11 August, 2025
Opportunities for Writers: August 2025
Our monthly list of submission windows, competitions, bursaries, residencies and general literary opportunities is now live. This list offers information on opportunities with August/September deadlines. For information on other upcoming opportunities, see our competitions, submissions and opportunities and bursaries and funding pages.
Irish Writers Centre Opportunities
DEADLINE: 14 SEPTEMBER 2025
International Debut Novel Competition 2025
The International Debut Novel Competition (previously the Novel Fair) is an annual literary competition that offers first-time novelists the chance to pitch their work to leading agents and publishers. This year, writers are invited to submit 5,000 words of their manuscript (plus a 500-word synopsis) by 14 September to be in with a chance of attending the highly coveted Pitch Days in November 2025.
More information here.
Opportunities
DEADLINE: 15 AUGUST 2025
Tyrone Guthrie Centre Bursary Awards for Children’s Books Artists in 2025
Children’s Books Ireland and the Tyrone Guthrie Centre are pleased to announce a week-long residency for Irish children’s book artists and illustrators, to take place between 3rd and 10th November and 17th and 24th November 2025.
- One bursary is on offer to support an upcoming, unpublished, aspiring Irish children’s book author.
- One bursary is on offer to support an emerging artist, published but in their early career.
- One bursary is on offer to support a children’s artist published in the Irish language, at any stage in their career.
- Additional bursaries are on offer to support mid-career artists.
More information here.
DEADLINE: 15 AUGUST 2025
Waterford Poetry Prize 2025
Waterford City & Council Arts Office is currently seeking submissions for the 2025 Waterford Poetry Prize. All entries must be typed and in the English language. A line limit of 40 lines applies. Poet Jessica Traynor will act as the judge of this year’s competition.
Accepted forms: Poetry.
Prize: 1st place €500 plus attendance at a designated writing course under the auspices of the Molly Keane Writers Retreat, Ardmore in 2026; 2nd place €400; 3rd place €300.
Entry fee: None.
More information here.
DEADLINE: 15 AUGUST 2025
Yale Drama Series for Emerging Playwrights 2026
The Yale Drama Series is currently seeking submissions of original, unpublished plays for its annual playwriting competition. The winner of the competition will be awarded the David Charles Horn Prize of $10,000; receive publication of their manuscript by Yale University Press; and receive a staged reading at the Schwarzman Center at Yale University.
The winning play will be selected by the series’ current judge, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. See the Yale University Press website for full details on page count and formatting.
Accepted forms: Plays.
Entry fee: None.
More information here.
DEADLINE: 20 AUGUST 2025
Atelier Samuel Beckett: Irish Writer and French Translator in Residence 2025
The Atelier Samuel Beckett is a dedicated artist residency in France founded by Judy Hegarty Lovett and Conor Lovett of the Gare St. Lazare Players – a world-renowned theatre company known for their stage interpretations of Beckett’s work. In an exciting new Franco-Irish collaboration, the Atelier Samuel Beckett invites an Irish writer and a French translator to apply for a four-week funded residency at the Atelier to consider Beckett’s legacy in relation to their own practice.
The residency will take place from October 13 – November 7 2025 and will include:
- Return travel from Ireland to France
- Living expenses, and self-catering
- Accommodation in a two-story house with two bedrooms and a common kitchen, living room and study with an extensive library relating to Samuel Beckett.
For details on eligibity and instructions on how to apply, see Literature Ireland’s website.
More information here.
DEADLINE: 20 AUGUST 2025
The Frances Browne Poetry Competition 2025
The Frances Browne Poetry Competition was founded in 2018 in honour of Frances Browne, ‘The Blind Poetess of Ulster’. It is unique among poetry competitions in Ireland in its tri-lingual approach.
Writers can enter in any of the following categories – English, Irish or Ulster Scots languages – with prizes available in each. An additional prize will be given out to a local poet in each of the three categories (local here meaning the East Donegal area, where the Frances Browne Literary Festival is based).
See the festival’s website for full details.
Accepted forms: Poems in English, Irish and Ulster Scots languages.
Prizes: 1st prize €250, 2nd prize €100, 3rd prize €50 in each category; €100 to one local writer in each category.
Entry fee: €5 per poem.
More information here.
DEADLINE: 20 AUGUST 2025
Knocklyon Literary Festival Writing Competition
Submissions are now open for the Knocklyon Literary Festival Writing Competition. Writers can apply in either one of two categories – fiction (max. 500 words) or poetry (max. 30 lines) – and can enter up to three pieces. Shortlisted authors will be notified via email and invited to the award ceremony on the 17th September. See Knocklyon Literary Festival’s website for full details.
Accepted forms: Short stories and poems.
Prize: A specially inscribed trophy.
Entry fee: €5 per submission (max three).
More information here.
DEADLINE: 23 AUGUST 2025
FFF (Free Flash Fiction) Competition Twenty-Nine
Free Flash Fiction is currently seeking submissions of original short stories (100 to 300 words) for its twenty-ninth flash fiction competition. See the FFF website for full details.
Accepted forms: Flash fiction.
Prize: 1st place £150; two highly commented writers £70; three shortlisted writers £60.
