubmissions can be in English\, Scots or Gaelic up to 1\,000 words long and written in any form: poem\, letter\, short story\, essay\, song lyrics – whichever works best to tell your story. This year’s theme is “From source to sea”.  \nA winner from each age and language category will be selected by the panel of judges and will receive an amazing prize bundle: \nAdult winners (18 years and over)\n– A pair of Badger binoculars from Viking Optical\n– A £100 NHBS wildlife equipment voucher\n– A selection of 5x nature books from Canongate\n– A copy of Snorkelling Britain from Wild Things Publishing\n– A 1-year subscription to British Wildlife magazine\n– A bottle of the Trust’s 60th anniversary Connell’s Wild Scotland gin from Selkirk Distillers\n– A year’s membership to the Trust or one of our wildlife adoptions \nJunior winners (under 18 years)\n– A snorkel\, mask and tow float set from Arran Active\n– A £100 NHBS wildlife equipment voucher\n– A copy of Snorkelling Britain from Wild Things Publishing\nOne of the following:\n– A thornback ray sponsorship package from Macduff Marine Aquarium\n– A rockpooling goody bag from the Berwickshire Marine Reserve\n– A guided experience snorkelling session with Basking Shark Scotland**\n– A year’s membership to the Trust or one of our wildlife adoptions \nTwo runners-up in each category will also receive one of our wildlife adoption packs. \nWinners will be announced at a special event as part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival in October. \nYour submission will be judged on its originality\, creativity and inspirational qualities by a brilliant panel of judges including Craig Aitchison\, Susi Briggs\, Seonaidh Charity\, Anne Frater\, Eve McIntosh\, Len Pennie\, and Dr Kenny Taylor.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/words-wild-writing-competition/
CATEGORIES:Non-fiction Competitions,Poetry Competitions,Short Story Competitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://newwriters.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/From-Source-to-Sea-Writing-Competition.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250630
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250701
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250603T080939Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250702T095354Z
UID:1947-1751241600-1751327999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Alzheimer's Society Poetry Competition
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: Midnight (UK time) on 30 June 2025\nEntry Fee: Free (up to three entries)\nPrizes: Publication in the Alzheimer’s Society magazine\, Dementia Together\nWord Limit: 30 lines maximum\nCategory: Poetry Competitions\nCompetition Website: alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/publications-and-factsheets/dementia-together/poetry-competition-2025-dementia-together-magazine\n\nThe free-to-enter Alzheimer’s Society Poetry Competition is open to poems of up to 30 lines on the subject of dementia or people affected by the condition. It is open to residents of the UK\, the Republic of Ireland\, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands aged 16 or above at the time of entry. Poems must be your original work and not published elsewhere (unless in a personal capacity\, such as on your blog – ask us if you’re unsure).  \nEntry is by email or post and the winning poems will be published in the Alzheimer’s Society magazine\, Dementia Together. Check out the competition website for the full details.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/alzheimers-society-poetry-competition/
CATEGORIES:Poetry Competitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://newwriters.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Alzheimers-Society-Poetry-Competition-scaled-e1681982509726.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250630
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250701
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250513T095410Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250513T095410Z
UID:9741-1751241600-1751327999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Hastings Book Festival Competition 2025
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 10pm on 30 June 2025\nEntry Fee: Single entry fee is £8.25; Two entries: £15; Three entries £21 (Max one entry for creative non-fiction)\nPrizes: 1st prize £250\, 2nd prize £100\, and 3rd prize £50\nWord Limit: Stories up to 2\,500 words; poems up to 40 lines; creative non-fiction up to 1\,000 words\nEligibility: Entrants to all competitions must be a minimum of 18 years old at time of entry\, but the competition is open to all\, including non-UK based writers.\nJudges: Short Story\, Jen Calleja (Poetry)\, Creative Non-Fiction\nCategory: James Young (Short Story)\, Poetry\, Sam Davey (Creative Non-Fiction)\nCompetition Website: hastingsbookfest.org/competitions\n\nThe annual Hastings Book Festival Competition launched on 31 March 2025 and closed on 30 June 2025. With prizes for short stories\, poems and creative non-fiction\, there’s something for everyone\, with extra options for those living in Sussex or near Hastings. \nThe categories and prizes are as follows: \nThe main Hastings Book Festival Writing competition is for writers of short story and poetry and can be on any theme. Entries are welcome from anywhere in the world. \nThe Sussex Prize is for writers living in East and West Sussex and one will be chosen from the shortlisted entries of each of the categories for the main competition. \nThe Founder’s Prize is for emerging writers living within a 20-mile radius of Hastings and St Leonards-on-Sea. It is for works of creative non-fiction and the theme is ‘REFLECTIONS’. This will be limited to one entry per person with a maximum of 50 entries overall.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/hastings-book-festival-competition/
