THE MOTH NATURE WRITING PRIZE

Richard Mabey, one of the UK’s foremost nature writers, will judge the inaugural Moth Nature Writing Prize. The Prize will be awarded to an unpublished piece of writing – prose fiction, non-fiction or poetry – which best combines exceptional literary merit with an exploration of the writer’s relationship with the natural world. The prize is open to anyone over the age of sixteen, as long as the work is original and previously unpublished. The winning piece will be published in the winter issue of The Moth, and the winner will receive €1,000 and a week-long stay at The Moth Retreat in rural Ireland. Closing date 15 September 2020.

LINKS:
ENTER ONLINE: https://www.themothmagazine.co.uk/mothnature/story1.asp
DOWNLOAD ENTRY FORM: http://www.themothmagazine.com/a1-page.asp?ID=8539&page=27
THE MOTH RETREAT: http://www.themothmagazine.com/a1-page.asp?ID=8148&page=28

IN SHORT:
1st prize €1,000 plus a week at The Moth Retreat in rural Ireland. The Moth Nature Writing Prize is open to anyone (over 16) as long as their piece is previously unpublished. The word limit is 4,000 and there is an entry fee of €15. This year’s judge is Richard Mabey. Closing 15 September 2020. See www.themothmagazine.com for details.

The Ogham Stone 2018

The Ogham Stone is a Journal of Literature and Arts produced by the MA Students of English & Creative Writing at University of Limerick.
The 2018 issue is now accepting submissions of unpublished work from both Irish and international writers and artists. They consider fiction, poetry,  creative non-fiction, and memoir, as well as visual arts/photography.

Deadline: 5pm on Thursday 31st August 2017.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

• All submissions must be emailed to oghamstoneul@gmail.com. Submissions should be attached to your email.
• All written work should be submitted as a Microsoft Word document (set in Times New Roman, 12 point). The file name should be your surname and initial(s) (e.g.  Smith J).
• Please indicate in the subject line of the email what category your submission falls into (poetry, fiction, CNF etc).
• Include a 150-word biography in the body of the email, along with a contact email address. 
• Authors and artists are asked to submit pieces of work separately for each category (i.e. one email containing a poem, another for prose).
• Individuals may submit up to 4 pieces in total but may submit across all categories.
• Prose must not exceed 2,000 words in length.
• Poetry should be submitted in the format in which you wish it to appear on the page; individual poems should not exceed 50 lines.
• We cannot accept work that has been previously published (including on personal blogs) and prefer not to receive work currently being reviewed elsewhere

Link here

Listowel Writers Week Creative Writing Competitions

Listowel Writers’ Week is an internationally acclaimed literary festival devoted to bringing together writers and audiences at unique and innovative events in the historic and intimate surroundings of Listowel County Kerry. 

31st May to 4th of June 2017

The Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year is generously sponsored by Kerry Group Plc, and with a prize of €15,000 it remains the largest monetary prize for fiction available solely to Irish authors. Novels must be published between 1st February 2016 and 1st February 2017. The 2016 Prize was won by Anne Enright for The Green Road.

The Pigott Poetry Prize, now in its fourth year, is generously sponsored by Mark Pigott KBE and the Pigott Family. The €5,000 Prize is awarded for a published collection of Poetry by an Irish poet. Collection entries must be published between 1st February 2016 and 1st February 2017. The 2016 Prize was won by Eamon Grennan for There Now.

The closing date for entries for the above two awards is 3rd February 2017 and submissions now being accepted for both awards.

All other Creative Writing Competitions are open to entries that are previously unpublished and include: The Bryan MacMahon Short Story Award, The Eamon Keane Full-Length Play in association with Siamsa Tíre, the Single Poem and the Poetry Collection, Listowel Writers’ Week Originals, the Con Houlihan Young Sports Journalist Award and Kerry County Council Creative Writing Competitions for Youth. All of the above include a generous prize fund and many can be entered online through our website.  Closing date for receipt of entries is 3rd March 2017.

