September, 2026

Event Details
SaveAs Writers is a Canterbury-based writing group running its annual international competition, this year marking 150 years since Alexander Graham Bell’s first telephone call with the theme “Lines of Communication.”
Event Details
SaveAs Writers is a Canterbury-based writing group running its annual international competition, this year marking 150 years since Alexander Graham Bell’s first telephone call with the theme “Lines of Communication.” The theme is intentionally broad, inviting writers to explore communication in relationships, the internet age, human-AI or human-robot interaction, or between nations and cultures — along with the limits, difficulties, and unintended consequences of communication itself.
The competition runs two parallel categories: poetry (up to 60 lines) and short stories (up to 3,500 words), each judged separately and each carrying its own prize purse. Entries are welcomed from both UK and international writers.
The Poetry category awards the Canterbury Christ Church University Poetry Prize, judged by Derek Sellen and Mary Anne Smith Sellen, while the Prose category awards the Canterbury Festival Fiction Prize, sponsored by Canterbury Festival and judged by Emma May Cruickshank. Both categories offer identical prize tiers: £200 for first place, £100 for second, and £50 for third.
Is this event legit?YES! – Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer’s website and carefully read the terms and conditions!
Subscribe to Writing Deadlines
Never miss a deadline again. The Writing Deadlines newsletter delivers curated, verified writing competitions, prizes, and open calls straight to your inbox — subscribe here.
Could your writing use a second pair of eyes?
ProWritingAid combines deep grammar and style checks with genre-specific reports on pacing, repetition, and readability, helping you self-edit like a pro before you submit your work. Get started here — it’s free to try!