January, 2026

Event Details
The Cheshire Prize for Literature is an open creative writing competition organised by the University of Chester that encourages writers of all ages and experience levels to submit original work. Entries
Event Details
The Cheshire Prize for Literature is an open creative writing competition organised by the University of Chester that encourages writers of all ages and experience levels to submit original work.
Entries are accepted across multiple categories including poetry, short stories, flash fiction, children’s literature and scriptwriting. This year’s competition is open to anyone to enter in three age categories:
- Primary (4-11): poetry or short story category
- Secondary (11-18): poetry or short story category
- Over 18: poetry, short story, flash fiction, children’s literature, scriptwriting
There is no theme, writers can write about anything that inspires them. There is no entry fee.
Prizes:
- All winners in the age 4-17 categories will each receive a book token.
- All winners in the over-18 categories will each receive a cash prize.
Is this competition legit?YES! – Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any event, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work.
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!
