Details

Details

UK Writing Competitions (currently 40)

Scribble Quarterly Short Story Competition .  This quarterly contest from Scribble magazine is for stories in any genre and on any subject, running to no more than 3,000 words.  Winners are chosen by the magazine’s readers.
    Closing: Quarterly.
    Prizes: £75, £25, £15.
    Entry Fee: £5.
    Comp Page: Scribble SSC.

Flash 500 Competition.  Here’s a quarterly flash fiction contest which offers higher prize money than many similar competitions. It is for stories of up to 500 words on any theme.
    Closing: Quarterly (end of March, June, September, December).
    Prizes: 1st - £300.  2nd - £200.  3rd - £100.  Winners will be published on the website.
    Entry Fee: £5 each, £8 for two, £11 for three, £14 for four.
    Comp Page: Flash 500 Story.

WriteTime Short Story Competition.  To enter this quarterly international contest from the WriteTime community you need to be aged 60 or older.
    Closing: Quarterly.
    Prizes: £100, £50, £50.  Unsuccessful entrants receive brief feedback on their work.
    Entry Fee: £5 for one, £10 for three.
    Comp Page: WriteTime Story

                         The Rules, the T&Cs, the Fine Print
When you submit a story or poem to a competition, you are entering into a contract with the promoter.  Make sure you know the terms.  It may be, for instance, that you are granting the promoter the right to publish your work without payment even if you don’t win.  This is often the price you pay for entering a contest with no entry fee.  If it bothers you, don’t participate.  But before you get sniffy about that 450-word story set in the sedate world of turnip farming, ask yourself this: Would I really be able to sell it to anyone else?  Publication, even without payment, might not be a bad thing if it gets you a healthy crop of readers.  And if it’s in a newspaper or magazine that carries some prestige ... well, there are plenty of struggling writers who would gift wrap and hand over their very souls for the privilege of being able to put that in their cv.  Only you can decide if it’s worth it.

Chesham Literary Festival Poetry Competition.  You have to log in to Facebook to enter this freebie from the Chesham Literary Festival.  If you haven’t got an account you can sign up for free.  The contest is for poems of up to 40 lines.  There are four categories: Under 11s, 11 to 18s, Adults living anywhere in the world and Adults living in the UK HP5 postcode area.     Closing: 14.6.25.
    Prizes (in each category): Adults - £100.  Under-18s - £50.
    Entry Fee: None- free entry (up to 5 poems permitted).
    Comp Page: Chesham Litfest

McLellan Poetry Competition.  Arran Theatre and Arts Trust is looking for poems of up to 80 lines in English for its latest poetry contest.  There is a separate contest for the best poem in the Scottish language.
    Closing: 15.6.25.
    Prizes: English - £1,000.  Scots language - £1,000.
    Entry Fee: £6 for the first, £5 thereafter.
    Comp Page: Arran Poem

International Welsh Poetry Competition.  I know what you’re thinking: you’ll have to write a poem in Welsh for this one.  Not so, because there are only four poets in the entire world who write in Welsh, so the promoters are wisely asking for entries in English.  They’re also asking for no more than 50 lines.  These lines can be in any style and on any subject.  Mike Jenkins will be judging.
    Closing: 29.6.25.
    Prizes: £500, £250, £100.  Winners and 17 runners-up will be published in a future anthology.
    Entry Fee: £6.
    Comp Page: Welsh Poetry.

Moth Short Story Prize. Back again for another flutter around the street lamps is this annual contest from Irish magazine The Moth.  It is for stories of up to 3,000 words on any subject.  I should perhaps mention that the magazine is not devoted to the subject of moths, fascinating though these may be.  It is an arts and literature magazine.  Presumably the name is a reference to the way artists and writers are attracted to the light of recognition, only to beat their wings in vain against an invisible barrier until finally, broken and defeated, they slide down to the windowsill of despair.  You’d think the magazine people could have come up with something a bit more cheerful than that, wouldn’t you?
    Closing: 30.6.25.
    Prizes: 1st - 3,000 euros.  2nd - A week’s writing retreat at Circle of Misse in France, with an open travel stipend.  3rd - 1,000 euros.  The winning story will be published in the Irish Times while the 2nd and 3rd entries will be published in the Irish Times online.
    Entry Fee: 15 euros.
    Comp Page: Moth Short Story.

