No-entry-fee writing contest: Writers College Short Story Competition (worldwide) | R10,000 (~$550) top prize

Deadline: 30 June 2023

The annual Writers College Short Story Competition is held to acknowledge excellence in creative writing in the short story form.

 
The competition is open to any writer who is unpublished, or has been published fewer than four times.

PRIZES:

• First Prize: R10 000.00 and publication in an anthology of winning stories
• Second Prize: R 5 000.00 and publication in an anthology of winning stories
• Third Prize: R 2 500.00

The top three winners will receive editorial comments on their submitted works.

THEME FOR 2023: WORDS HAVE CONSEQUENCES

Closing date: 30 June 2023

Longlist Announced: 31 July 2023

Winners Announced: 18 August 2023

Submissions and enquiries can be sent to Nichola Meyer: Nichola@sawriterscollege.co.za​

COMPETITION RULES:

• We aim to support beginner writers only. We accept stories from writers who have never been published, or who have been published fewer than four times in any genre. This includes fiction and non-fiction, in any publication (for payment or otherwise). Journal articles (sciences of any kind) count as being published. Journalists, copywriters, web writers or content writers must please not enter. People who made a living from writing at any point (e.g. decades earlier) are also not eligible for entry. We make an exception for unpaid articles for community or work newsletters or blogs where the circulation is under 5000 readers.
• We accept stories in any genre (literary/horror/sci-fi/fantasy/spec fic). However, character-driven literary fiction tends to fare best with our judges. Please read past winning entries (scroll down this page) to get a sense of the kind of writing that we like.
• All submissions and enquiries can be sent to Nichola Meyer: Nichola@sawriterscollege.co.za
• The competition is open to anyone, from any country aged 16 and over.
• Entrants must submit a story of maximum word count: 2000 words. Any entries exceeding the word count by 50 words will not be considered.
• The 2023 theme is ‘Words have consequences’. Writers can interpret and represent the theme in any way they choose. Each story must include the phrase ‘Words have consequences’ somewhere in the story. Writers must produce their own title.
• Only one story per entrant is allowed.
• We only accept entries written in English.
• The competition closes at midnight on 30 June 2023. The longlist will be published by 31 July 2023, and the winners announced and displayed on our website on Friday 18 August 2023.
• Prizewinners will be notified via email as well as on our website; please ensure you supply a valid email address with your entry.
• Prize money will be paid via electronic transfer or PayPal.
• Stories must not have been previously published. Entrants must own the copyright to the story submitted.
• Writers retain copyright, but give permission for their work to be published on our website and in an anthology.
• The judges’ decision is final; no disputes will be entered into.
• If your entry has not been acknowledged within three working days, please contact us as your email may have got lost in transit.
• The Writers College reserves the right to extend the competition deadline or cancel the competition should the entries not be of publishable quality or up to the required standard.
• Absolutely no generative AI to be used (ChatGPT etc.). If we deem stories were not written by a human they will be excluded, and the author banned from entering all further competitions with us.

ENTRY FORMAT:

• Only e-mail submissions are acceptable. Stories must be copied and pasted into the body of the email, AND sent as a Word document attachment. Mark your entry clearly with the subject line: The 2023 Writers College Short Story Competition.
• Each story must have a unique title. Do not use the theme as your title.
• Your email must state the title of your story, as well as your name. E.g. ‘Once Upon a Time’ – by John Smith
• Your email must include the declaration: ‘I declare that this is my own work, 100% unassisted by generative AI (such as ChatGPT etc.), and I have been published in a mainstream print or online publication fewer than four times.’
• State your word count in your email.
• Do not include your name on any page of your story. All entries will be judged blind.
• Use a font such as Arial or Times New Roman, size 12 or more. Use 1.5 or double spacing between lines. We prefer a clear line between paragraphs rather than indenting.
• Make sure your story has been edited and polished according to tips and guidelines provided on our college site under “Writing Resources”, or on our webzine. Read these:

GUIDELINES TO MAKE YOUR ENTRY AMAZING

HAVE A LOOK AT PAST WINNING ENTRIES

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Submissions: nichola@sawriterscollege.co.za

Website: https://www.sawriterscollege.co.za/the-sa-writers-college-annual-short-story-writing-competition/

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