Useful links

Writing opportunities

A writers guide to writing competitions 2024

The Disquiet prize

Deadline: January 5, 2024

Entry fee: $15

Prize: A full scholarship, accommodation, and travel to attend the tenth annual Disquiet international literary program in Lisbon. Winners will receive a tuition waiver for Disquiet 2024 in addition to publication.

Submissions are open for fiction, poetry, and non-fiction.

Writers and Artists short story competition

Deadline: February 12^th, 2024

Entry fee: Free

About: Submit a short story of no more than 2,000 words on the theme of risk.

Prize: A place on Arvon residential writing week as well as seeing your story published on Writers and Artists website.

The Alpine fellowship writing prize

Theme coming soon

Applications: 1^st of January 2024 and close March 1^st, 2024

Prize: Cash prize and invitation to their 2024 symposium.

About: All genres of writing are permitted, must be over age 18 and one entry per person. There is a maximum 2,500 words per entry and must be standalone submissions.

The Bracken prize

The financial times wants to encourage young writers to tackle emerging business themes, writers must submit a business book proposal. The prize aims to encourage a new generation of business writers.

The Bracken Prize (ft.com)

Anthology short story competition

Closing date: 31^st July 2024

Very Early bird fee €10: September – November 2023

Early bird fee €15: December – March 2024

Standard fee €18: April – July 2024

About: submit an original, unpublished short story of 1,500 words.

Prize: $1000 and the winning story will be published in an issue of Anthology and a one-year subscription. Writers are able to submit as many entries as they wish. It is advised to view or refer to Anthology magazine before submission to see the type of material they publish.

The bath novel awards

Entry is £29 per novel (with sponsored places available for writers on a low income)

The Bath novel award invites submissions from December to may.

The Bath children’s novel award invites submissions from June to November.

Each awarding a £3000 prize for best manuscript as judged by literary agents.

The Bournemouth writing prize 2024

Deadline: This competition runs between 31^st October 2023, and January 2024.

Short story:

Max 3000 words

Any topic and style, they want passionate storytellers and compelling characters.

Poetry:

Line count 42 lines

Any theme or form, they want fresh and unexpected poems.

How to enter: One entry cost £10, two entries cost £17 and three entries cost £21.

Interesting links and opportunities.

Austin Macauley

An independent publisher where writers can send in manuscripts across all genres. They are based in London and founded in 2006 and use a ‘hybrid’ model of publishing contracts. Once accepted as a writer and or author of Austen Macauley, you can expect a high level of care towards your manuscript. This would consist of a large team of editors, designers, and illustrators.

Accepting Submissions In All Genres | Austin Macauley Publishers

Penguin publishing

Writing prizes and opportunities (penguin.co.uk)

Write now

WriteNow
This is run by Penguin random house and aims to find, nurture, and publish new writers from under-represented communities. They offer workshops and feedback and includes the chance to join a year-long programme.

#Merky new writers’ prize

#Merky New Writers’ Prize

– This is a home for underrepresented voices and give a platform where their stories can be told and uplifted. The winner receives a publishing contract. Longlisted writers are invited to writers’ camp where they are given the opportunity to go to workshops, panel talks and editorial one-to-ones.

Harvill Secker Young Translators’ Prize

Harvill Secker Young Translators’ Prize

This aims to recognise the achievements of young translators and encourage and support the next generation of literary translators. The prize is £1000 and a selection of Harvill Secker titles. They will also be mentored by translator and writer, Khairani Barokka.

Breakthrough writers programme

Breakthrough Writers’ Programme

-creative writing courses, mentoring opportunities and scholarships for under-represented writers – with all opportunities fully funded for the writers taking part.

Breakthrough scholarships

Breakthrough scholarships

– They consistently offer funded places on their courses to talented writers facing barriers to entry.

Green stories writing competitions

Green Stories Writing Competitions

-free writing competitions open to various formats to find stories that showcase what a sustainable society might look like.

