2012 will be our ninth year of the Yeovil Literary Prize. This highly successful international writing competition has become very popular with aspiring writers and is acknowledged by agents and publishers. Writers of every calibre and covering all genres are welcome to enter.

The Novel category, in particular, is very popular as novelists are not often catered for. It allows writers to demonstrate their talent and commitment to the craft of fiction that writing a novel entails. The Betty Bolingbroke-Kent Award for novels provides a rare opportunity for aspiring novelists.

The standard and number of entries for the Short Story and Poetry categories also continues to impress. If anything, we found last year it was even higher, covering a plethora of subjects. We are currently preparing our first Anthology which will be available next Spring, so keep looking at our website on www.yeovilprize.co.uk for the date of publication.

There are two ways to enter, by using the postal system, or online using PayPal; its ease of use has encouraged a significant increase in entries. We look forward to even more this year when our writing contest opens on 1st January 2012.

The judging teams commissioned by the Yeovil Literary Prize consist of professional, experienced and successful writers whose comments reflect the worth and potential of the leading entries.

We welcome our judges for 2012.

Sophie Hannah , who is the author of many books for children, collections of poetry and several psychological crime novels, will judge the Novel category

Sue Freestone, who has a wealth of experience in the publishing world, will judge our Short Story category

Multi-talented Louis de Bernières, who writes poetry, novels and short stories, will judge our Poetry category.

The Yeovil Literary Prize was established to stimulate interest in all literary pursuits, as it fundraises for the Yeovil Community Arts Association. The YCAA is now able to provide real support by sponsoring local talented people in their studies for the arts, and to bringing cultural events to Yeovil. The Yeovil Community Arts Association is a Registered Charity (no. 299372).

Save time, Save cost and Monitor Status - use the Online Service

The 2012 Yeovil Literary Prize is now open.

Here is a success story. Sophie Duffy told us she was talking to publishers a few months ago, and now we can see her first novel, a prize-winner in the Yeovil Literary Prize, on the bookshelves. Congratulations Sophie, and thank you for mentioning our international writing competition on the cover of your wonderful book.

The Western Gazette Best Local Writer Award for 2011 of £100, was presented to Andy Hamilton from West Coker, by the Western Gazette at the YCAA and Waterstone's 2011 Man Booker Debate, in The Johnson Studio of The Octagon Theatre, Yeovil. Andy was Commended in the Novel category; this is his first novel. Andy is a very active member of the Yeovil Cre8ive Writers group.