Do you dream of having your novel in Waterstones’ window? Maybe if you enter and win a competition that dream could come true. It has been known to happen.
The annual Wells Festival of Literature Creative Writing Competition is inviting entries in four categories. Open Poetry: no more than 35 lines on any subject. Prizes: 1st £1,000, 2nd £500, 3rd £250. Entry fee: £6. Short story: 1,000 to 2,000 words. Prizes: 1st £750, 2nd £300, 3rd £200. Entry fee, £6. A Book for Children: Stories on any subject aimed at readers aged 7+. Send the first three chapters or first thirty pages, whichever is the shortest, plus a synopsis. Prizes: 1st £750, 2nd £300, 3rd £200. Entry fee: £6. Closing date: 30 June. Details: http://www.wellsfestivalofliterature.org.uk
The Moth Short Story Prize 2021 offers a first prize of 3,000 Euros for stories up to 5,000 words. The second placed writer wins a week-long writing retreat at Circle of Misse in France, including 250 Euros for travel expenses. The third-placed writer wins 1,000 Euros. Winning stories will be published in the autumn 2021 issue of The Moth magazine. Entry fee is 15 Euros per story. Closing date: 30 June. Details: http://www.themothmagazine.com
The Love Books Competition, run by Marlborough Litfest in association with Bath Spa University invites you to write why you love your favourite book, poem or play. Entries should be up to 750 words, or videos no longer than five minutes. Entries may be reviews, but do not need to be, as long as the writing shows why you love the book, poem, collection, play or graphic novel that you have chosen. There are three age categories: 13-16, 17-19, and 20+ In each category, the winner will get £300 and the runner-up £100. Entry is free, but there can be only one entry per person. Closing date: 30 June. Details: https://lovebookscompetition.org/
V S Pritchett Memorial Prize for Unpublished Short Stories between 2,000 to 4,000 words. Prizes: £1,000, publication. Entry fee: £5. Deadline: 30 June. Details http://www.rslit.org
Henshaw Short Story Competition for up to 2,000 words. Prizes: £200, £100, £50. Entry fee: £6. Deadline: 30 June. Details|: http://www.henshawpress.co.uk
British Czech & Slovak Association Prize for short stories and non-fiction, up to 2,000 words, exploring the links between Britain and the Czech/Slovak Republics. Optional theme for 2021 is “£Corona and its effects”. Prizes: £400, £150, publication in the British Czech and Slovak Review. FREE ENTRY. Deadline 30 June. Details: http://www.bcsa.co.uk
Not many competitions on offer this month, but please, as ever, check all details before entry. Things can change at short notice.
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