CATEGORIES:Non-fiction Competitions,Poetry Competitions,Short Story Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250630
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250701
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250306T093405Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250306T094305Z
UID:8583-1751241600-1751327999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Sunlight Books Time Travel Short Story Competition
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 30 June 2025\nEntry Fee: £18 per story\nPrizes: 1st Place: £500 and featured in Sunlight Books’ Time-Travel Anthology\, Highly Commended Stories may also be considered for publication\nWord Limit: 1\,000 to 8\,000 words\nCategory: Short Story Competitions\nCompetition Website:  sunlightbooks.com/time-travel\n\nSunlight Books Time Travel Short Story Competition is open to entries of between 1\,000 and 8\,000 words until 30th June 2025. Note the following rules and judging criteria:\n– Originality is key—entries must be 100% original and not generated by AI\n– Judging Breakdown: 10% Formatting\, 15% Spelling & Grammar\, 25% Use of Time-Travel Concept\, 50% Storytelling (Writing\, Character & Plot Development)\n– Strict anonymity—your name must not appear anywhere in the document\n– Stories published elsewhere are NOT eligible until after the competition exclusivity period (30 days post-results) \nThe winner will receive the top prize of £500 plus publication in the Sunlight Books’ Time-Travel Anthology\, while the Highly Commended Stories will also be considered for publication. \nCheck out the competition site for the full terms and information.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/sunlight-books-time-travel-competition/
CATEGORIES:Short Story Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250630
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250701
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250303T104841Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250401T094621Z
UID:8553-1751241600-1751327999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Flash 500 Flash Fiction Competition
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: Midnight (UK time) on 30 June 2025\nEntry Fee: £5 for one story\, £8 for two stories\, £11 for three stories\, £14 for four stories\nPrizes: 1st Place: £300; Runner-up: £200; Third: £100\nWord Limit: 500 words (not including title)\nCategory: Flash Fiction Competitions\nCompetition Website:  flash500.com/flash-fiction\n\nThe folk at flash500.com have a great quarterly competition aimed at flash fiction writers. Entries of up to 500 words are eligible\, with deadlines on 31st March\, 30th June\, 30th September and 31st December.  \nThe entry fee of £5 for one story\, £8 for two stories\, £11 for three stories\, £14 for four stories. Entries must not have been published and must be in English\, though entrants can reside anywhere in the world. So if you have honed at least the first part of you novel\, get involved and give yourself a chance of earning the top prize of £300.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/flash-500-competition/
CATEGORIES:Flash Fiction Competitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://newwriters.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Flash-500-writing-competition-logo-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250630
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250701
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20240718T102317Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240722T121042Z
UID:588-1751241600-1751327999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:To Hull And Back - A Humorous Short Story Competition
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 11.59pm GMT on 30 June 2025\nEntry Fee: Early bird (until 31st March 2025): £10 for 1 story\, £17 for 2 stories\, £20 for 3 stories. From 1st April 2023 to 30th June 2025: £12 for 1 story\, £20 for 2 stories\, £24 for 3 stories\nPrizes: 1st Prize: £1\,000\, your face on the To Hull And Back Anthology cover and a trip to Hull on a Harley Davidson; 2nd Prize: £200; 3rd Prize: £100; 3 x Highly Commended: £70; 14 x Shortlisted: £35\nWord Limit: 2\,500 words maximum including the title (no minimum)\nJudges: Christopher Fielden and others\nCategory: Short Story Competitions\nCompetition Website:  www.christopherfielden.com/short-story-competition\n\nTo Hull And Back Short Story Competition is the biennial humorous writing contest run by award-winning writer and editor Christopher Fielden. With a very generous total prize pot of £2\,000\, this is a fantastic competition that offers cash prizes to the authors of the top 20 entries. \nAnd not only that… the winner receives what can only be described as a wholly unique prize: the face of the winner author will be printed on the To Hull And Back Short Story Anthology which will be sent to them. But before it wings its way to the winner\, said anthology will be strapped to the handlebars of a Harley Davidson motorcycle and filmed being ridden to Hull and back (from somewhere near Bristol). This might sound a little bizarre\, but there’s nothing wrong with that in our eyes. And just to prove we haven’t made the whole thing up\, you can check out the videos Chris made when riding the faces of previous contests To Hull And Back on the competition website! \nNote that there’s an early bird price and also a discount for additional entries (up to three in total)\, so it pays to get your entries in sooner rather than later. Good luck!
