September Competition listings

1st September

Cheshire Prize for Literature

Prizes: The prize-winner will receive £2,000. Additional prize-money of £750 will be awarded and the best entries will be published.
Entry fee: Not stated.
The 2011 Cheshire Prize for Literature will be awarded for an original and previously unpublished piece of writing for children. The entry may be in prose or verse. A prose entry should not exceed 1,500 words. A verse entry should not exceed 100 lines. The intended readership is seven to 14-year old children. The writer must have been born, live or have lived, study or have studied, work or have worked, in Cheshire. chester.ac.uk/literatureprize

Creative Competitor Last Line Fiction Writing Comp

Story: 1500 wds. Theme: leading up to last line stated on website. Fee: £2.50. Prizes: £100/£75/£50. Details: web

Cowboy Up Contest

Western theme, max 3500 words. 15 dollars entry. Top prize 250 dollars. See website for details: http://www.moonlightmesaassociates.com/id10.html

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelly Award

For imaginative fiction. First prize is 1000 dollars and publication in Rosebud Magazine. The judge for this year’s award is distinguished fantasy and sci - fi author Kij Johnson, winner of both the World Fantasy and Nebula Awards. Stories upto 4500 words. Entry Fee: 15 dollars. See website: http://www.rsbd.net/NEW/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76:shelley&catid=35:contests&Itemid=54

Satirical Short Story Competition

Prizes: 10 prizes of £15.00.
Entry fee: Free.
To enter simply join this group (you need to join The Daily Satire first if you aren't a member), submit a short satirical story, and select this group from the submission ‘step two’ page. You must publish your full story here and not just a link to it. There are no rules except that your story can’t have been commercially published before. As long as it is satire and it is a short story it qualifies. thedailysatire.com/groups/

Scribble Themed Short Story Comp

Story: 3000 wds. Theme: The Visitor (please do not use the theme as your title). Fee: £5 first story, £4 for subsequent entries. Prizes: £100/£50/£25. Details: web post: Park Publications, 14 The Park, Stow On The Wold, Cheltenham, Glos., GL54 1DX

The Sullivan Prize in Short Fiction

(USA) Prizes: Winning books awarded $1000 and offered a standard contract with the University of Notre Dame Press. This is a biannual fiction prize but is judged quadrennially. Entry fee: $15 Address: C J Waterman, Creative Writing Program, Department of English, 340 O'Shaugnessy Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556-5611, USA.E-Mail: cwriting@nd.edu

Unbound Press Best Novel Award

Novel: 1st 10,000 wds. Fee: £20. Prizes: £500 and publication/£250 and publication/details critique for honorable mentions. Details: web post Unbound Press, PO Box 16864, Glasgow, Scotland, G11 9DJ

6th September

Previously unpublished short stories up to 5,000 words, relating to a sense of place or the natural world, interpreted as broadly or narrowly as you wish.Judge: Rivka Galchen
Winner: $1,000 and national publication in The Bear Deluxe Magazine, writer’s residency at the Sitka Center for Art & Ecology in Otis, Oregon. (up to 10 weeks)
Finalists (1-3): Honorable mention in The Bear Deluxe Magazine. See website: http://www.beardeluxe.org/doug_fir_guidelines.html

10th September

Fantasy Book Review Fantasy Short Story comp

Story: min 2000 wds, max 5000 wds. Theme: Fantasy. Fee: FREE. Prizes: Apple iPad/2x Amazon Kindles/every entrant receives free ebook of Frank P Ryan's The Snowmelt River. Rules: Strictly one entry per person only. Details: web email entries to fantasyshortstorycompetition@fantasybookreview.co.uk Subject: FBRFSSC

18th September

100 Words or Fewer Writing Contest (USA)

Prizes: 1st, $500 / 2nd, $150 / 3rd, $100 / 4th, $50 For original, complete and riveting stories of not more than 100 words. The writing of such is not easy; nevertheless, we often meet characters and enjoy plots that match the work of great novelists. The theme is open. Enter by e-mail only. Located in Seattle, Washington, USA, director Idore Anschell will be glad to reply to questions or comments by e-mail. Entry fee: $15. Checkmark evaluation, $15. Critique, $55. E-Mail: hundredwordsorfewer@earthlink.com Visit www.100wordsorfewerwritngcontest.com for winning stories, sample critiques, and complete guidelines

