Discover a wealth of help and advice for navigating the creative literary and publishing industries. This guide features careers guidance, mentoring, supportive groups, resources, courses, talent development schemes, awards, competitions, publishing / submission opportunities and jobs

 

Visit Studio12’s Opportunities Guide for current writing events, funding, jobs & opportunities

Please note: Our site contains links to other websites, which Studio12 and Leeds City Council do not necessarily endorse. We cannot guarantee link functionality or control content and availability. While we aim to keep this page updated, please verify details yourself before applying for opportunities. Studio12 members needing help or advice can email studio12@leeds.gov.uk. 

Career Guidance & Mentoring 

 

Black Girl Writers: Our mentors provide four months of guidance, assisting with areas like plot holes, settings, climaxes, and writing style. It’s not necessary to have completed your novel, non-fiction book, or short story collection to apply.   

Children’s and Young Adult Writing Mentorships:  
KidLit411’s website has a list of mentorship programmes. 

Inclusive Romance Project: For new and emerging romance writers, this mentorship programme lasts 6 months and generally runs through Summer and Fall. 

Queer Kidlit Mentorship Program: It supports early career LGBTQIA+ creators in children’s literature by pairing them with mentors for three months to refine their manuscripts, portfolios, dummies, or scripts. 

Revise & Resub (#RevPit): Their Annual Contest usually runs in the Spring/Summer – querying authors can win feedback and edits on their full manuscripts from professional editors.  

Round Table Mentor: A free mentorship programme for unagented manuscript writers or illustrators. Advice is given on how to craft a query letter, write a synopsis, and more.  

Startwith8 Mentoring:  
A free networking and career development programme for women of colour, including writers / screenwriters.  

Word – A Story Telling Sanctuary: The Editor-Writer Mentorship pairs emerging writers from underrepresented groups with experienced book publishing editors, offering free, six-month guidance to strengthen manuscripts for submission. Applications are usually due in Spring. 

Word Factory Awards: 
They offer aspiring and emerging short story writers free mentorship by leading authors through a renowned Award. Selected writers gain access to events, masterclasses, and creative development and collaboration opportunities, aimed at those working towards their first collection or publication. 

 WriteMentor: They can help you write and publish a children’s book through online courses, one-to-one mentoring, awards and virtual events. Their mentoring programme usually runs during the Summer. 

Write Team Mentorship Programme: 

Our Open Inbox lets you ask mentors about writing and publishing, whilst Submission Package Reviews offer unagented writers feedback on their query and first 25 pages. Our 4-Month Mentorship provides career, querying, and revision guidance for completed manuscripts. 

Supportive Groups & Resources
 

Anansi Archive: 
Our online Writer’s Forum gives you the chance to share your writing, help others with feedback on their work and share your experiences as a writer. 

Arts Council England Funding: 

Their Developing Your Creative Practice Fund is for established artists, including writers, to create work. The key is that you must identify a clear development opportunity that will help you take the next step in your career. This could mean a period of time to research, creating new work, travel, training, developing future ideas, networking or mentoring. You can apply for £2,000 – £10,000.  

BBC Comedy Commissioning: Find out about the latest news and opportunities for comedy writers, directors and performers.  

BBC Radio 4 Extra – Newsjack: 
A magazine style show showcasing the week’s news stories which have been lovingly moulded into sketches and one-liners. Satirical, Newsjack is the scrapbook sketch show written entirely by the Great British public, and then bought to life by a cast of sketch performers.  

British Comedy Guide:  
A comprehensive coverage of all forms of British comedy, both new and old. The website includes comedy films, music, podcasts and more. 

Comedy Crowd: 
A network of comedy creators spanning writers, performers, directors and producers. 

Disabled Writers: Our goal is to promote paid opportunities for marginalized members of the disability community, and to encourage editors and journalists to think of disabled people for stories that stretch beyond disability issues. You can upload your profile to their website. 

Leeds Writers Circle: 
A group of members that meet alternate Monday evenings at The Carriageworks to read their work and receive constructive feedback. Guests are always welcome. They also run workshops on Saturdays and have three competitions a year.  

National Association of Writers in Education (NAWE):  
Their mission is to advocate for creative writing – visit their website to access resources, competitions, events, retreats and mentoring for UK writers.  

National Centre for Writing: 
A writing development agency with a global reach, offering year-round programs including events, festivals, residencies, and activities. Our online Writing Hub features commissioned works, writing resources, and podcast interviews with emerging and established authors. 

New Writers: 

Their writing resources include Best Podcasts for Writers, How to Write a Novel, Best Selling Novels, Best Books for New and Aspiring Writers, and Choosing the Right Words. Resources on How to Revise and Edit Writing Exercises are here. 

New Writing North: 
We empower creative writing and reading in the North of England. Our Writing and Publishing Skills Hub offers educational and development opportunities for writers.  

From poetry to podcasts, we commission, publish, broadcast and produce new writing across all forms.  

Reedsy Scholarships: Their Writing Scholarships Directory is a comprehensive list of scholarships available for writers who are seeking to access funding. Their website offers resources for writers of all levels of experience and lists international writing contests. The website also allows authors to connect with editors, graphic designers, ghost writers, marketers and publicists.  

Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI): Their website contains writing guides, self-publishing resources, awards / grants, an Illustrator Gallery, podcasts and more.  

The Asian Writer: They platform new and emerging British and South Asian writers, featuring live writing opportunities, competitions, and calls for submissions. You can also submit a variety of content including articles, reviews, blogs, essays, fiction, poetry, videos, and podcasts. 

