welcome to the
Yeovil Literary Prize
2026 Competition Open From 1 Jan 2026 to 31 May 2026
Organised by the Yeovil Community Arts Association, this is your opportunity to enter five very different categories of writing. Aspiring writers throughout the world should enter this prestigious writing competition.
- All genres are welcome.
- Agents and Publishers regularly search our winner lists for new talent.
- See what happened to previous entrants after being placed in the Yeovil Literary Prize! Click on the SUCCESSES tab.
| Category 1 | Novel |
| Requirement: | First 10,000 words plus a 500 word synopsis |
| Professional Judge: | Raffaella Barker |
| Prizes: | 1st £1350 2nd £450 3rd £200 |
| Entry Fee: | £18.50 |
| Category 2 | Short Story |
| Requirement: | Maximum 2,000 words |
| Professional Judge: | Rue Baldry |
| Prizes: | 1st £625 2nd £275 3rd £150 |
| Entry Fee: | £10.50 |
| Category 3 | Poetry |
| Requirement: | Maximum of 40 Lines |
| Professional Judge: | John Challis |
| Prizes: | 1st £625 2nd £250 3rd £150 |
| Entry Fee: | £8.00 |
| Category 4 | Children’s and Young Adult Novel |
| Requirement: | First 3,000 words plus a 500 word synopsis |
| Professional Judge: | Julia Churchill |
| Prizes: | 1st £625 2nd £275 3rd £150 |
| Entry Fee: | £15.60 |
| Category 5 | Writing Without Restrictions |
| Requirement: | You write it – we’ll read it. Details are in your category Rules |
| Professional Judge: | Steve Kay |
| Prizes: | 1st £275 2nd £150 3rd £100 |
| Entry Fee: | £10.00 |
| Local Prize | Western Gazette Best Local Writer Award |
| Requirement: | for a short-listed entry by author living in Western Gazette distribution area. |
| Professional Judge: | The Yeovil Community Arts Association committee |
| Prize: | £100 |
The writing competition runs from 1st January and closes on 31st May each year.