Entry fee: £3.95 per entry.
More information here.
DEADLINE: 28 AUGUST 2025
The 2026 V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize
The Royal Society of Literature is currently seeking entries of original, unpublished stories between 2,000 and 4,000 words in length for the annual V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize. The competition, now in its 25th year, will be judged by writers Kirsty Gunn, Anjali Joseph, and Tom Vowler. For full details see the RSL’s website.
Accepted forms: Short stories.
Prize: £1,000 and publication in the RSL Review.
Entry fee: £8 per entry (fifty free places for low-income writers).
More information here.
DEADLINE: 29 AUGUST 2025
Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter Literary Festival 2025 Non-Fiction Competition
The Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter Literary Festival is currently seeking submissions of original non-fiction pieces for its annual writing competition. Entries can run up to 400 words in length (excluding title) and can focus on any subject or theme. Writers are instructed to submit their entries as a Microsoft Word doc to lkcqfest@gmail.com. All shortlisted entrants will be expected to read at the Prize Winners’ Evening in October 2025.
Accepted forms: Non-fiction.
Prize: 1st place €150; runners-up €100.
Entry fee: None.
More information here.
DEADLINE: 31 AUGUST 2025
Edinburgh Flash Fiction Award 2025
Applications are now open for Britain’s biggest flash fiction prize, the Edinburgh Flash Fiction Award. Stories can run up to 250 words in length (excluding title) and can focus on any subject or theme. In addition to the various prizes on offer, at least twenty of the short-listed stories will be offered publication in a future anthology by the Scottish Arts Trust.
Applications are also open for the 2025 Edinburgh True Flash Fiction Award. This award, which carries a first prize of £500, celebrates memoirs, creative non-fiction, and auto-fiction. Publication will be offered to authors of the top five stories in the Edinburgh Anthology.
Accepted forms: Flash fiction.
Prize: 1st prize £2,000; 2nd prize £500; 3rd prize £250; five commendations £100 each.
Entry fee: £10 per story.
More information here.
DEADLINE: 31 AUGUST 2025
Fool for Poetry International Chapbook Competition 2025
Munster Literature Centre is currently seeking submissions of 16- to 24-page poetry chapbooks for its annual chapbook competition. Two winners will be selected: one who has yet to publish a solo collection (full-length or chapbook), and one who has already published a collection. The winning chapbooks will be published by Southword Editions and launched at the Cork International Poetry Festival. Up to 25 other entrants will be publicly listed as “highly commended”.
Accepted forms: Poetry chapbooks.
Prize: 1st place €1,000 and chapbook publication; 2nd prize €500 and chapbook publication.
Entry fee: €25 per manuscript
More information here.
DEADLINE: 31 AUGUST 2025
Skerries Theatre Group Short Cuts Festival 2025
Skerries Theatre Group are currently seeking submissions of original 10-minute plays for their annual Short Cuts Festival. Specifically, the group is looking for ‘bold voices, fresh ideas and unforgettable moments’. Each play should ideally feature a small cast and should be presentable using a basic set. Selected plays will feature in the Festival in April 2026. Submissions can be emailed to elenahutchens@hotmail.com.
Accepted forms: Short plays.
Contributor fee: None.
Entry fee: None.
More information here.
DEADLINE: 31 AUGUST 2025
503Five Writer Residency Scheme
Applications for Theatre503’s 2026-27 writer’s residency are now open.
The 503Five is an 18-month residency offering five writers the opportunity to develop work and find their creative home at London’s Theatre503. The scheme is designed for writers who have developed their craft to a high standard but are not yet professionally produced. The residency offers:
- £2,000 seed commission
- Peer to peer support
- A series of masterclass workshops
- Industry connections
- Dramaturgical support
- Opportunities for R&D and/or rehearsed readings
The 503Five residency has launched the career of some of the UK’s most successful writers, including Joel Tan, Beth Steel, Jon Brittain, Vinay Patel and Yasmin Joseph. Full details can be found on Theatre503’s website.
More information here.
DEADLINE: 31 AUGUST 2025
Wild Atlantic Writing Awards (WAWA) 11th Edition
Wild Atlantic Writing Awards has announced that its upcoming competition will revolve around the theme of ‘secrets’.
From the WAWA website: ‘Secrets mean many things to many people but one thing is certain, they are hard to keep and always can have intriguing consequences. Benjamin Franklin summed it up best when he said, “Three people may keep a secret, but only if two of them are dead.”‘
Accepted forms: Flash fiction and creative non-fiction (max. 500 words).
Prize: Winners in each category will receive €500, or €1,000 off any one of WAWA’s writing retreats in 2025 or 2026.
Entry fee: €10.
More information here.
DEADLINE: 5 SEPTEMBER 2025
Kavanagh Fellowship 2025
The Trustees of the Estate of Katherine Kavanagh intend to offer the Patrick and Katherine Kavanagh Fellowship (valued at €8,000) again in 2025. The fellowship is intended specifically for Irish poets in their middle years. In order to be eligible, poets must have published a substantial body of work and should be able to show that they are in particular need of assistance.
