Biscuit Poetry and Fiction Prizes, 2004

Do you write poetry, short fiction, long fiction? Do you want to be published? Here's an exciting opportunity for you. Biscuit will publish winning new fiction and poetry and advance £2,000.

There will be three main publications: novella, plus £1000 advance on royalties; poet's collection, plus £1000 advance on royalties; "Top Forty" anthology celebrating the new works of forty winning writers: The "Top Twenty" short stories and one hundred poems all emerging from the 2004 Biscuit Competition.

* The winner of the short story section will be contracted to write a novella of up to 40,000 words, or a themed trilogy of stories totalling up to 40,000 words, to be published by Biscuit. The author will be given an immediate advance of £1000 on royalties. There are no restrictions on genre.

* The winner of the poetry section will be contracted to write a collection of up to 40 poems to be published by Biscuit. The poet will be given an immediate advance of £1000 on royalties. There are no restrictions on form or style.

* The top twenty short stories and top twenty poetry blocks (100 poems) will all be published in the anthology. The top forty winning writers will each receive a copy of the anthology, free of charge.

Rules for short story section:
3,000 words maximum. Any subject. Fees: £8 first story, £6 additionals.

Rules for poetry section:
40 lines maximum per poem. Any style. Submit in blocks of five (we require a minimum of five poems to ascertain that the writer can support a full collection of work). First block £10. Additionals £7 per block.

General rules:
* Winning entries must be available for the anthology
* No entry forms needed. Covering page for each story or block with: Titles, Name, Address, Phone and/or E-mail
* All entries in English
* It is acceptable for one writer to win both sections
* For acknowledgements, enclose s.a. postcard
* Postal entries only, no e-mails
* Critiques: Stories £10 each, Poems £10 block. S.a.e for return
* Returns. No MSS (other than critiqued MSS) will be returned
* All entries must be unpublished and original work of the entrant
* Closing deadline: 31st May 2004
* Results on our website 31st July 2004. For postal results, enclose s.a.e.
* Entry to competitions implies acceptance of all the rules
* Cheques and postal orders payable to Biscuit Publishing
* Entries to: Biscuit Publishing, PO Box 123, Washington, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE37 2YW. For queries: Telephone 0191 4311263, e-mail info@biscuitpublishing.com

The Combined Fiction and Poetry Winners' Anthology 2004 will be available, showcasing the top forty authors and poets (20 stories, 100 poems), in November 2004 at £8.99. If ordered and prepaid with your entry the price is £7.99, inc. postage. The book will be a quality softback, perfect bound with full colour covers.