To Hull and Back Humorous Writing Contest.  Would it surprise you to know that this one comes from Hull?  Well here’s the real surprise: it doesn’t.  It has its origina in Bristol.  Furthermore, the prize doesn't involve a trip to Hull.  But don’t worry: to ease your disppointment a copy of the anthology containing your winning entry will be taken to Hull on a Harley Davidson motorbike.  I assume there will be a video of that great event for you to enjoy.
    Closing: 30.6.25.
    Prizes: £1,000, £200, £100.  Highly Commended (3) - £70.  Shortlisted (14) - £35.  Winners and shortlistees will be published in a print anthology as well as a Kindle book.
    Entry Fee: £10.
    Comp Page: Hull & Back.

Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize.  ‘Wasafiri’, according to the website, ‘is a literary magazine at the forefront of mapping new landscapes in international literature.’  Try saying that in Kiswahili, the language from which the magazine’s title comes.  Now, you are probably thinking that the magazine itself must hail from Africa, but this is not so.  It was born at the University of Kent in 1984 and, as far as I know. it has no African connection at all.  Nor, I might add, has the contest.  This has three categories (Poetry, Fiction, Life Writing) and is open to anyone anywhere in the world who has not published a complete book in their chosen category.  The word limit for the Fiction and Life Writing is 3,000.  In the poetry category, you can submit up to three poems (total words 3,000 max) for the same entry fee (start each poem on a separate page in the same document).  You can enter more than one category, but only once each.  Incidentally, ‘wasafiri’, in case your Kiswahili is a bit rusty, means ‘cultural traveller’.  Incidentally, if you are stuck for inspiration, you can now translate someone else’s work into English and enter that.  Do remember to credit the original creator though.
    Closing: 30.6.25.
    Prize (in each category): £1,000 and publication in the mag.  Winners and shortlisted writers will  be offered Chapter & Verse or Free Reads mentoring in partnership with The Literary Consultancy.  Shortlisted entries will be published on the website.
    Entry Fee: £12.  If you enter two separate categories it’s £16.
    Comp Page : Wasafiri Prize.

Hastings Book Festival Competitions.  Short stories and poetry are the order of the day here, the former having a word allowance of up to 2,500, the latter a line allowance of up to 40.
    Closing: 30.6.25 (10pm).
    Prizes (in each category): £250, £100, £50.
    Entry Fee: £8.25 for one, £15 for two, £21 for three.
    Comp Page: Hastings Bookfest Comp

The Henshaw Short Story Competition.  This is the latest of these quarterly international contests from Henshaw Press of Northampton.  It is for stories running to no more than 2,000 words on any subject by writers aged over 16.
    Closing: 30.6.25.
    Prizes: £200, £100, £50.  Winners will be offered publication in the anthology.
    Entry Fee: £6.  Optional critique: £14 extra.  Free critiques for writers 16 or under.
    Comp Page: Henshaw Story

Hysteria Writing  Competition.  This annual contest is open to all writers of any age and nationality.  It has three categories: Short Story up to 1,000 words, Flash Fiction up to 250 words, and Poetry up to 16 lines.
    Closing: 30.6.25.
    Prizes (in each category): £75 and a publication contract from Crystal Clear Books.  Runners up will received a free e-book copy of the anthology.
    Entry Fee: £5.
    Comp Page: Hysteria Writing

The Astley Prize.  ‘Coast’ is the theme of this new short story contest from the Nairn Book and Arts Festival.  Entries of up to 5,000 words are welcome.  Above that, not welcome.  They are looking for bold, original storytelling.  The contest is open worldwide.
    Closing: 30.6.25.
    Prizes: £500, £100, £50.
    Entry Fee: £10.
    Comp Page: Astley Prize

Dear Michael,
     Thank you for maintaining your informative and witty list of writing competitions.
     I entered loads of them last year and got precisely nowhere, but I ploughed on regardless and have just won second prize (£100) in the Flash 500 Humour Verse contest, which would suggest that your friend Percy Vere might be onto something.
                                                                             -  Melanie Branton

Letter Review Prizes.  Here’s a repeat of the contest from the USA with four categories: Poetry (all kinds, up to 70 lines), Short Fiction (up to 5,000 words), Nonfiction (up to 5,000 words) and Unpublished Books (first 5,000 words of a novel, nonfiction or collection of short stories, or 15 pages of poetry).  In the Unpublished Books category, self-published books are eligible.
    Closing: 30.6.25.
    Prizes: A share of the $1,000 prize pool in each category.  Poetry, Short Fiction and Nonfiction winners will be published, while Unpublished Book winners can choose to have an extract published and receive a letter of recommendation from the judges.  Winners in the first three categories will also be considered for submission to the Pushcart Prize and other anthologies.
    Entry Fee: Short Fiction - $20.  Poetry - $15.  Nonfiction - $20.  Book - $25.
    Comp Page: Letter Review Prizes

