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8/3/2019 UK Writing Competition List
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UK Writing Competitions List
Listed below are a number of writing competition based in the UK. Entering short story and
poetry competitions can be a good way to get your work noticed, and may help when it
comes time to approach editors about publishing a book. Book prizes, meanwhile, can boost
sales, especially for debut authors; youll notice that several of the prizes below are for firstbooks or first collections.
Some (indeed, most) competitions charge an entry or reading fee. Is is their nature that
every entrant pays, but only a few are rewarded. Its worth looking at the costs involved and
weighing them against the potential benefits before you decide that entering competitions is
the right move for you.
It can be discouraging too that only a few winners emerge from all the entries submitted.
Some competitions draw up longlists and shortlists before deciding on the final winners, and
appearing on one of these can be valuable even if you dont win outright.
Visithttp://www.neonmagazine.co.uk/?page_id=1709for the frequently-updated online
version of this list, or to make a suggestion for a competition that should be included.
*
Authors Club First Novel Award
Top Prize: 2500 | Categories: Novel
Awarded to the most promising novel issued by a British publisher in the previous year. Thisprize is administered by the Authors Club. From its inception in 1954, the award has gone
to writers who have subsequently enjoyed distinguished careers, including Brian Moore for
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne, Alan Sillitoe forSaturday Night and Sunday Morning
and Paul Bailey forAt the Jerusalem.
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Ballymaloe International Poetry Prize
Top Prize:10000 | Categories: Poem
This international prize is open to everyone, and awards large sums for the three best
unpublished poem submitted each year. It is run by The Moth Magazine, with winners
published in the magazine and invited to special prize-giving event at the Ballymaloe Literary
Festival of Food & Wine.
*
Bath Short Story Award
Top Prize: 500 | Categories: Short Story
http://www.neonmagazine.co.uk/?page_id=1709http://www.neonmagazine.co.uk/?page_id=1709http://www.neonmagazine.co.uk/?page_id=1709http://dolmanprize.wordpress.com/best-first-novel-award/http://dolmanprize.wordpress.com/best-first-novel-award/http://www.themothmagazine.com/a1-page.asp?ID=2763&page=10http://www.themothmagazine.com/a1-page.asp?ID=2763&page=10http://bathshortstoryaward.co.uk/http://bathshortstoryaward.co.uk/http://bathshortstoryaward.co.uk/http://www.themothmagazine.com/a1-page.asp?ID=2763&page=10http://dolmanprize.wordpress.com/best-first-novel-award/http://www.neonmagazine.co.uk/?page_id=17098/3/2019 UK Writing Competition List
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A relatively new international short story competition, open to published and unpublished
writers. The award is administered by Pulteney Street Writers, and shortlisted entries are read
and judged by the Cornerstones Literary Consultancy.
*
BBC Short Story Prize
Top Prize: 15000 | Categories: Short Story
One of the most significant short story competitions in the UK, this prize is awarded yearly
by the BBC. Entrants must have a record of previouslypublished work in the UK. The
ambition of both the Award and Booktrusts short story content is to expand opportunities for
British writers, readers and publishers of the short story.
*
Betty Trask Prize And Awards
Top Prize: Up to 20000 | Categories: Novel
Given to writers under the age of 35, for a first novel in the traditional or romantic genres.
The prize varies year by year, and must be used for foriegn travel. Betty Trask left a bequest
to the Society of Authors in 1983 to fund a prize for first novels written by authors under the
age of 35 in a romantic or traditional, but not experimental, style.
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Bridport Prize
Top Prize: 5000 | Categories: Short Story / Flash / Poem
Prestigous annual competition with different strands for short stories, flash fiction and poetry.
As well as the first place prize money there are several supplementary awards, including one
for writers based in Dorset.
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Bristol Short Story Prize
Top Prize: 1000 | Categories: Short Story
An international short story competition opened to published and unpublished writers
anywhere in the world. Winners are published in an annual anthology in addition to receiving
prize money. The Bristol Short Story Prize aims to publish great short stories and promote
the stories and writers as much as possible.
