The Big List of UK Writing Competitions

When it comes to getting your work noticed, there’s little better than winning or being shortlisted for a writing competition… and the odds of that happening aren’t as long as you think. Every competition listed here produces one or more winners every year, as well as numerous honourable mentions and shortlisted writers.

But in order to be selected, your first have to pick a competition to enter. Thus we present our list of excellent writing competitions based in the UK. To appear here a competition must run at least every year, and must have a prize that justifies the entry fee.

If you want to suggest an addition or correction for this list, you can do so using the Big List Update Form.

Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize

[ Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize Website ]

Awarded for the best piece of previously-unpublished writing on the topic of “Forgiveness and Retribution” – the theme of the 2020 Alpine Fellowship Annual Symposium. In addition to the main prize, the winner and two runners up will be invited to attend the symposum in Venice.

Anansi Archive Writing Awards

[ Anansi Archive Website ]

Anansi Archive is a new website dedicated to supporting writers with their endeavours. It runs three quarterly competitions in Flash Fiction, Poetry (no more than 500 words) and Short Story (no more than 3000 words). It offers free entry for a chance to win some small, yet worthwhile cash prizes.

The Annual Wenlock Olympian Society Short Story Competition

[ Wenlock Olympian Website ]

The Wenlock Olympian Society, in collaboration with Much Wenlock and District U3A ‘Writers on the Edge’, has arranged this creative writing competition. Stories can be on any theme, and no more than 2500 words.

Anthology Poetry Prize

[ Anthology Magazine Website ]

Established to recognise and encourage excellence in the craft of poetry writing and to provide a platform for publication, this competition is open to original and previously-unpublished poems in the English language. Entries are invited from poets of all nationalities, living anywhere in the world. Each competition has a theme to which entries must conform.

Anthology Short Story Competition

[ Anthology Magazine Website ]

Established to recognise and encourage creative writing and provide a platform for publication, this competition is open to original and previously unpublished short stories in the English language by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. Stories submitted must conform to a specific theme, which changes each year.

Aurora Prize for Writing

[ Aurora Prize for Writing Website ]

The winners, in each category, will receive a cash prize of £500, feedback on a piece of work of their choice from a leading literary agent (or Editor as appropriate) and a year’s free membership to the Society of Authors, which includes access to advice and resources on all aspects of the business of writing.

Bare Fiction Competitions

[ Bare Fiction Website ]

*CURRENTLY SUSPENDED* A yearly set of competitions administered by the literary magazine Bare Fiction. There are 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes in each category, and the winners are published in an issue of the magazine. Different guest judges are bought in each year to select the winners. *CURRENTLY SUSPENDED*

Bath Flash Fiction Award

[ Bath Flash Fiction Award Website ]

The goal of this contest is to promote flash fiction for both writers and readers, and to bring the genre to a wider audience. Running three times a year, it has substantial prizes and the chance of publication for winning writers. There is also a novella-in-flash award.

Bath Novel Award

[ Bath Novel Award Website ]

An award for unpublished or independently-published novelists. Send along the first 5,000 words of a manuscript of a minimum of 50,000 words in length. A large percentage of shortlisted novelists have gone on to secure a publishing deal. There is a separate competition strand for children’s novels.

Bath Short Story Award

[ Bath Short Story Award Website ]

An international competition that welcomes stories of up to 2,200 words on any theme or subject. Stories must be previously unpublished. The prizes available are £1,200 for 1st place, £300 for 2nd place, and £100 for 3rd place, as well as a special award for the best story by a writer who does not yet have any publications.

BBC National Short Story Award

[ BBC Short Story Award Website ]

One of the most significant short story competitions in the UK, this prize is awarded yearly by the BBC. Entrants must have a prior record of publishing creative work in the UK. Stories up to 8,000 words are accepted, and may be submitted by the author or by their agent. Shortlisted stories are awarded a prize of £600.

Beechmore Books Annual Writing Competition

[ Beechmore Books Website ]

A free writing competition from London-based stationary brand, Beechmore Books. It has a different theme each year and this year (2021), the theme is PERSPECTIVE. It is open to writing of any form. Monetary awards and (some beautiful) writing journals are given to the top two placed entries.

Blue Pencil Agency First Novel Award

[ Blue Pencil Agency Website ]

The Blue Pencil Agency First Novel Award is open to unrepresented and unpublished authors for a novel in any adult fiction genre. The competition was founded in 2017, and is overseen by the Blue Pencil Agency. The winning writer receives a cash prize and an introduction to an agent.

