Competitions, submissions and other opportunities
The latest writing competitions and submissions windows for writers.
Deadline: 8 September 2025
Red Line Book Festival Poetry Competition 2025
Submissions for the 2025 Red Line Book Festival Poetry Competition are now open. Writers are invited to submit up to two poems (max. 40 lines) on any subject or theme. The shortlist will be announced on Wednesday October 1st 2025, with the winner announced during this year’s Red Line Book Festival, which runs from October 13th to 19th 2025.
Accepted forms: Poetry.
Prize: 1st prize €300, 2nd prize €200, 3rd place €100.
Entry fee: None.
More Information here:
www.sdcc.ieDeadline: 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:
docs.google.comDeadline: 13 September 2025
Laois Pride Festival Writing Competition 2025 (in memory of Joe Drennan)
Applications are now open for Laois Pride Festival’s annual writing competition, founded in honor of Joe Drennan. This year’s theme is ‘The Most Impactful Relationship in My Life’. Entrants are invited to submit an essay or short story of no more than 1,000 words, or a poem of no more than 14 lines. Entries can be emailed to community@laoispride.com or posted to Youth Work Ireland Laois, JFL House, unit D, James Fintan Lalor Avenue, Portlaoise marked ‘Laois Pride Writing Competition’. Writers are reminded to include their contact details in their application.
The winner will be selected by a panel of judges, and will be presented an award at the Laois Pride Community Day on September 13th at the Portlaoise School of Music.
Accepted forms: Essays, short stories, poetry.
Prize: Reading at the Portlaosie School of Music; publication in the Laois Nationalist.
Entry fee: None.
More Information here:
www.instagram.comDeadline: 15 September 2025
Abridged 0 – 109: Never a Rose
Abridged is seeking new poetry and/or works of visual art 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:
www.abridged.zoneDeadline: 15 September 2025
Munster Literature Centre Mentorships 2025
Applications are now open for Munster Literature Centre’s 2025 mentorship series. Four mentorships are available across three different categories: fiction (taught by Billy O’Callaghan), memoir (taught by David McLoghlin) and poetry (taught by Patrick Cotter/Afric McGlinchey). Candidates can apply to a maximum of two mentors, but no successful candidate will receive more than one mentorship. Mentorships will consist of four face-to-face, two-hour sessions. Unlike in previous years, this year, past recipients of Munster Literature Centre mentorships can apply again.
See Munster Literature Centre’s website for full details.
More Information here:
munsterlit.ieDeadline: 15 September 2025
Sans. PRESS: No Gods No Masters
Sans. PRESS is currently seeking submissions of original short stories (max. 5,000 words) for their next anthology, titled No Gods, No Masters. The editors are looking for stories inspired by the title and/or the cover artwork by Cora Ronron (see sanspress.com). Unlike with previous iterations, this call will be used to select stories for both issue #10 (No Gods, No Masters) and the following issue, #11. Writers will be issued a fee of €200.
More Information here:
www.sanspress.comDeadline: 19 September 2025
Slam Éigse Michael Hartnett 2025
Éigse Michael Hartnett is an established arts and literary festival, held annually in Newcastle West, Co. Limerick. This year, the festival is reinstating one of its most vibrant and much-loved events – the Poetry Slam. To be in with a chance of performing, writers are invited to submit one poem, via the festival website or by email, before 19 September. There is no restriction on style or theme.
Accepted forms: Poetry.
Prize: 1st place €200; two runners-up €50.
Entry fee: None.
More Information here:
eigsemichaelhartnett.ieDeadline: 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:
treatiedspaces.comDeadline: 29 September 2025
The London Magazine Short Story Prize 2025
Applications are now open for The London Magazine’s annual short story competition – this year to be judged by Gurnaik Johal, Ben Pester and Erika Price. Stories can run up to 4,000 words, and can focus on any subject or theme. In addition to appearing in a future issue of The London Magazine, each winner will receive a cash prize, and will be celebrated as part of a prize-giving ceremony at the end of the year.
Accepted forms: Short stories.
Prize: 1st prize £750; 2nd prize £450; 3rd prize £300.
Entry fee: £12 (£6 each subsequent entry).
More Information here:
thelondonmagazine.orgDeadline: 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:
treatiedspaces.comOngoing from 29 September until 24 November 2025
Off the Scéal: Multilingual Open Mic Night
Off The Scéal is a new multilingual open mic night co-curated by Daniel Flynn and Ola Majekodunmi and funded by Creative Ireland and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. It is aimed at poets, musicians, storytellers and comedians, and will take place on six occasions from September to November at the DLR Lexicon Studio. All nationalities and languages are welcome. Attendees must be 18+.
The dates for the six events are: 29 September, 13 October, 20 October, 3 November, 10 November, 24 November. For further information please contact Ola Majekodunmi at wura-ola@hotmail.com and/or Daniel Flynn at danflynn94@gmail.com.
