Blue sky thinking

Free entry writing competitions.

The Jim Baen memorial short story competition is for 'a short story of no more than 8,000 words, that shows the near future (no more than about 50-60 years out) of manned space exploration.'

The prize package includes paid publication.

The Creative Futures competition is for 'underrepresented writers' (there's a long list of people who qualify). There are classes for fiction, poetry and creative non-fiction and offers £25,000 worth of 'cash and professional development prizes'. 

Other publication opportunities

Thanks to Alyson Hilbourne for the link to Fiction On The Web. The publish two stories a week, which can be from 1,000 to 10,000 words. The pay is £15 (or $15 or €15). They'll consider reprints as long as they're not currently available anywhere online, including ebooks.

I thought I'd test them out for you, by sending a story I'd previously had published in a magazine. Submission is by Submittable, so you'll need to set up a (free) account if you don't have one. 

The story I sent had been previously published in a womag. It was rejected within days. The feedback suggested they'd have preferred something less light. Feedback is optional. There's a thing to click when submitting if you'd rather not have it.

Bluesky

Alyson saw the above market mentioned on Bluesky. That's a platform I feel could be very useful, but which I'm not currently making the best of. If you're on there, please share your profile and/or that of others you find useful or interesting with regards writing, and I'll add them to the list.

For those unfamiliar with Bluesky, it's just like Twitter used to be, before it got swamped with adverts and bots. If you feel you already have enough social media platforms you're happy with, I wouldn't advise you to add more, as they all take up time, but if you want to add one, or make a switch, it might be worth you taking a look.

Alyson Hilbourne             J Lenni Dorner

Kathy Steinemann

Patsy Collins

Womagwriter

Elizabeth McGinty

More publication opportunities and free competitions

Free entry competitions

Parsec are running a sci-fi short story competition on the theme of metamorphosis. I thought I'd already mentioned it, but didn't recognise the image, so maybe that was a previous competeion from them? Or I could just be getting even more forgetful. Anyway, the prize is $200.

Thanks to Alyson Hilbourne for both of these - 

Toasted Cheese are running three free entry competitions this year. They all offer publication and Amazon gift vouchers as prizes. General rules are here, then click the links at the bottom for details of each individual competition.

The Tom Grass Spirit of Adventure literary prize is for fiction or non-fiction of 1,500 to 3,000 on the spirit of adventure. Entrants must not have agent representation or have a book under contract with a mainstream publisher. First prize is £1,000.

And thanks to Aly Rhodes for this one -

Deeping Literary have a short story competition with the theme of Hidden Treasures. The prize is a £30 book token and the opportunity to be published. There's also a children's category.

Other publication opportunities

I recently found this site, which lists lots of places you might like to send your work. Scroll down a bit and you'll find tables with links the the appropriate websites, pay rates (ifthey do pay) and notes on what each publication is looking for. There is a small overlap with my own database, but also lots of markets I was unaware of.

Getting going in 2026

Have you finished all the festive cheese and chocolate, and got used to writing 26 instead of 25 yet? I've been doing better with one of those than the other.

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.

Three for free

Free to enter writing competitions

Thanks to the anonymous person who left a link to these two competitions, as a comment to a previous post. There's a science fiction short story competition, with a £50 prize, plus a flash fiction class. Both are to be on the theme of Peace.

The same person also supplied the link to this short story competition from Jerry Jazz. The prize is $150 plus publication.

The Happiful Poetry Prize isn't just a great name - it's a pretty good competition. They wants poems on the topic of mental health and wellbeing and offer £100 for the winner and book tokens for the runners up.

Unless you've been to the place these photos were taken, I don't think you'll guess the location, but feel free to have a go anyway - and tell me which one represents a castle!

From Fiona!

Thanks to Fiona for sending me the link to this short story competition. As Fiona says, it's one for Dr Who fans. You could possibly get away with watching a few episodes as research, but my guess is that being a regular viewer would be an advantage. There are detailed instructions on the website. You're asked to send a proposal for a 5,000 word story and the prize is to have that commissioned.

Btw, in case you missed seeing the comment last week, Fiona took part in a writing project run by Philip Holyman with Birmingham Uni last autumn. Her poem, True Voyage, Returning, made it into the anthology and a podcast. It’s read by actress Beth Organ in Podcast 10 (1hr 13 minutes in!) you can listen here https://philipholyman.com/true-voyage-is-return

And here's another one from Fiona. This one is for those who live in the Milton Keynes area. They want fiction, factual pieces and poems on the theme of friendship. The prize is to read your piece at a Zoom event, for which you'll get free entry (others pay).

I know it's frustrating to see an interesting competition and not be able to enter because of restrictions such as the area you live – but if you do happen to be eligible, they're a good opportunity. This event is to mark the international day of friendship on 30th July. I imagine there's likely to be more competitions with the same theme.

