Adult Writing Competitions

This year’s Adult Writing Competitions invite writers to explore the theme of “Surprise”.  We encourage unexpected twists, imaginative turns, and moments that shift perspective or reveal the unforeseen. Across both categories, entrants are urged to embrace originality and let the unpredictable shape your writing.

Adult Short Story Competition

  • Age Category: Adults 18+
  • Word Limit: Prose 1500 Words
  • Theme: Surprise
  • Prize: €150
  • Closing Date: 5th June 2026. (Midnight Irish Time)
  • Winners: Announced Sunday 5th July
ENTER HERE

Adult Poetry Competition

  • Age Category: Adults 18+
  • Max Limit: Poetry 40 Lines
  • Theme: Surpise
  • Prize: €150
  • Closing Date: 5th June 2026. (Midnight Irish Time)
  • Winners: Announced Announced Sunday 5th July
ENTER HERE

Rules

  • Entries must be in English.
  • Poems must be no longer than 40 lines. Short stories must be no longer than 1500 words. Entries exceeding the limit will be disqualified.
  • Entries must reflect the theme of the contest.
  • Entries must be submitted in a clear, generic font such as Times New Roman, 12pt or 14pt, double spaced, with pages numbered.
  • Manuscripts must not show the name or address of the entrant, but must include the title.
  • Entries must be the work of the entrant and must not have been published or accepted for publication elsewhere.
  • Entries may have appeared online in private (password protected) peer review sites, but should not have been published in any commercial online form including blogs or personal websites.
  • We accept simultaneous submissions but request that entrants notify us if their work has been accepted elsewhere. No refund will be given.
  • The competition is international and welcomes entrants from overseas.
  • Copyright remains with the author.
  • Entries cannot be returned.
  • The decision of the judge is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
  • The closing date for entries is midnight (Irish Summer Time) on 5th June 2026. Entries received after this date will not be accepted.
  • Shortlisted entrants will be notified by email, on 25th June 2026.
  • Winners will be announced during the Mullingar Literary Festival on Sunday 5th July at Caffreys Bar and subsequently by email.
  • The results of the competition will be published on the Mullingar Literary Festival Website.
  • Entries should be submitted via the entry form as a Microsoft Word Document (.doc or .docx), OpenDocument Text (.odt), Rich Text File (.rtf), or PDF (.pdf).
  • Entries will not be accepted without payment.
  • No corrections will be accepted or refunds given.
  • Entries not complying with competition rules will be disqualified.