This writing contest has big prizes, but it also has a deadline coming up soon: Friday 30th August 2013
Under the direction of Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, the Manchester Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University is launching the 2013 Manchester Poetry and Fiction Prizes – major international literary competitions, celebrating excellence in creative writing, and open to anyone aged 16 or over (with no upper age limit).
The Manchester Writing Competition began in 2008, funded in the first instance by the University’s innovative Enterprise Fellowship scheme. The project was designed to attract the best new writing from around the world, and to establish Manchester as the focal point for a major literary award. Since it began, the Competition has awarded more than £50,000 to its winners.
Initially, the Competition alternated annually between Poetry and Fiction but, from 2013, both will be running every year, with £10,000* awarded to the writer of the best portfolio of poetry, and another £10,000* to the writer of the best short story.
The entry fee for the poetry prize is £17. All entrants are asked to submit a portfolio of three-to-five poems (total maximum combined length: 120 lines). The poems can be on any subject, and in any style, but must be new work, not previously published or submitted for consideration elsewhere during this competition.
The fiction entry fee also is £17. All entrants are asked to submit a story of up to 2,500 words in length. The story can be on any subject, and in any style, but must be fiction and new work, not previously published or submitted for consideration elsewhere during this competition.
Normally I'd consider those entry fees as high, but considering the prize in each category is £10,000, it seems reasonable if you feel like having a go.
To find out more about their courses, events and competitions:
- visit the Manchester Writing School website or
- contact James Draper on: +44 (0) 161 247 1787; [email protected].
* Terms and conditions apply – see the pages for each Prize for full details.
