I stumbled across this competition quite by accident but thought to myself its novel and while the money may not be that big, then neither is the entry fee and well it seems sort of fun

Here’s what you have to do. On the 1st of every month the contest promoters ‘Strictly Shakespeare,’ will leave a prose and poetry prompt on their website ‘Strictly Shakespeare,’ anyone wishing to enter will have two weeks to put their thoughts together and submit their work by the deadline on the 14 of each month.

Here’s the interesting part – the judging. The team at Strictly Shakespeare will choose what in their opinion is the ten best entries and then the public can have their say.

Selections are made this way. Every day one entry in each section will be knocked out due to public opinion.  (The votes will be cumlative so if you don’t get a chance to vote each day, DON’T WORRY!)

After ten days the good folks at Strictly Shakespeare will have it down to a 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd winner. The prize isn’t big you’ll get a share of the competition. However, Strictly Shakespeare are working to establish a fixed cash prize. It’s a bit of fun, give it a try.

And here is one for my Scottish readers. The McCash Prize, run jointly by The Herald and Glasgow University, are offering contestants the chance to show off their creative talent but also the opportunity of sharing in a not to be sneezed at prize fund of £1,500

The panel of judges will be led by Liz Lockhead, Scotland’s new Makar, or national poet.

You’re going to have to register with heraldscotland to obtain full details, but not to worry registration is free and it gives you full access to all articles, daily news headlines by email and allows you to share your opinions.  Sign in or Register now

The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is international and open to anyone who loves arranging words into the beautiful art of poetry or writing a short story that is worth telling everyone! And to all who have the ability to dream…

Write a poem or short story for a chance to win cash prizes. Poems and short stories may be submitted on any topic, subject, or theme.

Guidelines: Write a poem, thirty lines or fewer on any subject, style, or form, typed or neatly hand printed. And/or write a short story, five pages maximum length, on any subject or theme, creative writing fiction or non-fiction (including essay compositions, diary, journal entries and screenwriting).

Postmark deadline: July 31, 2011 All contest winners will be announced on August 31, 2011 Prizes: Writing Contest First Prize is $500. Second Prize: $250. Third Prize: $100. Poetry Contest First Prize is $250. Second Prize: $125. Third Prize: $50. Entry fees: $10 per short story. $5 per poem.

Visit Dream Quest

the winner of the ‘Hidden Charms’ Winchester Writers’ Conference short story competition.

Veronica Bright, from Cornwall, scooped the prize for her story about an old woman living a life of anonymity, masking a rich inner life of knowledge and experience, in . ‘Hidden Charms’ the Winchester Writers’ Conference short story competition.

Ms Bright, a children’s writer, attended the conference for the first time last year which prompted her to have a go at this year’s competition.

Competition judge Dr Gary Farnell, senior lecturer in English at the University of Winchester, said in his verdict: “In many ways, the moral of this story is that what is interesting is very often that which is not obvious . . . and this encapsulates a good piece of advice, indeed, for all aspiring writers.”

The conference itself, one of the top writing conferences in the country, starts on July 1 until July 3, with writing workshops taking place from June 27 until July 1.

Lorna Jones the Founder of the Annual Essay Writing Contest for Children of African Caribbean Descent , is looking to host another essay contest in late July strictly for UK  African Caribbean children between the ages of 7 – 16 years.

She is uregntly seeking the following;

1. Volunteer Judges   2. Children between the ages of 7 – 16 years who would like to take part.

If anyone would like to take part, or knows of children who would like to take part, or know of mediums who can help to spread the word about this initiative, please call Lorna Jones on  07880 788 976 / lornajones@yahoo.co.uk

Checkout this website to find out more information about the Essay Contest  www.lornajones.net

Three schoolgirls beat off the competition from thousands of others to make it through to the final of a contest to write a Dr Who script.

Sisters Holly and Rosalyn Draper, 11 and nine, from Corner Lane, Horsford, and their friend Georgie Burton, 10, of Lime Tree Close, Horsford, made it
through to the top 10 out of more than
2,000 entries to pen a three-minute clip of a Dr Who episode.

The script, which includes a guest appearance from Dizzee Rascal, won them all Dr Who goodie bags.

The Horsford Junior School pupils spent nearly a week writing the four-page script.

Georgie said: “It is the longest thing I have ever written. It took us a week to write and was good fun and sometimes hard work but it was worth it in the end.”

To celebrate their success, the girls and the parents are having a party next weekend complete with a Tardis cake.

First prize in the competition was to travel to Cardiff, meet Dr Who star Matt Smith and see
their script being made into an episode.

Holly said: “I saw the competition on an advert after an episode of Dr Who. Me and Ros we going to have a go as a pair but we asked Georgie to help.”

Rosalyn said: “Our parents found out that we had been picked for the top 10 before we knew.”

Georgie added: “My mum was bouncing around and screaming. It was pouring it down outside but we didn’t care.”

Head teacher Neil Toplis said: “They have done fantastically well. We are immensely proud of the girls. They have done this off their own back in their own time and have worked really well together.

“It boosts their self-esteem and the wellbeing of the school. We live in a can-do world and if children see other children doing things it helps them believe that they can too.”

Holly and Rosalyn’s mum, Gill, said: “They have got really into it and all the characters. The script is really imaginative. For them to get this far is great – it is lovely that they have been acknowledged, I’m really proud.”

Have you won a competition? Contact Lucy Wright on 01603 772495 or email lucy.wright@archant.co.uk