THE MOTH NATURE WRITING PRIZE

Richard Mabey, one of the UK’s foremost nature writers, will judge the inaugural Moth Nature Writing Prize. The Prize will be awarded to an unpublished piece of writing – prose fiction, non-fiction or poetry – which best combines exceptional literary merit with an exploration of the writer’s relationship with the natural world. The prize is open to anyone over the age of sixteen, as long as the work is original and previously unpublished. The winning piece will be published in the winter issue of The Moth, and the winner will receive €1,000 and a week-long stay at The Moth Retreat in rural Ireland. Closing date 15 September 2020.

LINKS:
ENTER ONLINE: https://www.themothmagazine.co.uk/mothnature/story1.asp
DOWNLOAD ENTRY FORM: http://www.themothmagazine.com/a1-page.asp?ID=8539&page=27
THE MOTH RETREAT: http://www.themothmagazine.com/a1-page.asp?ID=8148&page=28

IN SHORT:
1st prize €1,000 plus a week at The Moth Retreat in rural Ireland. The Moth Nature Writing Prize is open to anyone (over 16) as long as their piece is previously unpublished. The word limit is 4,000 and there is an entry fee of €15. This year’s judge is Richard Mabey. Closing 15 September 2020. See www.themothmagazine.com for details.

Bridport Prizes

This is one of the most prestigious writing contests in the British literary calendar.

Do you have a really good poem or short story? Or a few? I mean, really REALLY good?

• poem - no more than 42 lines
• short story - no more than 5,000 words.   
• flash fiction category - stories of up to 250 words 
• First Novel - 5,000 to 8,000 words

This year’s judges are Daljit Nagra, & (poems) Monica Ali (flash fiction and short stories) and Kamila Shamsie (First novel).

    Closing: 31st May (postmarked)

Prizes: 

In each of the main categories (Short Stories, Poems) - £5,000, £1,000, £500.  There are also ten runners-up prizes of £100.  These are called ‘supplementary prizes’ to make you feel less like an also-ran.  The top four poems will be submitted to the Forward Prize. 

Prizes in the Flash Fiction category are £1,000, £500, £250, plus three supplementary awards of £100.

Note: Entries must never have been published, self-published, published on any website, blog or online forum, broadcast nor winning or placed in any other competition.

    Entry Fees have increased:Poems - £9.  Short Stories - £10.  Flash Fiction - £8, Novel - £20
 
    Comp Page: Click Here.

Flash Fiction Competition: Kanturk Arts Festival

This Year’s Kanturk Arts Festival takes place from Thursday 15th March to Monday 19th March 2018 inclusive.

Flash Fiction Prizes

1st €200, 2nd €75 and 3rd €25

The 2018 competition will be judged by novelist Denyse Woods.
Your Flash Fiction entry can be inspired by, suggested by or based on the image below, using no more than 500 words.

Terms and Conditions

There is no entry fee for this competition
Maximum number of words is 500
Your entry must be original and must not have been previously published in print or online, been broadcast or have won a prize.

Deadline: 10 pm Wednesday, January 31st, 2018.

A shortlist will appear on Kanturk Arts Festival page at no less than two weeks prior to Kanturk Arts Festival. Shortlisted authors will be contacted by email.

To enter online, click: Enter Flash Fiction Contest
and follow the instructions.

MAKE SURE YOUR NAME AND CONTACT DETAILS ARE NOT IN THE BODY OF YOUR ENTRY

(Judging is done anonymously.) Your entry and name are linked automatically when you enter. Receipt of entry will be by email only.

How to Enter by Post

Post to: Kanturk Arts Festival, Raveloe, Curragh Court, Kanturk, Co. Cork

All entries must be printed on one side of the page only in a reasonably sized type and using double spacing.

Doolin Writers’ Competition 2018

Doolin Writers’ Competition 2018 with a prize fund of €2500. Entries are now being accepted for Short Stories, Poetry and Flash Fiction 

Deadline: December 1st 2017. 

This year Doireann Ní Ghríofa will judge the poetry competition, Sarah Davis-Goff and Lisa Coen from Tramp Press will judge the Short Story and the Flash Fiction Category.

