Free contest, Bohouse Writing Competition, prize: £500 (UK)

Deadline: 15 March 2011

You could be the next JK Rowling. Budding writers are being invited to put pen to paper in a major new competition to scoop a cash prize and see their work in print.

Erimus Housing’s Bohouse scheme has joined forces with Middlesbrough-based Writers’ Block to launch the contest which will see the winner walk away with £500. The winner and a number of shortlisted writers will also see their work professionally produced.

The 500-word Bohouse writing competition is open to all ages and launches on Tuesday 15th February, with a closing date a month later, on Tuesday 15th March.

With a theme of ‘Home Tomorrow’, the winner and a number of shortlisted writers will also feature in an e-anthology that will be produced by local publishing company Sixth Element.

The competition will be judged by an expert panel of Evening Gazette editor Darren Thwaites, local writer and BBC broadcaster Natalie Boxall, experienced screenwriters Laura Degnan and James Harris of Writers’ Block, and artistic Bohouse resident Jo Fairfield.

Bohouse writing competition criteria:

* £500 cash prize
* Launch date Tuesday 15th February
* Theme of ‘Home Tomorrow’
* 500 word limit
* All ages can enter
* Closing date Tuesday 15th March
* Entries must be emailed to laura@writersblockne.com
* Judging to take place on Monday 21st March
* Winner to be announced at Writers’ Block Showcase event, date to be confirmed.

More information here.