The Manchester Writing School at MMU is launching the next Manchester Poetry and Fiction Prizes – a major international literary competition celebrating excellence in creative writing. Both prizes are open internationally to new and established writers aged 16 or over. There is a £17 entry fee and the deadline for entries is Friday 30th August 2013. The prizes will be awarded at a gala ceremony hosted as part of the 2013 Manchester Literature Festival on Friday 18th October 2013.

The Manchester Poetry Prize 2013

First prize £10,000
Chair: Adam O’Riordan
Judges: Carcanet poets Bernard O’Donoghue and Fiona Sampson

The Manchester Poetry Prize will award a cash prize of £10,000 to the writer of the best poems submitted. All entrants are asked to submit a portfolio of three to five poems, which can be on any subject, and written in any style, but must be new work, not previously published, or submitted for consideration elsewhere during this competition.

The Manchester Fiction Prize 2013

First Prize £10,000
Chair: Nicholas Royle
Judges: Alison Moore and Robert Shearman

The Manchester Fiction Prize will award a cash prize of £10,000 to the writer of the best fiction submitted. All entrants are asked to submit a story of up to 2,500 words in length. The story may be on any subject, and written in any style, but must be fiction and new work, not previously published or submitted for consideration elsewhere.

For further details, to enter online, or to download a printable entry form for postal submission go to http://www.manchesterwritingcompetition.co.uk/or contact James Draper to order a printed entry pack: +44 (0)161 247 1787 or j.draper@mmu.ac.uk.