Writing Competitions 2025

It helps a great deal to be able to call yourself an award-winning author. To claim such praise begins by entering competitions. I've curated a bunch of writing competitions, managed by British organisations, for you. I've provided only basic details so make sure you check the Terms & Conditions for each competition - links are in the titles to the competition. Good luck! 🥳 The Page Is Printed Deadline January 13 Entry fee £5 First prize £100 Word limit One side of A4 Theme None just the advice to “dare to be different”   Discoveries Women’s Novel Prize Deadline January 13 Entry fee Free First prize £5,000 + representation via Curtis Brown Literary agency Word limit 10,000 words + synopsis Theme Novel do not need to be finished   Bournemouth Writing Prize Deadline January 15 Entry fee £10 First prize £500 Word limit 3,000 words, 1-2-1 sessions, Open Mic slot Theme None   Future Worlds Prize Deadline January 26 Entry fee Free First prize £4,500 Word limit 10,000 words, synopsis, cover letter Theme Only open to unpublished writers of colour of SFF fiction   New Writers Flash Fiction Competition Deadline January 31 Entry fee £10 First prize £100, published in New Writers Anthology Word limit 300 words (including title) Theme None   Fiction Factory First Chapter & Synopsis Competition Deadline January 31 Entry fee £18 First prize £500 + an appraisal Word limit 5,000 words Theme None   Bristol Short Story Prize Deadline January 31 Entry fee £12 First prize £1,000 Word limit 4,000 words Theme None   Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize Deadline January 31 Entry fee £12 First prize £1,500 Word limit 10 pages, 1 paragraph pitch, 1 page synopsis Theme None. Only open to women writers   Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition Deadline February 28 Entry fee £18 First prize £500 Word limit 3,500 words Theme “The Mystery remains box-shaped, at once a prison and a refuge. Its four walls are, roughly, a Crime, a Mystery, an Enquiry and a Conclusion with an Element of Satisfaction in it.”   Exeter Writers Short Story Competition Deadline February 28 Entry fee £11 First prize £3,000 Word limit 2,000 words Theme None   Edinburgh Short Story Award Deadline February 28 Entry fee £7 First prize £700 Word limit 3,000 words Theme None   Weatherglass Novella Prize Deadline March 1 Entry fee £20 First prize £500 and publication Word limit 40,000 words Theme None   Deborah Rogers Foundation Writers Award Deadline March 31 Entry fee Free First prize £10,000   Word limit 20,000 words + synopsis + bio Theme Open to a first-time prose writer whose work shows literary talent and who would benefit from financial support in order to complete their work   Bridport Prize (Peggy Chapman-Andrews First Novel Award Deadline May 31 Entry fee £24 First prize £1,500, publication & manuscript appraisal Word limit 8,000 words Theme Your novel doesn’t have to be finished. We initially need only 5,000 to 8,000 words and a 300 word synopsis. If you’re long listed we’ll ask for a total of 15,000 words, including your original word count. Shortlisted? Then we need a total 30,000 words, again including your original entry and long listed word count.   Bridport Prize – Short Story Deadline May 31 Entry fee £14 First prize £5,000 Word limit 5,000 words Theme None   The Bath Novel Award Deadline May 31 Entry fee £29.99 First prize £5,000 Word limit 5,000 words + 1 page synopsis Theme None   To Hull and Back – Humorous Short Story Competition Deadline June 30 Entry fee £10 First prize £1,000 Word limit 2,500 words Theme None   To find out details about my books, click on the image