Competitions, submissions and other opportunities

Deadline: 4 July 2025

The Hubert Butler Essay Prize 2025

The Hubert Butler Essay Prize was founded in 2018 with the intention of encouraging the art of essay-writing with a European dimension, and expanding public interest in Butler’s work. The prompt for this year’s prize is: “‘Men must endure / Their going hence, even as their coming hither’ – King Lear.  Have we no more active rights over life, birth and death?”

Accepted forms: Essays, non-fiction.

Prize: 1st prize €1,500; two 2nd prizes of €500.

Entry fee: None.

More Information here:

Deadline: 9 July 2025

The John Broderick Residency 2025

Westmeath County Council Arts Office and the Arts Council are currently accepting applications from writers (in particular, writers of fiction) for the 2025 John Broderick Residency.

€16,500 will be granted to a selected professional writer for a 10-week period beginning in September 2025. An additional accommodation stipend of up to €1,200 will be made available where accommodation in Athlone is necessary. Writers must be able to demonstrate an ability to mentor emerging writers, young people and those interested in developing their writing skills in their application.

See the Westmeath Arts Office website for the full details on how to apply.

More Information here:

Deadline: 10 July 2025

Irish Country Magazine Short Story Competition

Irish Country Magazine is looking for readers and followers to send in works of fiction for its regular short story section. Stories must be at least 800 words but no longer than 1,000 words, and must revolve around the suggested theme – in the next issue, ‘Last Days of Summer’. Submissions are to be made to cmurrihy@irishcountrymagazine.ie with the words ‘Short Story Competition’ in the subject line. The winning story will be published inside the magazine, while the story that comes in second place will appear online.

Accepted forms: Short stories.

Contributor fee: None.

Entry fee: None.

More Information here:

Deadline: 14 July 2025

Dublin/Melbourne PenPals Network

Emerging Writers Festival and Dublin City of Literature are partnering on PenPals, a virtual meeting space. Ten writers from Melbourne and ten writers from Dublin will meet over four sessions in a guided virtual room during September, as part of Emerging Writers Festival.

The programme will be hosted by poet and editor Panda Wong, author of ‘angel wings dumpster fire’, co-editor of Best of Australian Poems 2023 and the curator of Darebin Arts’ inSITU writing programme in 2025. During this workshop series, writers will make new connections, discover more about each other’s Cities of Literature, share and workshop their writing together.

See Dublin City of Literature’s website for details on how to apply.

More Information here:

Deadline: 15 July 2025

Ragaire Literary Magazine

Ragaire is currently seeking submissions of visual art, poetry, short stories and creative non-fiction for possible inclusion in its fourth issue (or until the maximum number of submissions has been met). Submissions can be made via the Google form on Ragaire’s website.

Accepted forms: Visual art, poetry, short fiction, creative non-fiction.

Contributor fee: None.

Entry fee: None.

More Information here:

Deadline: 18 July 2025

John Hewitt International Summer School 2025 Bursaries

The John Hewitt Summer School is currently accepting applications for its annual school bursary scheme for aspiring and emerging writers. Full bursaries including accommodation, and half-bursaries without accommodation, are available to those from the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon (ABC) Council Area.

What does our bursary cover?

• Accommodation in Armagh for five nights (single en-suite)
• Creative writing course of your choice, with 6 hours tuition over 3 days
• Free tickets to all programme events (except Saturday workshops)
• Breakfast each morning, noon refreshments, and invitation to both dinner receptions
• Certificates of achievement

For any enquires about the bursary, contact festival@johnhewittsociety.org.

More Information here:

Deadline: 19 July 2025

CATZ: Community Action Tenants Zine

The Community Action Tenants Zine is currently open for submissions.

From CATU’s Instagram: ‘Do you have something to say about housing, home, or tenants’ rights? We’re looking for submissions! Deadline: 19th July at 5pm. We’re looking for writing, art, poetry, or reflections that speak to the realities and resistance of tenants and renters today.

Please send images or links of your work and your name, if you wish it to be stated to: catz@catuireland.org. In the case of text work we would appreciate 500 words max per person – we welcome pieces in any languages!’

Accepted forms: Prose, poetry, visual art.

Contributor fee: None.

Entry fee: None.

More Information here:

Deadline: 21 July 2025

The Waxed Lemon

The Waxed Lemon is currently seeking original short stories, flash fiction, poetry and visual art for inclusion in its next issue. Writers are invited to submit up to three poems, up to three pieces of visual art, or one short story/work of flash fiction. Irish- and English-language submissions are welcome. Selected contributors will receive a complimentary copy of the issue in which their work is published.

Accepted forms: Short fiction, flash fiction, poetry, visual art.

Contributor fee: None.

Entry fee: None.

More Information here:

Deadline: 31 July to 30 Nov 2025

Anthology Creative Competitions 2025

Six new writing competitions are currently open for submissions at Anthology, with deadlines ranging from 31 July to 30 November 2025. Check out each one individually on their website. Prizes range from €150 to €1,000 with entry fees starting at €12.

• Short Story Competition: 1st prize €1,000. Entry fee €18. Deadline 31 July 2025.
• Personal Memoir Competition: 1st prize €500. Entry fee €15. Deadline 31 August 2025.
• Flash Fiction Competition: 1st prize €300. Entry fee €12. Deadline 30 September 2025.
• Nature Writing Competition: 1st prize €300. Entry fee €15. Deadline 30 September 2025.
• Poetry Competition: 1st prize €1,000. Entry fee €18. Deadline 31 October 2025.
• Travel Writing Competition: 1st prize €1,000. Entry fee €12. Deadline 30 November 2025.

See website for full details on how to submit.

