The Moth Short Story Prize is an international prize, open to anyone from anywhere in the world, as long as their story is original and previously unpublished. The winners are chosen by a single judge each year, who reads the stories anonymously.
This year's judge is Evie Wyld.
The Prize is open to anyone over 16, as long as the work is original and previously unpublished. There is a word limit of 3,000. The entry fee is €15 per story. Closing 30 June 2025.
PRIZES: 1st prize €3,000 2nd prize week-long writing retreat at Circle of Misse in France plus open travel stipend 3rd prize €1,000
With thanks to Circle of Misse for the superb second prize of a week-long writing retreat in France and an open travel stipend, enabling the 2nd prize winner to travel to France from anywhere in the world.
Top prize in children's writing competition is a publishing contract with Chicken House with an advance of £10,000
Chicken House is 'thrilled to announce' the opening of its 2025 writing competition, ran in conjunction with The Times, and with a prize sponsored by TV production company Lime Pictures. The deadline for submissions is 2 June 2025.
According to organisers: 'Now the biggest children's writing competition in the UK, the Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition has been running for 14 years and has kickstarted the careers of many of the most established writers for both children and adults in the UK - including Jasbinder Bilan (Costa-winning author of Asha & the Spirit Bird), S.J. Bennett (The Windsor Knot) and Efua Traoré (Children of the Quicksands). Since the competition's inception, over half of shortlistees have gone on to be published, including winners.
'The competition is open to unpublished, unagented writers based anywhere in the world. We accept entries aimed at readers from age 7 all the way up to age 18 (Young Adult).
The top prize is a publishing contract with Chicken House with an advance of £10,000, plus a discussion of representation with literary agent Gyamfia Osei of Andrew Nurnberg Associates
Sells rights internationally on behalf of UK/US agencies and publishers. Agent for UK and international authors, including children's writers. Fiction, non-fiction and children's fiction. Does not represent children's picture books, poetry or scripts for film, T.V, radio or theatre.
Submission Guidelines:
Send a short, 1-page synopsis and the first three chapters (double or 1.5 spaced) with a covering letter. If sending by post include an S.A.E for the return of your material.
'This year also sees the return of the Lime Pictures New Storyteller Award, a bespoke prize sponsored by leading TV production company Lime Pictures, awarded to the submission which shows the greatest TV development potential and chosen by Chicken House Publisher Barry Cunningham and Lime Pictures' Tim Compton. The winner will receive a £7,500 publishing contract plus a discussion of representation.'
Barry Cunningham, Chicken House Publisher and MD, said: "It's inspiring to see submission numbers - and talent! - for the Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition grow year on year. For me, the important thing is to offer writers a chance to be heard and read outside the mainstream - and the competition continues to offer exactly that."
The competition costs £20 to enter and is open to writers from all over the world, as long as they write in English, are unagented and have not had a children's book published before.
The Faculty of English at the University of Oxford is launching a new storytelling competition along with management and production company, 42. The competition is open to anyone over the age of 18 living, working or studying in the UK and Ireland at the closing date for submissions. The winner will receive £1,500 along with professional representation by 42.
It is open to aspiring novelists, playwrights and screenwriters, and is accepting both experimental writing as well as work that would appeal to a broad audience.he judging panel includes Abby Ajayi, creator of "Riches" (ITVX and Amazon) and writer on Emmy-nominated "Inventing Anna" (Netflix); Chris Chibnall, creator of "Broadchurch" (ITV), "Doctor Who" Showrunner, and author of Death at the White Hart (Penguin 2025); Robert Douglas-Fairhurst, author of Metamorphosis and professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford; and Rona Munro, Scottish dramatist of "The James Plays" and "Oranges and Sunshine".
The judges will select a shortlist of up to six entries by 30th May 2025. The winner will be announced in June.
Entrants must submit a synopsis (up to 300 words) and an elevator pitch of no more than two sentences for a work of fiction, along with one of the following:
Novel - the first 10,000 to 15,000 words Stage or radio play - a complete script of between 30 and 90 pages Screenplays - a script of between 30 and 60 pages for episode one of a TV show or a complete feature-length film script of 90 pages.
Eugenie Furniss, literary agent at 42, said: "In today's landscape we feel it is important to encourage storytellers in whichever medium they feel drawn to. As a literary agent, little beats the excitement of discovering new talent and we hope this prize will encourage aspiring writers to finally get started on the idea they have been dreaming about".
Janklow & NesbitCommercial and literary fiction and non-fiction.
No poetry, plays, film/TV scripts.
Send an informative covering letter with full outline (non-fiction), synopsis and first three sample chapters (fiction) to the main Janklow and Nesbit (UK) Ltd address for the attention of the Submissions Department.
Please include return postage if you would like your manuscript returned to you. US rights handled by Janklow & Nesbit Associates in New York. UK has launched the Janklow & Nesbit UK Fiction Prize for literary love stories, in celebration of the UK office's 25th anniversary.
