It’s been a long time since I posted any competition opportunities – so here goes with three I’ve stumbled across recently.
Cats Protection Short Story Competition
Cats must be central to the story’s plot and highlight the connection between cats and people. The story must be imaginative and creative as well portraying cats in an accurate and sensitive way.
The entry fee is £10 and will help the charity to continue its work in making a better life for cats.
The winning entry will be published in The Cat magazine and featured on the Cats Protection website. The winner will also receive an exclusive prize bundle from Cult Pens, worth up to £350.
Entries should be between 250 and 1,000 words.
Closing date is 31st March 2026.
For full details click here.
New2theScene Winter Short Story Competition
No theme and a maximum 4,000 words (so a bit more freedom with this one!)
The entry fee is £5 and the closing date is March 1st 2026 (so you might need to get your skates on!)
The winner receives lots of things: A podcast interview, their story published in an anthology & on the website, an ‘Origins’ blog to promote themselves, a free workshop place (worth £30), a relationship with New2theScene – potential offers for projects not advertised and £50 N2tS vouchers for their bookstore.
There are also prizes for ‘notable mentions’
For full details click here.
The Writing Clubroom Spring Competition
No required genre and a maximum 1,000 words.
FREE entry and the closing date is Easter Sunday 2026.
Total prize money is £150, split as follows: Prizes: £75, £35, £15 and £5 × 5
The judges are interested in work that feels honest, considered, and purposeful in its own terms.
For full details click here.
In other news, I’ve joined the Society of Authors. It describes itself as ‘the UK trade union for all types of writers, illustrators and literary translators’ and has 12,500 members. Amongst other things, it gives advice on contracts (these can be full of pitfalls and difficult for the layman to understand), tax and other writerly subjects. It also offers training and the opportunity to meet other writers. I’ve just been to a meet-up with the West Midlands group in Birmingham. There were about ten of us around a table in a cafe and the theme for meeting was ‘How We Promote Ourselves’. It was interesting to hear how authors handled book launches, ‘in person’ events, newsletters and other marketing opportunities. I was surprised (and relieved!) how little emphasis the group put on social media posts. The general consensus was that it was better to focus on a targeted group than shouting into the wind.
I’m looking forward to delving deeper into what the SoA has to offer as the year progresses!
Sally Jenkins 