Wells Festival of Literature Competitions.  Here we have a return of the famous Wells Litfest and its various competitions: Poetry, Short Story, Book for Children, Young Poets.  I should mention before we go any further that we are talking about Wells in Somerset, not Wells in Norfolk which also has an annual litfest (I wouldn’t want you turning up at the wrong event to receive your prize or to berate the judges for not awarding you anything).  Anyway, back to business.  For the Poetry you are allowed up to 35 lines, while the Short Stories should be between 1,000 and 2,000 words.  For the Book for Children, which must be suitable for youngsters aged 7+ (includes YA), you need to submit the first three chapters (or first 30 pages, this being the maximum) plus a synopsis of up to 2 pages.   If shortlisted, you may be asked to submit the complete manuscript.  The Young Poets category, for budding bards aged between 16 and 22, requires poems of no more than 35 lines.
    Closing: 30.6.25 (5pm).
    Prizes: Poetry - £1,000, £500, £250.  Short Story, Book for Children (in each category) - £750, £300, £200.  Young Poets - £200, £150, £100.  Additional prizes: Local Prize for poetry, short story - £100 in each category.  Book for Children Local Prize - £100.
    Entry Fee: Adult categories - £6.  Young Poets - £3.
    Comp Page: Wells Litfest.

Poetry London Prize.  Needless to say it’s a poetry competition, and it’s from a magazine called Poetry London.  However, rntries need not be about London.  They can be on any subject and they can run to as many as 80 lines.  The contest is open worldwide.
    Closing: 30.6.25.
    Prizes: £5,000, £2,000, £1,000.  Winning entries will be published in the magand on the website.
    Enttry Fee:  £4 for one, £10 for three, £3 each thereafter.
    Comp Page: Poetry London

HG Wells Short Story Competition.  Here’s a welcome reappearance for the annual contest from the H.G.Wells Festival in Folkestone, which mysteriously disappeared after last year’s event.  As usual it is for stories of between 1,500 and 5,000 words in any genre.  The stated theme this year is ‘The Middle Ground’.
    Closing : 8.7.25 (11pm BST).
    Prizes: Adult (22 or over) - £500.  Junior (21 or under) - £1,000.  All shortlisted entries will be published in an anthology.
    Entry Fee: £10 if you are over 21.  Free if you are 21 or under.  If you are a student who is over 21 (with ID to prove it), it’s £5.
    Comp Page: HG Wells.

Doris Gooderson Short Story Competition.  Here we have another annual contest, this time from Wrekin Writers of Shropshire.  Stories can be on any subject but must not exceed 1,200 words.  At least 50% of profits will be donated to Severn Hospice.
    Closing: 14.7.25.
    Prizes: £200, £100, £50.
    Entry Fee: £5.
    Comp Page: Gooderson Story.

Leicester Writes Short Story Prize.  Original fiction of under 3,500 words is required for this international contest from independent publisher Dahlia Books of Leicester.
    Closing: 25.7.25.
    Prizes: £200, £125, £75.
    Entry Fee: £7 for one, £12 for two, £18 for three.
    Comp Page: Leicester Writes

Olga Sinclair Prize.  This annual international contest from Norwich Writers’ Circle is for fiction of up to 2,000 words.  The theme this year is Weave.
    Closing: 31.7.25.
    Prizes: £200, £150, £100.  Winners and other shortlistees will be published in an anthology.
    Entry Fee: £5.
    Comp Page: Olga Sinclair Prize.

The Next Big Story - Novel Competition.  If you can write the opening of the next big story you could win the current biggest prize in the literary world.   All you need to enter is the first 1,500 words (3 pages) of your novel.  The promoter is fiction-writing school The Novelry.  The judges will choose the shortlist, after which there will a public vote to decide the winner.
    Closing: 31.7.25.
    Prize: £75,000.
    Entry Fee: £15.
    Comp Page: Next Big Story

Dear Michael,
     I love your website and its pertinent personal comments re the comps.
     I entered the Alexander Cordell one some months ago, the mini saga, and was short-listed to win. It was a 600 mile round trip with two toddlers but we had a really wonderful weekend. My husband is self employed and works really long hours so it was great to drag him away and out into the countryside. The people were lovely, the whole event was fascinating, and I was thrilled to get two books and a book token. My little girl age 3 gets excited every time Wales is mentioned on the news now! The greatest thrill was hearing the Director of Visit Wales read out my story so reverently, and with evident enjoyment. The organisers were delighted with the world-wide entries.  I don’t write for money - just as well - but for the love of the medium and the message.
     Keep up the good work!                                         -  Julie Noble