Prize-winners of ALL our competitions will receive their awards on the Opening Night of Listowel Writers Week on Wednesday 31st May 2017.

Some are free to enter, some are around €10. Full details and criteria for ALL our Creative Writing Competitions are available here Competitions

Dublin Book Festival

Dublin Book Festival is one of Ireland’s most successful and vibrant book festivals.  This annual public Festival showcases, supports and develops Irish Publishing by programming, publicising and selling Irish published books, their authors, editors and contributors all in an entertaining, festive, friendly and accessible environment that reflect the creativity and personality of the Irish Publishing sector and its authors.

What's on link here

A delicious menu includes:
Friday, 11 November 1:10 pm - 2:00 pm
Boys' School, Smock Alley Theatre
Slake Your Thirst – The Future Always Makes Me So Thirsty: New Poets from the North of Ireland

Saturday, 12 November 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Main Theatre, Smock Alley Theatre
Dublin City Public Libraries Reader’s Day
With Mia Gallagher, Diarmuid Gavin, Mike McCormack, Deirdre Purcell and Donal Ryan in conversation with Dave Kenny

Saturday, 12 November 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Boys' School, Smock Alley Theatre
Poetry Ireland: The Rising Generation
With Jane Clarke, Christodoulos Makris, Julie Morrissy and Ciaran O’Rourke with music from Sive

Date/Time
Date(s) - Saturday, 12 November 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Boys' School, Smock Alley Theatre
Salmon Poetry Anniversary Event. Even The Daybreak: 35 Years of Salmon Poetry
With many of Salmon’s outstanding poets taking part, including Seamus Cashman, Mary Dorcey, Jean O’Brien, Mark Granier, Colm Keegan, Mary O’Donnell, Maurice Harmon, Alvy Carragher, Anne Hartigan, Phil Lynch, Alan Jude Moore, Patrick Chapman and more!

Saturday, 12 November 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Main Theatre, Smock Alley Theatre
Looking at the Stars
With Colin Barrett, Tara Flynn, Joseph O’Connor and Mary O’Donnell in conversation with Rick O’Shea

Sunday, 13 November 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Main Theatre, Smock Alley Theatre
Magazines and their Makers with Brendan Barrington, Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, Tony O’Dwyer, Olivia Smith and Susan Tomaselli in conversation with Paula Shields

Sunday, 13 November 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
The Workmans Club
The Magazine Social with Angela Carr, Oisín Fagan, Caelainn Hogan, Pat O’Connor, Deirdre Sullivan and Dimitra Xidous

I could go on.

Writing for Mslexia magazine

Mslexia is a great writing magazine committed to promoting women writers. So yes, you have to be a woman to submit.

Mslexia magazine was recently redesigned to widen the  range of submission opportunities. Whether it’s just one sentence about your life, or an entire 2,200-word short story, a rollicking rhyme to read aloud to children or a carefully-crafted villanelle, there's lots in the list below to choose from.

All submission slots are completely free to enter, and they welcome work from both published and unpublished women writers.

Here’s what we’re seeking for our December 2016 issue:

OPEN SUBMISSIONS
The following opportunities are open to all women writers, regardless of whether you subscribe to Mslexia (though subscriptions work out at just £2 per month, posting to a UK address). Except where stated, they pay (modestly) for everything they publish.

