Deadline: June 30, 2025
About the competition
The Hastings Book Festival has 3 writing competitions for short stories (max 2,500 words), poetry (max 40 lines) open to all and creative non-fiction for writers within a 20 mile radius of Hastings (max 1,000 words).
The main Hastings Book Festival prize entry is open to all, including non-UK based writers. There is no geographical restriction on entrants.
The Sussex Prize is open to residents of East or West Sussex. The Founder’s Prize is open to new writers living within a 20-mile radius of Hastings or St Leonards on Sea.
Entrants to all competitions must be a minimum of 18 years old at time of entry.
A full list of the winners will be published on the organizer website shortly before the Hastings Book Festival in September.
Competition guideline
- Entrants to all competitions must be a minimum of 18 years old at time of entry.
- The main Hastings Book Festival prize entry is open to all, including non-UK based writers. There is no geographical restriction on entrants.
- The Sussex Prize is open to residents of East or West Sussex.
- The Founder’s Prize is open to new writers living within a 20-mile radius of Hastings or St Leonards on Sea
- Closing date for all entries is 10pm on 30 June 2025. Late entries will not be judged.
- A full list of the winners will be published on our website shortly before the Hastings Book Festival in September
- Entry is confirmation of your acceptance of all rules and conditions.
- Judging is anonymous and all judges’ decisions are final.
- There are no refunds.
- Read the whole guideline and submit your entry here.
