The following list consists of links to submission calendars for UK and International writing competitions. These links will be regularly updated.

Please note that none have been verified by Virtual Writers, Inc. and we can, therefore, take no responsibility for them. You are advised to research heavily before applying.

If you can recommend any good competitions we are anxious to hear about them. Just email us through our online contact form and provide full links.  Many thanks.

Writing Competitions/Awards by Month for 2011/2012

October

1st October, 2011 – Spilling Ink Fiction Prize

10th October, 2011 – TRYangle Project Competitions

15th October, 2011 – Hastings International Poetry Competition

15th October, 2011 – Sentinel Annual Poetry Competition

17th October, 2011 – Troubadour International Poetry Prize

30th October, 2011 – Fiction Garden International Ghost Story Competition

28th October, 2011 – Write a Story for Bedtime Competition

31st October, 2011 – Chapter One Children’s Story Competition

Quarterly Competition – Debut Quarterly Competition

31st October, 2011 – Earlyworks Press Short Story Competition

31st October, 2011 – Chapter One Young Illustrator’s Competition

31st October, 2011 – Eric Gregory Award

31st October, 2011 – Flash Stories

31st October, 2011 – Haiku Presence Award 2011

31st October, 2011 – Leaf Books Memoir Competition

31st October, 2011  – The First NAWG Open Short Story Competition

31st October, 2011 – McKitterick Prize

31st October, 2011 – Newark Poetry Society Open Poetry Competition

31st October, 2011 – RTE Radio Short Story Competition

31st October, 2011 – Southport Writers’ Circle Open Short Story Competition

31st October, 2011 – The Speakeasy Open Creative Writing Competition 2011

31st October, 2011 – WF and FG Froud Annual Children’s Short Story Competition

November

1st November, 2011 – Second Light Poetry Competition for Short and Long Poems

10th November, 2011 – Yorkshire Open Poetry Competition, 32 Spey Bank, Yorkshire, YO24 2UZ

14th November, 2011 – Iota Shots Poetry Pamphlet Awards

15th November, 2011 – Countryside Tales Winter Poetry Competition

18th November, 2011 – Bedford Open Poetry Competition

29th November, 2011 – Poetry Business Book & Pamphlet Competition

30th November, 2011 – Cafe Writers Open Poetry Competition

30th November, 2011 – Chapter One Children’s Book Competition

30th November, 2011 – Cinnamon Press Writing Awards

30th November, 2011 – Fish Prize for Short Stories

30th November, 2011 – International Aeon Award Short Fiction Contest

30th November, 2011 – Leaf Books First Chapter Competition

30th November, 2011 – Inktears Short Story Competition

30th November, 2011 – Magma 50th Issue Poetry Competition

30th November, 2011 – Mary Gornall Memorial Short Story Competition

30th November, 2011 – The New Writer Prose and Poetry Prizes

30th November, 2011 – The Plough Prize

30th November, 2011 – St. Andrews Day Short Story Competition

30th November, 2011 – Betty Trask Prize and Awards

December

1st December, 2011 – The Anthony Hecht Poetry Prize

31st December, 2011 – Dark Tales Short Story Competition

31st December, 2011 – Fellows’ Poetry Prize

31st December, 2011 – Local Poem Competition

31st December, 2011 – Longworth Editors Short Story Competition

31st December, 2011 – Red Telephone Young Adult Novel Competition

31st December, 2011 – Walkopedia Travel Writing Competition

31st December, 2011 – Writers Bureau Annual Poetry Competition

31st December, 2011 – Writers’ Village Best Writing Award

January 2012

10th January, 2012 – Sillitoe Open Poetry Competition

30th January, 2012 – Chapter One International Short Story Competition

31st January, 2012 – Author Essentials Winter Short Story Competition

31st January, 2012 – British Haiku Awards

31st January, 2012 – The Caine Prize for African Writing

31st January, 2012 – Choc Lit (& Montezuma) Short Story Competition

31st January, 2012 – Chudleigh Phoenix Annual Short Story Competition

31st January, 2012 – Drama Association of Wales One-Act Playwriting Competition

31st January, 2012 – Fish Prize for Memoir

31st January, 2012 – James White Award

31st January, 2012 – Kent and Sussex Poetry Society Open Competition (01892 662781)

31st January, 2012 – New Venture Theatre and Sussex Playwrights Ten-Minute Play Competition

31st January, 2012 – Sunpenny Young Writers Competittion

31st January, 2012 – Sunpenny Open Short Story Competition

31st January, 2012 – Sunpenny Christian Short Story Competition

31st January, 2012 – Inspired by Tragore

31st January, 2012 – Flash Stories (see entry at October 2011)

31st January, 2012 – Rose and Crown New Novels Competition

February 2012

1st February, 2012 – Countryside Article Competition

4th February, 2012 – The Imison Award

21st February, 2012 – Norwich Writers’ Circle 41st Annual Open Poetry Competition