20th September

Creative Competitor Suspenseful Fiction comp

Story: 2000 wds. Theme: Based on paragraph on website. Fee: £4. Prizes: £300/£200/£100. Details: web

Sentinel Literary Quarterly Short Story Competition

Prizes: Prizes: £150 (First), £75 (Second), £50 (Third), 3 x £10 (Highly Commended). All winning and commended stories will receive first publication in Sentinel Champions magazine in print and eBook formats.
Entry fee: £5 for 1 story, £9 for 2 stories, £12 for 3 stories.
For previously unpublished short stories in English language up to 1500 words long, on any subject, in any style. Stories entered may not be under consideration for publication, or accepted for publication elsewhere.
Judge: Adnan Mahmutovic, author of "Thinner than a Hair", and "Illegitimate."
Results will be announced on 31-Oct-2011 at www.sentinelquarterly.com
Send stories with Cover Note or Entry Form with Cheque/Postal Order in GP£ only payable to SENTINEL POETRY MOVEMENT. Address: Unit 136, 113-115 George Lane, London E18 1AB, United Kingdom.
Enter online or download Entry Form at: sentinelquarterly.com/short-story-competition

Zouch Lit Bits Super Flash Fiction Contest (USA)

Prizes: Custom artwork, including a clock by Ostlund Custom Works valued at over $175. For work of 140 words or less. The top 14 stories will all win prizes. Entries can be on any topic, in any style and in any time period. Entry fee: FreeE-Mail: info@zouchmagazine.com

21st September

The Glass Woman Prize

Story: 50-5000 wds. Fee: FREE. Prizes: $500/$100/$50 + optional online publication. Details: web email glasswomanprize@gmail.com (postal entries no longer accepted).

23rd September

Quirky Guide Travel Writing Competition

Prizes: First prize is a weekend in Wales with Quality Unearthed.
Entry fee: None
"We want to read about the very strangest thing that ever happened to you on the road. No matter what your story is - whether the time when you wrestled with Bolivian grandmothers or just stayed in an unusual hotel - it's the telling of your tale that counts. Keep your story to 300-700 words. The three best entries will go forward to a public vote from September 24th to 29th, and the winning entry will be announced on September 30th, 2011."
quirkyguide.com/competitions

24th September

Aber Valley Arts Novel, short story and poetry comps

Novel: 150 wd outline plus first 1500 wds. Novel must be set in Wales. Story: 3500 wds. Poem: max 60 lines. Theme for short story and poetry comps: Action. Fees: novel £3. Story £1.50 or 3 for £3. Poem £1 or 3 for £2. Prizes: novel; chance of publication by Accent press (subject to work being considered good enough) and one to one workshop with Catrin Collier. Story; £80/£45/£30. Poetry; £50/£30/£15. Details: web post Undercurrents, 15 Graig y Fedw, Abertridwr, Caerffili, CF83 4AQ

30th September

Aeon Award 2011 Short Fiction Contest

Prizes: The Aeon Award short fiction contest has a Grand Prize of €1000 and publication in Albedo One! Second and third place prizes are €200 and €100 as well as guaranteed publication in Albedo One, the leading Irish magazine of science fiction, fantasy and horror.
Entry fee: €7 per entry.
The Aeon Award is a fiction writing competition for short stories in any speculative fiction genre, i.e. fantasy, science fiction, horror or anything in-between or unclassifiable! albedo1.com/

Beak Books novel and songwriting comp

Novel: 1st 3 chapters. Song: 3 mins max (and to include mandatory lyrics as stated on website). Fee: £8 for novel. FREE for songwriting comp. Prizes: £80/£60/£40 in novel comp. No prize for songwriting comp though entrants will have link to their site and chance to charge for downloads. Details: web

Capri-sun Perfect Day Competition

Prizes: "Your Perfect Day" up to £5,000; 17 x £80 Eventim gig tickets; 1,000 x £15 iTunes vouchers.
Entry fee: None. Type in your entry online. capri-sun.co.uk/perfectday

