October 2018: Competition Monthly
22 October 2018
Make sure you always read the small print on competition rules.
In the process of researching this month’s blog, I seem to have discounted more competitions than normal. This is due to the organisers claiming they have the right to publish either shortlisted or even all entries, without giving a prize. Once your work is published online, you’re unlikely to be able to submit it elsewhere. Consequently you won’t be able to make any money for all your hard work. Therefore, be careful always to read the small print on competition rules, to make sure you’re happy with the rights you’re granting them.
Good luck, everyone
*
Closing Soon:
Writing Magazine Halloween Competition
Theme: 500 words max
Prize: £100 or critique, plus publication on the website
Closing date: 1 November 2018
Entry: £5
Writing Magazine Flash Fiction Competition
Theme: Open, 500 words max
Prize: £200 plus publication in the magazine / £50 plus publication on the website
Closing date: 15 November 2018
Entry: £6 / £4 subscribers
The London Magazine Short Story Prize
Theme: Open, 2,500 words max
Prize: £500 / £300 / £200
Closing date: 30 November 2018
Entry: £10 / £5 for students
Fish Short Story Prize
Theme: Open, 5,000 words max
Prize: €3,000 plus 5-day workshop at West Cork Literary Festival / €300 plus week at Aman Cara retreat / €300 / 7 x €200
Closing date: 30 November 2018
Entry: €20
Everything with Words Urban YA Novel Competition
Theme: Urban YA novel set in today’s multicultural Britain, 40,000 – 70,000 words
Prize: £1,000 plus possible publication
Closing date: 30 November 2018
Entry: Free
Writing Bureau Flash Fiction Competition
Theme: Open, 500 words max
Prize: £300 / £200 / £100 plus WB course for all 3
Closing date: 30 November 2018
Entry: £5
ServiceScape Short Story Award
Theme: Fiction or non-fiction, 5,000 words max
Prize: $1,000
Closing date: 30 November 2018
Entry: Free
*
December competitions:
The Bath Children’s Novel Award
Theme: Novel for children or teens. First 5,000 words plus one page synopsis
Prize: £2,500
Closing date: 2 December 2018
Entry: £25
HE Bates Short Story Competition
Theme: Open, 2,000 words max
Prize: £500 / £200 / £100
Closing date: 3 December 2018
Entry: £6 / £10 for 2
Writing Magazine Twist Short Story Competition
Theme: Must feature a twist, 1,500 – 1,700 words
Prize: £200 / £50
Closing date: 15 December 2018
Entry: £6 / £4 for subscribers
Retreat West Themed Flash Fiction Competition
Theme: ‘Running Away’, 500 words max
Prize: £200 / 2 x £100
Closing date: 30 December 2018
Entry: £5
Flash 500 Flash Fiction Competition
Theme: Open, 500 words max
Prize: £300 / £200 / £100
Closing date: 31 December 2018
Entry: £5 / £8 for 2
The Henshaw Short Story Competition
Theme: Open, 2,000 words max
Prize: £100 / £50 / £25
Closing date: 31 December 2018
Entry: £5
*
January competitions:
The Exeter Novel Prize
Theme: First 10,000 words of unpublished novel by authors without agents
Prize: £500 / 5 x £100
Closing date: 1 January 2018
Entry: £18
Mogford Prize for Food Writing
Theme: Food and/or drink must be at heart of tale, 2,500 max
Prize: £10,000 / 3 x £250
Closing date: 7 January 2018
Entry: £10
Bath Novella-in-Flash Award
Theme: Novella written in flash fiction chapters, 6,000 – 18,000 words
Prize: £300 / 2 x £100
Closing date: 14 January 2018
Entry: £9
Retreat West First Chapter Competition
Theme: First chapter up to 3,500 words
Prize: Various package review and feedback prizes
Closing date: 27 January 2018
Entry: £10
Fiction Factory Short Story Competition
Theme: Open, 3,000 max
Prize: £150 / £50 / £25
Closing date: 30 January 2018
Entry: £6
Comedy Women in Print Prize
Theme: Comedy novel, first 5,000 and one page synopsis
Prize: Unpublished writer: £1,000 plus place on University of Hereford MA in Creative Writing
Published writer: £2,000
Closing date: 31 January 2018
Entry: £10
Lancashire Authors’ Association Open Flash Fiction Competition
Theme: Flash in exactly 100 words
Prize: £100
Closing date: 31 January
Entry: £2 / 3 for £5
*
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, and Writing Magazine. She’s had stories and a serial published in magazines worldwide. Her first book, Christmas Mystery at Sealfarne Island, is due to be published by My Weekly Pocket Novels in December. Apart from the RNA, she’s also a member of the Society for Women Writers and Journalists. Francesca runs a writing blog along with RNA member Elaine Roberts called Write Minds.