Poets who think they may be eligible are advised to request further information on the conditions of application for the fellowship by writing to the Trustees at 7 Derrygreenagh Park, Rochfortbridge, Co Westmeath N91 X8W6, or by email to contact@patrickkavanaghtrust.ie.
Applicants will be asked to supply documentary evidence of age, financial need and Irish citizenship. They will also be asked to supply copies of publications. There is no application form.
More information here.
DEADLINE: 10 SEPTEMBER 2025
2025 Taiwan-Ireland Poetry Translation Competition
Founded in 2021 by the National Museum of Taiwan Literature, the Centre for Literary and Cultural Translation at Trinity College Dublin and the Taipei Representative Office in Ireland, the Taiwan-Ireland Poetry Translation Competition invites translators from around the world to translate Taiwan poetry into English, fostering lively cross-cultural dialogue and inspiring a wealth of interpretive creativity.
This year’s featured poem is ‘Like a Song — To 107-year-old Mumu on her journey’ (如歌——致107歲mumu遠行) by Indigenous Taiwan poet and academic Dong Shu-Ming (董恕明). A moving tribute to her grandmother’s 107-year life, the poem weaves together Mandarin, English, Puyuma and traditional melodies, echoing the century-long story of the Puyuma people and showcasing the rich linguistic and cultural depth of Taiwan Indigenous literature.
For full details on how to apply, see the application form on Google Forms.
More information here.
DEADLINE: 15 SEPTEMBER 2025
Abridged 0 – 109: Never a Rose
Abridged is seeking poetry and/or artworks that explore the fear of the new and the unknown for its next issue. Writers are invited to send up to three poems and/or three images to abridged@ymail.com in Word (or similar), or if unusually formatted, in PDF format. Writers should also send a short bio. Artworks should be 300dpi or above, or as high-res as possible, and preferably formatted in an A5 portrait shape.
This issue of Abridged is for Irish poets or poets of any nationality based in the island of Ireland. Artworks can be from anywhere.
Accepted forms: Poetry and visual art.
Contributor fee: None.
Entry fee: None.
More information here.
DEADLINE: 29 SEPTEMBER 2025
Clandeboye Global Identities Creative Residency in collaboration with ArtsEkta
Artists and writers are invited to apply for a six-week Creative Residency at the historic house estate of Clandeboye, County Down.
The Creative-in-Residence will spend six weeks in May-June 2026, collaborating with communities who do not relate to or visit Clandeboye, to develop new work focusing on global interconnections and complex identities associated with the estate. The value of the residency is £10,000.
The Creative Residency is part of the Historic Houses Global Crossroads project. See website for details on how to apply.
More information here.
DEADLINE: 29 SEPTEMBER 2025
Mount Stewart Global Plant Networks Creative Residency
The National Trust and the Historic Houses Global Crossroads project are delighted to announce the Mount Stewart Global Plant Networks Creative Residency.
This Creative Residency will develop new work inspired by the global histories of the plants, trees and shrubberies that make Mount Stewart famous. Developed by Lady Edith Londonderry following the First World War, the gardens are home to flora from across Asia, Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, which have thrived within Mount Stewart’s sub-tropical local climate.
Applications are open to artists working in any medium. The appointed creative resident will engage in a six-week Creative residency from May to June 2026 based at Mount Stewart, County Down.
See website for details on how to apply.
More information here.
DEADLINE: 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
Creative Writing Ink Short Story Competition 2025
Creative Ink is currently seeking submissions of original short stories (max. 3,000 words) for its annual short story competition. Entries can focus on any theme, subject or genre, and can be entered via Creative Ink’s Submittable page. Writers are allowed to submit multiple entries as long as each entry is paid for individually and includes a separate entry form.
Accepted forms: Short stories.
Prize: 1st prize £1000, a free creative writing course of the winner’s choice, and publication on Creative Ink’s website; runners-up £200 each and publication on Creative Ink’s website.
Entry fee: £12.
More information here.
DEADLINE: 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
The Moth Nature Writing Prize 2025
The Moth Nature Writing Prize is an annual award that celebrates writing that combines exceptional literary merit with an exploration of the writers’ relationship with the natural world. The 2026 – which is now open for submissions – will be be judged by award-winning writer and naturalist Mark Cocker. See the Moth’s website for details on how to submit.
Accepted forms: Prose and poetry.
Prize: €1,000 and a week at the Moth Retreat; 2nd prize €500; 3rd prize €250.
Entry fee: €15.
More information here.
DEADLINE: 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
The Southword Editor’s Poetry Award Competition
Munster Literature Centre is currently seeking submissions of original poems (three per author) for the 2025 Southword Editor’s Poetry Award Competition. This year, the competition will be judged by the current poetry editor of Southword, Patrick Cotter. See MLC’s website for full details.
Accepted forms: Poetry.
Prize: €1,000, plus publication in Southword.
Entry fee: €24 (includes a one-year, postage-free subscription to Southword).
More information here.
Please get in touch with the team at info@irishwriterscentre.ie if your organisation/journal has a competition, submission, residency, bursary or funding opportunity for writers that you would like us to include in our monthly round-up blog post.
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