April's Competition Monthly!

A new month and more competition details from Francesca!

A couple of the competitions this month offer no cash prizes. I'm very keen that the competitions I pick offer some kind of reward. It's surprising how many don't, apart from the honour of winning. The prize doesn't have to be a cash one to be worth entering.

The Winchester Festival First Three Pages of a Novel competition is offering an editorial meeting

with publishing company Little, Brown. Who knows what that could be worth ultimately to the winner?


The Harper's Bazaar competition is offering short story publication (along with a weekend away) in lieu of cash. This might do a lot for your professional profile – even if they do claim all worldwide rights for that story.


Many competitions claim a right to publish any entry, prize winner or not, and that's generally a no-no in my book. Can you imagine other professions putting up with that? Occasionally though, it's worth accepting something in the rules and conditions, or lack of prize money, for some other advantage.


There's an unusual competition this month in the Txtlit one, with only 154 characters allowed. Now that's quite a challenge!


Good luck to everyone, and don't forget to let us know of any competition success you have.




Harper's Bazaar Short Story Competition
Theme: 'The Anniversary', 3,000 words max
Prize: Publication in Harper's Bazaar and weekend stay in a luxury hotel
Closing date: 30 April 2017
Entry: Free
Details


Luna Press Flash Fiction
Theme: SciFi, fantasy, dark fantasy and their subgenres. 500 words max
Prize: 5 overall winners will split the cash pot of entry fees, plus publication of the Luna Press website.
Closing date: 30 April 2017
Entry: £1.50
Details


Txtlit Monthly Story Competition
Theme: For April, 'The Package'. 154 characters only
Prize: £50
Closing date: 30 April 2017
Entry: £1
Details


Tacchi-Morris Page is Printed Competition
Theme: Open. One side of A4
Prize: 3 x £100
Closing date: 1st May 2017
Entry: £5 / £10 for 3
Details


The Daily Mail Novel Competition
Theme: Crimes and thrillers only. First 5,000 worlds plus 600 word synopsis. Entrants must not be represented by a literary agent.
Prize: £20,000 book deal with Penguin Random House
Closing date: 3 May 2017
Entry: Free
Details


Winchester First Three Pages of a Novel Competition
Theme: Any theme or period. First 3 pages plus synopsis of 600 word max
Prize: Editorial meeting with Little, Brown
Closing date: 15 May 2107
Entry: £6
Details


Bridport Prize Short Story Competition
Theme: Open, 5,000 max
Prize: £5,000 / £1,000 / £500 / 10 x £100
Closing date: 31 May 2017
Entry: £10
Details


Bridport Flash Fiction Competition
Theme: Open, 250 words max
Prize: £1,000 / £500 / £250 / 3 x £100
Closing date: 31 May 2017
Entry: £8
Details


Peggy Chapman-Andrews First Novel Award
Theme: Completed or partly written novel, any adult genre. First 3 chapters (5,000 – 8,000words) plus 300 word synopsis.
Prize: £1,000 plus mentoring from The Literary Consultancy and possible publication. Runner up £500 plus professional feedback. 3 x £100 and ms assessment of 50 pages max.
Closing date: 31 May 2017
Entry: £20
Details


Frome Short Story Competition
Theme: Open, 1,000 – 2,200
Prize: £400 / £200 / £100 (plus local prizes)
Closing date: 31 May 2017
Entry: £8
Details


The Fiction Desk Newcomer Prize for Short Stories
Theme: Open, 1,000 – 7,000 words. Entrant must not have been published by Fiction Desk or had a novel or story collection published in printed format.
Prize: £500 / £250
Closing date: 31 May 2017
Entry: £8
Details


1,000 Word Challenge
Theme: 'Secret'
Prize: £100 / £50 / £25
Closing date: 31 May 2017
Entry: £5
Details





Thanks, Francesca! Good Luck to everyone!

If you would like to write for the RNA Blog, then please contact us at elaineeverest@aol.com

Francesca Capaldi Burgess has been placed or shortlisted in a number of competitions including Winchester Writers' Conference, Retreat West, Meridian Writing, Wells Festival and Writing Magazine. Her serial for The People's Friend will begin in the May 27th issue. She's had stories published in magazines worldwide and in three anthologies, including Diamonds and Pearls and 100 Stories for Haiti. She is a member of the RNA New Writers' Scheme and the Society for Women Writers and Journalists. Francesca runs a writing blog along with writer Elaine Roberts called Write Minds.





This blog was prepared by blog team member, Louisa Heaton.