University of Leeds Write On Wednesdays: 
Free, self-led creative writing sessions on Wednesdays from 12:30 – 3:30pm at Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery. Drop in anytime, explore a variety of weekly themes, and write for as long as you like. Open to all skill levels, no booking is required. 

Write a Play: 
Opportunities and events for playwrights. 

Writers Guild of Great Britain: 
A trade union representing professional writers in TV, film, theatre, radio, books, comedy, poetry, animation and video games. Our members also include emerging and aspiring writers – benefits for members include free screenings, workshops and courses. They can also give you advice regarding contracts and how much you should be getting paid.   

Writing East Midlands: 

Their website contains varied information for writers including practical advice, routes to writing, mentoring, free reads, writing groups and useful websites. 

 Writing Tips Oasis: 
We provide you with writing tips and guides to help you become the best writer you can be. We also provide lists of book publishers, literary agents, book editors and book cover designers who can assist you. 

Poetry / Spoken Word Community
  

For other opportunities to submit your poetry scroll down to Publishers / Submission Opportunities & Awards / Competition sections 

Anthology Poetry Award: 
Anthology Magazine gives poets worldwide a chance to get their work published. They accept poems up to 40 lines with no restrictions on theme or style. The entry fee starts at €10, with a deadline usually in February and the competition runs until October. Prizes: 1st place €1,000, a one-year Anthology subscription, and publication; 2nd and 3rd places €250. 

Apples and Snakes: 
England’s leading spoken word poetry organisation that supports poets of all ages. Discover their projects and gain inspiration on their website. They host live events, artist development programs, and offer a “Book a Poet” scheme for workshops and events. 

BBC Words First: 
A talent development scheme to enhance spoken word skills and stage confidence. Whether influenced by poetry, lyricism, rap, or hip hop, they want to hear from you! Selected artists join workshops with established mentors to develop their work, with the chance to be shortlisted for a high-profile showcase. 

Broken Sleep Books Poetry Competition: 
An opportunity for poets to get their full-length collection of poems (60 pages or more) into the world. The winner receives a publishing contract for their poetry collection and £250. The winning poet with a low socioeconomic status receives mentorship towards a full collection with Broken Sleep Books and £250. Entry fees are £5 – £10 and the deadline is usually the end of October. 

Brotherton Poetry Prize: 
Run by the University of Leeds Poetry Centre, the prize celebrates and supports new poets worldwide aged 18 and over, who haven’t published a full collection. Entrants can submit up to 200 lines across five poems. The winner receives £1,000 and development opportunities with the Poetry Centre. Four runners-up each receive £200. The shortlisted poets’ work will be published in a Carcanet Press anthology. 

Butcher’s Dog Poetry Magazine (submission opportunity): 
A bi-annual poetry magazine founded and published in North East England. We print outstanding poems by diverse writers with distinctive voices from across the UK and ROI. From 2021 we also publish themed anthologies.  

Chapel FM: 
A radio station and community arts centre in Seacroft, they often run events and provide opportunities for writers. For example Writing On Air is their yearly spring writing and spoken word festival. Love the Words airs weekly, where Peter Spafford presents his love of all things whilst chatting to novelists, poets and play-wrights.   

Frogmore Poetry Prize: 

The Prize is £250… Although the true prize is the kudos of joining a select band of winners which includes many notable poets. The entry fee is £4, and deadlines are usually in May. 

Hyde Park Book Club: 
This Leeds bar runs events related to music, comedy, spoken word and more. 

Leeds Young Authors (LYA):. The lead in poetry slam and live performance in the UK with the Sunday Practise. They run a creative writing program for young writers and mentorship training. 

Live Canon Poetry Competitions: 
They have three annual poetry competitions across April and May – a poetry collection (35+ poems) competition where three winners are selected for publication and promotion; a single poem competition where first prize is £1,000 and a pamphlet (18-35 poems) competition where three winners are offered a publication contract. Entry fees range from £6.50 – £12. 

London Magazine Competitions: 
The annual competitions seek to recognise new talent, and promote unpublished poems and stories from around the world. Winners receive cash prizes, and their entries appear in the magazine. The authors and poets are also invited to a London-based networking drinks reception. The entry fee is £10.

Nymphs & Thugs: 
The UK’s leading independent spoken word record label, based in Leeds. We also produce national spoken word tours and LIVEwire Poetry events across the UK. Alongside digital albums, we’ve released CDs, vinyl, zines, limited edition prints, t-shirts, pin badges and tote bags.  

Open Mic Nights in Leeds:  

Wordspace run monthly open mic events on the first Wednesday each month in Horsforth – for prose, poetry, comedy and music. Soundbites run a free monthly open mic events at HEART in Headingley, including readings by different local published poets each month. You can sign up for a 5 minute slot or just go along to listen.  

 Oxford Poetry Prize: 
The prize is awarded annually to the best single poem. Submissions are welcome from poets worldwide. Prizes: 1st – £1,000, 2nd – £200, 3rd – £100. All winning poets will be offered publication in Oxford Poetry. The entry fee is £7, and the submission window usually opens in May and closes in August. 

Poetry Business:  
A leading writer development agency and independent press. Our teaching, mentoring, and editorial work set the standard in writer development. We publish books, pamphlets, and The North magazine, offer digital and in-person poetry workshops, and run an advanced Writing School for published poets. 