Meanwhile Hotel Doolin has confirmed the weekend of the 2nd-4th February for the 6th Annual Doolin Writers’ Weekend, County Clare will again play host to some of the country’s leading writers.

‘It’s a great opportunity for aspiring writers as well as literary fans and established authors to get together and mix, as Anne Enright, Irelands Laureate of fiction says, “there is no VIP room in Irish Literature,” and this is true also for the Doolin Writers’ Weekend, one of the key aspects of the festival for us is that it has the feel of a community with people joining  us here every year and just picking up where things left off, audiences and artists feeling at one and enjoying the communal spirit of the weekend.’ Donal Minihane- Event Organiser- Hotel Doolin General Manager

‘Doolin has long been associated with the arts, providing inspiration for musicians, painters & writers. Many of the greats spent time in Doolin, including JM Synge, George Bernard Shaw, Dylan Thomas, Augustus John & Oliver St. Gogarty. Post-crash Ireland is on the cusp of a new literary boom and we look forward to welcoming a new wave of bold and original writers to Doolin.’

Terms and Conditions

Entrants must be aged over 18 years.
No poet/writer may win more than one prize.
8 Shortlisted names in each category will be announced on Doolin Writers’ Facebook page at no less than 1 week prior to Doolin Writers’ Weekend. Shortlisted authors will be contacted by email. 2 winners in each category will be announced on the opening night of Doolin Writers’ Weekend. Winners will read their poem and excerpt from their story on Saturday night of the Doolin Writers’ Weekend. Accommodation and meals will be provide for winners and runners up on the Friday & Saturday night.
Poems, Flash Fiction and Stories must be entered separately.
Currency conversion for the purpose of this competition (subject to change): 10.00 Euro = £8.00 Sterling = US$14.00

POSTAL ENTRIES
For Postal entries please post your submission to Doolin Writers’ Competition Entry with a cover letter to have your name, email address and contact number and with the €10 Fee in a cheque or Postal order form made payable to Hotel Doolin. Your name and contact details must appear only in the cover letter and not the story or poem.

ONLINE ENTRIES
Click on the Submitable button on our website and follow the steps to upload your entry, your name and contact details must not appear on the entry uploaded only on the fields provided online.

Flash Fiction 1st Prize €500
Must be in English, must each be no more than 500 words (that does not include the title).
Must show title & story only, must not show writer’s name or any other identifying marks on submitted stories – Please note stories submitted with the writers’ name or contact details will not be submitted to the judges!
Must be double spaced.
Must be the original work of the entrant.
Must not have been previously broadcast or published (in print or online).

Poems First Prize €1000

Must be in English, must each be no longer than 40 lines (that does not include the title).
Must show title & poem only, must not show poet’s name or any other identifying marks on submitted poems – Please note poems submitted with the writers’ name or contact details will not be submitted to the judges!
Must be the original work of the entrant.
Must not have been previously broadcast or published (in print or online).
Three is the limit on number of poems you can submit; no alterations accepted after submission.

Short Story First Prize €1000

Must be in English, must each be between 1000-3000 words (that does not include the title).
Must show title & story only, must not show writer’s name or any other identifying marks on submitted stories – Please note stories submitted with the writers’ name or contact details will not be submitted to the judges!
Must be double spaced.
Must be the original work of the entrant.
Must not have been previously broadcast or published (in print or online).

Wine tourism spain short story / Flash competition

Interesting flash fiction competition that's free to enter.

How would aliens react to wine? Would wine play a role in the way that aliens perceive Earth?

Submission guidelines:

• All stories must be original and should not have been previously published elsewhere.
• Submissions must be a minimum of 200 words. Maximum word limit is set to 500 words. 
• Winners will be announced on May 20th
• Topic: Extraterrestrial life arrives to Earth. They arrive somewhere in Spain. Wine plays an important role in the way their perception of Earth is shaped.
• Important rule: The stories must first be published on a blog as a precondition to participate. As part of the publication, a link to Winetourismspain.com or any of its sections must be included 
• Individuals may participate with a maximum of 2 stories.

Prizes: 3 prizes. A first prize of an Amazon voucher valued at $700 and two second prizes of an Amazon voucher valued at $350.

