Writers, Be In It AND Win It

International Short Story, Flash Fiction and Poetry Competition

Many writers have made a successful career out of entering competitions, not necessarily by winning them – although yes, that helps – but simply because it got them writing. We all benefit from having a deadline.

So here’s your deadline October 31, 2026

The Bedford Competition has been running for 12 years so it is well established, an important plus point because it means they are not a scam and they should know what they are doing. The website reveals that all proceeds, after expenses, go towards supporting aspiring local writers and contributing to literacy-focused local charities. 

Another big plus point, and the reason why I am spreading the word about this particular competition, is that the entry fee of £8.50 seems to be reasonable in relation to the prize money. Beware any competition asking for a similar kind of fee and only offering a couple of hundred pounds in prize money.

• Short Story first prize £2000, second prize £400 and third prize £300.
• Cygnature Short Story Prize will receive £300 (for those aged 17-25)
• Winner of The Bedford Short Story Prize will receive £200
• Poetry first prize £2000, second prize £400 and third prize £300
• The winner of the Bedford Poetry Prize will receive £200.

This year there is a special flash fiction competition. All the net proceeds will go to Dementia UK. There is single prize of £500 to the winner and the deadline is earlier 30th September, 2026.

What you have to do

Write a short story no more than 3000 words.
Write a flash fiction story – maximum 300 words.
Write a poem in no more than 40 lines.

There’s a lot more information HERE Please, please please read all the the rules carefully and follow each one to the letter.

Even if you don’t win, or get placed, you will still have created and polished a passage of writing that you are proud of and which one day might win the hearts of other judges or readers. So, it’s win win.

Good luck.

Picture credit:
Don’t you love the expression on that little boy’s face? He was holding the Phar Lap’s Melbourne Cup, at Flemington Racecourse, Victoria, November 1930
Photo by Museums Victoria on Unsplash

Poems must be no more than 40 lines. Title not included in the line count.

This Flash Fiction competition has been established in the memory of Philip Carey.  Philip was one of the founding members of The Bedford Competition, and his support and enthusiasm was unwavering over the years; without his input The Bedford Competition would not have flourished as it has done.  Always deeply committed to encouraging writing and to developing an inclusive, welcoming creative community, Philip will be greatly missed by all who knew him.  All profits from the competition will be donated to Dementia UK, a charity close to Philip’s heart and to many families who have been affected by the illness.  We hope that this competition will celebrate the power of storytelling (in just 300 words), and Philip’s contribution not just to the writing community in Bedford but also around the world.
https://bedfordwritingcompetition.co.uk/
£8.50 per story or poem. Deadline October 31, 2026. Short story and poetry main prizes. Separate short story and poetry prize winning categories for those aged 17-25 and for local Bedford residents. See all competition categories and prize money online. Open to writers worldwide. 1st Prize £2000. 2nd Prize £400. 3rd Prize £300. Stories maximum 3000 words. Poems maximum 40 lines.

Open to eligible entrants who are aged 17-25 years on the date the competition opens for entries, 1st May.

Open to eligible entrants who are residents of Bedford.

A resident of Bedford is defined as living at an address in any of the postcode areas, MK40, MK41, MK42, MK43, MK44 and MK45.