WRITING COMPETITIONS
At The Writers Herd, we believe there's no better way to gain recognition and showcase your work than through writing competitions. In the future, we're excited to introduce submission options and even host our own competitions. For now, as we continue to grow our community, writing competitions provide excellent opportunities to get noticed.
As writers ourselves, we know how frustrating it can be to browse through endless lists of competitions online. With so many options, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. That's why we're committed to simplifying the process.
Each month, we'll hand-pick key competitions—both free and paid—highlighting those with cash prizes and publication opportunities. We'll feature a mix of niche and popular contests, so whether you're just starting out or have years of experience, you'll find something tailored to your needs.
These will feature monthly, so stay tuned!
Tips for success
- Check Competition Rules: Always review guidelines carefully to ensure your submissions meet all requirements.
- Study Past Winners: Reviewing previous winning entries can give you insights into what judges want.
- Try a Mix of Competitions: Niche competitions might offer better odds, but don't shy away from popular ones for greater exposure and prizes.
- Keep a Submission Record: Track your entries, rejections, and wins. Check guidelines before submitting the same story to multiple outlets.
- Embrace Rejection: Use rejection as motivation. If you don't try, you'll never know!
- Prepare Early: Avoid last-minute submissions by giving yourself ample time to revise and polish your work.
Competition highlights for september 2026
Poetry Competitions
The Poetry Kit Ekphrastic Poetry Competition 2026
The Poetry Kit Ekphrastic Poetry Competition invites poets to submit original poems inspired by any form of artwork, from paintings and sculptures to photography, street art, or other creative mediums. Open to all styles and lengths, the competition celebrates fresh and imaginative responses to visual art.
- Rules
- Poems must be inspired by any artwork (broadly interpreted)
- Open to poems in any style or form
- No minimum or maximum length
- Poems must be original, unpublished, and written in English
- Entries are judged anonymously
- Submit all poems in one Word or text document by email (no PDFs)
- Multiple entries permitted
- Prizes
- 1st Prize: £110
- 2nd Prize: £30
- Shortlisted poems may be published on the Poetry Kit website
- Entry Fee
- £3.50 for one poem
- £8 for three poems
- £10 for five poems
- Deadline
- 28 September 2026 (Midnight UK time)
The Big Dithering Chaps September Cut-off
The Dithering Chaps September Cut-off offers poets the opportunity to submit a chapbook manuscript for publication, with every submission receiving personalised editorial feedback.
- Rules
- Submit a 10-page sample from a poetry collection
- Collections should be approximately 30–60 pages
- Include a 200-word cover note describing the collection
- Include the full contents page of the manuscript
- Submissions must be sent as a Word or PDF document
- Poets without a previously published full collection are automatically eligible for the First Collection category
- Prizes
- Publication by Dithering Chaps in May 2027
- 25% royalties on all sales income
- 200–300 words of personalised editorial feedback for every submission
- Eligible debut poets also considered for the First Collection publication opportunity
- Entry Fee
- £10 per submission
- Deadline
- 30 September 2026
Lines of Communication
To celebrate 150 years since Alexander Graham Bell's first telephone call, SaveAs Writers invites poets and short story writers to explore the theme "Lines of Communication." The theme can be interpreted broadly, from relationships and technology to cultural exchange, AI, and communication across worlds.
- Rules
- Open to UK and international writers
- Theme: Lines of Communication
- Poetry: Maximum 60 lines
- Short Stories: Maximum 3,500 words
- Entries must be original and written in English
- Multiple entries permitted
- Prizes
- Poetry: £200 (1st), £100 (2nd), £50 (3rd)
- Short Story: £200 (1st), £100 (2nd), £50 (3rd)
- Entry Fee
- Poetry: £4 per poem | £10 for three
- Short Story: £5 per story | £12 for three
- Deadline
- 30 September 2026
The Moth Nature Writing Prize
The Moth Nature Writing Prize is an international competition celebrating outstanding poetry and prose inspired by the natural world. Open to writers aged 16 and over, it welcomes original, unpublished work that explores our relationship with nature through exceptional literary writing.