Bridport Prize

[ Bridport Prize Website ]

A prestigious annual competition with different strands for novels, short stories, memoirs, flash fiction and poetry. As well as the prize money there are several supplementary awards, including one for young writers. Selected entries are published in an anthology. They have a bursary scheme for under represented writers.

Brick Lane Bookshop Short Story Prize

[ Brick Lane Bookshop Website ]

This prize, run by Brick Lane Bookshop, is open to all UK residents for original short stories between 1,000 and 5,000 words. Its aim is to celebrate short stories and to give emerging writers encouragement and a little financial space to write. Winners are published in an anthology in addition to receiving prize money.

Bristol Short Story Prize

[ Bristol Short Story Prize Website ]

 An international short story competition opened to published and unpublished writers anywhere in the world. In addition to the main prize, all shortlisted writers are published in an anthology distrubuted by Tangent Books, and receive £100 in prize money. Stories must be under 4,000 words in length.

Caledonia Novel Award

[ Caledonia Novel Award Website ]

Now in its ninth year, this competition is for unpublished and self-published novelists in all genres for adults and YA. They are Edinburgh-based but open to international submissions. As well as the cash prize, the winner of the best novel in the UK & Ireland, will receive a free place on a writing course at Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre.

CAS Short Story Competition

[ CAS Short Story Website ]

This bi-annual competition is to celebrate the best short stories from across the world. It is open to published and unpublished authors, and entries must be between 2000-4000 words. Each of ten shortlisted stories will be published on this site, and there are three cash prizes of £800, £400 and £200.

Commonwealth Short Story Prize

[ Commonwealth Short Story Prize Website ]

A competition run by Commonwealth Writers, designed to reward and promote the best new writing from across the Commonwealth. Prizes are awarded for the best stories overall, as well as the best stories from a given region. Stories must be 2,000 – 5,000 words in length and previously unpublished.

Costa Awards

[ Costa Awards Website ]

A series of book and short story awards for authors from the UK and Ireland (previously known as the Whitbread Book Awards). One of the only UK awards open to children’s books as well as adult. The short story strand is narrowed down by judges and then decided by a popular vote.

Cranked Anvil Flash Fiction Competition

[ Cranked Anvil Website ]

A quarterly flash fiction competition open to any theme or genre. There is a maximum word limit of 500 words. Monetary prizes for the top two placed flash fictions as well as (online) publication.

Cranked Anvil Short Story Competition

[ Cranked Anvil Website ]

A quarterly short story competition that is open to any theme or genre. There is a maximum of 1,500 words and you can enter three stories each quarter. Monetary prizes and (online) publication for the top three placed stories.

Creative Future Writers’ Award

[ Creative Future Writers’ Award Website ]

The Creative Futures Writers’ Award is an annual national writing competition and development programme which celebrates talented, underrepresented writers – including those who lack opportunities due to mental health, disability, health, and from working class, LGBTQIA+, and Black, Asian and other global majority backgrounds. 2023 is the 10^th awards and the theme is ‘X’.

Creative Writing Ink Short Story Competition

[ Creative Writing Ink Website ]

Creative Writing Ink’s short story competition is looking for stories on any topis of no more than 3000 words; prizes include the £1000 top prize but also publication on Creative Writing Ink’s website and a free creative writing course of the winner’s choice. Submissions must be made through Submittable

Edinburgh Award for Flash Fiction

[ Story Awards Website ]

Open to writers worldwide and stories on any topic up to 250 words. Top 20 stories offered publication in an annual anthology. Top 20 writers awarded free ticket to the annual Flash Bash awards event at the Scottish Arts Club in Edinburgh. Managed by the Scottish Arts Trust. All proceeds used to support the arts in Scotland.

Elmbridge Literary Competition

[ Elmbridge Literary Comp. Website ]

Jointly run by the R. C. Sherriff Trust and Elmbridge Borough Council, Elmbridge Literary Competition is now in its 17th year. This year, they are looking for short stories and poems on the them of ‘Enigma’ from people of all ages. There are a wide range of age categories and prizes of cash and publication.

Encore Award

[ Encore Award Website ]

This prize is awarded annually for the best second novel published in the UK. The organisers say, “The award fills a niche in the catalogue of literary prizes by celebrating the achievement of outstanding second novels, often neglected in comparison to the attention given to promising first books.”

Exeter Writers Short Story Competition

[ Exeter Writers Website ]

Exeter Writers runs an annual short story competition. The competition began in 2009 and is very popular, receiving entries from all over the world. You can consult anthologies from previous competitions to get a sense of what judges are looking for, and to read winning entries.