To enter the 2025 competition, unpublished writers aged over 18, who are currently a resident in the UK or the Republic of Ireland, should submit the first 5,000 words of their story. The winner will receive a prize of £2,000 and a one-to-one session with Federico Andornino, executive publisher at Sceptre Books - the literary imprint of Hodder & Stoughton - who will also be a judge this year.
The winner will also be offered representation by Janklow & Nesbit UK, which represents a number of authors of literary love stories, including André Aciman, Monica Heisey and Jeffrey Eugenides.
Emma Leong, an agent with Janklow & Nesbit, said: "Who doesn't love a love story? What better way to demonstrate human connection, how to love and be loved, and capture readers' hearts. We're very excited to be launching this prize, in celebration of our 25th anniversary, and look forward to reading all the entries."
Janklow & Nesbit UK director and literary agent Claire Paterson Conrad will also be judging this year's competition, alongside journalist Roisin Kelly and authors Chukwuebuka Ibeh and Kate Weinberg.
The deadline for submissions is 9th April 2025, and the shortlist will be announced on 16th June. The winner will be announced on 21st July 2025.
Read the submission guidelines carefully to find out the submission deadlines for each stage.
If you have written a poem you think would appeal to 7-11-year olds, then why not enter the The Caterpillar Poetry Prize 2025? The prize is open to anyone over 16, and the poem can be on any subject.
THE JUDGE
Kate Wakeling's work has been awarded the CLiPPA prize for children's poetry and nominated for the Carnegie Medal and has been praised as ‘clever, funny, inspiring' (The Sunday Times) and ‘both limpidly welcoming and profoundly meaningful' (Guardian). Her collections have variously been selected as Books of the Month in the Guardian, The Scotsman and The Sunday Times.
The winning poem will feature in the Irish Times online.
Closing date 31 March 2025
‘The Caterpillar is such a unique and inspired magazine. Winning The Caterpillar Poetry Prize is all shades of wonderful!' Coral Rumble
The Emma Press is an independent publisher specialising in poetry, short fiction and children's books. It was founded in 2012 and is based in Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, UK. We publish poetry, short-form prose, and books for children.
The Emma Press's open submission will close on 18 February.
Poetry collections, memoir, essay, creative non-fiction and novellas can be submitted, as well as children's poetry and fiction for 8+.
Please read the guidelines on their website carefully.
Faber is launching the Action! Prize, in response to research from the National Literacy TrustUK-based organisation which has campaigned since 1993 to improve literacy standards across all age groups. Excellent research information and details of the many initiatives the charity is currently involved in. www.literacytrust.org.uk. It also has a useful page of news stories on UK literacy, which links to newsletter http://www.readitswapit.co.uk/TheLibrary.aspx that reveals children's reading enjoyment is at its lowest level in almost two decades, and that the problem is most acute for boys.
The prize will be launched alongside literary manager and film/TV producer Eddie Gamarra, who will be judging the prize alongside author Kieran Larwood and with the support of EmpathyLab.
The award is now open to unagented writers in the UK and US, and calls for fast-paced and filmic, action-packed adventure stories. A publishing contract is offered to the three winners. Entries must feature a diverse cast of fully rounded characters in any one of these four age bands: 7-9, 9-11, 12-14, 14+.
Faber publisher Leah Thaxton said: "We are all alarmed at the falling number of children reading for pleasure, especially when it comes to boys; it is clear they are not finding enough of what they need on the shelves. I'm keen we offer a much wider range of instantly appealing, action-packed stories that will compete with the adrenaline rush of gaming and screens. We know books are vital to children's development, so this prize is a call-out for high octane, filmic, thrilling fiction that will get children hooked (back) into books."
Entry Criteria:
•Fiction only. •For readers in one of these four age bands 7-9, 9-11, 12-14, 14+. •Comprising: The first 5,000 words and a full synopsis of the novel in 500 words maximum. •The winning entries will be fast-paced and filmic, nail-biting, high-octane adventure, action-packed and full of heart, and may feature mortal danger and/or daft humour! •The prize is open to fiction and graphic novel submissions only, not nonfiction.
Entries close on 30 January. The winners' announcement is on 30 April. The first prize is a worldwide publishing contract with Faber with a £12,000 advance (subject to contract), the second prize has a £9,000 advance, and the third prize has a £6,000 advance.
Is data failing us? Submit your response to this question in 3,000 words to the Nine Dots Prize for the chance to receive US$100,000 to write a short book expanding on your ideas.
What is the Nine Dots Prize?
The Nine Dots Prize is a prize for creative thinking that tackles contemporary societal issues. Entrants are asked to respond to a question in 3,000 words, with the winner receiving US$100,000 to write a short book expanding on their ideas.
The aim of the Prize is to promote, encourage and engage innovative thinking to address problems facing the modern world. The name of the Prize references the nine dots puzzle - a lateral thinking puzzle which can only be solved by thinking outside the box.