To show my appreciation, I've included a few flowers for Fiona.

Eleven free entry writing competitions!

It's the eleventh day  of Christmas today. As I'm rather short of pipers piping, here are 11 free to enter writing competitions for you. (I may have mentioned some of these competitions before – but I thought maybe people might have been too busy the last few weeks to do anything about them, or maybe become more determined to send out work this year, and so welcome a reminder.)

Free entry competition news

To win the Nine Dots prize you need to write 3,000 words on 'Is Data Failing us?' along with an outline of 1,000 words showing how you'd expand that into a short book. Actually, there's quite a bit more to it than that - but then the prize is $100,000 so I suppose they have to do something to keep the entries to a reasonable level.

There's probably not time to write anything new for the Bruntwood playwriting competition, but if you happen to have something ready you have a few days left to submit it and be in with a chance of winning the £20,000 prize.

The Jim Baen memorial short story competition is for a science fiction short story. The prize bundle includes paid publication.

And here's another short story competition, this time for horror, fantasy, or science fiction. The prize is $200.

The new media award is for fiction or non fiction to be viewed on electronic devices. The prize is £1,000.

Criminal Lines is a crime novel competition offering a £3,500 prize, plus agency representation.

The prize for the W&AYB short story competition is a place on an Arvon residential course.

This poetry competition has a top prize of $2,000.

If you fancy writing a mystery story of 15,000 to 20,000 this competition is for you. The prize is $1,000 and publication.

This competition is for those who've not professionally published a novel or more than three short stories. They want 'short' stories of up to 17,000 words - and I think they're supposed to be science fiction. The prize is $1,000.

Thanks to Marguerite who shared the details of Best's lateset competition (as a comment to a previous post). Here it is again in case anyone missed it -  Maximum 1200 words on a Valentine's theme by 20th January, 2025. Name, email address and phone no. to bestfiction@hearst.co.uk with 'Valentine's fiction 2025' in the subject title. The all rights issue does seem to be only the winners but do check.

My news

I'll be on Soundart Radio on Monday morning (10 - 12), talking to my friend Anne Rainbow about writing, travel* and probably other things too. There will also be a selection of songs which we like and feel tie in with my work, or our lives and writing in general.

Anne has a Facebook group associated with her show. If you'd like to join that you can post questions for her to ask me live on air (eeek!) You can find out about her other shows there. Her guests include artists of all descriptions.

*which is my excuse for sharing loads of photos from my trips.

My latest novel, the third in my cosy mystery series, is available to pre-order now.

What do you write? (and places to send your work)

I'm interested to know genres and forms you write – please let me know in the comments, and I'll try to find suitable competitions and publication opportunities for you. I ask, because sometimes I see something which seems very niche, or is just so different from the kind of thing I write, that I wonder if it's worth posting about it. Obviously I can't promise to find something for everyone, but I can avoid dismissing an opportunity someone would have considered perfect.

Free to enter writing competitions

Thanks to Alyson for the link to this short story competition. They want  There's more info on the website to help. The prize is $3,000 plus possible publication in an anthology. If the anthology happens, writers of included work will earn a share of the royalties. Looks like anyone over 18 can enter.

 

Other opportunities

Thanks to Sheila Crosby for telling me about this grant for older writers of speculative fiction. (I can't say I like they way they speculate us grown up writers look, but I wouldn't mind the cash!)

There's still time to enter the competition to win a cover for your book (real or imaginary).

Linen press are looking for short stories. Women only for this one.

Publication opportunities and more

 Free entry competitions

Thanks to Marguerite for both of these - "https://tclj.toasted-cheese.com/a-midsummer-tale/ 1000-5000 words on the Summer Olympics until 21^st June, Amazon gift cards as prizes.

Also, Secret Attic has relaunched, currently with monthly short and flash fiction categories by the end of each month for cash prizes, and a weekly one, no prize, but publication for winners.

https://www.secret-attic.co.uk/

Details change for the weekly one and a specific prompt given."

And here's an update from Sharon Boothroyd "Secret Attic have now changed the story length for their ongoing fiction competitions, and they are now free to enter.

They haven't got many entries for their 100 word story comp. The prize is a writing related book. The closing date is the last day day of April."

Thanks both of you!

A not free competition

I very rarely post about competitions with entry fees, but I'm making an exception for this one from Radio Victory. They're looking for stories of 600 words inspired by a song title from the 50s or 00s. The entry window is the whole of May. Prizes include having the winning stories broadcast, a book bundle, and a voucher. I'm making the exception because I'm involved with the Portsmouth Author's Collective which is supporting the competition - and because I'm going to be interviewed on the radio!