Fiction Factory Short Story Competition

[ Fiction Factory Website ]

Fiction Factory are welcoming stories of all genres (excluding Children’s and Young Adult Fiction) for their short story competition. The maximum word limit is 3000 words; entries should be on a Word document, and there is the optional critique of your work for an additional £20.

First Drafts

[ First Drafts Website ]

Previously unpublished writers are invited to submit entries of up to 5,000 words from a novel, narrative nonfiction or short story collection in progress. The prize is a week-long writing retreat at West Dean College, a centre of creativity and tranquillity near Chichester in West Sussex, plus detailed editorial feedback from the judges and six months’ mentoring from a Myriad author.

Forward Poetry Prize

[ Forward Poetry Prize Website ]

The largest annual poetry competition in the UK, this prize rewards the best collection, best first collection, and best single poem in the UK each year. All works put forward for the prize will also be considered for publication in The Forward Book Of Poetry, a yearly anthology. Entries must be published works, and individual poets cannot enter their own work.

Frogmore Poetry Prize

[ Frogmore Press Website ]

The Frogmore Poetry Prize (sponsored by the Frogmore Foundation) was founded in 1987 and has been awarded annually since then. The Prize is set at 250 guineas… but the true Prize is the kudos of joining a select band of winners which includes many notable poets.

Frome Festival Short Story Competition

[ Frome Festival Website ]

The Frome Festival Short Story Competition is an annual, international short story competition looking for the best unpublished stories between 1,000 and 2,200 words. There are cash prizes for the top three stories and an additional prize for the best story by a local writer under the age of 21. For an additional fee, the competition also offers a critique service for your short story.

Galley Beggar Press Short Story Prize

[ Galley Beggar Press Website ]

Galley Beggar Press is an independent publisher committed to publishing daring, innovative fiction creative non-fiction. Their annual prize has a top award of £2,000, along with several other smaller prizes, including cash, books and book vouchers.

Globe Soup Poetry Competition

[ Globe Soup Website ]

Globe Soup are looking for the best poem of up to 50 lines. The theme for Globe Soup Poetry Competitions is always, “Poetry with a Sense of Place”. They accept all forms and styles of poetry.

Globe Soup Short Story Competition

[ Globe Soup Website ]

Globe Soup are looking for the best short story of no more than 5,000 words. Every Globe Soup short story competition features a different country which all participants must set their story in. Entrants only find out which country after they enter!

Globe Soup 7 Day Story Writing Challenges

[ Globe Soup Website ]

Globe Soup are running a programme of 7-day writing challenges to which writers sign up. At an unspecified time, the registered writer receives a secret theme, a randomly assigned genre and just 7 days to write a story of no more than 2000 words.

Green Stories Writing Competitions

[ Green Stories Website ]

Organised by the University of Southampton, Green Stories is a ‘free’ writing competition project with a range of categories for novelists and short story writers. Entries should conform with positive visions of more sustainable futures and/or the inclusion of green solutions but needn’t have an explicitly green theme.

Grindstone International Novel Prize

[ Grindstone Literary Website ]

This competition is open to writers from anywhere in the world, writing in any genre other than children’s literature. Entries are judged by a literary agent, and all longlisted and shortlisted entries are packaged in a chapbook and sent to a selection of literary agencies. Feedback is available on entries for an extra fee.

Hastings Literary Festival Competition

[ Hastings Literary Festival Competition Website ]

This competition is a little different: yes, a monetary prize (£100) but up to 12 competition winners will be invited to an all-day workshop in Hastings on September 23 to work with editors to complete their pieces ready for the printers. The resulting anthology will then be launched at a special event less than two days after the workshop.

Hysteria Writing Competition

[ Hysteria Writing Competition Website ]

This competition offers 3 x £300 cash prizes for each of the overall category winners, with this year’s theme being ‘peace’. Any genre is accepted (except erotica or horror), and there are word limits in place: short story – 1000 words / flash fiction – 250 words / poetry – 12 lines. Winners are published in Hysteria 9 alongside 9 runners-up from each category.

Impress Prize for New Writers

[ Impress Prize Website ]

Impress Prize is an annual literary prize run by Impress Books for writers who have not been traditionally published before. They are looking for manuscript samples from a variety of genres within fiction and non-fiction (but no poetry please!).

Indigo International Wild Nature Poetry Award

[ Indigo Int. Wild Nature Poetry Award Website ]

Indigo Dreams Publishing are running a competition in conjunction with the League Against Cruel Sports to find the best poetry on the themes of: Cruel Sports (Hunting/Shooting/Animal Fighting); Wildlife; the Natural World and the Environment. A top prize of £200 and anthology publication. League Against Cruel Sports members are also eligible for the League Prize, £75 and a goodie bag!