The London Library Emerging Writers Programme

This is for supporting writers at the start of their careers, and includes writers’ masterclasses, networking opportunities, support, and guidance.

Written by Lyndsey Almeda

Working on laptop

Post by Busra Almis & Research by Ciara Burrell

You can see more useful links for your writings below. We recommend the sites since they are very well written with so many ideas, also has effective structures and layouts. You can find posts from how to improve your novel to the best tea recommendation for writers.

The Write Life https://thewritelife.com

The Write Practice https://thewritepractice.com

Daily Writing Tips https://www.dailywritingtips.com

Better Novel Project http://www.betternovelproject.com/blog/

Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach http://annkroeker.com

For competitions and opportunities…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/

An invaluable resource for writers, with loads of information about competitions, training opportunities and scripts to download.

http://www.nawe.co.uk/young-writers-hub/listings/competitions-and-submissions.html

A fantastic (and little known about) directory of competitions and other opportunities

Some on-line literary magazines well worth checking out…

— sometimes you just need that spark to get your ideas flowing. Gather some inspiration through entertainment, science, politics, and more.

When writing meets image…

The creative community is a cluster of different forms of art. We have the opportunity to introduce you to an incredible world where image and word interlace to tell fascinating stories from all around the world. The selected magazines below may bring you an inspiration for your creative growth whilst also giving representation to micro communities.

GMB AKASH is an international photographer who uses his platform to share stories through imagery and publishing stories to raise awareness of the less fortunate from across the world.

https://gmbakash.wordpress.com/

Sukeban is an online magazine that explores art in different forms, from writing to film photography with chances to submit your work or inspire you to start new writing pieces.

http://sukeban.co.uk/

Inspiring places to write and think…

The Poetry Café

— poetry and coffee – what more do you need?

London Review Bookshop Café Shop

— except for cake, maybe…

Royal Court Bar & Kitchen

— one of the trendiest bars in London. And not a bad theatre either!

Arcola Theatre

— something a bit more cutting edge.

Some resources for when you can’t quite get your words in the right order…

Fantasy Name Generators

— do you find it difficult to come up with names for your characters? No problem – here’s a site enabling you to have an insight into a variety of names from diverse backgrounds.

Behind The Name

— an index of name meanings, spanning various cultures and historical periods. Have an insight into what names were popular at certain points in time, find out their famous bearers, and refine your search by popular impressions.

Behind The Surname

— analogical site, but for surnames. Now the characters in your pre-industrial Britain-set bildungsroman won’t be named after Egyptian Emperors, and vice-versa.

Spring Hole

— not sure where to start? From world-building to character profiling to the mise-en-scène of the entire thing, this collection of articles has it all to get you on the right path. Also home to the Universal Mary Sue Litmus Test.

Tip of My Tongue

— a reverse dictionary, for when you can’t find the word that’s been stuck in your mind for a while. Search via letter patterns, meanings, and word length.

Cliché Finder

— wait, haven’t I seen this exact subplot before? Use this tool to scan your writing for clichés.

Write Rhymes

— it’s time to get your rhyme on. Sometimes we overthink our rhyming possibilities. How about you try our link so next time you don’t have to think?

I Write Like

— have you ever been told that your style resembles one of the classic authors? Or a popular up-and-coming experimental novelist? This tool compares your writing to authors of the past and lets you know who you write like.

Here is a list of some useful links to help you with poetry, writing and also some excellent speaker events and talks taking place currently

Poetry forms and how to write them:

https://examples.yourdictionary.com/types-of-poetry-examples.html

https://bookriot.com/2018/05/08/different-types-of-poems/

https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/collection/poems-with-couplets/

https://www.rhymezone.com/help/

https://commaful.com

https://hellopoetry.com

https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/our-groups/tv-drama-writers-programme/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/our-groups/drama-room/

https://www.thetvfestival.com/talent-schemes/newvoiceawards/new-writers-collective-2023/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/FQY4tc8CD2tpnV1J5vrcRV/submit-your-ideas