Chorley & District Writers' Circle National Flash Fiction Competition

Prizes: £100, £50 & £25 plus publication in Circle's annual digital collection of writing
Fee: £3 per entry or £5 for 2. Unlimited number of entries. Copyright remains with author.
Theme: Urban myths - open to a very wide interpretation. Odd, bizarre, funny, scary or horrific, it's up to you.
Maximum length: 500 words.
Judge: David Gaffney.
Sponsor: Fiction Feedback.
Entry by post please with cover sheet (no name on story) to Aware Competition, 27 Thirlmere Road, Blackrod, Bolton BL6 5EB, together with a cheque made out to Chorley & District Writers' Circle.
chorleywriters.co.uk or fictionfeedback.co.uk

Fleeting Magazine Poetry and Fiction Prize

Story: 1500 wds. Poetry: 40 lines max. Fee: £1. Prizes: 1 yr subs to Fleeting Mag/3 mnths subs x 2 runners up. Details: web

Leaf Books Open Comp 2011

Anything (incl any sort of writing - poem, prose etc - graphic novel, cartoon strip.): 1000 wds, 4 A4 pages or 2 A3 pages. (Must be able to be printed in mag, so sending a sculpture might not work). Fee: £4 or 3 entries for £10. Prizes: £100 plus several writing related books. Details: web post:Leaf Books Ltd, GTi Suite, Ty Menter, Navigation Park, Abercynon, RCT, Wales, U.K. CF45 4SN

Mslexia Women's Novel Comp

Novel: 1st 5000 wds (but novel should be completed before you enter and be at least 50,000 wds). Fee: £25. Prize: £5000. Details: Web post Women's Novel Competition, Mslexia Publications Ltd, PO Box 656, Freepost NEA5566, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1BR

Print Express Short Story Competition

Prizes: The winner will receive 10 printed copies of their short story published in a 14.8x10.5cm book with a 350gsm card cover. The author can design their own cover or our in house design team can help. Illustrations inside the book are optional.
Entry fee: None. Make sure your story is no longer than 4000 words. Please only send in one story.
If you're an unpublished author that loves to write short stories, we want to hear from you. If you send us a short story that you've written, you could be in with the chance of having it printed and receive 10 copies. To enter, email your short story in a Word document (or a .txt document, if it's easier) to email@printexpress.co.uk.
printexpress.co.uk/

The Society of Women Journalists Life Writing Comp

Non-fiction/Life Writing: 3000 wds. Fee: £7. Prizes: £3000/£1000/£500. Details: web (email entries only)

The Yellow Room Short Story Comp

Story: 2500 wds Fee: £4 or 3 for £10. Prizes: £80/£45/£20. (cheques payable to J M Derrick) Rules: Both men and women are welcome to enter. Entrants may pay online, but all entries must be sent by post. Entry: web post: The Yellow Room Competition, 1 Blake Close, Bilton, Rugby CV22 7LJ

Tom Howard/John H. Reid Poetry Contest (USA)

Prizes: 1st, $3000. Altogether there are 10 cash prizes totalling $5550. For poems in any style or genre. This competition is now in its 9th year. Both published and unpublished work is accepted. Winning entries will be published on line. Entries can be submitted by post or on line. Entry fee: $7 for every 25 lines, payable to Winning Writers. Address: Tom Howard Poetry Contest, 351 Pleasant Street, PMB 222, Northampton, MA 01060, USA. Visit www.winningwriters.com/tompoetry for more information or to enter.

Writers' Village Story Contest Autumn 2011

Prizes: The top award is £250, with a £100 second prize and third prize of £50, plus five runner-ups gain a free entry in the next round. All entrants gain a free critique of their story in the autumn 2011 round of the Writers' Village 'Best Writing' award. Winners will be awarded the title 'Winner, the Writers' Village Best Writing autumn 2011 Award' and see their work showcased online.
Entry fee: £10 for two entries and multiple entries are permitted.
Stories up to 3000 words may be submitted in any genre of prose fiction, except playscripts and poetry. Entries are welcomed world-wide. Entry rules plus all winning stories since 2009 can be found on the web site. writers-village.org

A collection of international (USA) contests in addition to the previous list

1. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 8, 2011:
Quid Novi Writing Contest Fiction Award Prize: $1000

2. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 9, 2011:
Family Circle Fiction Contest Prize: $750

3. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 12, 2011:
Bartleby Snopes Dialogue Only Contest Prize: $250

4. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 14, 2011:
Annual UCD Anthology Contest Prize: £150

5. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 14, 2011:
Riddle Fence Short Fiction Contest Prize: $500

6. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 15, 2011:
Robert Watson Literary Prize Prize: $1000

7. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 15, 2011:
The Short Story Contest Prize: £300

8. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 18, 2011:
100 Words or Fewer Writing Contest Prize: $500

9. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 21, 2011:
Anderbo Novel Contest Prize: $500

10. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 21, 2011:
Tenth Glass Woman Prize for Short Fiction Prize: $500

11. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 30, 2011:
Flash 500 Flash Fiction Contest Prize: £250

12. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 30, 2011:
Writers' Forum Short Story Contest Prize: £300

13. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 30, 2011:
The International Aeon Award Short Fiction Contest Prize: £1000

14. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 30, 2011:
Glimmer Train Fiction Open Award Prize: $2000

15. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 30, 2011:
AICW Flash Fiction Contest Prize: $500

16. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 30, 2011:
Writers of the Future Fiction Contest Prize: $1000

17. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 30, 2011:
Carpe Articulum Short Fiction Contest Prize: $1250

18. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 30, 2011:
Dark Tales Short Story Competition Prize: £500

19. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 30, 2011:
Chariton Review Short Fiction Prize Prize: $1000

20. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 30, 2011:
International Aeon Award Short Fiction Contest (3rd quarter) Prize: €1000

21. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 30, 2011:
Writers' Village Best Writing Award Prize: £250

22. DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 30, 2011:
Fault Zone Words from the Edge Contest Prize: $300

Strictly Shakespeare

So here's the scoop over at Strictly Shakespeare.

On the 1st of every month the contest promoters ‘Strictly Shakespeare,’ will leave a prose and poetry prompt on their website ‘Strictly Shakespeare,’ anyone wishing to enter will have two weeks to put their thoughts together and submit their work by the deadline on the 14 of each month.

The team at Strictly Shakespeare will choose the ten best entries and then the public can have their say.

Each day one entry in each section will be knocked out due to public opinion. (The votes will be cumlative so if you don’t get a chance to vote each day, DON’T WORRY!)

After ten days the good folks at Strictly Shakespeare will have it down to a 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rdwinner. The prize isn’t big you’ll get a share of the competition. However, Strictly Shakespeare are working to establish a fixed cash prize. It’s a bit of fun, give it a try.

WWC Mail Box

Apologies for the delayed posting.

Now on to opening the post here at WWC. These are the letters received in the WWC mailbox this month.

Thynks Publications latest poetry competitions

Dear Writers Group

I am just circulating the information page regarding our current and forthcoming poetry competitions in case anyone of your writers would like to enter their work for any of them: - http://www.thynkspublications.co.uk/competitions

Good wishes

Chris

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Dear Worcester Writers' Circle,

I got your details from the NAWG website, I hope you don't mind me contacting you, but I thought your writers group might be interested in a Women’s Writers Retreat that New Writing South are organising.

For three days in September we’re offering the chance to escape to the beautiful and peaceful Tilton House in rural Sussex. This special retreat gives women writers the opportunity to let go of all the baggage of everyday life and simply enjoy being a writer.

There will be six optional workshops with experienced teacher and award winning writer of short fiction, Vanessa Gebbie; who will help you on your writing journey. Other activities are also arranged throughout the weekend to inspire and push your creative abilities, and of course there is plenty of time for your own writing.

Special guests will be author, screen writer and film-maker, Carole Hayman and Sunday lunch with Helen Garnons-Williams, Editorial Director of Bloomsbury.

To find out more about the retreat visit our website: http://newwritingsouth.com/members-area/blog/workshops/tilton-house-women-writers-retreat/

If you wish to know more about New Writing South and what we do please visit our website or contact me.

Kind regard,

Rebecca

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Dear WORCESTER WRITERS’ CIRCLE ,

Would you please make this known to members of your writing circle?

AUGUST UNPUBLISHED FICTION AUTHORS PRINT READY COMPETITION

This competition starts August 2011.

The closing date for this competition is the 31st August 2011 23:59 BST.

AUGUST 2011 - Woman's fiction

This is a genuine, no fee competition that stretches over 12 months.

Each month a different genre; each month a winner. Winners are offered a

contract, paid royalties, and receive full promotion and marketingstrategies.

This is not a competition with prizes. There is no entry fee.