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Rules
- Open internationally to writers aged 16 and over
- Accepts one poem (any length) or one prose piece (fiction or non-fiction) up to 4,000 words
- Entries must be original, unpublished, and written in English
- Work must explore the natural world
- Simultaneous submissions permitted
- Anonymous judging process
- AI-generated work is not permitted
- No limit on the number of entries
-
Prizes
- 1st Prize: €1,000 and a week at The Moth Retreat in rural Ireland
- 2nd Prize: €500
- 3rd Prize: €250
- Winning entries published in The Irish Times online
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Entry Fee
- €16 per poem or prose entry
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Deadline
- 30 September 2026 (11:59pm GMT / Ireland time)
Gloucestershire Poetry Society 2026 Open Poetry Competition
The Gloucestershire Poetry Society Open Poetry Competition welcomes original, unpublished poems on any subject, offering cash prizes, publication in Steel Jackdaw Magazine, and anthology opportunities for longlisted entries.
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Rules
- Open to poems on any subject
- Maximum 40 lines (excluding the title)
- Poems must be original, unpublished, and written in English
- Anonymous judging process
- Multiple entries permitted
- Simultaneous submissions accepted, provided poems are withdrawn if accepted elsewhere
- Poems must be submitted as Word or PDF files
- AI-generated work is not permitted
-
Prizes
- Winner: £200 and publication in Steel Jackdaw Magazine
- Runner-up: £80 and publication
- Third Prize: £40 and publication
- Friendship Prize: £50 and publication (GPS Friendship Members only)
- All longlisted poems eligible for inclusion in a future Competition Anthology
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Entry Fee
- £4 per poem
- £13 for up to four poems
- GPS Friendship Members may submit up to three poems free as part of their membership
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Deadline
- 30 September 2026 (Midnight UK time)
Miller Williams Poetry Prize
The Miller Williams Poetry Prize, organised by the University of Arkansas Press, recognises outstanding unpublished full-length poetry manuscripts. Open internationally, the prize offers poets the opportunity for publication, with one manuscript receiving a $5,000 cash prize alongside publication in the prestigious Miller Williams Poetry Series.
- Rules
- Open internationally to poets writing in English
- Submit one unpublished poetry manuscript of 60–90 pages
- Individual poems may have been previously published in journals, chapbooks, or anthologies
- Translations are not accepted
- Anonymous judging process
- Simultaneous submissions permitted, provided the press is notified if accepted elsewhere
- One manuscript per author
- AI-generated work is not accepted as original creative work
- Prizes
- Winner: $5,000 and publication
- Three finalists receive publication in the Miller Williams Poetry Series
- Professional editing, design, production, and national publication by the University of Arkansas Press
- Entry Fee
- $28 per manuscript
- Deadline
- 30 September 2026
Caring at Christmas Poetry Competition
The Caring at Christmas Poetry Competition, organised by Carers UK, invites UK-based writers to submit original poems exploring the joys and challenges of caring during the festive season. Open to poets of all experience levels, the competition celebrates the voices and experiences of unpaid carers.
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Rules
- Open to writers currently living in the UK
- Submit up to two poems
- Themes: The joy of caring at Christmas and/or The challenges of caring at Christmas
- Maximum 30 lines (approximately 300 words) per poem
- Poems must be original, unpublished, and not have won or been commended in another competition
- Anonymous judging process
- AI-generated work is not permitted
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Prizes
- 1st Prize: £50 high street voucher
- 2nd Prize: £30 high street voucher
- 3rd Prize: £20 high street voucher
- One winning poem will be read at the Carers UK Carol Service
- Shortlisted poems featured on the Carers UK website
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Entry Fee
- Free
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Deadline
- 30 September 2026 (Midnight UK time)