Poetry Business Book & Pamphlet Competition:
This international competition has launched the careers of many successful poets, with winning collections produced and widely promoted, sold in UK bookshops, and entered for awards. Recent winners received £500 and editorial support for their pamphlets, while runners-up received £100. Winners, runners-up, and commended poets will be invited to an online reading and published in The North magazine. 

Poetry Business New Poets Prize:
An annual pamphlet prize that creates editorial, publishing and mentoring opportunities for poets aged 17 – 24, in addition to publication in The North magazine and a launch reading. 

Poetry Daily: 
They present a new poem each day chosen from books, journals, and magazines, along with poetry news. Their goal is to help more people discover poetry they enjoy and to connect publishers and editors with a wider audience. 

Poetry London Prize: A major internationally renowned award for a single outstanding poem. Entries can be on any subject, style, of form. There are three prizes of £1,000 (3rd), £2,000 (2nd), and £5,000 (1st). 

Poetry London (submission opportunity): 
A leading international magazine featuring both emerging and acclaimed poets, published in March, June, and October. Poets are paid £30 per poem, with adjustments for longer works. Review and interview fees are pre-agreed with the Reviews Editor, typically £50 per 1,000 words. 

Poetry London Pamphlet Prize:  
The Prize helps writers of all backgrounds and ages who are ready to take their work to the next level via publication with the magazine Poetry London Editions. 

Poetry Society:
They publish the UK’s leading poetry magazine, The Poetry Review and run a range of competitions including the National Poetry Competition, one of the world’s longest running and most prestigious prizes for an individual poem.  

Rebecca Swift Foundation – Women Poets’ Prize: 
A biennial award given to three UK women poets who demonstrate great ability and potential. It consists of a cash prize of £1,000 and 18 months of creative, professional and pastoral support. Entry is free.  

Roundhouse Poetry Slam: 
The Slam, held annually for poets aged 18-25, offers a chance to showcase talent to live and online audiences and network with spoken word professionals. The winner receives £1,000, a performance or commission opportunity, and mentoring. Runners-up also receive cash prizes. 

Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry:  
An annual prize awarded to a poet with an African background who hasn’t published a poetry collection. Manuscripts must be at least 50 pages long. The winner receives $1,000 and book publication. Open annually September to December, entry is free.

Spread the Word: 
A London-based writer development agency offering opportunities, with some available to writers beyond London. 

The National Poetry Competition: 
One of the world’s most prestigious prizes for an unpublished poem of up to 40 lines. Prizes: 1st – £5,000, 2nd – £2,000, 3rd – £1,000, commended prizes £500. The entry fee is £8 and the deadline is usually annually in October. 
 
The Rialto: 
An independent poetry magazine (published three times a year) and poetry publisher of pamphlets and books. On their website you can read poems from the magazine for free as well as articles and blogs by the editors, poets and guest writers. They are always looking for new poets and new poems. When the submission window is open you can send up to six poems unpublished poems to be considered for publication. 

Trio International Poetry Competition: 
It’s organised by (and raises money for) Trio Uganda, a volunteer-led charity. Poems can be on any theme and up to 40 lines. The deadline is usually at the end of October and the entry fee is £5. Prizes: First Prize: £1,000; 2nd: £300; 3rd: £100; plus four commended poems: £25 each.  

Ware Poets Open Poetry Competition: 
An annual competition offering cash prizes. Prizes: 1st prize £600, 2nd prize £300, 3rd Prize £150, Sonnet Prize £150. Winners and shortlisted poets will also be included in the Ware’s Anthology. Entry fee: £5. 
 
Write Out Loud: 
A national hub for participation in poetry, encouraging everyone who writes poetry to share their words. The website contains poetry events, news and reviews, competitions and opportunities. There is also a directory of festivals, publishers, poetry magazines and more.  

Young Poets Network: 
The Poetry Society’s online platform for young poets up to the age of 25. You’ll find features about poets and poetry, challenges and competitions to inspire your own writing, new writing from young poets, and advice and guidance. We also bring you the latest news and ideas from the writing world, and a list of competitions, magazines and writing groups which welcome young writers.  

 
Screenwriting Community  

 

Bang2Write: They provide writing craft tips for screenwriters including free courses, blogs and podcasts. It’s a great place to go for posts on tones, tropes, genre and knowing the marketplace.  

BBC Comedy Collective Bursary Scheme: Annually 10 up-and-coming writers, producers, directors, and editors are selected to develop their careers in scripted comedy. Eligible applicants must have at least one prior credit in any genre across any platform. Each winner receives up to £10k in paid shadowing on a BBC Comedy production, a production mentor, and a £5k development grant for new material or personal development. 

BBC Studios TalentWorks:
We identify and develop emerging talent who are interested in writing on our drama series, creating new show ideas, and building production experience with BBC Studios. 

– The Writers’ Studio programs provide aspiring drama writers with the chance to learn and be commissioned for shows like EastEnders, offering mentorship and training at a BBC Studios retreat. Alumni have written for shows like Killing Eve. 
– The Creators in Residence program supports new talent in Factual genres through presenter training, retreats, and more. 
– Production & Editorial Training Placements offer hands-on training in scripted drama. 

 
BBC Voices: 
This annual 6-month development program for UK and Ireland writers combines in-person sessions at BBC offices with pan-UK video conferences. It provides insights into the TV industry through masterclasses, craft sessions, and discussions, equipping participants with the tools to write for TV. Writers develop a new original series idea and work with the BBC Writers team to create a professional series outline, retaining all rights.  