Secret fantasy
This is the next theme of the special ‘Showcase’ section – pages dedicated to stories up to 2,200 words and/or poems up to 40 lines, this time on the topic of erotic passion. Requited or unrequited, chaste or salacious, enacted or simply longed for, take a walk on the wild side of your romantic imagination. (Deadline: 5 September 2016)

Rhyme story
Many picture books for children have, at their heart, a narrative in the form of a rhyming text. Send rhyming texts of up to 200 words (preferably fewer), that tell a story to read aloud to a small child. (Deadline: 11 October 2016)

First page surgery
Please submit the title and first page of your novel (any genre, up to 300 words). Our guest industry expert will comment, in the magazine, about how it might be changed to catch an agent’s or editor’s eye. If you’re feeling shy, you’re welcome to use a pseudonym. This is an unpaid slot. (Deadline: 11 October 2016)

Confession
A memoir piece about something you were (or are now, in retrospect) deeply ashamed of (up to 300 words). (Deadline: 11 October 2016)

Pitch perfect
Send a ‘pitch’ (pithy description) for a writing project you’re planning to submit to an agent, editor or producer. The project might be a novel, memoir, biography, theatre play or screenplay, but your word limit is 100. The guest industry expert will suggest ways of making it spark the interest of the people you need to impress. If you’re feeling shy, you’re welcome to use a pseudonym. This is an unpaid slot, but the most recent pitch featured in the magazine resulted in the author finding an agent. (Deadline: 11 October 2016)

Life sentence
One sentence only, of no more than 25 words, describing an interesting (or poignant, or bizarre, or traumatic, or uplifting) event your recent writing life. There’s publication, and a credit, but no payment for these. (Deadline: 11 October 2016)

D is for…
A piece of creative non-fiction inspired by an alphabetic prompt (e.g. ‘H is for hawk’). Up to 300 words. (Deadline: 11 October 2016)

Self-publishing survivors
Do you have a tale to tell about your self-publishing experience? We want to interview people who are prepared to share their triumphs, trials and tribulations – and their advice for fellow travellers. Please send a brief outline. We will contact you directly if we decide to interview you for the magazine. (Deadline: 11 October 2016)

Hindsight
Up to 200 words, in second person, of advice to your younger self, based on your later experience of creativity and life – that might benefit fellow writers today. (Deadline: 11 October 2016)


To submit your work, visit our website and use the online form, or email submissions@mslexia.co.uk. 

The Ogham Stone Call for Submissions

Deadline: 28 Aug 2016 5pm

The Ogham Stone, the University of Limerick’s literature and arts journal, is currently inviting submissions for the Spring 2017 edition.

The journal has fast become an influential platform for writers and artists to present their work, and it remains committed to showcasing exciting new work by emerging and established artists. Last year the journal published just under fifty pieces, including short stories, flash fiction, poetry and artwork, and featured new work by Irish writers Colum McCann, Paula Meehan, Joseph O’Connor and Mary O’Malley.

The Spring 2017 issue welcomes submissions in fiction, memoir, poetry, visual arts and photography, short graphic novels, and creative non-fiction. 

• All words submitted should be contained within a Microsoft Word document, double-spaced and typed in 12 point font (Times New Roman).
• All submissions must be emailed to oghamstoneul@gmail.com.
• Individuals may submit up to 3 pieces, in any category or cross-category.
• Prose must not exceed 2,000 words in length. Short graphic novels in double page spread format.
• Poetry should be submitted the way in which you wish it to appear on the page and no longer than 50 lines.

For detailed submission guidelines please see: www.theoghamstoneul.com.

Big in Berlin?

There are lots of English language magazines who take writing so don't restrict yourself to Ireland, the UK or even the USA.

SAND - Berlin's English Literary Journal

We are currently accepting submissions for our upcoming issue. For our lucky 13th issue, we are particularly looking for great writing from perspectives that are generally underserved in literature. For example, female, p.o.c., queer, or otherwise magnificent authors!

We also want to make a special call for literary nonfiction: personal essays, travel essays, creative reportage, etc. We're not looking for hard criticism or anything too academic; we want nonfiction with a strong authorial voice that demonstrates the author's gift for observation. 

As always, we also invite artists, photographers and illustrators to show us their work.

The deadline to submit for issue 13 is January 15th, 2016. 

Submit your work to us here:
https://sandjournal.submittable.com/submit

Submissions for anthology of LGBT writing

The Limerick Writers’ Centre is seeking submissions for a new anthology of LGBT writing. The anthology, entitled “It’s a Queer City All the Same – An Anthology of LGBT Writing in Limerick”, will be published late October 2015.