Foyle Young Poets Competition.  Here’s a repeat of the annual contest from the Poetry Society.  It is for poets between the ages of 11 and 15.  Entries can be up to 40 lines,  There is no theme.
    Closing: 31.7.25.
    Prizes: The 15 top winners will receive Poetry Society mentoring packages and their poems will be published in a print anthology.   Commended poems (85) will appear in an online anthology.  All winners (100) will  receive youth membership of the Society, plus goody bags containing books and unspecified treats (possibly sweets, weed, etc).   All will be invited to an awards ceremony.  Winning entries will appear in an online anthology.
    Entry Fee: None - free entry.
    Comp Page:  Folye Young Poets

BCSA Writing Competition.  This annual free contest from the British Czech and Slovac Association is for fact or fiction prose of up to 2,000 words on the links between Britain and the Czech/Slovak Republics, or describing society in those Republics since 1989.  ‘Liberation’ is suggested as this year’s theme but it is not compulsory.  The contest is open to all.
    Closing: 31.7.25.
    Prizes: £400, £150.  The winner will be presented with his or her prize at the BCSA’s annual dinner in London.  The winning entries will be published in the British Czech and Slovak Review.
    Entry Fee: None - free to enter.
    Comp Page: BCSA Comp.

Winchester Poetry Prize.  Back with a bang like a shot from a Winchester rifle is this annual contest from the Winchester Poetry Festival.  It is for poems of up to 40 lines.  Prizewinning poet Fiona Benson will be judging.
    Closing: 31.7.25.
    Prizes: £1,000, £500, £250.  Winners will be announced live at the Winchester Poetry Festival on October 12, 2025.  Winning and commended poems will appear in an anthology which will be available on the day.  There is also a prize for the best poem written by a Hampshire-based poet.
    Entry Fee: £6 for the first, £5 thereafter.
    Comp Page: Winchester Fest Poetry.

Seán O'Faoláin International Short Story Competition.  Here’s another international contest from the Munster Literature Centre in Cork, Ireland.  It is for stories up to 3,000 words on any subject and in any style.  Entries must be in English.
    Closing: 31.7.25 (opens for entries 1.5.25).
    Prizes: 1st - 2,000 euros, a featured reading at the Cork International Short Story Festival, with four-night hotel stay and full board, plus publication in Southword.  2nd - 500 euros and publication in Southword.  3rd - 300 euros and publication in Southword.
    Entry Fee: 19 euros.
    Comp Page: Southword Story.

Edinburgh Flash Fiction Award.  A story of up to 250 words could win you a handsome reward in this annual contest from the Scottish Arts Trust.
    Closing: 31.8.25.
    Prizes: £2,000, £500, £250.  Write Mango Award (for bizarre, quirky stories) - £300.  Golden Hare Award (for Scottish flash fiction by a Scotland resident) - £500.  Clapped Out Nag Award - alas, this one is no longer running.
    Entry Fee: £10.
    Comp Page: Edinburgh Flash

SaveAs  International Writing Competition.  Here’s a repeat of the annual international contest from SaveAs Writers of Canterbury in Kent.  It is for poetry of up to 60 lines and stories running to no more than 3,500 words.  The theme this year is ‘facing the storm’,   The email and postal entry addresses can be found in the T&Cs document (link on the Saveas comp page).
    Closing: 31.8.25.
    Prizes (in each category): £200, £100, £50.
    Entry Fee: Stories - £5 each, £12 for three.  Poems - £4 each, £10 for three.
    Comp Page: SaveAs Writing

Oxford Poetry Prize.  Here’s another international contest from Oxford Poetry, the oldest dedicated poetry magazine in the UK (founded 1910).  It is for poems of up to 50 lines.
    Closing: 31.8.25 (midnight UTC).
    Prizes: £1,000, £200, £100.  The winner will be published in a print issue of Oxford Poetry and online.  Second and Third prize winners will be offered publication in the print issue.
    Entry Fee: £10.
    Comp Page: Oxford Poetry