BBC Writers: 
You could work in film, TV or radio as a scriptwriter. To support your writing their free resources include interviews, advice, toolkits, guidelines and more. They signpost to new writing opportunities and events from the BBC and across the industry. In the Script Library you can read BBC TV, Radio and Film scripts.  

BBC Writers Scripted: 
Annually, we open submissions for drama or comedy/drama scripts, seeking writers with strong potential for development rather than scripts for immediate production. Selected writers join a 1-year development scheme. In the first 6 months, they attend workshops on character, structure, storytelling, and industry masterclasses. The second half focuses on developing an original script with a Script Editor. The scheme aims to nurture new drama writers and help them build connections with producers for potential BBC broadcast commissions. 
 
Channel 4 Commissioning:  
Ever wondered what Channel 4 are currently looking for in pitches and scripts? Channel 4’s Content and Commissioning pages provide in-depth information. In each department (comedy, drama, daytime, E4, Film4 etc.) you’ll find an overview, information about specific areas of programming, a contacts list and FAQs.  

Channel 4 Screenwriting Course (paid opportunity): 
It involves lectures from high-profile writers, producers, and directors, guidance from a script editor, and workshops with industry professionals. You’ll develop an original one-hour drama or serial, with your script optioned for six months and a meeting set up with the Drama Commissioning team for further opportunities. Participants are paid to produce two drafts of a one-hour script. Graduates have gone on to write for Hollyoakes, Ackley Bridge, On The Edge and Screw. 

Film Hub North:  
They have run networking events to provide creatives, including writers, opportunities to form filmmaking teams.  

FutureLearn – Introduction to Screenwriting (free online course): 
This free online course introduces you to the basic elements and key concepts behind a professional screenplay. It’s aimed at anyone new to scriptwriting and for more experienced writers wishing to raise their scriptwriting to a professional level. 

Screenplay Contest by The Script Lab (TSP): 
This annual free competition seeks top new writers and projects, including features, TV pilots, and short screenplays. Prizes are $500 for 1st place, $100 for 2nd, and $50 for 3rd. Winners receive distribution to nearly 1,000 industry professionals, a career consultation, and a Year Membership to TSL 360’s screenwriting video library. We’ve helped past winners sign with option their work to producers. 

ScreenSkills: Read job profile requirements for Games Writers, Screenwriters, Script Supervisors and more.   

UK Scriptwriters Podcast: 
We talk about the UK scriptwriting scene – film, TV and new media – what’s happening, what’s being made and chat with people who get their writing on screen.   

Courses & Talent Development Schemes
  

Creative Writing Ink: They offer online writing courses for all ages and skill levels, along with services for writers at any stage, including proofreading, critique, mentorship, and self-publishing. Courses cover Beginners, Advanced, Intermediate, Creative Non-fiction, Flash Fiction, Poetry, Radio Drama, Novel Writing, and more. 

First Drafts: 
Previously unpublished writers are invited to submit entries of up to 5,000 words from a novel, narrative nonfiction or short story collection in progress. The prize is a week-long writing retreat, plus detailed editorial feedback from the judges and six months’ mentoring. The entry fee is £10 and deadlines are usually in April. 

Harper Collins Author Academy: 
They offer free six-week remote training for writers from underrepresented Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds, covering Fiction, Non-fiction, and Children’s Books. Weekly tutorials, course materials, and masterclasses on publishing fundamentals are provided, with mentorship throughout. Topics include book proposals, working with agents, editors and publishers, contracts, storytelling craft, genres, and author branding. 

Megaphone – Amplifying Children’s Writers of Colour: 
They provide subsidised and fully-funded development (mentoring and workshops) for people of colour in England who want to write for children and teenagers. Their ultimate aim is to change bookshelves so every child can see themselves in stories. 
 
New Writing North: 
A writing development agency for the North of England. The website offers information on events, groups, and projects like screenwriting programmes. 

Reedsy (free online courses):  

All our 10-day writing and publishing Email Courses are free. Select a topic and 5-minute lessons are sent to your email address each morning. There are over 50 courses to choose from, ranging from submitting proposals and editing manuscripts to publishing to book marketing and much more. 

Word Factory Apprenticeship: 
The Word Factory Apprentice Award supports excellence in short fiction. Two emerging short story writers receive free mentorship from leading authors, access to events and masterclasses, and creative development opportunities. The award is for writers working toward their first story collection or starting to submit work, and is not suitable for those with published novels or collections. 

Writing Squad: 
Every two years we recruit 30 writers aged 16 – 22 from across the north of England. We offer a free two-year programme of workshops, 1-1 support, project activity and professional development. After writers have completed the programme, the Squad continues to work with them and support the development of their writing and careers.  

Awards & Competitions 

Alfred Bradley Bursary Award: 
The Award offers a £5,000 bursary for Northern writers who are new to audio writing, with the chance of a Radio 4 drama commission. Supported by BBC Writersroom and BBC Radio Drama North, it has launched many successful northern writers. Entrants submit a 30-page drama script for radio, TV, stage, or film. Past winners include Lee Hall (Billy Elliot) and Peter Straughan (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) who achieved success in radio, TV, and film. 

Alpine Fellowship Theatre Prize: 
The Award honours the best playwriting on an annual theme, offering a £3,000 prize and a rehearsed reading at the Fellowship’s Symposium. Winners and runners-up receive meals, accommodation, and up to £500 in travel expenses to attend. To apply, submit a synopsis of your proposed play, explain how it aligns with the theme, and provide a summary of your theatre experience and past work. 

Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize: 
Awarded annually for the best writing on a changing theme (up to 2,500 words). The winner receives £3,000, and second and third place winners receive £1,000. All winners are invited to attend the Fellowship’s Symposium, with meals, accommodation, and up to £500 in travel expenses covered. All genres including poetry are welcome. 

Anansi Archive Writing Awards: 
They run three quarterly competitions in Flash Fiction, Poetry and Short Story. We do not set a theme or restrict the preferred genre. In addition to cash prizes, we showcase the work on our website. We also hope to invite the best entries for publication in our periodical anthologies. Entry fees £1 – £3 and the top prize is £50. 

Anthology Awards:
Anthology is a magazine featuring luxury goods, travel destinations, fashion and beauty and arts and culture. They run a range of regular competitions and publish winning entries in the magazine. Top prizes range from £500 – £1000. Award categories include Short Story, Poetry, Photography, Cover Art, Travel Writing, Flash Fiction, Nature Writing and Personal Memoir. 

Aurora Prize:
A national short fiction and poetry competition. Winners receive £500, feedback on a piece of work from a literary agent or editor, and a 1-year free membership to the Society of Authors. Winners also receive an advice session with Society of Authors staff, covering career advice, copyright, payment terms and contracts. Deadlines are usually annually in June.  

Bath Flash Fiction Award: 
There are three annual rounds for this international award: March to June, July to October, and November to February. Prizes: 1st – £1000, 2nd – £300, 3rd – £100. Fifty longlisted entrants are offered publication in our end of year print and digital anthology.  

Bath Novel Award (international):
An award for unpublished or independently published novelists. Submit the first 5,000 words of a manuscript of a minimum of 50,000 words in length. Many shortlisted novelists have gone onto secure a publishing deal. There is a separate competition strand for children’s novels. Deadlines are usually annually in May and the top prize is £3,000. 

 Bath Novella-in-Flash Award:  
The award is for novellas between 6,000-18,000 words made up of flash fictions or very short stories, with each flash no longer than 1,000 words. The winner receives £300, and two runners-up get £100. All entries are considered for publication. The submission fee is £16, with the window usually opening in summer and deadline in October. 

BBC National Short Story Award:
One of the most significant UK short story competitions. Entrants must have a prior record of publishing creative work in the UK. Stories up to 8,000 words are accepted, and the top prize is £15,000. Shortlisted stories are awarded a prize of £600. Deadlines are usually annually in March. 

BBC Young Writers’ Award: 

Open to writers aged 14-18, entrants submit a story of no more than 1,000 words. Shortlisted stories are recorded by well-known actors and made available online, before the winner announcement. The winner receives a special 1-1 mentoring session with an author. Before applying you can view the BBC’s short story guides, and listen to past winners stories.   

Bedford Competition (poetry and short stories): 
This annual international competition accepts short stories up to 3,000 words and poems up to 40 lines on any theme. Winning and shortlisted entries are published by our partners, and proceeds are donated to charities. The competition usually runs May – October. Prizes are £1,500 for 1st place, £300 for 2nd, and £200 for 3rd. Entry fee: £8. 

Bitter Pill – The Painkiller Prize: 
This is a new UK playwriting award with a twist. Instead of completed scripts, playwrights submit a pitch with a maximum cast of four alongside a writing sample. The winning playwright receives a £7,500 commission and will develop their play for a rehearsed reading in central London, with opportunities to consult industry experts. 

Blue Pencil Agency Pitch Prize:
A competition for unagented and underrepresented writers looking for representation for a book of adult fiction. Pitch your novel for editorial feedback, recommendations, industry insights and advice on next steps. To apply submit the first 500 words of your opening chapter and a 300-word synopsis. Entry fee: £12. 

Brick Lane Bookshop Short Story Prize:
Open to all UK residents for stories between 1,000-5,000 words, this competition celebrates short stories and supports emerging writers. Winners receive prize money and publication in an anthology. Entry fee is £10, with a top prize of £1,000. 

Bridport Prizes:  
We are committed to discovering and championing new writers through our annual prizes in poetry (£5k), short story (£5k), flash fiction (£1k), novel (£1.5k) and memoir (£1.5k). Entry fees are £10 – £12 and bursaries are available for underrepresented writers. Selected entries are published in an anthology. Deadlines are usually annually in May and September.  

Bristol Short Story Prize:
An international short story competition opened to all writers. In addition to the main prize, all shortlisted writers are published in an anthology and receive £100 in prize money. Stories must be under 4,000 words in length. Entry fees are £8 and the top prize is £1000. 

Cranked Anvil Flash Fiction:
Open year-round, submit stories up to 500 words on any theme or genre. Entry fees: £5 for one story, £8 for two, with up to two entries per quarterly competition. Prizes: £100 for 1st, £50 for 2nd. Winning stories are published on our website, with potential inclusion in future anthologies by Cranked Anvil Press. 

Cranked Anvil Short Story Competition:
For stories on any topic of no more than 3,000 words. The top prize is £1000, publication on Creative Writing Ink’s website and a free creative writing course of the winner’s choice. Entry fee: £9. 

Creative Future Writers’ Award: 
This national writing program supports talented, underrepresented writers facing barriers due to mental health, disability, or social circumstances. Entry is free, with £23,000 in cash and development prizes from top publishers. Winners receive training, mentoring, and coaching. Their work is featured at a high-profile award event and published in an anthology. 

