Competition Rules
1. The competition is open to all writers, from anywhere in the UK or the World, with an open theme.
2. The entry fee is £8 for one story submitted, or £12 for two stories. Further entries cost £5 each.
3. Entries must be no longer than 2000 words in length. Stories with more than 2000 words (excluding the title) will be disqualified.
4. Entrants are invited to submit as many stories as they wish, There is no entry form, but a separate sheet must be included with each manuscript submitted, giving your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, and title of story.
5. Entries are to remain anonymous when read by the judges. Please do not write your name on your manuscript.
6. The title of the story should be written on the manuscript, at the top of the story.
7. Entries should be typed and double spaced for preference and on one side of the paper only if sent by post.
8. By entering, entrants certify that the stories submitted for this competition are entirely their own original work. If they have been previously published in book form or on the internet, they can still be entered in this competition. Previous prize-winning stories in this competition cannot be entered again, however.
9. Whilst copyright remains with the entrant, the organisers reserve the right to publish part or all of any of the entries in connection with the competition.
10. Prizes will be awarded as follows:
First Prize £300 Second Prize £100 Third Prize £50
11. The decision of the judges shall be final.
12. The organisers reserve the right not to award any of the prizes, in which case entry fees will be returned.
13. Members of Northampton Writers’ Group are not entitled to enter the competition.
14. The organisers will not accept responsibility for the loss or damage of any manuscripts entered. Please make sure you make a copy before submitting your entry as manuscripts cannot be returned.
15. Closing date for entries: Monday 5th December 2022.
16. Send your entry in doc, docx, or pdf format as an attachment to an email to hebatescomp@gmail.com. We will send you a PayPal request for payment to complete the entry.
Alternatively, you can send your entry by post to Nick Hamlyn, H.E.Bates Competition, 19 Kingswell Road, Northampton NN2 6QB, together with a cheque payable to N.Hamlyn or a postal order.
17. Judging will be by members of the Northampton Writers' Group and the winners will be published on this website (and notified individually) in the middle of January 2023.
