My Novel

My Novel

UK Poetry Competitions (currently (18)

Waltham Forest Poetry Competition.  Here’s a contest from Waltham Forest in London.  It is open to poets worldwide.  The theme is FRIENDSHIP, and you can interpret this in any way you choose - as long as you confine your musings to no more than 40 lines.
    Closing: 14.10.24.
    Prizes: £400, £200, £100.  Funniest Poem - £100.  Local Prize - £50, £30, £20.  Young Poets - £50, £30, £20.  Young Poets local - £50, £30, £20.   Funniest Poem (on the main theme) - £100.  Winners will be published on the website.
    Entry Fee: £3 for the first, £1 thereafter (up to 6 poems).  Young poets (under 18) - Free.
    Comp Page: Waltham Poetry

Ironbridge Poetry Competition.  We have the Ironbridge Festival to thank for this one from the Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists collective in the Black Country.  It is for poems of up to 35 lines.
    Closing: 20.10.24 (6pm).
    Prizes: £300, £125, £25.  Local Prize - £50.
    Entry Fee: £4 each, £10 for three, £3 each thereafter.
    Comp Page: Ironbridge Poetry

The Prose Poem Contest.  Here’s a new one that’s open to prose poetry and ‘prose poetry adjacent work’, this latter being described in the promoter’s email as ‘hybrid pieces, hermit crabs, work that lies between poetry and flash fiction’.  Hermit crabs?  Does that mean they shoot out from the page unexpectedly and give you a nip?  Poems or crabs can be up to 500 words.
    Closing: 15.10.24.
    Prizes: £100, £50, £25, £10.
    Entry Fee: £3 each, £4.50 for two, £6 for three.  Free submissions are on offer to underrepresented writers and those who cannot afford the entry fee.
    Comp Page: Prose Poem

Cheltenham Poetry Festival Competition.  This is the Cheltenham Poetry Festival’s second annual  international poetry competition.  Entries can be up to 50 lines.
    Closing: 20.10.24.
    Prizes: £300, £100, £50.  The first prize winner will be offered a guest slot at the 2025 Festival, either online or in person.
    Entry Fee: £4 each, £10 for three, £15 for five.
    Comp Page: Cheltenham Poetry

Eyelands Book Awards.  This is the seventh of these international book award contests from literary magazine Eyelands and Strange Days Books in Greece.  There are two main categories: Published Book and Unpublished Book.  Acceptable genres are Poetry Collection, Novella, Short Story Collection, Novel, Children’s Book, Historical Fiction, Memoir, Graphic Novel.
    Closing: 20.10.24 (midnight PST).
    Prizes: Unpublished Book Grand Prize - Translation into Greek and publication by Strange Days Books, plus a special handmade ceramic.  Published Book Grand Prize - a 5-day holiday in Athens, a special handmade ceramic.  Writers’ Choice (as voted for by other prizewinners) - a 5-day stay in Athens.  Runners-up (10) - A special handmade ceramic and a book.  A poem or short story from each prizewinner will be translated and published in an anthology, with every prizewinner receiving a free copy.  All winners and finalists receive a certificate, ideal for hanging on the wall where your visitors are sure to see it (i.e. next to the drinks cabinet or the television).
    Entry Fee: 30 euros up to September 1st, then 40 euros.  Free for writers from Ukraine.
    Comp Page: Eyelands Comp

Iota Shot Pamphlet Awards.   To enter this annual contest from Templar Poetry of Matlock in Derbyshire you submit between 16 and 25 pages of poetry.
    Closing: 21.10.24.
    Prizes: Up to two pamphlets will be published under a standard publishing agreement which will include the option to submit a full collection for later publication.  Winning authors will receive support to promote their work at live events.
    Entry Fee: £20.
    Comp Page: Iota Shot Award

Trio International Poetry Competition.  Trio Uganda is running this contest to raise money for books and other scholastic materials for a school being built by the impoverished community of Agaria Island in Uganda.  Poems, which should run to no more than 40 lines, can be on any subject.
    Closing: 31.10.24.
    Prizes: £1,000, £300, £100, 4 x £25.
    Entry Fee: £5 for one £8 for two, £10 for three.
    Comp Page: Trio Poetry

Hi Michael,
     Thanks for a very useful website. Since finding the contact details on your site, I've won the Txtlit competition twice, and the Write Invite competition four times. With the prize money I'm now entering other competitions. Thanks for keeping us writers posted!
     Best regards, Uta Coutts

