Open Competitions 2026 Information
Contents
The NAWG open competitions for 2026 are now closed.
- Opening date: 1st April 2026.
- Closing date: 31st August 2026 at 11:59 pm BST.
Categories
- Short story – judged by Steve Bowkett.
- Poetry – judged by Chris Huck and Catherine Fitzsimons.
Prizes
Prizes for both categories are:
- 1st – £ 200,
- 2nd – £ 100,
- 3rd – £ 50.
Entry Fees
The entry fees are as follows.
- Short story: £ 5 per story.
- Poetry: £ 5 per poem, or £ 10 for three poems.
Judges ↑
Short story judge Steve Bowkett began writing at age 13. He has had 79 books published including fiction for children and adults and educational books on creative writing, thinking skills and wellbeing. He has visited hundreds of schools and other venues to give talks, run workshops and courses on creativity in education.
Poetry judges: Chris Huck is the Huddersfield Poetry Days organiser and writer on poetry history, is published in anthologies. He's also a writer on the meaning and mechanics of poetry.
Catherine Fitzsimons wrote poetry to order at school and has carried on reading and producing it ever since. She writes educational materials (mostly science) plus more creative pieces and is an editor offering support to all types of writers at all stages of the creative process.
Rules ↑
- Entries must be in English and typed, or printed, on one side of white A4 paper. Alternatively, they can be submitted online or by email as a Word file.
- Stories must be a minimum of 500 words but must not exceed 2,000 words.
- Poems can be any style, maximum 40 lines.
- Handwritten entries are not permitted.
- Stories and poems must be for adults.
- Pages must be numbered.
- 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.
- The judge's decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
- Entries received after the closing date and time will not be judged, nor fees refunded. Postal entries postmarked by the closing date will be accepted.
- Email and online entries will not be acknowledged unless specifically requested by an email. Print entries will only be acknowledged if accompanied by a stamped, addressed postcard.
- Entries with insufficient postage will not be accepted.
- Winning entries may be published on the NAWG website, in Link magazine or the annual NAWG anthology.
- Copyright remains with the author.
- Entry is deemed acceptance of these rules.
- Entrants may win more than one prize. Entries will not be returned.
- Results will be announced by 30th November 2026.
- Entries that break any competition rule may be disqualified. Fees will not be refunded.
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?
Entry Form ↑
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?
Payment Methods ↑
Payments no longer accepted.