competitions 2025

Adjudication
First and second with three points for first and two points for the runner-up. Commendations will be welcomed. Send entries to ken.franklin@zen.co.uk not later than the 15th of each month. Ensure the title of the piece appears in the covering email but do not include the author’s name on the piece. This is to enable submissions to be sent-on without being opened.

Format
Please submit entries in Word, Times New Roman, 12 pt. No pdfs.

Prizes
For each competition there will be a £40 prize for the winner and £25 for the runner up.
 
January
A 1500-word story that features, in order the three words: fence, masked and hands (this competition will be run again this year).

March  
Herbert Spencer Poetry Competition – maximum 50 lines on any topic. Two entries permitted.

May      
Lewis Wright Short Story – max 2000 words – based on the photograph of Crown Passage London SW1
see https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/londons-alleys-crown-passage-sw1-23884/
 
July          
Flash Fiction  Max 250 words on any topic. Two entries permitted.
 
September  
Vee Bradley Humorous Poetry Competition, max 36 lines, three entries allowed.

November  
Pastiche of a Raymond Chandler story of Philip Marlowe investigating the case of a missing poodle in Henley-on-Thames.  Max 1500 words