Deadline: April 30th (20:00 CET)

Submission instructions:

An email with the following details needs to be sent to contest@turismodevino.com
Details needed:

• URL of the blog where the story is published
• Name of the story
• Name and surname of the person that is participating

Link here

Doolin Writers Weekend Competition

Doolin Writers Weekend Competition is now open for entries for short stories, poems and flash fiction

Judges Sinéad Gleeson, E.M. Reapy and Rita Ann Higgins. 

This year they've gone “green” and are asking for submissions online if possible.

In 2017 it'll be the 5th year of Doolin Writers’ Weekend, at Hotel Doolin Ireland from 3rd to 5th of February 2017. Some names on the programme so far: Sara Baume, Mike McCormack, Claire-Louise Bennett, Alan McMonagle, Declan Meade, Elaine Feeney with many more to be announced. 

I'm hoping they're going to ask me, TBH. It has a great reputation for fun.

For more information on the competitions please follow this link http://www.hotel Doolin.ie/doolin-writers-festival.html

Deadline 13th January 2017

Doolin Writers’ Weekend Competition

Deadline: Friday 13th January 2017

The 5th annual Doolin Writers’ Weekend taking place at Hotel Doolin from 3rd to 5th of February 2017. Participants confirmed for this year so far include Sara Baume, Mike McCormack, Claire- Louise Bennett, Alan McMonagle, Declan Meade, Rita Ann Higgins, Elaine Feeney and many more to be announced.

The Doolin Writers competition runs in conjunction with the weekend and includes prizes for poetry (€1000), flash fiction (€500) and short stories (€1000).

General rules:

• Submissions accepted from poets/writers of any nationality, from any country.
• Must show title & story only, must not show writer’s name or any other identifying marks on submitted stories – Please note stories submitted with the writers’ name or contact details will not be submitted to the judges!
• Poems, Flash Fiction and Stories must be entered separately.
• Must be double spaced.
• Must be the original work of the entrant.
• Must not have been previously broadcast or published (in print or online).

• 8 Shortlisted names in each category will be announced on Doolin Writers’ Facebook page at no less than 1 week prior to Doolin Writers’ Weekend.
• 2 winners in each category will be announced on the opening night of Doolin Writers’ Weekend.
• Winners will read their poem and excerpt from their story on Saturday night of the Doolin Writers’ Weekend.
• Accommodation and meals will be provide for winners and runners up on the Friday & Saturday night. 

Postal Entries
For Postal entries please post your submission to Doolin Writers’ Competition Entry with a cover letter to have your name, email address and contact number and with the €10 Fee in a cheque or Postal order form made payable to Hotel Doolin.

Here is the link to the website http://www.hoteldoolin.ie/doolin-writers-festival.html for online entries.

Flash Fiction 1st Prize €500
Must be in English, must each be no more than 500 words (that does not include the title).

Poems First Prize €1000
Must be in English, must each be no longer than 40 lines (that does not include the title).

Short Story First Prize €1000
Must be in English, must each be between 1000-3000 words (that does not include the title).

Bare Fiction Prize

International awards for Poetry, Flash Fiction, and Short Story.

Now in its third year, the Bare Fiction Prize has given new and old writers alike an equal chance to win big cash prizes and publication within each of the three categories offered. In 2015’s Bare Fiction Prize, first place in the poetry competition (judged by Jo Bell) went to Astra Bloom – a complete newcomer to the UK literary scene. Each entry is judged anonymously by our judges, with the poetry and flash fiction category judges reading every single entry and our short story judge reading a longlist selected by magazine editor, Robert Harper.

POETRY JUDGE: Helen Mort

FLASH FICTION JUDGE: David Gaffney 

SHORT STORY JUDGE: Courttia Newland 

PRIZES (IN EACH CATEGORY)

1st Prize: £500 

2nd Prize: £200 

3rd Prize: £100 

2 x Highly Commended Award: £25

1st, 2nd & 3rd prize winners will be published in the Spring 2017 issue of Bare Fiction Magazine and on the website, with the prizes to be awarded at the launch reading in London in Spring 2017

FEE

Poetry (max 40 lines):

Flash Fiction (max 500 words):

Short Story (max 3000 words):

£5 / £3 for subscribers

£6 / £4 for subscribers

£8 / £6 for subscribers

You can subscribe during the submission process if you wish.

