October, 2025
Event Details
THE BEDFORD COMPETITION, a nonprofit group, runs annual international short story and poetry competitions for anyone in the world over 17 years of age. There are prizes totaling £5,600 and all
Event Details
THE BEDFORD COMPETITION, a nonprofit group, runs annual international short story and poetry competitions for anyone in the world over 17 years of age.
There are prizes totaling £5,600 and all winning and shortlisted stories and poems are published as an anthology. The competition has been running for 11 years, with the 2024 competition attracting over 1800 entries from 50 different countries. There are special prizes, sponsored by the University of Bedfordshire, for writers aged 17-25 yrs. In addition, there are prizes for local Bedford (UK) residents.
Entries can be from anywhere in the world
FAQ
If you are curious how writing competitions work, or it’s your first time entering one, we recommend reading our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page first.
Sudowrite
We’re keen to encourage quality, so we recommend writers refine their stories before submitting using Sudowrite – a creative writing tool designed to help you rewrite, expand, and enhance your prose with ease. Whether you need help overcoming writer’s block, finding the perfect phrase, or strengthening your story, Sudowrite offers tools that support your creative flow. Visit their website to explore Sudowrite — free trials are available.
