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Autumn days…what better time to either curl up with a good book or – better still – write something creative of your own. Here are a few competitions to spur you on.
Grindstone International Novel Prize 2023 for unpublished, previously published or self-published writers who are not represented by a literary agent. The winner will receive £1,500. There is a runner-up prize of £500 and four shortlist prizes of £100. All the long-listed entries will be forwarded to agents affiliated to Grindstone Literary. Include an elevator pitch and a brief synopsis (300-400 words) with the first 5,000 words. Entry is £20. Closing date: 1 October. Details: http://www.grindstoneliterary.com
Bath Flash Fiction Award. Thrice yearly competition for flash fiction up to 300 words. Prizes: £1,000, £300, £100, 2x£30. Entry fee: ££9. Closing date: 1 October. Details: http;//bathflashfictionaward.com
Imison Award for original radio plays for writers new to radio. Prizes: £3,000. FREE ENTRY. Closing date: 2 October. Details: http://www.societyofauthors.org/imison-award
Tom Gallon Trust Awards for short stories up to 5,000 words by authors who have had at least one story accepted for publication. Prizes: £2,00, £1,000, £500. FREE ENTRY. Deadline: 31 October. Details: http://www.societyofauthors.org
The Bedford Competition for short stories up to 3,000 words or poetry up to 40 lines. Prizes: £1,500, £300, £200. Entry £7.50 for one or £15 for three. Deadline 31 October. Details: https://bedfordwritingcompetition.co.uk
Fiction Factory Short Story Competition for stories up to 3,000 words. Deadline 31 October. Prizes: £500. Entry fee: £7. Details: http://fiction-factory.biz
Retreat West Prize for short stories (1,500-2,500 words) flash fiction (150-500 words), and micro-flash (up to 150 words). Prizes: £400, £250, £150, £20 each shortlisted for short stories; £350, £200, £100 and £15 for flash; £200, £100, £50 and £10 for micro. Entry fee: ££10 for short stories, £8 for flash, £5 for micro. Closing date: 31 October. Details: http://www.retreatwest.co.uk
Virginia Prize for Fiction for unpublished novels, at least 45,000 words, by women. Prizes: Development and publication of the winning novel. Closing date: 31 October. Details: https://aurorametro.,com/virginia-prize-for-fiction/
McKitterick Prize for the best first novel, published or unpublished, by an author over the age of 40. Prizes: £2,000, 4x£1,000. FREE ENTRY. Closing date: 31 October. Details: http://www.societyofauthors.org
Competitions are a tremendous way of honing your writing skills and even being long-listed for something is a worthwhile achievement. Think of it like the Olympic medals. Everyone hopes for a Gold Medal, but nobody scorns receiving the Bronze Medal.
Please check details before entry in case of last-minute cancellations or alterations.