Encouraging aspiring writers

Our mission? To encourage
writers everywhere

We are passionate about discovering creative writing talent from around the world. Previous winners include the novelist Kate Atkinson MBE, Kit de Waal and Kelleigh Greenberg- Jephcott. Former judges include Monica Ali, Roger McGough and Zoe Heller. Many writers have launched their careers with us and ended up on the best sellers list.

I’ve been on the receiving end of The Bridport Prize a couple of times and know how prizes can change your writing life. I hope to help take The Bridport Prize through the next fifty years – and beyond!

Kit de Waal, Honorary Patron
Author of bestselling novel My Name Is Leon
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We promise to

  • Provide opportunities for aspiring writers
  • Give new writers a route to publication through our anthologies
  • Create access to our partners AM Heath Literary Agency, Headline Fiction, John Murray and The Literary Consultancy
  • Discover new talent
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Categories & Prizes

Poetry

1st £5,000 | 2nd £1,000 | 3rd £500
& Highly Commended 10 x £100

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Short story

1st £5,000 | 2nd £1,000 | 3rd £500
& Highly Commended 10 x £100

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Flash Fiction

1st £1,000 | 2nd £500 | 3rd £250
& Highly Commended 3 x £100

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Novel Award

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Memoir Award

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Peggy Chapman-Andrews First Novel Award

Winner: £1,500 plus up to a year’s mentoring from The Literary Consultancy through their Chapter & Verse scheme (worth £2,640) and a detailed critique from the judge.

Runner-up: £750 plus a full manuscript appraisal and Industry Day place from The Literary Consultancy.

Shortlisted writers: 3 x £150 plus a 50-page manuscript appraisal (redeemable against a full read if preferred) plus an Industry Day place.

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Young Writer Award

We award £500 to the highest placed writer aged 16 to 25 in Poetry, Short Story, Flash Fiction and Novel. The winning piece will feature in our anthology, which counts as being published and opens doors with literary agents and publishers. It also accesses other competitions not available to the public.

Dorset Award

We give £100 to the highest placed writer from Dorset in Poetry, Short Story, Flash Fiction and Novel. Sponsored by The Bookshop, Bridport.

Our readers

We have a dedicated team of experienced readers who assist our judges. They work hard to make the competition a success.

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Get in touch

Bridport Prize
Bridport Arts Centre
South Street
Bridport
Dorset
DT6 3NR UK