Payment can be made by Credit/Debit Card, PayPal or by Cheque (GBP Sterling).

Link here

Deadline 31st October

The Blue Nib

www.thebluenib.com is accepting submissions of poetry, fiction, essays & short stories.

Submission URL thebluenib.com/submissions/

Poems: Please submit a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 10 pieces of work, ensure that you have
edited and formatted as you wish to see your work published

Fiction: The Blue Nib will publish new fiction of up to 10,000 words, please submit no more than one piece at a time.

Short Stories: Please submit a minimum of three and a maximum of 5 pieces of work, please ensure
the work has been edited and that spelling and grammar have been checked.

Essays: original essays of no more than 5000 words.

The following contests are also open and finalists in each category will be included in the Winter Anthology which will be published on-line and as a download in December 2016

International Original Fiction Contest. €250.00 Prize Fund
The contest is open to original fiction of no more than 12,000 words

International Essay Contest. €150.00 Prize Fund
The contest is open to original essays of no more than 2000 words

International Short Story Contest. €150.00 Prize Fund
The contest is open to original short stories of no more than 3500 words

International Poetry Contest. €150.00 Prize Fund
The contest is open to poetry in all forms other than extreme brevity

All Open to all writers over the age of 18 years as at 1st November 2016

Deadline: 31st October 2016

Entry fee for each is €5.00

Drabble about Huntington's Disease

What's a drabble? A flash fiction piece I think.

Your Drabble should be no more than 150 words. It should tell the story of Huntington’s disease and how it impacts on the lives of the people that live with it

Writing out of the HD shadow

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurological condition that is still hidden in the shadows and our aim is to use the power of storytelling to raise awareness.

The competition will be judged by Alan and Michael and they will present prizes to three talented writers at the winners event in September 2016.

The Prizes
Over 16
1st Place, £500 and a framed copy of your entry signed by the celebrity writers..
2nd Place, £300 and a framed copy of your entry signed by the celebrity writers.
3rd Place,£100 and a framed copy of your entry signed by the celebrity writers.

Under 16
1st Place, £100 and a framed copy of your entry signed by the celebrity writers.
2nd Place, £50 and a framed copy of your entry signed by the celebrity writers.
3rd Place, £20 and a framed copy of your entry signed by the celebrity writers.

Deadline: 31st of August 2016

Fee of £5.00 for each entry over the age of 16, if you are under 16 there is no administration fee.
Link here

Saint Clementin Litfest - Bilingual festival in France

Here are some competitions from a festival I hadn't heard of before.

Poetry (now in its 10th year) Judge: Roger Elkin 1st prize £300
Short stories Judge: Amanda Hodgkinson 1st prize £300
Vignettes Judge: Ed Briggs Winner: £50
Vignettes français Judge: Ed Briggs Le gagnant premier prix: 65 euros
One-act plays Judge: Gordon Simms Winner: £100

Deadline: 15th June 2016

I guess by Vignettes they mean flash fiction? 300 words.

Link to Poetry Prose and Plays here

The festival in St Clementin which is between Nantes and Poitiers is bilingual and has special guest this year Lemm Sissay.

Bridport Poetry, Flash, First Novel and Short Story Competition

This is one of the most prestigious writing contests in the British literary calendar.

Do you have a really good poem or short story? Or a few? I mean, really REALLY good?

• poem - no more than 42 lines
• short story - no more than 5,000 words.   
• flash fiction category - stories of up to 250 words 
• First Novel - 5,000 to 8,000 words

This year’s judges are Patience Agababi (poems) Tim Stevenson (flash fiction) and Tessa Hadley (short stories) and Kerry Young (First novel).

    Closing: 31st May (postmarked)

Prizes: 

In each of the main categories (Short Stories, Poems) - £5,000, £1,000, £500.  There are also ten runners-up prizes of £100.  These are called ‘supplementary prizes’ to make you feel less like an also-ran.  The top four poems will be submitted to the Forward Prize. 

