Have you got back to writing again, or perhaps didn't stop? I've committed to taking part in a mini crime litfest, submitted a womag story, an article, and competition entry – although I confess nearly all the actual writing of those was done in 2025.
Free entry writing competitions
Thanks to Aly Rhodes for sending me a link to this short story competition from Story Unlikely. There's $5,000 in prizes on offer, you have up to 7,000 words, and they say there are no restrictions on genre (but do mention sci-fi and fantasy).
A reminder about competitions which I (probably) mentioned before and are still open...
The W&AYB short story prize offers publication and a place on an Arvon residential course to the winner. There's still a month to go until it closes.
The Wergle Flomp humorous poetry competition offers cash prizes and publication to the best 13 entries. Top prize is $2,000. It closes on the 1st of April.
The Tree To My Door Valentine's poetry competition offers a £100 voucher as first prize. There's a month to go for that one too. At the time of writing this blog, I hadn't written any poetry all year, possibly all decade, but that could change.
The Parsec short story competition has a first prize of $200. That doesn't close until the end of March.
19 comments:
Thanks for the competition links and reminders Patsy and Aly. Still working my way through the cake and cheese! We have snow and sunshine so I’ve been making the most of that with the little people in my life. Great fun! Also generated a story idea - first 2026 addition to my little notebook. Now I just need to write it!
Thanks for all the info Patsy. Wow you have been productive, I have one article ready to sent off in 2026 but haven't managed to do that just yet, I still feel like its Christmas here in my bubble & like Fiona I'm working my way through the stash of cheeses & the Christmas cake which I love even more in January. So I'm enjoying a nice slow start to 2026.
Thanks for the competition updates. I'm currently concentrating on an entry for Best Valentines Day competition. Almost done but needs some polishing. Had an acceptance and a publication date from Andrew at WW. I think they must have started paying on acceptance as the story isn't due out until July but I've already received payment!
Thank you, Patsy and Aly. The story unlikely looks interesting... hmm...,. I have three lined up to send to BOWW this week, one half-complete for Best Valentine's and one to very likely fit the Parsec bill. I'm about to finish the Winter Writing Sanctuary which has been all about colour, exploring... I suppose you would call it synesthesia which I've always found interesting. Congrats to Sue on an early good start to the year :)
I hope everyone has had a good Christmas and New year.
Thanks for passing that on, Sue. I thought most of the fiction eds would be back at their desks on the 5th Jan, but Andrew must be back earlier!
I've sent out bits and bobs during Xmas and New Year but I've given myself a rest, too.
I've had a memory piece published and a poem in a local paper - also 2 Xmas stories that I've had for ages were published.
They went to no- fee projects but I'm ok with that. I was just happy to finally get them off my hands!
Well done to Sue. April at BOWW won't be back in office until the 12th January.
Yes, I was paid for a March one in December, too! Nice, isn't it...
Thanks for the comps, Patsy. Happy New Year to all. Slow start here, still visiting relatives but one story almost ready to go.
Alyson
Happy New Year to everyone, and best wishes with all writing ventures in 2026. I've just spotted a mention of a short story competition on page 7 of the new issue of The People's Friend - it's run by Cats Protection and seeks 'to celebrate the unique bond between cats and humans'. Apparently you can enter on cats.org.uk/shortstory. (I haven't yet checked this out myself.)
I've checked it out. It's a £10 entry fee, per story, for the Cat protection story comp. I know it's probably about an average fee for a story comp these days but that is too steep for me, I'm afraid!
@ Fiona, if you need help with that Christmas cake...
@ Sheelagh, I'm sure I'd love Christmas cake just as much in January, but it's never lasted long enough for me to test that theory.
@ Sue – That sounds like a change for the better. Congratulations on the acceptance.
@ Marguerite – You've been busy. Good luck with them all.
@ Sharon - Congratulations on those acceptances. I'm sure I saw your name in a magazine recently. Fiction Feast maybe?
@ Alyson – It's a slow start for me too, really as none of the pieces I sent out needed much more work.
@ Eirin - That link does work. There's a £10 entry fee, which goes to support the work done by the charity.
@ Sharon – We must have been typing at the same time. I think you're right about that being around the average entry fee, although there is a lot of variation.
Thank you, Patsy and Aly, and congratulations Sue and Sharon.
I have recently entered a couple of competitions (two poems and a short story).
Cake almost gone, but plenty of boxes of biscuits/chocs to get through… not too much of a chore!
Dee
Thank you, Patsy. Happy New Year everyone.
Congratulations to those with acceptances.
I've been working on finishing a Christmas story and the chocolates 😋
HB
Not back into writing yet nor have we finished all the holiday goodies!
I'm busy writing a series (30 x 800 words) for TPF that'll run in 2027, so working with 2027 issue dates as we move into 2026 is messing with my mind!
Liz
Thank you for that, Sharon. I will hold off until after then.
Thanks for all the competition info, Patsy. And a happy new year to all. I still have plenty Christmas goodies to get through - biscuits, chocolates and more importantly, mince pies (store loyalty cards are very good sometimes).
I hope to get back into writing in the next week or so. Several ideas buzzing round my head at the moment.
Michael
Appreciated Article
Post a Comment