Poetry Society National Poetry Competition.  In 1983 Carol Ann Duffy won this contest, and 26 years later she became the Poet Laureate.  So if you’re hoping to become an overnight sensation, this is probably not the ideal starting point.  But there are compensations.  The top cash award is one of the best in the business, and the second prize isn’t bad either.  Your poem should run to no more than 40 lines.  The contest is open to poets from around the world ... as long as they can write in English.
    Closing: 31.10.24.
    Prizes: £5,000, £2,000, £1,000.  Commended prizes - £500.
    Entry Fee: £8 for the first, £5 thereafter.
    Comp Page: PSNPC

Bedford Writing Competition .  This annual not-for-profit contest from Bedfordshire, home of the famous Shuttleworth Collection (old aeroplanes and cars) is for stories of up to 3,000 words and poems running to no more than 40 lines.
    Closing: 31.10.24.
    Prizes in each category (Poetry, Short Story): £1,500, £300, £200.  In addition there are special prizes for young writers and Bedford residents.  Shortlisted and winning entries will be published in an anthology (e-book and hardcopy).
    Entry Fee: £8.50 each, £17 for three.  Full-time students: £6 each, £12 for three.
    Comp Page: BWC.

F(r)iction Writing Competition.  This international contest from the USA has three categories: Short Story (1,001 to 7,500 words), Poetry (up to three pages per poem), and Flash Fiction (up to 1,000 words).
    Closing: 1.11.24.
    Prizes: Short Story - $1,000.  Flash Fiction - £300.  Poetry - $300.
    Entry Fees: Short Story - $15.  Poetry and Flash Fiction - single entry $10, three-pack $12.
    Comp Page: F(r)iction Comps

Straid Poetry Collection Award.  This annual contest from Templar Poetry, an independent publisher based in Matlock, Derbyshire, is for full collections written in English.  You can enter online or, if you can afford it, by post.
    Closing: 11.11.24.
    Prizes: Up to two full collections will be published by Templar Poetry.  Shortlisted poets may have up to 4 poems published in IOTA magazine in winter 2025.
    Entry Fee: £25.
    Comp Page: Templar Straid

Paul Cave Prize for Literature.  Here’s a repeat of the new contest from Tim Saunders Publications of Southampton.  It is for novellas running to no more than 10,000 words, short stories of up to 1,000 words, flash fiction up to 300 words and poems of no more than 30 lines.
    Closing: 30.11.24.
    Prizes: Novella - £150.  Short story - £75.  Flash Fiction - £35.  Poem - £35.  Winners will receive a free copy of the anthology.
    Entry Fees: Novella - £26 for one, £42 for two.  Short story - £13 for one, £20 for two.  Poem/Flash Fiction - up to 3 for £10, up to 8 for £20.
    Comp Page: Paul Cave Prize

Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Competition.  This annual contest from the Munster Literature Centre in Cork, Ireland, is for poems of up to 40 lines in English on any subject.
    Closing: 30.11.24.  Opens for entries 1.9.24.
    Prizes: 1st - 2,000 euros, featured reading at the Cork International Poetry Festival (with 4-night hotel stay and full board), plus publication in the Southword journal and featured in the Southword Poetry Podcast.  2nd - 500 euros and publication in Southword.  3rd - 250 euros and publication in Southword.  Runners-up (10) - 50 euros and publication in Southword
    Entry Fee: 7 euros each, 30 euros for five.
    Comp Page: Greg OD Poetry.

Dear Michael
   I discovered your excellent site a few months back and entered some of the poetry competitions. I have in all my long years never received a payment for anything I have written, but I today received an email from Cooldog Publications to say I have won second prize in their E-mag Poetry Competition! £50! What a great way to start the new year.
   I just had to write and say thanks to you for the trouble you have taken with your site and how much I appreciate the sense of humour that underpins it.
  This has given me a terrific boost.
                                                                                -  Carol Browne

Cafe Writers Open Poetry Competition.  This annual contest from Cafe Writers of Norwich (where the Man in the Moon was keen to go, according to a report I read as a child) is for poems of up to 40 lines.
    Closing: 30.11.24.
    Prizes: £1,000, £300, £200.  Runners-up (5) - £50.  Norfolk Prize (for a permanent Norfolk resident) - £100.
    Entry Fee: £5 each, £13 for three, £4 each thereafter.
    Comp Page: Cafe Poetry.

