Writing Opportunities

The Moth Nature Writing Prize

‘What a great competition to be running.' Robert Macfarlane

The Prize will be awarded to three unpublished pieces of prose or poetry which best combine exceptional literary merit with an exploration of the writer's relationship with the natural world.

The prize is open to anyone over the age of sixteen, as long as the work is original and previously unpublished.

1st prize €1000 plus a week at Circle of Misse in France
2nd prize €500
3rd prize €250

The winning pieces will be published in the Irish Times online 

Closing date 30 September 2024

The Judge

Cal Flyn's first book, Thicker Than Water, was a Times book of the year. Her second book, Islands of Abandonment ‒ about the ecology and psychology of abandoned places ‒ was shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize, the British Academy Book Prize, the Ondaatje Prize and the Baillie Gifford Prize, among others.

The Moth Nature Writing Prize is open to anyone (over 16) as long as their piece (poetry or prose) is previously unpublished. The word limit for prose is 4,000 and there is an entry fee of €15. Closing 30 September 2024.

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Over the years MslexiaStylish and lively site for quarterly UK literary magazine read by 12,000 'committed' women writers. Good range of quality writing, information and advice with news, reviews, competitions and interviews, all presented in a friendly fashion. Praised by Helen Dunmore as 'astute, invigorating and above all an excellent read.' www.mslexia.co.uk has developed a portfolio of highly respected competitions that have propelled many women’s writing careers to the next level. Winners, and finalists have discovered that being placed in a Mslexia competition can make a huge difference to how their work is perceived. Our finalists have signed multi-book deals, been awarded grants, achieved agent representation and had their entries broadcast on national radio. Just mentioning a Mslexia longlisting in a cover letter will make the recipient sit up and take notice.

As well as generous cheques, the prizes we offer include publication, career mentoring, manuscript feedback, pitching workshops, and personal introductions to agents and editors. For many the results have been life-changing.

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The Creative Writing Award is open to Poetry and Short Fiction submissions on any theme, however, we are particularly interested in works that reflect upon our ever changing world.

Previous anthologies have harnessed the power of language to explore an age of unprecedented change and uncertainty. They have expressed complex emotions - telling personal and global stories. Our 2022 shortlisted works connect readers to a profound sense of self as well as their shared humanity: friendships, fairytales and romantic relationships told in new ways.

We are looking for pieces that challenge us - that redefine the parameters of form, concept and technique. Winning pieces have reflected upon both social and political structures, human relationships and experiences. They have pushed the boundaries of imagination - providing new possibilities and ideas. To find out more about our shortlist, view our Success Stories here.

Poetry entries £12 | Short Fiction entries £18

Submissions close 31 August 2024

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The Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award 2024 is open! Enter your poems by 31 July 2024 at foyleyoungpoets.org

The Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award is one of the biggest and most prestigious poetry competitions for 11-17 year olds in the world. Every year, 15 top winners and 85 commended poets are chosen; together, they represent some of the most exciting new voices writing today. This year's judges are the fantastic Vanessa Kisuule and Jack Underwood, and they can't wait to read your poems! If you're aged 11-17, send in your poems for the chance to be among the 100 winners and kick-start your writing career.

Poems can be on any theme and in any style but must be no longer than forty lines. You can submit as many as you like.

Winners of the award receive a fantastic range of prizes to help develop their writing. The top 15 poets receive a mentoring package with opportunities to receive support and feedback on their writing; and all 100 winners receive a year's youth membership of The Poetry SocietyLively and well-presented UK site supporting poetry with 4,000 members internationally and some thoughtful content. www.poetrysociety.org.uk and a bag full of books donated by generous publishers. The Poetry Society continues to support winners throughout their careers providing publication, performance and development opportunities, and access to a paid internship programme.

Since it began 26 years ago, the Award has kick-started the career of some of today's most exciting voices. Past winners include Jay Bernard, Sarah Howe, Helen Mort, Phoebe Power, Caroline Bird, Mukahang Limbu, Richard O'Brien and many more incredible poets. You can read last year's winning poems for inspiration in our new anthology, The Roots Belong to You.

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The Moth Short Story Prize is an international prize, open to anyone from anywhere in the world, as long as their story is original and previously unpublished. The winners are chosen by a single judge each year, who reads the stories anonymously.

This year's judge is Louise Kennedy. Louise's novel, Trespasses, won the McKitterick Prize, Debut of the Year at the British Book Awards, the John McGahern Prize and the An Post Irish Book Awards Novel of the Year, and was shortlisted for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize and longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction. She is also the author of a collection of short stories, The End of the World Is a Cul de Sac.

The Prize is open to anyone over 16, as long as the work is original and previously unpublished. There is a word limit of 3,000. The entry fee is €15 per story. Closing 30 June 2024.

The winning story will be printed as part of the summer fiction series in the Irish Times, while the 2nd and 3rd-prize-winning stories will be published in the Irish Times online.

PRIZES:
1st prize €3,000
2nd prize week-long writing retreat at Circle of Misse in France plus open travel stipend
3rd prize €1,000

With thanks to Circle of Misse for the superb second prize of a week-long writing retreat in France and an open travel stipend, enabling the 2nd prize winner to travel to France from anywhere in the world.

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