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http://www.booktrust.org.uk/prizes-and-awards/1http://www.booktrust.org.uk/prizes-and-awards/1http://www.societyofauthors.org/betty-traskhttp://www.societyofauthors.org/betty-traskhttp://www.bridportprize.org.uk/http://www.bridportprize.org.uk/http://www.bristolprize.co.uk/http://www.bristolprize.co.uk/http://www.bristolprize.co.uk/http://www.bridportprize.org.uk/http://www.societyofauthors.org/betty-traskhttp://www.booktrust.org.uk/prizes-and-awards/18/3/2019 UK Writing Competition List
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Charles Pick Fellowship
Top Prize: 10000 and Residency | Categories: Fiction / Non-Fiction
An annual award for an unpublished writer of fiction or non-fiction. The prize is a stipend of
10000 and a six-month residency at the University Of East Anglia in Norwich. The UEA isfamous for its Creative Writing MA programme.
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Chicken House
Top Prize: Publication | Categories: Novel
This energetic childrens publisher runs a yearly competition for new writers. Manuscripts
must be aimed at the 7-18 age range, and should be sent in full. The competition is sponsored
by The Times newspaper.
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Cinammon Press
Top Prize: 1000 | Categories: Novel / Short Story / Poem / Collection
This small publisher based in Wales runs yearly competitions to find work in a variety of
different genres worth publishing. Most competitions are restricted to previously-unpublished
writers, and require payment of an entry fee.
*
Commonwealth Prizes
Top Prize: 10000 | Categories: Novel / Short Story
Two competitions run by Commonwealth Writers, designed to reward and promote the best
new writing from across the Commonwealth. There is an award for short stories and a
seperate award for books. In addition to the top prize in each category, further regional prizes
are also awarded.
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Costa Awards
Top Prize: 30000 | Categories: Novel / Short Story
A series of book awards for authors from the UK and Ireland (previously known as the
Whitbread Book Awards). One of the only UK awards open to childrens books as well as
adult. Costa also run a short story competition.
http://www.uea.ac.uk/lit/fellowships/charles-pick-fellowshiphttp://www.uea.ac.uk/lit/fellowships/charles-pick-fellowshiphttp://doublecluck.com/submissions/http://doublecluck.com/submissions/http://www.cinnamonpress.com/competitions/http://www.cinnamonpress.com/competitions/http://www.commonwealthwriters.org/prizes/http://www.commonwealthwriters.org/prizes/http://www.costabookawards.com/http://www.costabookawards.com/http://www.costabookawards.com/http://www.commonwealthwriters.org/prizes/http://www.cinnamonpress.com/competitions/http://doublecluck.com/submissions/http://www.uea.ac.uk/lit/fellowships/charles-pick-fellowship8/3/2019 UK Writing Competition List
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Eric Gregory Awards
Top Prize: 24000 | Categories: Collection
This annual award for poets under the age of thirty has prize money totalling 24000, which
is split among the recipients. It is given for submitted poetry collections either published or
unpublished. The Eric Gregory Awards, for a collection by poets under the age of 30, were
founded in 1960 by the late Dr Eric Gregory for the encouragement of young poets.
*
Encore Award
Top Prize: 10000 | Categories: Second Novel
A 10000 prize for the best second novel published in the UK. 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.
*
Fish Publishing Contests
Top Prize: 3000 | Categories: Short Story / Flash / Poem / Memoir
These yearly competitions have been run by Fish Publishing since 1994. They are open to
writers of any nationality writing in English. The best ten pieces in each category are
published in an anthology. Entry fees for each category are significant, and there is a critique
service available.
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Forward Poetry Prize
Top Prize: 10000 | Categories: Collection / First Collection / Poem
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.
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Specsavers National Book Awards
Top Prize: Unknown | Categories: Novel / Book
http://www.societyofauthors.org/eric-gregoryhttp://www.societyofauthors.org/eric-gregoryhttp://www.encoreaward.com/http://www.encoreaward.com/http://www.fishpublishing.com/writing-contest-competition.phphttp://www.fishpublishing.com/writing-contest-competition.phphttp://www.forwardartsfoundation.org/poetry.htmlhttp://www.forwardartsfoundation.org/poetry.htmlhttp://www.galaxynationalbookawards.com/http://www.galaxynationalbookawards.com/http://www.galaxynationalbookawards.com/http://www.forwardartsfoundation.org/poetry.htmlhttp://www.fishpublishing.com/writing-contest-competition.phphttp://www.encoreaward.com/http://www.societyofauthors.org/eric-gregory8/3/2019 UK Writing Competition List
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A series of literary awards that covers a wide variety of genres. Previously known as the
British Book Awards, then the Galaxy National Book Awards, the prizes are now supported
by Specsavers. The National Book Awards showcases the best of British writing &
publishing, whilst celebrating books with wide popular appeal, critical acclaim and
commercial success.
