The purposes of the SOMW competitions are:
- The recognition of high quality writing by members.
- As a stimulus to those who may have intended to write for publication but have not so far made the effort.
- To encourage participation in workshops organised by the Society.
- To indicate to publishers a standard of writing by members of the Society.
There are half yearly awards in the following categories, for which the entry deadlines are normally January 31st and July 30th
(A) Fiction
Short story (maximum 2500 words)
(B) Poetry
Maximum 40 lines
(C) Non-fiction
Unpublished article or essay (maximum 2500 words)
First, download and print off the Competition entry form.
(Only one entry form is required for each competition, even if multiple submissions are being made.)
Each entry:
- Should state which category it is entered in.
- Must have a title and a pseudonym
- Be in double-spaced typescript on A4 size paper, printed on one side only
- Be In a form suitable for submission to a publisher.
- Have its pages numbered, and kept together with a paperclip.
Writing must be original, and not previously published.
It should not have been previously entered for the SOMW journal ‘The Writer’, even if the issue it was entered for has not yet been published.
Only one copy of each entry is required.
There will be an entrance fee (see the entry form for each competition)
The entries should be accompanied by the entry form, a cheque and a stamped, self-addressed A4 envelope.
Be prepared to send an electronic copy to the editor of the SOMW journal if this is requested. All entries will be considered for publication in The Writer.
There will be an independent judge (the external assessor). Where possible, the script will be returned with the independent judge’s critique.
There is no limit to the number of awards which can be held or won by any one author.
The results will be published in the following edition of The Writer.
All winning entries will automatically be entered for the Wilfred Hopkins Award, given for the best piece across all categories over the entire year. This award will be presented at the Autumn Conference.
Then post your entries to the Competition secretary, Charmian Goldwyn, 77 Elm Bank Gardens, London SW 13 0NX who will forward them to the relevant competition judge. The result of each competition will be given out at the next conference; writers not attending will be informed by post.
Please don’t forget to enclose a self-addressed A4 envelope with your entry: if you have won a certificate and you are not at the next conference the large envelope will be needed to enclose your certificate.