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8 Writing Competitions to Enter in January 2023

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by Gayle Beveridge-Marien (subscribe)
Gayle Beveridge is a past winner of the Boroondara Literary Awards and her work has appeared in Award Winning Australian Writing. Gayle is passionate about family, writing, photography, and with Victoria’s beautiful Bass Coast which she now calls home.
Published November 15th 2022
From writer to published writer
If you write short stories then you are a writer. Competitions are a great way to move from being a writer to being a published writer. I read once that there are more than 3,000 writing competitions offered across the world every year. This is just a small selection of those available with deadlines in January 2023. Enter something you've already written or pen something new over the Christmas holidays.

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Some things to bear in mind when entering the competitions are:

a) The following listings are summaries only and it is imperative that you always check the rules and terms and conditions on the competition website to ensure both you and your story are eligible to enter. For example most competitions exclude previously published or awarded stories and some have regional or age limits.

b) Make sure you follow all the entry instructions including those for formatting.

c) Proofread and edit your story before entering it. Make sure you check spelling and grammar.

d) Reading your work aloud is a helpful editing tool. Perhaps even have a friend or family member read it through; a second pair of eyes often sees what the first misses.

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e) Some competitions publish non-winning entries on their websites or in anthologies without remuneration. You may be quite happy to just have your story out there, there is nothing wrong with it, but be aware that story is then 'published' which precludes entry into most other competitions.

f) Read previous winning entries if they are available. They will give some insight into what is sought, although many competitions have different judges with each passing year and each will have their own likes and dislikes.

g) Prices are correct at the time of writing but may change throughout the year. Ensure you check the websites.

h) If you want to brush up on your writing skills you find there are a plethora of free courses on almost any writing topic. You can check these out in the article 73 Free Writing Courses You Can Do at Home.

All that remains to be said is have a go and good luck.

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Image in the Public Domain via Pixabay

1. The Henshaw December 2022 Short Story Competition
Full Details: https://www.henshawpress.co.uk/
Country of Origin: UK
Theme: Open
Word Count: to 2,000
Submission Deadline: 6th January 2023
Expected Results Date: Unknown
Prizes: 1st prize £200, 2nd prize £100, 3rd prize £50
Publication: On website
Entry Fees: £6
Critique Offered: No

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Image in the Public Domain via Pixabay

2. Writer's Forum Monthly Short Story Contest
Full Details: https://writers-forum.com/short-story-contest/
Country of Origin: UK
Theme: Open
Word Count: 1,000 to 3,000
Submission Deadline: 15th January 2023
Expected Results Date: End February
Prizes: 1st prize £300, 2nd prize £150, 3rd prize £100
Publication: Writers Forum Magazine
Entry Fees: £6
Critique Offered: £5

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Image in the Public Domain via Pixabay

3. Cranked Anvil Press Short Story Competition
Full Details: https://crankedanvil.co.uk/shortstory/
Country of Origin: UK
Theme: Open
Word Count: to 1,500
Submission Deadline: 31st January 2023
Expected Results Date: Mid March 2023
Prizes: 1st prize £150, 2nd prize £75, 3rd prize £30
Publication: On the website and in the anthology
Entry Fees: £5 1st entry plus £3 2nd entry and plus £2 for 3rd entry
Critique Offered: No

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4. Driftwood Press Short Story Contest 2023
Full Details: https://www.driftwoodpress.net/storycontest
Country of Origin: USA
Theme: Open
Word Count: 1,000 to 5,000
Submission Deadline: 31st January 2023
Expected Results Date: 1st April 2023
Prizes: 1st prize USD $500 5 copies of the magazine, 2nd prize $150 1 copy for each runner-up
Publication: Driftwood Magazine
Entry Fees: USD $12
Critique Offered: No

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Image in the Public Domain via Pixabay

5. Oxford Flash Fiction Prize 2022
Full Details: https://oxfordflashfictionprize.com/
Country of Origin: UK
Theme: Open
Word Count: to 1,000
Submission Deadline: 31st January 2023
Expected Results Date: 6 weeks – say Mid March
Prizes: 1st prize £1,000, 2nd prize £200, 3rd prize £100
Publication: in an anthology
Entry Fees: £6 for one entry, £10 for two entries or £14 for three entries
Critique Offered: No

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Image in the Public Domain via Pixabay

6. Parracombe Prize 2023
Full Details: https://prize.parracombe.org.uk/
Country of Origin: UK
Theme: Open
Word Count: to 2,023
Submission Deadline: 31st January 2023
Expected Results Date: May 2023
Prizes: 1st prize £100, 2nd prize £50, 3rd prize £25
Publication: Unknown
Entry Fees: £5
Critique Offered: No

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Image in the Public Domain via Pixabay

7. Shooter Flash Monthly Rolling Flash Fiction Competition
Full Details: https://shooterlitmag.com/shooter-flash/
Country of Origin: UK
Theme: Open
Word Count: to 1,000
Submission Deadline: 31st January 2023
Expected Results Date: 28th February 2023
Prizes: £50 and publication
Publication: Website
Entry Fees: £3.50
Critique Offered: No

8. Biopage Storytelling Writing contest
Full Details: https://www.biopage.com/contest
Country of Origin: USA
Theme: Open
Word Count: to 1,000
Submission Deadline: 31st January 2023
Expected Results Date: Mid January 2023
Prizes: 1st prize $300, 2nd prize $300
Publication: On the website and mobile app
Entry Fees: 0
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Why? You are a story teller, share your stories and win prizes
When: 6th to 31st January 2023
Where: Wherever you want
Cost: Entry fees are noted throughout the article
Your Comment
Gayle, that was very interesting and we are never too old to challenge ourselves or learn something new.
by Susan J Bowes (score: 3|2839) 179 days ago
So many choices. I had no idea of the variety available.
by Roger (score: 2|861) 214 days ago
Something to work towards over the Christmas holidays.
by betty (score: 2|730) 214 days ago
Great list Gayle - thank you!
by Postcards from Shayne (score: 2|688) 178 days ago
Please add:

Biopage Storytelling Writing contest
Full Details:https://www.biopage.com/contest
Country of Origin: USA
Theme: Open
Word Count: to 1,000
Submission Deadline: 31st January 2023
Expected Results Date: Mid January 2023
Prizes: 1st prize $300, 2nd prize $300
Publication: On the website and mobile app
Entry Fees: 0
by admin (score: 0|2) 176 days ago
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