Fool for Poetry Competition .  To enter this international chapbook competition from Munster Literature Centre in southern Ireland you submit 16 to 24 pages of your work.  The poems can have been published before but they must not have appeared together in a book.
    Closing: 31.8.25.  Opens for entries 1.6.25.
    Prizes (in euroes): 1,000, 500.  The two winners will be published in chapbook form by Southword Editions.  Each will receive 25 free copies of their book, plus a featured reading at the Cork International Poetry Festival with 3-night hotel stay (full board).
    Entry Fee: 25 euros.
    Comp Page: Fool Poetry

Aesthetica Creative Writing Award.  The writing in question for this contest from Aesthetica Magazine is short fiction running to no more than 2,000 words, and poetry of up to 40 lines.  Submissions can be on any subject and may have been previously published.
    Closing: 8.9.25.
    Prize (in each category): £2,500 plus other writing related prizes.  Finalists will be published in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual.
    Entry Fee: Up to 31.8.25 - £18 for fiction, £12 for poetry.  Between 1.9.25 and 8.9.25 - £24 for fiction, £18 for poetry.
    Comp Page: Aesthetica Award. 

Pudding Press Detritus Writing Competition.   Here’s a new contest from Pudding Press Ltd, an independent micro publishing company.  It is for horror, philosophy or young adult fiction.  There is no fixed theme.  To enter, you send the first 20 pages of your unpublished manuscript plus a brief bio and a synopsis of the work, this running to no more than 500 words.  Entrants should have had work rejected in the past and should not previously have been awarded a significant publishing deal.  If shortlisted, you will be required to send in your full manuscript.
    Closing: 30.9.25.
    Prize: Book design, publishing contract and promotion by Pudding Press Ltd.
    Entry Fee: First tier - £10 (includes some social media promotion of you and your work, plus 10% off in the Pudding Press shop).  Second tier - £40 (this includes feedback and the chance to resubmit your work after any required revision).
    Comp Page: Pudding Detritus Comp

Creative Writing Ink Short Story Competition.  Stories of up to 3,000 words are required for this regular runner.  The contest is open worldwide.  There is no theme, and stories can be in any genre.
    Closing: 30.9.25 (4pm).
    Prize: 1st - £1,000 and an online creative writing course of the winner’s choice, plus publication on the website.  Runners-up - £200 and publication on the website.
    Entry Fee: £12.
    Comp Page: Creative Writing Ink

Hi
    Before I discovered your website I’d never even thought of trying my luck in a writing competition. My stories were a very private part of my life, I was (and for the most of the time still am) very convinced that they are not good enough for the ‘outside world’.
     I don’t know what made me try - call it a crazy moment of self-confidence - but here I am the October winner of the Cazart short story competition. I haven’t felt so good about myself in months. It might not seem like a big deal to the world but for me it means everything. And it would not have happened if it wasn’t for your wonderful website.
     Thank You very much.                                         -  Dorota Nocun

Croydon Writers Michael Round Prize.  You don't have to live in Croydon to enter this fiction writing freebie.  It is open to all.  The theme is Far and Wide, and you have up to 1,200 words to turn it into a story.
    Closing: 30.9.25.
    Prizes: £100, £50.  Shortlisted entrants will be offered a free year’s sub to Croydon Writers.
    Entry Fee: None - free entry.
    Comp Page: Michael Round Prize

Hammond House International Writing Competitions.  This annual offering from Hammond House Publishing at University Centre Grimsby is for short stories of between 1,000 and 5,000 words, poems of up to 40 lines, scripts (theatre, radio, short film or TV) of up to 10 pages (approx. 10 minutes duration), and Songwriting in the form of just lyrics or complete songs.  In all categories the theme is Secrets.
    Closing: 30.9.25.
    Prizes: Short Story - £1,000.  Poetry - £500.  Script - £250.  Songwriting - £100 in each sub-category, plus the song will be played at the 2026 Literary Festival and released worldwide on the Hammond House record label.  All shortlisted entries in the Story and Poetry categories will be published in the anthology, as will the scriptwriting winners.  There will be a televised awards ceremony (so get your politically correct, virtue signalling acceptance speech ready - and don't forget to thank the train/taxi driver, etc, without whom you wouldn’t be there).
    Entry Fee: £10.
    Comp Page: HH Lit Prize

Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Prize.  This regular visitor from the USA has now become two competitions in one: the Tom Howard Prize and the Margaret Reid Prize.  The former is for poems in any style, while the latter is for traditional verse as defined on the competition page.  In both cases the line limit is a very generous (some might say extravagant) 250.
    Closing : 30.9.25.
    Prizes: Tom Howard Prize (any style) - $3,500 + gift certificate.  Margaret Reid Prize (traditional verse) - $3,500 + gift certificate.  In addition there will be ten Honourable Mention awards of $500.  The Dishonourable Mention awards have been dropped this year following several suicides.  I wrote that last bit on April 1st.
    Entry Fee : $22 per submission (one submission can contain up to 3 poems).
    Comp Page: TH & MR Poetry.