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/to-hull-and-back/
CATEGORIES:Short Story Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250619
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250620
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250611T144729Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250611T144729Z
UID:10042-1750291200-1750377599@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Outside In Written / Spoken Word Micro-Commission
DESCRIPTION:Application Deadline: 9am\, Thursday 19 June 2025\nFee: FREE\nTheme: A poem\, story or short essay in response to the open exhibition ‘Shelter’\nCriteria: Entrants must be based in the West Midlands and encounter significant barriers to the art world\, such as due to health\, disability\, social circumstance or isolation.\nCategory: Writing Courses & Opportunities\nOrganisation Website: outsidein.org.uk/news/shelter-spoken-word-commission\n\nOutside In has a fanatastic opportunity for two West Midlands-based artists as part of their upcoming National Open Exhibition\, ‘Shelter’.   \nOutside In is an award-winning national arts charity that supports artists who encounter significant barriers to the art world\, such as due to health\, disability\, social circumstance or isolation. They are seeking two West Midlands-based artists\, creatives\, writers or poets who meet their criteria to create a written piece in response to our upcoming national open exhibition\, ‘Shelter’. This can be a poem\, a story or a short essay-style piece.  \nThe selected artists will attend either or both the private view and celebration event for ‘Shelter’\, and then have time to write their piece in preparation for a spoken word event in mid- to late-July. The spoken word event date is yet to be confirmed\, but Outside In will ensure the selected artists have sufficient notice and support to write their piece. \nCommission details:\n– Two artists will be commissioned.\n– You do not need to already be signed up as an Outside In artist to apply\, but you do need to meet Outside In’s criteria of encountering barriers to the art world due to health\, disability\, social circumstance or isolation.\n– Each will receive £100.\n– The commissioned artists will be asked to attend one or both of the following events at The New Art Gallery Walsall: The ‘Shelter’ exhibition private view on Friday 27 June\, from 6–8pm & An artist celebration event on Saturday 28 June\, from 12–3pm\n– These events will give you an opportunity to visit the exhibition and to meet the exhibiting artists and curators\, and you can drop in at any time during these hours. A travel bursary of £20 is available if requested.\n– The artists will then work on their pieces following their visits to the exhibition.\n– The commissioned works will be featured on the Outside In website and performed during a spoken word workshop held at The New Art Gallery Walsall in July. The workshop date is yet to be confirmed.   \nHow to apply\nPlease complete a short application form to apply. You can choose to: \n– complete the form on on the website\n– or download the form and send it by email to: anupama.gamanagari@outsidein.org.uk\n– or print the form and send it by post to: Outside In\, PO Box 5571 Brighton BN50 8UR
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/outside-in-open-call-commission/
CATEGORIES:Courses & Opportunities
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250617
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250618
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250528T150110Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250826T135457Z
UID:9965-1750118400-1750204799@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:New Writers Hopeful Haiku Competition 2025
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23.59 (UK time) on Tuesday 17th June 2025\nEntry Fee: FREE\nPrizes: 1st Place: £50 plus one free entry to the New Writers Poetry Competition 2025\, publication on the NewWriters.org.uk website and in the next New Writers Anthology\nWord Limit: three lines with a total of 17 syllables (excluding title)\nTheme: Hope\nCategory: Poetry Competitions\nHow to Enter: Send your entry as an attachment (Word doc or Google doc please) to: competitions@newwriters.org.uk with the email subject “Haiku Competition”.\n\nThis competition is free to enter\, but entrants must sign up to the NewWriters.org.uk newsletter (use THIS LINK to sign up if you haven’t already). \nOur monthly newsletter includes details of upcoming writing competitions (including our current Poetry Competition with a £1\,200 top prize!)\, the deadline for which is one month after that of the the Haiku Competition. The newsletter also includes tips and prompts and other news or offers we think might be of interest to writers. Note that we don’t share subscribers’ information with anyone else. \nYour hope-themed entry should adhere (at least roughly) to the rules of haiku poetry. Please give your entry a title that isn’t ‘Hope’ (as that would complicate the anonymous judging process!). \nEntry to this free competition assumes you accept the following terms and conditions: \n\nEntries must be the sole work of the entrant and no AI or similar software may have been used to write it.\nEntries must be unpublished\, either in print or online (including social media).