Creative Writing Ink Short Story Competition: 
There is no theme, and the word limit is 3,000. The top prize is £1,000, online publication, and an online creative writing course. Two runners-up each receive £200. Deadlines are usually in November. Their website also lists other writing competitions. Entry fee: £9. 

David Nobbs Memorial Trust Annual Comedy Writing Competition: 
The Trust awards a £1,000 grant annually to emerging comic writers to support their craft, with runners-up receiving £250. Winners also receive a consultation with a comedy producer. To apply, submit the first 10 pages of a half-hour radio or television sit-com pilot script, or four three-minute comedy sketches. Applicants must have at least one credited broadcast comedy credit. 

Dinesh Allirajah Prize for Short Fiction: 
The annual prize is hosted by Comma Press and the University of Central Lancashire, and is open to both published and unpublished writers. Writers respond to a changing theme and all styles / genres are welcome. The winner receives £500 and all 10 shortlisted authors will be featured in an eBook anthology. Entry is free, and your story can be 2,000 – 7,500 words.

Discoveries Prize: 
Discoveries is a traditional writing prize and talent development initiative offering practical support to aspiring female novelists of all ages and backgrounds. The programme culminates with awarding the Discoveries Prize for an unpublished novel-in-progress. Last year the winner was offered representation by Curtis Brown Literary Agency and a cash prize of £5,000. 

Edinburgh Flash Fiction Award:
Open annually to writers worldwide for stories on any topic, up to 250 words. The entry fee is £7 and the top prize is £2,000. The top 20 stories are offered publication in an anthology. Deadlines are usually in August and bursaries are available. 

Edinburgh True Flash Award:
Open to writers worldwide for true stories up to 250 words in memoir, auto-fiction and creative non-fiction. The entry fee is £10 and bursaries are available. Deadlines are usually in August and the top prize is £300. 

Elmbridge Literary Competition:
Open to short stories and poems. Prizes: 1st Place: £250; 2nd: £150; 3rd: £100. Winning entries are also published in a Chapbook. Entry is free. 

Exeter Writers Short Story Competition:
An annual international competition. The entry fee is £7 and the submission window usually opens in December and closes in February. Prizes: 1st – £700, 2nd – £350, 3rd – £250. Visit their website to consult anthologies from previous competitions and to read winning entries. 

Fiction Factory Short Story Competition:
They welcome stories of all genres except Children’s and Young Adult Fiction. The top prize is £500 and the deadline is usually at the end of October. Entry fee: £7.  

Frome Festival Short Story Competition:
An annual, international competition looking for the best unpublished stories between 1,000 – 2,200 words. There are cash prizes (1st prize is £400). The entry fee is £8 and the deadline is usually in May. 

Galley Beggar Press Short Story Prize:
Their annual prize has a top award of £2,000, along with several other smaller prizes, including cash, books and book vouchers. The entry fee is £10 and the deadline is usually annually in October. 

Globe Soup Competitions: 
Visit their website to access various writing competitions – a great way to hone your skills, work to a deadline, gain exposure and win cash prizes. They also run photography and film making contests. Their Love Writing! Facebook group has more than 13k members and it is a supportive and informative environment for both new and experienced writers. There are always members willing to swap critiques or give useful information about upcoming submission deadlines. 

Kenneth Branagh Award for New Drama Writing: 
Amateur playwrights worldwide can submit unpublished one-act plays for the Windsor Fringe Festival. Three winning scripts will be staged, with one receiving a £500 prize, judged solely on writing. Only one script per author is allowed, and it must be original and not previously published or performed. 

Laura Kinsella Fellowship: 
The Fellowship annually supports an unpublished early-career writer of literary fiction who shows extraordinary promise and has a clear project for development. Targeted at underrepresented voices or those facing limiting circumstances, the winner receives £4,000 and tailored professional development, including writing time, mentoring, residencies, and industry introductions. 

Letter Review Prize: 
A regular worldwide writing competition split into the following categories: Short Fiction, Poetry, and Nonfiction, and Unpublished Books (including Novels, Novellas, Short Story Collections, Poetry Collections, and Nonfiction Books). There are no genre or theme restrictions. We offer publication and a yearly Prize pool of $20,000 USD for our winners. You can see previous winners to give you an idea of what they’re looking for. 

Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize: 
This prize champions and launches the careers of exceptional women writers, seeking submissions that combine literary quality with captivating storytelling. The winner receives £1,500, and all shortlisted authors gain a 1-1 consultation with a literary agent, including editorial feedback and publishing advice. Many have gone on to secure publishing deals.

Mairtín Crawford Award: 
These Awards are aimed at writers working towards their first full collection of poetry, short stories, or a novel. Writers are invited to submit between 3-5 poems for the poetry award, and a short story of up to 2,500 words for the short story award, with the only stipulation being that they have not yet published a full collection of poetry, short stories, or a novel. The top prize is £500 plus a writing retreat with accommodation. Two runners up for each Category will receive a £250 cash prize. Entry fees are £10 and the deadline is usually in April. 

Manchester Writing Competition: 
Designed to encourage and celebrate new writing across the globe, the competition is open internationally to new and established writers. There are two £10,000 prizes: the Manchester Poetry Prize for best portfolio of poems and the Manchester Fiction Prize for best short story. You can visit their Competition Archive to read shortlisted and winning poems from previous years. 

