Open Competitions 2017 Information
Contents
Closing Date: 31st October 2017
Categories
- Short Story – Judged by Tim Wilson
- Poetry – Judged by Susan Clark
- Novella – Judged by Cressida Downing – Now in its 2nd year!
Prizes
Short Story & Poetry
Big Money Prizes (both categories)
- 1st prize: £ 200.
- 2nd prize: £ 100.
- 3rd prize: £ 50.
Winning entries may also be published in our anthology, The Write Path 2017.
Last year's anthologies are available to buy.
Novella
Fantastic Prizes of Book Print Deals
- 1st prize to the value of £ 300.
- 2nd prize to the value of £ 200.
- 3rd prize to the value of £ 100.
The Book Print Deal Explained
Printed books to the value of the prizes given above, will be awarded.
According to our printer, you would be looking at 200 mono books, Royal size (234mm × 157mm), containing 144pp for £300; 125 books for £200 and 50 books for £100.
You do not have to use the prize on the entered work. Indeed how you use your prize with the printer is very flexible. Maybe you have a collection of short stories or poems ready for publication?
But, please note, there is no cash alternative available.
Entry Fees ↑
Short Story & Poetry
- Single entry in either category: £ 5.
- Poetry only: three poems for £ 10.
- Optional critiques: £ 5 each, available for both categories.
Novella
- Entry fee: £ 10.
- Optional "brief but helpful" feedback: £ 10.
Payment Methods ↑
Please note that this competition took place in the past and is now closed.
Why not have a look at some of our more recent ones?
Competition Rules ↑
Short Story & Poetry
- Entries must be in English and typed or printed on one side of white A4 paper or emailed formatted as a Word file.
- Stories can be from 500 to a 2,000 words maximum.
- Poems can be any style, maximum 40 lines.
- Handwritten entries are not permitted.
- Stories and poems must be for adults.
- Pages should be numbered.
- Please do not put your name or any other identifying marks on your manuscript, or within the email attachments.
- Stories or poems must not have been previously published, nor should they have won a prize in another competition.
- Postal entries: send two copies, plus the entry form, cheque and s.a.e. for critique if needed. Post to the address given below.
- Email entries: attach your entries formatted as Word files. Include entry form details, including how you are paying, in the body of the message. Send to #Y29tcC1vcGVuQG5hd2cuY28udWs=# with "NAWG Open Writing Comps" in the subject box.
Novella
- Stories must be for adults.
- Novella must not have been previously published, nor should it have won a prize in another competition.
- Entries must be in English.
- Please send the first 5,000 words from your novella as a Word file, attachment, 1.15 spaced, 11pt font, pages numbered.
- Please also send a synopsis as another Word file attachment, covering (no more than) one side of A4, 1.15 spaced, 11pt.
- Handwritten entries are not permitted.
- Please make sure no identifying marks remain on the extract or synopsis.
- Attach your extract and synopsis to an email message, addressed to #Y29tcC1vcGVuQG5hd2cuY28udWs=# with "NAWG Open Writing Comps" in the subject box, and the details given below in the body of the message.
- If payment is being made by cheque, you may send the completed entry form with it.
- If any competition rule fails to be followed, your entry may be disqualified.
- The winning entries will be published here on the NAWG website.
- Copyright remains with the author.
- Entrants may win more than one prize.
Submissions ↑
Here are instructions for submitting your competition entries.
Short Story & Poetry
You may enter by email or by post.
Novella
You may enter by email only.
Email Entries
- Put "NAWG Open Writing Comps" in the subject line.
-
Please put full entry form details in the body of the message.
- Full name.
- Please let us know if you are a member of NAWG. Individual or which group?
- Address, including postcode.
- Telephone number.
- Title of entry.
- Whether or not you require individual feedback?
- Total payment paid.
- Payment method, e.g. cheque, PayPal, BACS?
- Attach your entries formatted as Word files.
- Please, do not put your name or any other identifying marks on your message attachments.
- Send to #Y29tcC1vcGVuQG5hd2cuY28udWs=#.
- All email entrants, who have paid for a critique, will receive it by email, after the results have been announced.
Postal Entries
-
Please include:
- Your name and contact details.
- Your competition entry/entries (no names nor identifying marks please).
- Your cheque, if paying by cheque.
- When requesting a critique for a postal entry, please enclose an s.a.e. with the correct postage.
-
Send to the following address:
NAWG 2017 Open Competitions 124 Park Lane Rothwell Leeds LS25 0EY
- As entries will not be returned, please retain a copy.
- Critiques will be posted once the results have been announced.
Entry Forms ↑
Please note that this competition took place in the past and is now closed.
Why not have a look at some of our more recent ones?
Judging and Critiques ↑
Here are some brief biographies of our competition judges.
Short Story Judging and Critiques – Tim Wilson ↑
Tim Wilson has enormous experience as both writer and teacher. He took the MA in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia, where he studied under Malcolm Bradbury and Angela Carter, and has been a professional writer since 1986.
He has had thirty novels professionally published and translated into eleven languages. His Robert Fairfax historical mystery series, written under the pen-name Hannah March, was twice shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger, and has recently been re-released in e-book by Headline. He has recently written on Shakespeare for the New York Times and the Huffington Post.
His historical novels written under the pen-name Jude Morgan have attracted rave reviews from Hilary Mantel, Tracy Chevalier and Joanna Trollope. His novel about the Brontës, The Taste of Sorrow, was short-listed for the Portico Prize 2010 and has been optioned for TV serialisation by BBC Wales.
He has taught Creative Writing at City College Peterborough and elsewhere for 17 years, and is a Member of the Society of Authors.
Tim's latest novel, The Secret Life of William Shakespeare, written as Jude Morgan, is his 30th published book.
Poetry Judging and Critiques – Susan Clark ↑
Susan is a committed lover of poetry who holds an MA in the subject. She feels privileged to have taught poetry for over 40 years to students of A-level English Literature and of A-level English Language. Between them, the separate subjects develop an appreciation of how the meaningful core and emotional impact of a poem is underpinned by linguistic crafting.
A member of The Poetry Society, Susan is also a keen member of a local monthly poetry group, in which members both read and write poetry.
She judged poetry competitions for NAWG in 2015 and 2016.
Novella Judging and Critiques – Cressida Downing ↑
Cressida Downing, The Book Analyst, has worked in publishing and bookselling for over 25 years. As a freelance editorial consultant, she works for literary agents, publishers and directly for authors.
She is a regular guest blogger at the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook.
She would buy books rather than clothes or food, and lives in East Anglia with two children, two cats, and one husband.
Your Writing at its Best
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with competitive and upfront pricing and fast service.
Contact us now to see what we can do for you and your writing.
One-off edits and on-going mentoring available.
thebookanalyst.co.uk – mention NAWG for your 10% discount
Results ↑
Results for the open competitions 2017 are available. You can also see results and awarded entries from previous years and other competitions.
Further Information ↑
For enquiries and further information:
Email: #Y29tcC1vcGVuQG5hd2cuY28udWs=#
Phone: +44 793 156 3093