We welcome all writers to submit as long as you or your character identify as LGBT. This anthology will feature poetry, prose, essays and more, and will hope to explore the queer experience of Limerick life. We are looking for work that is sensitive, brave, irreverent, and humorous; above all we want writing that is original, fresh, innovative and varied – work that embodies the strength of the region’s queer talent, covering themes and issues relevant to the LGBT community, but relatable to all.

Link here

Deadline: Friday 18th Sept 2015

Submissions open for "After Heaney" Irish Pages

Seamus Heaney said Hi to me once. I've been dining out on it ever since. I watched him getting virtually chased down the road once by people wanting a bit of him.

This has the potential to be very interesting and diverse...or just the same old sucking up/academic-to-the-point-of-pointlessness/band wagon/neo-deification of a fascinating, brave and wonderful poet. Let's shake it up a bit.

The Editors of Irish Pages, Chris Agee and Cathal Ó Searcaigh, are currently assembling a second issue devoted to Seamus Heaney, entitled “After Heaney”, in English and Irish, focussing on the Maestro’s creative, cultural and critical legacy. In addition to further submissions of poetry, fiction, creative-non-fiction, memoir and reminiscence, we welcome non-specialist scholarly essays of literary distinction.  

Submissions should be sent to editor@irishpages.org, or by post to The Editors, Irish Pages/Duillí Éireann, 129 Ormeau Road, Belfast BT7 1SH. 

Full details of the journal and its submission procedure can be found at www.irishpages.org.

In the first issue, “Heaney” (Vol 8, No 2), there was a particular focus on poetry, memoir, reminiscence and literary essays of a non-specialist nature directly relating to the man and his work; but the issue also included outstanding writing of all creative genres, especially poems, from Ireland and overseas, in a posthumous celebration of the enduring literary imagination in general. 

Deadline: 31st July

Literary Agents in and around Ireland

I have posted about Irish agents before. It is consistently my most popular post. So I thought I'd do it again. I'm updating it with some names you may not have heard, agents not necessarily based in Ireland but who are or have been looking in Ireland for Irish-based writers, including one who asked to be included so she's actively looking. It's worth doing your homework and seeing who else they represent to see if you fit in with their interests.

The Lisa Richards Agency
108 Upper Leeson Street, Dublin 4
e-mail: info@lisarichards.ie
Contact: Faith O’Grady
Website here

For fiction, looking for exciting new writing – distinctive voices, original, strong storylines, and intriguing characters. For quality non-fiction, memoir, history, narrative, biography, lifestyle, sports, self-help, quirky humour and pop culture. 

If sending fiction, please limit your submission to the first three or four chapters, and include a covering letter and an SAE. If sending non-fiction, please send a detailed proposal about your book, a sample chapter and a cover letter. Every effort will be made to respond to submissions within 3 months of receipt.

Authors include June Considine, Roisin Meaney, Laura Cassidy, Martin Malone, Pauline McLynn, David Maybury, Christine Dwyer Hickey, Denise Deegan, Paul Howard (Ross O’Carroll-Kelly,) Roisin Ingle and Hector.
Faith participated at the Novel Fair 2015.

The most high profile one (but Jonathan is a bit grumpy when I've met him.)
Jonathan Williams Literary Agency
Rosney Mews, Upper Glenageary Road, Glenageary, Co Dublin

Literary Agency, evaluating, editing, rewriting, proof reading, consultancy; General fiction and non-fiction, preferably by Irish authors (home 10%) Will suggest revision;
Jonathan participated at the Novel Fair 2015.