\nEntrants must be aged 16 years or older at the time of entry.\nEntrants must be signed up to the New Writers Newsletter (also free). If you haven’t signed up yet you can do so using THIS LINK.\nEntries must be related to the theme of ‘Hope’ – though you can interpret that as loosely as you like.\nThe winner of competition will be paid a £50 prize and will receive one free entry to the New Writers Poetry Competition 2025 (worth £10\, deadline 17th July 2025).\nResults of the competition will be published in the NewWriters.org.uk newsletter in January 2025 and the winning entry will be published on the website soon after and in the next New Writers Anthology.\nEntries should be sent as email attachments (Word doc or Google doc please) to competitions@newwriters.org.uk with the email subject “Haiku Competition”.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/haiku-competition/
CATEGORIES:Poetry Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250614
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250615
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250424T093717Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250602T100133Z
UID:9402-1749859200-1749945599@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:AWMA Writing Competition
DESCRIPTION:Deadline:  Extended to 14th June 2025\nEntry Fee: $10 (or $5 for under 16s)\nPrizes: First: $200\, Second: $100\, Third: $50\, & top three get a two-year digital subscription to Martial Arts Magazine (value $98)\nWord Limit: 1\,000 words\nTheme: Martial Arts\nCategory: Short Story Competitions / Non-fiction Competitions\nCompetition Website: austwriters.com/awmacomp-info\n\nCompetition Details\nThe  Albury Wodonga Martial Arts (AWMA) is celebrating their 10th year and to help mark the occasion they are running this writing competition on the theme of Martial Arts. As well as the Open category detailed above for adults\, there are two categories for children. Here are the summaries of all three: \nCategories: \nOpen : Aged 16 and Above\n– Entry Fee: $10\n– Maximum words: 1\,000\n– First: $200\n– Second: $100\n– Third: $50  \n10 to 15 years old\n– Entry Fee: $5\n– Maximum words: 750\n– First: $100 Harvey Norman Gift Voucher\n– Second: $50\n– Third: $25  \n9 years and under\n– Entry Fee: $5\n– Maximum words: 750\n– First: $100\n– Second: $50\n– Third: $25  \nNote that as well as the cash prizes mentioned\, all writers in the top three in their category will receive a two-year digital subscription to Martial Arts Magazine (value $98). \nThe entries can be fiction or non-fiction as long as martial arts are a central part and you treat it with respect. \nThe judges for the competition are as follows:\nVanessa McKay – Publications Manager of Martial Arts Magazine Australia\nNoah Legel – Renshi 4th Dan\, Owner of Illinois Practical Karate\nJustin Colbert – Renshi 5th Dan\, Owner of Albury Wodonga Martial Arts \nCheck the competition website for further details.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/awma-writing-competition/
CATEGORIES:Non-fiction Competitions,Short Story Competitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://newwriters.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/AWMA-Writing-Competition-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250602
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250603
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250304T074617Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250305T132425Z
UID:5309-1748822400-1748908799@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Canterbury Festival Poet of the Year Competition 2025
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 2 June 2025\nEntry Fee: £5 for each poem\nPrizes: Winner: £300 (and named Canterbury Festival Poet of the Year(; Second place: £150; Third place: £75\nWord Limit: 60 lines maximum (excluding title and line breaks)\nJudges: Luigi Marchini (Chair\, SaveAs Writers Group)\, Kerry Rawlinson (Joint Winner\, Poet of the Year 2024) and Gary Michael Studley (Joint Winner\, Poet of the Year 2024)\nCategory: Poetry Competitions\nCompetition Website: canterburyfestival.co.uk/poet-of-the-year-competition-2025\n\nThe Canterbury Festival Poet of the Year Competition 2025 is open to national and international entries with a closing date of 2nd June 2025. With a maximum of 60 lines (excluding line breaks and title)\, there’s space to flex your poetic muscles. The judging panel (Luigi Marchini – Chair\, SaveAs Writers Group\, and Joint Winners – Poet of the Year 2024\, Kerry Rawlinson and Gary Michael Studley)\, will pick the winners and a longlist of entries will be published in the 2024 anthology. Check out the Canterbury Festival website for the full terms and conditions.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/canterbury-festival-poetry-competition/
CATEGORIES:Poetry Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250601
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250701
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250513T084410Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250829T134709Z
UID:9727-1748736000-1751327999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:The Writers' HQ Write A Novel Festival