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Hawthornden Prize
Top Prize: 10000 | Categories: Novel / Book
Seeks to reward authors of imaginative literature. One of Britains oldest literary prizes, it is
awarded annually, though there have been some years without an award in the past. There is
no competition; books do not have to be, and in fact cannot be, submitted. A panel of judges
decides the winner.
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James Tait Black Memorial Prize
Top Prize: 10000 | Categories: Book / Drama
Awarded to the author of a work of fiction, biography or drama published in Britain during
the past year. One of the most established prizes in the UK. They are the only awards of
their kind to be presented by a university and have acquired an international reputation for
recognising excellence.
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Kent & Sussex Poetry Society Open Competition
Top Prize: 1000 | Categories: Poem
Run each year by the Kent & Sussex Poetry Society. A top prize of 1000 and several runner-
up prizes. The judge for 2012 and 2013 was Daljit Nagra. Open to anyone aged sixteen and
over, and seeking poems that are not published or due for publication anywhere.
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Lightship Competitions
Top Prize: 1000 | Categories: Short Story / Flash / Poem / Collection / Novel / Memoir
Lightship Publishing run a series of competitions each year, including first chapter, first
act and one page competitions. Winners receive prize money and publication in an annual
paperback anthology. Judging is generally done by well-known literary figures.
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https://sites.google.com/a/unca.edu/britishliteraryprizes/home/the-hawthornden-prizehttps://sites.google.com/a/unca.edu/britishliteraryprizes/home/the-hawthornden-prizehttp://www.ed.ac.uk/about/people/tait-blackhttp://www.ed.ac.uk/about/people/tait-blackhttp://www.kentandsussexpoetry.com/http://www.kentandsussexpoetry.com/http://www.lightshippublishing.co.uk/competitionshttp://www.lightshippublishing.co.uk/competitionshttp://www.lightshippublishing.co.uk/competitionshttp://www.kentandsussexpoetry.com/http://www.ed.ac.uk/about/people/tait-blackhttps://sites.google.com/a/unca.edu/britishliteraryprizes/home/the-hawthornden-prize8/3/2019 UK Writing Competition List
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Man Booker Prize
Top Prize: 50000 | Categories: Novel
A significant literary prize awarded each year. Winners usually enjoy a large increase in book
sales. The prize, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2008 after launching in 1969, aimsto promote the finest in fiction by rewarding the best novel of the year written by a citizen of
the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland.
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Manchester Writing Competition
Top Prize: 10000 | Categories: Short Story / Poem
This competition previously alternated between fiction and poetry each year, but is now open
to both. It is run by the Manchester Writing School, under the direction of Poet Laureate
Carol Ann Duffy. The compeition was founded in 2008, and is open to anyone over the age
of sixteen.
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Moth Short Story Prize
Top Prize:1000 | Categories: Short Story
This annual competition is run by The Moth Magazine, and in addition to the sizeable firstprize boasts a second prize of a week-long retreat at Circle of Misse in France. Winning and
specially commended entries usually appear in the magazine.
*
Orwell Prize
Top Prize: 3000 | Categories: Journalism / Blog / Book
An annual prize for political writing. There are awards each year for the blog, the piece of
journalism and the book that most embody Orwells ambition to make political writing into
an art. This prestigous competition is now entering its twentieth year.