Moth Poetry Prize. This annual contest from Irish magazine The Moth is for poems of any length and on any subject.  I should perhaps mention that the magazine is not devoted to the subject of moths, fascinating though these may be.  It is an arts and literature magazine.  Presumably the name is a reference to the way artists and writers are attracted to the light of recognition only to beat their wings in vain against an invisible barrier until finally, broken and defeated, they slide down to the windowsill of despair.  You’d think the magazine people could have come up with something a bit more cheerful than that, wouldn’t you?
    Closing: 31.12.24.
    Prizes: 1st - 6,000 euros.  Runners-up (3) - 1,000 euros.  Commended (8) - 250 euros.
    Entry Fee: 15 euros.
    Comp Page: Moth Poetry Comp.

New Media Writing Prize.  Behold - another freebie!  Fiction or non-fiction written specifically for reading/viewing on electronic devices is required for this one which is facilitated and sponsored by Bournemouth University Higher Education Corporation Faculty of Media and Communications ... and various other organisations as listed on the website.  Interactivity is vital.  You can combine various digital media elements such as words, images and video clips, and I personally think that if you can include a comments section where bitter underachievers can slag off your efforts out of sheer spite, so much the better.  Short story, novel, poem, documentary, etc, are all acceptable.
    Closing: 1.2.25 (Noon).
    Prizes:  Chris Meade Memorial UK New Media Writing Prize - £1,000.  Opening Up Award - £500.  Digital Journalism Award - yet to be determined.  IDN for Social Good Award - £500.  Student Award - yet to be determined.
    Entry Fee: None - free to enter.
    Comp Page: NMWP

Poems on the Move Competition.  Poems of up to 14 lines that fit onto an A4 page are required for this international contest from the Channel Islands ... or rather one of them: Guernsey.  Twenty-one poems will be chosen to feature on the Guernsey buses, and the top 9 of these will be exhibited at Guernsey Airport and then at other sites all over the island.
    Closing: 15.1.25.  Opens for entries 15.9.24.
    Prizes: Open category: 1st - £1,000, £500, £250.  Channel Islands; 1st - £250, £50, £30.  Young Poets: 1st - £250, £50, £30.
   Entry Fees: Open and Channel Islands categories - £4 each,  Young Poets - Free.
    Comp Page: Guernsey Poetry

Never Such Innocence Writing Competition.  Here we have an international freebie for youngsters between the ages of 9 and 18.  It has four categories - Poetry, Speech, Song and Art - but here I deal only with the first three.  Poems, which should run to no more than 40 lines, must answer the question: How Can We Prevent Future Wars?’  This question applies to the other categories too.  In the Speech category you are required to submit a speech of up to 5 minutes (750 words), in writing and with an audio or video recording.  If you are entering a song, submit a video or audio recording (maximum 4 minutes) plus the written lyrics.
    Closing: 28.2.25.
    Prizes:  The prizes will be announced later in the competition, say the promoters, and will include some exciting opportunities.
    Entry Fee: None - free to enter.  You can enter each category once.
    Comp Page: Innocence

Hi Michael
     I spent a year or so reading all those comments on your website from people who, since consulting your list, seem have won just about every competition going. I read it and thought it must be too good to be true – but worth a try. Then, on my third submission, I have actually gone and won the Yeovil Literary Prize for Poetry. I am absolutely over the moon, unable to believe it, etc.  Thank you so much.
                                                                                   -  Andy Miller

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Notes: Unless otherwise stated in the rules, poetry should be single-spaced.  It is sometimes the case that your name shouldn’t appear on the manuscript. Check the rules.  If you put your name on there after being told not to, you’re out.  Don’t use coloured paper or fancy fonts.  The colour and pizzazz to make you stand out from the crowd should be in the words.  Plain white A4 80gsm paper is the stuff to use, with plain black typing or print.  My preferred font for poetry manuscripts printed on an inkjet or laser printer is Gill Sans in 12 point (13 if I’m not pressed for space).  This gives a clear, dark print that’s easy to read.  Although publishers and agents sometimes demand the feeble Courier font, which comes out on my printers like something produced by a typewriter with an antique ribbon, I’ve never known competition organisers to express any preference.  But as always, check the rules.  Finally, write on one side of the sheet only - unless asked to put your address, etc, on the back.
 

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Disclaimer

   
For other types of writing contests see the full list on my Writing Comps page.