Posted on 11 March 2023

Submissions open:
1 April 2023

Submissions close:
30 June 2023

Who may enter
The competitions are open to everyone.

Short description

Competitions are an integral part of the Wells Festival of Literature. 

• Open Poetry Competition

Poems may be on any subject.
Poems must not exceed 35 lines of text in length.

• Short Story Competition

Stories may be on any subject.
Stories should be between 1,000 and 2,000 words in length.

• Book for Children Competition

The competition will judge writing for children, age 7 and up.  This includes writing for young adults.
You may submit either the first two chapters or first twenty pages, whichever is the shortest, together with the synopsis of up to two pages.

• Young Poets Competition

Entrants to the Young Poets Competition must be aged 16 to 22 inclusive.
Poems may be on any subject.
Poems must not exceed 35 lines of text in length.

All entries must be in English.

At the time of entry, the work submitted must not have been entered into any other competition and must not have been published in any format or location.

Entry fees
Open Poetry Competition – £6 per entry
Short Story Competition – £6 per entry
Book for Children Competition – £6 per entry
Young Poets Competition – £3 per entry (Competitors may submit only one entry)

Prizes

• Open Poetry Competition

First prize: £1000
Second prize: £500
Third prize: £250

• Short Story Competition

First prize: £750
Second prize: £300
Third prize: £200

• Book for Children Competition

First prize: £750
Second prize: £300
Third prize: £200

• Young Poets Competition

First prize: £150
Second prize: £75
Third prize: £50

Competition website
For further information visit the official competition website.