Entry constitutes acceptance of all rules. Entries that fail to comply with the rules will be disqualified. No correspondence can be entered into, judges’ decisions are final.

Format

1. Maximum length is 300 words excluding the title (that mustn’t exceed 8 words).
2. Entries should be typed into the online form on this website or submitted as PDF in  a plain legible font. A sans 12pt font is suggested.
3. Entries will be read and judged anonymously so do not put your name, address, email, telephone number or any personally identifying information on any page.
4. If the piece has no title, then its first five words must be used as the title.
5. Acceptable file types is direct online submission to the website or PDF only.

You need register first on the walk · listen · create website, return to this page to pay the submission fee (a purchase), check that your ticket purchase has been successful on your profile page, and then submit your piece(s). There is an entry fee of €5 for a single submission, there is no limit to the number of submissions you can make.

Should you be unable to afford the fees, it will be waived – please email us at submissions[at]walklistencreate.org. We cannot guarantee issuing a fee waiver within one day of the closing date.

Be sure to submit by clicking on the “Submit your writing” button.

Eligibility

1. Entrants must be 16 years or over.
2. Entry is open to everyone.
3. An entry can only be made by the work’s individual author.
4. Entries must be stories (poems are ineligible) and can be fiction or non-fiction.
5. Entries must not have been previously published in print or online, been broadcast or won a prize.
6. Entries must not include any defamatory language.
7. Entries must clearly respond to the theme, be original and written in English. They must also be for adult or young adult readers. Submissions written for children under 13 years are not eligible.
8. Simultaneous submission is permitted. Should your writing piece win a prize or be published elsewhere, please let us know so that we may remove your entry from the current competition.
9. Authors retain full worldwide copyright throughout.

Editing submissions

We may need to make slight editorial changes, these will be only be made following discussion with the author, the authors grant access to their email address to the editor.

Images

Entrants are encouraged to add an image to their entry. If you include an image with your submission, please release it under a flavour of Creative Commons, so that we can re-use it in publications. Images submitted will not be taken into account in the judging.

Audio recording of pieces 

Authors are invited to record themselves reading their work, or can choose to invite a friend to do so.  Audio recordings will not be taken into account in the judging.

A €50 book token / voucher prize will be awarded to the winning submission.

Submission deadline: midnight (UTC) on Monday, 8 July, 2026.

Key dates and competition time line:

• Competition launch – Monday 1 June, 2026
• Submission deadline: midnight (UTC) on Monday, July 8, 2026.
• Judging will be completed by the end of July when the shortlisted pieces based on the highest scores will be published on the write@WLC website and the winner will be informed, and receive their prize.