Ironbridge Festival of Imagination Open Poetry Award

[ Ironbridge Poetry Competition Website ]

Ironbridge Festival of the Imagination is holding its first ever poetry competition to poets from across the globe, welcoming poems on any and every subject. First prize in our competition will win £300, with a second prize of £125, and three third prizes of £25 each. In addition, poems sent in by people living in a TF postcode will also be eligible for our local prize of £50. Poems will be read, and winners chosen, by our judge Simon Fletcher.

Kent & Sussex Poetry Society Open Competition

[ Kent & Sussex Poetry Society Website ]

Run each year by the Kent & Sussex Poetry Society, this competition offers a top prize of £1,000 and several runner-up prizes. Poems can be in any form or style, but must be previously-unpublished and under forty lines in length. Postal and online entries are accepted.

La Piccioletta Barca Competition

[ La Piccioletta Barca Website ]

La Piccioletta Barca is an independent arts magazine pursuing the essence of human thought. Their goal is to embrace and promote substantive creative work produced by both emerging and established artists. They run an annual competition which seeks work in response to a given theme or stimulus.

Ledbury Poetry Competition

[ Ledbury Poetry Festival Website ]

The Ledbury Poetry Festival Poetry Competition has been an important first step in many poets’ careers. The Competition is increasingly international with several international winners. The Festival prides itself on a lasting relationship with its competition entrants and winners: many are asked back for performances, residencies and workshops.

Letter Review Prize for Short Stories

[ Letter Review Prize Website ]

The Letter Review Prize is a short story competition seeking 200-4000 word entries. It is open to writers from across the world and there are no genre or theme restrictions; three winners receive publication within the Letter Review as well as cash prizes.

Live Canon Poetry Competition(s)

[ Live Canon Website ]

Live Canon are an ensemble performing poetry (from memory) at theatres, festivals and events throughout the UK, recording poetry for radio and CDs, and creating poetry installations and digital projects. They have three poetry competitions across April and May: a poetry collection (35+ poems) competition where three winners are selected for publication and promotion; a single poem competition where first prize is £1,000 and a pamphlet (18-35 poems) competition where three winners are offered a publication contract.

London Magazine Competitions

[ London Magazine Website ]

The London Magazine‘s annual competitions seek to recognise new talent, and promote unpublished poems and stories from around the world. Winning entries appear in the magazine, and authors and poets are invited to a London-based networking drinks reception.

Mairtín Crawford Award

[ The Mairtín Crawford Award Website ]

These Awards are aimed at writers working towards their first full collection of poetry, short stories, or a novel. Both published and unpublished writers are invited to submit between 3-5 poems for the poetry award, and a short story of up to 2,500 words for the short story award, with the only stipulation being that they have not yet published a full collection of poetry, short stories, or a novel.

Manchester Cathedral 600 Poetry Competition

[ Manchester Cathedral Website ]

This year’s (2021) competition celebrates the 600 year anniversary of the founding of the Collegiate Church, the precursor to the Manchester Cathedral. Poems must reflect, express or connect to the cathedral in some way and be broadly religious or spiritual in nature; poetry from all faiths is encouraged. There is a maximum line length of 15 lines. There will be 10 winners awarded £100 and publication in a booklet of the winning poems.

Manchester Writing Competition

[ Manchester Writing Competition Website ]

Each year this competition awards a prize of £10,000 for the best short story and best short portfolio of poems submitted. It is run by the Manchester Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University. The compeition is open to anyone over the age of sixteen.

Mogford Food And Drink Short Story Prize

[ Mogford Food and Drink Website ]

This annual prize is open worldwide. Sponsored by the Mogford Hotels And Restaurants Group, it seeks to reward the writer of an unpublished short story not longer than 2,500 words which revolves in some way around food. The winner is announced at an annual prize-giving event and as well as the monetary reward, will receive online and (mini) print publication and their story professionally recorded by The Story Player.

Moth Prizes

[ Moth Prizes Website ]

These international prizes are open to everyone over the age of sixteen, and awards a top prize of €10,000 for the best poem and €3,000 for the best short story submitted. It is run by The Moth Magazine, with winners published in the magazine and invited to special prize-giving events.

National Poetry Competition

[ National Poetry Competition Website ]

One of the biggest single poem competitions in the world, the National Poetry Competition is open to anyone aged 17 or older. The competition is for previously unpublished poems of up to 40 lines in length. As well as the top prize, there are nine other small prizes for second place, third place, and commended entries.

