SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN!
CLOSING DATE: 15th of August 2025.
2026 will mark the tenth anniversary of the Bournemouth Writing Prize. Here is a bit of what’s planned for this momentous occasion.
For the 10th anniversary, we’re tripling the prize money on offer, adding four new chances to win and three different publishing opportunities!
The Prizes
Short Story
£1000 cash prize for first place.
£300 cash prize for second place.
£200 cash prize for third place.
Poetry
£1000 cash prize.
£300 cash prize for second place.
£200 cash prize for third place.
For both categories:
- The first place story and the first place poem will be published in Dorset Magazine.
- All winners and shortlisted works will also be published in the Bournemouth Writing Prize Anthology.
- All contest entrants who are not selected for the Anthology will be considered for publication in the Bournemouth Journal.
- Each of the winners will receive 2 free tickets to any talk or workshop taking place at the Pavilion Dance over the course of the three-day festival.
- Prizes are non-transferable and no alternative (cash or otherwise) will be given.
FEE: £10 per entry
Categories
Short Story
- Word count: Maximum 3000 words (excluding title).
- What we are looking for: You can choose whatever style and topic you want! We want passionate storytellers who create great compelling characters and tell fascinating stories. Surprise us!
Poetry
- Up to three poems. Line count: Maximum 30 per poem (excluding title and line spaces).
- What we are looking for: You can choose whatever form and theme works best for you! We’re looking for fresh and unexpected poems – be that about recent world events, stories of hope, or based on personal experience. You may send up to three poems per entry. All poems need to be submitted at the same time in the same document.
Purchase our anthologies here.
Meet the Judges
Short Story Judge – Agent: Madeleine Milburn
Madeleine Milburn is on the committee of the Association of Authors’ Agents (AAA) and has appeared on The Bookseller’s list of the 150 most influential people in the book trade every year since 2017. Since founding the Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency in 2012, Madeleine was awarded Literary Agent of the Year at the British Book Awards in 2018 and was shortlisted again in 2020.
She has been responsible for discovering some of the highest-selling and award-winning contemporary authors who consistently hit the bestseller lists in the New York Times, The Sunday Times and The Globe and Mail. These authors include the No.1 New York Times bestselling author Nita Prose (The Maid), Costa Book Award winner and multi-million copy bestseller Gail Honeyman (Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine), Ashley Audrain (The Push), Elizabeth Macneal (The Doll Factory), Fiona Barton (The Widow), Emma Stonex (The Lamplighters), Harriet Constable (The Instrumentalist) and Katherine May (Wintering). She represents multiple bestselling crime and thriller brands too including C.L. Taylor, C.J Tudor, Mark Edwards. Jack Jordan and Katherine Faulkner.
Poetry Judge – Poet Abu Ibrahim (IB)
A poet and spoken word artist, IB has gained recognition for his work across various literary platforms. His poetry has appeared in publications such as The Belfast Review, The Barren Magazine, Causeway Magazine (Aberdeen University Press), Brittle Paper, Paddlers Press, African Writer Magazine, and Ink Sweat & Tears, among others. IB has also graced stages at notable events, including the Pa Gya Literary Festival in Ghana, the Lagos International Poetry Festival, the Lagos Book and Art Festival, and the Quramo Festival of Words. He is the 2024 Augur Annual Micro-Fiction Contest winner, the Ink Sweat & Tears Pick of the Month for July 2024, the 2024 Poetry Journal Prize winner, and the 2023 winner of the Port Harcourt Poetry Festival’s Poetry/Spoken Word Album of the Year for his debut album, Music Has Failed Us which is available on all major streaming platforms.
What the judges are looking for:
- Originality.
- Clear message.
- Form, including its rhythm and structure.
- Word choices, specific and personal.
- Presentation, the flow of the language.
- Title, whether it’s compelling enough to draw the reader in.
- Compliance with rules.
More about the Bournemouth Writing Prize:
The Bournemouth Writing Prize is an annual international short story and poetry competition. Your work will be judged by industry professionals from the publishing world. The prize is created in partnership between Run by the staff and students of the MA in Creative Writing and Publishing at Bournemouth University the competition is entering its tenth year. To help the prize continue to grow and reach new audiences, we are proud to partner with The Bournemouth Writing Festival.
About Bournemouth University’s MA Creative Writing and Publishing course:
The MA in Creative Writing and Publishing at Bournemouth University teaches a broad range of skills. Students learn to craft narratives across multiple genres. They master essential publishing and marketing techniques, learn to analyse their work critically, and create short stories, novels, and cutting edge Interactive Digital Narratives. For more information see the BU web page for the MA in Creative Writing and Publishing.
About the Bournemouth Writing Festival:
The Bournemouth Writing Festival is a community-focused celebration of writing held annually in the seaside town of Bournemouth, UK. Launched in 2023, the festival has quickly earned a reputation for its vibrant programme, accessibility, and community spirit, attracting thousands of authors, readers, publishers, and industry professionals. The main three-day April festival features 100 free and ticketed talks, workshops, panels, networking events, and competitions designed to support and inspire writers at all stages of their journey regardless of their age, background or ability. Alongside the flagship event, the festival runs a growing programme of year-round activities including the Romance Writing Festival (October), Writing Sanctuaries (retreat-style writing days), writing competitions, online forums and in-person writing groups – all designed to connect emerging writers with publishing professionals. For more information see the Bournemouth Writing Festival website.
About Story Works:
This year, submitting writers are welcome to donate to to our charity partner, Storyworks, a community outreach project based at Bournemouth University that leads free creative writing workshops in the BCP area. Our mission is to help young people in Dorset build confidence in themselves and their own voices by providing them with the space and creative tools to tap into their imagination and tell stories in their own unique way. For more information visit the Story Works website.