28th February, 2012 – Emerald Writing Workshops Flash Fiction

28th February, 2012 – Straid Collection Award 2012

29th February, 2012 – Kelpies Prize

29th February, 2012 – Chapter One Novel Competition

TBC, February, 2012 – Crime Writers Association Debut Dagger Award

March 2012

2nd March 2012 – Cardiff International Poetry Competition

5th March 2012 – Windsor Fringe Kenneth Branagh Award for New Drama 2012

10th March 2012 – Northern Writers’ Awards

19th March 2012 – Mslexia Women’s Short Story Competition

20th March 2012 – Fish Prize for Flash Fiction

30th March 2012 – Calderdale Short Story Competition

30th March 2012 – Fish Prize for Poetry

30th March 2012 – Rider Haggard Short Story Competition

21st March 2012 – The Academy of Children’s Writers Write a Story for Children Competition

31st March 2012 – Crystal Magazine Children’s Story Competition

31st March 2012 – Dark Tales Short Story Competition (see entry at December 2011)

31st March 2012 – Exeter Writers Short Story Competition 2012

31st March 2012 – MAG Poetry Prize 2012

March TBC – Michael Marks Award for Poetry Pamphlets

April 2012

1st April – Wergle Flomp Humour Poetry Contest

15th April – Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Fiction Contest

April TBC – Deddington Writing Competition

30th April – Swanwick Writers’ Summer School Competitions

30th April – Ver Poets Open Competition 2012

30th April – Grey Hen Poetry Competition

30th April 2012 – BBC Wildlife Nature Writer of the Year Award

May 2012

7th May – Templar Poetry Pamphlet & Collection Awards: 2012

15th May – XII Poetry on the Lake — possible deadline change to 12th April

19th May – 7th Annual Virginia Warbey Poetry Prize

27th May – Welsh Poetry Competition

31st May – The British Fantasy Society Short Story Competition

May TBC – BBC National Short Story Award

31st May – The Frogmore Poetry Prize

31st May – David Burland Poetry Prize 2012

31st May – Frome Festival Short Story Competition

31st May – Lincolnshire Association of Healers Writing Competition

31st May – Yeovil Literary Prize

June 2012

1st June – Chapter One Poetry Competition

1st June – The Samuel Taylor Coleridge Poetry Prize: £3 for up to 3 poems on nature (up to 20 lines each), send poems to:

John Garland, The 4th Samuel Taylor Coleridge Poetry Prize, 38 Brendon Road, Watchet, West Somerset, TA23 0AX.

1st June – Countryside Tales Country Story Competition

18th June – Mslexia Women’s Poetry Competition

30th June – The Bridport Prize

30th June – British Czech & Slovak Association Writing Competition

30th June – Dark Tales Short Story Competition

30th June – Writers Bureau Annual Short Story Competition

30th June – Lightship International Literary Competitions

30th June – Writers Reign Short Story

July 2012

July TBC – Aldeburgh First Collection Prize

10th July – Doris Gooderson Short Story

16th July – The Ted Hughes Young Poets’ Award

16th July – The Elmet Poetry Prize

31st July – Author Essentials Annual Flash Fiction Competition

31st July – Buzzwords Open Poetry Competition

31st July – HISSAC Annual Open Short Story Competition

August 2012

1st August – Biographers’ Club Tony Lothian Prize

3rd August – Over the Edge New Writer of the Year

12th August – The Manchester Fiction Prize 2012

31st August – Aesthetica Creative Works Competition

31st August – Luke Bitmead Bursary

31st August – The Salopian Poetry Society’s 36th Annual Open Poetry Competition

31st August – Carrying the Flame Writing for Children Competition

September 2012

2nd September – Marple International Poetry Competition

21st September – Glass Woman Prize

October 2012

5th October – Mere Literary Festival 2012 Write in the Week – Flash Fiction

October – Haiku Presence Award (see entry at October 2011)

31st October – Eric Gregory Award (see entry at October 2011)

October TBC – Hastings International Poetry Competition (see entry at October 2011)

31st October  – McKitterick Prize (see entry at October 2011)

31st October – Flash Stories (see entry at October 2011)

31st October – Newark Poetry Society Open Poetry Competition (see entry at October 2011)

31st October – Poetry Society National Poetry Competition (see entry at October 2011)

31st October – RTE Radio Short Story Competition (see entry at October 2011)

October TBC – The Speakeasy Open Creative Writing Competition (see entry at October 2011)

31st October – Tom-Gallon Trust Award

October – Troubadour International Poetry Prize (see entry at October 2011)

31st October – WF and FG Froud Annual Children’s Short Story Competition (see entry at October 2011)

November 2012

30th November *TBC – Cafe Writers Open Poetry Competition (see entry at November 2011)

November TBC – Countryside Tales Winter Poetry Competition (see entry at November 2011)

30th November *TBC – Cinnamon Press Writing Awards (see entry at November 2011)

30th November – Emerald Writing Workshops Flash Fiction (see entry at February 2012)