Prizes in the Flash Fiction category are £1,000, £500, £250, plus three supplementary awards of £100.


The Peggy Chapman-Andrews first novel award, named after the Prize’s founder, has a first prize is £1,000 plus a up to a year’s mentoring from The Literary Consultancy through their Chapter & Verse scheme. A runner-up prize of £500 is also offered. Three shortlisted writers will receive £100. Note: Novelists have to be resident in Great Britain (which sounds like it excludes Northern Ireland!??)

The top 13 short stories will be entered for the National Short Story Prize worth £15,000, and the Sunday Times Short Story Award worth £30,000.  

The top 4 poems are submitted to the Forward Prize for best single poem. 

There's also a prize for the highest placed piece from a writer in Dorset of £100. 

All winners will be invited to an awards ceremony on October 15th at the Bridport Open Book Festival.
 
The judges have some pointers here on the blog well worth reading.

Note: Entries must never have been published, self-published, published on any website, blog or online forum, broadcast nor winning or placed (as in 2^nd, 3^rd,, runner up etc) in any other competition.

    Entry Fees:Poems - £7.  Short Stories - £8.  Flash Fiction - £6, Novel - £20
 
    Comp Page: Click Here.

I Am Dublin Flash Fiction Competition

Deadline: Monday 15 February 2016, 5pm

Entry fee: €5

This flash fiction competition encourages you to channel your inner Anna Livia Plurabelle and to seek inspiration in the charm of our fair city – cracks and all. Pieces should be 400 words in length (in English or Irish) and should be submitted by 15 February 2016. Four winners will be invited to take part in a showcase event on Tuesday 15 March alongside four well-known names on the Dublin literary scene.

Details: 

- There is no limit to the amount of entries you submit.

- Entries should be sent via Word Doc or PDF (anonymously; including story title) to events@writerscentre.ie with the subject line: I Am Dublin competition

Prize: €60 in book vouchers from independent bookshops

Link here

Galway Rape Crisis Centre Poetry Competition

 

This competition closes this Thursday 7th January but it's a very good cause so please consider entering and donating.

There will be three categories poetry, flash fiction and short stories.

Winners in each category will receive €100 cash prize, publication in SIN magazine and a chance to read at the prize- giving event at NUIG in February.

Entry fees are €7 each and €5 concession for students.

Multiple entries are allowed. Maximum lines for any one poem is 50. Maximum for flash entries 500 words and short stories 1800.

Entry fees can be paid by idonate links here.

 Entries can then be sent by email or post quoting the transaction reference.

Email your entry to writinggrcc@gmail.com

Judges: Alan McMonagle, Sarah Clancy and Celeste Augé

September Freestyle Writing Contest

No Entry Fee!
Word limit: 600
Deadline: SEPTEMBER 15, 2015
Submissions: email to
brilliantflashfiction@gmail.com

Prizes: 
50 euro first prize (or equivalent amount in your currency)
25 euro second prize
15 euro third prize

Glenn A. Bruce

Contest Judge: Glenn A. Bruce

Glenn says: We are looking for your most interesting, creative, soulful writing. Take some chances. Move us.

No poetry, please. No erotica or hardcore genre stuff like alien steampunk zombies or speculative transgressive comic noir. Other than that, have fun and surprise us!

You may enter as often as you like. No simultaneous submissions for this contest.

All entries must be original and unpublished elsewhere. This means submissions that have been accepted for publication anywhere else, including anywhere on the internet, blogs, personal web pages, etc., are not eligible. Entries of more than 600 words or entries found to be published anywhere else will be immediately disqualified. Good luck and good writing!

All winning entries (including shortlisted stories) will be published in the September issue of Brilliant Flash Fiction. Link here

Allingham Festival Poetry, Songwriting and Flash Fiction Competition

Not like Homer would I write,
Not like Dante if I might,
Not like Shakespeare at his best,
Not like Goethe or the rest,
Like myself, however small,
Like myself, or not at all.
”

— William Allingham, 'Blackberries'

The prize in each category is €300.

Fees:

Songwriting Competition - €20 per entry.

Flash Fiction Competition - €5 for 1 entry, €8 for 2 entries, €12 for 3 entries, €15 for 4 entries.

