Guidelines & How to Enter
GUIDELINES & HOW TO ENTER
(Please read all sections before entering)
Guidelines
- Deadline: midnight, 24th February 2027
- Age categories: 14–16 | 17–19 | 20–30. We welcome entries from young people living, from, based or with a home (or term) address in the north/midlands (as defined on this map). Students at university outside the north/midlands can still enter using their home address.
- Teachers and others entering work for groups/classes should use the group entry form.
- This is an online-only competition. If you’re a school/group or need to enter by post, email [email protected].
- You can enter up to 2 pieces of poetry, short story or flash fiction, in any combination, at any time before the deadline.
- Poems can be up to 50 lines / flash fiction and short stories 200 to 2,000 words.
- Submissions must be in English, but words and phrases from other languages are very welcome. Please add a note under the piece explaining the meaning of any non-English words.
- There is no theme. You can write about anything you like. The photo gallery, along with the related Get Writing Tips and resources, prompts & tips sheet are there to help springboard your writing.
- Entries must be your own original work (please don’t use generative AI) and not have previously won or been commended in another competition. We want to read your unique voice, ideas and imagination.
- Please send your best work and take time to polish it. We recommend using our Final Edit Checklist before submitting.
- The judges’ decisions are final and we’re unable to enter into correspondence about their decisions or give feedback on individual entries, other than for winners and writers polishing work for publication.
HOW TO ENTER
- Please read all guidelines above before entering.
- Download an entry form below, fill in and paste your work where indicated, ensuring your work’s formatting isn’t lost. If sending 2 pieces together, paste both clearly titled.
- Save the document with your name and age, e.g. John Smith 16. If sending your second piece separately, add No2, e.g. John Smith 16 No2.
- As the competition is judged anonymously, do not put your name anywhere on your work. Your name should appear only at the top of the form, which is removed before judging.
- Please send .doc | .docx | .rtf files. Times New Roman or Arial, 11pt/12pt is fine. Please don’t send PDFs or online file-sharing links such as Google Docs.
- Group entries: download the group entry form below for submission details.
- Check you’ve attached your completed entry form with your entry/entries, and email it to [email protected]. If you don’t receive an acknowledgement within a week, you’re welcome to get in touch.
ENTRY FORMS DOWNLOAD: (update coming soon!)
For individuals entering, click here
For school/college and group entries, click here
PRIZES: Print publication / professional feedback & mentoring sessions / digital & tech prizes / writing goodies.
“One of the most valuable things about the competition was the professional feedback and edit support on my work before publication. I learned so much.” Louisa Rhodes
Commended and highly commended writers will be invited to submit to our next Hive print anthology. Writers published in the anthology receive a free copy. All winners and commended writers are invited to read their work at a Hive event.
We’d love young writers entering to get involved with the Hive Network. We offer writing opportunities for 14–30s in South Yorkshire and the north, including writing groups for 14-19s and Hive Poetry Collective for ages 17 to 30. Drop us an email to say hi and tell us your interests. Follow us on Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky, or keep an eye on the Hive website for upcoming opportunities and subscribe to our newsletter.
DOWNLOADS
1. Resources, prompts & inspiration
2. Final edit checklist
3. Gallery images credited to respective owners
Jump to pages:
About the Competition
Get Writing Prompts & Tips – for fab writing exercises & tips