'Tis the season for writing competitions it seems!  Following hot on the heels of the Bridport Prize and the Trazzler travel writing contest, Writer magazine have announced their new short story contest.  Being run in conjunction with the Gotham Writer's Workshop the contest offers some great prizes, including cash up to $1000, free writing workshops and seminars, and subscription to The Writer.

Entries should be up to 2,000 words and previously unpublished but that seems to be pretty much where the rules end, with free creative license to write on any topic. The guideline of choosing a theme that is "brilliant" and "bold" may seem a bit daunting, but with possible publication in one of the most established writing magazines in the US the bar was bound to be set high.  Think out of the box and come up with a concept that is unique, stylish and punchy enough to stand out from the crowd.   As always, it is a good rule of thumb to spend some time reading the content on both partner sites to get a feel for what the judges will be looking for.

The Writer website has recently had a major facelift, and the new site boasts easier navigation and even better content than before.  If you haven't visited in a while, check it out.

I'm curious as to how many of you regularly take part in writing competitions,  what your motivation is (prizes, acclaim or just the challenge) and how you work it into your regular, paid writing schedule.  Leave your comments and let me know!