Poetry Competition - €5 for 1 entry, €8 for 2 entries, €12 for 3 entries, €15 for 4 entries. 

The winners and runners up will be invited to read their work at the Allingham Festival on Saturday, November 7th, 2015, and will also receive free entry to all events in the festival. 

Deadline: September 14th 2015.

Flash Fiction must not exceed 800 words. Poems must not exceed 40 lines.
Details here
Judges: Monica Corish, Manchan Magan and Jane Clarke.

Dromineer Literary Festival Poetry and Flash Competitions

Details of the 2015 Dromineer Literary Festival competitions. The festival will take place 1 to 4 October, 2015.

2015 POETRY COMPETITION
Judge: Thomas McCarthy.
Maximum Number of lines per poem: 40
Prizes: 1st. Prize €500.00; 2nd. Prize €350.00; 3rd. Prize €150.00
Entry Fee: €5 per poem. Closing date: August 25 2015
Last year's prizewinning poems are here.

2015 FLASH FICTION COMPETITION
Judges: SARAH DAVIS-GOFF and LISA COEN (Tramp Press)
Maximum Number of words per story: 500
Prizes: 1st. Prize €500.00; 2nd. Prize €350.00; 3rd. Prize €150.00
Entry Fee: €10 per entry. Closing date: August 25 2015

Roscommon Writing Award

Do you have connections to Roscommon? Here’s one for you.

The NEW ROSCOMMON WRITING AWARD 2015 is organised by the Roscommon Writer-in-Residence scheme, which is funded by Roscommon County Council and The Arts Council and supported by the Roscommon Herald, the Roscommon People and by Shannonside FM.

The winner will receive a monetary prize of €500.

Deadline: Tuesday, 30 August

Competition Rules
Entries, in English, on any theme, in any literary form, will be accepted.
The competition is open to anyone over 18 with a connection with the county of Roscommon (born in, living in, currently working in, went to school in, etc).
Typed entries (handwritten entries cannot be accepted) must be no more than 500 words. Mark the number of words in your entry on the bottom of the page.
Include your name, address and contact details, plus your connection to the county. Include these on a separate page, not on your entry.

There is no entry fee - Free to enter

The competition will be adjudicated by Jessamine O Connor.

Post your entry to: NEW ROSCOMMON WRITING AWARD 2015, Roscommon Library, Roscommon Town, Ireland.
OR
email your entry to:  mmullins@roscommoncoco.ie. Title your email NEW ROSCOMMON WRITING AWARD 2015.

Newbridge June Fest Literary Miscellany Competition

The competition is open to people living or working in Kildare, from Kildare or attending a writing group in Kildare.

Any genre will be acceptable.

Prose to be no more than 750 words and poetry no more than 40 lines.

Deadline: Tuesday 5th May 2015

5 euro fee per entry to cover costs.   Two entries €8. 

Limited to two entries per person.

Cheques payable to: Junefest Newbridge

Entries can be posted or dropped in to Newbridge Library.  Please clearly mark the envelope Junefest Literary Miscellany.

All entries must be type written. 

Include a separate sheet with your name and contact details and the name of your story/ poem and your connection to Kildare if you live elsewhere. The pieces will be judged anonymously so please do not put your name on the entry itself.  

100 Words, 100 Books

The Book Show, RTÉ Radio has launched a very short fiction/flash competition. 

Prizes: 100 books, publication in a book of the best short fiction received and the shortlisted writers will have their stories read out on stage at a live recording of The Book Show to be simultaneously broadcast live on radio on 6 December.

Deadline: 23 November 2014

rte.ie/radio1/the-book-show/

Guidelines

• The competition is open to people born or resident in Ireland and must be in English.
• Submitted stories must be a minimum of 100 words, up to a maximum of 200 words.
• All stories must be original and unpublished (including online).
• No more than three stories by the same author can be entered.
• A small panel of judges will be judging these with these entries.

Who are the judges?

Enter By Post: 
100 Words, 100 Books, The Book Show, RTE Radio 1, Donny brook Dublin 4. 

or By Email:

bookshow@rte.ie with “100 Words, 100 Books” in the subject line.