New Writers Flash Fiction Competition

[ New Writers Website ]

The inaugural New Writers Flash Fiction Competition is seeking entries of imaginative and thought-provoking flash fiction of up to 300 words. Entries must be in English but can be on any subject. The competition is open to writers from anywhere in the world. £1 from each entry will be donated to First Story, England’s leading creative writing charity for young people.

Outsideleft Short Story Competition

[ Outsideleft Short Story Competition Website ]

This is the first annual short story writing competition from Outsideleft – an online midland’s based magazine where pop culture writing matters. This year’s theme is ‘Concrete’; it is free to submit and the upper word limit is 1000 words.

Ovacome Writing Competition

[ Ovacome Writing Competiton Website ]

Ovacome – the UK’s national ovarian cancer support charity – are running a short story competition on the theme of ‘Connected’ with a word limit of 2000 words. They can’t wait to read inspiring and creative stories from writers whatever their previous experience.

Oxford Poetry Prize

[ Oxford Poetry Prize Website ]

This is the inaugural Oxford Poetry Prize, and will be awarded to the best single poem in the English language. The guest judge for 2022 is Emily Berry and first place will receive £700, second place, £200, and third place, £100. All winning poets will be offered publication in Oxford Poetry. The competition closes at midnight GMT on Wednesday, August 31st, 2022. Submissions are welcome from poets worldwide.

Parracombe Prize

[ Parracombe Prize Website ]

The Parracombe Prize is in its second year and looking for the best short stories that weigh in at under 2022 words. Winners are awarded cash prizes and will feature in their second anthology of short stories.

Patricia Eschen Prize for Poetry

[ Patricia Eschen Prize Website ]

The inaugural Patricia Eschen Prize for Poetry 2022 is sponsored by the Dennis Myner Trust in collaboration with Cornwall’s only independent library, the Morrab Library in Penzance.

The competition will open for entries from Friday 1st July 2022. Both the adult’s and children’s categories will be judged by Katrina Naomi and Penelope Shuttle, two multi-award winning poets based in Cornwall.

The 2022 competition does not have a theme; poems can be on any subject to a maximum line length of 40 lines for each poem. The competition is open to international entries, entry is free and limited to one poem per individual. Poems must be written in the English language.

PBS/Mslexia Women’s Poetry Competition

[ PBS Website ]

The Poetry Book Society and Mslexia have teamed up for two competitions for women poets. The Women’s Poetry Competition offers a £2,000 prize, a mentorship with PBS Book Selector Sandeep Parmar and a Cove Park writing retreat. The winner of the Women’s Pamphlet Competition will receive publication by independent UK publisher Seren.

Pen to Print Competitions

[ Pen to Print Website ]

The Pen to Print is a creative writing network, funded by Arts Council England and run out of Barking and Dagenham Library Services. They host free writing events, classes and competitions. The competitions are held annually, and prizes range from audio recordings of the winning entries to tablets and electronic publication.

Perito Prize

[ Perito Website ]

This annual competition is run by an inclusive environment consultancy, and seeks stories that touch on the theme of accessibility. Entry is free, and there’s a top prize of £500. More specific information on what they’re seeking – and the wider work of Perito – can be found on the website.

Poetry Book Awards

[ Poetry Book Awards ]

The series of awards is looking to recognise the best independently published and self-published poetry books from across the globe. The winner also receives a year-long subscription with PN Review and some promotion from the team behind the awards.

Poetry London Prize

[ Poetry London Website ]

The Poetry London Prize is a major international award for a single outstanding poem. The total prize fund is £8,000, with all prize-winning entries published in Poetry London magazine. The organisers provide a number of free entries for people on low incomes, and discounted entries for subscribers to Poetry London.

Prole Laureate Competition

[ Prole Website ]

This competition welcomes entries of previously-unpublished poems, with a particular focus on poems that are engaging, accessible, challenging and entertaining. Guidelines are open regarding length, style and content. Winners and runners-up are published online.

Prole Poetry Pamphlet Prize

[ Prole Website ]

This competition seeks a poetry collection that epitomises the values of Prole: writing that engages, challenges and entertains the reader. The winning entry will receive publication as well as the prize money. Collections should be less than 35 pages in length.

Reader’s Digest 100-Word Story Competition

[ Reader’s Digest Website ]

The Reader’s Digest 100-Word-Story Competition is a chance to show the world your story-telling talents. There are three categories—one for adults and two for schools: one for children aged 12–18 and one for children under 12. Stories should be original, unpublished, and exactly 100 words.

RSL Christopher Bland Prize

[ RSL Christopher Bland Prize Website ]

The RSL Christopher Bland Prize is an annual award of £10,000 to a debut novelist or non-fiction writer first published aged 50 or over. The Prize was launched in 2018 by the Bland family and friends, with the RSL, in memory of Sir Christopher Bland who died in 2017.

