2023 POETRY AND FLASH FICTION COMPETITIONS

The Allingham Festival 2023 Flash Fiction and Poetry Competitions are now open! This year’s entry period runs from June 1st to September 29th.

International entries are welcome! Two of the winning entries in 2022 were crafted by writers in Canada and Dubai.

The 2023 Allingham Festival will take place in Ballyshannon from November 8-12, and the Awards Ceremony is scheduled to be webcast on Friday, Nov 10. Winning entries from past years are posted on the Allingham website – www.allinghamfestival.com

This year’s submission deadline is 6 October 2023 for both on-line and postal entries.

First Prize in both Flash Fiction and Poetry is €300. Winners will be invited to read their winning entries in the webcast on-line Awards Ceremony.

The following rules are for the Allingham Poetry and Flash Fiction Competitions for adult writers who will be 18 or older by Wednesday, 8 November 2023. The rules, entry forms and deadlines for Allingham Children's Art and Writing Competitions are listed separately on this website.

Terms and Conditions for Allingham Poetry and Flash Fiction Competitions for adults:

  • All entries must be the original work of the entrant. Entrants must be 18 years old or older on or before 8 November 2023.

  • Entries must not have been published elsewhere (online, digital, or in print) before 8 November 2023. Entries which are declared first-place winners in other writing competitions before 8 November 2023 will not be eligible.

  • First-place winners of 2021 and 2022 Allingham Poetry or Flash Fiction competitions are not eligible to re-enter in 2023.

  • Members of the 2023 Allingham Festival Organising Committee and their immediate families are not eligible to enter the Poetry or Flash Fiction Competitions.

  • All entries must be written in English.

  • Entries must be typed or printed using a standard font – see specifications below. Handwritten entries will not be considered.

  • Entries can be submitted on-line or by post. The deadline for receipt of both postal and on-line entries is 23:59 on Friday, 6 October 2023.

  • Each entrant may submit up to 5 poems, maximum 40 lines per poem.

  • Each entrant may submit up to 5 flash fiction pieces, maximum 700 words each.

  • Judges’ decisions are final. No correspondence will be entered into regarding the shortlist or the winners. Entries will not be returned.

HOW TO ENTER

  • Submit online entries as doc, docx, or pdf files. Each entry – each poem or flash fiction piece – must be submitted as a separate file. Postal entries must be typed or printed on A4 pages.

  • Page number format must include page number and total page count for each entry. Example: Page 1 of 3, Page 2 of 3, etc.

  • Flash Fiction pieces must be submitted in 12 point Arial or Times New Roman font, with 2 cm margins on A4 pages. Use 1.5 or double-spacing. Include title of entry and page number(s) on all pages. 700 words maximum.

  • Poetry formatting, including spacing, is at the discretion of the author. Include title of each entry and page number(s) on all pages. 40 lines maximum.

  • Entries must be accompanied by an application form. For online entries, the entry form serves as an application form. For postal entries, print an application form and include it with your entry or entries.

  • Include the title of your story or poem and its page number(s) on all pages, but not your name or any other personal details. Personal information must appear only on the application form.

ENTRY FEES

The entry fee is €5 for each poem or flash fiction piece.

Poetry and flash fiction competitions are separate, and entries to the two competitions must be made separately.

Example: if you wish to submit one piece of flash fiction and three poems, fill out an entry form for the flash fiction and submit the entry along with the fee. Fill out a separate entry form for the three poems and send the form and the three poems along with the fee.

Poems and flash fiction entries must be submitted in separate emails or in separate envelopes.


POSTAL ENTRIES

*** Download the Postal Application Form in MSword or PDF format ***

Post entries, entry form and postal order or cheque to:

Allingham Poetry Competition

or

Allingham Flash Fiction Competition

c/o A Novel Idea

Castle Street

Ballyshannon

Co Donegal  F94 HK8W

In your cover letter, write:

  • The number of entries submitted

  • The title of each entry

  • Your name

  • Postal address

  • Email address

  • Contact phone number

 

Cheques should be made payable to “Allingham Festival”. Inquiries to allinghamfest@gmail.com