Opportunities
Welcome to Literature Wales’ opportunities page where we share internal and external literary opportunities, from competitions to residencies, from Wales and beyond. If you have any opportunities you’d like us to feature, please email us on: post@literaturewales.org
Literature Wales Opportunities
Tŷ Newydd Creative Writing Courses
We have a range of creative writing courses and retreats available at Tŷ Newydd – the National Writing Centre of Wales. Why not have a look and discover what’s on offer.
Work Opportunities
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama: Schools and Colleges Liaison Officer – 12 August
The Schools and College’s Liaison Officer will work with schools and Further Education colleges, particularly across Wales and Southwest England. You will support our work to raise awareness of higher education opportunities through targeted intervention projects, promoting the benefits of studying music and drama to local and national communities. Schools and Colleges Liaison Officer | Arts Council of Wales
Call-outs
Black Bee Call for Submissions – Rolling
Black Bee Books is currently open for submissions from under-represented voices in Wales. As a new publishing house based in West Wales, the company want to be reflective of a wide variety of experiences and are actively seeking those who are under-served by the industry.
They are looking to publish both adult and young adult fiction and non-fiction, but not children’s books.
For submission guidelines please see: www.blackbeebooks.wales/contact
Hack Publishing
- Anthology 3 (limited): We’re on the hunt for work that terrifies. This may be a scary story or it could be a piece of writing you are frightened to share with the world. Think your classic ghost tales and haunted houses, but also your intrusive thoughts or diary entries. Deadline: 23 August
- General Submissions (rolling): Full-length manuscripts in any of the following genres or hybrids: Queer Fiction, Horror/Gothic, Mystery/Thriller, Sci-fi, Fantasy, & Creative Non-Fiction.
Link for both: https://hack-publishing.co.uk/submissions/
Folding Rock – Rolling
Folding Rock is always on the hunt for the best new creative fiction and non-fiction in, from and connected to Wales. We accept work by writers at any stage and age, and we pay for every piece we publish. Submissions are always open but specific themed call-outs for each issue will be made three times a year. We also take pitches for translations, visual essays and multi-media work – check out our website for more details: https://foldingrock.com/submit-your-work/
If you’re an author or publisher with a book out that’s connected to Wales, tell us about it here: https://foldingrock.com/tell-us-about-a-book/
New Croton Review – Rolling
While the New Croton Review seeks poetry, fiction and non-fiction in English, we welcome the submission of translations of work written in other languages (as long as, if the author of the translated work is still entitled to copyright, the author has given permission for the translation). Those who submit English translation of their own work in Welsh may also submit the original Welsh version and should indicate whether they prefer that, if the translation is accepted for publication, the original version be included.
There are no geographical or age limitations. Click here to read the submission guidelines on our website. If your work is accepted, we’ll ask you to grant us the right to publish it, but you retain the copyright and the right to publish it elsewhere.
Broken Sleep Books – various closing dates
Broken Sleep Books are a working-class, small, innovative press, who publish a range of poetry and prose, from a range of writers. Our primary focus is in increasing access to the arts, in ensuring more people are able to engage with creativity regardless of their socioeconomic status. ABOUT US & SUBMISSIONS | Broken Sleep Books
Witty Wicklow Writers Magazine: Issue 1 – 31 August
An international literary magazine edited from County Wicklow, Ireland, and published by Ring of Culture.
We are currently accepting submissions of poetry, fiction, flash fiction, creative non-fiction, and memoir-style writing from writers in Ireland and abroad. More information.
Competitions
Eisteddfodau Cymru – Ongoing
There are several literary competitions held by various Eisteddfod events across Wales annually.
For further information and closing dates, visit the Cymdeithas Eisteddfodau Cymru website.
Writory – Monthly
Writory, a monthly international poetry contest. Any language, and every entrant gets a judged score on a published five-criteria rubric plus a certificate, win or not. Winners get cash prizes, and past winners are published openly with their poems and scores. The deadline returns on the 25th of every month.
Polari Prize 2026 – 17 August
The Polari Prize 2026 is now open for submissions. This year there are two awards – for a first book and for a book by an established writer. Writers must be born or based in the UK and books published in the 12 months up to and including Feb 1, 2026.
We’re pleased to welcome five new judges for the 2026 awards, including three members of the trans and non-binary writing community.
This year’s judges are – poet Alice Denny, literary critic Suzi Feay, poet and ‘Bard of Exeter’ Casey Garfield, literary agent David H Headley, writer Rachel Holmes, Gurmit Singh of Lancaster Literature Festival, Katy Jon Went of The Human Library, and Garry Wilson, CEO of easyJet Holidays. More information.
World of Books Sustainable Story Award 2026 – 31 August
The Sustainable Story Award welcomes published authors across fiction, non-fiction, and children’s literature. The Sustainable Story Award welcomes published authors across fiction, non-fiction, and children’s literature. For 2026, the award shifts its focus from unpublished proposals to published works, celebrating books released within the past year that bring sustainability themes to life for readers.
Publishers, authors and agents can submit applications at worldofbooks.com/en-gb/pages/sustainable-story-award by 31st August 2026. Submissions should include an explanation of how the work connects to sustainability and the award is open to books published between 28th July 2025 to 27th July 2026. Entry is free and open to debut and established authors alike.
Southam Book Festival Flash Fiction Competition 2026 – 5 September (noon)
Writers submitting 100 word stories for Southam Book Festival’s Flash Fiction competition
must include one particular word selected by one of the judges. This year’s chosen word is HORIZON.
1st prize: £60. 2nd prize: £30. 3rd prize: £20. 100 WORDS 2026 | Southambookfest
The Sareeta Domingo Prize – 21 September
The Sareeta Domingo Prize is a free-to-enter writing prize created to discover and support unpublished writers from Black and Global Majority backgrounds, founded by bestselling author Dorothy Koomson in association with Sareeta Domingo’s family, Hachette UK, Jacaranda Books and David Higham Associates.
The prize has been created to honour the legacy of Sareeta Domingo, a much-admired editor and author, and a passionate champion of diverse stories and underrepresented voices, who passed away in 2025. Welcome to The Sareeta Domingo Prize | Hachette UK
2027 Next Generation Short Story Awards – 28 January
Have an unpublished short story ready to be discovered?
The 2027 Next Generation Short Story Awards is now accepting original, unpublished short stories of up to 5,000 words. Writers of all experience levels—including first-time authors—from the United States, Canada, and around the world are invited to enter. Next Generation Short Story Awards – How To Enter