The Prize was established in 2016 and has chosen four winners so far. Previous questions have considered issues around how politics is influenced by digital technologies, what home is, how the relationships between young and old affect the world, and why the rule of law has become so fragile.
Our fifth Cycle launched in October 2024 with the question 'Is data failing us?'.
Now in their seventh year, the hugely popular Selfies book awards - powered by UK book trade journal BookBrunch and sponsored by Ingram Spark® and LitPR - will again reward three self-published authors for their publishing excellence.
Supported by the London Book Fair and Nielsen BookData, these awards recognise a vibrant part of the book market, with submissions now open for indie authors who in 2024 have published a book in one of three categories: adult fiction, adult general non-fiction, children's books. Submissions will be accepted until midnight on Friday 3 January 2025. Shortlists will be announced in February, and the three lucky winners will be announced in the London Book Fair Author HQ in March 2025.
Originally launched in the UK in 2018, this initiative highlights the very best self-published authors each year.
Jo Henry, managing director of BookBrunch, said: "We love receiving submissions for the Selfies Book awards, and every year are impressed anew by the inventiveness, energy and professionalism displayed by these authors who are taking on the responsibility of publishing their own books."
The winner in each category receives £750 plus a profile in BookBrunch and PR support for their title from LitPR, while all shortlisted authors receive free access to the London Book Fair, access to LitPR's education and empowerment resources, and membership of LBF's Author HQ club. Comprising a theatre and networking area, Author HQ provides a forum for discussions on approaches to publishing and includes networking events and 'how-to' style panels, one of which will be curated by the Selfies this year. Shortlisted authors will also be invited to a networking event at the London Book Fair hosted by IngramSpark.
The shortlisted titles are judged by experts from the book industry who are looking for:
A fantastic story that entertains and delights the reader
A well-produced book
An enticing cover and blurb that successfully addresses the target audience
An effective and creative marketing and publicity strategy that has the potential for great sales
All titles submitted for the 2025 awards need to have been published in English between January and December 2024. Entries will only be accepted from UK authors who are self-published, ie where the author themselves acts as the publisher of the book.
In order to register, authors should go to www.bookbrunch.co.uk, click on the subscribe button and select the 6 month subscription box, using the code SELFIESBOOKAWARDS2024. The fee of £34.50 will include a six-month subscription to BookBrunch (normally £69). Please see www.theselfies.co.uk for more details, and follow along on #theselfiesbookawards.
With €111,000 in prize money, The Moth Poetry Prize is one of the biggest prizes in the world for unpublished poems. The prize is open to anyone, and each year it attracts thousands of entries from new and established poets from over 50 countries worldwide.
The four shortlisted poems appear in the Irish Timesonline, and the overall winner will be announced in the spring of 2025.
The prize is judged anonymously by a single poet.
THE JUDGE
Fiona Benson is the author of four poetry collections:Bright Travellers, Vertigo & Ghost,EphemeronandMidden Witch(forthcoming). All three of her published collections have been shortlisted for the T S Eliot prize, and her books have won the Forward Prize, the Seamus Heaney Prize, the Roehampton Poetry Prize and the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize.
THE PRIZES
1st prize €6,000, 3 runner-up prizes of €1,000 8 commended poets will each receive €250 There is no line limit. The entry fee is €15 per poem.You can enter as many poems as you like.
The Conversation Insights is partnering Faber and Curtis BrownSee Curtis Brown listing in launching a writing prize for academics. The Conversation Prize aims to discover 'the most promising new writers from the world of academia' and is aimed at experts who are keen to develop a trade publishing career.
The winner will receive £1,000, publication on the Conversation's website, and mentorship from a Curtis Brown literary agent and a Faber book editor.
Applicants should submit a 2,000-word article based on their area of expertise, plus a trade non-fiction book idea that they would like to develop into a publishing proposal. The deadline is 30 November.
Are you an academic keen to develop a writing career? Do you have a book idea that has the potential to be a nonfiction bestseller?
The Conversation Insights, in partnership with talent agency The Curtis Brown GroupRepresents screenwriters and specialises in film and TV. Commission : 15-20%.
Website includes submission guidelines. Also represents directors, designers and actors.
Founded 1914. and book publisher Faber, is looking for the best longform article and nonfiction book idea aimed at a general audience from our community of academics.
If you are an expert in your field who wants to develop your writing career for a wider audience, enter your 2,000-word story for a chance to win £1,000, online publication of your article on The Conversation's website, and mentorship for developing a nonfiction book from a literary agent from Curtis Brown and a Faber book editor.
As part of your submission, we'd also like you to include an idea for a trade nonfiction book on your article subject. Please pitch your proposed book idea in 350 words or less and explain why you're the right person to write this book.
Submissions should be in the following areas: History, Arts + Culture, Business + Economy, Education, Environment, Health, Politics + Society, Science + Technology or World.
'I know that if I have been working on one paragraph and I have written it three times, it goes in the bin. Unless it comes straight out, it is wrong, it is awkward, it does not fit.'