Merky Books New Writers’ Prize: 
Merky Books, launched by Stormzy and Penguin Random House, aims to publish stories that represent a new generation of UK writers and readers. Their annual prize is open to unpublished, underrepresented writers aged 18-35 across the UK and ROI. The winner receives a publishing contract, while shortlisted writers attend a Writers’ Camp featuring workshops, panels, and 1-1 editorial sessions. The competition accepts fiction, and in some years, poetry and non-fiction. If you have a manuscript you are working on, or an idea ready, they want to hear from you. 

Moth Prizes:
These international prizes for short stories and poems are open to everyone over the age of 16, and awards a top prize of €10,000 for the best poem and €3,000 for the best short story submitted. It is run by The Moth Magazine, with winners published in the magazine and invited to special prize-giving events. The entry fee is €12 and the deadline is usually in December. 

Neon Books: UK Writing Competitions. An excellent list of writing competitions based in the UK.  

New Writers Flash Fiction: A great list of flash fiction competitions. 

New Writers Flash Fiction and Poetry Competitions: 

Both competitions are open internationally. The top prize is £1,000, second £300 and third £200. The entry fee is £10 and free entries are available for low-income writers. The winners will be published on our website and in a future New Writers Anthology.  
 
New Writing North Northern Writers’ Awards: 
The Awards are England’s largest writing development program, discovering and supporting hundreds of emerging, often unpublished writers. They offer career-changing opportunities, including financial support, mentoring, manuscript assessments, writing placements, retreats, and cash awards to buy time to write. These awards provide a vital boost to writers at an early stage, helping them break into the publishing and broadcast industries. 

Novel Competitions: Visit the New Writers website for a list of novel competitions. 

Papatango New Writing Prize: 
The biggest UK annual playwriting award, it’s unique in offering personal feedback and supporting new writers. Championing people excluded from theatre, the winner is guaranteed a full production, publication, £7,500 fee and royalties.

Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize:  
The Prize has recognized excellence in fiction, life writing, and poetry for 15 years, supporting unpublished writers of all backgrounds. Winners receive £1,000 and are published by Wasafiri, while shortlisted writers are featured on their website. All finalists are offered mentoring and career guidance. Many past winners have secured publishing deals and won major awards. 

Royal Society of Literature (RSL) – Literature Matters Awards: 
The annual award offers £20,000 in total, split across a number of writers projects, to support literary innovation. Priority is given to projects generating discussion on literature’s importance and connecting with new audiences. Eligible projects include writing, publications, events, or productions. UK-based writers with a publication record and small groups of creative collaborators can apply. 

SI Leeds Literary Prize (for unpublished fiction by UK Black and Asian women): 
This national biennial prize supports unpublished fiction by UK Black and Asian women, amplifying underrepresented voices. Prizes include £4,000 for first place, plus an Arvon writing course and manuscript assessment for potential publication. Runners-up receive £2,000 and £1,000, along with manuscript assessments. 

Society of Authors’ Awards: 
Over £100,000 is awarded annually across poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and illustration, recognizing the year’s best voices. Fiction awards are open to writers at all stages, from short stories to novels, including self-published authors. Two non-fiction awards honour young authors, while poetry awards celebrate both emerging and established poets. 

Solstice Nature Prize For Young Writers: 
This annual national competition for UK writers up to age 25 invites entries on the natural world, with a 500-word limit for stories and blogs, or 40 lines for poetry. First-place winners receive £100 and have their work published in the Solstice Anthology. Runners-up receive goody bags and are featured in the online anthology. Entry is free, with a deadline usually in October. Winning entries from last year are available on the website. 

To Hull And Back – Humorous Short Story Competition: 
A biennial humorous writing contest. Entries can be 2,500 words maximum and the ‘early bird’ entry fee is £10. Prizes: 1st Prize: £1,000; 2nd Prize: £200; 3rd Prize: £100; 3 x Highly Commended: £70; 14 x Shortlisted: £35. The submission window is usually open from July until June the following year.  

UK Writers College Short Story Competition: 
Open to unpublished writers (or those published less than four times), it has an annual theme and a 2,000 word limit. Entry is free, with deadlines usually in September. Prizes: 1st place NZ$1,000, 2nd and 3rd places NZ$500 each, converted to sterling. Winning entries will also be published in an anthology. 

Women’s Prize for Playwriting: 
The prize showcases exceptional new plays by female and non-binary writers from the UK and Ireland, championing work from writers of all experience levels. With no creative restrictions, the winner receives £12,000 to co-produce their script. 

Writers and Artists Yearbook Short Story Competition: 
For published and aspiring writers alike – enter our free annual short story competition and be in with a chance of winning a place on one of Arvon’s residential writing courses, and see your story published on our website. To enter, submit a short story for adults of no more than 2,000 words.  

Publishing & Submission Opportunities 

Armley Press (Leeds): 
Armley Press isn’t just about book publishing – they aim to communicate ideas through various formats, including campaign films and blogs. They support diverse, unorthodox voices and authors overlooked by mainstream publishers, with a commitment to Leeds writers as well as established authors. 

BBC Radio 4 Extra – Newsjack (paid submission opportunity): 
BBC Radio 4 offers a range of spoken-word programs, including the topical news sketch show Newsjack on Radio 4 Extra, which invites the public to submit sketches and one-liners. Hosted by Kiri Pritchard-McLean, the satirical show features work by everyday writers, performed by a rotating cast. Visit Newsjack’s submission page for script templates, or explore their blog and past episodes for more guidance. You’ll be paid for if your material is used on air. 