DESCRIPTION:Course Dates: Sunday 1 June to Monday 30 June\nFee: Free to Writers’ HQ Gold Star Members\nWhat is it?: Workshops\, write-alongs\, the Wild Draft Challenge and more\nWorkshops: Twelve workshops hosted by a specially curated gang of writers and authors who will teach and inspire you\nCourses: Access to all Writers’ HQ novel plotting\, editing and troubleshooting courses\nCategory: Writing Courses & Opportunities\nFestival Website: writershq.co.uk/the-writers-hq-write-a-novel-festival\n\nThe Writers’ HQ Write A Novel Festival runs from the 1st to the 30th June 2025 and is a month of novel writing\, workshops\, write-alongs\, community and tea drinking. Run by the excellent Writers’ HQ\, will “Festival will hold your hand and kick your butt through starting\, middling and finishing your novel.” \nThere are 12 workshops including: \n– Writing A Wild Draft with Sarah Lewis\n– Write-Along with Veronique Kootstra\n– Funny Hats: Characterisation Masterclass with Akshay Gajria\n– Write-Along with Kathy Hoyle\n– Making Space for Stories that Hold Linh S Nguyen\n– Write-Along with Mara Livermore\n– Making Magic Real with Leone Ross \nThe workshops are free to Gold Star Members\, which costs £20 a month or £190 annually\, and also include access to 25 writing courses\, monthly writing masterclasses\, and access to the Writers’ HQ community. \nSo if you want to write that novel that’s been brewing inside you for years\, get involved with the Writers’ HQ Write A Novel Festival.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/writers-hq-write-novel-festival/
CATEGORIES:Courses & Opportunities
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250601
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20241203T113556Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250424T092236Z
UID:1189-1748649600-1748735999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Bridport Prize - Short Story
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23.59 (UK time) on 31 May 2025\nEntry Fee: £14 per entry\nPrizes: First prize: £5\,000; second prize: £1\,000; third prize: £500; highly commended: 10 x £100\nWord Limit: 5\,000 words (no minimum\, title not included in the word count)\nJudge: Leone Ross\nCategory: Short Story Competitions\nCompetition Website: bridportprize.org.uk/the-competition/short-story\n\nCompetition Details\nThe Bridport Short Story Prize can prove a fantastic stepping stone for fiction writers who are seeking to make a career out of telling stories. The prestige of the Bridport Prize means that winning their short story prize (or even making it onto the shortlist) can cause agents and publishers to take you seriously. Winning and highly commended UK based writers are entered into the BBC short story competition. Literary agent A.M. Heath reads all the shortlist and considers representation. \nOh\, and the £5\,000 prize for the winner isn’t bad either! \nThe 5\,000-word limit gives you plenty of room to flex your writing muscles\, but there’s no minimum length so only write as many words as if necessary for your story. \nThe judge for the short story competition is Leone Ross\, a short story writer\, novelist and editor. Her fiction has been nominated for the Women’s Prize\, the Goldsmiths award\, the RSL Ondaatje award and the Edge Hill Prize\, among others. In 2022\, she won the Manchester Prize for Fiction for her short story\, When We Went Gallivanting.  \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-short-story/
CATEGORIES:Short Story Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250601
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20240119T091131Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250513T085749Z
UID:4171-1748649600-1748735999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Goldfinch Novel Award 2025
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 11.59 (UK time) 31st May 2025\nEntry Fee: £10 per entry\nPrizes: First prize: £500\nWord Limit: 3\,000 words from the beginning of a completed novel plus one-page synopsis\nJudge: James Mustelier\, Literary Agent and Editorial Consultant at The Bent Agency\nCategory: Novel Competitions\nCompetition Website: goldfinch-books.com/novel\n\nIndependent bookshop Goldfinch Books are once again running their Novel Award in 2025. \nThe Goldfinch Novel Award 2025 is a prize for emerging authors (aged 16+) with completed young adult or adult novels. This competition is open to authors nationwide and will have a prize of £500 for the winning novel\, chosen by judge James Mustelier\, Literary Agent and Editorial Consultant at The Bent Agency. \nWith a reasonable entry fee of £10\, and a longlist announcement soon after the deadline\, this could be an excellent opportunity for aspiring authors. Note that longlisted authors to submit full manuscript of completed novels within a week of longlist announcement.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/goldfinch-novel-award/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250518
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250901
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250122T142212Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250901T091441Z
UID:7907-1747526400-1756684799@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Globe Soup: How to Write Stories That Win Contests Course & Workshops