More Information here:

Deadline: 31 July 2025

Fiction Factory Poetry Competition 2025

Fiction Factory is currently seeking poems (max. 40 lines in length) for its annual poetry competition. Winning entries will be published on the Fiction Factory website, as well as in a planned anthology (to be published at a later date). The overall winner will receive £100, feedback on five poems, and an hour-long mentoring session. Entries should be formatted as a Microsoft Word document and can be submitted directly via the Fiction Factory’s email address (words@fiction-factory.biz).

Accepted forms: Poetry.

Prize: 1st place £100.

Entry fee: £5 (£9 for 2 poems, £12 for 3).

More Information here:

Deadline: 31 July 2025

The Hope Prize 2025

The Hope Prize is an international writing competition open to writers aged 18 and over living anywhere in the world. Stories should align with the core themes of hope, courage, and resilience, as personally experienced or imagined by you, the writer. The competition is limited to prose stories only – either fiction or narrative nonfiction (including memoir). It does not cater to poetry, essays, or academic writing.

Accepted forms: Short stories/narrative non-fiction.

Prize: 1st prize $10,000 AUD; 2nd prize $2,000 AUD; 3rd prize $1,000 AUD. All highly-commended and winning entries will be will be published in an anthology by Simon & Schuster Australia.

Entry fee: $20 AUD (30 June); $30 AUD (until 31 July).

More Information here:

Deadline: 31 July 2025

The Seán Ó Faoláin International Short Story Competition 2025

The Seán Ó Faoláin International Short Story Competition is now open for entries. This year’s competition will be judged by 2025 Frank O’Connor Fellow Laura Jean McKay, is open to original, unpublished and unbroadcast short stories in the English language of 3,000 words or fewer. See Munster Literature Centre’s website for full details.

Accepted forms: Short stories.

Prize: 1st prize €2,000.

Entry fee: €19.

More Information here:

Deadline: 31 July 2025

Wild Atlantic Words Short Story Competition 2025

The Wild Atlantic Words Festival is currently seeking submissions of original short stories for its annual short story competition – this year, to be judged by award-winning novelist Eimear McBride. Stories can run up to 3,000 words in length and should be submitted as a .pdf via the Wild Atlantic Words website.

Accepted forms: Short stories.

Prize: 1st prize €500; 2nd prize €250.

Entry fee: €10.

More Information here:

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 an opportunity for Irish Children’s books artists and illustrators to avail of a week-long residency, 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 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
• The additional  bursaries are on offer to support mid-career artists

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 the 2026 edition of 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: 28 August 2025

The 2026 V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize

The Royal Society of Literature is currently seeking entries of original, previously unpublished stories between 2,000 and 4,000 words in length for its 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 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

Fool for Poetry International Chapbook Competition 2025

Munster Literature Centre is currently seeking submissions of original, 16- to 24-page poetry chapbooks for its annual chapbook competition. Each year, two poets are selected as the winners of the competition: one who is yet to have a solo collection (full-length or chapbook) published, and another who may have previously 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

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: 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: 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 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: 31 October 2025

National Poetry Competition 2025

The National Poetry Competition, run by the Poetry Society since 1978, is one of the world’s most prestigious prizes for a single unpublished poem. The Poetry Society is based in the UK, but the competition is open to poets aged 18+ all around the world. This year’s judging panel includes Denise Saul, Ian Duhig and Susannah Dickey.

All poems must have a title and must not exceed 40 lines in length. The top three winners, in addition to receiving prize money, will have their winning poems published in The Poetry Society’s quarterly journal, The Poetry Review.

Accepted forms: Poetry.

Prize: 1st place £5,000; 2nd place £3,000; 3rd place £2,000; commendations £500.

Entry fee: £8 (all subsequent poems £6).

More Information here:

Deadline: Ongoing

Guernica: A Magazine of Global Arts & Politics

Founded online in 2004, Guernica is an award-winning 501(c)3 non-profit magazine focused on the intersection of arts and politics. A home for incisive ideas and necessary questions, Guernica publish memoir, reporting, interviews, commentary, poetry, fiction, and multimedia journalism exploring identity, conflict, culture, justice, science, and beyond. They offer honoraria of $50 for poetry, $100 for original essays, and $150 for original fiction and for reportage/journalism.

More Information here:

Deadline: Ongoing

PN Review

PN Review considers submissions in hard copy form only (unless you are an individual subscriber to the magazine, in which case electronic submissions, word files rather than PDFs, will be considered). Writers wishing to send work should familiarise themselves with PN Review. Submissions should generally not exceed fifteen double-spaced pages of work (prose) or four poems/five pages (verse in English or translation). Copies of the original texts should accompany translations where possible. We discourage simultaneous submissions. Writers wishing to propose projects should send a synopsis and covering letter, with sample pages, having first ascertained from the website that the kind of proposal is suitable for PN Review.

We publish no short stories, children’s prose/poetry and very little non-poetry related work (academic, biography etc.) at the current time. We are not considering fiction in English or in translation at this time.

More Information here:

Deadline: Ongoing

The Poetry Review

The Poetry Review, founded in 1912, is the magazine of the Poetry Society, UK, and has a long-standing policy of publishing the very best work by new, up and coming poets, and established poets. All submissions are read by the editor and considered on an equal basis. Unfortunately, due to the volume of submissions we receive, we cannot offer any individual criticism. Our aim is to accept or reject work within three months – but please read, and follow, the submission guidelines below, in order to facilitate our response.

More Information here:

Deadline: Ongoing

The Dublin Review

The Dublin Review welcomes submissions of fiction and non-fiction previously unpublished in the English language. We do not accept poetry submissions. We especially encourage submissions from members of groups traditionally underrepresented in literary magazines and other cultural forums.

More Information here: