Writing Competitions with a February/March deadline:
Let spring in...
Right, that’s January out of the way – a month where one recovers from Christmas. In fact, I’ve always found it a rather silly month in which to make plans and resolutions, as one doesn’t feel like doing much when it’s brass monkeys outside. February, however, is a different matter. In Ireland, February 1st, St. Bridget’s Day, is the first of spring. There’s not a helluva lot of differnce between winter and spring (or indeed summer) in Ireland – but it is the concept that is important. On February 1st, I get moving again.
And, if I’m moving, I’ve got to enter some comps. So, let’s have a look at competitions with deadlines running up until the end of March. You’ll notice that many of these are Irish competitions, this is partly because, obviously, I’m Irish and these are the comps I know of, but also because the short story and story telling is held in such esteem in Ireland, it’s got to have more writing contests per square foot than any other district of the universe. However, if you have information regarding prizes, contests or awards with a deadline before March 31st, running in your country – please feel free to add/comment.
Finally, please note that I’m merely collating information posted elsewhere on the Internet. I am not responsible for or affiliated with any of these competitions and have no more information than that on the website listed. Please do not send your entries to me and please do not write to ask about the specifics of individual contests. I won’t know. It’s best to go to the website address provided and inquire there.
And good luck!!!
Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook Short Story Competition
Prize: £500 plus a place on an Arvon course
Entry Fee: n/a
Deadline: February 14th 2012.
Website: http://www.writersandartists.co.uk
Irish Post/Stena Line Writing Competition
Prize: £500 & free travel to Listowel Writers’ Festival in Co. Kerry.
Entry Fee: £n/a
Deadline: 2nd March 2012
Website: http://www.irishpost.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=100
NOTE: Only open to Irish/Irish descent resident in Britain (ie the theme concerns the Irish immigrant experience in the UK).
The Bryan MacMahon Short Story Competition
Prize: €2,000
Entry Fee: €10.00
Deadline: 2nd March 2012
Website: http://writersweek.ie/the-bryan-mcmahon-short-story-competition
The Writers’ Week Originals Competition
Prize: €750
Entry Fee: €10.00
Deadline: 2nd March 2012
Website: http://writersweek.ie/writers-week-originals-competition
The Eamon Keane Full Length Play Competition
Prize: €500
Entry Fee: €20.00
Deadline: 2nd March 2012
Website: http://writersweek.ie/eamon-keane-full-length-play
Twisted Stringybark Short Story Award 2012
Prize: $300 AUS plus publication
Entry Fee: $9.75 AUS
Deadline: 4th March 2012
Website: http://www.stringybarkstories.net/The_Stringybark_Short_Story_Award
Cúirt New Writing Prize 2012
Prize: €500
Entry Fee: €10
Deadline: 5th March 2012
Website: http://www.cuirt.ie/component/content/article/3-newsflash/70-cuirt-new-writing-prize-2012
Limnisa / Bluethumbnail SHORT STORY Competition
Prize: One week full board writers’ retreat at LIMNISA
Entry Fee: £6
Deadline: March 15th, 2012
Website: http://www.bluethumbnail.com/Author/competitionpage.html
Mslexia 2012 Women’s Short Story Competiton
Prize: £2,000
Entry Fee: £10
Deadline: 19th March 2012
Website: http://mslexia.co.uk
Molly Keane Memorial Creative Writing Award (I won this last year!)
Prize: €500
Entry Fee: n/a
Deadline: 26th March 2012
Website: http://www.mollykeanewritersretreats.com/2012writingaward.htm
PJ O’Connor Radio Drama Awards
Prize: Professional production of the best three 40-minute plays with €5,000 to Winner
Entry Fee: n/a
Deadline: 30th March 2012
Website: http://www.rte.ie/radio1/pjoconnorawards/
The Bristol Short Story Prize
Prize: £1,000
Entry Fee: £7
Deadline: March 31st 2012.
Website: http://www.bristolprize.co.uk
Plymouth University’s Short Fiction Competition
Prize: £500
Entry Fee: £10
Deadline: March 31st 2012.
Website: http://www.shortfictionjournal.co.uk/
The Moth Short Story Prize
Prize: €1,000
Entry Fee: €8
Deadline: March 31st 2012.
Website: http://www.themothmagazine.com
The Short Fiction Journal Prize
Prize: £500 plus publication
Entry Fee: £10
Deadline: March 31st 2012.
Website: http://www.shortfictionjournal.co.uk/competition.html
And finally… not a competition per se, but a chance to have your work published in leading literary magazine. The Stinging Fly are accepting submissions up until March 31st: http://www.stingingfly.org/about-us/submission-guidelines
suehealy 
February 5th, 2012 at 15:10
great info…have a wonderful Sunday and many smiles you…
February 5th, 2012 at 21:03
Thanks for your generous sharing of all these comps and submission details. Enjoy reading your blog… Always interesting 🙂
February 26th, 2012 at 20:51
Thanks for taking the time to post these competitions. I just wish I’d found them a month ago *sigh*.