More Information here:
www.creativeireland.gov.ieDeadline: 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:
creativewritingink.co.ukDeadline: 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 prize – 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:
www.themothmagazine.comDeadline: 30 September 2025
New Voices Short Film Awards 2026
Screen Wexford, in partnership with Wexford County Council Arts Office, is currently seeking applications for the New Voices Short Film Awards 2026. This biannual film award is valued at €20,000 and is designed to provide funding and mentorship support to emerging filmmakers based in the County Wexford region.
In 2026, two short films will be awarded funding of €10,000 each. This will be broken into €7,000 cash and €3,000 for film equipment hire from our partner company. Further, both teams will receive mentorship from leading film industry professionals as well as ongoing support from Screen Wexford.
See Screen Wexford’s website for full details.
More Information here:
screenwexford.comDeadline: 30 September 2025
The Southword Editor’s Poetry Award Competition
Munster Literature Centre is currently seeking submissions of original, unpublished poems (three per author) for the 2025 Southword Editor’s Poetry Award Competition. This year, the competition will be judged by the current Southword poetry editor, Patrick Cotter. See the Munster Literature Centre’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:
munsterlit.ieDeadline: 13 October 2025
The Peter Porter Poetry Prize 2026
Applications for the 2026 Peter Porter Poetry Prize are now open. Run by the Australian Book Review, the prize – worth a total of AUD$10,000 – is open to all living poets writing in English. The five shortlisted poems will be published in the January–February 2026 issue of ABR and the winner will be announced at a ceremony later that month. This year’s judges are Judith Bishop, Felicity Plunkett, and Anders Villani.
Accepted forms: Poetry.
Prize: 1st place AUD$6,000; four shortlisted writers AUS$1,000.
Entry fee: AUD$30 (includes four-month digital subscription to the ARB).
More Information here:
www.australianbookreview.com.auDeadline: 15 October 2025
Poetry Ireland Review Issue #147
Poetry Ireland Review is currently seeking submissions for Issue #147, guest-edited by Theo Dorgan. Writers are invited to submit up to four poems (compiled in the one document) alongside a cover note detailing any relevant publication credits to date. See Poetry Ireland’s website for full details.
Accepted forms: Poetry.
Contributor fee:€50 minimum.
Entry fee: None.
More Information here:
www.poetryireland.ieDeadline: 31 October 2025
Ennis Book Club Festival Short Story Competition 2026
Ennis Book Club Festival is currently seeking submissions of original short stories (max. 3,000 words) for its annual short story competition. This year, Wendy Erskine (author of Sweet Home, Dance Move and The Benefactors) will act as judge. The winning entry will be announced at Ennis Book Club Festival, held from March 6th to 8th 2026, where it will also be read at one of the events.
Accepted forms: Short stories.
Prize: 1st prize €750; 2nd prize €400.
Entry fee: €20.
More Information here:
ennisbookclubfestival.comDeadline: 31 October 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. Though there is no restriction on subject matter or theme, stories that align with the core themes of hope, courage and resilience, as personally experienced or imagined by the writer, will be prioritised. The competition is limited to prose pieces only – i.e. fiction or narrative non-fiction (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 winning and highly-commended entries will be will be featured in an anthology published by Simon & Schuster Australia.
Entry fee: $30 AUD.
More Information here:
www.thehopeprize.comDeadline: 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. Though the Poetry Society is based in the UK, 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:
npc.poetrysociety.org.ukDeadline: 17 November 2025
Historical Novel Society First Chapters Competition 2026
The Historical Novel Society is currently seeking submissions of original historical fiction for the 2026 First Chapters Competition – an annual competition aiming to recognise and promote excellence in the storytelling and craft of historical fiction and its sub-genres. Writers are invited to submit the opening (max. 3,000 words) and a one-page synopsis of a full-length historical novel that has not previously been published in any form. See the HNS website for full details.
Accepted forms: Historical fiction.
Prize: Overall winner £1,000 and a trophy; ten category winners €500 and a free HNS 2026 conference ticket.
Entry fee: £25 for HNS members and £35 for non-members.
More Information here:
hns2026.comDeadline: 30 November 2025
Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Competition 2025
Munster Literature Centre is currently accepting submissions of original, unpublished poems (max. 40 lines) for the 2025 Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Competition. Entries can focus on any subject or theme and can come from anywhere in the world. Three overall winners will be selected, in addition to ten shortlisted writers who will receive €50 and have their work featured in an edition of Southword.
Accepted forms: Poetry.
Prize: 1st prize €2,000, a reading at the Cork International Poetry Festival (with a four-night hotel stay and full board) and publication in Southword; 2nd prize €500 and publication in Southword; 3rd prize €250 and publication in Southword.
Entry fee: €7 per poem or €30 for a batch of five.
More Information here:
munsterlit.ieDeadline: 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:
thedublinreview.comDeadline: 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:
www.guernicamag.comDeadline: Ongoing
The London Magazine
The London Magazine (est. 1732) is now accepting pitches for essays, reviews and interviews on an ongoing basis. This from the editors: ‘We’re looking for clear, engaging writing that connects literature to wider culture or brings fresh perspectives to books, art and ideas. Please read our submission guidelines before sending pitches to pitches@thelondonmagazine.org.’
More Information here:
thelondonmagazine.orgDeadline: 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:
www.pnreview.co.ukDeadline: 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.