The Book Bureau
7 Duncairn Avenue, Bray, Co Wicklow
email: thebookbureau@oceanfree.net
Contact: Geraldine Nichol

Preferences are commercial womens fiction, crime/thrillers and literary fiction. Full-length MSS (home 10%, USA 15%,translation 20%) Fiction preferred -thrillers, Irish novels, Literary fiction, women’s and general commercial fiction. No horror, science fiction, children’s or Poetry. Strong editorial support. Send a preliminary letter, synopsis and 3 sample chapters.
The Book Bureau participated at the Novel Fair 2015.

Marianne Gunne-O’Connor Literary Agency
Suite 17 Morrison Chambers, 32 Nassau Street, Dublin 2
email: mgoclitagency@eircom.net

Commercial and literary fiction, non-fiction, biography, children's fiction (UK 15%, overseas 20%, film/TV 20%). Send preliminary letter plus half-page synopsis and first 50pp.
Authors: Cecelia Ahern, Chris Binchy, Ken Bruen, Claudia Carroll, Julie Dam, Noelle Harrison, Patrick McCabe, Mike McCormack, Paddy McMahon, Morag Prunty, Niall Williams. Founded 1996.
Mariane Gunne-O'Connor participated at the Novel Fair 2015.

The Feldstein Agency
54 Abbey Street Bangor BT20 4JB N. Ireland
General enquiries: paul@thefeldsteinagency.co.uk

Email a 1-2 page synopsis of your work and a brief biography. They are currently only accepting submissions of adult fiction (excluding romance, science fiction and fantasy) and adult non-fiction, so no children's or young adult books, poetry or short stories.
Website here 
The Feldstein Agency participated at the Novel Fair 2015.

Sally Anne Sweeney wrote to me so they are definitely looking. She's moved to

Mulcahy Associates
First Floor 7 Meard Street London
After a career with Reuters, the Dubliner, Ivan Mulcahy set up his own literary agency in London. Interesting article in the Irish Times here. Recently the agency had three bestsellers in the UK book charts at the same time: Vivienne Westwood’s own story written with historian Ian Kelly, comic David Mitchell’s collection of essays and broadcaster Clare Balding’s second volume of memoir.

They accept email submissions only. Send a covering letter, synopsis, and the first three chapters to: submissions@ma-agency.com

Curtis Brown
5th Floor, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4SP
Website here.
Literary Agent Sheila Crowley began her career in publishing at Poolbeg in Dublin before moving to the UK in 1991, and went on to hold several key positions and most recently at Curtis Brown.
She focuses primarily on women’s commercial fiction, thrillers, mind, body, spirit, sport and celebrity books, young adult and children's fiction and general mass-market non-fiction.

Most of Sheila's authors have moved with her. They include: Tasmina Perry, Jojo Moyes, Santa Montefiore, Melissa Hill, Rachel Hore, Alison Kervin, Shari Low, Kitty Sewell

Gregory & Company
3 Barb Mews, Hammersmith, London W6 7PA
tel: +44 (0) 20 7610 4676
website here
Jane Gregory specialises in crime fiction and up-market commercial fiction. Among the many authors Jane represents are: Adele Geras, Mo Hayder, Val McDermid, Chris Simms, Martyn Waites and Minette Walters. At the moment the agency is particularly looking for burgeoning new talent in the fields of excellent crime fiction, epic family sagas, historical novels and upmarket commercial fiction. No children’s books, young adult fiction, SF/fantasy/horror/paranormal, poetry, short stories or plays/screenplays. At the moment we are not actively looking for any non-fiction titles, and we are especially not interested in spiritual or New Age philosophy, or business books.

Interview here at Mslexia. Send a one-page synopsis (not a glorified jacket blurb) that gives a full explanation of the plot, and the first ten pages (double spaced for ease of reading). Please include a brief letter telling us about yourself, why you have written this book, and about your past work and future writing plans.

Incubator Call for Submissions

Submissions Opening

The reading period for issue 5 opens on 1 March and closes at the end of the month. This time they are seeking flash fiction, short stories and memoir. They love the contemporary Irish short story by writers born in, living in or with links to NI and Ireland.