*
RSL Ondaatjee Prize
Top Prize: 10000 | Categories: Novel / Book / Collection
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 prizewinners also receive a paperweight clock, which they are awarded at a celebratory dinner.
http://www.themanbookerprize.com/http://www.themanbookerprize.com/http://www.manchesterwritingcompetition.co.uk/fiction/http://www.manchesterwritingcompetition.co.uk/fiction/http://www.themothmagazine.com/a1-page.asp?ID=3055&page=9http://www.themothmagazine.com/a1-page.asp?ID=3055&page=9http://theorwellprize.co.uk/http://theorwellprize.co.uk/http://rslit.org/rsl-ondaatje-prizehttp://rslit.org/rsl-ondaatje-prizehttp://rslit.org/rsl-ondaatje-prizehttp://theorwellprize.co.uk/http://www.themothmagazine.com/a1-page.asp?ID=3055&page=9http://www.manchesterwritingcompetition.co.uk/fiction/http://www.themanbookerprize.com/8/3/2019 UK Writing Competition List
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Sean O Faolain Short Story Competition
Top Prize: 1700 and Publication | Categories: Short Story
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
Sean O Faolain Short Story Competition [...] is dedicated to one of Irelands most
accomplished story writers and theorists, sponsored by the Munster Literature Centre.
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Sunday Times EFG Private Bank Award
Top Prize: 30000 | Categories: Short Story
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.
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Terry Pratchett First Novel Award
Top Prize: 20000 and Publication | Categories: Novel
With a theme of anywhere but here, anywhen but now this competitions seeks a full-length
manuscript aimed at an adult audience. Entrants must be previously-unpublished, as the
winning entrant is required to enter into a publising deal with Transworld Publishers.
*
TS Eliot Prize
Top Prize: 15000 | Categories: Collection
Awarded annually for the best collection of verse published in the UK or Ireland. 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.
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VS Pritchett Memorial Prize
Top Prize: 1000 | Categories: Short Story
http://www.munsterlit.ie/SOF%20Page.htmlhttp://www.munsterlit.ie/SOF%20Page.htmlhttp://www.booktrust.org.uk/prizes-and-awards/5http://www.booktrust.org.uk/prizes-and-awards/5http://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/?p=1348http://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/?p=1348http://www.poetrybooks.co.uk/http://www.poetrybooks.co.uk/http://www.rslit.org/v-s-pritchetthttp://www.rslit.org/v-s-pritchetthttp://www.rslit.org/v-s-pritchetthttp://www.poetrybooks.co.uk/http://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/?p=1348http://www.booktrust.org.uk/prizes-and-awards/5http://www.munsterlit.ie/SOF%20Page.html8/3/2019 UK Writing Competition List
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An annual prize administered by The Royal Society Of Literature for the best unpublished
short story of the year. Winners are published inProspectonline and theRSL Review. The
prize was founded to commemorate writer and critic Sir Victor Sawden Pritchett.
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Wasifiri New Writing Prize
Top Prize: 300 and Publication | Categories: Short Story / Poem / Memoir
This newly-established prize (first run in 2009) is administered by British literary magazine
Wasifiri, in which the winners of each category are published. The competition is open to
anyone worldwide who has not published a complete book in their chosen category.
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Waverton Good Read Award
Top Prize: 1000 | Categories: Novel
This award is judged collectively by the residents of a village in Cheshire, who read a number
of debut novels by UK-based authors published in the previous year and decide which they
like the most. The winners name is also engraved on a trophy, which remains in the village.
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Willesden Herald Short Story Competition
Top Prize: 300 and Publication and Mug | Categories: Short Story
The winners and top ten shortlisted entries to this yearly prize will be published in an
anthology. The overall winner also receives prize money and a one-of-a-kind limited-edition
Willesden Herald mug. Now approaching its tenth year this is a popular and well-known
writing competition.
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Womens Prize For Fiction
Top Prize: 30000 | Categories: Novel
Awarded to the author of a work of fiction published in the United Kingdom during the past
year. As the name would suggest, this prize considers only work written by writers who are
female. Launched in 1996, the Prize is awarded annually and celebrates excellence,
originality and accessibility in womens writing from throughout the world.
http://www.wasafiri.org/wasafiri-new-writing-prize.asphttp://www.wasafiri.org/wasafiri-new-writing-prize.asphttp://www.wavertongoodread.org.uk/http://www.wavertongoodread.org.uk/http://www.willesdenherald.com/http://www.willesdenherald.com/http://www.orangeprize.co.uk/http://www.orangeprize.co.uk/http://www.orangeprize.co.uk/http://www.willesdenherald.com/http://www.wavertongoodread.org.uk/http://www.wasafiri.org/wasafiri-new-writing-prize.asp