COMPETITION MONTHLY

Welcome back to Francesca Burgess with the latest in her Competition Monthly series.

First of all I am delighted to tell you that a couple of weeks ago I was shortlisted for The People's Friend Serial Writing Competition. It was something a little different for me so it just shows that sometimes you should chance writing outside the box. Writer Helen Yendall was the winner and I look forward to reading her story when it's published.

This month I'd like to mention record keeping. I'm certain I'd have got into a right mess with my submissions without my spreadsheets. I used to add the competition entries to the sheet for my magazine subs, but I recently created a new spreadsheet especially for the comps, which I have found much more useful. These are in date order. I also keep a paper system. This is an exercise book set out by story, which allows me to see exactly where each of them has been sent. It's also handy when your laptop crashes and you can't reload your spreadsheets. (Yes, it happened to me!)

There are a couple of unusual competitions this month. One has a writing retreat in Iceland as a prize (I've always longed to go there) and another is about points of view. Good luck!

**Closing soon** Iceland Writers' Retreat Northern Lights Competition

Theme: 'Northern Lights', up to 500 words.

Prize: Writing retreat in Rykjavik worth £1,500, including flights, 13-17 April 2016

Competition deadline: 3 January 2016

Entry: free

Details

Writing Magazine Annual Open Short Story Competition

Theme: Open, 1,500 – 1,700 words

Prize: 1^st £200 plus publication in magazine. 2^nd £50 plus publication online

Competition deadline: 14 January 2016

Entry: £3 subscribers, £5 others

Details

Grist Point of View Competition

Theme: Writing in one of five points of view: 'I', 'You', 'He', 'She' or 'It'. Maximum 5,000 words or 40 lines of poetry

Prize: 1^st £500, 2^nd £250, 3^rd £125 and publication

Competition deadline: 31 January 2016

Entry: £5

Details

Artificium fiction competitions

Competition for short stories:

Theme: Open, 2,000 – 8,000 words

Prize: 1^st £300, prize pot to be shared between 1 – 4 runners up

Competition deadline: 5 February 2016

Entry: £5

 'In Brief' Competition:

Theme: Open, can include flash fiction and poetry, 500 – 1,000 words

Prize: 1^st £150, prize pot to be shared between 1 – 4 runners up

Competition deadline: 5 February 2016

Entry: £5

Details

Exeter Writers Short Story Competition

Theme: Open, except children's. 3,000 word maximum.

Prize: 1^st £500, 2^nd £250, 3^rd £100, Prize for Devon writer £100

Competition Deadline: 28 February 2016

Entry: £6

Details

Bath Novel Awards

Theme: Open, any genre including Y/A but not children's.

Prize: 1^st £2,000, 2^nd Consultancy report from Cornerstones and follow up session

Competition Deadline: 10 April 2016

Entry: £22

Details

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's been a member of the RNA New Writers' Scheme for five years.

Thank you, Francesca!

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

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