Calls for submissions

Dimensionfold are looking for speculative poetry (science fiction, fantasy or horror) to go in an anthology. There's no payment, but successful poets will get a pdf copy and the opportunity to buy copies at a discount. 

My news

We'll be off on our travels fairly soon (brace yourself for a LOT of photos!) I'm trying to get as much done as possible before I go. For that reason, I've put two of my books on pre order. There's this collection of crime short stories, and this cosy mystery novel.

I'm unclear about the benefits or otherwise of pre-orders, other than there being less to do just prior to launch. I'll let you know if I gain any useful insights.

Warm winter wishes

Today is Christmas Eve, the shortest day (in my part of the world) has passed and the days are getting longer and lighter.  That makes me happy. Are these things you celebrate? 

I'm celebrating another flimsy excuse to share some of my photos of Scotland! I do know that's not a reindeer - I mean the first competition link.

Free entry writing competitions

Thanks to Fiona for passing on the link to this essay writing competition. "Entrants must be aged over 16 and resident in Scotland, born in Scotland or have a longstanding association with Scotland. " I wonder if I'd qualify? (I don't just go there and take many, many photos – my husband is half Scots.) For those who do, there's a £1,500 prize on offer.

Thanks to Marguerite who shared a link to Lipstick and Lies in the comments to last week's post. This is a monthly competition with a £10 voucher for the winner and publication of their story and the runner up in a booklet due out in 2024.

And thanks to Elizabeth McGinty for sharing this flash fiction competition which looks like fun and offers a small prize. 

There's still time to enter the Green Stories novel writing competition and it looks as though they'll be running more competitions for different writing forms in 2023.

Other publication opportunities

Fanatical are looking for sci-fi, horror and fantasy stories. They pay £20 per published piece.

Womag news

I've had an acceptance from a magazine I didn't even submit to! 

Not quite as strange as it sounds – A story submitted to Yours was forwarded by the editor to her colleague at the sister publication Yours Fiction. 

That was an exception. Generally stories (poems, articles etc) will only be bought by the editor you've sent them too, so don't leave them lurking on your hide drive – get them out there! 

My news

My hands are toasty warm, thanks to the gloves Fiona made for me. Aren't they great? 

I'm amazed how much difference they make. If you're getting cold hands while typing, it's definitely worth trying a pair.

(Gary took this photo and didn't laugh very much at me trying to position my fingers as though I can actually type.)

As always –

New blog posts are published each Saturday. All blog readers are welcome to use the comment section to share writing news, tips, successes, links to competitions and other publication opportunities, to ask questions and to respond to comments from others.

Happy all the seasonal and festive things to you!

Brrr!

Brrrr! Don't you sometimes wish writing was a more active occupation? I get involved in a story and don't notice how cold I am until I stop and then it takes a lot of tea to warm me up again.

 

Free to enter writing competitions

The Secret Attic run regular competitions for fiction of various lengths. To qualify for the Amazon vouchers you need to be a member which costs £12 a year, but you can still enter the competitions for the fun and glory (plus publication) without doing that.

The prize for this year's W&AYB short story competition is a place on an Arvon course. I've heard that as well to the useful writing stuff they serve good cake. If you've been, can you confirm that?

The L Ron Hubbard Writers Of The Future contest offers a $1,000 prize every quarter for sci-fi and fantasy stories of up to 17,000 words.

Other Publication opportunities

Thanks to Alyson for pointing out that Bridge House Anthologies are looking for submissions on the theme of 'Gifted'.  Successful submissions will be published and you may earn a small amount in royalties if the book happens to do well.

Womag news

I've sold a couple of stories to TAB, 800 and 1,200 words. One was subbed in January, so don't give up on those which have been out for a while. (This is a 'closed' market.)

If you'd like to share the word lengths and waiting period for some of your successes it will help people judge what's in demand and how far in advance we need to send it.

As always –

New blog posts are published each Saturday.

All blog readers are welcome to use the comment section to share writing news, tips, successes, links to competitions and other publication opportunities, to ask questions and to respond to comments from others.

Five freebies

Free entry writing competition news

There's still time to enter Anansi's summer competition. They're offering small cash prizes and publication for poetry, short stories and flash fiction. I'm sure I must have something I could send.

The Blackness on Sea poetry competition, which has a large cash prize. £1,000! Poetry is very much not my strong point, but I'm trying to come up with something.

The Perito prize. The writer of the best piece on accessibility and inclusion will get £500. I've already entered that one.

The Orna Ross Green Stories novel prize. This one has cash prizes of £1000 and £500, plus help with getting published. I've written a novel which I think might suit the theme, but as I've already published it, I can't send it in.

The L Ron Hubbard writers of the future competition offers $1,000 to the winner each quarter and accepts several different genres – none of which I write.

