Competition news/deadlines/submissions

The New Writer Magazine offers a great email newsletter for its subscribers, giving news of competitions and submissions. Here are some from the most recent newsletter, but do consider taking out your own subscription. At the moment especially, literary and writing magazines need our support:

COMPS & CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS

Poole Writers Circle Open Poetry Competition
First prize of £100 plus a framed picture by up-and-coming Poole artist Keira Rathbone interpreting the winning poem. Two runner-up prizes of £25. Poems 40 lines max. Entry fee £4 per poem. Closing date 31 March. Full details see www.writerspoole.co.uk

STEYNING FESTIVAL SHORT STORY COMPETITION
Steyning Festival (23 May to 7 June) has announced that the judge of its inaugural short story competition is to be local author and West Dean tutor, Greg Mosse. The competition is being supported by Steyning Bookshop and there will be prizes for three winners in the adult category and a book token prize for the two best under -16 entries. The competition is open to ages 12 and above and the theme is open. Maximum words 1,500. Entry fee is £4 per story or three stories for £10. Deadline is 31 March and information and rules on the festival website or by sending a SAE to: The Short Story Competition Secretary, 67, King's Stone Ave, Steyning, BN44 3FJ.
www.steyningfestival.co.uk

Indigo Dreams brings you the ˜Indigo Themes" series of anthologies. The first in the series is And Again Last Night… exploring Love in all its many forms, its cause and effect, passion and pain, romance, eroticism, regret, legacy - its humour too. Whatever you have experienced or wish to write about. We are seeking up to 2 poems from you, each poem to have maximum of 32 lines. Submissions may be made by email, which must state your postal address, or by post. Closing date 9 April. Indigo Dreams Publishing, 8 Reynolds Court, Hildersley, Ross-On-Wye HR9 7NE. Email dawnidp@btinternet.com www.indigodreamspublishing.co.uk

Deddington Writing Competition 2009
For details of the 5th annual competition go to the Deddington Festival website: www.deddingtonfestival.org.uk or send SAE to: DW Competition, 7 The Daedings, Deddington, Oxon OX15 0RT. Closing date 30 April. On Friday 26 June in Deddington, local authors will present the year's prizes and lead a discussion on current aspects of writing.

Lymm Festival Creative Writing Competition
May 1st is the deadline for this year's Lymm Festival writing competition, for one side of A4 in any genre or style, on the subject of 'Anniversary', with £300 in prizes to be won. For details and the form which must accompany your entry, send sae to 'Anniversary', c/o 39 Fairfield Road, Stockton Heath, Warrington, WA4 2UR or visit the website: www.lymmfestival.org.uk.

Indigo Dreams Summer Collection Competition 2009
Three winners will have collection published by Indigo Dreams Publishing and receive 50 copies.
44 pages stapled booklet with opportunity to upgrade to perfect bound (spine) with min 52 pages for balance amount.
Submission: Selection of 10-15 poems to 36 lines max.
Entry Fee: £18 per block of poems
Closing date 22 May.
Email submissions – see website
Cheque payable Indigo Dreams Publishing and entries to Indigo Dreams Publishing, 8 Reynolds Court, Hildersley, Ross-On-Wye, HR9 7NE, or PayPal from website.
Please email any queries to indigodreamspress@rocketmail.com or dawnidp@btinternet.com Full details/email/overseas entries visit www.indigodreamspublishing.co.uk

David Rattray memorial fiction prize
The Daily Telegraph is proud to support again the annual essay writing competition for 18–24 year-olds, set-up to honour historian David Rattray. David was the self-taught, internationally renowned expert on the Anglo-Zulu war of 1879,who was sadly murdered in 2007. He ran the Fugitives’ Drift Lodge with his wife Nicky, near Rorke’s Drift located in Kwa Zulu Natal. Learning directly from the descendants of Zulu warriors who fought in the war, David dedicated his life to educating visitors to his lodge on the war and taking them to battlefield sites. As a result, he was instrumental in putting these remote battlefields on the tourist map. The winner of the competition will enjoy a two-night stay at Fugitive’s Drift, visit selected battlefields of the Anglo-Zulu wars and also receive £2,000. Plus, there are also two runners-up prizes of £1,000. The winning essay will also be read by Maggie Phillips, Joint Managing Director of Ed Victor Ltd agency, providing exposure of the winner’s skills to the publishing world.
To enter, you need to write an essay of between 1,000 and 1,400 words, it should be a work of fiction entitled, ‘Reconciliation’. Entries will be judged by a prestigious judging panel. Essays need to be sent in Word format to rattray@lme.com or, post five A4 copies to: David Rattray Memorial Competition, 56 Leadenhall Street, London EC3A 2DX to be received by 1 June 2009.

HISSAC annual open short story competition
Closing date 31 July.
1st prize of £400
Details & entry forms at www.hissac.co.uk
info@hissac.co.uk

Poetry Library
Check out all the current UK poetry competitions at http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/competitions/