Literature | Opportunity Knocks

By Zehra Cranmer

Do you have a manuscript tucked away in that desk drawer? Maybe it’s a mole skin filled with poems, or even a play begging to see the light of day. Maybe you are shy about your work and unsure if it’s good enough to share with the world, if this is the case, why not revise your work and send it out under a pseudonym?  Whatever your situation is, after much revision, it is your duty as a writer/ artist/ poet, to enrich the world with your creativity, so overcome that fear and see what you can do for yourself and your work. Research grants and judges for competitions, in order to see what they are looking for, and listening to the radio- it can be enriching; Night Waves – weekdays 10pm on BBC Radio 3, Poetry Please- Sundays 4:30pm, BBC Radio 4, Book of the Week Nightly 12:30 am, BBC Radio 4, The Review Show- Fridays 11:10 pm BBC 2, keep your ears tuned at all times, you simply never know.

Bridge House Short Story Competition: is for stories up to 5,000 wds on nay theme. Prizes: 6-month one-on-one mentoring and the runner-up will receive five short story critiques. The best 15 stories will be published in a competition anthology. Entry fee: £5 per story. [email protected] ; www.bridgehousepublishing.co.uk closing date: 1 November

Ceramic Review writing prize; for new writing of up to 650 wds inspired by the British Ceramics Biennial and ceramics in general. Prize: publication in Ceramic Review. Entry fee: Free. [email protected] www.britishceramicsbiennial.com closing date: 13 November

Iota Shots a competition seeking shorter poetry pamphlets to be published by Templar Poetry in 2012. Submit 12 to 16 pages of poetry which can be in any style. Prizes: 3 submissions will be selected for publication & each winning poet will receive £100 plus 100 copies of their pamphlet. All entrants will receive a complimentary Templar Pamphlet. Judge Alex McMillen. Entry fee: £14.50 postal submission. Iota Shots, PO Box 7721, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 9DD. www.iotamagazine.co.uk Closing Date: 15 November

Cinnamon Press Writing Awards Novel/ Novella: submit up to 10,000 wds: Poetry Collection; submit 10 poems up to 40 lines: Short Story: submit stories of 2- 4000 wds. Prizes: Novels & Novella, £400 each plus publication: Poetry Collection & Short Story, £100 each plus publication and a runners- up anthology. Entry fee: £16 all genres. Jan Fortune- Wood, Merion House, Glan yr afon, Tanygrisaiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd LL41 3SU. www.cinnamonpress.com closing date: 30 November

Chapter One Children’s Chapter Book Competition for first 3 chapters of original stories appealing to children & young adults. Prizes: £500 plus consideration by a literary agent. See website for full submission details. Entry fee: £20 per entry. Chapter One promotions, Catnerbury Court, 1-3 Brixton Road, London SW9 6DE. [email protected] www.chapteronepromotions.com closing date: 30 November