DESCRIPTION:Course Dates: Ongoing throughout 2025\nFee: Intro rate: £29.99 (Standard: £79.99)\nCourse Content: 7 modules and 30 lessons\, available as both PDF and audio files for flexible learning\, released throughout the year\nWorkshops: 7 interactive workshops in 2025\nCategory: Writing Courses & Opportunities\nCourse Website: globesoup.net/how-to-write-stories-that-win-contests\n\nRun by Globe Soup\, How to Write Stories That Win Contests is a comprehensive online course and workshop experience designed to help fiction writers craft compelling\, impactful stories that resonate with and captivate readers. \nThe course focuses predominantly on short stories but almost all of the lesson include lots of useful information that can be applied to shorter (flash) or longer fiction\, or even poems in some cases. The course includes seven modules\, with a total of 30 lessons\, many of which go into great depth unravelling some of the trickiest parts of fiction writing. In addition\, course participants will be invited to join an interactive workshop group to connect with fellow writers\, ask questions\, receive feedback on your work\, and refine their writing; putting everything they’ve learned into practice. \nAs writing courses go\, this extensive option from Globe Soup offers unbelievable value. So if you want to improve your chances of winning a writing competition\, sign up to How to Write Stories That Win Contests today.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/write-stories-win-contests-course/
CATEGORIES:Courses & Opportunities
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250517
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250718
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250519T134225Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T093303Z
UID:9858-1747440000-1752796799@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:New Writers Poetry Competition 2025
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23:59 (UK time) on Thursday 17th July 2025\nEntry Fee: £10 per entry; (£18 for two entries\, £26 for three entries\, when submitted together)\nPrizes: 1st: £1\,200; 2nd: £300; 3rd: £150; 4th to 6th: £50 each\nPublication: The six winning entries will be published on the NewWriters.org.uk website and in the next New Writers Anthology\nWord Limit: 42 lines (excluding title and line spaces)\nHead Judge: Katrina Moinet (Prize-winning writer of poetry & prose)\nCharity: 10% of all proceeds will be donated to charity (split between First Story and the Funzi & Bodo Trust)\nCategory: Poetry Competitions\nCompetition Website: newwriters.org.uk/poetry-competition\n\nThe third poetry competition run by NewWriters.org.uk\, the New Writers Poetry Competition 2025 is seeking fresh new poetry with no theme or style restrictions. \nWith our biggest-ever prize fund of £1\,800 and the winners getting published on the website and in the next New Writers Anthology\, this is a great competition for new and experienced poets to get their work out there. \nWe’re excited to welcome award-winning writer Katrina Moinet as the Head Judge for the competition. Katrina’s debut debut pamphlet Portrait of a Young Girl Falling was published by Hedgehog Press in 2024 and has since been shortlisted for the Wales Book of the year Award 2025. \nAlso\, 10% of the proceeds from this competition will be donated to charity\, split between two UK-registered charites: First Story (who do some brilliant work to help empower young people and give them a creative voice) and The Funzi and Bodo Trust (who run educational and other developmental projects in Kenya). So even if you don’t win\, you’ll still be contributing to a fantastic cause.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/new-writers-poetry-competition-2025/
CATEGORIES:Poetry Competitions
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ORGANIZER;CN="New Writers UK":MAILTO:competitions@newwriters.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250430
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250501
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250312T114238Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250314T130130Z
UID:5095-1745971200-1746057599@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Channel Islands LGBTQ+ Writing Competition 2025
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: Wednesday 30 April 2025\nEntry Fee: Free\nEligibility: Entrants must be from the Channel Islands. You do not have to be LGBTQ+ yourself to participate.\nTheme: LGBTQ+ theme\, fiction or non-fiction and in any written literary form\nPrizes: Winner of each category will receive a £100 voucher\nWord Limit: 1\,000 words\nAge Categories: ‘Under 18s’ or ’18 and Over’\nCompetition Website:  CLICK HERE for Entry Details\n\nThe Channel Islands LGBTQ+ Writing Competition 2025 is run by Liberate\, a Guernsey-registered charity established in 2014 to include\, inform and support the Lesbian\, Gay\, Bisexual\, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) communities across the Channel Islands.  \nAlthough the theme of the entries should be related to LGBTQ+ in some way\, entrants do not have to be LGBTQ+. Note that entrants must be from the Channel Islands (i.e. born in\, currently live in\, or have lived in Alderney\, Guernsey\, Herm\, Jersey or Sark).
