The Bedford International Writing Competition is open for entries in two categories: short story and poetry.
• The short story category is for short stories up to 3,000 words on any theme. There is a first prize of £200, a second prize of £100, a third prize of £50, and a special Bedford prize of £50 for the best story written by a resident of Bedford. The winners and shortlisted stories will be published in an anthology. All stories must be original and unpublished. Format stories with double spacing and a 12pt font, on numbered single sides of A4. Put the story title at the top of each page. The writer’s name must not appear on the manuscript. Stories may be entered online or by post. There is an entry fee of £5 per story, or £10 for three stories. Postal entrants should download and complete an entry form and pay be cheques made out to Bedford Writing Competition. Online entrants pay by PayPal.
• The poetry competition is for original, unpublished poems up to 40 lines, on any theme. There are prizes of £200, £100 and £50. Winning and shortlisted poems will be published in an anthology. Type poems in a clear 12pt font on single sides of A4 with the poem title at the top of each page. The poet’s name must not appear on the manuscript. Poems may be entered online or by post. The entry fee is £5 per poem, or three poems for £10, payable by PayPal or cheques made out to Bedford Writing Competition. Postal entries must be accompanied by a completed entry form.