All details can be found on their submissions page. www.theincubatorjournal.com

Deadline: 31st March 2015

Launch of Issue 4

It’s almost time to launch the new issue. We are having a get together on Sunday 15 March, 2pm in the Green Room at The Black Box, 18-22 Hill Street, Belfast. £2 entry.

http://www.blackboxbelfast.com/

Contributors will be reading their wonderful work.

Granta is Accepting Unsolicited Submissions

After a long hiatus Granta, one of the world’s most prestigious literary magazines, is again accepting unsolicited submissions.

Granta publishes fiction, non-fiction and poetry. There are no strict word limits, though most prose submissions are between 3000 and 6000 words and the editors advise they are unlikely to read more than 10,000 words of any submission.

Alongside the print edition, the online New Writing program publishes stories, poems, essays, interviews, animations and more from established Granta alumni as well as new voices.

All submissions will be considered for both the print and online editions (unless otherwise stipulated in the cover letter). Selection is extremely competitive and only a very small fraction of submissions will be chosen for publication. Reading recent editions of Granta will help you assess whether your work is likely to be a good match.

Writers must submit their work via Submittable and there are no reading fees. For further information visit the Granta website

Deadline: 1 April 2015.

As usual, do read a few copies of the magazine, paper and online to see what shakes their tree. It's very classy and quite highbrow. Fantastic opportunity.

Submissions for Irish Pages on Seamus Heaney

The Editors of Irish Pages, Chris Agee and Cathal Ó Searcaigh, are currently assembling a special issue entitled "Heaney", in English and Irish, due out in October 2014. There will be a particular focus, of course, on poetry, memoir, reminiscence and literary essays of a non-specialist nature directly relating to the man and his work but the issue will also include outstanding writing of all creative genres, especially poems, from Ireland and overseas, in a posthumous celebration of the enduring literary imagination in general.

Submissions should be sent by the middle of May by email to editor@irishpages.org, or by post to The Editors, Irish Pages/Duillí Éireann, 129 Ormeau Road, Belfast BT7 1SH.

Full details of the journal and its submission procedure can be found at www.irishpages.org.

Workshop at the National Gallery

150 years ago, on Saturday the 30th of January 1864, the Earl of Carlisle officially opened the National Gallery of Ireland on Merrion Square. There are lots of events including a wonderful sounding study day on Saturday 1st March and poems on the 2nd March. Have a look at the website for details. Something for everyone and most of them are free.

As part of the celebrations, I am running a Creative Writing workshop based on teasing out memories. Please spread the word and drop by if you have a spare hour. It's aimed at 55+ but in practise, all are welcome. Free.

NGI Memories Matter

As part of celebrating the Anniversary of the opening of the National Gallery of Ireland in 1864, we are encouraging all of our visitors from Ireland and overseas to share their memories of the National Gallery of Ireland with us.

What does this involve?

Recall any memory you can of visiting the Gallery: when did you visit, who came with you, what paintings did you see and what do you remember about the Gallery – we would love you to record these: in writing, in poetry, or by creating a piece of art. Please sign and date your memories. We would like to keep them for our records and we might even put some of them on the Noticeboard and Website!

Wednesday 26 February 3pm: Creative Writing in Prose or Poetry
with Kate Dempsey, Writer and Poet

Wednesday 23 April 3pm: Drawing out Memories
with Mary Kelly, Artist

Wednesday 25 June 3pm: Creative Writing in Prose or Poetry
with Kate Dempsey, Writer and Poet

Jeremy Mogford Prize for Food and Drink Writing

This one has a prize of £7,500. Dearie me. And Free to enter? Yum. What's a girl to do?

Entries are now being sought for the 2014 Jeremy Mogford Prize for Food and Drink Writing, the annual short story competition run by the Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival in association with Oxford Gastronomica, part of the Oxford School of Hospitality Management at Oxford Brookes University. Food and drink has to be at the heart of the tale. The story could, for instance, be fiction or fact about a chance meeting over a drink, a life-changing conversation over dinner, or a relationship explored through food or drink. It could be crime or intrigue; in fact, any subject as long as it involves food and/or drink in some way.

