April 2020: Competition Monthly
20 April 2020
Being on lockdown seems a wonderful opportunity to get going on all those writing projects we’ve had on the back boiler for so long, but it’s amazing how this surreal situation can make you lose focus. Here are some more competitions to inspire your writing during these trying times.
Keep safe and all the best with your writing endeavours.
Click February 2020 and March 2020 for posts detailing further competitions closing in April, May and June.
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Closing soon
Booksie Flash Fiction Writing Contest
Theme: Use the picture provided, 500 words max
Prizes: £500 / 2 x £100
Closing date: 8 May 2020
Entry: $6.95
First Novel Prize
Theme: Self-published or unpublished, any adult genre over 50,000 words
Prizes: £1,000 / £250 / £100
Closing date: 31 May 2020
Entry: £25
June Competitions
Literary Taxidermy Short Story Competition
Theme: Open genre story up to 2,500 words, using opening and closing lines provided
Prizes: US$500
Closing date: 4 June 2020, 12.00pm PST
Entry: $10
The Henshaw Short Story Competition
Theme: Open, 2,000 words max
Prizes: £200 / £100 / £50
Closing date: 30 June 2020
Entry: £6
Wells Festival Short Story Competition
Theme: Open, 1,000 – 2,000 words
Prizes: £750 / £300 / £200 / Local prize £100
Closing date: 30 June 2020
Entry: £6
Wells Festival Book for Children Competition
Theme: Book for 7+, middle grade or YA, first three chapters or first 30 pages plus synopsis
Prizes: £750 / £300 / £200 / Local prize £100
Closing date: 30 June 2020
Entry: £6
Write Time Short Story Competition
Theme: Open, 1,500 words maximum
Prizes: £50 / £25
Closing date: 30 June 2020
Entry: £3
July competitions
Fitzcarraldo Novel Prize
Theme: Novels over 30,000 words
Prizes: Publication plus $10,000 advance against royalties
Closing date: 1 July 2020
Entry: Free
Penine Ink Writers Competition
Theme: Short story up to 500 words using the photo for inspiration
Prizes: £50 plus publication
Closing date: 1 July 2020
Entry: £3
VS Pritchett Short Story Prize
Theme: Open, 2,000 – 4,000 words
Prizes: £1,000
Closing date: 3 July 2020
Entry: £7.50
The HG Wells Short Story Competition
Theme: “Vision”, 1,500 – 5,000 words
Prizes: £500
Closing date: 6 July 2020
Entry: £10 (£5 with student id)
Doris Gooderson Short Story Competition
Theme: Open, 1,200 words max
Prizes: £200 / £100 / £50
Closing date: 15 July 2020
Entry: £5
Staunch Book Prize
Theme: For thrillers that contain no violence towards women. First 5,000 words. For traditionally published, self-published within eighteen months or unpublished
Prizes: £1,000
Closing date: 20 July 2020
Entry: Free
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Francesca Capaldi Burgess has been placed or shortlisted in a number of competitions including Winchester Writers’ Conference, Twyford Writers, Chorley & District Writer’s Circle, Retreat West, Cordelia.net, Meridian Writing, Flash a Famous Phrase, Wells Festival Book for Children, Writing Magazine and The People’s Friend serial competition. She’s had stories and a serial published in magazines worldwide and three DC Thomson pocket novels. Her first historical saga, published by Hera Books, will be out on June 10th. Apart from the RNA, she’s also a member of the Society for Women Writers and Journalists. Francesca runs a writing blog with RNA member Elaine Roberts called Write Minds.
