From time to time, I do a round-up of competitions that have no entry fees because heaven knows it’s a costly business. Right at the moment, there aren’t that many available, but I think the list below is nonetheless an interesting mix. I’ll add to it as and when new opportunities arise, and I hope… Read More Free-to-enter competitions 2020
[Updated 8/6/2020] In keeping with my most pressing current project, I have a list of upcoming novel prizes for you. From women-only awards to tales of adventure, hopefully there will be something here for everyone. As always, please do read the fine print before you enter anything. Good luck! Comedy Women in Print Prize 2020… Read More Novel competitions for 2020
[Updated 3/5/20] It’s been a while since I featured a flash fiction competition list, so here are some interesting things coming up. A few of these competitions push the boat out in terms of the micro form, asking for collections of flashes that work together as a whole. Could yield some very interesting results. As… Read More Flash fiction competitions 2020
[Updated 10/4/20 – please note that some deadlines have been extended due to the Covid-19 crisis] Can you believe we’re casually referring to 2020 as something imminent and not the setting for a sci-fi series where everyone dresses in tin foil smocks? How on earth did that happen? In this bold new world, there will… Read More Your 2020 short story competition guide
To be honest, I don’t actually enter that many competitions. It’s an expensive game, and I’m too lazy to write enough material to keep up with the multitude of opportunities out there. But I’ve done alright in the ones I have entered during my few years of writing seriously, with a few wins, shortlistings and… Read More 6 things I’ve learned about entering competitions
[Updated 13/11/19] Here’s a short blog post about micro fiction competitions. As always, do please read the guidelines before you enter anything. And also as always, good luck! 2019 Lennox Robinson Award Closing date: EXTENDED to August 31 Prize: €100. The prize will be presented at a special event in Douglas Library, Cork, in October Theme: must relate… Read More Upcoming flash fiction competitions for August-December
[Updated 13/11/19] The last time I did a short story round-up, the year was just beginning and the days were short – though the month was looong. Now here we are, already halfway through 2019, and some of us are in the middle of unprecedented heatwaves. Good times. Here’s a brand new list of opportunities… Read More Short story competitions July-December 2019
[Updated 16/9/19] Writing is a funny old game that you can easily spend more money on than you earn from it. To make progress, you need to get your work out into the world and hopefully build a reputation as a writer. But regularly entering competitions is costly, and you can run up quite a… Read More Free-to-enter writing competitions
I haven’t been entering competitions lately (not enough finished material), so I was really chuffed to see my name pop up on the shortlist for The Bangor Literary Journal 40-word Flash Fiction Competition. Also on it is my very funny writing group pal Eileen O’Sullivan – a double celebration for our little gang. The shortlist… Read More The Bangor Literary Journal flash fiction competition
[Updated 27/5/2019] I’m supposed to be working on the first draft of a novel at the moment, so naturally I’m doing anything but. Though not generally a flash fiction writer, I find myself writing one flash after another, in part to get the stories out of my head quickly so as not to distract me… Read More Spring-summer flash fiction competitions 2019