Applicants are invited from anywhere in the world. They can be published or unpublished authors, but the entry itself must be previously unpublished. The story should be up to 2500 words and must be written in English.

Your short story should be up to 2500 words in total in English and have a food and drink theme at its heart. Entries should be submitted by email as a Word document to the mogfordprize@oxfordliteraryfestival.org

Deadline: October 1, 2013
one submission per person and not previously published.

The winning entry will be announced at the Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival in March 2014. The winner will receive £7500.

Info here

Links to some of my work available online

Poems
Saturday Woman Poet on Poethead blog has two of my poems here
Amsterdam Otto Recommend poem that won the Plough Prize reading here
Californian Fruit in Burning Bush online magazine here
The Happiest Sock and other poems are in this video from Ignite
Drinking Now poem read at The Festival of The Fires here
Reaching Agreement poem read on YouTube here
Reading some Science Poems at Ignite here
Those Days are Nothing Now on Barehands online magazine here
While It Lasted on writing.ie here 
Two poems on And Other Poems here
What to Think About Instead at ofipress here
By Strawberry Beds from Poetry Bus 3 on Soundcloud here 
Painted Yellow Line from Poetry Bus 2 on Soundcloud here
Slow Poison is in Crannog 10 here-  Update: Actually this pdf doesn't get as far as my poem so you'll have to buy the book!
Developing Shadows is in Abridged 17 here
Appropriate Gift is in Abridged 23 here

Short Story
Saturday's Kiss on This Reading Life blog here

Non Fiction
Berlin Wall from RTE Radio Sunday Miscellany here

Poolbeg Write a Best Seller & The Virginia Prize for Fiction 2013

From writing.ie competition page

At a wild guess, I think they wouldn't say no to an Irish Fifty Shades, no?

Poolbeg Press are again running their Write a Best Seller competition in conjunction with TV3′s The Morning Show, and this year they are open to non-fiction as well as any genre of adult fiction.

‘The Morning Show with Sybil & Martin’ have teamed up once again with Poolbeg Press, Ireland’s leading publishing house, to offer aspiring writers the chance of a lifetime – to see your novel published and on bookshelves around the country.

Entrants must submit a previously unpublished work that is original to the author. This can be adult fiction or non-fiction.

Submissions must be between 100,000 – 120,000 words in length and must be accompanied by a 1 page synopsis of the novel and a completed application form.

Click here to download the Application form.

Only completed, printed manuscripts will be accepted. Please also submit a copy of the manuscript on CD in Word format.
Manuscripts must be unbound and typewritten.
Printed on one side of the page only, double line spaced and all pages must be numbered.
Do NOT send the original manuscript of your work as manuscripts will NOT be returned or acknowledged
Applicants can enter only once.

Deadline: Friday the 26^th of April 2013

The winner will be selected by Poolbeg Press and The Morning Show with Sybil & Martin.
The prize is a one-book publishing contract with Poolbeg Press
Winner will be announced on The Morning Show with Sybil & Martin in June 2013 and published by Poolbeg Press in Autumn 2013.
Click here for terms and conditions.

The Chattahoochee Review

The Chattahoochee Review is seeking poetry, fiction, and nonfiction for a special focus issue on Irish Literature to be published in late 2012. 

TCR welcomes submissions of poetry, fiction, flash fiction, drama, and nonfiction—work reflective of a complex and contemporary Ireland—with preference given to poetry that makes careful use of voice and theme, fiction with an imaginative focus on character, and nonfiction that transcends the strictly personal. Both established and new voices encouraged. Writers outside of the U.S. may e-mail submissions to gpccr@gpc.edu, noting the submission's genre and the Irish Lit issue in the subject box. 

