This Is Our Place, our nature writing project celebrating London’s wildlife, nature and the diverse communities of the city through words, in partnership with London Wildlife Trust, will run a free-to-enter nature writing competition.
The competition is open to writers who meet the following criteria:
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Aged 18+
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Are from at least one of the following backgrounds currently underrepresented in publishing: Disabled; LGBTQIA+; Working class; Writer of Colour (Black, Asian, Arab, Mixed-Raced and Non-white Latinx)
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Are a full-time resident of London (we define London using this postcode map: https://www.doogal.co.uk/london_postcodes.php )
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Have attended at least one online or in person workshop in the This Is Our Place programme of free events. You can book a place for an online or in-person workshop for August here: www.spreadtheword.org.uk/this-is-our-place-nature-writing-workshops-open-for-booking/
The competition will open on Monday 2 August and close on Monday 20 September at 5pm.
The 20 prize-winners will be published in print and digital in a special This Is Our Place anthology. Some writers will be invited to attend and read at the anthology launch on Saturday 27 November at Camley Street Natural Park in Kings Cross.
Entries can be either:
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Poetry – one Poem up to 30 lines maximum,
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Prose – fiction or creative non-fiction up to 1,000 words maximum.
Entries must be themed on nature, but this can be interpreted by the writer. Please read the full terms and conditions of the competition before entering.
The competition will be judged by the This Is Our Place writers-in-residence: Anita Sethi, Elspeth Wilson, Jackee Holder, Laura Barker and LiLi K. Bright. Full details on how to enter will be featured before the workshops begin.
How to Enter
The competition is free to enter. Entrants can enter one piece for consideration.
You can enter online via Submittable here: spreadtheword.submittable.com/submit/198298/this-is-our-place-competition
You can enter by post, by downloading and completing this entry form and posting it along with your entry to This Is Our Place Competition, Spread the Word, The Albany, Douglas Way, London SE8 4AG.
Published 8 July 2021
Edited 27 July 2021