RSL Literature Matters Awards

[ RSL Literature Matters Awards Website ]

The RSL’s Literature Matters Awards aim to reward and enable literary excellence and innovation. Each year, after an open call for proposals, the Awards are given to individual writers or other literary creators, recognising their past achievements and providing them with financial support to undertake a proposed new piece of writing or literary project. A total of £20,000 is available. Priority will be given to proposals which (a) will help connect with audiences or topics outside the usual reach of literature, and/or (b) will help generate public discussion about why literature matters

RSL Ondaatjee Prize

[ RSL Ondaatjee Prize Website ]

An annual award administered by the Royal Society for Literature which goes to the work of fiction, non-fiction or poetry that judges feel best evokes the spirit of a place. All prize winners also receive a paperweight clock, which they are awarded at a celebratory dinner.

Rhys Davies Short Story Competition

[ Rhys Davies Competition Website ]

The Rhys Davies Short Story Competition recognises the very best unpublished short stories in English in any style and on any subject up to a maximum of 5,000 words by writers in/from Wales. Entrants must have been born in Wales, have lived in Wales for two years or more, or currently be living in Wales.

Saveas Writers’ International Writing Competition

[ Saveas Writers Website ]

To celebrate the centenary of TS Eliot’s visit to Margate, Saveas Writers are looking for the poems (60 lines maximum) and short stories (3500 words maximum) on the theme of “horizons”. There are three prizes available in both categories and a reduced entry fee for three pieces in either category.

Scottish Arts Club Short Story Competition

[ Story Awards Website ]

Open to writers worldwide and stories on any topic up to 2,000 words. Chief judge Ian Rankin. Top 20 stories offered publication in an annual anthology. Top six writers awarded free ticket to the annual Story Awards Dinner at the Scottish Arts Club in Edinburgh. Managed by the Scottish Arts Trust. All proceeds used to support the arts in Scotland.

Sean O’Faolain Short Story Competition

[ Sean O’Faolain Short Story Competition Website ]

Winners are published in Southword. Previous prizes have also included a week-long residency and an expenses-paid trip to the Cork International Short Fiction Festival. The organisers say, “The Sean O’Faolain Short Story Competition […] is dedicated to one of Ireland’s most accomplished story writers and theorists, sponsored by the Munster Literature Centre.”

Searchlight Awards

[ Searchlight Awards Website ]

Searchlight Writing for Children Awards 2022 is open for entries. There are two competition categories: Best Picture Book (text only) and Best Novel Opening for Children or Young Adults. Winners will be chosen by BBC Children’s Writer and Director Kayleigh Keam and Literary Agent Amber Caravéo. The top ten stories in both categories will feature in an agent/publisher pitch book, as well as published in an annual anthology.

Sentinel Literary Quarterly Poetry Competition

[ Sentinel Literary Quarterly ]

This quarterly poetry competition seeks out original, previously unpublished English-language poems on any subject. Prizes of £250, £125 & £75 for the top-three placed poems, and 3 x £30, 3 x £20 and 3 x £10 for Highly Commended, Commended and Special Mentioned poems, respectively.

Southport Writers’ Circle Annual Short Story Competition

[ Southport Writers’ Circle Website ]

With an upper limit of 2000 words, SWC are looking for original, unpublished short stories on any theme. They encourage online entries and winners will be published on SWC’s website.

Stroud Book Festival Writing Competition

[ Stroud Book Festival Website ]

In addition to the main strands of poetry and flash fiction, this competition also has a mainstream fiction category, which seeks a synopsis and extract from a longer work of mainstream fiction. The prize for this category includes a five-day writing retreat.

Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award

[ Sunday Times EFG Award Website ]

One of the most valuable short story prizes in the UK. “The Sunday Times EFG Private Bank Award honours the finest writers of short stories in the UK and Ireland. Worth £30,000 to the winning author, it is open to anyone with a previous record of publication in creative writing in the UK or Ireland.”

Sussex Poetry Competition

[ Brighton + Hove Arts Council Website ]

Split between its ‘main’ competition and student competition, the Sussex Poetry Competition is held in conjunction with the Sussex Poetry Festival. Its organisers are looking for poems on any subject that are not more than 40 lines in length. Entrants must have a link to Sussex – either having lived, studied, worked or been born in the county.

The Anne Marie Gracie Memorial Poetry Competition

[ The Anne Marie Gracie Memorial Website ]

The Anne Marie Gracie Memorial Poetry Competition was launched in 2022 to celebrate the life of Anne Marie Gracie, who sadly died of cancer in the May of that year. The link above allows people to read her work and enter the poetry competition in her memory. All profits go to Ayshire Cancer Support.

