Thursday 31 August 2017

The Caterpillar - My Grandad's Not a Viking!

I have a poem in the Autumn issue of The Caterpillar called My Grandad's Not a Viking. Cover art above by Laura Frame.

The Caterpillar is for kids between the ages of 7 and 11(ish). It appears four times a year ‒ in March, June, September and December.


The magazine is edited by Rebecca O'Connor.

Wednesday 30 August 2017

Deborah Rogers Foundation - Writers Award 2018

An award of £10,000 will be presented to a first-time writer whose submission demonstrates outstanding literary talent and who needs financial support to complete their work.

Submissions for the 2018 Writers Award will open on 1st October 2017 and close on 15th December 2017. The winner will be announced in May 2018.

Further details here.

Tuesday 29 August 2017

Mslexia - Women’s Novel Competition 2017

This competition has a first prize of £5,000 and the winner and four finalists will receive manuscript feedback as well as introductions to agents and editors.

Judges: Philippa Gregory (novelist), Sarah Such (literary agent), Alex Clark (journalist)
Fee: £25 per novel extract
Closing date: 18 September 2017

All details here

Monday 28 August 2017

In Flash: The International Short Story Magazine - Seeking Submissions

This well regarded magazine has a very specific set of submission criteria so read them carefully and abide by them or you won't get past the in-tray. No closing date, they stop accepting submissions when they have what they need.

Full details here.

Friday 25 August 2017

Reading for Commuters

An interesting and informative article here from the BBC's Pádraig Belton about the possibilities of reading during your daily commute. I get a little mention, as does this year's ever popular National Flash Fiction Day Anthology, "Sleep is a Beautiful Colour", available in e-book and print here.

Thursday 17 August 2017

Unique Poetry Submission Opportunity #PoetryJukebox


POESIOMAT - the Poetry Jukebox, is an on-street sound installation that provides an innovative new platform for poetry. It is curated by poets Maria McManus and Deirdre Cartmill. They are calling for submissions for the first Poetry Jukebox in the island of Ireland which will be launched as part of the Belfast International Arts Festival in October 2017. It will be located outside the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast.

The deadline is very close - 20th August

All details here.

Wednesday 16 August 2017

Dalkey Creates Short Story Competition

The Dalkey Creates Festival (19-22 October 2017) is running a short story competition that will be judged by Liz Nugent, the author of best selling crime novels  Unravelling Oliver and Lying in Wait. The winner will win a prize of €1,000. To read T&Cs and enter the competition, click here.

Friday 11 August 2017

The Jonathan Cape/Observer/Comica graphic short story prize 2017

This is a great opportunity for artists and writers. The initial article doesn't make it very clear that collaborations between authors and artists are eligible, so click on through to the entry form for further information and T&Cs.

Thursday 10 August 2017

The Honest Ulsterman - Open Submission Call

The Honest Ulsterman is seeking poetry (up to 4 poems), prose and critical writing, suggestions for interviews etc for their October issue. Prose can be up to 5000 words. They also welcome aural/video poetry. Submissions can be sent to hueditor@theverbal.co

Closing Date for submissions is 25th September 2017

Click here to learn more about the magazine.

Tuesday 8 August 2017

Fundación César Egido Serrano Flash Fiction Competition


With a first prize of $20,000 and a maximum word count of 100 words, this has to be one of the most generous micro/flash fiction prizes out there. Entries are accepted in Spanish, English, Arabic or Hebrew and there are three further prizes of $1,000 each for the best stories in each of the other remaining languages admitted in the contest, that are not winners of the main prize. Entry is via a simple online form. If you enter the competition after reading this blog entry, please enter 24554 in the code box on the entry form.

Friday 4 August 2017

New Flash Fiction on KYSO Flash.


I have a new piece of flash up on the KYSO (Knock Your Socks Off) site called Bad Call. Beware, smartphone users! Read it here.