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/channel-islands-lgbtq-writing-competition/
CATEGORIES:Non-fiction Competitions,Poetry Competitions,Short Story Competitions
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250430
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250501
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20241121T090656Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241121T093023Z
UID:7368-1745971200-1746057599@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Oxford/42 New Writing Prize
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 30th April 2025\nEntry Fee: FREE\nPrizes: £1500 plus professional representation by 42\nWhat to Submit: synopsis (up to 300 words)\, an elevator pitch (up to two sentences)\, plus one of: Novel (first 10\,000-15\,000 words); Stage or radio play (complete script of 30-90 pages); Screenplays (script of 30-60 pages for TV show or feature-length film script of 90 pages).\nEligibility: Open to anyone over the age of 18 living\, working or studying in the UK and Ireland\nCategory: Children’s Book Competitions\nCompetition Website:  https://www.42mp.com/page/oxford-42-new-writing-prize\n\nThe Oxford/42 New Writing Prize is a multi-disciplinary storytelling competition and is being run by 42 (a management and production company) in conjunction with The Faculty of English at the University of Oxford. \nTo enter the competition\, you need to submit a synopsis (up to 300 words) and an elevator pitch of no more than two sentences for a work of fiction\, along with one of the following (in Word format):\n– Novel – the first 10\,000 to 15\,000 words\n– Stage or radio play – a complete script of between 30 and 90 pages\n– Screenplays – a script of between 30 and 60 pages for episode one of a TV show or a complete feature-length film script of 90 pages. \nThey have a fantastic panel of judges from literature\, stage and screen including Abby Ajayi\, creator of “Riches” (ITVX and Amazon) and writer on Emmy nominated “Inventing Anna” (Netflix); Chris Chibnall\, creator of “Broadchurch” (ITV)\, “Doctor Who” Showrunner\, and author of DEATH AT THE WHITE HART (Penguin 2025); Robert Douglas-Fairhurst\, author of METAMORPHOSIS and Professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford; and Rona Munro\, award-winning dramatist of “The James Plays” and “Oranges and Sunshine”. \nSee the competition site for details of entry and the full terms and conditions.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/oxford-42-new-writing-prize/
CATEGORIES:Novel Competitions
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250428
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250429
DTSTAMP:20260422T084629
CREATED:20250331T093937Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250618T072636Z
UID:9079-1745798400-1745884799@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Globe Soup 2025 Paranormal Flash Fiction Challenge
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23:59 (UK time) 28th April 2025\nEntry Fee: Lucky Dip Tickets:- Early Bird: £3\, 4th-23rd April: £6\, from 23rd April: £9; Golden Tickets:- Early Bird: £15\, 4th-23rd April: £20\, from 23rd April: £30\nPrizes: 1st Place: £500\, 2nd Place: £300\, 3rd Place: £200\nWord Limit: 600 words max\nCategory: Flash Fiction Competitions\nCompetition Website:  globesoup.net/2025-paranormal-flash-fiction-challenge\n\nThe Globe Soup Paranormal Flash Fiction Challenge 2025 is open for entries. And unlike some previous competitions of theirs\, you get the chance to pick your favourite “phenomenon” (for a few extra pennies). \nIf you take the Lucky Dip option\, you will be randomly assigned a paranormal entity or phenomenon. Once you receive your assignment\, you’ll have until the deadline to craft a complete flash fiction story (of 600 words or fewer) that features this paranormal entity or phenomenon at the heart of the narrative. There’s no minimum word requirement\, but your entry must stand alone as a full story. \nThe paranormal entities Globe Soup have chosen for this year’s challenge are: \n1. Kraken\n2. Doppelgänger\n3. Vanishing Town\n4. Banshee\n5. Astral Projection\n6. Chupacabra\n7. Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP)\n8. Black-Eyed Children \nYou can read more about each of these options on the competition page\, HERE. \nSo 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 paranormal entity! \nNote 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.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/globe-soup-2025-paranormal-challenge/
LOCATION:VirtualLocation
CATEGORIES:Flash Fiction Competitions
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