All submissions should state the author's name, address, and email on the manuscript and should be accompanied by a short biographical statement. Submissions will be accepted until October 1, 2012, or until issue is filled. We are also considering regular submissions; see below.

Familiarity with our journal is the best way to know whether or not work is right for us. We strongly encourage buying a sample copy or subscribing; the first issue under new editorship is now available for $4 in PDF. Please buy and read it from your inbox before submitting.

Our newly-streamlined response time averages two to three months, longer only in special circumstances. We read year-round.

Send only your very best work with our assurance it will be given every consideration.


FICTION
TCR publishes high quality literary fiction characterized by interest in language, development of distinctive settings, compelling conflict, and complex, unique characters. Please read a sample copy. Fiction should be double-spaced with numbered pages and one-inch margins. Submit only one story or up to three short-shorts (500-1,000 words each) per envelope. We consider longer stories of up to 6,000 words and novellas.

POETRY
TCR publishes excellent poetry of all types, including informal personal narratives, prose poems, and formal poems. We consider English translations of poetry from other languages, in which case a brief biography of the poet and translator should be included. Poetry should be single-spaced and include three to five poems per submission.

NONFICTION
TCR publishes distinctive topical essays and personal creative nonfiction of any kind; this includes pieces that might fit into the memoir, travel, and historical nonfiction categories. We are not an academic journal and publish for a general readership. Above all, we are interested in publishing nonfiction that surprises and intrigues us.

INTERVIEWS
TCR publishes interviews with writers of all kinds: literary, academic, journalistic, and popular. Recent interviews have featured Tony Grooms, Wells Tower, Larry Brown, Claude Wilkinson, Ferreira Gullar, and Kunal Basu. Please query us (by snail mail) with a proposal for a particular interview.

REVIEWS AND REVIEW ESSAYS
TCR publishes reviews of current fiction, poetry, and nonfiction books, especially those from writers with an innovative approach to subject matter. Several related works may be reviewed at more length in a review essay that engages critical issues not appropriate to a single review. We are always in search of new reviewers. Please query us (by snail mail) about the possibility of a particular review or review essay, specifying your credentials for the review.

VISUAL ART
TCR accepts visual art submissions, photography included, by invitation only.

PAYMENT

We typically pay $50/poem and $25/page for prose. Payment for reviews, interviews, plays, and art is determined on an individual basis. All contributors receive two copies.

Link here 

‘She’s the One’ Writing Competition

Poetry, prose or a letter about the women (or woman) who inspire you and/or have changed your world.  

Could be somebody famous or someone who lives in your neighbourhood.  

Your entry should run to no more than 350 words.
Deadlin: 30 June
    Prizes: Winning entries will be published in an anthology.
    Entry Fee: None - free to enter.
    Comp Page: Click Here.

The She's The One competition is open to anyone who lives in the UK. The work that you enter must be unpublished and not under contract to any other publisher. Work that has been self-published or published on the web is not eligible. If you have previous writing experience please include a brief biography of your writing career.

Sports Writing Competition

From Free Bets Free Tips.com. Link here. Last year's were all fiction and non-fiction prose.

We are looking for the best sports writers to send us exciting, original, even abstract sports writing to help add zest and vigour to the genre. We had a great mix of fiction and non-fiction entries for the 2011 competition (read the full Winning Entries here).The three winning entries from the last competition were about football, golf and darts, but really we don’t have a preference.

The contest is open to entrants of 18 years and older. The entries may be prose or poetry, fiction or non-fiction. You may write about any subject … as along as it relates to sport. Any sport. We didn’t get any entries about synchronised swimming last time, so maybe this time.

Entries may be anything up to 1500 words and must be written in English. Please read the full FBFT Sports Writing Competition Terms and Conditions before entering.

Deadline: Sunday 13th May 2012, the final day of the 2011/12 Premier League football season.

Now, to the prizes:

First Prize: £50
Second Prize: £30
Third Prize: £20

The three winning entries will also be published on our website.