1. The competition closes Sunday 19 May 2024 at 11:59 pm. Entries submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
2. Postal entries must be received by Monday 20 May.
3. This year’s theme is ‘Reveal.’ The theme is a creative prompt, not a requirement. We are seeking the highest quality writing foremost.
4. You can submit ONE piece of writing in one category only (poetry, fiction or creative non-fiction), up to and not exceeding (not including title, line/stanza breaks or epigraph):
   • Poetry: maximum 50 lines
   • Fiction: maximum 2000 words
     
   • Creative non-fiction: maximum 2000 words
   • Excerpts from longer works of fiction/non-fiction (i.e. novels, memoirs) are accepted but must read as self-contained/stand alone pieces.
5. The competition is ONLY open to writers who are:
   • Underrepresented--those who find it difficult to access the writing world due to mental health challenges, disability, health, identity or social circumstance. These categories are defined here.
   • UK residents. Please do not enter if you live outside the UK, due to the nature of the prizes and opportunities on offer.
   • Over 18 years old.
6. The competition is ONLY open to writers who have not previously published a book/stand-alone publication via an established press/publisher, or are under contract for publication this year, in creative non-fiction, fiction/YA or poetry.
   • This does not include self-published books, work as part of an anthology, or in magazines (print or online).
   • It does include poetry pamphlets.
   • This includes if you intend to enter in a different genre than you've been published in.
   • It does not include children's books, academic, technical, travel guides, cookbooks or similar.
7. Please DO NOT put your name on your work. Judging is anonymous. You may use a pen name if you wish, up to and including publication, announcement and associated publicity.
8. We cannot offer feedback on your work or enter into correspondence about your entry.
9. Submissions cannot be altered after entry. You can withdraw your entry and make a new one if needed.
10. Your work must not have been created using AI software (e.g. ChatGPT), unless this is done in a transformative or artistic way and this is clearly indicated.
11. We prefer typed entries, but accept handwritten entries—keep copies as entries will not be returned.
12. Winners will be notified by 30 September. Judges’ decisions are final.
13. Winning pieces will be published in our anthology and therefore must not have been published previously in magazines, anthologies, or online where there is an external selection process (e.g. except on your own blog, website, or social media).
14. If you have entered your work into another competition and won, or the piece is accepted for publication elsewhere, please notify us immediately to withdraw your submission.
15. Copyright remains with the author, though by submitting you agree to allow us to publish winning work in the anthology and e-book.
16. Employees of Creative Future or our project partners, and past winners, are ineligible to enter.
17. Your personal data will be covered by current UK data protection legislation.
18. We reserve the right to amend the Rules as deemed necessary or where circumstances are beyond our control. Any changes will be posted on the Creative Future website.

If you have any questions, please get in touch on 01273 234780 or [email protected].