Bedford Writing Competition.  This annual not-for-profit contest from Bedfordshire, home of the famous Shuttleworth Collection (old aeroplanes and cars) is for stories of up to 3,000 words and poems running to no more than 40 lines.  There is also the Cygnature story and poetry contest, open to young writers aged 17 to 25.  Plus there is the Bedford Prize for Bedford residents.
    Closing: 31.10.25 (opens for entries 1.5.25).
    Prizes in each category (Poetry, Short Story): £1,500, £300, £200.   Cygnature Short Story and Poetry - £200 in each category.  In addition there is £100 in each category for the Bedford Prize..  Shortlisted and winning entries will be published in an anthology (e-book and hardcopy).
    Entry Fee: £8.50 each, £17 for three.  Full-time students: £6 each, £12 for three.
    Comp Page: BWC.

Scribble Short Story Competition.  Scribble magazine’s annual story competition is for tales of up to 3,000 words.  This year the theme is ‘ACCUSED.’
   Closing: 1.11.25.
    Prizes: £100, £50, £25.
    Entry Fee: £5.
    Comp Page: Scribble Story

Bath Children's Novel Award.  This annual international contest, which is open to unpublished and self-published emerging authors, is for novels and chapter books of any length (but see recommendations) aimed at children or young adults.  It is also for picture books. To enter a novel or chapter book, you send the first 5,000 words plus a one-page synopsis.  For picture books, you submit up to three complete stories in the same document with short summaries of each story (without pictures).
     Closing: 30.11.25.
     Prizes: 1st - £5,000.  The writer of the most promising longlisted novel will receive an online place on Edit Your Novel the Professional Way from co-sponsors Professional Writing Academy and Cornerstones Literary Consultancy.  Shortlisted entrants will receive feedback on their work.
     Entry Fee: £29.99 for a novel or chzpter book (for picture books, the fee covers up to three stories in the same document).
     Comp Page: BCN Award.

L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Competition.  This US contest is open worldwide and is for short stories of up to 17,000 words.  They should be science fiction, fantasy or horror with fantastic elements.
    Closing: Quarterly.
    Prizes: $1,000, $750, $500.
    Entry Fee: None.
    Website: Click Here.

Dear Michael
     Just to say a big ‘Thank You’ for your work on the website. I have been selected for publication in the Mirador competition which ran last year and have been awarded 3rd place in the Stringybark Speculative Fiction competition. To be published twice is like a dream for me, which the information found on your site made possible. Thanks again.
                                                                                    -   Pat Davies

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Notes: Unless otherwise stated in the rules, all poetry should be single-spaced.  The rest should be double-spaced (which is to say, double spacing between the lines, not the words!).  It is sometimes the case that your name shouldn’t appear on the manuscript.  Again, check the rules.  If you put your name on there after being told not to, you’re out.  Don’t use coloured paper or fancy fonts, and don’t send your manuscript done up like the Queen’s dinner menu with a fancy gold-tooled leather cover.  These things merely announce that you have no confidence in your submission or, worse, that you think the judges are shallow enough to judge on appearance rather than content.  Plain white A4 80gsm paper is the stuff to use, with plain black typing or print.  Write on one side of the sheet only (unless asked to put your address on the back).

        Before you start writing, allow me to introduce you to an old friend

                                       The Typo Goblin

  I am the Typo Goblin, my heart is made of flint,
  My role in life is simply this: to keep you out of print.
  I sneak into your manuscript and do my fiendish work,
  Adding errors guaranteed to make you look a berk.
  And then I cast the ‘Careless’ spell: you say, ‘Ah, what the heck!’
  And pop your script into the post without that final check.
  At length some hapless editor receives your golden wit,
  And after reading fifty words he writes it off as ... unpublishable.

                                                                            - Michael Shenton

Finally, as you sift through the remnants of your shattered dreams and wonder if it’s worth going on ... www.samaritans.co.uk/

   My Humorous Verse, Songs , Etc (sample)
     
                           This is the Prizemagic website
                            Email comps@prizemagic.co.uk
                           Copyright:  Michael Shenton  2025

                                                           Poem: Being a Writer

                             Romantic Poetry by Michael Shenton (sample)