Only Print Ready novels of genuine merit will be chosen.

Your book could be a winner.

Full details of rules, genres and how to submit,

on our website, http://www.creativeprintpublishing.com/publishing/competitions.php

Thank you.

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How do you like to read?

The Fiction Shelf.com is a new entertainment website where readers and writers can come together and share the best new fiction.

We've hand-picked excellent stories and poems of all types and put them online in every conceivable format for anybody to read - always for free.

TheFictionShelf.com has been made to support Kindles, iPhones, Laptops and e-readers and you can even print the stories and read them on paper.

We've tried our hardest to make the site as easy to use and accessible as possible, meaning all you need to do is choose what mood you're in, click one of the stories that our editors have carefully selected and begin reading. It's really that simple.

The site needs writers as much as it needs readers and we've great facilities for helping new writers get their work seen.

As well as our weekly Editors' pick and spotlights on 'What's New' we're running competitions regularly so our readers are exposed to as many new types of writing as possible.

We're really excited about what this site can become - a community of readers and writers - but most of all we're excited about giving you an entertainment site that you can love using and share as much or as little as you want.

Log on now - www.thefictionshelf.com and register if you fancy, if not, click a heading and get reading.

And if you get the time, let us know what you think at editors@thefictionshelf.com We're new and eager and want to make the site the best one possible.

See you soon,

The Fiction Shelf Editors

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Dear Writers' Group

I hope you don't mind me getting in touch. I am a published novelist; experienced creative writing tutor and hold a First Class Honours degree, majoring in English Literature. I have just launched Creative Writing Online, an innovative online creative writing course, which I thought might be of interest to members of your writing group.

Creative Writing Online is unique: the course is entirely flexible. You can work when and where you want. There are no deadlines: you can work through the course materials at your own pace, contributing to forums and tutorials as and when you wish. You can dip in and out of the course to suit you and your lifestyle.

Consisting of twelve units, the course covers key creative writing techniques: characterisation; language and imagery; point of view; sense of place; as well as, planning, drafting and editing short stories. A range of activities is offered to provide a varied and stimulating learning experience: reading; discussion and analysis; writing exercises; peer feedback forums; and tutorials. Each unit represents roughly two to four hours’ work.

There are three Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs). These give you the opportunity to practise the skills you have learned by writing extended pieces of work and to gain detailed critiques of your writing.

The cost of the course is £95. This represents under £8 a unit - outstanding value! Furthermore, to celebrate the launch of the course, the first 30 students to enrol will be entitled to a 10% discount and to encourage you to spread the good news, if you recommend a friend, you will receive a £10 book token once your friend enrols.

I also offer a reading service and am available to run bespoke workshops and courses.

For more information please go to www.harriethopkinson.co.uk ; email or call me on 01872 501496.

Thank you for your time.

With best wishes,

Harriet Hopkinson

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Dear Writers and Poets All

Chateau Ventenac in southern France has announced a new season of writing courses, poetry courses, retreats and tailor made B&B holidays.

Please see the attached offer below for 10% reduction on all courses if booked by the end of August 2011.

To get your 10% reduction just quote AUGOFFER when paying online.

We are also offering a 10% reduction on all writing retreats and tailor made mini breaks. How about getting away for some autumn sunshine. Or maybe book ahead for next spring when the temperatures in southern France are on average 10 degrees higher than than the UK. These breaks have been designed to give writers peace and quiet in an inspiring and supportive environment. It is the opportunity to get on with work in progress whilst we look after you.

Could I ask you to please forward this email to any writers or other creative people that you know who might be wanting to develop their work in progress in a peaceful and stunningly beautiful environment. We aim to provide you with the space to relax, focus and find the inspiration to finish the novel, those poems or that short play you've been working on. Or indeed any other creative project

Find us on Facebook by clicking here

I'll look forward to hearing from you with any questions you might have. Just email me or call +44 7773 206344

Many thanks.

Best regards,

Julia

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Dear Poetry Supporters

In response to all of you who asked for an update after I e-mailed recently on the Poetry Society situation, can I direct you to the website http://thepoetrysocietyuk.wordpress.com/ for an account of the EGM, statements from former Director, Judith Palmer, and former Finance Officer, Paul Ranford, plus a short summary of my own.

Best wishes

Anne-Marie