The Bournemouth Writing Prize is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a unique collaboration with the Bournemouth Writing Festival.
Poetry
Submission Guidelines
- Up to 30 lines per poem
- No theme, submit your best work
- We invite submissions from anywhere in the World
- Optional donation to children’s writing charity The StoryWorks
Judge: Multi-award-winning poet Abu Ibrahim
Entry Fee: £10 for up to three poems. Early bird 20% discount ends 31st May
Prizes:
- First prize £1,000, second prize £300, third prize £200.
- Overall winner published in Dorset Magazine,
- Overall winner can read their entry at the 2026 Bournemouth Writing Festival (accommodation provided)
- Overall winners get tickets to the 2025 Bournemouth Writing Festival
- Winners and shortlisted are published in an anthology
- Opportunities for non-winners or shortlisted to be published in Bournemouth University’s Bournemouth Journals.
Short Story
Submission Guidelines
- Up to 3,000 words
- No theme, submit your best work
- We invite submissions from anywhere in the World
- Optional donation to children’s writing charity The StoryWorks
Judge: Literary agent founder Madeleine Milburn
Entry Fee: £10. Early bird 20% discount ends 31st May
Prizes:
- First prize £1,000, second prize £300, third prize £200.
- Overall winner published in Dorset Magazine,
- Overall winner can read their entry at the 2026 Bournemouth Writing Festival (accommodation provided)
- Overall winners get tickets to the 2025 Bournemouth Writing Festival
- Winners and shortlisted are published in an anthology
- Opportunities for non-winners or shortlisted to be published in Bournemouth University’s Bournemouth Journals.
Both deadlines: 15th August 2025
All details, all submissions via their website.