The Bedford Competition

[ The Bedford Competition Website ]

The Bedford Competition is looking for poems (of 40 lines) and short stories (up to 3000 words) on any theme; they are a non-profit group with all net proceeds from the competition going to charities that support and promote literacy/literary skills.

The Bi-monthly Free Flash Fiction Competition

[ The Free Flash Fiction Website ]

The Bi-monthly Free Flash Fiction Competition promotes the work of flash fiction authors, offers a cash prize to one winner, gives book prizes to two highly commended, and publishes all the stories that make the shortlist on its website. In a novel twist, the winner of the current competition is then be invited to be the judge for the next competition.

The Blue Pencil Agency First Novel Award

[ The Blue Pencil Website ]

The Blue Pencil Agency First Novel Award is open to unrepresented and unpublished authors for a novel in any adult fiction genre. To submit for the competition, they require the first chapter(s) of the novel – up to 5000 words -, a 300-word synopsis and cover letter. There are also up to 20 free entries to UK based writers on low incomes.

The Canterbury Tales Writing Competition

[ Canterbury Tales Comp Website ]

This competition was set up by the Chaucer Heritage Trust to create further interest, understanding and appreciation of the works of Geoffrey Chaucer, his life and times and influence. This year’s theme is promises, promises! The competition is open to all students of school age including not only those in schools and college communities, but also students who are home educated and in any other young people’s community organisations.

The Liverpool Poetry Prize

[ The Liverpool Poetry Website ]

Run by Liverpool’s ‘The Brain Charity’, The Liverpool Poetry Prize has two poetry categories celebrating neurodiversity this year. Poet, Brian Patten judges over the submissions, which have a 40-line limit, and a reading of winners will take place later in the summer.

The Michael Marks Awards

[ The Michael Marks Awards Website ]

These awards aim to raise the profile of poetry pamphlets, and increase the recognition of the enormous contribution that they make to the world of poetry. There are four awards: a best poetry pamphlet award, a best publisher of pamphlets award, best illustrated poetry pamphlet, and an environmental poet of the year award; and the awards often collaborate with a range of interesting institutions: The British Library; Wordsworth Grasmere, and Harvard.

The Morley Prize for Unpublished Writers of Colour

[ The Morley Prize Website ]

The Morley Prize is looking for unpublished writers of colour, and intends to nurture and provide opportunities for aspiring novelists of colour and promote diverse fiction across the broader literary landscape of Britain. They want 30 pages of the book’s opening, an overview summary of the book and writing samples.

The Scribble Magazine Ongoing Short Story Competitions

[ The Scribble Magazine Website ]

Scribble – the short story magazine, was launched at the beginning of 1999 and has developed into one of the UK’s most popular general fiction magazines. Scribble is published quarterly, and contains a wide range of high quality fiction from new and established writers. The three prize-winning stories are chosen each quarter by a readers’ voting system.

Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition

[ Chicken House Website ]

The main prize in this competition is a worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House with a £10,000 advance. The winner will also receive an offer of representation from a top literary agent. The winning entry will be the novel that, in the opinion of the judges, demonstrates the greatest entertainment value, quality, originality and suitability for children.

Troubadour International Poetry Prize

[ Troubadour International Poetry Prize Website ]

The Troubadour International Poetry Prize is an international competition, with entrants from all over the world. Judges read every poem submitted. This competition has been running since 2007, during which time it has recognised the work of hundreds of poets. Administered by Coffee House Poetry.

TS Eliot Prize

[ TS Eliot Prize Website ]

Awarded annually for the best collection of verse published in the UK or Ireland that year. One of the most prestigious British poetry prizes. This prize is administered by the Poetry Book Society and supported by the estate of reknowned poet TS Eliot, after whom it is named.

Val Wood Prize

[ Val Wood Prize Website ]

Free international competition open to anyone over the age of 16. Welcoming previously unpublished stories on the theme of Now and Then; they want uplifting and feel-good short stories. The Prizes available are 1st place, £100, £50 for 2nd place and two special commendations of £25. There is also a special ‘Yorkshire Prize’ for residents of Yorkshire. Winning entries are published on Val Wood’s website and across social media.

Virginia Prize for Fiction Competition

[ Virginia Prize Website ]

Administered by Aurora Metro Books, this competition is open to women of any nationality from any country, aged 18 and over. They are looking for entries of completed, unpublished novels for adults or YA readers, of at least 45,000 words in length.

