Last modified:27th November 2006
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Society Prizes and Awards


Various Literary Societies belonging to the Alliance offer awards. I will add these to the page as they come to my notice, so if you are interested please bookmark this page!

National poetry Competition 2006 Judge Rupert Leydell. Send for details: The Challenging Povetry Poetry Competition, The Church Urban Fund, Church House, Great Smith Street, LONDON SW1P 3NZ or web address. Excellent prizes. Theme Speaking to Strangers, Remarkable People, Going Nowhere. Deadline for submissions: January 27th, 2007.

MCNA Bursary

This is the first year that MCNA are running the Writer’s Bursary. The intention is to award the Bursary on an annual basis. They have established the Bursary as a contribution to the Arts and in particular to creative writing. 
MCNA is awarding £18,000 writer's bursary to an aspiring novelist 
(novice or experienced) who would like to dedicate up to 12 months 
writing a fiction novel.  Applicants are invited to write about any 
subject, so long as it is substantially one of fiction and imagination, 
and, the writer retains full copyright ownership over their finished 
work.
 
 Comprehensive details on the bursary, together with information on 
how to apply and the judging panel.

The Fish Short Story Prize Closing date 30th November, 2006. I notice that a critique is offered. You have to request a critique, enclose an s.a.e. for the return of the story, and pay £30 fee per story. The pamphlet says "The critique will be considered and constructive aimed at helping to improve your story and work generally. It will be at least 250 words. This service is also available, year round outside of the competition."
The aim of Fish is to find and publish exciting new talent.
Web page
First prize: 10,000 euros, 2nd prize a week at Anam Cara Writers' Retreat and 250 euros, 3rd prize 250 euros, 12 runners-up, 100 euros each. Fish Publishing, Durrus, Bantry, Co. Cork, Ireland.

REACH Poetry Monthly (incorporating Helicon)
£ 50 prize each month for readers' choice. Cherrybite Publications , Linden Cottae, 45 Burton Road, Little Neston, Cheshire, CH64 4AE. COST £2.50.

Selective list of Poetry Competitions This page is owned by the Poetry Library. It accepts no liability in connection with the information contained in the list. The list is intended as a guide to current competitions only. Competitors must write independently to each competition, enclosing a s.a.e. for an entry form before submitting work. Each competition charges an entry fee. Unless otherwise stated assume that all poems should be in English, original and not previously published. Competitions for children and young people are marked ** Note: the list is updated monthly on the website.

Please note I believe all the above are true competitions. There is one page on the web to be aware of which offers a prize per month. Everything gets an award - even letters of complaint. The catch is that to see your poem in print, you have to buy a book which costs a fair amount and may not appear at all. The site was publicised on the BBC program Watchdog in May 2000.
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