Daily updated database of writing contests, including competitions for poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and scripts - many free to enter.http://www.firstwriter.com/competitions For poetry manuscripts between 50 and 110 pages. Prizes include $1,000 for first place. Also book publication. Deadline for entries is 15th January 2010. http://www.firstwriter.com/competitions/search/specific.cgi?RecordNumber=5920 For short stories up to 7,000 words by authors who have been previously published in the UK or Ireland. Prizes include GBP 25,000 for first place. GBP 500 x 5. Deadline for entries is 30th November 2009. http://www.firstwriter.com/competitions/search/specific.cgi?RecordNumber=5919 Playwrights are invited to submit a new full length play on the subject of their choice. Each play should be a complete evening's entertainment and employ a maximum of 6 actors (which need not limit the number of characters within the story). Three plays will be given a staged rehearsed reading in front of a public and invited audience on March 29, 30 and 31. more info from website. Prizes include GBP 0 for first place. Deadline for entries is 1st January 2010. http://www.firstwriter.com/competitions/search/specific.cgi?RecordNumber=5918 For short stories up to 4,000 words. Prizes include $500 for first place. Publication in print and online. Deadline for entries is 15th January 2010. http://www.firstwriter.com/competitions/search/specific.cgi?RecordNumber=5917 For poems in any style up to 80 lines. Prizes include GBP 2,000 for first place. GBP 1,000; GBP 500; GBP 50 x 10. Deadline for entries is 30th November 2009. http://www.firstwriter.com/competitions/search/specific.cgi?RecordNumber=5916 The winner will receive $500 and publication in the Fall 2010 issue of the Magazine, and the top ten finalists will be named on our website. Each entry receives a one-year subscription to the Magazine. Please visit our website for full guidelines. Prizes include $500 for first place. Deadline for entries is 31st December 2009. http://www.firstwriter.com/competitions/search/specific.cgi?RecordNumber=5915 Flash fiction contest for a 250 word Christmas story. Entries to be posted online and will receive comments and votes. Top 10 automatically make the judge's short list. Entries limited to 100. Prizes include GBP 75 for first place. GBP 50, GBP 25. Deadline for entries is 31st December 2009. http://www.firstwriter.com/competitions/search/specific.cgi?RecordNumber=5914 For ten-page collections of poems (at least two unpublished) by poets who have not published a book or chapbook. Prizes include $500 for first place. 4 x $500. Also magazine publication. Deadline for entries is 15th January 2010. http://www.firstwriter.com/competitions/search/specific.cgi?RecordNumber=5913 For murder stories up to 2,500 words. Prizes include GBP 100 for first place. GBP 50; anthology publication. Deadline for entries is 30th November 2009. http://www.firstwriter.com/competitions/search/specific.cgi?RecordNumber=5912 For up to 10 minutes of short fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry read by the author. Prizes include $1,500 for first place. $500. Deadline for entries is 2nd January 2010. http://www.firstwriter.com/competitions/search/specific.cgi?RecordNumber=5911