Contests

Note: Competitions Deadline 29th September 2023

The Allingham Festival 2023 Flash Fiction and Poetry Competitions are now open!

International entries are welcome! Two of the winning entries in 2022 were crafted by writers in Canada and Dubai.

The 2023 Allingham Festival will take place in Ballyshannon from November 8-12, and the Awards Ceremony is scheduled to be webcast on Friday, Nov 10. Winning entries from past years are posted on the Allingham website – www.allinghamfestival.com

First Prize in both Flash Fiction and Poetry is €300. Winners will be invited to read their winning entries in the webcast on-line Awards Ceremony.

The following rules are for the Allingham Poetry and Flash Fiction Competitions for adult writers who will be 18 or older by Wednesday, 8 November 2023.

Terms and Conditions

• All entries must be the original work of the entrant. Entrants must be 18 years old or older on or before 8 November 2023.
• Entries must not have been published elsewhere (online, digital, or in print) before 8 November 2023. Entries which are declared first-place winners in other writing competitions before 8 November 2023 will not be eligible.
• First-place winners of 2021 and 2022 Allingham Poetry or Flash Fiction competitions are not eligible to re-enter in 2023.
• Members of the 2023 Allingham Festival Organising Committee and their immediate families are not eligible to enter the Poetry or Flash Fiction Competitions.
• All entries must be written in English.
• Entries must be typed or printed using a standard font – see specifications below. Handwritten entries will not be considered.
• Entries can be submitted on-line or by post. The deadline for receipt of both postal and on-line entries is 23:59 on Friday, 22 September 2023.
• Each entrant may submit up to 5 poems, maximum 40 lines per poem.
• Each entrant may submit up to 5 flash fiction pieces, maximum 700 words each.
• Judges’ decisions are final. No correspondence will be entered into regarding the shortlist or the winners. Entries will not be returned.

HOW TO ENTER

• Submit online entries as doc, docx, or pdf files. Each entry – each poem or flash fiction piece – must be submitted as a separate file. Postal entries must be typed or printed on A4 pages.
• Page number format must include page number and total page count for each entry. Example: Page 1 of 3, Page 2 of 3, etc.
• Flash Fiction pieces must be submitted in 12 point Arial or Times New Roman font, with 2 cm margins on A4 pages. Use 1.5 or double-spacing. Include title of entry and page number(s) on all pages. 700 words maximum.
• Poetry formatting, including spacing, is at the discretion of the author. Include title of each entry and page number(s) on all pages. 40 lines maximum.
• Entries must be accompanied by an application form. For online entries, the entry form serves as an application form. For postal entries, print an application form and include it with your entry or entries.
• Include the title of your story or poem and its page number(s) on all pages, but not your name or any other personal details. Personal information must appear only on the application form.

ENTRY FEES

The entry fee is €5 for each poem or flash fiction piece.

Poetry and flash fiction competitions are separate, and entries to the two competitions must be made separately.

Example: if you wish to submit one piece of flash fiction and three poems, fill out an entry form for the flash fiction and submit the entry along with the fee. Fill out a separate entry form for the three poems and send the form and the three poems along with the fee.

Poems and flash fiction entries must be submitted in separate emails or in separate envelopes.

See here for further information.

The post Allingham Festival Flash Fiction and Poetry Competitions 2023 appeared first on Writing.ie.

Prizes: Three Winners are announced who are published and share in the $1000 USD total prize pool. Twenty writers are Longlisted. All entries considered for publication, and for submission to the Pushcart Prize and other anthologies.Entry Fee: $20 USD.Deadline: Open now, closing 31st October at 11:59 pm ET.Words: 0 – 5000 words.Details: Open to anyone […]

Prizes: Three Winners are announced who are published and share in the $1000 USD total prize pool. Twenty writers are Longlisted. All entries considered for publication, and for submission to the Pushcart Prize and other anthologies.Entry Fee: $15 USD.Deadline: Open now, closing 31st October 11:59 pm ET.Lines: 70 lines max per poem.  Details: Open to […]

Prizes: Three Winners are announced who receive a letter of recommendation from our Judges for publishers, and share in the $1000 USD total prize pool. Twenty writers are Longlisted.Entry Fee: $25 USD.Deadline: Open now, closing 31st October at 11:59 pm ET.Words: Please submit the first 5000 words of your book (first 15 pages for poetry).Details: Open […]

Enter The Vanity Papers Wonderland Short Fiction Competition! Oxford’s beloved literary review is a home to many writers from the

Competition deadline: 29th September 2023

Ireland’s Own is pleased to announce details of our 2023 Writing Competitions. Entrants are invited to compete for €2,450 in gift-card prizes.

OPEN SHORT STORY SECTION

The Open Short Story section (2,000 words maximum) is open to all and carries a prize fund of €1,000 gift cards – a first prize of €600; second prize of €200 and two runners-up prizes of €100. 

BEGINNERS’ SHORT STORY SECTION

The Beginners’ Short Story section is restricted to those who have never had a short story published before. It carries a first prize of €300 and three runners-up prizes of €100. Entries for both short story sections should be of approx. 2,000 words, reflect the ethos of Ireland’s Own and be of a non-experimental nature.

Occasionally, stories may need some slight adjustments to comply with our requirements; we reserve the right to make such changes. Entry in the competitions is deemed an acceptance of this condition.

MEMORIES SECTION

For the Memories Section we are asking entrants to tell us of some special moment or event in not more than 800 words. It could be about school, holidays, falling in love, getting married, emigrating, a special person you have known, etc. This section carries a first prize of €200 and four runners-up prizes of €100.

THE FRANK MCDONALD PRIZE

In memory of Frank McDonald (12/4/1932 to 04/05/2020).

Frank McDonald was born in Dublin in 1932. He was an avid reader and a short story writer throughout his life, and was a regular contributor to Ireland’s Own magazine. His work also featured in the 2010 short story anthology. Following his retirement from his job as a bookbinder in 1998, Frank spent more than 10 years teaching adult literacy classes in Finglas, Dublin. During these years he introduced many people to the joy of reading and writing. He was married to his wife, Lily, for over 60 years and had four children and five grandchildren. His family has very generously donated a €250 prize which will be awarded to a new writer in the competition whose work stands out and leaves a lasting impression on our judges. 

HOW TO ENTER

In all three sections, entries should be the original and unpublished work of the sender, and should be typed on one side only of A4 paper, double spacing. Any number of entries may be submitted, but each story must be accompanied by a €10.00 (£8 Stg) fee, (in cheque or money order – post no cash), made payable to IRELAND’S OWN.

Entries must be submitted by post; make sure you include your own name and address on each entry, and also your email address if you have one to facilitate easy contact. The results will appear in the Christmas Annual in early December. The winning entries will be published in our Winning Writers Annual next May.

No entry form is needed; the decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Entrants should retain copies of their work as manuscripts will NOT be returned.

Entries should be sent to:

2023 Original Writing Competitions, Ireland’s Own, Channing House, Rowe Street, Wexford.

Which section each entry is intended for should be CLEARLY MARKED on the outside of the envelope.

Closing date is Friday, September 29th, 2023.

See here for further information.

The post Ireland’s Own Writing Competitions 2022 appeared first on Writing.ie.

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