30th November – Mary Gornall Memorial Short Story Competition (see entry at November 2011)

30th November – Fish Prize for Short Stories (see entry at November 2011)

November TBC – The New Writer Prose and Poetry Prizes (see entry at November 2011)

November TBC – The Plough Prize (see entry at November 2011)

November TBC – Poetry Business Book and Pamphlet Competition (see entry at November 2011)

30th November – Betty Trask Prize and Awards (see entry at November 2011)

December 2012

1st December – The Anthony Hecht Poetry Prize (see entry at December 2011)

3rd December – Emerald Writing Workshops Flash Fiction (see entry at February 2012)

12th December – West Country Writers’ Association Short Story Competition

31st December – Dark Tales Short Story Competition (see entry at December 2011)

31st December – Fellows’ Poetry Prize (see entry at December 2011)

31st December – Writers Bureau Annual Poetry Competition (see entry at December 2011)

31st December – Writers’ Village Best Writing Award (see entry at December 2011)

31st December – Local Poem Competition (see entry at December 2011)

Writing Competitions/Awards by Month for 2011

February

25th February – Academi Cardiff 2011 International Poetry Competition

25th February – Brit Writers’ Awards

26th February – The Frances Lincoln Diverse Voices Children’s Book Award

TBC (was February 2010) – Crime Writers Association Debut Dagger

28th February – Grace Dieu Writers’ Circle Competition

28th February – Kelpies Prize 2011

28th February – Straid Poetry Prize

28th February – BBC Wildlife Magazine: Travel-Writing Awards

March

1st March – Wyvern Publications Short Story Competition

10th March – Northern Writers’ Awards

20th March – Fish Prize for Flash Fiction

20th March – Rider Haggard Short Story Competition

21st March – 21st September – Glass Woman Prize

30th March – Fish Prize for Poetry

31st March – David Burland Poetry Prize 2011

31st March – Exeter Writers Short Story Competition

31st March – Lincolnshire Association of Healers Poetry Competition

TBC, March – The 20th Meyer-Whitworth Award

31st March – Writer a Story For Children

TBC, March – Writelink Spring Fever Competition

April

1st April – Franco-British Council Short Story Prize

30th April – Swanwick Writers’ Summer School Competition

April 2011 – Deddington Writing Competition

30th April – Southport Writers’ Circle International Poetry Competition

30th April – Ver Poets Open 2011

30th April – Nature Writer of the Year

May

31st May – The British Fantasy Society Short Story Competition

30th May – Welsh Poetry Competition

31st May – The Frogmore Poetry Prize

TBC (was May in 2010) – Michael Marks Award for Poetry Pamphlets

TBC, May – Yeovil Literary Prize

June

1st June – Countryside Tales Open Short Story Competition

15th June – Akron Poetry Prize

30th June – The Bridport Prize

TBC, June- British Czech & Slovak Association Writing Competition

30th June – Grey Hen Press Poetry Competition

30th June – Keats-Shelley Prize

2nd June – Marple Poetry and Short Story Competitions

June – Playwright Mentoring

30th June – Lightship International Literary Competitions

30th June - Sunpenny 2011 Open Short Story Competition and Christian Short Story Competition

30th June – Writer’s Reign Short Story Competition

30th June – Barrow Street Poetry Book Contest

July

15th July – The Virginia Prize 2011

31st July – HISSAC Annual Open Short Story Competition

31st July – Hay Short Story Competition

TBC, July – Mere Literary Festival Poetry Competition

31st July – Sussex Playwrights Club Radio Play Competition

August

1st August – The Tony Lothian Prize

3rd August – Over the Edge New Writer of the Year

31st August – Salopian Poetry Society Annual Open Poetry

September

30th September – Asham Award

October

1st October – Art Affair Short Story Contest

1st October – Art Affair Poetry Contest

1st October – Art Affair Western Short Story Contest

General Poetry Competitions

Poets and Writers – Submission Calendar

Poetry Kit – Submissions Calendar

The Poetry Society

Poetry Library – South Bank Centre

First Writer

The Welsh Poetry Competition

The Academi Cardiff International Poetry Competition

UK Poetry Competitions

General Writing Competitions

UK Short Story Competitions

Prize Magic’s List of UK Writing Competitions

National Literary Trust

Ask About Writing

Sally Quilford’s Writing Calendar

The Bridport Prize

University of East Anglia

University of New Orleans

Japan-United Status Friendship Commission

The Madison Review

International Writing Competitions

3-Day Novel Contest

Rockway Press

Writer’s Digest

International Songwriting Competition

The UK Songwriting Contest

Sentinel Literary Quarterly

Stanford University Press

Salem College

US Contests

Bronx Council on the Arts

Massachusetts Cultural Council

The Poetry Center of Chicago

The Chattahoochee Review

Glimmer Train Press

Goeth-Institut Chicago

Iowa Review

Main Street Rag

The Ohio State University Press

Southern Illinois University

Workshops

Writers’ Digest Online Webinars