VS Pritchett Memorial Prize

[ VS Pritchett Memorial Prize Website ]

An annual prize administered by The Royal Society of Literature for the best unpublished short story of the year. Winners are published in Prospect online and the RSL Review. The prize was founded to commemorate writer and critic Sir Victor Sawden Pritchett.

Wasifiri Queen Mary New Writing Prize

[ Wasifiri Website ]

This prize (first run in 2009) is administered by British literary magazine Wasifiri. Winners of each category and fifteen short-listed writers will be published and mentoring opportunities made available. The competition is open to anyone worldwide who has not published a complete book in their chosen category.

Watson, Little x Indie Novella Prize

[ Watson, Little Website ]

This prize is for under-represented writers of fiction of all lengths (novels, novellas, stories); it is open to all unpublished (self-published are accepted) UK-based authors aged 16 and over, and invites entries under the three themes: Community, Climate & Crime Fiction. The judges want the story’s opening 5,000 words, plus a 300 word synopsis forming the first page of the submission.

Wells Festival of Literature Competitions

[ Wells Festival of Literature Website ]

The Wells Festival of Literature has administered competitions for almost three decades, and attracts entries of an extremely high calibre. The poetry prize is awarded after a reading at the Festival in October each year, and there is a supplementary prize for young writers with a lower entry fee.

Welsh Poetry Competition

[ Welsh Poetry Competition Website ]

The first Welsh Poetry Competition was set up by poet & writer Dave Lewis in 2007. Officially launched on St David’s Day, the aim was to encourage and foster the wealth of creative writing talent that existed in Wales but at the time languished in the doldrums. The aim remains to inspire people to capture life in the present day and to give a voice to a new generation of poets and writers. Poems should be no more than 50 lines in length.

White Review Short Story Prize

[ White Review Website ]

This annual short story competition is aimed at emerging writers. It awards £2,500 to the best piece of short fiction by a writer resident in the UK and Ireland who has yet to secure a publishing deal. “The judges will be looking for short stories that explore and expand the possibilities of the form. We encourage submissions from all literary genres, and there are no restrictions on theme or subject matter.“

Wigtown Poetry Prize

[ Wigtown Poetry Prize Website ]

Refreshed and rebranded in 2019, the Wigtown Poetry Prize welcomes entries from poets writing in English wherever they may live. Separate categories celebrate the best of Scottish Gaelic and Scots language poetry, a special category acknowledges a rising talent in Dumfries & Galloway, and a pamphlet prize is named in memory of Alastair Reid – local poet and one of Scotland’s foremost literary figures.

Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize

[ Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize Website ]

A competition for fictional adventure writing. The prize is split into two separate categories – an award for the best published adventure novel and a award for the best unpublished manuscript by a debut author. Consult the website for details of exactly what adventure writing is, past winners, and information concerning fees, feedback supplements and concessions.

William Soutar Writing Prize

[ Culture Perth & Kinross Website ]

Culture Perth and Kinross invite individuals to take part in the William Soutar Writing Prize. This highly-regarded writing competition attracts writers from across the globe to take part, as well as many local Perth and Kinross entrants.

Wolverhampton Literature Festival Poetry Competition

[ Wolv. Lit. Fest Website ]

WoLF Poetry Competition 2023 is open until December 31st for poetry submissions on any theme. Judged by Jane Commane of Nine Arches Press, there are cash prizes and a special prize for people who live in the WV postcode.

Women’s Prize for Fiction: Discoveries

[ Women’s Prize for Fiction Website ]

Discoveries invites unpublished women writers from the UK or Ireland to submit the opening of a novel in English, of up to 10,000 words. Unlike most initiatives of this kind, writers are not required to have finished their novel, and Discoveries is completely free to enter.

In partnership with Audible, Curtis Brown Literary Agency, and the Curtis Brown Creative writing school, Discoveries is more than a traditional prize whereby the winner receives an offer of representation and a cash prize; it is a pioneering development initiative which offers practical support and encouragement to aspiring female novelists of all ages and backgrounds, from across the UK and Ireland.

Writers’ & Artists’ Working Class Writer’s Prize

[ Writers’ & Artists’ Website ]

A free-to-enter opportunity for writers who identify as working-class; submit the beginning of your unpublished work in progress and a one-page synopsis of the full manuscript for the chance to received a cash prize, mentoring and membership to The Society of Authors.

Writing Magazine Grand Prize

[ Writing Magazine Website ]

This popular magazine for writers administers a number of competitions throughout the year – this is their biggest. Entries in any genre are accepted up to 2000 words, and there are reduced entry rates for subscribers to the magazine.