Bridport Prize calls for entries

The Bridport Prize has called for entries for this year’s edition of the competition. The contest is open to participants of all nationalities from age 16 and above for over £18,000 in prize money.

According to a release on the Bridport Prize website: “It’s a prize really worth fighting for in terms of prestige and genuine literary accomplishment.

“The poem and short story categories each have a first prize of £5,000, second prize £1,000 and third prize £500. An additional 10 highly commended prizes (for each category) of £100 each are awarded. All 13 winning entries in both categories are published in the anthology each year.”

The release also said: “A new category for flash fiction with a prize of £1,000 was launched in 2010. There is a second prize of £500, 3rd prize of £250 and three highly commended prizes of £100. The six winning entries are published in the anthology each year.

“In 2014 the Peggy ChapmanAndrews first novel award, named after the Prize’s founder, was launched. The first prize is £1,000 plus up to a year’s mentoring from The Literary Consultancy through their Chapter & Verse scheme. A runner-up prize of £500 is also offered. Three shortlisted writers will receive £100. The opening chapters from the winning novel and the runner-up novel will be published on the website.”

The Bridport Prize was founded by Bridport Arts Centre in 1973 and has attracted entries from all parts of the UK and from overseas. It is aimed at encouraging emerging writers and promoting literary excellence through its competition structure.