My news

This small collection of my short stories is available to download free from Amazon, and some other retailers, such as Smashwords. That might only be news to newer readers of this blog, but I'm too busy drooling over the illustration for my story in the My Weekly Special to think of anything else!

All kinds of stuff

 

Womag News

There's a new Fiction Editor's blog post on The People's Friend website about queries and complaints in relation to fiction submissions.

I have a story in the current issue of The Friend – it's about a winter garden.

South African magazine YOU are now open for submissions again. The new fiction editor is Illana Frantz and she's adopted the policy that if you've not heard after two months it's a no.

Isn't that better than waiting months, or even years for a reply which might never arrive?

Call for submissions

Bridge House publishing are looking for stories of 1,000 to 5,000 words on the theme of 'Evergreen.' Selected stories will be published in an anthology and authors will earn a share of royalties. As it says on the site – 'A word of warning Anthologies of short stories do not sell in vast quantities to the public.' Thanks to Alyson for passing on the link.

Free entry writing competition news

This competition is only open to residents of UK and Ireland who don't have a publishing deal. It offers £3,000 advance, publication and the option of two months in Italy for the best book length essay proposal.

This may look like a free entry writing competition with a hotel stay as the prize, but it's actually a rights grab. You give up all your rights, just by entering. Giving up all rights in exchange for a prize should you win, or payment should you be published is bad enough, but doing so just to enter a competition strikes me as a really terrible idea. I mention it as a warning to always read the rules and only enter if you're happy to accept them.

I'll point out anything I notice that's of concern to me, but I may miss stuff and in any case, you might not feel the same way as I do about some things.

This competition is for sci-fi, horror or fantasy of up to 3,500 words. The top prize is $200 and publication.

If you're considering entering the Wergle Flomp poetry competition then you might like to hold on until next month. I have a special post coming up that might give you a better chance of winning the $2,000 cash and $100 Duotrope voucher which make up the top prize.

Thanks to Alyson for telling me about this flash fiction competition. The winning entries (of up to 50 words) will be illustrated and printed on bookmarks. The winner will receive £50 in book tokens. I really should give this one a try.

Photos taken at RHS Hyde Hall on the way back from a trip to see a really big ship!

The inbetween time

It's a funny time of year, isn't it? Some people take time off writing now as they have family commitments or are otherwise extra busy, some are enjoying a welcome break from work and using the time to get lots of writing done, and yet others are just eating cheese, reading and aren't 100% sure what day it is.

How about you? Are you writing? Have you made any writing related New Year resolutions or plans? Personally I'm not writing, but I am doing writing related admin and making plans for 2022 – and eating cheese, obviously!

Womag news

Sadly it seems that Seven Days magazine will not continue. It feels like we're one step forward and two back with womag markets, doesn't it?

Free entry competition news

OK, it's not really news as I think I've mentioned all these in previous posts, but here's a bunch of free entry writing competitions. I think that should be enough to keep you busy until 2022!

The Red Dragon play writing competition offers a £1,000 prize. And there's £500 on offer to the writer of a one act play in this one.

This competition offers paid publication, plus lots of other stuff for science fiction of up to 8,000 words.

You could win an Arvon residential course with this short story competition.

There's £1,000 in vouchers on offer for the winner of this poetry competition. And this poetry competition has a top prize of $2,000.

The prize for this fable writing competition is £500.

This one is for short stories, songs, poetry or visual art and offers a top prize of $1,000 and here's one which offers £1,000 and engraved whisky glasses to the winner.

Why does nobody ever offer cheese as a prize?  I like cheese. And cake. And cheesecake.

Getting ready to prepare

December already! It's the time of year when I start thinking that I really should try and get organised for next year. To help with that, please let me know what kind of writing related content you'd like included on this blog. I don't promise to act on every single suggestion, but if a large number of people all want the same thing I'll do my best to provide it.

 Womag news

In the #PFWritingHour yesterday it was confirmed that The People's Friend 'always' want 3,000 word stories. 

For those who've not come across it, the #PFWritingHour is a twitter event from 11 to 12 every Tuesday. It's usually good fun.

Free entry competition news

This competition from Anansi Archives offers small cash prizes for flash fiction, poetry and short stories. The good news is that it's quarterly, the bad news that the current competition closes at midnight tonight.

You've got a lot longer for this one, which is just as well as they're looking for up to 8,000 words of realistic science fiction. There's a prize bundle including paid publication.

This competition is for Valentine's poems and offers £100 in vouchers as the prize.

My news (just in case you've missed it!)

My latest novel is now out! Acting Like A Killer is a cosy, romantic murder mystery, set in Falmouth (West country) and Lee-on-the-Solent (south coast of England). There's a dog in it, and castles, cake, the seaside, friendship, birds, flowers ... all the good stuff.