Competitions and submissions
The latest writing competitions and submissions windows for writers.
October 15th, 2026
The Paul Cave Prize for Literature
Established in 2023 by Tim Saunders Publications, The Paul Cave Prize for Literature is an excellent platform for writers and poets to get their work read by a professional editor and published in a book.
This award celebrates the English language. Winners receive feedback, cash prizes and copies of the book featuring their work.
More Information here:
tsaunderspubs.weebly.comOctober 18, 2026
London Magazine Short Story Prize
The London Magazine Short Story Prize 2026 is now open for entries.
First Prize: £1000
Second Prize: £600
Third Prize: £400
The winning stories will be published in future issues of The London Magazine. Winners will also receive cash prizes and be celebrated at a prize-giving ceremony at the end of the year.
Camilla Grudova, Tim MacGabhann and Ayşegϋl Savaş will be this year’s judges for the prize.
More Information here:
thelondonmagazine.orgOctober 20th, 2026
Porter House Review: Call for Submissions
Open for poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and visual art.
More Information here:
porterhousereview.orgOctober 23rd, 2026
Creative Writing Ink Short Story Competition
Creative Writing Ink Short Story Competition is now open for submissions. The deadline for receipt of all entries is October 23rd, 2026, at 5 pm (GMT)
Entries will only be accepted through Subfolio.
Entries can be on any subject, theme or genre.
Entry fee: £12 per entry. You can submit multiple entries as long as each entry is paid for individually and includes a separate entry form.
Maximum word count is 3,000 words.
More Information here:
creativewriting.ieOctober 23rd, 2026
Free Flash Fiction Competition 36
Submit a flash fiction piece of between 100 and 300 words, on any theme.
1 Winner will receive £200.00 and publication
2 Highly Commended will receive £100.00 and publication
3 Shortlisted will receive £80.00 and publication
Judge: Emma Phillips
More Information here:
freeflashfiction.comOctober 28th, 2026
28th Francis Ledwidge Poetry Award 2026
Entries to this prize must not exceed 40 lines of poetry. Submissions are welcome in both Irish and English. The winner will be invited to read at the annual Francis Ledwidge Commemoration at the National War Memorial Gardens in July 2027.
More Information here:
www.poetryireland.ieNovember 1, 2026
The Scribble Annual Short Story Competition
2026 Theme: ‘A SLICE OF LUCK’. Maximum length: 3000 words. Prizes: £100.00; £50.00; £25.00. Entry fee: £5.00. Free unlimited entries for annual subscribers. The winning entry will be published in the winter 2026 edition of Scribble, published during December.
More Information here:
www.parkpublications.co.ukNovember 2nd, 2026
Stony Thursday Poetry Book: Call for Submissions
Poets are encouraged to take this opportunity to become part of a publication with a proud history of championing poetry and literary excellence for more than fifty years.
The Stony Thursday Poetry Book welcomes new voices and fresh perspectives alongside established poets, creating a collection that reflects the diversity and vitality of contemporary poetry today.
More Information here:
www.limerick.ieNovember 16th, 2026
Clonegal Kildavin Veteran Players Group: Short Story Competition
Carlow-based Clonegal Kildavin Veteran Players Group are now open for short story submissions for their inaugural competition.
Stories should be between 1000-2500 words, and first prize is €200. The top 10 entries will be published.
Please send submissions to veteranplayersgroup@gmail.com
December 1st, 2026
The Folklore of Ireland Society: Call for Papers
The Society’s centenary offers an occasion to commemorate the documentation, analysis, and representation of Irish folklore by exploring the contributions and consequences of its establishment. Equally, it invites us to look toward the present and future of Irish folklore studies, considering their national and international context and significance.
The conference welcomes proposals for papers on any aspect of Irish folklore collection, study, and scholarship in the past and present, national and international contexts.
Papers may address, but are by no means limited to, the following themes:
· Institutions, individuals, and the structures of Irish folklore scholarship.
· A century of Béaloideas: the journal as tradition.
· Networks and crossings: Irish folklore studies in international perspective.
· Collection, mediation, and meaning.
· Voice, silence, and representation.
· Tradition, community, and the cultural imagination.
· Creativity and tradition.
Proposals should consist of a title and an abstract of no more than 300 words, accompanied by a brief biographical note indicating the proposer’s name, institutional affiliation (if any), and relevant research background and interests.
More Information here:
bealoideas.ieOngoing
The Scribble Quarterly Short Story Competitions
Short stories on any subject. Max. 3000 words. Entry fee £5.00. Prizes of £75.00, £25.00, and £15.00 for the best three stories in each issue of Scribble, as chosen by the readers. Email entries to submissions@btinternet.com.
More Information here:
www.parkpublications.co.ukDeadline: Ongoing
The Dublin Review
The Dublin Review welcomes submissions of fiction and non-fiction previously unpublished in the English language. They do not accept poetry submissions. They 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 publishes 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 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. The editors 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.
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.