Blossom Spring Publishing (Manchester): 
An independent publishing house with a world-wide distribution. Our submissions are always open. We welcome submissions from everyone – agented or otherwise They are looking for gripping, commercial fiction, non-fiction, children’s fiction and picture books (not poetry or short stories). 

Bluemoose Books (Hebden Bridge): 
An independent book publisher. We don’t publish children’s books, young adult or poetry. To submit send the first three chapters and a synopsis. We aim to let you know if we want to see the full manuscript within twelve weeks.   

Burning Eye Books (South West): 
A small independent publisher specialising in promoting spoken word artists. We aim to dispel the assumption that performance poetry does not transfer well to page and give emerging or established artists opportunities to be published, where they might be rejected from traditional poetry publishers. 

Carcanet (Manchester): 
An independent publisher with a focus on poetry, poetry manuscripts and inventive fiction. 

Crowstep Journal (submission opportunities): 
Crowstep Journal is a space that explores themes around ancestry, the natural world, the extra-ordinary in the ordinary and the magic of everyday things. We invite you to submit poems on these themes in fresh and unusual ways and encourage broad interpretations. Submissions from all are welcome. Selected work is published on a rolling basis. 

Faber & Faber (submission opportunities): 
One of the world’s most famous publishers based in London. They publish the foremost voices in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama. Faber accepts direct poetry submissions – you can send up to 6 examples of your work. They don’t accept unsolicited manuscripts, including works of fiction, non-fiction, plays, screenplays or children’s books. Faber Children’s is open to receive unsolicited submissions from LGBTQ+ writers and illustrators.

Fisher King Publishing (West Yorkshire): 
This full-service publishing house works with authors of all genres, offering mentoring and support throughout the process. Services include project planning, editorial advice, typesetting, cover design, printing, digital conversion, submission to all major book lists, audiobook production and more. They accept unsolicited manuscripts and typically don’t charge for publishing. 

Indolent Books (New York): 
A small nonprofit poetry press. Indolent’s catalogue skews towards writers who are queer, trans, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, women, and people of colour. They work with writers who are underrepresented or marginalized, or whose work has particular relevance to issues of racial, social, economic, and environmental justice.  

Lantana (Oxford): 
They specialise in children’s books, but may consider non-fiction, poetry and graphic novels across all ages. In the UK fewer than 5% of children’s books feature main characters of colour and less than 2% of children’s book creators are British authors of colour. At Lantana, we’re actively seeking under-represented voices and stories by authors who make a diverse range of lived experiences accessible to young children.  

Myslexia Magazine (submission opportunities): 
We produce the bestselling quarterly magazine for women who write. There are 17 different ways to submit fiction, poetry and non-fiction, which can help you get onto the publishing ladder. They also run a wide range of competitions with cash prizes for short stories, flash fiction, novels and poetry (both single poems and pamphlets). 

Peepal Tree Press (Leeds): 
The world’s leading publisher of Caribbean and Black British fiction, poetry and non-fiction (including drama). You can submit at any time, and they aim to reply within 12 weeks.  

Pen & Sword Books (South Yorkshire): 
Our authors include freelance writers, lecturers, journalists, historians, and others passionate about history. Prior book publication isn’t required, but professional writing experience is welcomed. We review all proposals but no longer accept fiction. Please note that we may not reply to unsuccessful proposals or provide manuscript critiques. 

Scratching Shed Publishing (Leeds): 
An independent company happy to receive unsolicited manuscripts – please get in touch first by email to introduce your idea. Thereafter, hard copy manuscripts can be submitted. Some of the genres you can find on their website are humour, general non-fiction, history, scripts, travel & tourism, fiction, current affairs and politics.  

Sharon House Publishing (West Yorkshire): 
A publishing house for children’s books only. We also offer a service to authors wishing to publish their books. We will endeavour to market, publicise and sell our clients’ finished book.  

The State of The Arts (submission opportunities): 
A non-profit media company covering culture in Leeds, Bradford and beyond. We are specialists in arts and culture journalism, pursuing the most exciting and important stories about culture, politics and people in the region. We would love for you to contribute your stories and pitch us ideas about interviews, features, reviews, opinion pieces – or anything else. 

TYPE Magazine (submission opportunities): 
TYPE! is free and available in a range of retailers and independent shops. Although we cannot pay for submissions, we’ll work with authors to promote the piece and their other writing. There are a range of categories you can submit to: #RuleOfSix (tell us a story in six words), Fiction, Flash Fiction, Poetry, Micro-plays, Micro-films and Illustrations.   

Valley Press (Scarborough): 
They independently publish poetry, (including collections, pamphlets and the occasional anthology), fiction (including novels and collections of short stories) and non-fiction, (including memoirs and travel writing). 

Voice Magazine (submission opportunities): 
Voice is ideal for posting reviews about shows you attend, responding to current affairs, blogging about your passion for film, or sharing your creative work. For those considering a media career, the Contributor Programme offers three-month experience working with editors, gaining professional editing advice, interview access, press tickets, and potential paid commissions. Open to 16-25-year-olds, the program helps develop your work from concept to completion while involving you in the process. 

 

Jobs 

Note: You can try searching publishers in the previous section to see if their websites list any job vacancies.  

Arts Council England (filter results to literature jobs in Yorkshire) 

Freelance platforms (that can connect you with clients):  

Upwork, Fiverr, PeoplePerHour 

Glassdoor 

Indeed 

LinkedIn 

National Association of Writers in Education (NAWE) 

The Guardian  

National Union of Journalists 

Writers Guild of Great Britain