Writing Competition - Stories From Our Streets

Calling all local writers!

The Stories From Our Streets writing competition is now open and FREE to enter for anyone currently resident in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole.

We are looking for short pieces of non-fiction writing that celebrate the people and places of BCP, past and present; stories that tell us about everyday life in the area maybe capturing a recent moment or a memory from the past. Who are the treasured characters of your neighbourhood? What tales do the streets, parks, beaches and buildings want to tell?

The competition is part of ArtfulScribe’s Stories From Our Streets project which is creating a community story map of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole to celebrate the voices of our diverse communities. We want to hear from everyone - a story from every postcode - to learn what, where or who in BCP makes your day or holds a special place in your memories and thoughts. For further inspiration and prompts...

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All submitted stories will be considered for publication on the Stories From Our Streets Story Map.

The winning entry will be awarded £50 of book vouchers, a family ticket to the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum AND a family ticket to Highcliffe Castle.

The closing date is August 21st 2023.

Terms and conditions
The Stories From Our Streets writing competition is being run by ArtfulScribe. Please read the terms and conditions below carefully before entering. By submitting an entry you are agreeing to these terms and conditions.

1. Closing date for receipt of entries is 21st July 2023 at midnight GMT. All entries received after this deadline will be automatically disqualified. The shortlisted entries and winner will be announced the week commencing 4th of September.

2. Stories From Our Streets writing competition is open to all writers, everywhere, over the age of 16 (entrants must be over 16 years old on the closing date).

3. Entries can be submitted on paper, via BCP libraries, or online to stories@artfulscribe.co.uk. There are no specific formatting requirements (font type, font size, line spacing, etc.). Writers may format their work in the way they feel is most appropriate.

4. All entries should be in English and include:
- The entrant’s name (and a pen name or a request to be published anonymously if preferred)
- The entrant’s postcode or area e.g. BH5 Pokesdown;
- And where you heard of us. e.g. ‘Kinson Library’ or ‘Facebook’.

ArtfulScribe and BCP will not share your information with any third parties. Your personal data will be used by ArtfulScribe for the purposes of managing and administering the competition only.

5. The maximum length of submissions is 600 words (not including title); there is no minimum length. The entries should be non-fiction or creative non-fiction and based on people and/or places (past and present) from within BCP.

6. Writers may enter up to two pieces but - in the case of multiple submissions - only one piece of work will be eligible for the shortlist.

7. Entries will not be returned. Please keep a copy. No corrections or alterations can be made after receipt of an entry. ArtfulScribe will not accept responsibility if contact details provided are incomplete or inaccurate; or for competition entries that are lost, mislaid, damaged or delayed in transit.

8. Entries must be entirely the work of the entrant. Any entry found to have been plagiarised will be disqualified. Entries must not infringe the rights of any other party. ArtfulScribe accepts no responsibility if entrants fail to comply with these Terms and Conditions and entrants agree to indemnify ArtfulScribe against any claim by any third party from any breach of these Terms and Conditions.

9. Entries must not contain defamatory, obscene, offensive or any other unsuitable material.

10. Entries will be read and judged anonymously by the ArtfulScribe judging panel. The judges’ decision is final, and no individual correspondence will be entered into. Judges or readers will not comment on individual stories/poems or give feedback on individual stories/poems.

11. We do not send acknowledgements of receipt of entry.

12. By submitting an entry, entrants agree to have their work included in the story map and any future publications, exhibitions and future iterations of the project. The entrant agrees that ArtfulScribe may need to modify entries and may at its sole discretion edit, adapt, abridge or translate the entry.

13. Entries may only be withdrawn upon an entrant’s request until September 1st. Please email: stories@artfulscribe.co.uk.

14. ArtfulScribe reserves the right to use the name/pen name of the winner in their publicity materials.

15. Entry implies an acceptance of all ArtfulScribe Terms and Conditions. Entries that fail to comply with these Terms and Conditions will be disqualified. ArtfulScribe reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions if deemed necessary in its opinion to do so.

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Writing Competition - Stories From Our Streets

Calling all local writers!