Tuesday, February 16, 2016

COMPETITION MONTHLY

Time to welcome back Francesca Burgess for the Competition Monthly Feature

In my first competition monthly, back in October, I mentioned the importance of reading the rules. Looking through some competitions recently, I realised there is another aspect to this, and that is to make sure you qualify, not just your work. Often you have to be a certain age, gender, ethnic group or to hail from a particular area of the UK. There are also competitions that have a separate prize if you live in a certain area, especially if it's connected to a festival.I've seen a competition where you have to be over forty, another for under twenty-fives. Sometimes comps require you to be unpublished, others the opposite.

Two of the competitions featured here have requirements. The Mslexia comp is only open to women (sorry to the men reading this!).  The BBC Short Story Award asks for entrants to have a history of publication in creative writing. I would assume this includes short stories.

Buona Fortuna!

**Closing soon** Felix Dennis Creative Writing Competition

Theme: 'For All Time', up to 2,000 words.
Prize: 1st £1,000, 2nd £300
Competition deadline: 22 February 2016
Entry: Free

BBC National Short Story Award  
Theme: Open, up to 8,000 words
Prize: 1st £15,000, 2nd £3,000, 3 runner-up prizes of £500
Competition deadline: 11 March 2016
Entry: Free

Mslexia Short Story Competition
Theme: Open up to 2,000 words
Prize: 1st £2,000, 2nd £500, 3rd £250, 3 runner-up prizes of £100
Competition deadline: 14 Mar 2016
Entry: £10

Scottish Arts Club Short Story Competition
Theme: Open, up to 1,500 words
Prize: 1st £800, at least 2 runner-up prizes of £100
Competition deadline: 31 March 2016
Entry: £10

Evesham Festival of Words Short Story Competition
Theme: 'An extra day', up to 2,500 words
Prize: 1st £100
Competition deadline: 31 March 2016
Entry: £5

The Fiction Desk Ghost Story Competition
Theme: Ghost story between 1,000 and 7,000 words.
Prize: 1st £500, 2nd £250, 3rd £100, 3rd £100
Competition Deadline: 31 March 2016
Entry: £8

Short Fiction Journal Short Story Prize
Theme: Open, up to 6,000 words
Prize: 1st £500, 2nd £100
Competition Deadline: 31 Mar 2016
Entry: £7

About Francesca:

Francesca Burgess has been placed or shortlisted in a number of competitions including Twyford Writers, Winchester Writers' Conference, Chorley and District Writers' Circle, , Flash a Famous Phrase, Meridian Writing, People's Friend and those run by Writers' News and Writing Magazine. She's had stories published in magazines worldwide and in three anthologies, including Diamonds and Pearls. She is a member of the RNA New Writers' Scheme.

Thank you, Francesca!

Don’t forget to let us know about your competition successes plus any comps you are organising.

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4 comments:

Gabrielle said...

Thanks, as ever, Francesca.
Saves the rest of us a lot of online legwork.
Gabrielle X

Francesca Capaldi said...

You're welcome, Gabrielle. It's something I've been doing for myself, so I might as well share it.
Francesca

Elaine Everest said...

Another great list of competitions. Thank you, Francesca!

Sandra Mackness said...

You have a great attitude, Francesca. Thanks from me also.